women with a(rt) purpose

"women with a(rt) purpose"

Featuring Linda J. Beeman, Carrie Parks-Kirby and Kate Chichester

Exhibit opening Saturday, January 14, 2012 with a reception from 6-9pm

515 Gallery

515 N. McEwan St.

Clare, Michigan

Holiday Cheer at Jordan Gallery

 

Tonight was an evening of refreshments, casual shopping and holiday cheer at the beautiful Jordan Gallery. I, along with photographer Michael D-L Jordan, textile artist Marti Liddle-Lameti, jewelry designer Janet Baugher and multi media artist Bonnie Brown, visited with guests and shared our work.

 

Linda and gallery owner, Mistie Jordan

Good flow of people all night long

My high school art teacher and now my friend, Bonnie Brown.  Her tulip painting is on the wall behind her.

Michael and Mistie Jordan with Michael's photography.

 The Jordan Gallery just opened this September in downtown Owosso.  A beautiful gallery with exposed old brink walls and hardwood floors, I am very pleased to have my work here.

Sundial

Sundial

It doesn't get much better than being able to watch both sunrise and sunset over water in the same state.  With over 11,000 inland lakes that would be Michigan!  You know, the Great Lakes State?
This tree serves as a "sundial" on the shore of Indian Lake, the 4th largest inland lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

November 11

November 11

This print is based on a small sepia photograph of my grandfather. This was the last photo of him before the train came that would take him off to World War I. 
I asked him about his service when he was 91 because I had never heard him talk about it. He was trained as a mechanic but ended up as an ambulance driver and the company bugler.  He said that while he was on the ship on the way to Europe, the armistice was signed.  When they got back home, he related they were given a ticket home and a "kick in the pants".  That was it.  And they got on with their life.
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that  reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” History of Veterans Day
According to grandpa, his company was not needed where the "action" was so for the most part he fixed equipment, drove the ambulance and played his trumpet with the company band at their post and in the local town.  I said to him, "So for the rest of your time there you basically just fooled around."  He laughed and said, "Well, I did a little of that too!"
I purposely kept his face in shadow because he represents thousands of young men (and women) who have served in the military without complaint or fanfare.  They do the every day grunt work - the clean up, the payroll ( my brother - U.S. Navy), the office work, the fixing of equipment, the musicians (my dad - U.S. Navy Blue Jacket Choir organist) and morale boosters.  They just do their job.  And get on with their life.
Thank you Veterans.

The Samoe

I am playing catch up with posting things from back in June in Japan.  Life gets busy....

While at the International Moku Hanga Conference in Kyoto, several of us noted that the Japanese printers and carvers where wearing a really nice "smock" while they worked.  Because I was staying longer after the conference I decided to see if I could find one for myself and another printmaker who wanted one.

I looked in several shops but I didn't even know what it was called so had a hard time locating one. 

Takiyuki and Tomoko

When I got to Higashiomi I was very fortunate to stay with 2 artists, Tomoko and Takiyuki, in their family home for 3 days.  They were gracious enough to take me to many sights in the area including Hikone Castle, Shigaraki, and several waterfalls.
I asked Tomoko if she might know of a shop where I could find one of these smocks.  "Oh!  You want a samoe."  She took a long time thinking about it and then said I need to go see the seamstress. I would not find one of good quality in a shop. She proceeded to make a phone call and set up an appointment.
We set out thru the narrow streets and alleys until we came to the home of the seamstress. 
Let me just insert here that I had noticed thru my time in Japan that I was not just taller than most women but I was an Amazon!  I've never been, let's say, petite.  Here I was huge! 
I was still surprised when the first words out of the seamstress's mouth when she saw me were, "So BIG!!!"
You can see by the pictures that I towered over her!  I had to bend down just so she could take measurements and hold the tape measure for her at my neck!  There was a whole conversation going on that I didn't understand but got that she was not used to sewing for someone of my size.  A lot of laughter between us all!  Now I understood why I wouldn't find one of "good quality" in a shop.  She knew I'd never find one that fit me!

My height wasn't the only issue.  The other problem was that the other printmaker who wanted a samoe was a man. More laughter when trying to explain that one!
Tomoko told her that she would select fabric for me and deliver it to her.  And so, weeks after I was home, I heard from Tomoko that she had picked out fabric and our samoe's was being made.  Not long after that a package arrived in the mail and here was my very own samoe, made to order and perfectly fit just for me! 
Made with Japanese indigo I wear it with a grateful heart when I am printing and remember the fun of going to this very brave seamstress's home with Tomoko!

Wearing my new samoe to work!

Artist in Residence - Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park

Welcome to Dan's Cabin

 I have just returned from 2 weeks at Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula where I was the final Artist in Residence of the year.  My husband and I spent the time hiking every day.  My focus was on the old growth & virgin forests and the park's many, many waterfalls.  As part of my residency I gave a program explaining moku hanga and showed examples of prints and my tools.  I also have to, within a year, give a piece of art inspired by my residence to the Friends of the Porkies.

Dan's Cabin

 This is the AiRP home during their residency.  GORGEOUS!  The cabin was a work of love and respect for Dan Urbanski. ( Artist in Residence information page )The art and craft that went in to every piece of the cabin is astonishing.  We were honored to be there.  The little building is, yup, an outhouse.  Composting outhouse to be exact.  That was quite an interesting experience too!
The cabin is a little over 1/4 mile from the trail head and everything, including water, had to be carried up the hill to the cabin.  There was no electricity, no wifi, no cell phone reception.  It was great!  Although bear activity was high, we were not fortunate enough to see one.  Or that could be seen as a good thing, too, I guess!

Lake of the Clouds

 This was the late afternoon view from the Escarpment Trail at Lake of the Clouds. 

Lake Superior Trail campsite

 We were given a backcountry pass for 3 nights and we decided to hike out to the Lake Superior Trail and set up camp between the Little and Big Carp Rivers.  From there we went another couple miles to Shining Cloud Falls and back before settling down for the night.  With perfect weather and our food safely stashed up the bear pole, we slept very soundly.

Presque Isle river

 A view of the Presque Isle river as it flows out to Lake Superior.

Trap Falls

 We spent one day hiking Government Peak Trail to Trap Falls.  It was an oasis!  We found it a perfect place to stop for lunch.

West Vista view on the Overlook Trail

After spending the morning hiking the Union Spring Trail (5 miles) we refueled and after lunch attempted Overlook Trail.  At "only" 2 miles we thought it would be a piece of cake.  That piece of cake took us nearly 5 hours.  Out in these mountains you can't figure how long it will take by miles.  It was quite an accomplishment for this (early) mid life couple but we did it!

The beauty I found in the Porkies was more than I could every have imagined. Michigan never disappoints me.  I cannot wait to see what prints come out of this!  Now......to work!

Opening Reception at Shiawassee Art Center

We had a wonderful turnout for the opening reception of "Four Michigan Women Artists".  The works of Janet Baugher - encaustic photos and hand made jewelery, Cindy Evans - multi media paintings, Jane Cloutier's paper sculptures and my moku hanga prints make a very interesting and beautiful exhibit.

The exhibit runs through Nov. 5 at Shiawassee Art Center, 206 Curwood Castle Drive, Owosso.
Thanks to the the show sponsors: Dana & Patricia Cluckey, Gilbert's True Value Hardware, Wells Fargo Advisors, The Schluckebier/Hood Investment Team, and Young Buick-Cadillac-Chevrolet-GMC.

Coming Home

 

Please join me at the opening reception Friday, September 23, 6-8pm, as I "come home" to the Shiawassee Arts Center.  SAC Sept-Nov. 2011  The building that houses the SAC is right next door to where my childhood home was on the Shiawassee River.  It's fitting that 12 Views of the Shiawassee River is showing where my first memories of the river were created. 
Other river inspired work by Jane Cloutier (paper sculpture) and Janet Baugher (jewelry & encaustic), along with Cindy Evans paintings of Yellowstone, make this a fascinating mixed media exhibit with nature as the star! 

Blue Moon

Not "once in a blue moon" but 3 times! 

Jan, Jane and I created Blue Moon pieces, 

each in our own medium.

The exhibit opens September 20 and runs until November 5.  

Shiawassee Art Center is open Tuesday - Sunday, 1 - 5pm.