New Work, Interview, Atlas & Show!

2/15/2012

Map to Happy by Jill K. Berry

It’s been a busy, eventful week!

First, I want to thank Jill Berry from the bottom of my heart for featuring me on her Personal Geographies blog Friday!

What an honor it was to be interviewed by this talented, inspiring artist/author who shares my intense passion for maps and layers!
Click here to check out my Guest Cartophile interview on Jill’s blog!

Also, I want to thank Naomi Silver, who invited me to her home and studio Saturday to give me a wonderful 1970s atlas she had grown up with! Can’t wait to incorporate these great images into new mixed-media paintings! It’s always such a delight to meet and connect with other artists like Naomi, and her paintings are exceptional. I love the uniqueness and richness of the surfaces she creates!
You can check out Naomi’s paintings on her website by clicking here.

Pictures of the atlas Naomi gave me. Thank you, Naomi!

My new work this week was inspired by artist Jenny Doh, her book Art Saves, and ephemera I collected during my most recent visit to Red Lead. It is entitled Plant Small Seeds. I painted river rocks with gesso, then pasted words from an old science book onto these. With a graphite pencil, I drew designs near the words, then collaged the vintage ephemera and rocks onto the hard cover of the same science book. Lastly, I tied airmail red, white, and blue bakers twine around the side and bottom of the piece.

Below are some details of this piece:

Was also very excited to have 2 paintings accepted into Edwardsville Arts Center's 2nd All Media Competition!
Dropped off both paintings Saturday. I've pasted the postcard announcement for this new show below!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!
Hope you're having a wonderful week!
Mary^

51 Comments

Hobby link

2/14/2012 10:55:19 pm

As always Mary, I'm in love with your work. As a river rat of many years, I have rocks from many of the rivers I have paddled. They rest in a bowl along with lava rocks from Norway that my son brought home to me, several crystals I've found, and they are fond memories of my travels and conversations with good friends and family memories. Perhaps there is a map project in there somewhere...

I just scored a lovely old book of piano music that I'll be using in future projects. Spent the weekend creating art charms for Art & Soul. Wish you were going to be there! ~Hobby

Brenda link

2/14/2012 11:06:14 pm

I love these new works Mary! This is inspiring for me and I am sure it is for others too!

sue link

2/14/2012 11:14:09 pm

Wow! you did have a busy week. Love the new piece...I mean, LOVE IT! Cool idea adding stones to it.

Jill K. Berry link

2/15/2012 01:21:53 am

Hey Mary, Congratulations and kudos on your new work! It is wonderful to have this map/art connection with you. I hope to post some new work soon too, and try and keep up with you!

Tania link

2/15/2012 02:46:43 am

lovely work; indeed inspiring

Naomi link

2/15/2012 03:30:18 am

You are so welcome, Mary! It was lovely to meet you and I can't wait to see what you do with the atlas!

anns art @ studiohyde link

2/15/2012 04:11:44 am

What a great week and so inspiring with these artists.

Flo link

2/15/2012 08:59:33 am

Hi Mary!
I see that you are very busy
I love your latest work very relaxing with these colors
;)

KAT link

2/16/2012 01:13:53 pm

congratulations on the show exceptance... I have yet to get into a juried show of any kind...it must be a great feeling.

I like your art a lot

-KAT-

Tracey Fletcher King link

2/16/2012 01:23:26 pm

Congrats on the exhibition and really love the rocks ... nice extension of your work..xx

Helen Campbell link

2/16/2012 01:26:58 pm

Fabulous art... I adore river rocks. Cool idea. I can just imagine what you'll do with that atlas. Happy PPF!

peggy aplSEEDS link

2/16/2012 01:52:48 pm

planting seeds have a special meaning to me so of course i really appreciate this latest piece. congratulations on your exhibit! thanks for sharing!
hugs,
<a href="http://peggyapl.blogspot.com/">peggy aplSEEDS</a>

froebelsternchen link

2/16/2012 02:16:44 pm

oh wow.. the stones look fabulous.. have to do some in Spring... with this little words on this ist AWESOME!
Thank you very much for this nice effectful inspiration!

Alicia link

2/16/2012 02:30:16 pm

What great pieces! I love the symbology you create - powerful glyphs accompanying ideas

Shelle link

2/16/2012 03:23:51 pm

You are always a bright spot in my blog visits - totally ab-fab!!!

Annette G link

2/16/2012 04:53:36 pm

Congratulations Mary on all your great experiences and successes, sounds like a wonderful week. Loving your new piece, such a great idea. Happy PPF and enjoy the weekend, Annette x

Lesley Edmonds link

2/16/2012 07:12:29 pm

Hi Mary,
This is such an organic piece. Love the gesso'd rocks and the signs you've made. Congrats on the exhibition - great news.
x

Carolyn Dube link

2/16/2012 07:55:06 pm

What an amazing week you had! So much good art in today's post!!!! The rocks rock!

Stephanie Corder link

2/16/2012 08:29:19 pm

I love to see how your work is growing- those rocks were a GREAT idea! And 'grats on the show; you deserve it!
Happy PPF,
Stephanie

Ginny link

2/16/2012 08:45:50 pm

I always enjoy seeing what you are creating. Your work is so interesting and always makes me think. Congratulations on all of your success.

Carol link

2/16/2012 08:51:19 pm

Wow! Congratulations for all the wonderful happenings and new creations are wonderful ~ namaste, carol (A Creative Harbor) Happy PPF ^_^

EVA link

2/16/2012 09:03:23 pm

Congratulations on the show! Your rocks are charming.

carlarey link

2/16/2012 09:11:37 pm

Wow...there is so much good stuff bubbling up in your life right now. Congrats on all the recognition.
Love the new piece!

jean Zoss link

2/16/2012 10:10:48 pm

congrats!! love your rock piece...happy PPF!

Sheri Cook link

2/16/2012 10:30:41 pm

Congrats on the Show and your works are wonderful this week.
Happy PPF!
Sheri Cook
Happy Horse Studio

Ayala Art link

2/16/2012 10:39:31 pm

Congrats on the show! And very nice rock art♥

Debbie link

2/16/2012 11:50:12 pm

Congratulations on a fantastic week! Your collage is really nice -- quite different from your other work. I love the words. What did you use to attach the rocks?

Faye link

2/16/2012 11:50:43 pm

Lovely, Mary. I like the painted river rocks. Great work. This is not as bright and colorful as some in the past but I like the muted colors for this one.

miz katie link

2/17/2012 12:09:11 am

I think your new art piece is lovely.

NatashaMay link

2/17/2012 12:47:49 am

Fabulous news for you. :) Congrats on all! And of course great art piece as always.:)

JKW link

2/17/2012 12:54:10 am

Congrats on the interview. I love the river rocks and the old ledger book. I look forward to seeing what you do with the old Atlas (albeit not old to me, lol). I had an 1800s atlas of my great-great ancestors place, I took a photo of what it looked like now (1970s) and framed them. I love looking at it, it's just above my computer table. The family cemetery is just across the road. Blessings, Janet PPF

Rhonda link

2/17/2012 12:55:35 am

Yay Mary!!! Congrats on all your wonderful accomplishments this week. Love your new work. It reminds me of archeological findings of ancient art. Happy PPF! :-)

yvonne link

2/17/2012 01:15:18 am

love the stones. Congrats on the show too. How exciting. Love all your map art.

TimelessRituals link

2/17/2012 02:11:23 am

What a cool idea!!

Crystal link

2/17/2012 02:30:02 am

Congrats on being featured and on your acceptance int he juried show. Have a great weekend

Sophia link

2/17/2012 02:59:09 am

Your rocks are amazing. These are cute and a brilliant idea. :)

Daniele link

2/17/2012 05:31:54 am

wow, you have so much news. Congrats!!! I am so excited for you. And I love these rocks, and that old atlas, swoon!!! Happy happy week to you!!!

patsypaterno link

2/17/2012 06:04:52 am

Hi mary,
That is really exciting to have two paintings accepted in the competition. You're already a winner! Plant Small seeds is so interesting with all the little details- the more you look, the more you see!!!

Anne link

2/17/2012 08:59:50 am

Sweet & congrats on the exhibition!

mimi link

2/17/2012 09:13:43 am

Congrats on being in a juried show! happy PPF!
and your plant a seed is a wonderful piece, looks like it was a lot of fun to do.

Belinda link

2/17/2012 10:08:48 am

Congratulations! And your piece is absolutely gorgeous! I love how you incorporated all the elements of the old science book and then used the river rocks in the work! Gorgeous!!

Paula - Buenos Aires link

2/17/2012 11:44:33 am

Woooow! So many things going for you. Congratulations on the interview & acceptance.
I´ve loved your maps for a long while, great textures and intentions.

Christine link

2/17/2012 12:12:24 pm

congrats and beautiful work this week Mary!

Carola Bartz link

2/17/2012 01:05:20 pm

Beautiful work, Mary. I love that you included the river rocks. I hadn't even thought of painting them with gesso. Perhaps I'll try that some day... I love to work with maps as well. Sometimes I find a beautiful old atals in a thrift store, but it is not often the case.

Valerie-Jael Tups link

2/17/2012 05:24:35 pm

Beautiful work Mary, and congrats on the exhibition! Valerie

Denice link

2/18/2012 03:13:19 am

Wow, there is just so much to comment on.... Congratulations on the show! The maps and your work is lovely and inspiring, as always... This piece is stunning and original and I just love it. And I thoroughly enjoyed your interview on the Personal Geographies blog. Have a lovely weekend! x