Art Legends

ODE TO JOY Pocket Pillows

In April, I was given the chance to do some artworks that would respond to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for a four-day concert. The pillows are to be displayed at the Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA.

When I researched the symphony online, I discovered that the fourth movement was the ODE TO JOY with lyrics that are like a hymn. The six pillows I designed each have a line of the hymn that is reflected in my images. I scanned my paintings and added the lyrics by using Photoshop. Then I chose colorful ribbons and fabric that seemed appropriate to the idea expressed in each pillow.

"His suns speed through Heaven's glorious order."  from ODE TO JOY

"All men will become brothers under thy gentle wing."  from ODE TO JOY

"We enter thy sanctuary filled with fire."  from ODE TO JOY

"Let us raise our voices in joyful sounds."  from ODE TO JOY

"Above the starry canopy a loving father must dwell."  from ODE TO JOY

"Draw joy from Nature's breast. Follow her rose-strewn path."  from ODE TO JOY

 

 

Amulets - a charm worn around the neck to ward off evil and bring good fortune.

When I am not feeling energetic, I enjoy making amulets using decal images from my large series of  paintings, and then beading. Beading is a very peaceful practice and the best part is choosing a word that somehow matches the images on the necklace. Each piece is double-sided with different images on either side. I sell (or give away to friends) these tiny wooden good luck charms.

The one that I wear is a bird image that says clarity.

 

Pillows

Several years ago I discovered that I could scan and print my paintings on cotton fabric. Since then I've been sewing one-of-a-kind pillows with pockets on the front and putting cards inside the pockets. I sell these at craft shows and customers tell me they put their glasses or paperback novels, or photos or sketchbooks inside the pocket for safekeeping!

Familiars

When the exhibit ended, all 60 artworks came to our house. The chore of where to hang them took several weeks, but eventually I began to see certain pieces in certain rooms, or out in the garden on fences.

This piece, FAMILIARS, is a real favorite of mine so I hung it at the doorway in our bedroom. As I pass from the bedroom into the hallway and the rest of my day, I have a special reminder of the powerful spirit of birds!
Familiars - Mixed Media on Wood and Mirrors, 10.5 x 10.5"

 

Pillow images

When I was told I had lupus, I knew that imagery would be my tool for healing. I found that the small paintings I was making on paper could be scanned and printed on cotton fabric, and then sewn into pocket pillows and eye pillows for meditation and yoga.

 

Double Hands Tree - aromatic eye pillow,  8x4" approximately

Safe House - aromatic eye pillow, 8x4"

Sea Trees - aromatic eye pillows, 8x4"

Hummingbirds - aromatic eye pillow, 8x4"

ART BAGS - Lately, I've also been making the scanned images into drawstring bags and putting art supplies inside. My niece is a relief worker in Haiti part of each year since the terrible earthquake, and she took 25 art bags to share with the Haitian children.

I really do believe that these images that I paint with the intention of healing myself can also serve others in distress.

This week on my birthday we hung the Aliso Viejo Library Exhibit.

It will be up for 3 months, which is great since there are 50 - 60 pieces on display! There are many of the Wood Series, and also the originals of the Batik Series that was begun five years ago as a healthy way to heal Lupus. In the display case, I  have the new beaded wood blocks and some of the pocket pillows and ornaments. Hoping to have a reception there in November.

The far wall has five of the Wood Series:  GABO 1, SPAN OF LIFE, GABO 2,  HEDWIG, BLACKBIRD HAS SPOKEN.

All of these are from the earlier Wood Series 2009 - 10.

This Garden Art Series actually hangs outside on fences, or exterior walls. I am inspired by the Northcoast Indians Totem Poles we saw in Alaska. When the wood rots and falls over, the artists do not try to rescue the art.

The Batik Series has over 100 paintings, so I chose a few of my favorites to hang over these copy machines in the library. Maybe people who are copying will enjoy some of them.

In this display case at the entry to the library, I decided to put some of the books that I love that inspire my work. Also, I included the two books that I have written: LEGEND, NOTES FROM AN ART STUDIO; and my teachers' manual, INTERNATIONAL ART LESSONS. This book contains 46 art lessons for elementary and middle school, and is available for $25. jartms@att.net

 

 

September and October Exhibits 2011

The Coastline Community College Gallery invited me to bring seven Wood Series pieces of art to be in the exhibit VISUAL INTEGRITY. Funny part was four of the pieces were just finished this summer which made the show extra special for me - instant feedback!

Coastline Gallery entry. FOREST FOR THE TREES 12 x 12"  Mixed Media. The two pieces on the right wall are also mine: SWEDISH TREE 26 X 26"  and WHIRLWING 28 X 24". Both are MM.

Coastline Gallery. The three wood pieces to the left are mine. JACOB'S LADDER 20 x 18"  MM,

BLACKBIRD HAS SPOKEN  28 X 24" MM, DOUBLE CROSS  24 x 16"  MM.

 

 

 

Garden Art

About a year ago I decided to make some pieces that could hang on fences, trees, or the outside walls. This idea was really fueled by having too many pieces of art with no place left to hang them! Now I notice the fun of adding moving parts to the art that blow in the wind and reflect the sun.

 
Garden Guard  Mixed Media on Wood  28 x 18"  2011

 
Garden Guard II  MM on Wood  28 x 16"  2011

 
Double Cross  26 x 18"  MM on Wood  2011

 
Jacob's Ladder  MM on Wood  24 x 16"  2011

 
Bird Dreams  MM on Wood  26 x 25"  2011

 
As Above So Below  MM on Wood  20 x 21"  2011

 

SONG LYRICS AND POEMS

A strange connection to lyrics from popular songs and/or lines of poetry has begun to appear in the titles of my current work. For example:

"Morning has broken like the first morning, Blackbird has spoken like the first bird..."

 The second line of the song is now the title for this bird piece which had a very different title while I was making it. The new title came as a big surprise that I liked immediately.
Blackbird Has Spoken   28" x 26"   MM and Wood   2011

Another example of a title for a piece is from the song  Catch a Falling Star.

"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away..."

This song seems  to me to refer to family or friends who need a helping hand during a bad time in their lives, and being there for them for awhile.

Catch a Falling Star   MM and Wood   8" x 5.5" x 2"   2011

Another example comes from a poem that I read when we are at our cabin in the Rocky Mountains of Utah at an altitude of 10,000 ft . When I make art there, I find spiritual meaning in the images.

"The higher you go, the less body, the more Spirit."

 
More Spirit   MM and Wood   9" x 7" x 2"   2011

One more piece from this new series of beaded wood is a Tree of Life image. I decided to use a line from a poem I wrote shortly after finishing the piece, but the poem was not referring to this work (at least I didn't think it was at the time?)

"Trees are Sacred. They grow from the CENTER of our Earth."

 
Trees are Sacred   MM and Wood   9" x 8" x 2"   2011

ART THAT HEALS

 
Many years ago, while studying Aesthetic Anthropology, I came across the idea that color and shape have the power to heal. When my daughter was in the hospital early on in her 2nd pregnancy, I worked on these images until her healthy baby boy was born!

  Gabo's Safety Net, 24" x 24", wood/paint/pine cones

   Gabo's Safety Net II, 24" x 24", wood/wire/nails/paint