This nest sat in an exhibition for a little over a month. I think many thought the nest looked complete, but this piece was meant to invite reflection, interaction. Perhaps it looked too finished.
Much like every other piece of work I create/ collaborate on I have to release expectations and stand with curiosity.
With a social practice piece like this nest where the artist isn't there in person it's hard to gauge how much participation there will be. I'm glad to see even a few answers woven into the nest when I arrived to dismantle the work.
Prompts :
What ideas, thoughts, actions do you want to incubate for the future?
What makes a safe space, and/ or home?
How do we build on/ with what we already have to create new pathways for connection?
A message from the nest:
"Things are rarely easy at the start. When we learn something new, there comes a time when the enormity of the task is realized.. " I will never be that good" we think. And so we sink back into the familiar. Build on mistakes- that's how you reach new heights."
This message is the very message I needed to see when I started reflecting about the success of this piece.
Keep building folks!
Image Description: a tangle of electric cords in different colors surrounds a handwritten message on paper, the words quoted above"
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.
From the past Suitcase of Curiosity
If you've been here with me on this small corner of the interwebs you know I love cabinets of curiosity and I used to create tiny woodcut curiosities that I took on the road in a traveling suitcase.
Here are some of my favorites from a couple years ago.
Still trying to decide how to offer these tiny BBS, I took a break because handprinting tiny prints is a labor of love and I just couldn't sell these for what I need to in order to adequately pay myself for my time. Until I figure out how to make this work better my amazing supporters on Patreon will be the only ones who have access to any random tiny cuts I create.
BUT if you want to learn how you can create your own curious woodcuts I'm your person. There are still spots available in an intro level course about cutting and printing. Link is in my bio to register but do so by Oct 9!
I can't ever pick a favorite but do you have a favorite from this collection?
On Showing my face on Instagram
A little ditty about showing my face on Instagram:
I have forgotten to show my face on an Instagram post in awhile but it doesn't feel like it because I have been sharing selfies on the regular in my stories.
Why did I start doing that?
I am experimenting in combining, taking 1 selfie in the morning no editing no redos, accountability, self talk, morning pages, realness/ vulnerability about myself in ways that are not generally practiced on social media platforms. It's me holding a mirror up and letting you in on the process of acceptance.
Artists often show process videos or in progress photos of what we're working on. We create artwork and in the process many of us learn to embrace ourselves, our flaws and strengths.
I think the most of exceptional works of art are the lives we lead, and how we hold ourselves and others along the way.
If you're here with me, here on this platform it means some part of my life / work that I share with you, has value to you. I take that very seriously.
I hope when you're scrolling that when you come across my face or my work that you don't feel like you need to compare our lives because we are different in our own beautiful ways. I intentionally show and discuss the progress and not just the pretty bits to welcome you here to this tiny section of the internet.
We're all works in progress our whole lives... No one really knows 💯 what the heck they are doing even if they make it seem like they do.
Image Description: White woman ( Sara) with messy hair, brown eyes, brown glasses wearing a smock that is mustard, purple, pink and black standing in front of her art installation of interconnected patterns.
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.
Carotenoid Colors
Really feeling these fall colors today.
Been seeing all manner of bird festivities in the yard as birds get ready too. I may see a flash of yellow but most of the warblers and goldfinches in this risograph print are summertime friends.
I like to savor the vibrancy of birds, leaves and golden light right before us Midwestern folks brace ourselves for the winter.
It's like nature's last fire of color to keep us going til spring.
Savor it friends, savor those Carotenoid colors.
See this piece up at Wisconsin Lutheran College Schleuter Art Gallery now through Oct 15th
What are some of your favorite natural wonders of fall?
Image Description: Risograph printed illustration of yellow warblers and goldfinches over interconnecting layer of gold and yellow
Wellnest #3
Tonight is the opening reception of the Symbiosis exhibition at Communication in Madison
To celebrate showing my most recent woodcut alongside other amazing shop artists I dropped some limited edition risograph Wellnest prints in the shop 🎉
2 different nests only 13- 11"x8.5" prints available in the shop so get them while they last
All sorts of color backgrounds available.
See you tonight. I'll be wearing a bird dress 🐦
Wellnest #1
Original woodcut " Wellnest #1" is on view at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Schleuter Art Gallery now through Oct 15th.
You can see prints of this piece up during Interconnected as well but if you're in the Madison area you can spy a special floated print up at Symbiosis opening this Saturday 3-8pm at Communication, Madison, WI This is a group show celebrating shop artists that have helped my home away from home ( Communication) continue thriving during uncertainty.
Hope you can stop by!!
Image Description: A piece of woodcut with painted black background has a nest like structure cut out of the middle, it's a lighter sepia tone. Within thr nest structure are black outlines and characteristics of 25 birds found in Wisconsin that overlap and blend into one another
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
Sneak peek "What Connects Us"
Another sneak peek
Here's the view from inside the installation " What Connects us" out through the gallery entrance.
The deeper you dig and the farther you expand roots the more encounters of reciprocal relationships can be found. Everything really is intricately connected. Life on this planet is chaotic and yet ordered all at once.
This installation is a practice of entanglement.
The install is representative of intertwining of mycelial networks as much as it is about any other seemingly random ( but not) pattern of branching.
The process of creating this work was also a practice of connection, as well as of letting go and trusting. I did not plan how this would look I just started and let the materials guide me.
When you see it I hope it reminds you of life full of complexity and patterns. We can listen, let go and trust that the patterns that this piece represents will bring lives closer together.
Hope to see you at the opening this Friday 5-7pm at Wisconsin Lutheran College Schleuter Art Gallery
Image Description: 2 yellow earth tone branching patterned art panels with holes hang on either side of glass doorways. In between the panels there are shadows with holes that look nest- like. There is a figure reflected in the glass ( me)
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 .
Sneak peek Risograph Collage
Sneak peek of one piece from a series of 8"x8" risograph collage/ assemblage pieces about my experiences while hiking in the Cherokee Marsh.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I often walk the same series of paths in the same way. This is a gift that has imparted awareness of subtle differences in the land and inhabitants as the seasons change. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This series is deceptively simple but has layered complexity of multiple encounters and memories which are hard to bring into sharp focus after the moments have passed.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This piece is a tribute to the Compass plant scientific name Silphium laciniatum. These plants have more lengthy roots below ground than the reach of the plant above ground. Seeing these bastions of insect biodiversity is a great signal of the health of the land. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cherokee Marsh Memories: Silphium laciniatum⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This and much more of my work and the gorgeous natural paintings and drawings of Beth Stoddard will be installed tomorrow.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Participatory art
What ideas, thoughts, actions do you want to incubate for the future?
Inviting folks visiting the
Interconnected exhibition Sept 10-Oct 15 to:
Write their words,
Depict things they hold dear
AND/OR
Use detritus from the last year ( natural or not)
to add to the structure of this nest.
Together we can build and hold this safe space to bring a new future into being.
Hopefully in this future we can better care for each other, the land and all the creatures in it.
First Reduction Woodcut for Relief Conspiracy
Signing and starting to address envelopes to send these prints out on Friday for #reliefconspiracy
This is my first time participating. So excited to see what other relief postcards I'll receive in the mail
Since it is my first time doing this I figured I'd throw a bunch more firsts in there
First reduction woodcut
First time using my #portableprintingpress
First time hand mixing my own inks using #earthpigments
These prints are far from perfect but I am proud of all these firsts.
Swipe to see various process pics of this reduction cut in the works
Image descriptions: Series of images of woodcut prints on white postcard sized paper. They are layered prints using handmixed colors yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and Cyprus burnt umber. The artwork depicts a side profile of a face and a series of branches that frame a nest with a pair of common Yellowthroat warblers. The series of photos shows the different colors and different phases of one woodcut block that is cut more and more each layer. Reduction cuts cannot be reproduced again
Wisconsin Salt Wise Printing
Today is a day for connection and to take a stand.
You can find me at the #wisaltwise tent where you can print these freshwater species woodcuts on your clothing or grab a patch. Woodcuts Not pictured WI covered in water ripples, #keepitfreshwi and WI Salt Wise.
I stand with water protectors from afar, this is one way I can fight for water. Use my gift of art to mind people to defend clean water
WI Salt Wise is a coalition of orgs dedicated to educating the public about the costs of chloride pollution. Human contributions to this pollution include inefficient water softeners and overuse of road salt.
If you want to pledge yourself to fight for clean water for all beings and you're in Madison stop by the Orton Front Fest today and look for the WI Salt Wise tent. I will be there from 12:30-3:30 helping ink and print these carefully carved woodcuts and print them on clothing you bring or patches.
This is free to the public because it's important to hold reminders about what's important. This is one way to remind us of our relationship with water and to stand with water protectors.
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.
View It's Changed Us a video exhibition from South Central Chapter of Wisconsin Visual Artists
So proud that our chapter put together this video, a lasting document of the spring virtual exhibition about all of our lives during the pandemic. Take a peek