I Live Here Now, Locally

A few weeks ago I mentioned how ever since I Live Here Now opened in Sweden, I've wanted more people to see it...and, thus, the special event at Velvet da Vinci. I've also been thinking about how nice it would be if my family and friends here in my hometown could see the work. As I made the pieces over the winter I considered having an open house in my studio, but it became clear there wouldn't be enough time or space. I haven't stopped thinking about this, though, and two weeks ago remembered the Cherry Branch Gallery in nearby Cherry Valley. I took a drive to see the space again with its big, storefront window, well-worn wooden floor and beautiful natural light, and as soon as I saw it, I knew it would be a great place to present the show. I approached the director, Kristen Henderson, and she just happened to have an opening in September! The exhibition opens Saturday, September 6 with a reception from 5-7pm, and I'm very pleased to have a chance to show this special work locally. 

poster design by Brandon Dawley

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Guest Star Friday #139… Silke Spitzer

Amidst all my reading about contemporary art, I'm continuing to pay attention to contemporary jewelry. The work of Silke Spitzer caught my eye recently with its minimal design, graphic look and delicate use of alternative materials. I like the layering in these pieces and the wonderful textures and movement Silke achieves through repetition. She also strikes a wonderful balance of visual weight with each piece appearing both heavy and light. The open, interior spaces and elegant lines create a sense of comfort and calm as the eye and mind are given room to move around.

Currently, Silke's work is on view at Ornamentum Gallery in Hudson, NY, but only for a few more days. If you can't make it there, you can see more images of the work and installation views of the exhibition on the Ornamentum website.

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Remembering Older Work

Breaking Apart, plastic, sterling silver, 2002

Last night I spent a few hours on the internet searching for sculptural jewelry for a PowerPoint I will show in my upcoming class at Penland. As I flitted around Pinterest looking for bracelets, I came across one I made in 2002. I haven't thought about this piece, or the series it was a part of, for a long time and it was interesting to be reminded. I started thinking about what it was and what it wasn't, where my ideas came from and how I'm still working with some of the same stuff that inspired me then. I also thought about what I would change now or keep the same. I thought about how I fabricated each piece and I remembered struggling with some of the techniques. At that time I was interested in minimalism, space, Japanese pop art and Scandinavian design. My pieces were formal and more about design than concept. I like some of these older pieces a lot, and others I cringe at. The beginning is an interesting place to reflect on.

See more older pieces here.

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Turning a Mountain into a Line

A few weeks ago I told you about my new drawing project and Sunday plan. After my first Sunday, when I drew single lines, I started layering the lines on top of each other, sometimes combining two, sometimes using more. I find it helpful to focus on one form of manipulation, like layering, which keeps me on task and keeps me from feeling overwhelmed by choices. I'm not sure what I'll do this Sunday, but I'm thinking about working more with layering lines on separate pieces of paper. There is something really beautiful in the translucency of the material and the varying intensity of the pencil marks.

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A Final Onward Ideas, Creating Space

objects found while walking around Richfield Springs

I need more room for my things... Those bits and pieces I brought back from Iceland this year, and last year; the objects I collected in Sweden; the stuff I found over the winter and the pieces I picked up yesterday while walking. My well-curated collections grow and change constantly and I like having room to spread them out. I also like arranging them just so and altering the arrangement as I acquire more or just want to rearrange the pieces. My sweet studio is not very big and there isn't a lot of room for everything so I got a great idea to move my dresser out of storage and into my studio. Now it holds objects instead of clothes and each drawer contains pieces from a specific place. I also painted a panel of wood and now have a flat, white surface where I can create arrangements and photograph them.

Working with my objects like this is a great way to exercise my mind, play with spatial relationships and create mixed narratives. It's also a fantastic way to come up with new ideas as I contemplate form, material and memories. I think of it as one more method of my practice and the perfect way to further cherish these sentimental souvenirs.

Read more about my thoughts on objects and collecting here.

See more collections and arrangements on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Onward Ideas, Big Thanks

Transitioning back into life in the US after being abroad is not easy, although, I'm getting better at it. One of the best ways to acclimate is to connect with all of you through this blog, Facebook, and the other social media I use. For the past two weeks I've posted my series "Onward Ideas" as a way to work through some things I'm thinking about and to share these thoughts with you. Your response from the first post on has been wonderful and heartwarming and has really helped me as I settle back into my studio and life in the US. I just want to take a moment to say thanks for reading my posts, for "liking" them, and for posting comments and sending me emails. Your support is incredible and I'm grateful! Onward, my friends!

Find me here:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Pinterest

Flickr

Etsy

My Website

Fieldwork

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Guest Star Friday #138…Adrian Paci

Last Gestures

April 1, 2014 was a really good day, one of those days that unfolds in the most natural, wonderful way. It did not start out that way, though. I was in Gothenburg, Sweden for my exhibition and feeling stressed. Jet-lag was taking its toll, I was struggling with a new piece for the opening, and I was trying to maneuver in an expensive city on very little money. I knew a good, long walk would make everything better so I left my hostel to find the place where the river meets the sea, marked by a suspension bridge and the contemporary art museum, Röda Sten konsthall. This is when things got so much better… The weather was beautiful and I saw many interesting things along the way. When I got to the museum I was delighted to discover it was free that day! I had a lovely talk with one of the staff members and then slowly moved my way through the museum, and things got even better. 

The main exhibition, "Of Lives and Tales," was a retrospective of Adrian Paci, an Albanian artist I had not heard of before. Paci's work includes installation, video, photography and painting and focuses on memory, loss, nostalgia and displacement. I was drawn to his work immediately and had powerful, emotional reactions to many of his works. I found "Last Gestures," in particular, to be very compelling. The piece is composed of four televisions that loop video images of movements and expressions made by a family as they spend a precious last moment together. There is no sound and your attention becomes focused on singular movements. The work is poetic and succinct and I cried as I sat alone in the dark. 

As I spent time with the other pieces in the exhibition I become increasingly excited to find an artist working with things I'm just beginning to discover my own interest in: the use of light and shadow, conveying complex narrative and emotion through simple visuals and the impact of using the human experience as a way to connect artist and viewer. 

Britma, 2009, color video still

Back Home #2, 2001, painting and photograph

Noise of Light, 2005 installation with 10 transformers, metal, crystal, bulbs

See more of my favorite Adrian Paci pieces on Pinterest.

Thanks for reading.