Earth, Sea and Sky, Dreams and Mythology: four artists celebrate inner and outer worlds via paint, fiber, ceramics, metal, wood, crystal and stone. This is a show that delights the eye while nourishing the spirit.
This spring for our May show ORIGIN, I revisited several iconic Jillian images. One is the portrait mask in clay made from an original face casting, then the mask as vase, and also the mythical animal. Sea Lion is part dragon, part lion covered in intricate patterns of lace. For masks I chose two favorite faces and crowned them with leaves and roses, peapods and lilies. The ladies became garden goddesses and the gentleman became the Greenman Fountain. The Greenman is an ancient symbol of fertility, rebirth, and regeneration fitting for Origin. Jardinieres, perfect for planting or flowers, are embellished with birds, butterflies, dragonflies, fish, and sea creatures that all spring from the origin of inner vision and inspiration.
Timothy
Michael Hetland is a 3rd generation Norwegian descending from
Kragerø, Norway. Through his metal artworks he defines the fine
balance and beauty of metal, wood, crystal and stone to create
everlasting interior and exterior sculptures.
Tim’s one of a kind sculptures and photographs boast both beauty
and a distressed look and are very unique and unlike anything
else you will find in the art world. His solid built sculptures
start from a simple moment in time and after many hours of labor
are brought to life. As a New England artist, born in beautiful
Newport, RI, Tim has always been fascinated with the ocean, the
sky, and the earth and is compelled to craft images of what he
sees with his hands, very much like his Father and even his
Father did in Norway.
As
the daughter of an artist, I was fortunate to have the
encouragement to explore being creative in any way possible. My
goal as an artist is to share what brings me joy and happiness.
I am inspired by nature, flowers, color, and my pug Scarlet.
My time at the easel is restful and freeing. It’s a journey into
myself and a learning experience. Feeling the sensuousness of
the paint itself, the vibration of blending the colors, and the
emotion that arises as I work. It has lessened my personal need
for perfection and to let my flow be more natural. Painting has
also become a necessity in my life, a way to renew my brain and
my spirit.
I believe we are all born potential artists. Every child is a
bundle of creativity. For some of us, it gradually becomes less
important as we grow up and other interests and obligations take
over. And for some people, like me, making art continues to be a
lifesaving endeavor. When external life feels too harsh or
incomprehensible, I retreat into my imagination, where I always
can find peace, beauty and a timeless connection to a creative
source much bigger than myself.
Once in a while, when someone looks at my fibrations they ask
me: ”Why do you paint with yarn? Wouldn’t it be a whole lot
easier to just use traditional paint?” I do make regular
paintings too, using acrylic and oil paint. And yes, they are
generally faster to make, than my fibrations, which take a lot
of time. I like to go back and forth between fiber art and
working with paint. And as times have passed the two modalities
have started to look similar in some ways. Still, there is
something about the textures, the definite marks of the
stitches, the layering and building up of surfaces in the
fibrations, that appeal to me. I am the epitome of a
touchy/feely woman, and I suppose I have always been a bit wild
and wooly.
Emulsion transfers with various collaged materials
Bhutan Dancers is a piece from a photograph taken in Bhutan reflecting their religion (primarily Vajrayana Buddhism). Colorful, up-beat, traces of elegant Nepalese movements seem apparent. The Bhutan Kingdom is a s(closed) small independent country on the Eastern edge of the Himalayas. Population is less than a million. The Royal family appears benign, balanced, and (amazingly!) seem to want the best for their country and subjects. Rather than a scale of National Growth Product, they use a National Happiness scale. "Americanisms" like fast-food places or ads are not allowed. This country seemed wonderful: natural beauty (people and land), and the land is protected. What a prototype for a Utopian country! However, if you dig you find they proclaim "religious freedom" yet do not allow minority Christians to vote or own property. The people on the street are using cell phones. hmmm. There is a telling moment in a NBC Sunday news video where a Bhutan teenager is playing computer games- he can hardly take his eyes off the screen even as he is interviewed . He is the son of the top National Archery star (Archery is their national sport). and the boy is asked if he'd rather be practicing Archery then playing video games. Videos won.
Recently I have gone back to including topographical maps in my landscape paintings. They provide another way to describe a particular place- the lines and shapes visually describe the terrain of a place, the rivers, creeks, mountains, and valleys. Where they live is inside every animal, they follow the terrain like a map. So in this series I collage the topographical description of a specific habitat onto the shape or silhouette of an animal that lives there- fox, wolf, buffalo, elk, bear, deer are all included in this series. Place names like Wolf Ridge are often used locally as a way to describe a landmark where a wolf or pack of wolves can be frequently sighted.
As a photographer/artist I create images using a single lens reflex camera. I like shooting what interests me today, but I love being around people and capturing a special moment that just happens.
It's finally Spring so a great time to create a piece that is covered in handmade cast paper flowers!!!
Encaustic is one of my favorite mediums. Used in a hot liquid state it offers the artist many surprises and can be used with collage elements to create texture, and in its natural color or a great many beautiful colors. These two images are part of a series.
Proceeds will go to Ukrainian relief efforts. And when Ukraine knows peace, the banner may be removed by pulling out the straight pins that attach it. What a good day that will be!
In the early 70’s I toyed with a popular notion that a painting could be an object unto itself with no outside references as opposed to being an illustration. I set that work aside as other roads beckoned but many years later I realized that some old sketches were worthy of being developed further. The ZIGZAGTAG series is the result.
I like subverting expectations with my work.
Sometimes the variety in my work makes it seem like I am my own group show. I have a very long history of making art beginning as a child. I have worked in abstract and realism. As a teacher of art I was constantly exposed to different mediums. Two dimensional drawing and painting personally interested me most. Teaching art history, I had to explain many styles and ideas. I have a mantra that whatever it takes to make a piece work is what needs to be done. I love line and paint and elegance and refinement as well as crudeness and childlike simplicity. I like to make art that tells a story or presents an idea. I often rework pieces that are decades old. "How did I not see that solution?", I ask myself. I hope you enjoy these samples of very different pieces.
My
work is greatly influenced by my instinctual responses to
my art materials and chosen mediums. I am inspired by
nature – its organic lines, shapes, forms and movements.
Atmospheric changes in color and light and the resulting
patterns and shadows they create are a rich source of
subject matter for me.
Over the past few years my work has become figurative
based on drawings and photos of my family. This a return
to my roots as an art student at Boston University which
was a figure based program. Since graduating 40 years ago
my work has come full circle. Aging and Covid is now
influencing my choice of subject matter in ways I would
never have expected.
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