Yellow Brick Studio

Missions vs. Mission Trips

2012-02-01T21:09:00.000-08:00

FUZE Weeks 41-42

2012-01-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

The past two weeks I was touring the eastern states of New South Wales and Queensland with Remnant Dance Collective. More so than touring the east coast of Aus I was touring the uncharted lands of a realm far beyond my comfort zone! In this unknown land I discovered many new creatures including collaboration, dance, and improvisation. At first these creatures although intriguing seemed wild and scarey and I was quite happy to keep my distance, but we warmed to each other in time and ultimately developed a loving relationship of mutual respect.

Every time I travel I'm reminded of how big the world actually is. And how small my world often is. Touring the east was no exception. This time it was the creative world I had been living in that I realized was small by my own making, when in reality it can be quite big.

Day 1: Ananndale

Day 2: Carlingford

Day 3: Dress run

Day 4: Pub

Day 5: Woy Woy

Day 6: Sydney

Day 7: Public Transport

Day 8: Brisbane

Day 9: Costume Check

Day 10: The Old Museum

Day 11: Boonah

Day 12: The Girl Hive

Day 13: New Friend (he was nearly the size of my palm, BTW)

Day 14: Cool Kids Ride in the Back of the Bus

Day 15: Brisbane

From the Studio

2012-01-05T23:54:00.000-08:00

This week in the studio this...

Became this...

and this...

In my preparations for going to Sydney and Brisbane next week all of the tags had to be taken down. This was going to have to happen sooner or later as part of moving out of the studio anyway. It was a little sad. Mostly though it was scarey. As I took the 1,100 plus tags off the wall I was thinking of how to display them for the up coming exhibitions over East. I had no idea what I was going to do with them. To say that realization brought with it a sense of failure would be highly accurate. Here I've been collecting these stupid tags for months and having people all over the world also collecting them, I'm showing Tete a tete as part of my installation on the East coast next week and NOW I discover I'm not really sure what I'm doing with these stupid things!

There's no telling how many hours I spent staring at a color coded mountain of tea tags this week. I knew what ever I did with them had to add to the story not just solve the issue of easily transporting and installing them. I mounted them on craft paper, sheets, glass, napkins, and stationary in various different shapes and configurations... it all looked fine but it didn't add anything. I piled them on the floor, tables. shelves, and chairs of all varieties... that didn't add anything to the story either or even look ok. I put them in tea cups, plastic containers, ziplock baggies, and boxes... that didn't work.

Then I counted out 60 of all the same, put them in a stack and covered it with wax. And it worked!

This whole work is about shared moments... how long is a moment? A minute, 60 seconds? An hour, 60 minutes? Both? Neither? However we define "moment" it deals with a measure of time, the number 60 is a big part of the way we measure time. So is 12. So 11 more times I made a stack of 60, covered it in wax, and tied the strings up like a ribbon on a package.

I love that they look like little present. What is a shared moment or an intentional conversation if not a gift? Wax, as a long standing phrase in my visual language, always refers to preservation. When you have that lovely moment of meeting someone face to face and sharing time with them you'll want to keep it.

Each stack has specific tags, some are the tags for specific people, that signify specific people or events that have marked my year here... churchfreo is one, there's one for my Artist's Way group and studio buddies, there are several for specific friends, all of my supporters have one, the class I took back in July at Curtain is one.

2012-01-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

This makes me kind of sad...

Granted, it is kind of funny. But notice that it's all based on choices and preferences not once is relationship or faith mentioned. Sad.

2011-12-27T20:15:00.001-08:00

No idea what I would call this blog if this is how The Wizard of Oz had ended

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

2011-12-15T06:24:00.000-08:00

Who's ready for green bean casserole???

Thanks Mom!

FUZE Week 31 & 32

2011-12-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

The MTW Asia/Pacific Area retreat in Malaysia was this week(and a bit of next, hence the same theme for two weeks). The term retreat comes with twodistinct and opposed meanings for me. First is the idea of escape or holiday, as this retreat was intended tobe. There is also the idea ofrunning away, retreating from battle or an enemy. The theme of retreat was deliberately chosen for that veryreason and to be a reminder to rest and not to be running away.

WhenI left for Malaysia I had a 1,000-page book, fully loaded, fully charged iPod,and a big bottle of SPF 50 in my suitcase. I was fully prepared for a week of resting, relaxing, andretreating alone, poolside. Theywere the first things I unpacked upon getting to the resort and the last thingsI put back in my suit case when packing up at the end of the week. The battery on my iPod was still fullycharged and I was no further into my book than I was before.

WhatI discovered this week is regardless of retreating, or battling, it’s the peoplewe do it with that is important. At the area retreat I was able to meet tons on people on the field andfrom the home office. Theteaching, sessions, activities and worship that had be planned and organizedfor us were great, but it was the fellowship that happened between those eventsthat was of most value to me. That made my time a retreat a time of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenationcompared to the running away kind of retreat.

Here are some of my sweet friends from all over AustrAsia in Malaysia...

Dr. Kooistra (the boss of all MTW) Joy and I loving the pool

Shopping buddies

Erika, Joy and I, aka the cool room

Singles gang

Beers in Kaula Lumpur with Steve

If a picture is worth a thousand words this one is Anna Karenina!

Minor Prophets, Minor drawings

2011-12-13T16:44:00.000-08:00


Hosea 2:6-8


Joel 3:16

Amos 5:13-15

Obadiah 17


Jonah 4:10-11


Micah 5:6

Nahum 1:3

Habakkuk 3:13

Zephaniah 3:15

Haggai 2:4-5

Zechariah 9:12

Malachi 3:17

FUZE Weeks 28 & 29

2011-12-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

Dueto crazy schedules and different responsibilities around the world Steve and Bwere doing a lot of traveling these weeks. So, to keep things simple and sense B and I wouldn’t be ableto do our regular weekly wrap up we set the theme knowing that it would be fortwo weeks.

Inpreparing to go to Malaysia in a few weeks I started researching thecountry. We called it MY-Laysiaweek. I spent some time in thelibrary and on the internet researching culture, religion, language, art,ect… I also intentionally spenttime with several people I know who have lived in Malaysia.

Theoverwhelming advice that I got from all of these sources was to look and watchand to eat anything I could get my hands on! That last bit made me nervous when I read about Sup torpedo!

Thething I notice most about looking into and preparing to go to this new countrywas how much it became about being here. The most valuable information I found was through friends. Friends who live in Perth. My conversations with them became lessabout my going to Malaysia and more about my deepening bounds here.

Justfor the record… I didn’t try the soup, but the rest of the food was AWESOME!

FUZE: Week 39

2011-12-08T00:54:00.001-08:00

At the end of Cost week, knowing we were moving into Thanksweek I made a one page list of all the things that bug me. I was a bit shocked at how easily I gotthrough that page. Just for funand in the spirit of honesty and transparency, here is my list…

Annoyances

Cancer. Child abuse. Domestic violence. Rape. Neglect. Hunger. Poverty. Ungratefulness. Pride. Arrogance. Ignorance. Judgmental people. Lack of tolerance. Unwillingness to learn. Know-it-alls. Hidden agendas. Broken promises. Unfulfilled expectations. Stinginess. Fear. Boringartist’s talks. Boringlectures. Ill preparedpresentations. Self-centeredness. Tardiness. Misseddeadlines. Running out of shampoobefore conditioner. Shaving mylegs. Razor burn. Being alone on holidays. Spoiled milk. Presumptuous people. Goodbyes. Lies. Change. The lone brokencracker left in the box. Dust bunnies. Inconsideratesmokers. Addiction. Suicide. Weddings. Cakewith too much frosting. Waxychocolate. Paintings underglass. Gallery fees. Fake people. Forced vulnerability. Shoes that pinch. Sweatstains. Hate. Homelessness. Short shorts. Noisy neighbors. Noisyhousemates. Alarm clocks. Drunkenness. Swearing. Sexism. Euthanasia. Abortion. Disrespect. Music snobs. Crowded pubs. Uncomfortable chairs. Country music. Rap. Apathy. Stupidity. Blaming culture for bad attitudes and actions. Buying toilet paper andtampons. The cereal dust in thebottom of the box. Trying onjeans. Packing. Chipped nails. Pantyhose. Broken sunglasses. Crowded trains. Badelevator courtesy. People who talkloudly on cell phones in public. False piety. Straplessbras. Heavy backpacks. Asking for help. Asking for money. Needing money. Showing up underdressed. Forgetting things. Paranoia. Whales. Sharks. Being out of control. Other control freaks. Always being far away fromsomeone. Being left behind. Shin splints. Bruised fruit. Gray roots. Gettinglost. Whining. Pushover parents. Undisciplined children. Long lines. Hairy legs. Superficiality. Insecurity. Barbies. Carrying groceries home. Difficult locks. Sticky keys. Inconsistency. The song “Happy Birthday.” Double standards. Mustaches. Theunknown. Weak coffee. Bitter tea. Bragging over sin. Bad habits. Breakinghabits. Cheap paintbrushes. Stereotypes. Politics. Cliché clothing. Vegans. Paying more fororganic food. Coddling. Late buses. Bad public art. Clothes on dogs. Matchingoutfits. Failed blue tack. Tattoos drawn with sharpie. People who say, “tats” rather thantattoos. The word moist. Washing getting rained on. Dead batteries. All lids and no Tupperware containers. Broken umbrellas. Sunburns. Blisters. Gossip. Entitlement. Complacency. Pride. Clogged drains. Cards with too many words. Bad art. Blame shifting. Being ignored. Pity. Being set up. Dating. Thedentist. False accusations. Getting left out. Receiving obligatory invites. Jealousy. Manipulation. Dry skin. Oily hair. Failure. Waiting. Havingto rely on others for your need to be met. Low quality paper. Sticky lip-gloss. Racism. Bad customerservice. Overly sensitiveness. Migraines. Warm beer. Unclear expectations. Excuses. Complainers. Gossip. Canceled appointments. Going to the doctors. Calling things vintage when they’re just old. Oatmeal colored clothing. Melted crayons. Being called crafty. Torncontact lenses. Yard work. Paying for health insurance. Stubbornness. Cockroaches. Humidity. Cheap glue. Dirty feet. Uncomfortablesilences. Weak handshakes. Soaps that smell like food. Confusion. Being short. Car trouble. Sockswith sandals. Elitism. Lame pick-up lines. Religious speak. Folding laundry. Picky eaters.

Iknow what you’re thinking… “Great way to start Thanks week Shannon!” That exercise was done to set up acontrast for this list, one page of things I’m thankful for. Here’s that list…

Thankfulness’

Family. Hope. Coffee. Art. Art Galleries. Reese’s Pieces. Shade. Free bus rides. Tattoos. Aloe Veragel. Sunscreen. Prayer and financial supporters. Grace. Redemption. Paul’s letters. Crossreferences. Beauty. Skype. iTunes. Free wifi. Brunch. Sharing brunch with friends. Eggs Benedict. Air conditioning. Fans. Heaters. Creativity. Messy studios. Good critiques. Artmagazines. Naps. Bubble baths. Mani/pedis. Baristas that remember your order. Sales clerks that remember your name. High heels. Routine. Soft beds. Tinny roses. Big sunflowers. Donuts. Maps. Google. Generosity. Champagne. Hotshowers. Red toenails. Nieces. Nephews. Inflight movies. Latex freeBand-Aids. Midol. Homecomings. Long talks with old friends. Sleepovers. Snuggling. Family gamenights. Might-as-well-be-family. Humility. Honesty. Proximity to the people I want. Margaritas and guacamole. Personal space. Friends tobe quiet with. Knitting. Clean sheets. Spell check. Yoga. Dancing. Sparkles. Wax. X-Actoknives. Sleeping in. Lazy mornings. Friendly bus drivers. Eyelash curlers. Care packages. Good graffiti. Power point. Prayer. Scentedcandles. Cool weather. Rain. People who “get it.” People who support you even though they don’t “get it.” Secondary colors. Nibbly platters. Belief. Stories. Materials. Meaning inobjects. The stones that cryout. Accents. Sisters. Pretend sisters. People that it’s hard to say goodbye to. Multitasking. Listening and good listeners. Train rides. Surprises. Comfortfood. Butter. Adventures. Discovery. Overlapping of ideas. Goodpaint. Reusable shoppingbags. Lilies in the bush. Fresh herbs. Fabric softener. Long afternoon teas. Girlychina teacups. Girl time. Daddy dates. Whoppers. Nicknames. Driving with thewindows down. Facebookmessages. Spas. Learning. Teachers. Crossing things off the to-do list. Clever kids. Hugs. Cotton thermalblankets. Baby animals. Kind sarcasm. Inside jokes. Being home alone. Pickingpeople up at the airport. Wondering aimlessly. Beingread to. Day dreaming. Podcasts. Back rubs. Stupid TV. Couch time. Days off. Peacemakers. Wind. Mentors. Scientist and mathematicians andknowing that I don’t have to be either. Internet banking. Homecooked meals. Bravery. Kindness of strangers. Intricateness of our bodies. Hair dye. Ancestry. History. Dinnerparties. Guests. Babies with milk breath. Humor. Play. Patterns. Swinging. Common grace. Literacy. Letters of reference. Unsuspected opportunities. Collaboration. Beingappreciated for who we are and what we can offer. Freckles. Laughter. Freedom. Feminism. Femininity. Audio books. Narnia. Imagination. Church. Kitsch. Art history. Paisley. Resolution. Familyrecopies. Tradition. Pajamas. Wine tastings. Being amazed. Old familysnap shots, even if it’s not my family. Gifts for no reason. Thunderstorms. Analogies. Metaphors. Happy accidents. Parades. New journals and sketchbooks. Filled journals and sketchbooks. Postcards. Newpens. Post-it notes. Travel mugs. Turkish delight. Dreams. Family trees. Sweet-tea. Cartoons. Saleracks. Warm homemade bread. Art books with lots of pictures. Authenticity. Unlimited text messaging. Irony. Stampsin passports. Big earrings. The Bauhaus. Hand sanitizer. Raw edges on wood and fabric. Honest compliments. Spontaneity. Tweezers. Road trips. Unsolicited encouragement. Ladybugs. Courtesy. Graphs. Factoids. Love.

Why go through this exercise? To remember that in the midst ofextraordinarily costly things, and mountains of things that get under my skin,there in much to be thankful for. Often it’s the little, everyday things that I’m thankful for. Choosing to take notice of the thingsthat make me thankful somehow makes the annoyances more tolerable and the costseem not to great.

FUZE: week 38

2011-12-06T23:16:00.001-08:00

Cost week started with a phone call that I knew was comingsooner or later, but thought was still about a month away. My support account at MTW hadtanked. It was before noon onThanksgiving Day when I got this call. Although there were many things this week thatrevolved around financial matters

Atrue blue Aussie saying goes “Can’t be bothered.” The rough translation of this would be, “Meh, it’s not worthit.” As I reflected on the idea of“cost” this phrase kept coming to mind. Generally it was followed by the thought of how much of a bother amI? Everything costs us something…time, money, energy, resources, pride, emotion… I cost Jesus everything. And he didn’t hesitate to pay that cost. How much more willingshould that make me to pay my time, pride, energy, ect… for Him?

Iam making a real effort to not say, “I can’t be bothered.” Because I’ve been called tobother, we all have.

Appology and Request

2011-11-25T20:03:00.001-08:00

I'm a terrible blogger. I'm sorry. I have really good intentions but poor motivation. Thank you for following and reading in spite of me.

I've come to realize that I often avoid writing a blog or letter or journaling because it brings a level of reality to things. Writing it out forces me to deal with things rather than ignore them. There have been a lot of things in the past nine months that I'd much rater ignore that admit and had to deal with. This week I was faced with something I couldn't ignore. My support account has tanked and I need more funding or I'll have to leave Aus prematurely. You may have received an email with the details of this (if you didn't and would like to let me know).

I cannot remember ever having made New Year's Resolutions. My birthday is the time when I usually reflect and seek to make changes. My birthday was 2 weeks ago. And being a better blogger/letter writer/emailer is something I hope to get better about in the next year.

Please be praying for me. That God might give me wisdom as I look forward to the last few months of my internship. Pray the the needed funding would come in quickly.

More from the studio

2011-11-06T00:59:00.000-07:00

First of all, THANK YOU to all of you who have collected and given your teabag tags to me!!! Each one of these tags is iconic of a shared moment and a conversation (perhaps it is a conversation with yourself or with God if not a friend). As of now over 1,000 moments and conversations have been collected form six different countries. I can't help but wonder as I ponder this work what could happen if each of those conversations were grace filled and the moments purposeful.

Tet a Tet (in progress, Nov. 2011)

In addition to tea-tags I've been collecting used teabags of one specific brand. Each of these used teabags after being pulled out of the trash is dried, emptied, cleaned, embraced with it's stains, has it's wrinkles smoothed out, and is put in community with other teabags just like it, but with different stains. Sound like a familiar journey?

The Remnant (in progress, Nov. 2011)

This last image is a new work I've just started. All of the tags from the teabags I sew together I've kept separate from the ones for Tet a tet. These tags are then braided together into one long strand. I have a feeling that this work will have other elements added to it in the future, but it hasn't told me what those might be yet.

From the Studio

2011-11-06T00:32:00.000-07:00

A dear friend of mine, Luci invited me to join her in reading through the Minor Prophets a while back. After each book we did a drawing. Then would discuss the book and our drawing over a bottle of wine.

If you can guess which book inspired this drawing there might be a prize in it for you....

Malaysia

2011-10-20T03:16:00.000-07:00

As you may have heard I spent the last week in Malaysia! Here are a few pictures to tide you over until I get a proper blog up.

Hilarious

2011-09-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Clearly I'm in dire need of some Toms and chest hair.

Mmm... pie!

2011-07-30T07:32:00.000-07:00

One of my amazing supporting churches, Westminster PCA, took me on as fund raiser during Vacation Bible School. The VBS theme was the beach, so my being in Australia didn't hurt. Also, having a sister on the VBS committee who volunteered to coordinate the missions minute didn't hurt either.

Part on the internship I am doing includes going to another field for 2-4 weeks to embody the skills I'm learning here. Right now it is looking like I will probably be going to Japan in early 2012. However, there is so concern over the expense of this trip. All of the daily offerings brought to VBS by the kids, teachers, parents, and staff are being donated to MTW to help me get to Japan.

One morning I was able to be Skyped into their assembly. Several different kids asked questions. I was so impressed by the quality of questions they had. The kids wanted to know when I would be going to Japan, how long I'd be there and had lots of questions about an artwork that I'm working on for Japan (more to come on that soon!). One sweet little girl walked up to the computer held out her hand and said "I have some money for you." Melted my heart! It is always an encouragement to see such little ones being kingdom oriented and missions minded.

The fund raiser was set up as a compitition between the classes to see who could raise the most money. The class with the highest total at the end of the week got to throw a pie at the associate pastor along with a VBS t-shirt and bragging rights.

I am so blessed to have been a part of this years VBS! I have to say a huge thank you to my sister who put all of this together. Also, to the teachers and coordinators at VBS who got their classes so involved in supporting me. To the amazing kids at VBS, thank you, and I couldn't be doing this without you! Thank you to Westminster for being faithful partners with me in prayer and finance. A big thanks to Pastor Jon for being such a good sport! And of course, to Michale for getting the pie action on video.

FUZE Week 3

2011-07-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

In the two short weeks I’d been in Fremantle so far there have already been patterns emerging in my schedule, routine, and people I interact with. Patterns naturally was B’s and my word for the week.

The most frequently asked question I get is “what does your schedule look like?” Being in the business of people it’s hard to have a schedule because you can never know when you’ll get called in. Likewise with creativity. There are however marked events on my calendar that reoccur regularly that establish a schedule of sorts… Sunday night there is churchfreo.

A few days during the week I spend the day at churchfreo doing studio work. Tuesday is Bible Study. Thursday I spend the evening with Steve and B, just catching up on each other’s week. Friday B and I go over all of our stuff for FUZE, evaluate the past week and prepare for the next. At this point we’re still allowing things to flow organically around these emerging patterns.

I find it interesting to talk about pattern in this way. For several years now my creative practice has included visual pattern. Now I’m looking at my practice and art-making as the pattern. When I have used patterns it has been to reference tradition, history, and home. Now I’m looking at pattern as faith, art practice, and life style. Pattern is becoming something that you embody and live out.

In the past pattern and ritual have been very important concepts to my work. They are now also becoming important to my life. I wonder how the patterns of my daily life will continue to change in this year. How pattern and ritual will change in my work as learn to embody and live them.

FUZE Week 5

2011-07-21T03:52:00.000-07:00

When Berenice and I made “Making” our theme for the week I expected it spend a lot of time making art. Easter is coming quickly and I needed to get busy making work for the installation. There was a lot of that, but it became clear to me that most of my making was going to be in relationships.

Because using the churchfreo building for my studio wasn’t going to work out I started looking for other places I could work. The house I was staying in quickly came to mind. Although it was a convenient space, I started getting restless there. So, I found ways to take my work with me to places in Freo. I found myself in coffee shops mostly which has also proved to be a good relationship making site. There were several occasions where a friend or two would join me for coffee as I made.

It’s difficult to know how much detail to go into here, but there was a lot of making up, making steps towards, and making nice that happened this week. After the events of structures week all of these kinds of making were very necessary, for others and me. A making amends, if you will.

The work that I was making in these cafes was for the Easter installation at churchfreo. I spent the week writing “paid in full” on the front and back of 490 price tags. 490 is the sum of 7 times 70, the number of forgiveness (Mat. 18:22). It was an amazing reminder why making up is important and what it cost to make this sinner right before God.

From the Studio

2011-07-21T02:05:00.000-07:00

In process work exploring uses for and metaphors behind tea in my practice.

Sharing cups of tea is a key way I have been getting to know people here. Each of these little tags has come to represent a shared moment and relationship building.

A map of stains

What part of relationships do we keep? The useful part that gives actual product?

Can the part normally disregarded redeemed? Can the throw away bits be beautiful?

FUZE Week 16

2011-07-21T01:34:00.000-07:00

There is no Aunt Jemima Syrup in Australia. My friend Allie, who is also from the US, and I made pancakes on Saturday morning. Rather than our beloved Aunt Jemima we topped our pancakes with Golden Syrup, which is kind of like a cross between American syrup and honey. On the front of the syrup tin, right under the brand name is the image of a dead lion with a swarm of bee’s hovering over it. In small type under this lovely image is the phrase “out of the strong comes sweetness.” Those of you who are better Bible scholars than I will know the reference here and why it makes since on a tine of some honey like stuff. However, Allie and I were thoroughly grossed out and couldn’t figure out why on earth this would be on a syrup tin.

Later in the week I was listening to a sermon postcast. The text was from Judges 14, telling the story of Samson. Imagine a light bulb going on over my head right now! Sampson was marked as a Nazarite. That marking came with certain requirements that any Nazarite had to keep… No fruit of the vine, including grapes, wine, vinegar and raisins. No death, Nazerites could not touch or be close to corpses or graves. No razors/hair cuts (No, Samson’s hair was not long because it made him cool, it was out of obedience to God). Samson’s marking as a Nazarite was evident in his appearance.

But in Judges 14 Samson kills a lion, by strength given to him by God. Then, “Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.” (vs. 8-9). Samson broke his Nazarite vow. He broke the vow again in Judges when Delilah cuts his hair.

Like Samson, I often fail at looking and acting differently, according the calling I’ve been given. Again, like with Samson, God used me anyway.

The theme fro this week was marks. This week I took a weeklong drawing intensive at Curtin University (drawing is often referred to as mark making within the arts community).

I asked those of you on my email list (if you’re not on this list and would like to be, let me know!) now that it was my desire that God would mark me as different, that grace would shine through me in such a way that I could might be able to make marks on others. I often struggle with being am introvert. I really do want to meet new people and make friends, but fear of rejection combines with extreme contentment in being alone often keeps me from doing this. On the bus going into campus Monday morning I prayed the whole way that God would either make me braver than normal or do the work for me. I admit it was a little “wet ground, dry fleece” of me. By the time we broke for lunch on the second day (a day focused on mark making rather than representational drawing)

all of the 17 other students had made a point of coming to me. Many of them commented on my accent first thing, asking me where I was from and how I had come to Perth. God had done the work for me. Not only that, He gave me an opening to talk about the internship and my work, neither of which I can do without speaking about grace.

In the days (and now weeks) following the intensive I have had the opportunity keep in touch with some of my classmates. Pray that as I continue to pursue these relationships I might look and act as one marked my the Spirit.

From the Studio

2011-06-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

We've officially begun the rainy season here in Perth. Here's a taste of what it is like in my studio when the rain comes in off the Indian Ocean. This video was taken a few evenings ago, right before I made a run for the bus stop. For the full affect you'll need to turn the volume all the way up.

The studio has corrugated metal roof. In case you couldn't tell.

FUZE Week 11

2011-06-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

One of my least favorite words ever was the theme this week. Vulnerable… shudder!!! I come from a long line of proud and stubborn stock. If you’ve ever met members of my immediate or extended family you know that I’m not exaggerating here. Vulnerability does not come easily for me. In fact, I often see it as weakness… It’s setting your self up for hurt and that’s just stupid. In an effort to honor this weeks theme in mind but also be wisely self preserving (as needed) I took to heart Matthew 10:16, “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

The FUZE week (which is Friday- Thursday) always starts with B and I sharing a lazy cup of coffee at her house. This week started a little differently as our boss was visiting. We still had our coffee, but I was on my best behavior. Knowing that it is my hope and intention to return to Australia after my internship to work with MTW fulltime helping B further develop and run FUZE I really wanted to make a good impression on my Grand-boss. In situations like this I tend to over share in a way that often looks like verbal bulimia. In this case I had to be vulnerable but wise in knowing when to stop, not out of self-preservation but simply not reaching the point of overkill.

This week I was moving into my new studio in Freo. As I was meeting and getting to know the other artists in the building there was a very different type of vulnerability needed. The first questions artists tend to ask each other when meeting are “what kind of work do you make?” Typically in an effort to protect myself from scrutiny, judgment, exclusion, or further questioning I sidestep this question. Saying my work is couched in the feminine and abstractly explores the processes and rituals surrounding the domestic sphere through reenacting and/or recreating them. But the fact of the matter is my work is often about grace and uses the familiar language of the domestic to point to heaven, process and rituals to point to change or growth, and object to give form to abstract ideas such as hope (like in Now and Not Yet). It took a lot of vulnerability for me to confidently have that conversation with my new studio mates.

The very last day of vulnerability week while I was on my way out to Steve and B’s for the day, at the bus stop I was reading Visual Faith, by William Dyrness. There was a middle aged middle-eastern man also waiting for the bus. Seeing the title of my book and a folder of magazine clippings sticking out of my bag asked me if I was an art student. I simply said not anymore, but I had been and I was a working artist. We chatted for a while and when he asked me about my work I told him about Now and Not Yet at churchfreo.

I told him about the hope and promise of heaven that I have been given through the work of Christ that we remember at Easter. In that few minutes while we waited for our bus, using my artwork as the vehicle I was able to speak to this man about grace. As the 851 bus pulled into the station he turned to me and asked what church I had shown my work at, and was it still up. Unfortunately, the installation had come down weeks ago but I gave him my website address. I don’t know if he looked at my work or if he was just being polite. The point is the same regardless. I had an opportunity and the ability to have a conversation where Christ was proclaimed through art.

As we progressed through vulnerability week I encountered situations that required more and more vulnerability from me. With each event I came across I realized more and more that it was not out of a place of weakness that my vulnerability was coming, quite the opposite actually. It took a lot of bravery, confidence, and wisdom (obviously, not my own)… not to be confused with pride or stubbornness.

FUZE Week 4

2011-06-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

Structures seemed to be a natural progression forward from patterns. Taking the patterns observes last week, the plan B and I had was to give bones to them. I though I would leave this week with a schedule, a day in, day out system that I would follow for the duration of my internship. It was a good plan…

In keeping with the patterns I had observed last week I spent Sunday at churchfreo. B and I started doing The Artist Way, which requires daily writing. This added further structure to my days. Monday morning after doing my morning writing I headed into 408 for some studio time. This was becoming the structure of my days… writing first thing in the mornings, studio time till mid afternoon, reading, more writing and fellowship/relationship building in the evenings.

When I got to churchfreo I found Jim Kelley (A once homeless, alcoholic who with the support of churchfreo has been sober and off the streets for a year, and now serves as the main caretaker of the building at 408) there, drunk. It wasn’t even 9am yet. Jim quickly became angry and belligerent. He told me he intended to continue drinking the rest of the day and to find a woman for the night. I left quickly with the realization that the structure that I had in my days was going to have to change.

Here I was at the very beginning of structures week feeling like my structure had been severely shaken. In the midst of sulking, licking emotional my wounds, and trying to devise alternative plans, I found myself in frequent prayer. Prayer for myself, for churfreo, for Jim, for wisdom in the situation we were in. It was in this time that I realized that studio time at churchfreo was not really the structure God wanted me to have. Prayer was. When I was thinking of “structures” I was thinking much more superficially. Through the events and challenges of this week God taught me that the structure under girding everything I do, be it here in Oz, or wherever He takes me needs to be prayer.

Post Script:

This is Jim. After about a week long bender Jim sobered back up. He spent some time "taking a break" from churchfreo. I am thankful to be able to say he is back in our midst on Sunday nights. Last Thursday he gave me a yellow, 12 speed bike, giving gifts is Jim's love language. I am blessed in many ways by his love.

Some days

2011-06-13T23:32:00.001-07:00

feel a little like this

FUZE Week 10

2011-05-28T23:16:00.000-07:00

I fell down. Leaving the wedding of two friends on Saturday afternoon I tripped on a curb, fell off of my high heals, twisted my ankle, and skinned both knees. In the time between the ceremony and reception (which happened to be 2 hours) I was able to run home, clean up my bleeding knees, take some Advil, and change into flats. I also realized that my incredible swelling ankle could detour me from the theme of this week, frolic.

Pitiful, huh?

My idea of frolicking included playing, skipping, and pretty things. Me being me, I naturally thought of my shoes. While I was working at Lucinda’s I amassed quite a collection of some quite lovely and unique shoes. My plan was to go about my week in a different pair of fabulous shoes, often high-heals, each day. Letting my footwear dictate my frolicking. But after Saturday night not only was there no way I was going to try to walk in heals but I couldn’t even fit my swollen foot into them if I had wanted to. My frolicking plan had been foiled.

I found myself on the couch most of Monday and Tuesday with my foot elevated and under an ice pack wondering how in the world I could frolic when I couldn’t even walk. I tried to frolic in my heart, to make it like celebration week where even when things were not exactly celebratory I learned to take on that posture because of grace (by no means am I seeking to compare spraining my ankle to my grandfather’s death). Nonetheless I think I learned a similar lesson. My brilliant frolicking plan was based on the superficial and on what I could do. I had couched my ideas of frolicking in appearance and in my own strength. But, like celebration frolicking is not done in and of our selves. Frolicking can only truly be done in Christ.

As I reflected on this week I was reminded that God delights in His children. Not only is He the reason for our frolicking, but He frolics in us. What I found particularly amazing (and convicting) was that God used my own shallow perception of and plans for frolic week to show me this. Every day this week in the midst of scabbed knees, a bruised kankle, and a serious pouting face and general self-pitying attitude, I received genuine complements… two of them from total strangers. Even though I couldn’t ware my frolicking shoes God still frolicked in me and reminded me that in Him, humbled and barefoot I am lovely.

FUZE Week 8

2011-05-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

B and I have been working through the book The Artist’s Way but Julia Cameron. Each week we read a chapter and complete specific tasks related to the topic of the week’s chapter. One of the tasks we had this week was a week-long reading deprivation. NOT READ!?!? For a WEEK?!?! There were a lot of things I disliked about this task... I couldn’t read emails. No reading related research. Couldn’t read price tags, recipes, bus schedules, text messages. I was not looking forward to this week.

When studio was our word for the week I let out a sigh of relief. I can just make stuff… I mean art, that doesn’t require reading. Or so I thought. This week part of studio for me was finding a studio space. Doing this without reading was going to be difficult. I found I had to ask a lot of questions. I made a special trip to the art supply store to ask about possible studio spaces. Rather than using a phone book I had to get phone numbers from people and make calls. I couldn’t Google search studios in Freo and look at pictures online I had to take buses, get lost, ask for directions, find them and look at spaces in real life. By not reading I had to engage my environment and community, I had to pursue relationships and have conversations, all big reasons for why I’m here.

After conversations with several people with different connections in the arts community it seemed like all roads were leading to the same place, Blinco Street Studios. This space was not far from the heart of Freo, in easy biking distance from the house. I was told there was immediate availability and rent seemed reasonable. The studios were connected to a funky little café. I was able to make an appointment to see the available spaces early next week and B and Luci were both able to join me for this. I was relieved to have come to a point of resolution. I knew where I was going to be working. I could start building relationships there. I could settle into a regular studio routine. I was also proud of myself for having found a place while not reading. Finding a studio can be hard under normal circumstances, finding one without reading… well, you get the idea.

The funny thing is that in “Studio Week” I did very little art making, like I had thought I could and would do. I did however do a lot of relationship making. There was a night spent over Thai takeout and The Royal Wedding. There was dinner with one of my soon-to-be housemates and his girlfriend. A good friend who lost her grandmother the same day my Papa died and I had a long chat over coffee. At the very end of the week of studio and reading deprivation I facilitated the Artist’s Way book group, building for me a new layer into the relationships there.

All of these relational events reminded me that “studio” is not just making art. It’s a mindset and posture of giving back, be that literally, metaphorically, creatively or spiritually. It’s the humbleness to ask and listen.

(I did get some art making related things done too... who'd have guessed art can be washing linens)

FUZE Week 7

2011-05-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

It’s been a tough week. There have been some wonderful highs and devastating lows. And it’s Easter.

B and I read and discussed together an article by Serene Jones on grace practices. Jones unpacks grace as two fold, sanctifying and justifying. Sanctifying grace being the grace that shapes us, the grace that makes us more like Jesus. Justifying grace is the grace that has sealed us for heaven; it forgives. This forgiveness and gaining an understanding of being set apart give us freedom. With this knowledge we can celebrate in everything because we are free and are being forever formed closer to the will of God.

With that in mind we made this week one of celebration. In light of the resurrection we can celebrate… both the highs and the lows. But how do you celebrate when you’re overwhelmed and hurting?

This week started with the news of my grandfather’s death. Not the best note to begin celebrating on. In the midst of my sadness and feeling so far away from my family I am thankful that my Papa’s suffering is over so is the waiting and unknown and now, even though it will be hard, we can find normal again.
I can celebrate stand in families here. Without knowing the news about Papa my friend Sarah called and invited me to her parents for the night, she told me she had a feeling I could use some family time.

Barely 36 hours after I got the news of Papa’s death I got more news from the States. My sister had had her baby, Ephram Brant. It isn’t hard to celebrate the birth of a new nephew. It is hard to know how to do that exactly when he is over 15,000 miles away.

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; May the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21) In his name and by its power we can celebrate. I don’t think it’s ironic that Easter fell in this week. Not only was that cause for celebration (and a continent source of necessary celebration/comfort chocolate) but it is the reason I can celebrate in everything that has happened this week.

FUZE Week 2

2011-05-24T17:32:00.000-07:00

The emphasis of this week was engaging, or moving towards. Moving towards my new community, people, the church body and leadership, and the arts scene. This process took many forms for me. There was a concert, meeting lots of people, a trip to the local dive bar, a sculpture walk, church, Bible study, moving into an apartment, and lots of cups of coffee.

Jim Kelly and I met for the first time. Jim Kelly was the main caretaker of our church building and a big “success story” for churchfreo,
a year ago Jim Kelly was homeless, drinking heavily and all in all a very different person. After many years of living on the streets Jim learned to be a scavenger of sorts, collecting... this often meant dumpster diving… all types of items at no charge, including food. I have had the honor of being the recipient of many gifts from Jim that he had acquired in this manner. Jim Kelley and I invested a lot of time getting to know each other this week as we planned be working closely at churchfreo where I will be holding studio hours.

My dear friend Sarah, whom I had gotten close to when I visited in 2009 and stayed in touch with, and I spent a lot of time catching up. We went to a concert in a tiny, dive bar. We got coffee. Saw Sculpture by the Sea, an annual sculpture walk installed along one of the beaches, and had dinner together between some of our favorite works and the ocean. It is so good to finally have a regular day in and day out relationship with Sarah. She is the Dianna Berry to my Anne Shirley, and it is good to have her close in proximity too. We spent some time catching up at Sculpture by the sea, an art show by Australian artists where all the work is installed on the beach.

I moved in with two girls from churchfreo, Ana and Helma. The house we’re living in is just a short bus ride from the heart of Fremantle and churchfreo. It is in the neighborhood where I’ll be living for the entire year I’m here. Ana and Helma took me in on a short-term basis while I am waiting for the room we had planned on opening up.

This just goes to prove that not only am I engaging my new community, but they are also engaging me. As I step towards them, they step back towards me. All of the engaging I’ve done this week has been focused on the physical place, my neighborhood, and on people at churchfreo. My hope is that I continue to strengthen relationships in these areas I will also begin stepping towards the individuals in my community (of Fremantle and in my neighborhood, not just churchfreo) and the arts community.

(part of engaging my environment has been learning the bus routes... this is the stop I get on/off at when going to churchfreo 408)

These are a few of my favorite things

2011-05-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

I've had several people ask me if there are things from the US that I can't get here in Oz and miss. There are a few..

FUZE Week 1

2011-05-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

In the internship environment Berenice and I are working through and building as we go each week is given a theme. The theme is often just on word that we observe throughout the week. At the end of the week B and I sit down together and document our experiences and ideas on the theme and how we saw it manifested during the week. We are also looking for the how God is teaching us along our theme in ways we hadn't expected.

Each week I'll post my thoughts, observations, stories, pictures and other goodies here. Here is week 1, I posted week 9 last night. Being in week 10 now I have a lot of catching up to do, but please bare with me.

Week 1
After a late lunch at Little Creature’s, a popular local brewery, Steve, B and I headed to the beach. Being the good little land locked Midwesterner that I am the ocean has always been a bit frightening to me… it might be more accurate to say that I have a paralyzing fear of it, and the things that live in it, actually. You will all be proud to know that I was very brave and not only got into the water, but swam out a ways and bobbed in the waves. I did keep close to someone else in hopes that if a shark did see you he would find them tastier than I. I also began working on my tan, which had been lying dormant since 1997. Steve graciously made the observation that I was the only person he knew that could make the white sand beach look tan.

Everything done this week was in an attempt to adjust, to settle in, and to get my bearings in Australia. There was so much more to this that just recovering from jetlag and settling in was much more than unpacking. There were lots of cultural adjustments. I have had to learn local slang, water and electricity conservation techniques, and bus and train routes. Sunscreen has become a part of my daily routine, so has aloe vera after sun gel. And after multiple declines I have finally learned the proper way to use my American debit card here.

(Moore & Moore, cafe and art gallery in Freo)

Relationship building was also a big part my adjustment. The second day I was in Perth I attended a ladies Bible Study in the home of a churchfreo member. Here I met several girls who have become sweet friends to me. Including one of the girls I have been living with these first several weeks, Ana. Ana and I share more than a house, we share a bedroom (yes, going from a basement all to myself to sharing a bedroom was another big adjustment!). Ana is originally from Columbia, is working at one of the universities here, blesses me regularly with her amazing smile and cooking, and attends churchfreo. Our other housemate, Helma, also attends churchfreo, is a Chaplin in the school system, encourages me through her laugh and sarcasm, and is originally from Holland. We pretty much have the international kids club living in our house.

(Our little house on Elvira St)

Christopher, my MTW friend in Berlin encouraged me to take my time adjusting and to use this time to getting to know the culture. He told that it wouldn't be until I did those things that I could hope to start being effective within the community. Well, Christopher, you were right. Thanks for your insight.

FUZE Week 9

2011-05-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

We find ourselves attaching to people, to places, to things. What draws us to them? What is it the builds an attachment? What kind of attachment is it?

As an installation artist the word attachment takes on very visual connotations for me… buttons, Velcro, zippers, stitching, welding, glue, hooks, screws, nails, dovetails, latches, and more. Some are temporary. Some are permanent. Some are loose attachments. Some aren’t. What’s the difference? Why is a weld necessary in one place when tape is all that’s needed in another?

This week I am looking at attachments and moving houses. Moving from a house that had a temporary (think Velcro) attachment, where I lived with two gorgeous girls that I have developed strong attachments (like glue) with, to the house I will be in for the remainder of my internship (a sewn attachment) with a friend of several years, Sarah, who’s heart and mine have been two-part -poxyed together. I wonder what type of attachments I will have in, to, and with the new house, new housemates, neighbors. Will they be superglue, duck tape, or paperclip type of attachments?

It looked like I would also be moving into a studio space this week. This idea brought so many thoughts of attachment with it… How would my attachment to this space be the same or different than that in my studio at churchfreo 408? What kind of attachments would be appropriate with the people in that space? Chances are the friends I would make there would be artists as well. Relationships with other artists are necessary attachments, but what kind of attachment do I build with them? Are the also Christians, or not yet believers, and how does that change the attachment?

The original space that we thought I had found fell through. I was surprised by my disappointment. I had developed an attachment to that location because I thought it was the end of the studio search and in anticipation of the new relationships and their coinciding attachments that will come with the space. What should have been a post-it-note type of attachment I made into a machine-sewn attachment in my excitement. It hurt to have to tear that bond. Sort of like the attachment between your tongue and a frozen flagpole, it’s not permanent at all but if not done carefully it can be painful. I did so with the support of Berenice and Luci (FUZE advisor and friend of mine), knowing that it wasn’t the right space for me at this time. Knowing that God has my studio, with my studio mates already planned, I’m moving forward looking for studios again. Trying to hold that attachment loosely for now.

One of the items from home I brought to Australia was a porcelain figurine of a girl that had been my great grandmothers. I was given this figurine when I was 7, just after my great grandma had passed away. The poor thing has been through about a dozen moves and nearly every time her head falls off, generally along the same break and krazy-gluing it back on is no big deal. Miraculously, she made it to Australia without any problems, however, moving 3 blocks down the street was tough on her and her head fell off again. As I was once again super-gluing her back together I thought of my family. Even though there is a super glue attachment there right now there is also a divide simply due to distance and a 13-hour time difference. The fact that Mother’s Day fell in this week is probably making this attachment and separation more apparent to me.

As I look around me at my friends and peers I am made aware of attachments they have that I don’t. There are very mixed feelings on this for me… feeling of sadness, jealousy, and exclusion because of my lack of similar attachments, and yet joy and thankfulness for where I am, mixed with some regret of where I’ve been to get here. I know that’s all very vague and ambiguous. Suffice it to say, there are still attachments that I look forward to having some day.

(Weeks 1-8 are coming sooner or later)

Vocab and Life Lessons

2011-05-16T00:58:00.000-07:00

My American besty in Oz and fellow Southern Bell, Allie, recently posted on her blog on local lingo. So, here's a little vocab for ya...

Allie's Amazing Australian Word Book!
1.Arvo- afternoon (Going for a workout in the ARVO!)
2. Barbie- NOT Ken's girlfriend, but a cookout, barbeque! (Come around for a BARBIE!)
3. Bikkie- biscuit (cookie) (Would you like a BIKKIE with your tea?)
4. Bottle-o- ABC Liquor Store (no alcohol is sold in grocery stores here!)
5. Brekkie- breakfast (Let's go out for BREKKIE)
6. Bub- baby (I'll just get the BUB and then we'll go!)
7. Chewie- chewing gum (Have you got a piece of CHEWIE?)
8. Chook- chicken (I'll use our dinner scraps to feed the CHOOKS)
9. Chuck A Sickie- fake being sick to have the day off! (He totally CHUCKED A SICKIE)
10. Daks- underpants (I need to dry my DAKS before work)
11. Dead horse- tomato sauce, katchup (Have you got some DEAD HORSE to go with that burger?)
12. Dunny- toilet (Does this campground have a DUNNY?)
13. Esky- cooler (Chili-Bin in NZ) (Fill the ESKY up with ice!)
14. Fairy floss- cotton candy (Can we get some fairy floss at the fair?)
15. Fair Dinkum or S'truth- You would say this after a comment that you wanted to say, "Are you for
real?" (I caught a fish a meter long- FAIR DINKUM!)
16. Footy- Australian Rules Football (Let's head to the FOOTY grounds early)
17. Good On Ya- good job (GOOD ON YA for washing the dishes)
18. HooRoo- goodbye (HOOROO MATE!)
19. Kindie- kindergarten (She will start KINDIE next year)
20. Knee High To A Grasshopper, Ankle Biters- a toddler [I got this one from my dear boyfriend.]
(When I was KNEEHIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER, my pop taught me to surf)
21. Maccas- McDonalds (Let's go through the MACCAS drivethrough)
22. Mozzie- mosquito (The MOZZIES are biting!)
23. "My Shout"- If you say you are "shouting" someone, that means you are paying! (Today's
coffee is MY SHOUT!)
24. Peckish- hungry. (I'm feeling a bit PECKISH!)
25. Prezzy- present (or Wezzie Prezzie is Westminster Presbyterian Church) :)
26. Ranga- short for orangutang, someone with red hair, a ginger (Julia Gillard is a RANGA)
27. Ridgy Didge/ True Blue- something or someone that is uniquely Australian [That bloke is TRUE
BLUE]
28. Salvos- Salvation Army (Let's get a costume from the SALVOS)
29. Seppo- American (because seppo= septic tank which rhymes with Yank.) (Are you a SEPPO?)
30. Servo- Service/ Petrol Staion (gas station) (Let's grab a coke from the SERVO)
31. Spot On- Exacly Right! (SPOT ON MATE!)
32. Stubby Holder- Koozie! (Have a got a STUBBY HOLDER for my TINNY?)
33. Sunnies- sunglasses (Don't forget your SUNNIES!)
34. Ta/ Cheers- Another word for saying "thank you." If you are checking out at a grocery store and are
getting your change, you'd say "TA!"
35. Thongs- flip flops, not undies! New Zealanders (also called Kiwis) call them "Jandals" (You don't
need your THONGS to go to the shops.)
36. Tinny- can of beer (Crack a TINNY)
37. Togs, Cozzies, Bathers- bathing suit (Put your TOGS on, we're going to the beach!)
38. Tucker- food (Grab some TUCKER)
39. Uni- university, school (I've got UNI on this morning.)
40. Woop Woop- middle of knowwhere, (We are going camping out WOOP WOOP)

It took me two laundry cycles to finally learn that when you don't have a clothes drier you should check the weather forecast before hanging your washing out on the line... Australian Life lesson learned!

Not and Not Yet

2011-04-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

I was invited to do an artwork as part of our Easter celebration at churchfreo. It was particularly challenging for me for two reasons. First, I've never worked with a theme so clearly religious before. Secondly, I had to be aware of my new audience. The audience at churchfreo is largely open to the arts but would not consider themselves "artsy" or unacquainted with the stories and iconography of the Bible... some met both criteria. This was also the first time I showed my work in Australia and I desperately wanted it to be well received while still being true to my own creative practice.

After some time looking back into my visual language and several discussions with Berenice and fellow artists I on this two part installation called Now and Not Yet. The first part was 490 price tags all with "paid in full" written on both sides strung on red threads in the two front windows of the churchfreo building. It was important for me to use this window space because my work often exists within a “veranda space.” These are spaces that are often intentionally developed in architecture as a reprieve. They are places of comfort and relaxation. It is an inviting space, yet does not require. Other spaces in a building come with expectations and/or requirements. By placing my work in the windows the viewer is given the option of engaging it through the glass or by coming into the space. It is my desire that the work invites you in and give place for reprieve mimicking what the grace of the cross does and a central theme of the outreach of chrchfreo.

The other part was dozens of eggshells. Broken, used, washed, interiors painted, and (most)put back together with beeswax. The egg holds a lot of different meanings for me. I wanted to capitalize on that Easter iconography while having all the symbolism of new life. With a plastic Easter egg we are given hope, but we have to wait for the good stuff inside that is inherently promised. This is the heart of Easter, not the chocolate, but hope and promise. As believers we were paid for with the work of Jesus we celebrate at Easter. This is the hope we have and the promise we have been given. However, we still have to wait for our “good stuff” which is heaven. Easter is the here and now of Jesus in our salvation, with the promise of more to come.

Just for fun here is a little video of the installation process

Berlin Highlights

2011-03-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

Between NYC and Australia B and I went to Berlin, Germany. We went there with the intention of spending time with another some of the other creatives on the field through Mission to the World, Christopher and Stephanie. Christopher is a creative catalyst who is seeking to reach out to artists, musicians, writers, ect, encouraging them to use their talents as he seeks to share grace with them. While we were in Berlin B and I had lots of time for sweet fellowship, a little sightseeing, we also had the opportunity to do some prayer/photo walking through three different neighborhoods where Christopher and Stephanie are looking at starting a new arts focused ministry.

Here are a few pictures from that adventure...

New York Highlights in Pictures

2011-03-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

2011-03-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

While at the International Arts Movement Encounter 11 conference this weekend I had the privilege to see these Gospels and had the honor to hear Makoto Fugimura speak.

So long. Farewell!

2011-03-04T20:31:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday my dear family at Evangel PCA Church in Wichita threw a lovely farewell for me after the commissioning service.

I'm off to serve the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of all

2011-02-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

First of all... If you're still following/reading my blog, THANK YOU! I know that I have not been the best of bloggers the last several months. Thanks for baring with me. I promise I will try my best to be a more consistent poster.

Now, for the good news... I'M LEAVING TOMORROW!!!!!! I am finally getting to start my internship!

Tomorrow I will be heading to New York City for a week, where B and I will be attending IAM Encounter 11, a conference for Christian Artists. There will be some art viewing and playing in that week too. A week from now we will be going from NYC to Berlin, Germany to visit a MTW team there. I'm sure we'll get a little sight seeing in too! Last but not least, two weeks from tomorrow Berenice and I will land in Perth!

There is some tentativeness in starting my internship now. My funding is up to about 70% of my overall budget. This means a couple of things. First, I could need to get a job, hopefully in the arts scene, while on the field. Which could be a really great thing, as it could give me a whole new means of contact with the community I'm seeking to minister to. However, I don't want to get in a position where working overshadows serving. The other option, the one I'm afraid of, is that I might have to come back to the states early. I would ask you to pray heavily on this issue with me. That my full funding would be provided, that God would be glorified.

Other praises ans petitions:
- Funding (obviously)
- Travel safety
- Encouragement through the conference and fellowship in New York and Berlin
- Peace and continued growth at Churchfreo

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

2010-11-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

Installation at Global Missions Conference, Chattanooga, TN, November 4-7, 2010.

Installation view with Attic Window Block Quilts (twin size), 2010, encaustic on panel... and me

Goodnight House: A blessing, 2010, installation & performance. Talk with your hands much Shannon?

Installation view

A barrel and a heap and I’m talking in my sleep, 2010, fabric, photo transfer, acrylic, stitching

Once there were four children, 2010, book pages, wax, wire

Once there were four children (Detail)

Memorial Stone Monday: Times 2

2010-11-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

Since I'm doing two memorial stones today I figured I should do two people that kind of go together. Having two sisters it's hard to tell you about one without talking about the other or to talk about one before the other.

As kids whenever it was time for our family to move again my parents would remind my sisters and I that "You'll lose friends, you'll make new friends, but you're sisters will always be there." I think the goal of this was to help us get along better. Don't know that it really served that purpose, but we have stayed close. Today I can call them not only my sisters but also my friends and (hence this blog) part of my support team.

The choice to support me has been a decision that their whole families have participated in. If you remember the first MSM (Memorial Stone Monday), my older sister's kids have participated in raising support for me. I find the Halloween costumes Kierstyn did with her kids to be supporting me too.

My younger sister and her family have also been quick to join my support team. A week an a half ago in the days leading up to and just after Global Missions Conference I got to stay with Megan. She has more than once let me stay with her family while I've been in the area for support raising, conferences, and meetings at MTW.

Both of my sisters and their families are among my biggest supporters. Their financial support has come at a cost to their whole families, and they've done it willingly out of love for me. That is invaluable to me.

Jeremiah

2010-11-10T11:03:00.001-08:00

While driving through Cick-fil-A after visiting the aquarium Jeremiah I had this meaningful conversation.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'll post about GMC and my Atlanta visit soon. Look for a double-dose of Memorial Stone Monday next week.

Tardy Tuesday

2010-11-02T06:38:00.000-07:00

Again, I managed to not post Memorial Stone Monday on Monday...

Meet the Harrods, Greg, Angie and their boys, Aidan, Donovan and Keegan. The Harrods have contributed to my journey in several ways. They have been faithful prayer partners with me form the very beginning. Several years ago Greg's work took him and Angie and baby Aidan to Australia. We've been able to share stories of being in Oz, funny cross-cultural mishaps, and TimTams. It's nice to hear an authentic "No worries" or "Good on ya" every now and then (even though I know it's mostly just to humor me). Greg and Angie have been and continue to be a huge encouragement and blessing to me, not only through their prayer and financial support, but through friendship they have given me over the years, especially this past year.

Aidan, Donavon, and Keegan have contributed to my support as well through their prayers and the Sunday School offering at Evangel. I can always count on them for a hug or high-five followed quickly by a "when are you leaving?" and "when are you coming back?" I've had the blessing of watching the Harrod boys on occasion for several years now. It has been amazing to watch them grow "in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men".

So, as a bit of an excuse for why I'm late and a prayer request. I've been preparing for Global Missions Conference (the PCA and MTW's anual shin-dig) in Chattanooga, TN. I've been invited to show some of my artwork at this years conference. Which of course means I have been a crazy person the last few weeks and extra crazy the past few days. Yesterday I left Wichita for Atlanta, I'll be spending a few days here with my sister then heading to Chattanooga on Thursday. Then back to Atlanta on Tuesday and home Thursday.

Buttons!

2010-10-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

Who has two thumbs and Yellow Brick Studio - The Road to OZ buttons?

THIS GIRL!

Hot off the presses, especially for you, my lovely support team!

Memorial Stone Monday

2010-10-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Today I want to introduce you to Ron and Terri Stockman. My parents met the Stockmans when I was a baby while both families were stationed in LA and they have been best friends ever since. I've always known them as "Mr. Ron" and Miss. Terri." The Stockmans are very much so a part of my family. Mr. Ron and Miss. Terri's sons have been the closest thing I've ever had to brothers. Our families shared holidays, birthdays, and many just plain old days. I don't officially have godparents, but if I did it would be the Staocmans. They even few out to Wichita for my thesis exhibit a year and a half ago.

Miss Terri and I are very alike... we dress similarly. We both have very dark hair and very fair skin. We do our make up the same way. We both get a rash when we eat mangos. We're both artists. We have many more idiosyncrasies in common, but to list them could be narcissistic yet embarrassing. It's to the point that our families joke that Miss. Terri is my "other mother" or my "birth mom."

Just last week I got the notification from MTW that Mr. Ron and Miss. Terri have joined my support team. I knew they were partnering with me emotionally and in prayer from the very beginning of this journey, it's great to have them officially on my support team. Their pledge also brought me up to 50% of support raised. I've been told the last half comes in faster and easier than the first... we'll see. It seems befitting that such a "monumental" moment in this process would come from the Stockmans!

As a kid it was oddly comforting to know that if something happened to my parents Mr. Ron and Miss. Terri would take care of my sisters and I. There is nothing odd about having them taking care of me in this way now and it's just as comforting.

(I sincerely hope that Mr. Ron and Miss. Terri will forgive me for posting such awesome pictures of them... What can I say? The 80's were great!)

Tardy Tuesday

2010-10-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

A.K.A. Memorial Stone Monday a day late...

This week I want to share one of the first "stones" picked up on this journey. Walter and Doris Ramsour joined my support team long before I even knew I would be raising support.

In the summer of 2008 Steve and B were in the states and were planning a visit to Wichita. Walter told me the Sunday before their visit that I needed to meet Berenice because "She's you in 25 years." So, that Wednesday I went to the Rarig's talk and met B. The next morning she and I had coffee and the rest is history. I know that B and I were providentially planed for each other, but some days I can't help but wonder how long it would have taken for us to get together if it weren't for Walter's insistence.

Walter and Doris were among this first to join my support team after my approval with MTW. In addition to this, they have been supporting the ongoing work in Perth for a while now. Their vision for the church, both local and in Australia, is humbling. I am so blessed by their generosity of heart, wisdom, and resources.

Memorial Stone Monday

2010-10-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

These cute kids are Elizabeth, Micah, and Benjamin, my niece and nephews. At a recent family garage sale the kids sold muffins and orange juice and brought the proceeds to me, in a giant ziplock bag, to help me get back to Australia. Elizabeth would be the first to tell you that it got hot that day... VERY HOT! But she stuck it out in the south Texas, middle of summer heat to help me. They even added some of their own money too!

While they here in Kansas visiting Elizabeth and I sat on the driveway and with a little help from Micah and Benjamin by sorting out the "silver money" we counted it all. All said and done, after adding what we found in my car and on my desk, Elizabeth, Micah, and Benjamin had raised $76 for me.

It is truly amazing to be the recipient of these three young missions minded hearts!

Coming soon: Memorial Stone Monday

2010-10-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Bet you'll never be able to guess when it's coming!

A while back I was reading in the book of Joshua. I came to the part where Israel crosses the Jordan River and enteres the land of Canaan, the land they had been promised and were waiting for. God told Joshua to have one man from each of the twelve tribes pick up a stone out of the river as they crossed over where the waters had been parted in front of the Arc of the Covenant. When all of Israel had crossed into Canaan these twelve stones were piled up into a monument. This monument was to serve as a memorial to what God had done in parting the Jordan and bringing Israel into Canaan, as promised.

As I'm working my way across the river of support raising I have started to think of each of my supporters as a memorial stone. In the end, when I finally get back to Australia I will have my beautiful support team to stand as the monument to what God has done.

So... Starting on Monday I will be sharing with you stories of the amazing, generous, faithful people who are helping me on the road to Oz.

If you want more information on how or why to join my support team let me know. If you are ready and able to join my team, THANK YOU! You can do so by following the link in the "Online Giving" section on the right side of this page.

Until Monday...

Goodnight House, Goodnight Mouse

2010-09-27T08:44:00.001-07:00

A few stills from last Friday's performance

If I had a theme song...

2010-09-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

for my support raising this would be it.

I want you to want me... to be in Perth.
I need you to need me... to be a part of your extended covenant, faith family.
I love you to love me... and love on me as I struggle through this support raising process.

Not only that, but I want you, need you and love you to be a part of my ministry.

Mark your calendars

2010-09-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

This show will be a fundraiser of my internship in Australia. I will be selling 12"x12" paintings for very reasonable price. The proceeds of any sales will be added to my account with MTW.

Did you know?

2010-09-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

That September is Craniofacial Awareness Month?

Did you know that A craniofacial disorder is an abnormality of the face and/or the head? Craniofacial differences can result from abnormal growth patterns of the face or skull, which involves soft tissue and bones. A craniofacial condition may include disfigurement brought about by birth defect, disease or trauma.

Did you know that I am the proud aunt of two nephews who were borne with craniofacial defects? Timothy (cleft lip) and Benjamin (craniosynistosis: the premature closing of the soft spot causing the skull to grow deformed). By God's grace and the skilled hands of surgeons both boys are doing great today.

Something to think about...

New work

2010-08-31T21:19:00.001-07:00

Covering some basics

2010-08-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

As I'm support raising to go to Perth I often find myself answering the question "What exactly are you doing?" generally followed by, "Why?" And as I present myself to new congregations, groups, and/or individuals the ever popular "What was your name again?" which is often accompanied by the "why should I know you? Look" (maybe that last bit is just me being self conscious and paranoid). In an attempt to answer these questions quickly and concisely I put together an all about Shannon "Brochure," if you can call it that, punctuated by just a few of my favorite photos from Oz.

So here you go... all you could ever want to know about me and my yellow road to Oz. Maybe you'll learn something new about me. Maybe you won't. Maybe you can pass it on to a friend who is into art and loves Jesus too (it seems we're a rare breed). And maybe that will help me get closer to being back in Freo.

I tried to make the images bigger... I'm not very tech savvy. Sorry. If you click on it it should come up bigger in a new window. I'm happy to email you the PDF if you want it, or want to pass it on.

Australia update

2010-07-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well, really it's a copy of the updated support letter I'm sending out... basically, support raising has been really tough. I'm anxious to have my finances met and to be back in Freo...

I am still preparing for a one-year ministry internship in Perth, Australia. This internship will be with the MTW church planting team, my ministry will be focused on fine tuning and utilizing my artistic gifts in community outreach and church development. I am writing to up date you on my progress and once again seek your support.

To say that support raising has been a challenge is a gross understatement. Through this process, I am blessed to be quickly amassing a large prayer support team, however gaining financial support has been a much slower process. It has been about a year sense I was approved by MTW and began this journey. To date, just over 36% of my support has been given/pledged. I cannot leave for Perth until 100% of my financial support has been pledged. My remaining budget needs would be met by $2933 per month for the year I am in Perth.

While I’ve been waiting, God has seen fit to bless my art career here in Wichita. I have continued to paint and have successful shows, resulting in income that has made up 5% of the financial support I have thus far. Currently I am preparing for a show in mid September that will also be used as a fund-raiser for my internship. I am also working locally; living with my parents has enabled me to save a large portion of my income and has aloud me to significantly reduce my budget with MTW.

I would like to once again seek your support as I prepare for ministry in Australia. Please pray with and for me…That God will quickly provide the remaining finances, it is vital to the ministry in Perth that I am on the field by January 1, 2011. That I would be faithful in pursuing all opportunities for support. That God would continue to bless the work I am doing in this time of waiting, that it would not only prepare me to serve in Perth but be a part of my ministry. Pray for the MTW team already in Perth, that they would be encouraged, have the support that they need, and continue to be effective in building our church. Please prayerfully consider how you might be able to join my support team, if 100 people could pledge $30 a month I’d be on my way.

I finally did it...

2010-02-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

I got a real, grown up, official (looking at least) website! It's still a work in progress.

I'll still use this blog... for some art, some life, some Australia up dates, and anything else that seem appropriate.... so, stay tuned.

Drawing

2010-01-28T11:02:00.001-08:00

The statement is still a bit rough and the drawings still need development... but it is a start...

Having grown up within a transient family, moving often, feelings of displacement were common. In the midst of frequent relocation a consistent family life built an emotionally stable environment. “Home” for me became a mental and emotional construct made from a collection of object, a series of events and relationships. The understanding of home became as fluid and changing as the physical environment.

My drawings use visual pattern appropriated from traditionally domestic objects to reference hose, home as a location. These patterns are repeated and layered up to create an allegory for events that build up an understanding of place, of home. This process results in an organic form, undefined and malleable as the concept of home, floating in an empty field, transient and placeless as the individual.

PS- The big girl website is still in the works... stay tuned

FYI...

2010-01-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

An "official" website is in the works! As soon as I have something together I'll post a link here. I will be keeping this blog for updates as I prepare for my internship in Perth and while I'm there.

~shannon

new studio... new work...

2009-10-13T19:34:00.001-07:00

News

2009-07-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I don't have any new work to post right now. I do have some news though...

August first I'll be heading to Perth, Australia for a short visit to plan and prepare for the internship I'll be starting next year. The internship will be with Berenice Rarig an will be for 11 months.

The day after I get home from Perth I will start teaching at Friend's University. I was offered and accepted 2 adjunct positions this afternoon. The first is an aesthetic/art appreciation course for non-art majors, the second is a intro photography class.

Hopefully, new work will be ready to post sooner, rather than later... more in progress stuff if nothing else.

Works in progress/Works on paper

2009-06-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

(detail)

That's "Master Shannie" to you!

2009-04-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official. I passed the oral defense of my thesis exhibit. I have my Masters of Fine Art in painting! The show opens tomorrow evening. Graduation is May 16th.

This week has been kind of surreal.

A sneak peek

2009-04-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics or the paintings installed on campus. The pics aren't great, but it is nice to see them on the wall and next to each other. Installation at the gallery happens this week!

2009-04-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

Bakers dozen yellow roses

Bed and breakfast trousseau

Don't have a title for this one yet

It's all happening

2009-04-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

2009-04-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Half butter, half shrotening

Warm iron as needed

To be determined

For sunlight after shadows

Predecessor (irritant)

2009-03-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

I've been working on titles today. Normally I don't use titles, but in this case I think the could give the viewer a nudge in the direction I want them to go. A few working titles I'm kicking around...

Precedent (knit, pearl)
Eagle brand anticipation
Historical fiction saves the day
Preservation (traps)
Miss, Ms, Mrs.
Invariably a strain on all
Unfruitful charms
Encircle with your arms
Customary Trinket
Walnut grove to Pemberly
Keep the fighting arm free
Gold and bubbly
To be determined
Half butter, half shortening
And repeat
Warm iron as needed
Often embarrassing and not appropriate

And some new paintings...

2009-03-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

2009-03-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

2009-02-25T07:09:00.000-08:00

More exploration

2009-02-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

In the process of developing a rich and fleshy surface and thinking about the metaphorical implications of surface I began to wonder about pulling back surfaces. What happens when one layer is removed, melted, burnt, pealed away?

Here's what happened in a few small explorative works...

Exploration... Not "playing"

2009-02-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

Wax has a preserving quality. I am exploring this quality through suspending things in the wax. As the wax dries and hardens the items I add into it are kept between layers of wax, preserved and trapped. The items I suspend in the wax are decorative... lace, sequins, beads

New work coming soon...

2009-02-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

But for now, just the statement.

My work looks through a domestic lens at patterns of social and behavioral expectations and how those labels interfere with the pursuit of individuality. By using visual patterns from traditionally domestic and decorative elements, such as textiles, wallpaper, plate ware, and furniture I draw attention back to the home and to the “women’s roles” within that home in order to challenge these notions. Patterns are used to draw attention to surface, both literally and metaphorically.

Many of the social patterns I am looking at address “women’s roles.” These pattern, be it inherited through culture or family, perceived, self created, often deals with appearance. Individuality is often suppressed so that the desired appearance is achieved. For this reason, I create a rich surface to be the foundation for the visual patterns I use. The surface emerges as both decorative and flesh-like, feeding directly into the idea of appearances.

My work and process inform each other greatly, they each reveal things about the other. The process of repetition is central to my work. This activity is largely domestic and for me parallels the build up of experiences that unveil our social expectations and norms.

More new work

2009-02-17T18:55:00.001-08:00

newest paintings

2009-02-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

2009-02-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

2009-02-03T16:23:00.000-08:00

My work looks at the patterns of social and behavioral expectation in relationship to individuality, particularly as it exists within the home. Though appropriated visual patterns from traditionally domestic decorative elements, such as fabric; wallpaper, plate ware, and furniture I draw attention back to the home and “women’s roles” in order to reconfigure these notions. The patterns are replicated at times with deviations from them, be it slight or extreme. The pattern is then layered expressive marks to illustrate the building up of experiences with expectations and norms. It is through the building up of these layers referencing both the experiential and the normative and the merging for these entities that an analogy of personal experience and learning how to express individuality and reconciling with social norms is created. Leaving the viewer to ask the question, do we as individuals adapt ourselves to the expected, or adapt the expectation to ourselves?

This week in the studio...

2009-01-31T17:51:00.000-08:00

New ways of creating layers and lush surface qualities (other than plexi)

Applying thick layers of gel medium between the painted layers

The beginnings of my first attempts with wax...many more layers still to come on this one, it won't look like a Hawaiian shirt when it's done.

For my da

2009-01-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

My dad has been bugging me to get a new blog up. Rather than boring you with the research I've been doing over the break I thought I'd share my other "Christmas Break Project"

I CLEANED OUT MY STUDIO!!!!!!

I didn't know that floor was there until yesterday...

I hadn't seen that desk sense the day I moved in... a year and a half ago.

It took 3 full days, 5 giant trash bags, and 2 trips to the storage unit, but it was worth it! Now I can get to work.

Current artists statement & a few thoughts from others

2008-12-13T08:53:00.001-08:00

My work looks at the patterns of social and behavioral expectation in relationship to individuality, particularly as it exists within the home. I am exploring stereotypes, and social expectations and how individuals negotiate a way through them in such a way as to develop personal identity. I appropriate visual patterns from traditionally domestic decorative elements, such as fabric; wallpaper, plate ware, and furniture in order to draw attention back to the home in order to reconfigure notions of what “home” is. I replicate these patterns at times with deviations from them, be it slight of extreme. The pattern is the layered more patterns with varied levels of deviation and expressive marks to illustrate the building up of experiences with expectations and norms. I am interested in representing the way individuals either adapts themselves to expected, or adapt the expectations to themselves, expressing individuality and reconciling with social norms.

A now for little taste of some of my research...

“The force of habit may be said to spring from the sense of order. It results from our resistance to change and out search for continuity. Where everything is in flux and nothing could ever be predicted, habit establishes a frame of reference against which we can plot the variety of experience.” E.H. Gombrich, The Sense of Order: A study in the psychology of decorative art

“painters love paint itself, so much so that they spend years trying to get paint to behave they way they want it to… It is the paint that is so absorbing, so deeply attractive, that a life spend in the studio can be a bearable life.” James Elkins, What Painting Is

“ Beauty is pleasure regarded as the quality of a thing…Beauty is a value, that is, it is not a perception of a matter of fact or of a relation: it is an emotion, an affection” George Santayna, The Sense of Beauty

More of the same and slight variations

2008-12-13T08:37:00.000-08:00

(detail)

(detail)

Work In Progress

2008-12-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

There are two different ideas that have been brewing in my mind and I finally started working them out. The first is painting on plexi glass and displaying it with backlighting.

All of these panels are 12"x12". I have some larger plexi in different colors and clear to work with next. Then there is figuring out how to best install/display them.

The second idea is finding objects that have a pre prescribed pattern, or set of guidelines, to be followed and subtly finding ways to change the finished product by breaking the rules or not adhering to the pattern.

I'm also in the midst of doing the same process with a dollhouse. Of course Thursday-Sunday are still to come.

Hopefully I will find a way to integrate these two ideas together... can you stitch on plexi?

Just a thought

2008-10-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

"Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern." - Alfred North Whitehead

Midterm... Dun, dun, dun...

2008-10-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

I am capitalizing on the repetition, predictability and systematic nature of pattern. I use high intensity chromas to trace the pattern, shift away from it, create a new entity, and merge back into the pattern. Through this process I am looking at the experience of individuals attempting to reconcile their own identities in relationship to both personal, historical, and cultural traditions.

These two are a little different, they look more at integrating the change (being the individual) as part of the visual pattern rather than existing separately.

A little of what I've been up to...

2008-09-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Just a sketch

Still in process... it will get some "puffy-paint"

Nearly finished

detail. Can you tell the paint is still wet?

It is hard to tell if I'm making art or cake these days, that's part of the point I think.

Paintings of the Mundane

2008-06-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

At Blank Page Gallery
(installation shots)

A big thanks to Mike, Zadi, Delilah, Cody, and everyone else at Blank Page. Great show guys, I couldn't have done it without you!

Paintings of the Mundane

2008-06-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Observations from Inside the Life of Another
(images of the work, in addition to the ones in the previous post)

Take twice daily with food

Everything in its place

Morning medication on vanity

Coffee ready by 8:30 a.m.

1 scoop duck feed in the morning

Toast and Tea

Show Flier

2008-06-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

For those who can't make it to the show

2008-06-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

(aka, Matt & Megan, and Matt & Erin)

(Check Traps, 30" x 38", Acrylic, india ink, and charcoal on canvas)

(Set out lunch, 34" x 28", Acrylic, india ink, and charcoal on canvas)

(Wednesday Wash-day, 36" x 28", Acrylic, india ink, and charcoal on canvas)

Mark your calendars

2008-05-21T07:05:00.002-07:00

Paintings of the Mundane: Observations from inside the life of another at Blank Page Gallery, 917 W Douglas Wichita, KS. Using images taken while working temporarily as a part-time caregiver to a 100-year-old woman I give a glimpse into her life. I highlight the pedestrian moments that define her everyday activity and encapsulate my responsibilities to her.

Opening reception will be held Final Friday, June 27, 2008 7-10pm with live local music (musician TBA). Paintings of the Mundane will be on display June 27- July 10.

(all images from source photography)

Check back for more info.

Thesis Proposal...

2008-05-20T17:38:00.000-07:00

Artist Statement:
The pressure to meet expectations in relationship to individuality is an experience that we all encounter in differing ways. There is a continual negotiation and renegotiation between what is expected and the actuality of the acting out of that expectation. It is the search for reconciliation of self within the framework of society, and it is common to all people. Within that search it is often the tangents away from the patterns that become the most authentic expressions of the individual.

My work explores patterns of social and behavioral expectation in relationship to individuality, particularly as it exists within the home. Through my work I am observing how individuals confront and express these expectations differently. I use visual patterns that have a more formal undertone (Damask and Paisley) to reference more formal or proper behaviors. I appropriate patterns from traditionally domestic decorative elements, such as fabric, wallpaper, plate ware, and furniture in order to draw attention back to the home in order to reconfigure notions of what “home” is. The work explores social “norms” and considers deviations from them as a means of tracking individual experience.

Through my work I prompt viewers to examine behavioral and social patterns of their own - inherited or self-constructed. Examination of perceived social expectations will in turn lead to an exploration of personal deviance from or adherence to these patterns, ultimately leaving the viewers to ask themselves if they are adapting to perceived “norms” or adapting the “norm” to better fit their circumstance.
(Sorry the pics are kind of crapy...)

PS- my proposal was accepted...I'm officially in thesis!

Artist Talk

2008-04-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

Minor technical difficulties caused us to miss a chunk of the talk. But, here's what we got...

(I know I say "um" a lot. I'm working on it.)

Patterned & Embellished

2008-03-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

Important thoughts

2008-03-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

especially for people in art school....

"The work of a critique is easy."

Sneak Peek

2008-03-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a little preview of some of the work in my show...

Syracuse Federal Shape, 2008, Acrylic on Board.

Knockoff Heirloom (detail), 2008, Acrylic and Teacups on Board.

"Artists Bio"

2008-03-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

I had to write and artists bio this weekend to go in a press packet the gallery I'm working with is sending to the news paper. Here's what I came up with...

Shannon Johnston is currently working on her masters of fine art in painting at Wichita State University. Shannon relocated to Wichita from College Station, TX after having completed her undergraduate degree in art with an emphasis in painting at Belhaven College in Jackson, MS. Her work explores the visual, personal, and social patterns surrounding the feminine and domestic. Using the appropriated visual patterns of domestic objects, such as china and flatware, Shannon draws an analogy to an individuals experience of struggle with identity while still seeking to fit into a greater social scheme. Shannon, having lived a transient life thus far is largely influenced in this body of work my her own experiences with ever changing social expectations and the search for identity.

Coming Soon...

2008-03-10T14:06:00.001-07:00

More Performance Pieces

2008-02-23T11:47:00.000-08:00

My performance work circles around the ideas of looking "the" part. Through taking the private act of applying makeup and doing it publicly and repetitiously I am exposing the concealing quality of makeup. The work prompts the viewer to ask if these beauty rituals serve as a means of obtaining approval or hiding ones self.

Stills from live performance of "As pretty as ______ now?" January 25, 2008, ShiftSpace, Wichita, KS.

More of the same

2008-02-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

Collaborative Performance Piece: Revisiting George Maciunas

2008-02-16T14:49:00.000-08:00