"Queen Mother" Mixed-Media Work

Close up view

 Had this collage and painted face of my great grandmother, Julia Jackson, hanging around my studio for a while and realized a smaller format might work instead of the full body originally envisioned. "Muh" as all the grandchildren fondly called her was a tailor of men's suits by trade so in this piece I've included the old wooden spools of thread at the top. Other items added were pattern pieces( in dress and halo), antique packet of hook and eye closures(she kept the family together), a piece of cloth my friend Debbie Jackson brought back from Ghana(Muh was a Garveyite but never got to return to the motherland of Africa) along with a cowrie shell at her neckline.

"Queen Mother"

 What I'm realizing is that I'm still not pushing myself enough in some of my work...this feels like it's missing a lot. The background could stand to be darkened...her birth date might lend itself to the story. In terms of subject matter, I have probably used "Muh" as a repeated subject more than anyone else...actually she's the only one that has been reworked. Maybe I'll take some photos of the other variations through the years and share here.

Would love some feedback on this piece as I hope to make changes and post the photos side by side...as before and after
shots.

Loving the journey!

Art Masks

Kraft tape mask with chicken wire armature

I was downloading photos from my camera and suddenly realized how many projects were in my studio during 2012.

Side view

Here's a large mask constructed for Tapestry Performance Arts Company but later decided it reminded me of something used during Mardi Gras and left it in the garage.


Paper mache masks

These masks are in the early stages of development and would eventually end up being worn during the performance of "The Awakening of Art-Volume 1 at the King Arts Complex, Pythian Theater, September 15, 2012.


Completed mask worn during the performance of "The Awakening of Art-Volume 1" September 15, 2012 Janet George, photographer.

 

 

These large masks were simply held by the dancers during the performance. For photographic purposes they were placed on a painted background.

In all there were about twenty masks I made for Lori Wallace and Tapestry Performance Arts of varying sizes. Some worked better than others as was witnessed by the bird headdress(not shown) that I'd formed on a wig stand and when complete could only be worn by a pre-schooler. It was especially funny when I asked my husband to try it on for me and realized it may not work!  Lesson learned...measure each individuals head in advance, there is no one-size fits all in the noggin department. Afterwards I remembered that wigs have elastic sewn in them...hmmm.

Mask on right made of glue soaked muslin strips over chicken wire armature



Ta Da! First Art Quilt

Piecing it on my design board

Hmmm...trying to figure out the rhythm

Detail of the finished quilt

Crib size completed art quilt



Quilt hanging in the Elijah Pierce Gallery at the King Arts Complex May, 2012

In January of 2012 I re-discovered my Bernina Pearl which had been patiently waiting  for me in the corner of my studio. After an unsuccessful attempt to sulk over my empty nest the eventual hum of my sewing machine was the cure much needed. Soon I would discover a free quilting class with @Amy Gibson at Craftsy.com and combined that with the exhilaration of strip quilting suggestions found in @Rayna Gillman's "Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts"...freedom best describes the rush that followed!

Didn't finish the class with Amy after my surge of creativity but do plan on completing it sometime in the upcoming months (the beauty of this on-line course is that it's done at my own pace and available anytime).

Once started on this journey I discovered a delightful quilt shop in Mt. Vernon, Ohio called the Paw Patch, co-owned by mother/daughter team, Jean Hunter and Carol Skinner, respectively. After checking around on-line their shop was the only place that carried a line of Australian aboriginal prints...the same as that sample piece I'd purchased years ago at a local quilt symposium. Carol was able view the tiny phone images of my pieces ...get excited about it and make sound suggestions. Thanks Carol, I did end up hand tying the quilt!

What I learned from this experience is: 1) I'm not good at "pity parties" 2) Internet instruction can be awesome 3) Quilting is in my blood and I need to honor that inner desire to work with fabric! 4)Don't listen to "naysayers"...some think quilting can only be approached from a certain way...hmmm...interesting.

This year try to work in a different medium or at least experiment with an on-line class to challenge yourself!

Black History Month in Tanzania

Myself and Karen Grissette at the U.S. Emabassy Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Two years ago this month, I had the awesome experience of sharing the history of Black History Month(as celebrated in the U.S.) at the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Never thought in a million years that my journey would take me to such a place or that such an opportunity would present itself. Originally, was instructed to prepare for a 15 minute presentation(there were others on the program) but after arriving at the embassy in Dar for our initial meeting I found out that I was the presentation and they were asking about my artwork(which I hadn't brought on the trip)....like the deodorant commercial says..."never let them see you sweat".

Marie Cidosa, Director Bagamoyo Living Art Centre

Students from the local university in attendance

With the help of my husband who was so willing to fish through my unorganized computer files and send photos of my artwork and my children who remain my greatest cheerleaders(they gave me a crash course in powerpoint presentations prior to my departure for Tanzania) I was able to create a presentation which not only addressed Black Hiistory Month but my evolvement as an artist as well.

Years ago as a young girl scout I learned that one should always be prepared! You just never know where the next stop on your journey will take you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas everyone! I've cleaned up the last dish and put away my cookie making "stuff" and yawned way too many times. In a few hours I will get up to prepare for worship at our church this morning...no props to deliver, just helping with mime makeup.

I'm thankful for the words of encouragement, wisdom, and art experiences you all have shared with me this year. Looking forward to the new year which arrives in one week and the continued art journey.

God Bless,

Ihumwa village potter

Wendy

"IT'S TIME TO SHARE"

Well, was beginning to think that if I didn't start writing soon I would need to hang up my keyboard and shut down the old blog site. But the fact that I'm here pounding the keys means it's time to share my journey.

In January of 2010 I was blessed to travel to East Africa as a member of the 3rd U.S. delegation participating in an incredible exchange program with Tanzania. "ARTS EXCHANGES ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES FOR TANZANIA"
was funded by the U.S. Department of State Cultural Program Division of the Office of Citizen Exchanges, in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, organized by the Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development(GLC) in cooperation with Arts Council Lake Erie West and GLC Alumni partners in Tanzania. The goal of the program was to bring together emerging Tanzanian and Northwest Ohio professional female artists to address common issues facing women.

The photo above shows two incredible wood sculptors, Harrieth and Neema who live in Bagamoya and are part of the Bagamoya Womens Art Network(BWAN).

Had the pleasure of first meeting them in a workshop I led at the Ohio Craft Museum, while they were visiting the U.S. as members of the Tanzanian artists exchange.

My journey took me primarily along the coast of Tanzania, which is bordered by the Indian Ocean with it's amazingly beautiful beaches and abundance of fishermen.

I look forward to sharing more photos and stories of my time inTanzania and the wonderful people and culture.

God Bless,

Wendy

New Albany Showcasing African-American Women Artists

Ms. Bettye Stull, Curator, "Evolution of the Girl Child" at the McCoy Center


Well the New Year is certainly starting off with a blast! Sistahs of the Arts collaborative is the focus of an exhibit titled, "Evolution of the Girl Child" which recently opened(January 17) in New Albany, Ohio at the beautiful McCoy Community Arts Center. There are several things that make this exhibit so special and unique. First, it's an exhibit that's done completely by African American women artists. Secondly, we are all local artists featured in the show. Third, represents the joining of two separate galleries(the King Arts Complex and the McCoy Center) showcasing women's art.

The original exhibit was shown at the King Arts Complex last year in May and ran through the summer. The fact that nine of the original artists works are now at the McCoy Center means that it's a travelling show. There's no sound effects button that I can insert here for some whistling...so just imagine it!

Special thanks to Ms. Bettye Stull, of the King Arts Complex, for curating the show. And a big thanks to the Executive Director of the McCoy Center, Ted DeDee and Julie Kriss, Director of Constituent Relationships.


Click the site below to view a video clip featured on the Channel 10(WBNS-TV) news yesterday evening(1/18/10).

New Albany Showcasing African-American Women Artists

Tanzanian Artists Workshop

Well, it's been some time since I was able to write on the ole' blog. There's tons of things to talk about, but will first address an awesome teaching experience.

On October 15, 2009, it was my pleasure to teach a workshop on "Fabric and Words" at the Ohio Craft Museum here in town. This was a special class held exclusively for 14 women artists delegates from Tanzania, visiting the U.S. More on this later. It was exciting when ten minutes into the class the room became filled with these pure in sound voices as the women broke into spontaneous song in order to "get in the mood to create". We ended up painting on carpentry aprons from Lowes hardware(they were inexpensive and provided a good surface for the acrylics we used). I'm always looking for my tools and pencils while working in the studio and often wear a full apron with pockets. When I saw these gems I immediately knew that their 78 cents price tag was perfect.
The room was filled with an "artists hum" as the women exchanged ideas and kept up with the ususal chatter we're good for.

An awesome exchange it was indeed, for several reasons. One how many opportunities do you get to sit and make art with women from another country/culture, right in your own backyard? Secondly,the women taught me the importance of addressing issues of concern through their created pieces, which led to the third point. The important issues that had been swirling in my mind and heart for some time needed to be released and allowed to take form through my art. Here I stood again, thinking it was about me pouring into them but I truly received just as much from my sisters from Tanzania...and I was glad to be able to share that with them!

IT'S A GOOD DAY!!!

Well, guess you could say I took a little vacation from the blog...didn't mean to, it just happened. It's such a good day and I've been truly blessed as a woman, wife, daughter, sister, mother, aunt, niece, granddaughter, artist, teacher and mentor. I love being me and the life that God has blessed me with. I thank him daily for the journey and for everyone and everything He brings into my life. I thank Him for being able to rise each day to address the creativity within me...just love it!

I'm trying to "see" because my eyes are full of tears. Recently worked on new pieces for the upcoming group exhibit "Sistahs of the Arts: Evolution of the Girl Child" which will open on May 7th at the King Arts Complex. This work drew me deep within to look at my life and selected moments from my journey as an artist beginning at age twenty. It's not where I thought the work would begin at all. I had envisioned the frilly dress period and much to do with my birthplace of Kentucky...but it didn't happen that way. Went as far as researching my family history even more, hunted through my stash for additional pairs of "little girls black patent leathers", online searches, many sketches and plans. However, the creative spirit within took me someplace different...to a place and time in my life when I "froze" and couldn't move past the hurt and pain. A time when I said, "I won't do this art any more"...to a time and place of much
inner conflict...to a time and place where I no longer wanted to be me(the artist).

But it's an AWFULLY GOOD DAY when you can look back and see where God has brought you...from a place of despair to that of great joy and faith! Yes, IT'S A GREAT DAY!

Pushing Past the Comfort Zone

Sometimes while looking at an old piece of my work I experience a moment of "what if?". Typically during this time my mind wanders to a place other than where I think I should be focused at that given moment in time. Most times the current piece of work is set aside so that the birthing of a new idea can take place. Usually this birthing requires me to "push past my comfort zone" to create something that has been swirling around in my mind sub-consciously. A lot of times the urge to "push past" is accompanied by some fear of messing up what my physical eyes see as a fine piece of work. The "pushing past the comfort zone" I do believe is my spirit yelling out "don't become boring for the sake of safety, dare to be new."

With that being said I'm now "pushing past my comfort zone" into an area that I've desired to go for some time and that's fabric and embellishment. Above is one of my mini mask which originated from a piece done a couple of years ago titled, "The Voyage". The image was scanned, elongated a bit and printed to canvas. Hmmm, what else can you do says Spirit? Well, I immediately thought the mask would look great on a piece of craft felt(can never have too much color). So on to the felt the mask went, but again Spirit spoke and said that's safe and boring. So the mask asked for a few stitches and a shirt. By now the piece has titled itself and asked to be accompanied by the rest of his family members. So the creation of the "Urban Warriors" was born. This series pays tribute to some important unsung heroes...so stay tuned.

1)First image is safe and boring.


2) Responding (on right)to the urge for stitching and embellishment which includes various beads including seed.





3) Now the third image(below) is my response to Spirit when urged to try a digital enhancement which resulted in the woodcut image.


All images on this site are copyrighted.

"Passing The Torch"

Well, last weeks reception at the Rhodes Tower for "Passing On the Torch" was great. There are so many talented artists in Columbus and around the state. Ran into some old friends and met new ones as well. Antoinette of Ancestral Blessings has her dolls showcased in the main entrance behind the security desk...check 'em out. Stephanie Matthews B/W photos are amazing and her website photos of children of the Congo brought tears to my eyes. Textile artist LaVerne Kemp has a wonderful family tree including roots that cascade and trail across the floor. Met painter, Curtis Goldstein, who does some wonderful work...by the way love your paintings of various landmarks around town, especially the old diner in the Short North. Teri T's mixed media work continues to evolve, while one of Aaron T's paintings is coming home with me. Lauren Luna's black and white paintings are also evolving...And of course, I have to thank all the ladies from SOTA(Sistahs of the Arts) for coming out and supporting us...Freda, Nora, Xantha and Voszi. The exhibit is up through the end of the month if you haven't had a chance to catch it.

CAST OFF!

Well, the cast is off and I did a rather odd thing(not unusual for me)as I was leaving the exam room...I tapped the discarded cast with the tip of my crutch, as it was laying on the floor and told it good-bye. Mind you, this piece of fiberglass had become a part of my life for the past three weeks. It continued to hug my left leg even when I didn't like it's presence and had said so out loud or when I felt like crying because "my life" had been so annoyingly disrupted as a result of it's undying devotion to me.

I can't begin to share how many lessons I've learned over these "few" weeks...about myself, my family, priorities and how time is spent. One of the greatest lessons happened Wednesday around noon when I said a quick good-bye to the cast. Webster's dictionary shows one definition as, cast: to throw off, out, or away : as (1): to get rid of : DISCARD (2) SHED, MOLT (a snake casts its skin). I feel as though I cast off old ways of thinking about myself as an artist...yes, I am becoming more business minded, organized and productive.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
- Marianne Williamson (from the film "Akeelah and the Bee")

"HARD CAST BLUES" COUNTDOWN

Hmmm...four more days until my next visit to the doctor to check the status of my ankle and to see if the hard cast comes off. Can't believe that I'm actually enjoying this time in a way. One of the reasons is that I've learned how much time I waste on a daily basis due to distractions, running around in the grocery and art supply stores, etc. Having these weeks of convalescence has also given me time to think about the importance of organization in my studio...OK Antoinette, now that your studio is done can I get on your list for help? As a working artist, organization is crucial and can translate into a loss of income as a direct result of wasted time in your work space. I'm amazed at how many pieces of work I'm completing on a daily basis. I've continued to work on "boxart" for the "Dancing Divas" and "Masks" series with much hope that the work will continue to evolve over the next few weeks. The colors are vibrant and have a cazy energy about them that I love.

A couple of weeks ago I was writing about the "Hard Cast Blues" because I felt like whining a little and handling the crutches was a lot harder than I'd expected and hey...Mom needed some attention! By day 4 I realized the sympathy wasn't coming from anyone in this house(they're a tough bunch)and that I'd better figure out the crutches fast before I broke my neck! By the way my son told me he has a greater appreciation for me and what I do for the family...OK, they're not so tough after all. The"Hard Cast Blues" may take on a different meaning once I'm able to return to my normal routine(laundry, transporting our son, cooking, cleaning, working, etc.)and all those things that seem at times to interfere with the creative flow.

Well,the 'ole camera batteries are dead...need to get some before Wednesday so I can post shots of recent works and the cast of course!

LOOK OUT ...WE HAD AN ART ATTACK!

Well, last Saturday Antoinette and Nicki dropped by in the early afternoon with a delicious Caribbean lunch from Ms. Ena's and their art supplies in hand. Nicki(artist and jewelry designer) came prepared with a beautiful black handbag filled with her infamous puff paints, while Antoinette(doll maker and seamstress) brought cowrie shells, cloth, needle and thread. Since I'm still unable to move about much(see Hard Cast Blues post)they were good for both my sanity and creative juices.

After lunch my husband brought the latest issue of Cloth*Paper Scissors in from the mailbox...right on time. In the January/February issue is an article by Alisa Burke called Paper&Plastic, which outlines how to make some funky handbags out of plastic grocery bags. We decided to give the technique a try and it actually worked quite well,but we never got as far as constructing the actual purse. Needless to say the plastic bag fusing technique held so much promise that we found ourselves looking at a plastic bustier, bows, faces and beautiful lacy textures that would serve as phenomenal backgrounds in my collage work. It's amazing to find yet another opportunity to recycle another throw away item. Probably sent my youngest daughter up the stairs looking for more precious items(washers, screw eyes, small canvasses,etc.) that would be added to the heaping pile of materials we shared over the next eight hours or so, more times than I can remember.Imaginations and creative juices flowed as we huddled over the kitchen table grooving to music, talking and making art in "the zone" until 11:30 p.m.


Yes, how time does fly when you're having fun! Talking about having an art attack...yes, it was quite an experience. By the time the evening had wound down, pizza and wings had been consumed along with coffee and those delicious Godiva biscuits Olivia sent me. We looked at what we had created, new techniques learned, insight we had gleaned from each others creative flow and realized the importance of sharing and encouraging each other as artists. In the meantime I'm looking forward to the next Art Attack!

God Bless and Happy New Year!