WINTER IN THE STUDIO

These small collages are part of the Encore and Leaf series that have been created during a very snowy winter here in Durango, Colorado. This quiet time indoors inspires my work recycling paper fragments collected over many years.

AN ANNUAL RITUAL

Collage in Miniature: These two collages are part of the "Windows series" (13 in all) that will be part of the 12th Annual International Collage Exchange and will be exhibited in Okato, New Zealand and on the internet at the virtual tart site listed in my links. The exhibit opens in April for a month.

JANUARY IN DURANGO

FOUR CORNERS COMMISSION EXHIBIT

Winter Pressing Book (Spine view)


Winter Pressing Book (page example)

Winter Pressing 20007-08


These artists' books are being exhibited in the January show, The Four Corners Commission at the Durango Arts Center, Durango, Colorado. The Winter Pressing Book documents my ritual for 25 years of placing paper under winter snows in Colorado. That ritual continues with my placing papers on the earth last December 1.

NEW HAMPSHIRE IN WINTER

A Ride on Remember Me (Reme), Ellie - my Granddaughter's new horse

Father Mark and Daughter Ellinore and Reme

From New York City we rode north to New Hampshire with friends Katherine Leiner and Andrew Lipton. We stayed in the charming Chesterfield Inn, across the river from Brattleboro, Vermont. Visits to son Mark and daughter-in-law Rebecca's farm nearby included horse and pony adventures, visits to the 100+ sheep with their guard dogs, checking out the chickens, and good meals and gatherings around the wood stove.

Grandson Nathaniel on Water Run Farm's pond

It was interesting seeing the pond at Water Run Farm iced over after swimming in it the past summer. The icy beauty of the pond in the landscape frames Grandson Nathaniel practicing his hockey skills. The trip included seeing two hockey games in which Nathaniel and Ellinore played very well.

NEW YORK CITY VISIT

The Whale Skeleton of Gabriel Orozco

Three days in New York this month was full of museum visits with friends Richard and Leslie Madigan. My favorite exhibit featured the amazing art of Gabriel Orozco at the Museum of Modern Art with his floating whale skeleton with drawings over all the bones - a great variety of spiraling marks. His objects/sculptures with accompanying drawings were very inspiring. Kandinsky's paintings at the Guggenheim gave me a new perspective about the community of artists around Kandinsky and their connections and exchange of ideas. "Slash", a paper show at M.A.D. (the Museum of Art and Design), was a mix of installation, books, and sculpture - alot of laser cutting.

Central Park

The city was very cold and crisp. The winter vistas in Central Park were quite beautiful. One theater evening - "Brief Encounter" was incredible. Film, music, and creative staging made this classic love story new and exciting.

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