"At Your Service" - International Society of Experimental Artists 2015

I was very pleased to have a piece accepted into the 2015 International Society of Experimental Artists show, being held this year at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City, Michigan.

And, as this is my third acceptance, I've earned signature status!

My piece is titled "At Your Service". It was created for submission to the annual Manoogian museum here on Mackinac the year that the theme was People of Mackinac, but alas it was rejected for that show.

My art has many influences, but a very frequent influence is my participation in living history and the necessary research for that participation. "At Your Service" was directly inspired by a book I read called Working Stiffs: Occupational Portraits in the Age of Tintypes by Michael L. Carlebach.

I was familiar with occupational images, but had never given them a great deal of thought. The advent of inexpensive photography methods allowed working men (and women) to document their lives and their pride in their skills, often while holding the tools of their trade.. Previously, only the wealthy could document their lives via portraiture, but the new technology made it possible for a much larger portion of society.

I decided I wanted to celebrate the people of Mackinac Island who truly make this place function: the laborers.

My piece began by photographing a variety of people: a street sweeper, a plumber, a maid, a chef, a nurse, a farrier, a bike mechanic, a porter, and, yes, a fudge maker. Each is holding the tools of their trade. I used these photos to create 21st century versions of tintypes via the use of the computer - converting them to black and white and reversing the images, just as happened with the original tintypes. I asked my models to be very solemn and straightforward, just like the 19th century sitters.

 

These images were than transferred on to sheets of tin roof flashing.

Each image was mounted on an antique piece of a silver-plate tea service, which was very intentionally left tarnished; just as the concept of "service" is rather tarnished these days.

The piece is intended to hang on the wall, causing you to look the workers right in the eye.

These are the people who keep Mackinac going and it would not exist without them, please spare them some thought the next time you visit.

The show will be hanging until November 29th, if you will be in the Traverse City region, please do consider visiting.

Insectile Duality

If you happen to find yourself in northern Michigan, I hope you'll consider visiting a very special (at least to me!) exhibition at Three Pines Studio in Cross Village.



This little beaded caterpillar (more about him here) was the inspiration for this project and show - my husband and I each choose six insects,twelve total,  and interpreted them in our separate types of media. Robin used three different types of printing techniques; linoleum block, white line and reduction. I worked in a mixed media style, starting with painted canvases and adding all types of fiber techniques including, embroidery, beading, applique, needle felting and more.




This was Robin's first show and it was a joy to be able to share it with him.

In the gallery, each of our pieces hung side by side.

Those of you familiar with my work might notice that the pieces are a littler looser and more whimsical  than is typical for my work - I'm not really sure why, it just moved in that direction and I decided to follow.

This is my favorite of Robin's pieces, an inchworm done using the reduction printing method, with eight layers of color.

Joann and Gene, the owners of the gallery, our delightful to work with and they have displayed our work beautifully - at the opening reception there was even these super cute "ladybug" bites!