Ahhh, Springtime in the Rockies…Summer
Last weekend I was hitting golf balls on the range, doing my part to get out and enjoy the 80 degree weather, easing into the sudden arrival of summer here in northern Colorado.
On Monday, another warm sunny day, I unbundled another of my eco-dyed silk scarves which I had prepared during my April workshop with RMCQ.
silk, euca, rose, oak, copper
Winter…
By yesterday (May 1st), summer had been chased away by the latest spring snow storm, which dumped over a foot and half of heavy wet snow on us. It was beautiful, yet damaging to some of our trees.
Looking out my window on May 1st
And…introducing “Bloomers”, a fantastic new show of work by Barbara Gilhooly
"Pop-Up Garden Installation" ©2013 Barbara Gilhooly
Just in time to celebrate all things Spring-ish, “Bloomers” is a solo show of new artwork by my partner, artist Barbara Gilhooly. The show opens tomorrow night (with artist reception from 6-10pm) at 44T Artspace in Denver and will be exhibited through June 30th.
Barbara has this to say about her new work:
“The story of how the show ‘Bloomers’ came to be is comprised of three experiences in my life.
The most recent is I became a new gardener, or an accidental gardener, when I moved to Colorado three years ago. My interest in growing things had been dormant for the 21 years I lived in downtown St. Paul, MN. Now that I have outdoor space and abundant sunshine, I’m inspired to learn how to grow things.
I am drawn to the organic shapes of botanicals and often use abstracted versions in my work. I enjoy the liberty of possibilities with all the variety of shapes and colors in the plant world. Once I identify a theme for a show, I am able to launch a series of work.
I work intuitively, painting on many pieces at the same time. I work on birch panels laid out on a tall work bench. Each new panel serves as a palette for mixing colors before being developed into a finished work. This allows for layers of paint color and texture to build up to be revealed later by sanding or carving back into the surface. My process flows between adding and subtracting layers of paint. I attribute my way of working and love of rich active surfaces to my background as a printmaker.
The Pop-Up Garden is influenced from my 20+ years working with children in the program I developed at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design called Studio Kids. There is something magical when a flat painting (cardboard with the kids) is cut-out and stood up! I have helped the kids experience this magic for years and I really wanted to make a whole installation of cutout forms. So I did! The first Pop-Up installation I created was the ‘Pop-Up City’ for my solo show last Fall in Minneapolis at Gallery 360. I made 66 buildings and stood them up on slotted stands.
The slotted stands are an influence from my oodles of paper doll making as a girl. I like this simple method for standing up the painted wood shapes because it evokes the playful quality of the paper cutouts.
This Winter I couldn’t wait to get started on making the ‘Pop-Up Garden’ for this show. I paint the individual flowers and plants on four foot sheets of plywood. Composing as many as possible on the sheet and painting the scalloped shapes for the slotted stands along any available edge. Knowing I will be cutting these shapes out with a jigsaw, I am not concerned with the overall composition of the full 4 foot sheet. Upon completing the painting of several sheets, it was unanimous to the people who saw them that they should not be cut-out and remain whole as large paintings. These are now the ‘Bloomer Party’ paintings, three in all were left un-cut. I was able to paint more for the ‘Pop-Up Garden’. I am pleased with how the evolution of this work developed and continue to be amazed by the process of creating.”
"Bloomer Party 3" ©2013 Barbara Gilhooly
Between the cut-out pop-up garden, the bloomer party paintings and several more individual bloomer paintings, there are almost 100 pieces included in this latest show and Barbara has even said she thinks this is the best show she’s ever done (tall order given how many great shows she’s done over the past 20+ years of work).
It has been fun to watch all of these pieces “grow” and multiply in our living room over the course of the last couple of months and I can imagine how this work will transform the gallery space into a buzzing garden of color and life.
If you’re in the area, please stop by tomorrow night during the artist’s reception and say “hi”, and don’t forget to wear your best “bloomers” for the occasion!
