Morris Graves Museum of Art Exhibition

So happy to have had Nicole Jean Hill photograph my exhibit at the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Humboldt county last week. I got images just in time to apply for a mid-career fellowship. I didn’t install the work for this exhibition, and was a little uncertain about the configuration of the “Spread” masses on the wall. When I last installed this piece, there was no space between shapes and far less of the guts spilling out from them, but I have come around. I still want to make ten times the amount there currently are for an installation. I want them oozing off the wall!

And here is one of the new dolls. It was funny to see it up with some of the original ones and how the color palette has changed. I just love this measuring tape.

Still waiting to here on one of my proposals, and that will probably determine what I decide to focus on this next year. Four more days. Fingers crossed.

Steadily making new work for my June exhibition....

June feels so far away, yet it is not.  I am working on these paper forms in my studio while the weather is still wintery, but hoping to get outside in another week or two to start cutting the styrofoam bases for these shapes.  We are supposed to get another snow this weekend and I am hoping it is the last!  I do enjoy being indoors and stitching on these, and just got caught up on Season 5 of The Americans while doing that, and I bought my pass for Season 6!  It is three episodes in and I am so nervous for what is going to happen to the Jennings family.  I am also very nervous for how all these parts are going to come together into a piece and once the sun starts shining regularly, I should know more.  

I so love the texture of the eyelets layered on one another.  I have backed off to a single stitch to attach them to save time, so they're a little loose.  I kind of like that movement they can make.  

Featured on Moorewomenartists.com....

So excited that artist/author Elaine Luther reached out to me after seeing my work at Woman Made Gallery in Chicago.  She has written a lovely piece about my work right here.  And the website has lots of fabulous resources for all artists at all stages of their careers!

"Pulling Stitches" exhibition at Hutchinson Center for the Arts....

went up yesterday.  There is some brand new work, work from the fall, and work from way back, but I am happy to see it all together.  The install was easy (Thanks, Lisa!) and the space is fabulous.  My reception is June 29 from 5-6:30 pm and the exhibition closes on July 7.  I am not going to make it back up before the reception, but our plan is to stay overnight, get good documentation and maybe play at the Science Museum in St. Paul before getting Thai food and heading home.  

Embroidered pattern paper

Beaded vintage handkerchiefs

All new animal dolls

Some more friends...

Still more....

So happy to have the Kangaroo standing again.  And the sloth is on his tippy toes.  The air was not keeping up, so Lisa promised to light all the work today.  I am so relieved to have it up!

I wish I had a donkey like this when I was growing up....

I had a pony named "Hot Shot" that was nearly the same color.  Then I graduated to a spiteful Appaloosa, and finally to a Quarter horse.  My mom now has a mother/daughter donkey duo that I have yet to meet.  They just have the greatest ears and kindest eyes.  

A Rhinoceros has taken up residence....

In my studio along with some other little critters.  Sometimes I think my animals can get a little too similar in body shape to my sewing ladies.  I am so glad this guy is a meaty no neck.  And I am just noticing that all my animals lean to the left....maybe because I am right handed?  

Sculpting animal critters....

I just adore sloths.  Do you know they do a dance to poop?  Sometimes I feel like a little boogie is needed to get things moving.  

His left eye can move in the socket, and sometimes he just looks so confused.  Or high.  I can't decide if I should let it be.  It might be a good look for a sloth.

Work in progress and...how is it 2017?

Hi there for anyone who has been reading...I have been to Miami, been back, had shingles, given my husband chicken pox, fought with my son's asthma, been making some screen prints and trying to get a lot of my own work done.  So much to report on Miami and all the work I saw, but that will have to be a different post.  Right now, I am just quick trying to get back at this so I am posting one of my new figures.  I have a show in June in Northern Minnesota, and I hope to have a whole family to share.  

This is my new woodpecker.  And I am so in love with him.  I am working on wings and limbs now.  Somehow I need to start planning for these little critters tails though....it would make things so much easier.  I tend to forget they have them.