The Art of Sleeping Bear Dunes

Art of the Sleeping Bear Dunes: A Fine Art Publication and Exhibition

Artists have been drawn to the beauty and ever-changing landscape of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for years.  Leelanau Press, a non-profit publisher whose mission is to publish work of regional writers and artists, in conjunction with the Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan, invited artists to submit work in a juried fine art competition with the promise of the publication of a color, large format, hardcover book and an exhibition at the Dennos Museum Center in October 2013 - January 2014. 

I am honored to find that 'Glow' was accepted into this exhibition.

Glow

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.

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.........

Great East Japan Earthquake Remembrance Ceremony

Okiagari-koboshi

I was privileged to be invited to the Great East Japan Earthquake Remembrance Ceremony & Luncheon today by the Consulate General of Japan (Detroit) at the Lansing State Capital Rotunda.  I was invited as a representative of both the Michigan/Shiga Sister State Board and as a printmaker member of the Baren Forum and it's "Inspired by Japan" Relief fundraiser.
The Consul General of Japan, Kuninori Matsuda gave a very moving speech thanking "all of our friends across Michigan - individuals, schools, churches, non-profits, corporations and local governments- for your generosity and your solidarity with the Japanese people."  We know that this gift truly stems from kizuna: the bond of friendship."
Speeches were also given by our Governor Rick Snyder and Lansing's Mayor Virg Bernero.  Mrs. Mary Fales, mother of a Michigan man teaching English in Kesennuma City at the time of the earthquake spoke of her son's experience and Dr. Jeffrey Angles read original and translated poetry written in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Each guest recieved a gift from Fukushima (pictured above).  The folk art doll represents the mind of the Tohoku people who are calmly and patiently working on reconstruction with the spirit of "never give up" in the aftermath of the Great Earthquake, as it always stands up with gentle smile however many times it is knocked over. 
I tried to knock it over.  Like our own Weeble's, it bounces right back up when you knock it over!

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.

515 Gallery Opening

515 Gallery Management Class w/ me in the middle

 January 14, 2012 was the opening reception for the 515 Gallery exhibit, 

"women with a(rt) purpose". 

515 Gallery is run by the Gallery Management Class of Clare (MI) High School and their exceptional teacher, Kim Kleinhardt.  The students select the artists, do all communications & advertising, hang the show, man the reception, introduce the artists, take care of all sales - everything!  

I was amazed first by the concept of the Gallery Management Class.  Then I was completely taken with the professionalism of the gallery.  

They did a first class job that rivals any gallery I have been to.

Banner

 The city of Clare put up banners of the exhibit on the street lamps.

The gallery was packed!

Even though the day before there was enough snow to close schools and that this evening it was

4 degrees outside, I would guess over 200 people came to the opening reception!

 

 My prints were very nicely displayed.

 

 Katie Chichester beautifully expressive oil paintings of rural scenes. 

She is a graduate of the Gallery Management class.

Puppet Theater front

Carrie Anne Parks (faculty at Alma College) clay Puppet Theaters were so richly detailed.  Four of them were displayed so the front could be seen from outside the Gallery.  Here is the front & back of one theater.  (My camera fogged up a little when I went out to take pictures so the colors aren't as bright as in person.)

Puppet Theater back

 Winter hours for the Gallery are Saturdays, 1pm - 4pm.  This exhibit will be up until March 31.

Katie Chichester, Kim Kleinhardt, Carrie Parks, Linda Beeman

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

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!

Byobu

While at the Moku Hanga Conference in Japan I was able to take a byobu (screen) and chotsugai (paper hinge) workshop given by Yabuta Kashu. 

Byobu's (bee-o-boo) were used in Japanese homes as room dividers where there were not walls and means 'protect [from] wind'.  They are used as pieces of furniture as well as art and their use can temporarily change the size and atmosphere of a room.
They are held together only by paper hinges and glue and can fold in both directions.  There are no nails, metal hinges or screws.  Just paper.  It's pretty magical!

Once home I decided to make my own using a print made especially for the byobu.  I had only made a small 2 piece byobu in the workshop but made this one 3 pieces.  It took several weeks but it came our exactly like I wanted.  The size is 12 x 25" so it won't work as a room divider but fits nicely in front of the fire place.

Blue Moon 

 

 

 

I used 2 blocks of cherry ply.  The challenge was getting all 3 pieces to print evenly and with the same tone and color.

Moku Hanga Exhibit - Edinburgh, Scotland

Tangled Water

Elspeth Lamb RSA and Paul Furneaux RSA show new works alongside over 30 invited Mokuhanga (wood block printing) artists from Japan, USA, Australia, Europe, and Scotland.

My print, Tangled Water, was selected to be part of this exhibit which also includes works by Helen Frankenthaler! 

In Japan: Moku Hanga Print Exhibit

30 July - 18 September, 2011
RSA Finlay & Projects Room
The Royal Scottish Academy
The Mound
Edinburgh

First Photos

Annie Bissett and me in front of
Kiyomizudera Temple

Yoshimizu Inn in the hills above Maruyama Park

The garden outside my room.

My futon is very comfortable!

I know this is weird but so was the toilet. I still don't know how do use the buttons. I think one of them launches the Space Shuttle and I just don't want to be responsible.

Greetings from Japan!

Hello everyone. I have arrived in Japan for the IMHC in Kyoto. My first time to Japan. I had the great fortune to be sitting across the isle from April Vollmer all the way from Seattle to Osaka. Also with us was Susan Rostow, the inventor of Akua Kolor!
Japan is gorgeous and you should all come! I am in a ryokan (bead and breakfast type inn) in the hills of Kyoto surrounded by a bamboo forest above and Maruyama Park below. I have a futon I lay out on the floor to sleep which for me is rather like how we camp anyway. And I have wi-fi! Yeah!
At breakfast I met a family who were in town from Kochi, Shikoku. He is a paper maker and was here to learn how to make his tools - the screens. He said that it is a dying art and harder to find so he has to learn it. He is not a generational family of paper makers. When I asked him why he decided to make paper then, he said he saw it made he felt inside that he must make paper. I understand that feeling - it is why I do moku hanga.
Yesterday I met Annie Bissett for the first time. She and her friend from Tokyo came and met me for a tour of several temples. We walked on the famous "nightingale" floors which really do sound like birds singing! It was amazing.
It is very humid and hot - reminded me of our Michigan summer.
I will post pictures later.