Friday, January 13, 2012

"The Art of Communication"

100 Artists Show - 2012 - Mary Lou Zeek Gallery
This years show is a bit different. Mary Lou partnered artists together to create a multi level show and experience. I was fortunate to be partnered with Ruth Armitage. She wrote me a beautiful letter that contained thoughts that were in both of our minds - that it is much easier for us to create an art piece than draft a letter to someone we haven't had a personal relationship with. She also wrote an exciting tale with the events from one of her days. I was immediately drawn in and endeared to her as our sensibility's to nature, solitude and wildlife are so similar. I could see the events of her day take place as if it happened in my own garden.
Here is an excerpt from Ruth's letter...
"Should I write about the weather it's touch upon the trees and fields or should I write about more dramatic shocking events here today.
 As I lay reading in the bath tub, my sweet young hen was sunning her self below the south facing window beneath the tub. Suddenly I heard a ruckus of screeching cackles flapping there, and looked out, saw a cooper's hawk fluttering over the lawn in hot pursuit of Snowflake the hen. I tapped on the window and rushed to dry off, throwing on a robe and running out to the lawn in my robe and bare feet with the dog at my side. The hawk flew off and the poor stunned hen hobbled to shelter beneath a weeping hemlock bush. I couldn't get her out without more trauma, and the dog threatened to intervene. I decided to let her rest and investigate her injuries later. When I came back latter in the day, she was still beneath the hemlock and I thought perhaps she had died. But when I touched her she sprang to life and ran off to join the rest of the flock."
Below are a few photos of the process....

 Sketches to build ideas on...
 Snowflake perhaps...
 the final sketch and first of many cuts.
 Don't mess up now, keep in mind what is black and what is white....
On the finished piece I enlarged a portion of Ruth's letter to replace the all white back ground.
Bidding opens Feb 1st. See Mary Lou Zeeks web page for details and  I hope you can join us at the artist's reception Feb. 2nd - Salem's First Wednesday.