HOLIDAY ART

Bark House

I recently donated my idea of a gingerbread house to the Durango Arts Center on the ocassion of a fundraiser for the children's art program at the Center. The base was actual gingerbread and after gluing together the walls and roof, the house was covered with ponderosa pine bark, other tree bark, lichen, nature-altered papers, and porcupine quills. This house along with others is being auctioned off at the Center during December.

AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY PAIRS OF SHOES: A WOMAN'S JOURNEY

Artists in Durango, CO are making art out of all kinds of shoes and recycled materials for a benefit fashion show and auction this coming weekend, November 21st and 22nd at the Strater Hotel. I have created a kimono-style garment from handmade paper from Thailand. Sumi ink-dipped tea bags hang on the back. Collage elements which include Japanese antique schoolbook fragments and gold Joss paper decorate the inside. Shodo (Japanese calligraphy) is featured on the front of the kimono and symbolizes "peace". The event supports the Alternative Horizons, a local non-profit that provides resources, services, and alternatives to victims/survivors of domestic violence.

Kimono


Kimono collage interior

FOAL OPENING AT DAC

My Japan Journal Journey Box is shown in a hands-on installation in the Friends of the Art Library (FOAL) Group exhibit at the Durango Arts Center. The opening reception is this coming Friday, November 20, 5-7 PM. The exhibit runs through December. The Box contains small books of photographs taken from my journey through rural Japan one year ago. Japanese-style bindings are used and memorabilia is included. In an interesting serendipity, I photographed a red box in an antique shop in Kurashiki and realized I had an almost identical box at home which was a perfect containment for my accordian-style journal and accompanying books.

Japan Journal Journey Box Installation

DURANGO COLLECTION

This month nine pieces of my work and the art of other Durango artists was purchased by Terry Bacon, SMI Real Estate Ventures. The art has been installed in a recently remodeled historic building in Durango, Colorado that houses the international company Korn-Ferry (formerly Lore International Institute, founded by Mr. Bacon). "Spirit of Place" is one of a series of three in the collection. The text in this aerial photograph of mountainous terrain adjacent to Durango, uses words from "Practice of the Wild" by writer-poet Gary Snyder. A drawing, "Primal" is part of the purchase and "Winter Pressing, 2008-09" (see blog entry June 10, 2009), is a five piece work that is also included.

Spirit of Place

NEW WORK

Here are a few images of new work that was exhibited at my Open Studio event last weekend. I am still open by appointment till year's end for Durango folks.
Indigo Root

Japan Package

AFRICA ART MARKET

Language: Africa

My mixed media piece is being auctioned off at the Africa Art Market at the Durango Arts Center this week. The reception last Friday night was exciting with drums, color, and costume. A rich market filled with a myriad of beads, baskets, woven fabrics, jewelry, sculpture, and much more continues this week.

OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND

Peace Leaf. 2009

Lots of preparations are happening for my annual Open Studio event this weekend. New work will be exhibited as well as art over many years.

Fall Workshops

Studio during a past Papermaking workshop

There is still room in my fall Durango workshops:
October 3 - Book Arts
October 17 - Collage
for information: wmelart@yahoo.com

ASPEN INSTALLATION

During the past weekend, I participated in the Co-Lab art show at Three Springs in Durango, Colorado. This art exhibit was part of the Open Studios weekend in and around Durango. Three Springs is a new development adjacent to Durango's Mercy Hospital and the raw and empty commercial spaces in the Mercado District where the artists exhibited their work, were an interesting and unusual venue for art. My Aspen graphite drawings, not often exhibited because of their size, are approximately ten feet in height and fit well in the space. The floor installation, titled "Forest Walk" or "Detritus" in past exhibits. is made up of cast paper tree sculptures with a central book sculpture "Detritus I". Leaves and lichens create a path through the installation. "Forest Walk" was recently shown in a larger form called "Detritus" at the Long Beach Museum as documented in a May 10th post this year.

FLASH! This installation has been left in the space for a few more weeks. It can be viewed quite well thru the north window. It is at the opposite end of the building where the popular cafe, "Digs" is located. 125 Mercado St, Suite 119. It is also possible to be viewed in the space by contacting the artist at wmelart@yahoo.com.

Aspen drawings and Forest Walk

OPEN DOORS EXHIBIT

Reliquary

Nara

Shrine Path

In Durango, the Open Doors exhibit at the Durango Arts Center opens Tuesday. September 8. There will be a reception on September 18, Gallery Walk night. As part of this exhibit I have collages that were inspired by my journey to Japan last year and one box sculpture - a shrine to the traditional book form and text.