Sunday, March 4, 2012

Monhegan Still Life!

Monhegan Island Still Life, o/c, 12 x 16, 2012

I started this piece while on Monhegan Island in September of 2010. It was a good autumn for apples and I had no trouble gathering a handful from the sides of the road to use in my still life. Also featured are Lisa Brackett's amazingly delicious doughnuts! For various reasons I was unable to complete the piece while on island, so I carefully wrapped the doughnuts up in wax paper and tucked them into a small metal lunchbox I had providentially won at a Bingo event at the Island Schoolhouse the same week. The doughnuts traveled well and arrived back home with me in good shape. I reset the stage in my studio here (fortunately my neighbor has a scrub apple tree so I have been able to replace the wild fruit!) It took a while but I finally managed to finsih the piece last month.

It is now being show in a still life exhibition at Artists' House Gallery in Philadelphia, PA. The gallery director there, Lorraine Riesenbach, has been wonderful about including me in several group shows despite the fact that I am essentially on leave of absence from most of my other work obligations due to being in graduate school. Although participating in the shows is a bit of a strain, one more flying ball in my very large juggling act, it's probably a very good thing not to lose the showing momentum. Participating in showing work keeps you grounded in reality...and reality sometimes feels a very long way away from graduate school..land of theory! ;-) So I am grateful to her for her persistence and patience with me.

Beyond the Ordinary Still Life

February 29 through April 1, 2012
Artists' House
57 North Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 923-8440
Wed - Sun 12-5 PM or by appointment

Reception:
Sunday,
March 4,
1 - 4pm

artists' house gallery website:
http://artistshouse.com/