Thursday, May 21, 2009

THE BOOK: WIDE OPEN

Winter Pressing 03-04

Language Found

Pages Flying


Three of my book works were chosen by Lin Fife, curator for "The Book: Wide Open". The exhibit will be held in the Hagnauer Gallery at the Business of Art Center in Manitou Springs ( adjacent to Colorado Springs), Colorado. It runs May 22 to June 27 with the opening reception May 22.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

COLORADO ART RANCH'S SEX & SENSIBILITY ARTPOSIUM IN TRINIDAD , COLORADO

Trinidad, Colorado

Located south of Wasenberg on I-25 near the New Mexico border, known for the Gender Reassignment Surgery Department in the local hospital

Leaving Durango for Trinidad

A van full of nomads: (l to r) Karen Pittman, Ron Ozaki, Carol Ozaki, Mary Ellen

Carol at reception

We registered at the First Street Gallery, in downtown Trinidad where a reception took place that featured Santa Fe, NM artists responding to the theme of Sex & Sensibility. The resident artists, part of Colorado Art Ranch program, exhibited their work also.

Sculpture garment of Christine Comeau

Carol and Ron and 2 others were part of the fun, wearing Christine's creation.

Resident artists

(l to r) Christine Comeau, Quebec, Sculpture; Greg Larson, Michigan, painter; Kristen Iverson, Memphis, writer; Zoe Childerly, UK, photography.

The artposium featured presenters/speakers, Charles Baxter, writer from Minneapolis; Dr. Marci Bowers, Trans-gender Surgeon of Trinidad; Mark Newport, fiber artist from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan; Laura Pritchett, author/editor, Northern Colorado; Joe Quirk, author of "It's Not You, It's Biology" from California.

Saturday we listened to a talk by Joe Quirk, "Sperm-Spreaders vs. Egg-Protectors", followed by Mark Newport's "Alter Egos" that focused on his knitted super heroes. The afternoon contained breakout sessions making wire sculptures with Katy Haas, Writing Sex Well with Laura Pritchett, and a follow-up "Sex with Joe". That evening we viewed "Trinidad, the Film" followed by music at the La Quinta. Sunday featured Dr. Marci Bowers "A Transgender Natural History" talk which provided insight into the transgender experience. This was a very informative and impressive presentation. Charlie Baxter talked about his work weaving sex, love, etc. throughout his novels and stories. I have attended 4 other Artposiums, presented by Colorado Art Ranch and presented at the Durango spot. All in all this Artsposium was one of the best yet relative to the quality of the presenters and uniqueness of the subject.

For more information on the Colorado Art Ranch and future artposiums and residencies, please use the link on this blog.

THE ATHENAEUM'S 7th BIENNIAL ARTISTS' BOOKS JURIED EXHIBITION

"Gradations of Grey"


My book "Gradations of Grey" was selected for this exhibit.
The juror was Stanley Strauss, Curator Emeritus of the Artists' Books Collection, Cerritos Library. It runs May 16-June 20 in the main gallery at the Athenaeum, 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA. The reception was May 15 which I was not able to attend.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

CALIFORNIA TRIP (APRIL-MAY 2009)

Mitchell and Mom (at the Long Beach Museum reception)

Friend Julie Mullin (at the Long Beach Museum reception)


The primary reason for this trip was my participation in the exhibit at the Long Beach Museum of Art - NOVEL CONSTRUCTIIONS: CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS CREATE MONUMENTAL BOOKS. Below are a few images of work in the show. (My installation photos follow in the last post.)

Genie Shenk's "Ring"

Carol Shaw-Sutton's "Longitude"

Sue Ann Robinson, Director of Collections at the Museum with husband Wendell

Along the way we visited Balboa Island.

Lunch with cousins Bill Crawford and Lois Bub

A great day was spent with Julie in Santa Monica which included an appointment at the Lora Schlesinger Gallery in Bergamot Station, where 7 of my new collages were consigned and a visit to "Obsolete", an amazing gallery of antiquity - construction, collage, and photography. Time was spent on long beach walks in Del Mar and Encinitas. Water still too cold for dipping. California in the springtime was rich with many tones of green.

The succulent garden of Genie and Al Shenk, Solana Beach

NOVEL CONSTRUCTIONS: CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS CREATE MONUMENTAL BOOKS

My installation "DETRITUS" (9'x 35'x 5') at the
LONG BEACH MUSEUM OF ART (May 1-August 16, 2009)

"Detritus" installation (cast paper aspen trees, artists' book made of handmade paper with flowers, created in San Juan Mountains, Colorado)

"Detritus" installation (cast paper aspen trees, book with imported papers, natural elements, created in Telluride, Colorado meadow)

"Detritus" installation (cast paper aspen trees, collage, natural elements, artists' books)

I am happy to be part of this exceptional exhibit, curated by Jean Clad in California. The reception was attended by a large appreciative crowd and I was excited to greet son Mitchell and dear friend Julie Mullin from Mill Valley. Two of my favorite pieces in the show are the "Ring" by Genie Shenk and "Longitude" by Carol Shaw-Sutton. Other artists participating are Cheryl Sorg, Edith Abeyta, and Beatriz Mejia-Krumbein. Sue Ann Robinson, Director of Collections was our host and helpmate throughout this challenging installation.