Fellowship of Dawn

Everyone has their favorite time of the day.  I am a morning person.  I love the dawn and the sunrise and the sound of birds waking up to the new day.

There is nothing I like better than camping and waking up to a cool, crisp dawn.  Make some coffee on the fire, quietly listen as everything in nature wakes.  Walk to the water’s edge….hear the waves lapping against the shore before you can even see it.

Then – that magical moment of dawn when the clouds start to brighten.  The indigo of night, inch by inch, changes to greys before the riot of pinks, purples and oranges of sunrise.  It is a moment of fellowship with nature and with God and with life.

Beam

Beam

Living in the 'flatlands' of mid-Michigan, surrounded by wheat and corn fields, it is not unusual to see big trees.  But they are usually second or third generation, standing alone in someones yard or a park.  Michigan was pretty well clear cut from shore to shore and top to bottom back in the 1800's.  Conservation practices were unknown.  Man ruled and nature and all it's bounty was there for the taking and for our every use.
The opportunity for me to see virgin stands of the last giant trees in Michigan came while I was Artist in Residence at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.  Hiking the Government Peak Trail, Lake Superior Trail and Big Carp River Trail left me in awe of what Michigan must have looked like. 

Huge, majestic, beings that grew for centuries in the storms and winds of Lake Superior.  They strengthened their bones against the onslaught by growing roots into the rocks of the escarpment, wrapping around and through them.  

They grew slowly and with purpose up to the light of the sky and 

a beam of light from the sun.

The trees were deemed too difficult to get to and fell back in the day and so were left.  Today, without the protection of the Park, all kinds of machinery would be moved in and fell them with no problem.

What troubles me is how big business and government love to worm around the protection placed on our public lands.  Lands that WE, the taxpayers own!  The moves recently to go under these lands, searching for oil, gas, minerals.  They put forth the argument that they are not disturbing the Park - we can still hike the trails and enjoy the wildlife and views above ground.  And look at all the jobs they will create!  Goodness!  We should all embrace their compassion for us!
Yet they maim the land gaining access and then poison the groundwaters that flow into the streams, rivers and the largest source of fresh water on earth!  They don't think about the consequences to the next generations that can never repair their damage.

We need to stand tall, like these giant trees.  Grow deep strong roots.  Hold on tight against the winds that conspire to fell us.  We need to reach with everything we have toward the sun and harness the energy given by it instead of digging into the deep places where what we do is hidden from the light.

We need to Beam.

Paths We Travel

I find it so interesting the paths we travel.  It was never even in my thoughts that at some point in my life I would travel to Japan and live at Mt. Fuji.  Never!

So imagine my surprise when I was recently moving and found this watercolor painting I did when I was 16 years old.

And then compare with my recent woodblock print from my Residency at Mt. Fuji this fall.

Artist in Residence - Mt. Fuji

Earlier this summer I found out I had been chosen to be one of 6 international artists in residence at
Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory at Mt. Fuji, Japan for 5 weeks - October 7 - November 10, 2012.  The others were Tomasz Kawalczyk, Poland; Eva Pietzcker, Germany; Mara Cozzolino, Italy; Paul Furneaux, Scotland and Yoonmi Nam, Korea/USA.

We stayed in Tokyo for 5 days and had an exhibition in Tokyo at CfSHE Gallery for 10 days. 
This is the poster of the exhibition.

Setting up the exhibition under the watchful eye of Program Director, Keiko Kadota.

I was fortunate to have friends in Japan that were able to attend the opening reception.  Pictured with me and my prints are Ann Larabee from Lansing, MI, who is teaching in Tokyo; Tomoko Hirao and Takayuki Fukuyama from Shiga; and not pictured, the photographer of this picture, Phil Ono.

After being in Tokyo for 5 days we moved to the residence location at Fujikawaguchi-ko.  More about this in the next post.

Inspired by Japan Presentation

I had the privilege today to present the complete portfolio of prints that Baren Forum members made last year as a fundraiser after the devastating earthquake and tsunami to the Consul General of Japan in Detroit, Kuninori Matsuda.

What Are You Doing??

I've been getting that question a lot lately.  Trust me, I AM working!  I set aside this year and part of next to create a new body of work.  No shows, no competitions - just work.  I am happy with my progress.  For the most part I have been in the studio every day this summer and it has been wonderful.  There is no pressure or deadlines.  There is nothing that has to go in to a gallery right away.
These days we can instantly upload our images for the world to see it is "normal" to do that.  Not posting seems abnormal.  I have had to restrain myself.
Our fast food world expects everything right now.  But, I want there to be some mystery.  Some anticipation.
I am still doing my traditional style of prints but I am experimenting a bit as well.
I hope you will be pleased when it is all done. 

10,000 Leaves

Nothing is more beautiful than Michigan in the autumn.  Last October I had the privilege to be Artist in Residence at Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park.  For 2 weeks we were provided a cabin in a remote part of the Park that was built by the Friends of the Porkies.  We spent each day hiking  some of the more than 20 trails.  One of only a few protected Wilderness areas in the Midwest, with 60,000 acres, rivers, secluded lakes, old growth forests and countless waterfalls, it was hard to chose the one image that would define my time there.

10,000 Leaves

In the end I chose this view from Summit Peak - the highest point in the Park.  This view gives you an idea of why they are called the Porcupine Mts.  With a little imagination maybe you can see the outline of the porcupines back in the ridge-lines of pine and hardwoods.
Tucked into those deep shadows is Mirror Lake which you can get to from the Peak by following the Mirror Lake Trail.  There is a very nice, secluded rustic campground at the Lake itself.  Only a few sites are there and they require a backcountry pass to camp at.

Mirror Lake

That trail in turn connects with others - well, here's a pdf of them all: Porkies Trails.  You won't be bored, that's for sure.
I highly recommend visiting the Porkies and for all you artists (not just visual) if you are looking for solitude, wilderness, beauty and inspiration, you should apply for this AiR!

8" x 30"
8 birch blocks
27 impressions
edition of 15 on various papers
Papers - Kihada, Kihada light, Echizen and Shikoku.

Tangled Water at Muskegon Museum of Art

Tangled Water, part of the 12 Views of the Shiawassee River series, was accepted at the 84th Regional Exhibition at the Muskegon Museum of Art. In honor of the Museum's 100th Anniversary, it is the first time the exhibition was open to the whole state. The Exhibition opened May 31 and runs to August 8. There were over 600 entries and about 190 pieces accepted.
Award winners and accepted work can be seen here: Muskegon Museum of Art 84th Regional Exhibition

New Studio!

New studio space

 I think one of the hardest things about being a parent is that your child grows up.  And they move out.  And they leave an empty space behind that no amount of things can fill.  Your heart is broken, you feel at a loss as to what to do.

before

before

On the other hand - they move out and leave an empty space.  What can one do with empty space?  Why take it over and have a bigger studio of course!
This is the 4th re-do that I am aware of.  The upstairs is part of the original 100+ year old farmhouse.  When I came on the scene it was 2 bedrooms.  You had to walk thru one bedroom to get to the other.  The stairway was back where that orange bi-fold door (a bathroom now) is.  There was no heat upstairs at all.
When we inherited the farm about 8 years ago, we set about gutting the entire house right down to the [real] 2 x 4's.  This upstairs room became one room, we moved the stairway to the other side and direction and put in a 1/2 bath.  5 windows facing east, west and south.  Lots of light!  Our son's room.
Fast forward to now.  Move stuff out, fill holes, repaint.  Move studio upstairs.  Enjoy!

carving station at left center

I print standing up at this 8ft. long work bench.  Drawing board is in the back corner.

New to me flatfiles (Craig's List purchase) along stairway

The Print - Michigan Competition

Meadow Quench - upper left

Friday, April 27, my friend and fellow exhibitor Ruth Egnater and I attended the opening reception of The Print at Ann Arbor Art Center.  This was Ruth's first competition and I was very excited to be there with her.  Although I have been accepted several times this was the best one I have seen and am so proud to be a part of.

"The Print invites Michigan artists to showcase experimental print techniques encompassing those of contemporary standards as well as those of time honored tradition."  The past few years it seemed that this was interpreted as "digital" with hardly a hand made print in sight.  It has been discouraging, not only in their content but in what it portrayed as printmaking to the general public.  In my opinion. 


This year’s juror. Norm Stewart chose over 60 prints - everything from a potato print, screen prints, intaglio, colograph, and - YEAH! woodblock prints!  Mr. Stewart is an Artist, Masterprinter and owner of the printing and publishing company of fine art prints, Stewart & Stewart. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Michigan. He also earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art where he worked with Tamarind masterprinter, Irwin Hollander.
Please enjoy these photo's.  I apologize for not having the names of the artists at the time of posting but will make every effort to add them as soon as possible.

Norm Stewart, Juror

Middle print is a woven etching

Ruth Egnater with Country Road

Honorable Mention potato print!

Kimono with clouds

The blue face was made with rubber stamps that said, "Sincerely I Thank You".

Letterpress, sugar lift intaglio, colograph, woodblock.........

Gifts of Art at University of Michigan

Fourteen of my prints, including several from 12 Views of the Shiawassee River, are on exhibit as part of the University of Michigan Health Systems Gifts of Art from April 16 - June 11, 2012.
According to their website, "Gifts of Art brings the world of art and music to patients, visitors and staff at the University of Michigan Health System.

Seasonal Fashion - a spring view along the River Walk in downtown Owosso

One of the first of its kind nation-wide, this comprehensive program has been developed to enhance the Health System's commitment to providing an enriching and comforting environment to assist the healing process."
With nine 2-D and 3-D gallery spaces that are viewed by approximately 10,000 people a day, this is a great opportunity for artists whose work is appropriate for the healthcare setting.  You can view the submission page for more information.  Deadline is May 15!

Reclamation

Reclamation

In October 2011, I was Artist in Residence at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.  With old growth forests, waterfalls, Lake Superior and a plethora of hiking trails, I was inspired until I was overflowing.

We were fortunate to go on two guided hikes with Park Interpreter, Bob Wild, which I highly recommend you do if visiting there.  The first was an early evening bear den hike – during a time when posted signs in the Park said “Bear Activity is High”! The second was a twilight, 90 minute guided hike through the former town site and copper mill of the Nonesuch Copper Mine.  The former copper mill’s limestone building shells and processing pits are slowly disintegrating and there is talk of archeological work being done there in the future if funding can be found.

It was the old town site that really interested me.  The buildings are long gone – torn down or moved during the Depression.  Lilac bushes and fruit trees that now feed only wildlife are the only things left that show that humans inhabited the town site. As we walked back out of the area, the full moon shone down on Nonesuch.  The relatively young trees, holding on to the last of their golden leaves, glowed softly.  The Reclamation by the Wilderness was well on its way.

Adagio

Adagio

 

 

Adagio - A tempo having slow movement; restful, at ease.

The deep snow at the edge of the fields demands that you move slowly and carefully, easing your way, quieting your spirit.
The dried milkweed pods softly rattle in the crisp bursts of wind creating soothing music like wooden wind chimes.
The low winter sun casts lengthy shadows, stretching toward...........spring. 
.

Ovid Elsie Print Project

Last December I was asked to do a demo of moku hanga for Ovid-Elsie National Arts Honor Society by teacher, Laura Weber.  It's one thing to do a demo but when in a school there has to be homework, right?  I gave the class small shina blocks from McClains Printmaking Supply and had them do a self portrait of their eye.  The worked on them over the holiday break, I picked them up a week ago and gluedd them down on a mat board.  This way they would all have each others work. Yesterday we printed.  A lot of the students had sports practices or drivers ed after school this day so it was a small class.  They all got to print a couple prints so that their classmates would have also one.

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

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.