community and collective

So generally I would say that I go about life as a friendly loner type. I kept deleting “loner” as that has a negative connotation to it in our culture, doesn’t it? But if I’m being honest with myself, I tend to be ok not joining in on things. Hence, loner. But sometimes I get an urge. And sometimes it’s about the person or people who are doing the urging. (see last post and how Kathie Vezzani got me out to the PNW to teach and in so doing I met a wonderful warm and creative group of artists and we made art together using natural materials found in the woods.) And sometimes a pandemic hits and you realize that maybe it is a good and healthy thing to be in community. It is hard though, for me, to balance all the family engagements I have with two very active teens with my studio work which requires dedicated time, plus the other non studio things in life. Since my default is that I need alone time to do my artwork, and my non-alone time is filled up with family, then I usually, well, default to grabbing my alone time whenever and wherever I can.

Last fall I had a two person show with Caitlin Gill who is a Baltimore artist and a force of energy. She invited me to become part of a collective called Goxxip Girl Collective. And like I said, she’s pretty amazing. I’m not sure how she does all she does. I have been in Maryland now for 10 years (!) and I never really had to get involved with the local art scene because I keep pretty busy with galleries that are not here. But I really do believe that supporting the local art community is vital, I just, again, default to my default. All this to say that I went against my grain and attended a few meetings and thought this is an an interesting group of artists, I would like to see what this group does and contribute to it, if I can. I love being part of FUSEDChicago when I lived there, so I thought, alright, sign me up!

And the time has come, where the collective will have a show in our own dedicated gallery space in Baltimore in the BROMO arts district! It is in the same building as Maryland Art Place, but on the third floor.

So, please if you’re local, join us in celebrating the grand opening of XoXo Gallery with “FERAL” a group exhibition featuring the Goxxip Girl Collective, a Maryland based group of womxn artists. ”Feral” explores the construct of domesticity metaphorically and literally.

About XoXo Gallery: 

Founded by twelve members of the Goxxip Girl Collective, XoXo Gallery is an up and coming artist-run space with a focus on curation. Committed to showcasing diverse exhibitions and programming, XoXo Gallery operates under a cooperative model, and challenges conventional perspectives, by fostering a platform for innovative artistic expression and incubation.

Exhibitions at XoXo Gallery change every six weeks, each curated by a different member of our collective. Our mission focuses on fostering community and encouraging collaborative partnerships. We invite inquiries and potential collaborations.

About Goxxip Girl Collective: 

The Goxxip Girl Collective is a free collaborative initiative formed by a group of Maryland womxn artists. Our vision is to create an inclusive space that celebrates the distinct talents of every member. We’re dedicated to crafting a platform that nurtures creativity, sparks inspiration, and promotes collective progress. Through meaningful programming, advancing accessibility, and uplifting community, we strive to bring about positive change within Baltimore.

Be sure to follow our socials! Instagram and Facebook Page

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I am excited that my book art sculpture, Hidden Within the Seed, A Secret and one of my honeycomb inspired sculptures, Guardian, will both be in this show.

Hope to see you at the opening!