Hot Wax in the City opening

Last Friday was the opening for “Hot Wax in the City” exhibit at Morpho Gallery. We had a really great turnout, thank you to all who came! I took some photos of the work to share here. I had been looking forward to the opening as I knew that several of my FUSEDChicago friends who were also in the show were going to be showing new work. It was wonderful seeing new work, meeting new people, and talking about new things that we all have been working on.

Kathy Roman, me, Emily Rutledge.

Alicia Forestall-Boehm has been pushing her work this year in a new direction and it has been exciting to see. Here is one of her new pieces called “Moving Day.”

Alicia Forestall-Boehm

I met Isabelle Gougenheim last May at Shawna Moore‘s workshop here in Chicago. I absolutely fell in love with her work and was so excited to see that she was going to be part of “Hot Wax in the City”. She had three small pieces in this show, which just have to be seen in person. The texture is just beautiful.

Isabelle Gougenheim

I am a huge fan of Mary Jo Parker O’Hearn’s paintings. I’ve shown one of her paintings here on my blog before. It’s a red one. I love it. There is something about the way she works with encaustic that her paintings become more than paintings. They have a physicality, a heft…not sure if I’m making sense, or if it’s even something that can be sensed through a computer monitor. Her paintings hang on the wall, as paintings are wont to do, but they seem more like objects to me.

And isn’t that green in Scott Vanidestine’s piece just great?

Mary Jo Parker O’Hearn on the left
Scott Vanidestine on the right

Brad Hook is a new member of FUSEDChicago and I have admired his work that I’ve seen online. It was great to see his work in person and meet him as well. One thing that everyone kept saying throughout the show was, “You just have to see encaustic in person. Computer screens just don’t do them justice.”

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Brad Hook

A really wonderful piece by Jenny Learner. This is another one that needs to be experienced in person.

Jenny Learner

On the left is a piece by Denise Funfsinn, who wasn’t able to attend because she had work in another opening that she was attending, but at least I got to see one of her newer pieces! To the right is a grouping of paintings by April Nomellini. April is very much intrigued by mark-making in her work. Her work is so glossy! Wish you could see the gloss, it’s quite amazing.

Denise Funfsinn
April Nomellini

We like to bring the kids to my openings.. I want them to know what I do, why I do it, and where it all goes. My 5 year old gets it by now. All my 2 year old knows is that she got to wear her ballerina dress with her party shoes. But pretty much, they stay for about 20 minutes and then take off. That’s all they can take! And my husband, who is in charge of making sure they keep it together for those 20 minutes. He’s the best. But it makes me happy to have my little rascals there.