LAURA WAIT: Image & Structure workshop

I attended this August workshop at the Durango Arts Center and hosted the presenter Laura Wait. Having appreciated the artistry in her artists' books over the years, it was inspiring to learn her process and technique which included ideas with paste paper /mixed media techniques and learning a new binding.

SUMMERTIME

Language Bound (artists' book work)

At the end of June, I journeyed to Southern California with friend Carol Ozaki. We visited old haunts, walked the cliff overlooking the Pacific, had a little beach time, and saw the Maya Lin show "Systematic Landscapes" in San Diego. I also connected with a few artist friends. I rented a car and traveled to L.A., where I stayed with old Durango friends, Ray and Ethel Parker in Santa Monica and went to son Mitchell's gigs at Il Moro Lounge and Resturant (his trio) and the Skirball Center (with Katia Moraes). Exciting, wonderful music and time with our Cape Verdean "family", Dilma and sister Loka and their mom visiting from Cape Verde. I also connected with the Lora Schlesinger Gallery, who I have been associated with for over 25 years and spent one afternoon at the Bergamot Center visiting the myriad of galleries there. On the way back to Del Mar I met my cuz Lois for lunch. All and all an inspiring and great time.

July has been a time for workshops held in my home studio (Papermaking and Collage) This summer I am also spending a limited amount of time at my job as artist-in-residence at Edgemont Highlands, primarily maintaining the 37 environmental sites done over the past 3 years.

July and August highlights the Invitational Book Arts show at the Art Library at the Durango Arts Center. Above is the piece I have in that show.

500 HANDMADE BOOKS (Lark Books)

Cover: Laura Wait

Pagings

Peace

The above 2 images of my book art are included in this wonderful book, "500 Handmade Books: Inspiring Interpretations of a Timeless Form"... Just published and available for purchase in mainstream bookstores.

CONNECTIONS:EARTH+ARTIST A tribute art show in resistance to Desert Rock

Bleeding Sky by James Joe (Navajo)

List of Seven (Long assemblage)

My assemblage and artists' book "Gradations of Grey" are included in this exhibit (protesting the building of another coal-burning power plant on the Navajo reservation) at the Center for Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado. "List of Seven" includes sumi ink-dipped tea bags labeled with seven pollutants that are released from coal-burning power plants.

DURANGO ARTS CENTER ANNUAL JURIED SHOW

Entomon

This artists' book sculpture uses stone from Colorado and Lokta paper with collaged insect imagery taken from an early 20th century encyclopedia. An accompanying box holds pinned insects.

Winter Pressing 2007-08

The other work accepted by the juror is my annual "Winter Pressing". Each year I lay paper on the earth to be buried under winter snow. Nature acts on the paper, embossing, staining and documenting the snowfall amounts. The image shown is one of four in a series. The series won an honorable mention.

COLORADO NORTH JOURNEY

Red Shale Stack (from an environmental art workshop at Colorado Art Ranch Artposium)

Late spring found me traveling to Steamboat Springs and the Colorado Art Ranch's Artposium at the Carpenter Ranch owned by The Nature Conservancy. The drive with friends Carol and Ron Ozaki along the western slope of the state (Ouray, Montrose, Grand Junction, I70east, to Rifle and north) was resplendent with spring green against a background of snow still on the high peaks. The theme of land at the Artposium was fascinating and inspiring with presenters and attendees from the fields of visual arts.literary arts, and land stewardship. Art sharing, good food, a bird watching walk, environmental art and writing workshops, a roaring bonfire, and a cello performance enriched the weekend.

Animal Hole (from the environmental art workshop)

Nature's Calligraphy, Denver Botanic Garden at Chatfield (in process)

On the route home through Denver, catching a ride with Ridgeway, Colorado artist Meredith Nemirov, we stopped to see how my April project was faring. (see April 19th post) The sod had turned a golden brown and the grasses were bright green and growing, threatening to engulf the sod lines. This site-specific landwork continues to transform in its on-going process.

BRAIDING '08

I recently harvested grasses in a wetland area that were braided last fall at the Edgemont Highlands development where I am artist-in-residence. The braids of grass, pressed to the earth by the winter snows, were gathered and wrapped around a nearby cottonwood tree.

SECRETS & LIES

I was recently in this exhibit at 23Sandy Gallery in Portland, Oregon. It was juried by Gay Walker, Special Collections Librarian at Reed College Library in Portland. Link to the 23 Sandy Gallery website, click Past Exhibitions, Secrets & Lies to find my name and images of 3 artists' book works.

SWEETHEART OF THE ARTS DINNER & DANCE

This fundraising event on April 26th at the Durango Arts Center was held to honor me as an artist and contributor to the arts in the Durango community for over 25 years. An exhibition and silent auction of tribute artworks was also part of the evening...the artists having donated an original work of art with proceeds benefiting the Arts Center. It was an amazing exhibition by amazing artists: Judy Brey, Sandra Butler, Nancy Deacon, Ron Fundingsland, Deborah Gorton, Louise Grunewald, Chyako Hashimoto, Barbara Klema, Pat Lorenzen, Jules Masterjohn, Carol Martin, Maureen May, Mary Ellen Morrow, Mariah Mullins, Karen Pittman, Linda Robinson, and Carol Salomon. A lovely comemorative program was produced which included poems by my friends Katherine Leiner and Grace Cavalieri and images of my art over 40 years. The documentary film, "Seeing the Forest for the Trees: The Art of Mary Ellen Long" was also shown. Maureen May, my long time friend in art, gave a very touching tribute talk. Needless to say, I was humbled and very overwhelmed by this outpouring of love. The committee worked very hard to make this a memorable evening included Regina Hogan, Chair, Karen Thompson, Christina Ertezek, Linda Geer, J.M. Jones, Pat Lorenzen, Carol Ozaki, Diane Panelli, and Janice Weeks. I thank them all.
Program

Program page

Program page

Accepting my award

Husband Wendell and I beginning "The Dancing"!

5th ANNUAL EDIBLE BOOK SHOW & TEA

Our little town participated in this international event on April 4th at the Art Library, Durango Art Center, Durango, CO. A great time was had by one and all. To see examples of this art from around the world, google "edible books".

A few examples: