Lost and Found at the Grosse Pointe Artists Association

Two of my art pieces were selected by juror Sean Bieri for the Grosse Pointe Artists Association's "Lost and Found" show at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.

Pocket of Possibilities

My first piece is a mixed media bound book that includes image transfers of some of my other works, found objects, found poetry, acrylic stenciling and handmade papers. I often collect found phrases and put the random words together to tell a story. This is the narrative of this piece:

 Learning to know my heart

Floating like the wind

Strongly drawn toward the feeling that
something had opened
the secret

The day before occurred a little different
just part of the narrow passage
between newness and the ordinary

Before the trouble comes

 

Each page has a found object to help illustrate the words. This piece originally started as an exploration of pockets. But as it evolved the actual pocket became more of a metaphor for a person's life experience. The objects could be found in a pocket...a rusty key, a butterfly wing, a piece of sea glass, a vision testing lens and pieces of tree branches and represent various stages in life or changes that happen. As I get older I've noticed that I have become more reflective. Time seems to move at a swifter pace than I remember when I was younger. By having only one item per page there is a chance for the viewer to pause and really see the item and possibly form their own inferences to their life path. 

 

The City Never Sleeps 

My second accepted piece is titled, "The City Never Sleeps". This is a mixed media bound book that explores urban living through found objects. Randomly juxtaposed pieces of rusty detritus inspire this representation of urban life. Each piece reveals a part of the story, from the corrugated cardboard used for shelter by some less fortunate citizens to the remnant of a calculator keypad for those who need help counting their wealth. 

Indications of human interaction with the city landscape are depicted through graffiti-style wall markings, torn layers of event posters, a key to a door of refuge from the noisy bustle and a stray bottle cap that is all that remains of a thirst quenched.

The show opens for in-person viewing July 21 and runs through September 8, 2022. Hours are 4-7 pm on Thursdays and 10 am - 2 pm on Saturdays. The gallery is located in the Grosse Pointe War Memorial at 32 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

Here is the link to the online preview of the show with descriptions and pricing information. Please contact gpaa@grossepointeartcenter.org for details.

GEN 7 SORROW aka ECO BABY

This piece was created to help bring attention to how we presently choose to either support or deny sustainability  can impact the future generation’s environmental existence. A Native American concept that “urges the current generation of humans to live and work for the benefit of the seventh generation into the future” was the inspiration for this piece. How we consume natural resources and continue to put convenience over sustainability through all the plastics we use on a daily basis will affect the future’s environmental health.  “Eco  Baby” represents the seventh generation and depicts how they will have to carry the burden of our consumption and waste disposal choices on their backs.

Think Small '20 at the Lawrence Street Gallery

I'm fortunate that I have three pieces chosen by juror Vianna Szabo for the Lawrence Street Gallery's Think Small '20 Exhibit. The gallery will be holding a Facebook Live session at 2:00 pm next Sunday, December 6th.  It's a great way to view the entire exhibit from the comfort of your own home and the gallery now has online shopping available on the website. 

Gen 7 Sorrow

Gen 7 Sorrow was created to help bring attention to how we presently choose to either support or deny sustainability can impact the future generation’s environmental existence. A Native American concept that “urges the current generation of humans to live and work for the benefit of the seventh generation into the future” was the inspiration for this piece. How we consume natural resources and continue to put convenience over sustainability through all the plastics we use on a daily basis will affect the future’s environmental health. “Eco Baby” represents the seventh generation and depicts how they will have to carry the burden of our consumption and waste disposal choices on their backs.

 

For The Fun of It

This piece is a celebration of childhood games. From simply marking an "X" or an "O" or rolling a few dice to more complicated strategies of what moves to make next or how to combine random letters to create words with the most value, games help us relax while building eye-hand coordination skills and cultivates our competitive natures. Rather by luck or by skill, games help us to entertain oursleves and bring some fun back into life.

 

The City Never Sleeps Ever

Randomly juxtaposed pieces of rusty detritus inspire this representation of urban life. Each piece reveals a part of the story, from the corrugated cardboard used for shelter by some lesss fortunate citizens to the remnant of a calculator keypad for those who need help counting their wealth. Indications of human interaction with the city landscape are depicted through graffiti-style wall markings, torn layers of event posters, a key to a door of refuge from the noisy bustle and a stray bottle cap that is all that remains of a thirst quenched.

*****UPDATE*****
The City Never Sleeps Ever was awarded 2nd Prize by juror Vianna Szabo! Thanks so much!

Mother Earth Whispered On Exhibit at the Northville Art House

 Mother Earth Whispered

Mother Earth Whispered is an exploration into the connections we all have with nature. Earth, wind, fire, water are basic elements that form our world and our experience in it. Nature supports us by providing oxygen, food and life-sustaining water. It is in our best interest to help preserve the resources so frequently taken for grant. 

 We also benefit from the gifts of beauty that come when we pause to accept them. The curl of a wave sparkling with sunlight, a warm breeze through the cool leaves of a shade tree, the choreographed grace of birds flying in unison through a blue sky and the pastel painted clouds at sunrise and sunset. 

strange language of wild things descended
like the dewdrops on the leaf - an expression of
the tattered fragments of the secret between us

a great blue globe understood the need
and softly whispered the simplicity of nature,
to get a chance to tell us secrets

the air was full of melodies of another world --
a little morning music, notes of unseen birds
winging their way through the tips
of fragrant green trees

the joy of rainbow sunshine, sun touched clouds,
like a drop of rain with the wildness of heavy air
washed away small fragments of broken sorrows

joy found a fringe of optimistic hope
in the buzz whir of bees coming and going
into the garden

a large speckled trout scarcely rippled
the clear water, quite unaware of
the rustling blade of grass, the smell of
green leaves and the mossy trail

the morning sun lavished its rays on
a morning's conversation with the soft
buzz-sound tones, bees mustering
persistence of purpose

the gentle breezes gleamed
a stray poem from the bright golden morning

felt in my bones a quiet life in the forest,
wonderfully sweet and penentrating
under the trees, just what I needed

murmur of pines gently broken by the flitting
of winged things, scatter in a moment
instantly awaken a deep sense of
the harmony of things