Dissonance Collages

Dissonance Collages

These figure studies are for a lamp shade prototype.

Paper dolls

Up to my old tricks again...

As I explore compositions in the studio, I realize how easily I gravitate toward collage. The versatile interplay of shapes and textures is a good match for my mood on many days. I love taking disparate or cast-off things and making them into something new.

But, I've also realized lately that I continue to return to making my own paper dolls. I can find many references from older work where I have carefully drawn, cut-out and characterized figures in simple scenes.

Yet, when I embark on a new series, I don't think, 'I'd like to do silhouetted shapes again, like I did back then'. It starts to happen intuitively and ... then I think,  'Oh - I did it again'.

My recent return to cut-out figures is, I suppose, partially about control and the strong impulse to play the mastermind behind this theatre of forms.

 Left: 
Emerse or Drown, Gold leaf and acrylic on wood.
2006, Mallorca Spain.

Right: 
Chain Reaction, 
Detail of unique artist book. papers, gesso. 
1994, Massachusetts USA

Left: 
Curtains, 
Gallery installation, wood, ink on silk. 
1995, Thesis show at Mass College of Art, Boston, USA

Los Bichos: Macropsia Insectum

Macropsia Insectum 

Ink, guache and collage on paper, 2016


This specimen was designed to mimic the sensation of derealization common during and after traumatic experience.  Read more about depersonalization and derealization here.

Ascension Revisited

This is what happens when a commissioned piece is not delivered for a *few* months...after many haunting side-glances, I dove back into this painting. Here is what it looked like several months ago, when I first declared it complete.

 detail 1

detail 2


It's finally been delivered to its new home. Thanks Joan and Miquel.

The Way Home: Current Exhibition

Here is the window display inviting passers-by to check out a diverse sampling of my most recent mixed media works and 2 sequences of daily paintings at Mari-Lin Cafecreacions, a new bar/café/creative space appointed with retro furnishings.
On the restaurant level are several recent pieces seen in the Artefacto show just last month.
Downstairs is a charming gallery space with low ceilings perfectly suited to house the 8 X 8 inch daily painting series Continuum created in summer 2009, and Half-Time Home, winter 2010.



We opened the show on Tuesday October 19. It will be up into the first week of November.

I decided to say goodbye...without looking back / Vaig decidir dir adèu...sens mirar enrera

Vaig decidir dir adèu...sens mirar enrera / I decided to say goodbye...without looking back

2010 (160x40cm / 63x15.5in.)

left

right

This piece has been in evolution since early winter. It also contains embedded within the layers, the moving story I mentioned in a recent post.

What a find! UPDATED 29/09/10

UPDATE 29/09/10: Upon sorting these papers, I found that the notebook, the weekly church bulletins, baptism forms and some other receipts date back to 1899 and sequentially up 1922! Guess I'll be scanning those and keeping the originals.

On my walk this morning I came across a broken-up piece of furniture next to a dumpster. Apparently one drawer still had some things tucked away. I gathered these wonderfully-aged church prayer and song books and a few more personal effects. The most special item: a handwritten notebook of a priest's sermons. Who needs the art supply store when you have another man's treasure? Can't wait to find a home for them in my next collages.

...I'm contemplating scanning some of these, something feels strange about cutting and gluing the originals.

Open Walls Series, reworked

Here are some pieces from a group called Open Walls, currently on display at Artefacto gallery in Palma de Mallorca until October 4th.


Virtually all of the written text in this body of work was provided by anonymous contributor. He shared a 2-part story of a move from a small village in Mallorca to Barcelona, and then, his return to the island 7 years later, a changed man. The story is poignant and has provided inspiration for many recent works, not to mention that transcribing the words has helped my Catalan comprehension!



The pieces above have advanced since earlier posts, you can see the in-progress images here, and here.

From Palma to New York City

Slooowly but surely getting back into the studio.
Here's a piece I finished (?) recently as a going away gift for a friend taking an adventurous sabbatical from Palma de Mallorca to New York City for several months.

The moving story excerpts are from "Leaving Lisbon" by Evan, thank you.

Across the Bridge

Here is the diptych I recently completed, Across the Bridge.

It's a 'moving story' (Español) about making big changes that includes writing in English and in Spanish about both the fear and relief that comes from this process. Thanks to Kristen and Xavi for providing the story excerpts. I am always looking for new stories to illuminate, so click on the links highlighted above or instructions. Thank you

Opening Coverage at the Tesorería General, Palma de Mallorca

I really wanted to post pictures of the opening, with lots of people milling around happily , but I have none! My designated photographer, the coordinator of the exhibition space, worked the refreshment table and in the end sent me only the picture at the end of this post of himself and I!
The pictures you see here were taken in the empty gallery earlier in the week, but you get the idea.

The good news is that it was crowded and a successful night. I really appreciate all of those who came out to celebrate with me. I did get some newspaper coverage as well. It is a possibility that I will get a review from another publication. If so I will certainly keep you posted.






Coordinator, Tomeu Pinya and I.

Exhibition Open in Palma de Mallorca: The Search for Home/La Búsqueda de Casa

Just look at the sheer joy with which I work...My exhibit in the Gallery space at the Social Security Building in Palma de Mallorca is up and will be until the 13th. We will celebrate on Friday night at 8 p.m.; come by for Spanish tapas and a refreshment! I say this knowing that most of my English-speaking readership will certainly NOT be there, but a girl can dream...

Expert Mover, 1 of 8

A little sneak preview of a new series of daily paintings not yet posted over at my Dailies site. I've been a busy little bee.

Casa & Campo I/II / House & Field I/II

Casa & Campo I / House & Field I


Casa & Campo II / House & Field II

Diptych: 20 X 20 inches (50 X 50 cm) each. Collage 7 mixed media on wood

This diptych is a large scale version of the 32 abstract orange Daily Paintings featured on my other blog.

New Piece: Volver a Casa / Return Home

New Piece: Volver a Casa / Return Home

24 X 24 inches (61 X 61 cm)

Mixed media collage and painting

The composition of this piece is from a section of an enormous destroyed building in Inca, Mallorca. The wall paper and newspaper come from a building demolition in Sa Pobla, Mallorca. There are two bodies of text taken from moving stories contributed by Jose and Eusebia. Thank you both.

La Vida Pseudonómada/The Pseudo-nomadic Life

La vida pseudonómada (The Pseudo-nomadic Life)

Completed September 1, 2009
35.5 X 47 inches (90 X 120 cm)
Mixed media on wood (rusted metal, collage, acrylic)

I started this piece ages ago and have finally pulled it together. It is the first piece that utilizes some of the many Moving Stories I have collected over the last 2 months. Thank you, Jose for your contribution. The original building structure is one in Inca, Mallorca. The junk was collected on the streets of Muro and the wall paper is from the site of a renovation in Sa Pobla.

I am entering this piece today in a competition at a gallery I have been salivating over; the exhibition space is a wonderfully restored historic estate and well-suited to my work. Just being in the group show would be great, but the first prize of a solo exhibit is going to be even better! Wish me luck.

Collage: Duplex / Adosado

Duplex / Adosado

22 X 30 inches ( 54 X 73 cm) Collage/mixed-media on paper

Set of 4 Dailies

This is a composition of 4 daily paintings, developed at first as a set, then individually. Check out the individual posts here. As I start each new daily piece, I make reference to the one that came the day before. In this way, there is a constant flow of continuity day to day.

Top left, clockwise to bottom right:

Cocina, Parquet, Rotary, and Golden Crop.

8 X 8 inches (20 X 20 cm) each panel. Collage, joss paper, rusted metal, and acrylic on wood.

'Muro' means stone wall

A few years back, 2002 I think, a long lost friend saw my recent paintings and said, "why are you building walls"?  I defended myself: "No, I am not building them, my plans are to tear them down- but you have to get really close first".  Then recently I had a good chuckle with friends visiting from MA about the fact the the name of the town I live in in Mallorca is MURO, which translates to stone wall. Ok, Ok I get the message! I had only put stone walls in a few pieces back then, but now, understandably, the image has returned. You'll see.