Yellow Reeds
I, you, she or he by Jaume Plensa
Lime Crystal Tower
Grand Rapids Arch by Andy Goldworthy
Blue Moon
The American Horse (Leonardo Di Vinci's Horse) by Nina Akuma
Listening to History by Bill Woodrow
Red Reeds
Niijima Floats
Chihuly Exhibit
Dale Chihuly developed an impressive and inspiring exhibit to celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The exhibition is designed to respond to the horticultural and natural conditions of each site. The Sculpture Park itself is one of the world's foremost collections of Modern and Contemporary sculpture. Set amidst diverse gardens and landscapes - it's a treasure.
Yellow Reeds
I, you, she or he by Jaume Plensa
Lime Crystal Tower
Grand Rapids Arch by Andy Goldworthy
Blue Moon
The American Horse (Leonardo Di Vinci's Horse) by Nina Akuma
Listening to History by Bill Woodrow
Red Reeds
Niijima Floats
Yellow Reeds
I, you, she or he by Jaume Plensa
Lime Crystal Tower
Grand Rapids Arch by Andy Goldworthy
Blue Moon
The American Horse (Leonardo Di Vinci's Horse) by Nina Akuma
Listening to History by Bill Woodrow
Red Reeds
Niijima Floats
Three Prints Selected for Governor's Residence
I am honored to have three prints selected by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern to hang in the Lansing Governor's residence for the coming year. The Governor's Residence Michigan Artists Program brings artwork of Michigan artists into the public areas of the residence for one year. There will be an artist reception - date to be determined.
The 3 pieces selected are Winter Thaw, Shy That Way and Guardian.
Lansing Art Gallery Demonstration
On Thursday, August 12 I demonstrated Japanese woodblock printmaking at Lansing Art Gallery during the lunch hour. A very hot and humid day in the 2 story front window made printing........interesting. A good crowd of people came and went with more watching from out on the sidewalk.
The demo was sponsored by Mid-Michigan MRI. Lansing Art Gallery is located at 113 S. Washington Square, one block from the Michigan State Capital.
Winter Thaw
Winter Thaw is another print in the 12 Views of the Shiawassee River series. It was a bright day in late January. We were traveling the back roads near Fenton when we came across this area of the river thawing at a little one lane bridge. The bushes had berries that turned a bright red and they were full of happy birds!
I have been remiss in that I usually just post the print and never the process. I can only say it's because I forget to take pictures. I might take the first couple but then forget to take the rest. So this time I made a point of taking every step. Ok, I missed one........but at least I consciously tried!
Step one:
I laid in the far background.
Step two:
berry bushes
Step 3:
Deepened red on near bushes and added some reflections
Step 4:
Sky and reflected blue
Step 5:
Shadow on ice edges and added trees
Step 6:
Deepened water
Final print:
I added shadow along the river banks and deepened color on trees.
I was rather intimidated to do a winter scene but I really like how it turned out.
River Water
Recently another printmaker suggested using actual water from the Shiawassee in the making of the prints for this series. I don't know why I didn't think of that! It adds a special dimension to the prints.
So, on a very chilly (58 degrees) July morning here in Michigan, we set off to Curwood Castle Park to collect water. I grew up 3 houses from the Castle. This view of the Shiawassee was my view.
We ran the water through our Katadyn filter that we use backpacking.
Now I have a clean gallon of Shiawassee River water to use!
Recent News Article About Shiawassee River Series
The complete article with photos can be viewed at this link: http://www.argus-press.com/news_local/article_79e2d546-660e-11df-a14c-001cc4c03286.html
Portraits of activism
Shown in her home studio, Linda Beeman holds a completed woodblock print that depicts a portion of the Chesaning rock rapids. It is one of the prints which will be in her “12 Views of the Shiawassee” exhibit.
Posted: Sunday, May 23, 2010 8:00 am | Updated: 10:01 pm, Sat May 22, 2010.
JULIANNE MATTERA, Argus-Press Staff Writer
OVID — Linda Beeman was one of many junior high students in Owosso who celebrated their first Earth Day in 1970 by picking up truckloads of trash around the city. Since then, the memory of bags upon bags of trash that students retrieved has remained lodged in Beeman’s mind.
Of course, that wasn’t the only place she’s found trash over the years. Growing up next to the Shiawassee River in Owosso, Beeman often saw pollution-related suds in the water and garbage floating down what she considered a piece of her backyard. And when Beeman took up geocaching as a hobby, she was disappointed to see water bottles and old plastic containers dotting otherwise beautiful natural areas.
“It really surprised me to see the irresponsibility,” Beeman said. “I just thought, ‘How hard is it to throw it away? Why did you have to do that?’”
Now, the Ovid resident and self-described Michigan artist has been awarded a $1,000 emerging artist grant from the Arts Council of Greater Lansing to produce and exhibit a series of Japanese woodblock prints focusing on promoting environmental awareness regarding the Shiawassee River.
Called “12 Views of the Shiawassee,” the exhibition is scheduled to begin around late fall and will include Beeman demonstrating the moku hanga technique — a Japanese form of printmaking that uses watercolor paint and carved wood to create images on paper. Additionally, Beeman will collaborate with environmental agencies such as the Friends of the Shiawassee River and the North Oakland County Headwater’s Land Conservancy.
“Linda was seeking to collaborate on a project that would raise environmental awareness but also produce beautiful prints,” said Katie Robiadek, program manager for the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. “Her work is very detailed and very relevant to Mid-Michigan, so I think the panel was especially pleased with her applications for those reasons.”
In her daily life and with “12 Views of the Shiawassee,” Beeman is a proponent of the environment who is quick to remind people that the Great Lakes are one of Michigan’s greatest assets. Beeman knows she can’t simply go out on a boat and hope to solve all of the state’s water pollution problems, but she hopes her exhibit will inspire others to care more about the environment.
“Art has long been used for political (purposes)” and as a means to reach out to people and get a point across, Beeman said. “I was hoping by showing the river in different settings, in different places along the way and how just beautiful it is, it would entice people to care.”
Beeman’s prints showcase parts of the Shiawassee River from Oakland to Saginaw County. With the exception of one print, all portray the Shiawassee River weaving its way through natural or rural areas, varying from parks to a swamp.
But she did include a print that shows a point in the river behind Owosso City Hall — alluding to the importance rivers have had in being a water source for the communities built around them.
Local environmental topics, such as the future of Corunna’s dam, are also close to Beeman’s heart. One of her completed woodblock prints depicts the rock rapids system that Chesaning opted for after its dam broke. And Beeman hopes Corunna chooses a similarly eco-friendly option when it fixes the dam there.
“When you don’t need the dam anymore to run the mill that’s no longer there, then the dam is really just aesthetic. People like it because it’s pretty,” Beeman said. “And I understand people who live along the river — things will change with river levels and everything once that dam is gone, but everything is not always about humans. It’s not about us, it’s about the health of a water system.”
But most of all, Beeman hopes her prints get people to think about the conservation of the river in its entirety, as well as the Great Lakes.
“I know people are desperate for employment. But we need to protect our state and not be swayed by things that are going to hurt us ecologically,” Beeman said. “My whole thing with this is conservation of the river in its entirety. And that’s what I want to get across to people from Oakland County to Saginaw. It’s not just our section of river; the river flows.”
Portraits of activism
Shown in her home studio, Linda Beeman holds a completed woodblock print that depicts a portion of the Chesaning rock rapids. It is one of the prints which will be in her “12 Views of the Shiawassee” exhibit.
Posted: Sunday, May 23, 2010 8:00 am | Updated: 10:01 pm, Sat May 22, 2010.
JULIANNE MATTERA, Argus-Press Staff Writer
OVID — Linda Beeman was one of many junior high students in Owosso who celebrated their first Earth Day in 1970 by picking up truckloads of trash around the city. Since then, the memory of bags upon bags of trash that students retrieved has remained lodged in Beeman’s mind.
Of course, that wasn’t the only place she’s found trash over the years. Growing up next to the Shiawassee River in Owosso, Beeman often saw pollution-related suds in the water and garbage floating down what she considered a piece of her backyard. And when Beeman took up geocaching as a hobby, she was disappointed to see water bottles and old plastic containers dotting otherwise beautiful natural areas.
“It really surprised me to see the irresponsibility,” Beeman said. “I just thought, ‘How hard is it to throw it away? Why did you have to do that?’”
Now, the Ovid resident and self-described Michigan artist has been awarded a $1,000 emerging artist grant from the Arts Council of Greater Lansing to produce and exhibit a series of Japanese woodblock prints focusing on promoting environmental awareness regarding the Shiawassee River.
Called “12 Views of the Shiawassee,” the exhibition is scheduled to begin around late fall and will include Beeman demonstrating the moku hanga technique — a Japanese form of printmaking that uses watercolor paint and carved wood to create images on paper. Additionally, Beeman will collaborate with environmental agencies such as the Friends of the Shiawassee River and the North Oakland County Headwater’s Land Conservancy.
“Linda was seeking to collaborate on a project that would raise environmental awareness but also produce beautiful prints,” said Katie Robiadek, program manager for the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. “Her work is very detailed and very relevant to Mid-Michigan, so I think the panel was especially pleased with her applications for those reasons.”
In her daily life and with “12 Views of the Shiawassee,” Beeman is a proponent of the environment who is quick to remind people that the Great Lakes are one of Michigan’s greatest assets. Beeman knows she can’t simply go out on a boat and hope to solve all of the state’s water pollution problems, but she hopes her exhibit will inspire others to care more about the environment.
“Art has long been used for political (purposes)” and as a means to reach out to people and get a point across, Beeman said. “I was hoping by showing the river in different settings, in different places along the way and how just beautiful it is, it would entice people to care.”
Beeman’s prints showcase parts of the Shiawassee River from Oakland to Saginaw County. With the exception of one print, all portray the Shiawassee River weaving its way through natural or rural areas, varying from parks to a swamp.
But she did include a print that shows a point in the river behind Owosso City Hall — alluding to the importance rivers have had in being a water source for the communities built around them.
Local environmental topics, such as the future of Corunna’s dam, are also close to Beeman’s heart. One of her completed woodblock prints depicts the rock rapids system that Chesaning opted for after its dam broke. And Beeman hopes Corunna chooses a similarly eco-friendly option when it fixes the dam there.
“When you don’t need the dam anymore to run the mill that’s no longer there, then the dam is really just aesthetic. People like it because it’s pretty,” Beeman said. “And I understand people who live along the river — things will change with river levels and everything once that dam is gone, but everything is not always about humans. It’s not about us, it’s about the health of a water system.”
But most of all, Beeman hopes her prints get people to think about the conservation of the river in its entirety, as well as the Great Lakes.
“I know people are desperate for employment. But we need to protect our state and not be swayed by things that are going to hurt us ecologically,” Beeman said. “My whole thing with this is conservation of the river in its entirety. And that’s what I want to get across to people from Oakland County to Saginaw. It’s not just our section of river; the river flows.”
Ember Tide
My favorite sunset is probably one for the most rare here in Michigan: a green sunset. Our local art guild is having a show beginning in May and our theme was "green" so I decided on this.
Following in the footsteps of Yoshida Hiroshi Sailing Boats series, I reused the same blocks from Evening Sunglow. With these two prints done and looking so different from each other I am going to continue this series. I'll try different times of day, maybe rain, maybe snow. It will be interesting!
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