Visual Storytelling
Visit during the Saint Paul Art Crawl and help celebrate new work of not only Heather Matson, but Connie Gretsch and Michelle Lee at Umbrella Tree Studio in the ACVR Warehouse.
Studio Party…. Saturday, 5-8pm for refreshments and good company!
106 West Water Street, 3rd floor, St Paul, MN 55107
Hours open…
Friday Oct 4th from 6-10pm
Saturday Oct 5th from 12-8pm
Closed Sunday
The evidence of what humans leave behind are like a time capsule. So interesting…
“Commonly known as Gunkanjima (or “Battleship Island”), Hashima Island floats off the coast of Nagasaki in Japan, surrounded by a concrete sea wall which gives it an armored warship appearance. The abandoned island’s weathered silhouette is punctuated by crumbling concrete buildings and structures, ravaged by typhoons.
Populated from 1887 to 1974 as a coal mining facility, Gunkanjima housed thousands of workers in its heyday. The tiny island had apartment buildings, a school, hospital, shrine, retail stores and restaurants and became the most densely populated place in the world per square meter with over 5,000 inhabitants in the 1950s. When coal mining declined, operations at the facility ceased and the island was abandoned in 1974.”
(photos) http://www.weather.com/travel/gunkanjima-japans-abandoned-ghost-island-photos-20130903
Roger Ballen… Raw and surreal. Love his work.
OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, September 13th, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Please Join Me for the Opening Reception of Ambient Light: A Natural Luminosity,
Friday, September 13th, 6:30-9:30pm. This is an interesting exhibit of over
70 images by photographers across the nation. The evening will be filled with good art, tasty food,
stimulating conversation and great music provided by Frank Enanzoa and Jamie Carter. This exhibit
is free and open to the public so bring your friends and relatives. I look forward to seeing you there!
On Exhibit September 13th through October 13, 2013
“Ice Castle” at the Mall of America, 2013
I have begun a journey, several months ago, in which I have chosen to reflect about the meaning of life, and the essence of the soul during a time a great life transition. So far this journey has proven personal strength, resilience and a higher level of personal enlightenment.
The artist residency was offered at an important time in my life. I was able to utilize this gift by exploring this theme deeper, gaining momentum and inspiration through the energy produced during the time at Trade River Retreat Center.
The definition of Quintessence is; the pure, highly concentrated essence of something; the purest or most typical instance: the quintessence of evil; and finally, in ancient and medieval philosophy, the fifth and highest essence after the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, thought to be the substance of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things.
“Exposed Inner Heart”
“What Once Was”
“The Evidence of Self”
“Painfully Empty Handed”
“Come Rain on Me”
“Reflection of the Soul”
The following are intimate observations I made during my Artist-in-Residency, August 2013. I warmed up and stretched my photographic and creative muscles with exercises in observing light and content.
“Bird House”
“Eagle’s Nest”
“Fish Lake Road”
“Grass”
“Grass Nest”
“The Head and The Heart”
“Heart in Nest”
“Lilly Pad”
“Pine”
“Post Office”
“Drive Way”
“Rock Path”
“Sandy Bottom”
“Twig Trellis”
“Tree Wearing Mask”
“Turtle and Leach”
“Two Masks”
“Spider Web and Antlers”
“Twisted Wood”
I began to blend the two dominant cultures I identify with in a new world of story telling and spiritualism. Traditional Ojibway and Norse (viking) stories, legends are the influence for these images and marks the new direction for my paintings.
Completed during my Artist-in-Residence in August of 2013.
“Shaman,” watercolor on auqabord. 2013. Original size 6×6.
“Tree Guardian,” watercolor on aquabord. 2013. Original size 6×6.
Owls have been a symbol for me for many years. I find a great sense spiritual symbolism in their presence. When I hear them call, sing and chatter, I always smile with great joy.
Completed during my Artist-in-Residence in August of 2013.
“Barn Owl,” watercolor on aquabord. 2013 original size 6×6
“Short-eared Owl,” watercolor on aquabord. 2013 original size 6×6
I can hardly believe it! I have one day of this beautiful place left. I am ready to go home that is for sure however there are so many more images to make. So far this artist residency experience has been good. I have been given the time to create without the noise of my daily life, which I am grateful for. This has marked the beginning of a huge release of pent up energy for sometime to come. The creative embers will not die easily.
This day will pass me by before I know it so off to create I go. I will have a wrap up blog posting in a few days after given sometime to think and love all I have missed.
Here is a snapshot of a white swan family I saw the other day… Enjoy.
The creative flow has been like white water rapids for days… now I feel myself slowing down to a trickle. I have been feeling the phantom touches of my family. Isolation can be good for a time, however human contact would sure be nice right now. I think I am starting to get a little home sick. Wait did I just say that! Well I am human I can miss home…
Today, I did however find a new direction for my painting! Because I am obsessed with cultural history, storytelling and lore, that makes up my heritage. I finally found a way to combine Norse (Viking) and Native American tribal stories to create my own mythical creatures and stories.
I took it upon myself to stand in the pouring rain for a long time this afternoon. The rain felt so warm, cleansing, soothing, and lovely.
This evening the woods transformed from the eerie quite-before-the-storm with dark skies and swirly tornado like clouds, to a thunderstorm and down pour. Pretty active night, however I would like to chill and relax.
