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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Friday, February 12, 2016

Exhibition Highlights

Hello again! Reporting in after the reception for my exhibition at Briar Cliff University last evening. Nan Wilson and I installed the show in a day and a half earlier in the week, with the help of a couple of students and a trusty glue gun! None of the work was framed, but was attached to the wall with the hot glue...who knew!?! I managed to make it through the gallery talk, which is not an easy thing for me to do. But the group that gathered was supportive and engaged with the work, so that made it much easier and enjoyable. Below are a few shots of the walls and then some individual pieces, so you can get a better feel of the work.




The longest wall to the left of the entrance was hung with daily drawings from the last 5 months, September through January. Although it took a bit more thought, I wanted them hung according to the calendar and days of the week, rather than as a straightforward grid. So, the set above, for instance, is from January, which began on a Friday. 


Moving clockwise around the room, the next wall contained 27 mixed media pieces that were made as individual works, but hung in 3 sets of 9 pieces each. Because my work is small in scale and intimate, I thought the pieces would be lost if hung in a straightforward line, so I envisioned them as hanging together in a grid. The color palette of each grid is related so they hold together. Collectively, this group, for me, formed the heart of the exhibition. I called the show The Art of Wonder and these pieces comprise The Art of Wonder, Suites 1, 2 & 3. Below are a couple of individual pieces from each suite.







To the right of the entrance was a series of freestanding paper shrines-like objects that contained found text poems. One of them is featured below....sorry, I can't transcribe the poem, because I didn't write them down!! There were made with pages from discarded books on handmade paper dipped in beeswax. Nearly everything in that gallery is dipped in beeswax....except the last wall.



The last wall was a series of randomly hung drawings, made with tiny marks that resemble stitches. I loved making these....so meditative. The paper size varied, as did the pen color, but when finished they each resembled small textiles in a way.



Often after such an intense period of engagement, there is a bit of letdown when it's all over. But my intense month of creating all that work (except the dailies, which are an ongoing project), has left me energized and ready to keep going with new work. 

The Energizer battery hasn't worn down yet! I'm now refocusing energy on my Etsy shop and creating new works to share with my friends here on the blog and across the world. I haven't made any teabag scrolls in quite some time, so that's the next group. I just finished the first one this morning and listed it in my shop, The Scroll for Tiny Drawings. There are a couple of additional detail views in the shop. Oh, what fun to make!





Thank you all so much for following my efforts, for your comments and support. I am amazed how bonds across the world can be made through the blog network....what a wonderful thing. And now, I must get back to it....there is work to be done!

See you soon and hope you enjoy your weekend!














10 comments:

  1. Looks absolutely beautiful! I love how you've hung your pieces; the grid formation is perfect for these!

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    1. Thanks so much, Kaija! I love the structure of the grid and it gives the pieces some added weight. Cheers to you!

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  2. Hi Patti, your exhibition looks wonderful. I would like to take a closer look at everything!
    best, eric

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    1. Hi Eric, many thanks! Once the show comes down, I can share individual pieces here on the blog. Glad you like them! Cheers, Patti

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  3. how i wish i could have seen this show, i love your work and this looks amazing! :)

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    1. Shelley, thank you! It's a wonderful feeling to see the work up all together. It is unfortunate that it will have a rather small viewing. Thanks for your warm enthusiasm!

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  4. Congratulations Patti - what an achievement! So many of these pieces are beautiful and intimate - together they tell a remarkable story. Now to relax and enjoy it!

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    1. Thank you so much, Fiona. Relaxing, no, but am enjoying a slower pace! Best to you!

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  5. Oh so good to see this post at last! Such a wonderful collection of work and the installation is perfect for the pieces. Bravissima!

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    1. Many thanks, G! I'm happy with the outcome and am still energized to keep working, which is great!!

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