Welcome to MissouriBendStudio!

This is an online journal of my artistic investigations and a way to communicate about my work, ideas, quandries and queries! I welcome comments and conversation and do hope you enjoy these musings. My artwork is available in my shop MissouriBendStudio on Etsy.com or on my website.

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Thursday, September 22, 2011

Maps as Metaphor

Hello again....and welcome to autumn (or spring for my friends in the Southern Hemisphere)! Wow, seems it's been a week since my last post.  One of things about my new daily practices and the increased time spent in the studio is that I have become aware how much time I was spending on the computer before...as I'm obviously not there quite so much anymore! Because I am working more on the pieces that will end up on my website, a slower process, I have less to show, so you haven't missed anything! 

I am working on a new series that is still somewhat in development. I began to envision the grid and started folding full pages of inexpensive Japanese paper into  sections, which led me to think of them as maps and that seemed a rather ideal format for many reasons. Maps are tools for exploration, marking a path, charting a territory and, as such, are wonderful metaphors for dealing with the creative process.  Several layers of drawn lines and acrylic paint were laid down and then I began drawing rocks....there are those rocks again. Below are a couple of pieces in progress. More apologies for my terrible photos, but somehow I've got the tripod out of whack and the photographs are quite cock-eyed. I've fiddled with it endlessly to no avail....oh, the trials and tribulations of not being a photographer!  



I haven't got the folds right for a map, so these are just single-sided drawings, but once I begin working on them as maps, they'll be two-sided and will fold up to be held in the hand in their closed form.  Lots of exploration ahead and I hope to have many maps in the future.  This brings me to another bit of good news!

I am very fortunate that this worked out, but I'm going to go to another artist's residency next month....Jentel Artists Residency Program, which is in northern Wyoming, near Sheridan.  This residency will run for nearly a month, from October 15 to November 13th!!!  I'm very excited and will have a nice long expanse of time to explore these new ideas.

I've decided that all the pieces from my Etsy shop, which live in various carefully stacked piles on a long table in my studio, will go with me in a couple easily transportable plastic boxes. As it is getting close to the holidays, I thought it might be best not to put my shop in vacation mode, which would basically take it off-line.  I am planning to check in on things once a day and ship any sold pieces once a week when I go into Sheridan, which is some distance away. In preparation for this time away, I'm offering free shipping now until just before I go, so hopefully there will be less to take with me! If anyone out there is at all interested in a near-future purchase at Missouri Bend Studio, take advantage of free shipping until October 12 with the coupon code FREESHIPPING

See you early next week....with some finished work!

Enjoy your weekend!

12 comments:

  1. Dear Patti - I love that you started out with a grid, and then folded the paper and discovered a map and now we have 3-D! Fabulous! I'm also thrilled for you re the residency; a wonderful opportunity to stop again; reinforce your learnings and explore new ways of being and make new art! Sigh - sounds gorgeous. Do enjoy!

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  2. I really don't mean this as a pun, but I'm looking forward to seeing what unfolds with this series. Enjoy your upcoming creative time!

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  3. Oh Patti, I can almost feel your excitement- a great vicarious thrill. Can't tell you how much I love your new map concept and the photos DO do it justice as I love the elements of folding and the textural elements you've used. Always an inspiration.

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  4. This is awesome news about the residency - I knew after such a great but all too brief experience with the last one, there would be another longer getaway in your future! Such good things came from that, and I expect even more from this. Maps are a wonderful object and metaphor. I like to think our lives are maps in progress, with all the territories and byways always open to additions or revisions! All the best to you - have a great weekend!

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  5. patti, jentel looks wonderful. i've looked at the site, and really like it. its wonderful that you got a residency. congratulations!

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  6. Fiona...thank you! And yes, the process of coming to the map form was interesting....and I as continue to make the work, I keep feeling as if the making of the map is the only way to chart the path....curious and much to think about! Thank you for all your good wishes!

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  7. Kim....great to hear from you....I've been there with that pun...quite appropriate, I'd say! I'm looking forward to making and learning from these map pieces....trying to read all the signs and landmarks to see what's next!! Cheers!

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  8. Lorraine...thank you! Well, the photos are what they are, but I'm just glad that enough of the drawing/surface comes through for you to know where I've been. Lots of possibilities awaiting me! Thank you for your great support!

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  9. Gabriella....long story how this Jentel opportunity came about, but so glad it is happening now...the timing is just perfect! And the maps are my navigation tool...even though I have to make each one to find my way to the next! So much to explore! Thanks for your great cheer and support!

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  10. Velma....I'm so looking forward to it. My husband was there three years ago and loved it. I've been through the area and looking forward to immersing myself once again in work in such a beautiful location! Thanks!!

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  11. P - the maps appear to have your stone theme appearing in them - points on the journey. Agree with Fiona - a little bit of envy regarding the residency - great way to get a creative boost. Go well and be inspired. b

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  12. Barry, yes the maps at this point are filled with the scattered stones....and I have come to think of them as points on the journey....even now they are changing as the journey carries me on. Hope to have a new post later today. The residency is going to be wonderful I know....do you have such things in Australia? I hope you are now in the midst of making more beautiful pieces!

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I'm happy to hear from you...comments and questions are welcome!