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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Monday, January 20, 2014

More Notes From The Ancestors

I've been missing the drawings from The Notes to the Ancestors and just finished making another one....these are quiet pieces, my way of making a connection with our collective history. I am keenly aware of all the knowledge that falls away, the memories and the wisdom that is eclipsed over time. What would the many generations of our ancestors say to us, if we only had the means to communicate?
Notes From The Ancestors no.16

Notes from the Ancestors no.16 detail

My husband and I have a major  show together at the Main Gallery at the University that will open in May and we are both creating work based on a daily practice. This is a big experiment for us to work this way. We each have different processes (he is a printmaker), but we are both working in the same format, so that there is some consistency. We are trying to keep the idea of the practice itself, and the daily ritual of it, foremost in our minds, so that we are not trying to make "art" per se. There is a fine line in the intention, but a definite distinction. The pressure is off and we concentrate on our daily process and we'll see what comes of it. Each of us makes two pieces, one in a four inch circle and one on a 4" square, both in the center of a 10x10" piece Rives paper. We just began on January 1st, so we are only a little bit into this practice. I will wait a bit before sharing any of the pieces, but wanted to let you know what I'm up to in the studio these days. It is an interesting process and we both find that the dailiness of it gives us a clear focus. 

In the meantime, our winter here in southeastern South Dakota keeps us guessing, day by day. Yesterday we had a lovely sunny day with the temperature climbing to 63 degrees. Most of the day today was lovely and warm and I began to doubt the forecast of afternoon snow, but sure enough....it's a winter afternoon with intermittent snow coming down. Craziness!



10 comments:

  1. Dailiness breeds alchemy. Sounds a lovely practice, and I look forward to seeing when you're ready to share.

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    1. I love that expression...."dailiness breeds alchemy"...as surprising things comes from the repetition. Thanks so much for your comment! Best wishes!

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  2. Some of my ancestors homesteaded in South Dakota so I have a very special *kinship* feeling for the place - heartwarming to read about what you & your husband are doing here with your [individual] arts. So this is my collective history, too? I like the thought of that.

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    1. Curious as to where your ancestors homesteaded here in SD? It must have been tough going for folks unprepared for life on the Plains! Yes, the collective history runs far and deep...thanks for your comment! Cheers!

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    2. Yankton is the next big town west of us and actually bigger than Vermillion! Right on the Missouri River, just like we are. Do you still have family in the area?

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    3. I really have no idea. My ancestor was Elijah Bowyer, originally from Peterchurch, Hereford, England. This is the specific family group, 1910 census:

      Yankton, 1910, BOWYER:
      Charles, 43; Albertuns, 44; Fannie, 16; Earnest, 13; Sanford, 11; Myrtle, 9; Daisy, 8; Eugene, 3.
      Amos R., 40; Cora E., 38; Robert A., 11; Harrold B., 9; also Joseph COERLING, 27.

      Fannie was my paternal grandmother ;>] Thank you so much for asking!

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    4. Always love hearing about these family lines....I'll keep my eyes open for that name in the area. I work at the public library in Vermillion and the Director seems to know all the names of anyone from anywhere!! Cheers!

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  3. love visiting your blog. You always leave me something to ponder on. Wish I could see your show in May. I'm intrigued by what you both are doing!

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    1. Hi Bridgette....thank you so much! Glad to hear there are some glimmers for you to ponder. Wish you could see the show too...I'll be sure to share images along the way. Hope you are well!

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