February Happenings
Today is the first day of February and am quickly learning that I said "yes" to a lot of opportunities in 2025, not knowing they would all come to pass so quickly. I am happy to be involved in my local art community, and I like that many of these shows and events are close to home. When I wasn't trying to dig out from all the snow last week, I was in the studio trying to make the most of my "snow days" and make some new textiles.
The first of the two big pieces I created this year was for "Reincarnate II", a show curated by Alexa Polinari for Silo gallery in downtown Canton. Each participant received either a writing piece or an artwork to inspire a new piece that would be on display at the show. I sent my piece "Impressive Instant", which was created originally to be neon and reflect a black light. I received a poem that (I think) is about the ecology of the earth, and the strata created under the ground over thousands of years of passing time.
Is but one, way. Is but one strand. Is but one star. Is but one dream.
Is but one self. Is but one song. Is but one layer—one after another,
billions of years separated— yet still the same,
one + one + one + one + becomes the most glorious display of love...
In my response artwork I really tried to concentrate on the idea of "strata" and the layers in the earths' crust. I wanted to try and make the viewer think about all the things that have come before, and call attention to the responsibility of what we are putting into the earth now.
The final version will be on view this month at Silo Gallery in Downtown Canton, with the opening on February 6th this Friday. I am excited to meet the person who wrote this poem and see what the other participants came up with.
Another piece I worked on was my submission for 'A Strange Dream; a tribute to David Lynch" on view at Cyrus framing gallery in Canton starting Feb. 13th. David Lynch's films seem to have influenced a lot of different filmmakers and artists since the 1980's, and I have always liked his visuals and settings more than the content of the movies themselves. My biggest memory I drew on from this show was actually going to the stark county main library as a child with my dad and seeing all the black plastic movie boxes with the black and white big letters. I didn't know what twin peaks was, but I knew that it had the most boxes and the set of movies filled the whole shelf. So in addition to the obvious references to the "Twin Peaks" show, I really wanted this to be a memory of that space as well, since it will soon be renovated and not recognizable as the library in my memory, and the library that I still visit in my dreams.
In a completely different direction, I am almost done with a very ambitious commission for the professional hostesses at Strega Party. Strega Party hosts curate dinner events that source food, drinks, and entertainment from the local area. They asked me to create a set of handwoven coasters in their signature colors for an upcoming event. commission work is always a change of pace for me, and I am reminded each time why I don't want to be a production weaver full time! Making these small items is fun, but having to weave 100 towels and blankets would really wear me out. Also, the "happy accidents" that can make an artwork more interesting just look like "mistakes" in tableware, so you have to make sure to get the details right. That being said, I am trying to figure out what other home goods and wearables I want to make this year to sell. Are tote bags back in style again?
I am happy that the sun came out today and the temperatures are supposed to warm up this week even a little bit. I am taking some time to make sure the students are ready with costumes for our school musical, and also setting up artwork at Belltower Brewing Co. In Kent (more details later!). I will also send another newsletter soon about my show at Summit Artspace in March (See below). I hope you are staying safe and warm wherever you are this month!
