Inspired by an 81 yr old artist

I'm always encouraged and inspired when I meet an artist who in his/her elder years is still making art and influencing viewers by showing work.  I was privileged to be invited by my friend and colleague Kaye, to an opening reception for an artist last weekend.  The event was presented at the International Portfolio Gallery in Orlando, FL and curated by owner Winsome Edwards.

I was also encouraged to know another artist friend and colleague, Prof. Trent Tomengo had written the essay included in the book about the artist, Jacqueline Peters-Cully, from which I will summarize for this posting.  I don't like to single out enthnicity but the amazing story is much stronger knowing Jacqueline is an African-American artist and her journey as an artist began way back in 1947 when she declared her goal was to study fashion design.  Her teacher openly discouraged her stating "There are no Negro fashion designers."

Jacqueline proved her wrong as she pursued her career at the Art Institute of Chicago and excelled in drawing and painting having been awarded full academic scholarship in her 2nd year.  I can't tell you the whole story, but suffice it to say she persevered in the design field and eventually earned the place of a top textile designer in 1966-1970 and went on to launch her own design company in New York.

After marriage, she and her husband traveled to W Africa and she was inspired by the textile designs which eventually influenced her work, using the medium of dyes on silk.  Her work is beautiful!  Of course I have a soft spot in my heart for African designs.

The work that was exhibited at this event and the book that was written, specifically features a new body of work begun in 2004, consisting of 37 pieces which were in some way inspired by an exhibit of Gee's Bend quilts (which I was fortunate to view at the Orlando Museum of Art).  I learned Jacqueline is a "keeper" of processes and all through the years of her silk paintings, she saved the undersheets which left an imprint of the finished silk design.  From 2004-2007, she began assembling bits and pieces of these sheets into quilt-like collages which now make up this exhibition.  Her African-American heritage is proclaimed throughout her work, referencing the pathways of her journey and others of African decent which document such history as the Reconstruction and Railroad system which played a large role in Peters-Cully's life.  The title of the exhibition is in fact, "Journeying: The Colours of Our Pathways.

Another amazing part of this exhibition was the compilation of music by Prof. and musicologist Samuel Gaustad.  After viewing a roomful of her works, he was inspired to research and arrange Negro spirituals and jazz renditions which are counterparts to Ms Peters-Cully's  collaged collection.  We were able to hear and view a "mini" rendition on video of this work complete with images from the collection.  An amazingly inspirational evening! 

Ms Edwards, who is Peter's-Cully's dealer is working on a traveling schedule for this collection to be viewed at various museums and venues around the country.  If you ever read or hear when this will be shown, DON'T MISS IT!  It will likely be titled the same as the book: Journeying: The Colours of Our Pathways.  An Exhibition of Mixed Media Works Chronicling an American Experience.

In conclusion, I'm impressed afresh that one never knows how the LORD will use our history/heritage or previous work.  I think of Jacqueline's foresight to "save" all those papers for "sometime".  I'm a keeper, too, and I thought of all the small "thumbnails" I've kept of most of my artwork from my work beginning in 2000.  Perhaps sometime it will be used as inspiration for someone else to keep making art and exploring the gift God has given them..

New Works and Thoughts

I'ts about time I return to blogging.  I'm surprised I've waited this long.  I've been privileged to spend a lot of time in my studio the last couple months and have completed several new works except for final presentation.  I've been working on some calls for entries to three FL Museums and have one more submission to complete.  They all were listed about the same time so I've tried to make decisions about what goes where.  I'll be sharing where these are later, if I've found favor to be accepted in any of them.

I also visited the Florida Museum for Women Artists in Deland, FL where I have several friends exhibiting in a special Witness to Creativity show which allowed visitors to observe the art-making in progress for a week.  Go to  http://www.floridamuseumforwomenartists.org/ to check it out and if you're in Florida, be sure to see it.

I took a one-day Letterpress and Bookbinding workshop at Rollins College under Prof. Rachel Simmons a couple weeks ago.  It was tedious and time consuming but I'm happy to have printed four copies of the small four-page book and now I'm finishing it by adding color and illustrations and vellum.  When the pages are completed, I'll bind them and will have four limited-edition books!  I'll try to post a couple images when completed.

I've mentioned before I've been inspired to do a series of paintings based on the 1947 discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls by a shepherd boy in the Qumran Caves near the Dead Sea in Israel.  I'm so caught up in this work and have been consumed by studying the archaeological implications of this unearthed evidence that the Scriptures existed, were hand-lettered and preserved in clay pots down in these caves for years!  God's hand at preserving them is evident.  I've posted one image of QumranEleven: unearthed evidence I. It's been a new experience to incorporate "automatic drawing" that I learned in my Feb. workshop which gives a sense of "language" even though there are no recognizable words on the page.   I have so many notes to accompany the works--presently seven and potentially eleven to complete the series.  I'm contemplating the manner in which they will be presented and how I will compile all I have learned.  Writing about my work and inspiration is defintely closure for me in the process of art-making. 

QumranEleven: unearthed evidence I

acrylic with gold leaf on paper

14.75" x 9.5"

I'm also heavily in the middle of another series inspired by the Medieval Books of Hours, mentioned in a former post.  These are small, 6" x 6" images and I'm contemplating how they will be presented along with the writing of all I've learned. Then there's the 2010 Christmas card I've begun to make.  So much, so few hours in a day. . . .sometimes I'd like to have energy to work into the night.  But, I'm still trying to establish balance and quiet/meditative time so I don't miss out on what comes across my life on a daily, hour by hour basis. Challenging.

Watermelon on Memorial Day

This blog has been on my mind but I'm just now taking the initiative to write again. . . .on Memorial Day.  It's been a good holiday as I've given myself permission to do "what I want to do".  I've been learning I do not need to "go away" for a holiday but just by changing out what I do and when I do it makes it feel like a holiday.  So, I've celebrated by changing around my day and cutting open a big, juicy, red watermelon just like my dad used to do when he took an Indiana-grown watermelon into the backyard and cut it up so my three siblings and I could each have a slice and slurp it up with drips running down our chin!  What memories.  Maybe a watermelon will find it's way into a painting sometime?

I've continued in my "giving" mode by offering a recent painting (shown below) to the Limner Society http://www.limnersociety.com/ for their Small Works Art Sale Fundraiser.  Check out their website for more information. 

Third Day Vegetation

18" x 18"

acrylic on paper

I continue to learn more about acrylics and am enjoying the process.  I've begun a series of acrylic paintings inspired by the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  I've found a fascination for archaeology and the unearthing of fragments from the original scrolls of the Old Testament which were discovered in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea in 1947.  These discoveries contained several copies of every book of the Old Testament with the exception of the Book of Esther!  More about that inspiration later.

I've also begun a series inspired by the Medieval Books of Hours, which record hand-written prayers for different times of the day.  These were books for private devotions and were often commissioned and could have been the first and only book a commoner owned!   They often brought awareness of the presence of God throughout the day.  I'm fascinated with scribes, illuminated manuscripts, and all manner of book-making, paper, letters, etc.  I don't know where all this is going, but I'm newly inspired to keep reading, making and finding out.

Gift-Giving Weeks

"All art is a gift.  It is first of all a gift that the maker can do it.  It is then a gift to someone else, whether they pay for it or not."  Robert Genn, The Painter's Key

I have been in the process of making gifts for the past couple weeks.  One piece is for a dear friend celebrating his 80th birthday,  one is for dear friends who are getting married in a couple weeks and the third is a practically designed folder to hold letters to a congressman that a friend asked me to create.

The 80 year old I have known for about 40 years and about 10 years of friendship for the couple. I found the making of these gifts part of a celebration for their lives.  I find it extraordinary that I am able to gift them part of myself in the process of art-making and as I worked, there were memories of our friendships which make the work all the more enjoyable. 

While I am not always able to do this "gifting", this year's slowing down and stepping out of the traffic of constant events and initiating plans allowed me to indulge in this process.  Though I sometimes feel the world is going on without me, I am still convinced that at this season of my life it is "okay" to step back and enjoy some of these activities that have been put aside for some years. 

That doesn't mean I'm not doing any other work.  I am actively pursuing inspiration which is coming from all directions regarding the continued meditation about hours of the day as well as continuing practice in the new process of using acrylic paint. It is energizing to have so many ideas in process; some on the wall and some on the table in my studio.  I hope to share some photos soon so you can see some "in process" work.  Keep checking back!

I also am the new owner of two pieces of artwork I found online while reading blogs about other artists.  I bought one small piece from Whitney Johnson; another from Rachel Smith.  These are young emerging artists who recently completed their degrees in art.  I felt some personal message in each of these pieces and can't wait to get them framed so I can look at them each day, listening to what they will speak to me.  If you want to see their work go to their web blogs:

http://www.whitneylewisjohnsonart.blogspot.com/; 

http://rachelmarysmith.com/artwork. 

I love supporting the next generation of artists!

I'm off with my husband to California this weekend to celebrate the 80th Birthday for our friend. Then we travel to our other friends' Wedding a week later to celebrate a marriage.  I'll catch up later on the progress of all those inspirations beginning to happen in my studio.

The journey continues

Witness, testify and believe.  These three words are primary in John 20:24-30, an Easter meditation I'm reading.  Made me stop to ponder how my art-making could be part of all those proclamations when I translate the scripture, thoughts and impressions onto paper.  I came to the conclusion this is a huge responsibility and probably one of the reasons I take my art-making so seriously.  But I also found great liberty in receiving the gift of creativity and gave myself permission to continue enjoying the act of painting without restrictions.

My process is still in transition as I review the techniques from the workshop and spend time in research and study to find fresh and contemporary images  visually expressing my innermost thoughts and feelings.  Bear with me as I continue to find my way--perhaps the beginning of a series in the near future.  I would like to post some images soon but am not in a hurry to do so.

Last week I spent a day at my friend Kaye's studio with another workshop participant, Annette.  We had some great dialogue about abstraction and life and proceeded to challenge ourselves with some exercises similar to those we practiced at the workshop.  We are all learning and it is a great journey!  Perhaps the journey is the work for now?

Diving In!

Aimone Art Workshop Atlantic Center for the Arts

I hope you can see the energy and excitement coming through this photo.  I truly "dove in" to the unknown and took a risk to step out of my comfort zone and began to learn a new medium and manner in which I paint.  Steve Aimone was the coach for this week-long intensive workshop where 15 artists came together in a beautifully natural setting to just let go and paint!  There were limited directed challenges and none of my pieces are really "finished".  These are all beginnings in which we were absorbed in the language of abstraction and non-objective compositions, putting the lines and shapes on the paper with great energy and emotion.

We took part in critiques and dialogue about line, form, abstraction, non-objectivism, automatic drawing, and composite still life.  We had evening DVD's featuring several known abstract expressionists and I was introduced to some I had not known.

It was an "in the moment" experience for me; I left my laptop at home and seldom used my cell phone--never looked at my calendar.   I went with no expectations and came home full of excitement and energy and a new liberty in painting.  We shall see where it goes from here, but I can almost guarantee my art-making will never be the same.  The integration of these techniques with my present work will emerge over time.  I'm in no hurry to produce work "for someone or something".  I'm ready to just enjoy the process and learn all I can by doing what comes naturally.  However, I may eventually need to change my artist statement to reflect possible changes.

I believe my times of quiet and contemplation in the weeks leading up to this workshop contributed to my enjoying it to its highest.  It was a spiritual and worshipful experience for me being in the moment.

Check out aimoneartservices.com for further information on Steve's workshops.

This is where I am

I've been feeling guilty that I haven't posted for over a week.  Then I was brought back to a quote from Barbara Brown Taylor in her book, An Altar in the World:

"Most of us spend so much time thinking about where we have been or where we are supposed to be going that we have a hard time recognizing where we actually are.   When someone asks us where we want to be in our lives, the last thing that occurs to us is to look down at our feet and say, "Here, I guess, since this is where I am." 

This reminds me of a previous painting I made titled Stand Still (image above).   It references Psalm 46:10 and Moses standing on Holy ground at the burning bush.  He was there present in the moment listening to God's voice.  So, I'm okay.  I'll go forward from here.  If you want to read the writing about the image, go to http://www.phyllisthomasart.com/ where it is posted with the image.

I'll be traveling to New Smyrna Beach today to the Atlantic Center for the Arts to participate in an art workshop:  The Spiritual Language of Art:  Abstract Painting coached by Steve Aimone (http://www.aimoneartservices.com/).   I'm going totally with no expectations as this is a challenge and stretch for me using a different medium, technique and in community.  I'm leaving my computer at home so I can be totally present in the moment!  I'll give a report on my return.