Monday, October 19, 2015

Sprouted Mandan Bride Corn and a Residency

Sprouted Mandan Bride Corn
6 3/16 W 3 9/16 H x 5/8 D inches
Wood, oil paint

Every time I go to a nursery I look through the seeds. I can't resist. I bought these Mandan Bride seeds two years ago because they were so colorful. I had fun sprouting the Bloody Butcher Corn and Black Aztec Corn that I found at the farmer's market the winter before and this packet of seeds from the Seed Savers Exchange looked promising that gray, end of winter day. 

From the packet: "From the Mandan Indians of Minnesota and North Dakota. Extensive color range includes some attractive striped kernels. Use as a flour corn or for fall displays." I love the pinks and purples of this particular seed with the green beginning to emerge in the stem. 


In other news, I was not only happy to learn that I was accepted into the Art Students League of New York residency program at Vyt, but I am also honored to receive a Ruth Katzman scholarship to cover my costs. I will be participating in the special two week session at the beginning of December. 


I am so excited to be able to take advantage of this program! I can't wait for the time and space to paint and draw uninterrupted and I look forward to the critiques and conversations. It will be such an incredible gift during the holiday season! 


Monday, July 6, 2015

Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth Opening and A New Painting!

The opening reception for Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth was June 5, 2015. It was an exciting night. First, I was able to share this event with my three children . . . who were more excited to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house than stand and look at my painting or the other 60 or so amazing works of art all around us. None the less, I was so happy to have them there with me. 

Being included in the exhibit was a bit of a dream come true. One of my paintings is in a museum for the summer. This is . . . exciting! Then I think about the other artists included in the exhibit (some of my heroes!) and I am humbled. I couldn't help but document the some of the minor details leading up to the exhibit.

 
I am no stranger to loan agreements after working as an art conservator on museum installations, but this was my first loan agreement for my own artwork. 

Taking one last picture of it on my wall where I got to enjoy looking at it every day.

The day I dropped it off. (Yes, I am embarrassed that it is not wrapped or otherwise protected. Thankfully I live a mere two to three miles from the museum with a 25 mph speed limit the whole way)

The exhibit will be up through September 13, 2015 and there are so many great paintings, photographs, drawings and even some sculptures and gorgeous jewelry to see. If you're in the area I hope you go check it out. 

All this activity got my creative juices flowing again and with an unexpected month off from teaching painting classes in June, I had some time open up that I wasn't planning on so I started a small oil painting. 

Hidatsa Shield Figure Bean 2
Oil Paint on Wood Panel
3 1/2 w x 4 5/8 h x 3/4 d"

This is my third painting of an hidatsa shield figure bean. I blogged about the first one here Hidatsa Shield Figure Bean 1. I love these beans because of the history of how they were grown in a three sisters method of planting with corn and squash and of course I love the way they look. I love the spotted patterns that most beans have and the way the skin splits open to let the root emerge. 


Dimensions with frame 4 1/8 x 5 1/4h"
SOLD












Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth at the CRMA June 6 - September 13, 2015


I am so pleased to announce that my painting Black Aztec Corn 1 was selected to be a part of the juried  exhibition Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art this summer. The show will be up from June 6 - September 13, 2015 with an opening on June 5 from 5pm - 7pm. I am truly honored to be included in an exhibition with several of my local artist heroes.

Information on the exhibit can be found at the following link.
http://www.crma.org/Exhibition/Detail/Upcoming/Midwest-Summer-Light-and-Warmth.aspx

I blogged about the painting in this previous post Black Aztec Corn 1.