Jeanne Williamson

Hanging Instructions

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:49:00 +0000

I shipped The Fence As Lace #6 to the Snyderman-Works Gallery in Philadelphia for the 8th International Fiber Biennial. The only box I had in the house that was the right size was a box that originally had a roll of new construction fencing. It was fun to use the box that had materials that were the starting point for this piece.

Unlike hanging work on boards (or art quilts in my previous art life) that everyone knows how to hang, The Fence As Lace series requires hanging instructions. Above are the instructions for The Fence As Lace #6. I'll have to make time soon to prep the instructions for the rest of the series.

The Fence As Lace #6 is mixed media on stiffened fabric, measures 72" x 73", and was created in 2011.

The 8th International Fiber Biennial will be on exhibit from March 2 through April 28, 2012.

Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:34:00 +0000

I love this crosswalk in Vineyard Haven on Martha's Vineyard. Great grid and colors, and very inspirational! I started looking at crosswalks, and paint on streets, after reading the blog of Jennifer Coyne Qudeen. She visited me during Open Studios last October and posted pictures of a crosswalk down the street from my studio.

12 x 12 x 12 January 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:12:00 +0000

I'm considering ideas for using many of the 167 white zippers I purchased a few months ago, along with monoprints of construction fences.

My 12 x 12 x 12 January 2012 is the first piece using one zipper. This piece is very tight, and as I try using them some more, they will be less so.

This month I wanted to use a zippered piece of fabric over another piece of fabric so the bottom fabric can be seen through the top.

I'm considering using some of the left over fabric from January in my February piece as a starting place, but we'll see what happens when I start working on it next month.

This is my sixth year of working on my 12 x 12 x 12 monthly series, which are mixed media on 12" x 12" x 1" board. You can read past posts about the series here on my blog, and see all of the completed work on my website.

Snow Happy!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Yesterday, after what's been a really weird winter so far, we finally had our first decent snowstorm. In January! While skiers have been waiting impatiently for snow so they could ski, I've been waiting so I could get winter pictures of my installation, Fence Curtain 1.0

I was staying in Boston for the weekend because I was attending a conference, so I took the T (AKA the MBTA, Boston MA's subway system) to the ConstellationCenter in Kendall Square in Cambridge, to take pictures. It was a cold 18 degrees, with wind and snow, and well worth the visit.

I like this picture because of how gray it was during the storm, but I am looking forward to pictures of it in the snow on a clearer day, and I’m hoping that my photographer will be able to get there today. If not today, then hopefully after the next snowstorm, because it's supposed to go up to 50 degrees in the next few days and the snow will melt very quickly.

On the day we took pictures of this piece in the Fall, there were shadows on the ground behind the fence. Yesterday, there was the illusion of shadows, but it was really bare ground because of how the wind was blowing and how the piece was blocking the snow from the ground. I love that!

I live in Natick, MA, 20 miles or so west of Boston, where 6" of snow fell. When we got home this morning, I took some pictures of the installations in my yard, and they’re below.

Fence Holes Bandage 1.0

Weathered Fence Series #7

Weathered Fence Series #8

Update: I got a note from my photographer that said "I went to photograph the sculpture this morning, unfortunately the snow plows had pushed a large pile of snow up against the fence, so I was unable to take any pictures. Next time I will have to get there before the snow plows."

Bummer. I'm waiting to hear if they totally buried my piece or if the pile of snow was off to the side.

New Work - The Fence As Lace #13

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:49:00 +0000

After I finished working on my 35' outdoor art installation, Fence/Curtain 1.0, in my borrowed studio workspace (because I have a significantly smaller studio), I decided to take advantage of temporarily having a 4' x 8' work table (as well as one that was 4' x 16'), and make another large piece, which I've added to the Fence As Lace Series.

The Fence As Lace #13 , which is a diptych, is mixed media on stiffened fabric, and measures 8' x 8'.

While I created The Fence As Lace #13 in November 2011, I was finally able to get it photographed earlier this week, because it was hanging as two separate pieces in my Arlington, MA art window installation. I took the window down last week.

The inspiration behind this piece was The Fence As Lace #2 (below), which I really like, and felt needed a companion piece that's 8' wide vs. the 4' wide that #2 is.

Fence Holes Bandage 1.0 After First Snowfall

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:17:00 +0000

We got an unexpected 2" of snow overnight, so I took a few pictures of Fence Holes Bandage 1.0 while my barista made the morning lattes. This is the first snowfall in what's been a strangely unseasonal Massachusetts winter. Not that I'm itching to shovel, but I would really like to see this piece, and also my 35' installation, Fence/Curtain 1.0, in the snow.

It's too warm to drive into Cambridge, MA to take pictures of Fence/Curtain 1.0 before the snow melts today, so that will have to wait.

The reason Fence Holes Bandage 1.0 exists in the first place is because we got an unseasonal Nor'easter in October, when there were still leaves on the trees, and a very large limb broke off of the flowering pear tree in my backyard. Fence Holes Bandage 1.0 is covering the damage from the break, which breaks my heart to look at.

12 x 12 x 12 Zipper Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:09:00 +0000

After dinner last night, I finally grabbed some studio time. It's not that I haven't been working since the holidays. I have. A lot. I've been working on (in alphabetical order, not necessarily in this order) art marketing, web design and writing my how-to book.

At my studio, I worked on my monthly 12 x 12 x 12 series, which is my first time incorporating a zipper with monoprinted construction fences.

I picked out fabric to use with the zipper, got my sewing machine out, went to sew the zipper to the fabric, and I had a brain cramp. I couldn't remember how to sew a zipper. I was trying not to get frustrated, because I've been sewing since I was 12 years old, which is a long, long time, and then I realized the reason I couldn't remember how to sew a zipper was because I only had one piece of fabric with no seam and you need a seam to sew a zipper. (How was that for a run on sentence?!?)

I didn't want to lose any of the pattern of my fabric in a seam, so I decided that instead of sewing a zipper the traditional way with a seam, I'd cut the fabric down the middle (sort of) and sew each piece to the zipper instead of sewing the zipper to the fabric. It worked great.

I also mounted fabric on the 12" x 12" board so it could dry before the next step.

Because I can be impatient in the studio, like when waiting for things to dry, I gently laid the fabric with the zipper on the damp board, to start thinking about placement and how the fabric below it will show through, something I want to have happen. Sorry about the blurry picture above. I didn't realize it was as I was documenting it.

The next step is to mount the zipper fabric on the dry board, the next time I'm at my studio. I can't wait to do it!

After this start, I have a ton of ideas. I'll probably use the left over zipper fabric from January for my February piece, trying something totally different with the same piece of fabric, before I jump into working on much, much bigger boards for a new series.

When the January piece is finished, hopefully soon but definitely before the end of the month, I'll post a picture of it here and on my website.

Zippers

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:08:00 +0000

I purchased 167 white zippers a few months ago from a neighbor whose grandmother was a seamstress and is liquidating her sewing supplies.

There were many sizes to choose from, and I got 79 that are 24" and 88 that are 45". If there were 48" zippers in the inventory I would have bought them all since the construction fences I print are 48" wide or less and it would have offered me more options, but I settled for the 45" zippers.

When I next have access to a large space to monoprint yardage of construction fences, I hope to work on a new series about feminism called Fences For Girls, which will incorporate many zippers. I've had many ideas for this series since I was at my Art Residency at the Vermont Studio Center last May, but I spent the time working on The Fence As Lace Series and had no time for Fences For Girls.

Between now and when I can work on that series, I'm going to use one zipper in my 12 x 12 x 12 January 2012 piece (as I continue my 12 x 12 x 12 Series into 2012) and many on a new, yet unnamed series on boards.

I have another friend who bought even more zippers than I did. I can't wait to show her what do with mine, and see what she does with hers, and then I'm hoping we can organize an exhibit about zippers.

Great Find!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:49:00 +0000

The best gifts are the ones totally unexpected, and found when going about your day and when not looking for gifts. That's the case when a friend was clothes shopping recently at Savers, our favorite used clothing store. She found a sleeveless blouse that so reminded her of my work, that she splurged and bought it for me for $3.99.

The two images above are details are of stamped and painted fabric of my Weathered Fences Series, and below is a detail from the blouse fabric. How perfect! Thank you my friend!

On Exhibit: The 8th International Fiber Biennial

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:44:00 +0000

While organizing plans to go to Philadelphia the first weekend of March for Fiber Philadelphia, and more specifically the Opening of the 8th International Fiber Biennial at the Snyderman-Works Gallery, I went to their website to double check the dates of the show, and I got a nice surprise.

Happily, all of the art in the Biennial is on their website (mine is captured in the picture above). I am really honored that The Fence As Lace #6 will be hanging in this show, near or next to many artists who are internationally known, and some of whom whose work I have followed since I was in Art School in the late 1970's.

TheFence As Lace #6 is mixed media on stiffened fabric, measures 72" x 73" and was created in 2011.

The 8th International Fiber Biennial will be at the Snyderman-Works Gallery from March 2nd through April 28, 2012 in Philadelphia, PA.

My name is proud.

Writing Set up

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:18:00 +0000

I'm writing a new how-to book (which is scheduled to be published in the Spring of 2013), and I'm amazed how much technology has changed since I wrote my last book.

In 2006, when I wrote The Uncommon Quilter, I worked at my desktop when working at home, and my laptop when on vacation. All of the sketches for the illustrations were created for the illustrator, not very well in my opinion, using Photoshop and my mouse, which for me is like drawing with a brick.

Fast forward to 2011/2012 and I'm working with very different tools. I have my ipad partnered with a wireless keyboard with Wingstands holding them together. I got the Wingstands via Kickstarter a few months ago.

While creating the samples for this book, I can sit at my sewing table as I cut and sew at my sewing machine, while I can type instructions using notes on my ipad, and I can also sketch the illustrations using Penultimate and a Bamboo stylus, also on my ipad.

Then I email everything to my self so I can access it to on my desktop, where I can edit, save for the illustrator, and etc. I like that I don't have to run back and forth from my sewing area to my desktop, which would be distracting. Thank you new technology!

2011 in Review and Looking Ahead to 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:27:00 +0000

I am very proud of the growth and opportunities I had as an artist in 2011:

Art Residency

In May, I attended a two-week Art Residency at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT. It was an amazing experience, and I worked harder than I could have ever imagined, from 7am until 11pm or midnight every day. The end result was a new body of large-scale work, something I wanted to be able to do, and was able to do, because of the very large studio space I was provided.

Before my residency, I had never created work that was bigger than 40” wide. At my residency, I created many pieces as wide as 10’, and that provided me with the portfolio and confidence to create my first public art piece (see below).

Public Art

I was invited to create Fence/Curtain 1.0, a 35' temporary outdoor installation, at the ConstellationCenter in Cambridge, MA, which will be on exhibit through March 2012. Working this large was extremely exciting and I look forward to having many more outdoor art installation opportunities!

Shows

I participated in a number of shows in many locations. A change from previous years was that I exhibited in very few juried shows, and instead, I was invited to exhibit in most of the shows I was in 2011. I would like that to continue in the future.

A Novel Idea, Hampden Gallery Incubator Project Space, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA

The Constructed Surface, with Hayley Perry, Krause Gallery, Moses Brown School, Providence, RI

Stretch: Aimee Miller, Lesley Patterson-Marx and Jeanne WIlliamson, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN

A Community of Artists 2010 Annual Juried Exhibition, Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, MA

Squiggles and Squares, Artworks! Gallery, New Bedford, MA

Northeast Contemporary Fiber Exhibition, Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Rochester, NY

22nd Annual Benefit Art Auction, Massachusetts College of Art and Design Foundation

Present Company, Fountain Street Fine Art, Framingham, MA

Unscripted, Fountain Street Fine Art, Framingham MA

Sales

The economy is slowly improving, and so are sales of my work. I had a number of private sales, as well as selling a piece at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design Foundation Annual Art Auction, and also one end of the year sale from a gallery. I look forward to additional sales in 2012.

Artful Home

I have a lot of work for sale on ArtfulHome.com, which provides me with a wider audience than I would normally have via exhibits and my website/blog.

deCordova

The deCordova Museum of Art Corporate Art Loan Program in Lincoln, MA placed my work in a corporate setting in 2011 and it will be there through October 2012.

Book Proposal Accepted

My book agent contacted me in March 2011 with news that one of my how-to book proposals was of interest to a different publisher than the publisher of my previous book, The Uncommon Quilter. I updated the proposal and created some new samples, and a few months later, it was accepted by Running Press in Philadelphia, PA. I'm writing the book now, and it’s scheduled to be published in the Spring of 2013.

Storefront Art Installations

In order to spruce up shopping areas, Storefront Art Installations are becoming more popular. I participated in two, one in Natick, MA and the other in Arlington, MA.

Magazine

Studios Magazine published pictures of my studio in their Spring 2011 issue, which was fun, both to prepare and to see in print.

Looking ahead to 2012

The Fence As Lace #6 will be on exhibit at the 8th International Fiber Biennial at the Snyderman-Works Gallery, in Philadelphia, PA from March 2 - April 28, 2012 in conjunction with Fiber Philadelphia, a city-wide event of fiber exhibitions throughout the Philadelphia region.

I will have a solo show at a gallery in Boston In December 2012 and I'll also be in an exhibit of contemporary fiber in Virginia in the fall of 2012 with some other artists I admire a lot.

The manuscript for my how-to book is due on June 1, 2012.

I have ideas for five new series of mixed media pieces that I can't wait to start working on. Four will be on board, and one stiffened fabric.

I already have a number of websites to create and/or update in 2012.

And, I’ve been accepted into one 2012 art residency and I'm waiting to hear if I got accepted to two others, as well a number of grants, a few public art opportunities, and a few exhibits. And in addition to all of that, I’m readying portfolios that I’ll be sending to a number of art consultants and art galleries.

I am confident that there will be many more good opportunities to present my work, and I look forward to continued growth of my art in 2012.

2011 Art Work in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:52:00 +0000

I had a very creative and productive year in 2011, with most of the work being created in my studio, and some at a two-week art residency. I experimented with new materials and learned new painting techniques. I took risks (and worked outside of my comfort zone) by creating working that was larger and larger, and I was very happy with the end results.

The Fence As Lace

The twelve piece (and counting) Fence As Lace Series explores the lace-like qualities of construction fences. They are monoprinted, handstamped, handpainted, and stitched fabric that is stiffened to provide a construction fence-like feel when touching it.

Holes are cut out of various areas of the stiffened fabric on many of these pieces, so shadows and pattern can be seen behind it, and can be exhibited right on the wall or a few inches away from it.

Some pieces can be exhibited as installations where viewers can walk around them, and some can be exhibited either on the wall or as an installation. Most of the work in this series was created when I attended an art residency at the Vermont Studio Center in May 2011.

Fence/Curtain 1.0

Fence/Curtain 1.0 is a 35' decorative barrier that gives the illusion of the curtain, valance, different layers of fabric, and the drape of the curtain in the future performance hall. It is installed on the fence surrounding the ConstellationCenter construction site in Cambridge, MA.

It is is made of monoprinted textures of different patterns of construction fencing, and handstamped and hand painted geometric shapes, on cotton fabric that is stiffened and water resistant.

Fence Holes Bandage

During the unseasonal October 2011 Nor'easter, a very large limb broke off of the flowering pear tree in my backyard. Heavy snow on trees that haven't lost their leaves yet isn't a good thing, and even though we "only" got about 6" of snow, it was enough to cause damage. What resulted was a very large hole in the tree, something that will repair itself over time, but is very unsightly to look at. Fence Holes Bandage 1.0 is my solution to making the tree good to look while it heals.

Seasonal Fence Series

The twenty piece Seasonal Fences series are abstractions of different colors of fences in contrast to the landscape during different seasons. There are five pieces in each of the four seasons.

Seasonal Fences - Winter shows the landscape after the snow has fallen around the fence. 

Seasonal Fences - Spring shows small Spring flowers that are starting to grow as the grass around it does too. 

Seasonal Fences - Summer shows both flowers and hostas as they are growing on a very healthy lawn. 

Seasonal Fences - Autumn shows the ground after the plants have died back, and some fallen leaves are still on the ground.

Fall Fence landscape

Fall Fence Landscape is a combination of a monoprinted textures of a garden fence, which was then handpainted inside each rectangle, to show a very colorful fall landscape. This piece consists of six 12" x 12" panels.

Books

Altered Book - The Fence Environment #1, mixed media with stiffened fabric, book cover 9.25" x 6", book including pages 14" x 10.25"

Art Book - The Fence Environment #2, mixed media with stiffened fabric, 14" x 11.5"

12 x 12 x 12 Series

I created twelve pieces in my 12 x 12 x 12 Series, one for each month for 2011. This is the fifth year I've worked on a monthly piece in a 12" x 12" format, though each year there were some changes to my focus. Each piece created in 2011 was mounted on board, which I have really enjoyed, as well as my working more with a combination of printmaking and painting.

Fence Details

This series is a combination of monoprinted textures of orange construction fences, with painted and hand stamped shapes, on 6" x 6" x .75" cradled board.

Larger pictures and more info about of all of this work is posted on my website. Please visit.

Seasonal Fences Presentation Options

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:47:00 +0000

In 2011, I created a four part series, Seasonal Fences, which are abstractions of different colors of fences in contrast to the landscape during different seasons. They can be shown as a group of five of the same season or as a group of four that shows all four seasons with the same color of fence in the landscape. Here are nine different grouping options, besides hanging them individually. My hope is that these different options will be of interest to curators for an exhibit or art consultants for purchase in an office or home. The size of each individual piece in this series is 22" x 10" x 1", and they are all mixed media cradled board.

Seasonal Fences - Four Seasons 1 (above, with silver fences)

Seasonal Fences - Four Seasons 2 (white/off white fences)

Seasonal Fences - Four Seasons 3 (orange fences)

Seasonal Fences - Four Seasons 4 (green fences)

Seasonal Fences - Four Seasons 5 (brown fences)

Seasonal Fences - Winter #1-5

Seasonal Fences - Spring #1-5

Seasonal Fences - Summer #1-5

Seasonal Fences - Autumn #1-5

New Work - Seasonal Fences - Autumn #1-5

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:31:00 +0000

I've completed the Seasonal Fences series, which are abstractions of different colors of fences in contrast to the landscape during different seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.

Seasonal Fences - Autumn shows the ground after the plants have died back, and some fallen leaves are still on the ground. The size of each piece in this series is 22" x 10" x 1", and they are all mixed media cradled board.

Shown above is Seasonal Fences - Autumn #1

Seasonal Fences - Autumn #2

Seasonal Fences - Autumn #3

Seasonal Fences - Autumn #4

Seasonal Fences - Autumn #5

Inspiration From the Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:25:00 +0000

Dots of ground pepper patterned in a circle as it came out of the grinder, inside a small (round) ramekan, next to dots on the kitchen counter top, provide inspiration.

Holiday Construction Fencing

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:49:00 +0000

Decorated orange construction fencing on Tremont Street in Boston, MA. I guess even construction sites need some holiday cheer.

Fence Holes Bandage 1.0 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:51:00 +0000

Fence Holes Bandage 1.0 has been installed on the tree in my back yard for just about three weeks, and it’s responding well to the elements. I love how the edges have been curling. It's very lace-like. Though I’m looking forward to any upcoming winter weather, I do look forward to seeing snow on it.

I couldn’t help but notice as I was looking at it from inside my house, that the oyster shells on the ground are similar in terms of shape and color. Just in case there was any curiosity about them being near each other, the installation came first, and then the oyster shells. Not the other way around.

Fencing Production

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:52:00 +0000

I want a tour of the factory where construction fences are made. I have no idea how they make them, but I'm fascinated!

Construction & Barrier Fence Heaven!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:22:00 +0000

I was just introduced to utilitysafeguard.com, a website that has dozens and dozens of Construction & Barrier Fences, which my own personal version of being set loose in a candy store!

They have snow fences, construction fences, crowd control fences (what a great term!), deer, barrier, diamond (my least favorite), economy, and square safety fences.

I have at least 17 or more patterns/thicknesses/sizes/colors of fencing that I work with, and thought I had it all, but now I see there’s much, much more available.

Who would have thought that there are snow fences that are “designed to meet the requirements of state and local governments”?

And then there’s a product I’ve never heard of, checkerboard or polka dot “Surveyors Roll Flagging” which gives me a ton of ideas, especially when reading the description, “These resilient patterns add a wide assortment of choices for your non-verbal communication needs.” I have a ton of non-verbal communication needs.

I’m going to spend a few minutes in the next few days and choose a few fences that I don’t already have, and get a few. I just hope I can get the fences I want in 50-foot lengths. Buying 100 feet is expensive and also takes up a lot of valuable studio (or attic) space.

12 x 12 x 12 December 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:01:00 +0000

Since I have a lot of "holes" from all of the large pieces I created this year, I've been thinking about how to use them in upcoming work. In October, I used them for my 12 x 12 x 12 monthly piece, and kept to a tight grid format. I decided that I'd use the "holes" again for my December piece. This time I used two different sizes, and though I didn’t really work in a grid, it is vaguely grid-like, and I did sew a grid to keep the holes together as I worked on the piece.

Working on both the October (below) and December (above) pieces gives me many ideas for a series to work on in 2012.

The 12 x 12 x 12 monthly series are mixed media on 12" x 12" x 1" board. If you want to know more about the 12 x 12 x 12 series, you can read past posts about it here on my blog, or see all of the completed work on my website.

Book Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:05:00 +0000

I'm working on a new how-to book that's scheduled to be published in the Spring of 2013. To get myself organized, I've set up a spreadsheet with all of the chapters and sub-sections, and all the tasks for each. I was having trouble getting organized but now that I have this grid, as a person who thinks in grids, I know what I have to do, how to get it done, and how to keep track of everything.

Please note that I know nothing about spreadsheets, as technical as I may be. I'm sort of winging this, creating a system that works for my way of thinking.

Looking at the "art" in my spreadsheet is also starting to inspire me to design a series of paintings around it. Something to think about for the future.

New Work

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:25:00 +0000

There are five new pieces in my Fence Details series, Fence Details #22, 23, 24, 25 & 26.

The entire Fence Details series can be seen on my website. They are all mixed media on cradled board, measure 6" x 6" x .75", and are $125 each.

Fence Details series

The Holes in the Fences xsm series (below) is also 6" x 6" x .75" on cradled board, and are $125 each.

Holes in the Fences xsm series

Arlington Art Window Night and Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:10:00 +0000

I like the different look of my Arlington Art Window when seen at night as well as during the day. The exhibit is at 12 Medford Street in Arlington MA through January 8, 2012. There are more day/night pictures on my website.

On Exhibit: A Novel Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne Williamson) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:21:00 +0000

The Fence Environment #1 is on exhibit at A Novel Idea at the Hampden Gallery Incubator Project Space at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, from December 11 - February 27, 2012. The Opening Reception is Sunday December 11^th, from 2 - 4pm.

A Novel Idea is a show of one of a kind altered books, an art form that I never worked with before being invited to participate in this show.

My artist's statement for my piece is below:

In 2002, I started seeing different patterns, shapes and sizes of orange construction fences that were being used at many construction sites as a barrier to keep people out of danger, by blocking off the site. I think in grids, and because of that, I fell in love with the fences immediately.

I am also interested in personal boundaries. When I was looking for a book to alter, I was glad to be gifted the book, The Therapeutic Environment by Robert Langs, MD, C 1979 (Jason Aronson), which was originally 575 pages.

My altered book, The Fence Environment #1, combines my interests in both fence and personal boundaries. The title is a play on the title of the original book and my love of construction fences, and it also stays within the naming system I use for my work, by using the word Fence in every title.

Some of the content in the original book included therapeutic boundaries, which I believe also works well with the how actual fences also provide boundaries.

In May 2011, I started to work on The Fence As Lace Series explores the lace-like qualities of construction fences. I carried that theme into this book.

The 28 or so new "pages" are made of monoprinted fabric that is stiffened so they feel more like paper. Before adding them to the book, I cut holes out of the edges of the stiffened fabric "pages", which made them more lace-like. I alternated between seven different patterns of "pages" that varied in size, pattern, density of paint and/or holes cut in them.

Shown at the top of this post: The Fence Environment #1, mixed media with stiffened fabric, book cover 9.25" x 6", book including pages 14" x 10.25". Shown above is the book open.