Voting for " Nature is for Everyone"

Today is the spring election here in Wisconsin and in Madison there are many alder people up for election as well as state and county referendums

Today I was nearly # 200 and I almost always vote around 9am, usually I'm somewhere between 30-50 so already one hour in and it's encouraging to know that at my polling place alone folks are turning out

I'm going to share a slightly different perspective on how to vote.

I posted this photo of the poster I designed for @madisonpubliclibrary because this is how I vote and it's not a single issue it's how we connect.

I vote as an intersectional environmentalist- knowing that my vote speaks for the environment AND social justice issues- because environmental issues impact marginalized people disproportionately

I also believe that there's this long standing view that humans hold dominion over nature - that story is simply not true. One species can't ever hold dominion over nature because diversity of species is needed to form lush interconnected web of healthy ecosystems.

In the same way one group of people or government doesn't have the power to decide what constitutes a "good" body. Laws that prevent humans from their own bodily autonomy work against diversity and disconnect us. Humans aren't a monolith and laws governing all humans in a nation, state or locality need to work FOR everyone not dictate what some people want.

I want folks to remember when they vote to vote on behalf of people who may not look like you, share the same culture, age,gender identity, sexual orientation, have differing physical and mental abilities than you AND ALSO vote while holding the land we live on and species we commune with AS sacred as human rights. Environment and human rights are inseparable!

I vote for the world I want to live in as opposed to voting against what I don't like or understand. My attention to the FOR vs AGAINST is a powerful reframe that has only brought more abundance into my life.

Today I urge you to vote with intersectional environmentalism in mind- To vote FOR versus against and feel this sentiment that nature is for everyone

Also keep an eye on the weather friends.

Portrait of my brain

It's been awhile since I have talked about myself apart from my work

Usually I share a photo of my face when I share like this but I'm feeling like this risograph print is a fitting portrait of my brain, my values and what I'm about to share

I find it very difficult to share on social media this year because I came to the realization that none of us can ever fully capture the complexity of our lives here in this space. Part of my deepest need is to be understood and I cannot fully show up or share of myself in the ways I want to. Social media requires that we translate or simplify our beingness into tidbits and I don't think this truly captures or honors any essence of life, of grittiness, of real struggle.

I have recently discovered that part of my personal and perhaps life long struggle that I didn't recognize until recently is because I am on the autism spectrum ( thanks to parenting a child that we are finding is also on the autism spectrum)

Part of what makes this difficult is that my whole life my need to somehow fit in has meant that I sensor myself, constantly retranslate, always grasping for words that don't really convey the depth that honors me. I want to be seen. It's likely why making art is so necessary for me.

Each of us is a complex web of organisms, experiences and factors. We exist within constructs and systems that reinforce difference, comparison and competition and it doesn't suit any of us.

What if to truly feel like ourselves we have to treat all beings as tiny but also expansive universes, each of us unique balls of cells but connected in ways we cannot even fully comprehend. We know we, humans don't have the capacity to fully grasp a/ many universe(s) so it might just be we cannot fully understand each other. However we do know that beings( universes) may contain similar or different qualities , interests, opinions and exist together.

I am autistic, I contain multitudes and that's okay because we all do. Let's use that to build new ways of caring and supporting each other in the complicated ways befitting universes

TMA Contemporary Opening

TONIGHT!!

TMA Contemporary Exhibition reception 5-8pm
The Trout Museum Appleton WI

So happy to be included among 100+ cutting edge WI artists.

So excited to see how my installation" What connects us" is installed. It's the first time I have ever had anyone beside myself install an installation piece which is very freeing.

My family has decided to stay home but I'm hopeful to make new connections with artists and see artist friends.

Can't wait!!

If you're hanging out in Madison please stop by Communication for the Meaningful Connections exhibition reception 3-8pm featuring artwork centered around themes of connection. I had a sneak peek of most of the exhibition and it's fantastic.

It is not lost on me that my installation being shown at the Trout Museum and the works being exhibited at Communication are all about connection and community.

In a world, within systems that categorize, compete, or make it seem like consumption will solve the problems of discord, connection is our antidote.

Deinstallation of Interconnected

The days taking down an exhibition/ installation are always fraught with a range of emotions

Gratitude
Relief
Emptiness
Sadness/ Grief
Exhilaration
Joy and much more all at once

It's really a bittersweet experience.

This deinstallation was made sweeter by taking a look at the student drawings about our exhibition, the sweetest note Beth Stoddard left me in the middle of my art installation ( I should have taken a photo!) and of course this wouldn't have been possible without the invitation from Kristin Gjerdset and having her classes interact with our work.

I thoroughly enjoyed viewing student drawings about the exhibition. What a great way to connect with work from multiple perspectives ( literally and figuratively), angles and add depth to the discussion of the exhibition's theme of Interconnection without even hearing any words uttered. That's what art is supposed to do right?!

Thanks for having us Wisconsin Lutheran College!

Swipe to see Student drawings of the exhibition I don't have complete names/ tags to connect them so if you do please let me know and I'll add them.

Image Description: 1 Panel of interconnected pattern with cutouts is shown against blank gallery walls Rest of photos pencil drawings of interconnected exhibition

Reflections on exhibiting

I don't know what lives these works will lead after the exhibition but it's been such a gift to show a range of work I am capable of crossing boundaries between social practice, installation, media and forms.

If I'm being honest I put so much energy into this exhibition that much like the time after birthing a child, I have taken time to rest when I can before another big push of creative work.

This is an important part of my practice, feeling and doing what is right in a moment for body, mind and soul so I can continue to create in a healthy manner. The quiet and rest is when new ideas form and connect what was, is and what will be together and for me it isn't always linear. I honor the push and pull like the earth honors the seasons.

It's awesome to have a moment when my art practice aligns with autumn and the in-between space.


Image description: Through an eye- like hole in an black, white and yellowish pattern in the foreground more of patterns that are similar can be viewed as well as smaller artworks on the walls

Drum Roll....

Drum roll......

There's less than a week to see the Interconnected exhibition at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

See how the amazing collection of Beth Stoddard’s paintings and drawings interact with my installation "What connects us", a social practice nest that asks for your input on how/ what we incubate for the future and a small collection of risograph collage pieces ( like the one in the picture) and Woodcuts.

Exhibition is up through Oct 15 and Gallery hrs are 9-9pm daily except Sundays ( 1-9pm)

If/ when you stop by let me know I would love to hear your thoughts!

Image Description: A 12"x12" Risograph print collage titled " Drum Circle" depicts 3 of each of these woodpeckers - Red bellied woodpecker, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers arranged in a blue circle with aqua printed branch pattern. The circle of birds is surrounded by black.

Nest led a former life

This nest led a former life as another installation last winter for Winter is Alive a global festival discussing climate change.

Site specific installations can lead new lives, so can much of our waste or items that no longer serve their intended purpose. The original Siphonophore ( deep sea colonial organism made up of individual zooids) was constructed from 20 people's cord piles.

These cords were no longer useful, they had another life as a creature and now transformed yet again into a nest .

I keep asking:
How do we build on/ with what we already have to create new pathways for connection?

And you can respond too. This exact question and others invite you to contemplate, write, draw, add to this nest at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Interconnected Exhibition Opening

Grateful for a great series of talks, a small outdoor drop in workshop and opening reception for Interconnected!

A great group of people came through, most I met for the first time.

Many swapped bird stories with me or asked very insightful questions about my work.

So honored to share this space with Beth Stoddard and to hear much more about her Art Servancy residency at Fitzsimmons Park. Her work really celebrates the unique biodiversity of a place untouched by development.

Many, many thanks to Kristin Gjerdset for inviting us to exhibit, for arranging many details, for being an amazing art patron, for teaching me about sexing Monarchs and for grabbing me lunch 😊 If you don't already follow her on Instagram, she shares a lot of beautiful nature, specifically insect art. Kristin cares deeply about insects and kindly shared her sandwich with a few wasps yesterday ❤️

Anyway thanks for showing up for art and connection 🥰

Interconnected is up through Oct 15.
Gallery hours are
9-9pm Monday-Saturday
1-9pm Sunday

We'd love to hear if you stop by, tag us or message us and share your thoughts.

Wellnest Installation

Interconnected exhibition brought to you by the made up term/ definition

Wellnest:

Where creating safe space and mental well-being intersect.

Image Descriptions:

A sculpture of a large scale nest of tied electric cords is placed on top of a pedestal.

3 pieces of art nests hang on a wall their details barely discernable

Close-up of a black and cream printed nest of birds on canvas

Close-up of Art installation that shows interconnected branching pattern. Parts are cut out so you can see through the piece.

Various risograph prints ( gold and black) of mirrored birds form nests on various colors of paper and backgrounds

Tomorrow is opening day! Snag your risograph nest and other printed goodies during the reception at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Schkueter Gallery MKE WI

And join me also in celebrating the work of Beth Stoddard

Shadows

Shadows of 2 months of work are the stuff of dreams.

When I was creating the installation, layering, combining and cutting I hadn't really thought about how the light would interact with the cut openings to reveal a nest of shadows.

I have surprised and delighted even myself in creating "What connects us" Being surprised by a finished result is a very rare event for an artist that always prepares for multiple outcomes.

It has been an immense gift to create an installation that honors and invites wonder of these intricate patterns of connection that reveal themselves underfoot, in our marrow, in synapses, in the sky, in your imagination.

Join Beth Stoddard and myself for the opening reception of Interconnected this Friday Sept 10 5-7pm.

The Interconnected exhibition is on view through Oct 15 .

Interconnected Reception

You’re invited to the opening reception of our 2 person exhibition Sept 10 5-7pm

You can find more details on the Wisconsin Lutheran College page for Gallery hours

or I created a Facebook event page for the reception here too in case you want to mark it on your calendar.

If you would like an exhibition postcard please send me your mailing address and I will send you one :)

Here is a combined statement about this exhibition:

"Interconnected" Exhibition

September 10-October 15

The Wisconsin Lutheran College Schlueter Art Gallery is proud to exhibit the works of artists Beth Stoddard and Sara Meredith.

INTERCONNECTED: As leafy canopy to forest floor, fungi to fallen trees, people to their environment, people to one another, and all organisms to each other: living things are interconnected. Imagery representational and imagined of biodiverse woodlands and wetlands stimulate wonder at the marvels of local protected ecosystems. Sense of scale is explored and inverted to dramatic effect with a walk-through site-specific installation of microscopic mycelium and layered printworks of branching wilderness; these large pieces answered by small yet panoramic woodland paintings and correspondent mushroom drawings. In its resilience and delicacy, its liveliness and decay, the natural world is teacher and muse in Interconnected.

The exhibition's opening reception will take place on Friday, September 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Mycelium like Installation

What if you could see the vast networks that lie hidden underfoot, inside the mind, echoed in diverse microscopic structures?

What if you could travel and explore something like these patterns that connect plants, fungi, animals, minds, the full gamut of beingness, AKA all of life?

What if, questions like the ones listed above are what drive my work and also let me selfishly cling to wonder and curiosity with a child’s insatiable thirst.

I think when people tell children to “ grow up” we kill off entire worlds that they would have otherwise created, worlds that could be brilliant solutions.

What if we need curiosity to help us reformat systems and collective existential dread?

Let the children be children and stop demanding that they leave their hidden imaginative lives behind. That goes for all of you adult sized children out there too.

Coming Sept 10 in Milwaukee you’ll get to immerse yourself in an installation of interconnection created in part with crayons :)