Monday, March 14, 2011

WORKSHOP OFFERING

Cloud Root Paper (handmade paper)

Announcing "WASHI: THE ART OF JAPANESE PAPERMAKING" I will be teaching on the weekend of April 9-10 (9:30 AM - 4:30 PM) at the Durango Arts Center. I will also do a free presentation on the subject Friday night, April 8 at 7 PM.

This workshop explores Asian papermaking including fiber preparation, sheet forming, and decorative techniques.

Class is limited to 15 students. Please register before April 1 to reserve your space.

Contact me for more information.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

OFFERING IN IRAN

I recently collaborated with three Iranian land artists to make an "Offering" for peace at the 30th Environmental Art Festival in Iran. This collaboration was arranged by Raheleh Zomorodinia who exhibited her environmental art through photographs at the Open Shutter Gallery in Durango last year. My Offering series is exhibited in photographs of floating handmade paper circles on bodies of water all over the world. The artists involved were Shoushtar, Tara Goodarzy, and Shahrnaz Zarkash. This collaboration is posted on WEAD (Women's Environmental Art Directory online) under Raheleh Zomorodinia. I also have a few images on that site.


THE 8TH ANNUAL EDIBLE BOOK SHOW AND TEA

Edible cake books, by Heather Hinsley


sponsored by The Art Library at the Durango Arts Center

FRIDAY - APRIL 1 - 5 PM
JOIN ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD FOR THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL
EDIBLE BOOKS FESTIVAL

PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO CREATE A SCULPTURAL BOOK OF ONLY EDIBLE MATERIAL FOR THIS
1-HOUR SHOW THAT BEGINS WITH A DISPLAY FOLLOWED BY TEA
FEATURING THE CONSUMPTION OF THE ART

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO VIEW, EAT, AND SIP TEA!
RESEARCH:

Research: Google Edible Books and DAC Art Library scrapbook

Saturday, March 12, 2011

ROOTS EXHIBIT STATEMENT

ROOTS

deep dark root
tangling
wrapping
spreading


In 2002, the San Juan Mountains, adjacent to Durango,were ravaged by fire.
This fire came very close to my home and studio.
A fire break was made on my land.
In this process, roots of oak, aspen, and pine were revealed...and
I collected them.


This led to amassing many roots of all sizes and from many places.
I began wrapping them in handmade paper and dipping them in sumi ink.
Their complex forms and functions began to fascinate me.


anchoring
absorbing
storing


Part of my explorations took me to a juniper forest
(an environmental art site... The Land at Mountainair, New Mexico)
where I combined handmade paper-wrapped roots from the Colorado forest
with the exposed juniper roots in the Land’s arroyo
which made for an interesting conversation.


Earth from my land in Colorado and earth gathered
from The Land in New Mexico
has been part of this combining and connecting
I have explored during the past year.


More recently, the root forms have evolved into the meandering lines of rivers.
The series Roots to Rivers is in process as I research and draw
the aerial views of the world’s great river systems.

Mary Ellen Long
2011

Friday, March 11, 2011

ROOTS EXHIBIT PHOTOS

Artist with drawings - Art Library, Durango Arts Center

Installatiion

Reception

Installation

Installation

Installation