Feeling Safe and Well
Yeah! My solo show Feeling Safe and Well will be up from Sept. 11 - Dec. 24 at the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper WY. I have been working on pieces in this series for just over two yeaars and will present most of them in this show. I have been blogging about the theme of Safe and Well since June of 2022, so if you want to review the ideas and the artwork, I invite you to check out my earlier posts.
In this blog post I share my newest pieces.
Scratching At Dirt, 16 X 20.5, $550
One of the calming grounding influences in life is spending time with animals. In my solo show I have several pieces depicting dogs or other animals - like chickens! Chickens love to dig in dirt! This image above makes me smile - the sunny day, the hat and gloves, and the use of these cheerful batik fabrics.
Singing in the Choir, 37 X 24, $750
Group activities are good for the soul, whether it be square dancing, morning coffee with friends, community theater, volunteering in a soup kitchen, or singing in a choir. I have used many plaid and striped fabrics, arranging them with the light tones (high soprano voices) at the top and the dark tones(low bass voices) at the bottom. The altos and tenors can be seen in the middle with interesting complexity and rich color.
Snow ,16 X 20, $450
This is an older piece that I thought fit well in this show because it shows children in relationship with each other and with the snow! Feeling Safe and Well has many examples of people enjoying the elements - sun, air, water, dirt, snow, and also sand, like the next two pieces below.
At the Beach with Great Grandpa (left side of diptych) 27 X 21.5, $750 each or $1,500 for diptych
At the Beach with Great Grandpa (right side of diptych) 20 X 30, $750 each or $1,500 for diptych.
These two pieces can be displayed side by side, one above the other, or separately. I like the contrast of the active children and the still old man. Great Grandpa listens to the children’s chatter, smells the seaweed, and feels the breeze off the ocean.
Below are two cartoon pieces focusing on humor. I love spending time with friends because there will usually be amusing stories and shared giggles. A sense of humor helps us see the bigger picture and connects us to one another.
Belly Laugh (detail), 21 X 17, $550
Giggles, 21 X 18, $550
So many things keep us connected and grounded, including our connection to the elements and to animals. In Feeling Safe and Well I show people spending time together, sharing activities and moments - singing, eating, laughing, playing, reading, sitting, talking - these are universal ideas that resonate.
Also included in this show are pieces that focus on the importance of sleep, satisfying work, and taking time to meditate and breathe. I am pleased that the show encompasses my full range of styles- representational, abstract conceptual, and cartoon. I hope you enjoy Feeling Safe and Well, which for me has been a thought -provoking and delightful project.
It is time to share a recipe. This Quinoa Salad is perfect for an end-of-summer pot luck gathering with friends. Simmer 1.5 cups of quinoa in 3 cups water and 1 t. salt. Transfer to a large bowl and cool completely. Add 1/4 c. olive oil and juice of two lemons. Rinse and drain one 16 oz. can of garbanzo beans. Dry on a clean towel. Peel and chop one cucumber, halve 24 cherry tomatoes, chop one orange bell pepper. Chop an assortment of fresh herbs ( I used mint, basil, and chives) about 1/3 cup total. Combine all ingredients. Taste and add more oil, lemon juice or salt if needed. ENJOY!