At long last, my show that I have been preparing for is here! I installed it on Tuesday and it’s so nice to see all the work in one place. The opening reception is this Friday, November 7th from 5-8 pm at Artists and Makers Studios in Rockville, MD. If you are local, I would love to see you there!
When they contacted me about doing a show in their guest gallery probably in early 2024, I was excited but also a little nervous about filling up the space. Well, I did it! I hung 27 pieces, 20 of which were all created this year. And I’m so happy that I’m sharing six of my somewhat daily collages that I did this summer. They really helped ground me when I felt like I was flailing around. So much of this show is about what grounds me- the earth, nature, and the act of noticing and creating.
Exhibtion statement:
Creating the work in “Touch the Earth” brought me a sense of grounding in these uncertain times. The idea of grounding is that when we physically touch the earth, skin to earth, there are benefits to our mental and physical health as touching the earth brings one into the present moment. These pieces explore resilience, mindfulness and gratitude for the beauty and steadfastness of the often-overlooked details of the natural world. These works are about noticing the beauty and the profound in the mundane and fully embracing that mystery. If we allow the earth to hold us, we can reconnect to ourselves and can find stability in an unstable world.
Other than the collages, all the work in this show are encaustic mixed media, and some include salvaged materials or found natural materials. Lots of trees.