Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Forgeries


Today I did a last minute installation at the Arsenal Center for the Arts... and boy is it nice to be there. Lucky for me, the center had a cancellation and we scrambled to pull this together. The stepped gallery space as you enter the front door seems like it would be overwhelming to work with but my bronzes fit right in. The space and color palettes are perfect complements and there is ample space for each piece to breathe while still being able to relate to each other. It was fun to play with the layout because there's a changing perspective as you climb up the stairs making for a very dynamic viewing from all angles. Looking forward to a few receptions - one this Thursday for the New Member Show - and one for FORGERIES in late February/ early March. Will keep you posted as all the details work themselves out.


I like to playfully call this body of work FORGERIES. Though they appear to be bronze statues, these are not molded, cast and bronzed, but actual objects that are assembled, sealed to appear as if cast from a mold and then painted. It is a several step process that involves the application of patina and finally a wax finish.
They appear to be a heavy statue and even though the surface is firm, if you poke it, the fabric gives way under the pressure. I love the trick of perception with material and concept - a memorial of a particular place and time - but very much in the present tense.


Check out STASH and RELIQUARY to learn more about these projects.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Toast


 

Feeling cozy while viewing my new, hot-off-the-press, video of last November's bonfire at Fruitlands Museum. Though heat is in very short supply these days, I'm feeling the warmth of the past year, carrying forward all I experienced and learned during 2013.
(click here if above link is blocked)

As the Queen of Mixed Metaphors, it feels right to say that 2013 came in like a lamb and went out like a lion. Beginning with an installation at DanforthArt in January, an energizing VSC residency in February, a show with my beloved coaching group A Room of Our Own in March, countless workshops, HIVE, Morphology with Kay Hartung in June at FSFA, solo exhibition The Nobility of Things at Fruitlands during the summer, The Order of the Universe at Wheaton College in the fall, 65 Degrees at Nave Gallery Annex during the holidays, a studio move to Miller Street Studios in December and several deinstallations the week before Christmas.

Hence, the title for the post, and the reason for my long absence. The past 2 months have been all about cooking, packing, unpacking, putting up, taking down and more cooking. All good. 

This January is more like a snail or a tortoise. I'm looking forward to a slow, thoughtful 2014 shared with dear friends, colleagues and family. Let's see if I can keep up the pace.

Happy New Year everyone!