We Had Some Snow, then more snow

Was very very cold last night--about 12º F.  Tonight warmer.  But not enough to melt snow yet.  This is actually an old photo from a few years back, but it looked pretty much like this as the first heavy wet snow came down through the day, collapsing bushes, and making for some hazardous driving for those on the road.  We got about 8"on the first round.  Our kind new neighbor plowed the driveway for us. And we were rewarded with more snow the next day.  Perhaps 2 or 3" or so.   

It's now the wee hours of Dec 6, 2025 (of course).  Every once in a while I need to visit the blog and make a post to keep it living.  Am trying to figure out how to preserve it.  It dates back to 2009 I think.  

To friends near and far Merry Christmas! 

 

This is a tree from long ago, a real tree with the heavenly balsam scent, decorated with lots of glass ornaments and glass bead garland.  Nowadays I have a little artificial tree on a table.  

Antique houses, most older than I am that I played with as a child in the 1950s.

 My Christmas wish!

The pipe cleaner Christmas tree and Santa may be older than the houses above as my much older sister claimed she played with them in her childhood which dates to the mid / late 1930s. 

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by" ~ Douglas Adams

If you haven’t heard, Google is taking steps to delete inactive accounts, so if you have gmail accounts for email or a blog, etc. you might want to be sure you are using them occasionally.  Google of course did send out warnings months ago.  But now zero hour is approaching.  December 2023 the fun begins.  As the title says—I love deadlines.  

I don't want to lose this blog which I started in 2009, so today with this new post I hope to prevent deletion.   I set up Sentimental Pentimento initially as an alternative to an art website.  The title was taken from a piece I made in 2007, if memory serves, and it in turn borrowed the title from Lillian Hellman’s book of the same name.  Along the way the blog became much more—a chronicle of my work both finished and in progress; all the various shows I participated in or curated; plus work by others.   

Now that I'm behind the scenes in blog mode, it turns out I haven't completely forgotten how to set up a post. Thankfully Blogger hasn't changed much in that regard.  I like the old school feel.  

If you are wondering why the big gap between posts...it’s not that I’ve forgotten how to make rusty art, it’s just that the spark for creating went out.  My outdoor studio, seen above behind the shed, has been idle since fall of 2017.  I made a ton of work that year, in fact much more fabric was rusted that year than any other, more than 50 pieces in all.  I did several shows too and It wore me out.  I always take a break between seasons, but in the space of the following two years, both my brother and my sister passed away and I had a stroke in between their deaths.  

FYI, it was mild, as strokes go, and I fully recovered, but the spark to create has not returned.  I did participate in the last ever Innovations in Textiles event in 2019 by exhibiting some work at the RAC Gallery on Delmar in St. Louis along with fellow grads by invitation of my professor from the fiber department at SIUE.  Then In the summer of 2022 I curated a show for a friend who has a gallery in Hillsboro, IL.  I hadn't curated since 2015 and like always, I forgot how much work goes into the planning and installation.  I’m way too old and out of shape for the level of physical work required.  It was a humdinger of a show though, and I’m glad it happened.  

Anyhoo, here I am trying to save something important to me, just because I’m a saver.  We had a spectacular fall color display here in south western Illinois.  Our maple trees, fire bushes, sassafras and sweet gums provided some beautiful scenes around the yard.  So for the time being I’ll leave you with my favorite photo of the batch I took in late October.  

Support Artists! Holiday Sale at EAC

one of my scarves - size large, silk satin shibori rust

photo courtesy EAC 

Edwardsville Arts Center kicked off their Holiday Show on Saturday Dec 1, and the exhibit  will remain open with regular gallery hours until after Christmas. I delivered a nice selection of scarves and shawls to this show and forgot to advertise until now! All are for sale. If you are shopping for the holidays, do go and check it out.

Support real artists and craftspeople when you can. My shibori rust scarves are featured alongside a few other fiber artists, lots of pottery by several different artists as well as  paintings, photographs and jewelry. All price points!  

Exhibit Dates: Dec 1st – Dec 28th
Gallery hours: Wednesday – Friday, 10 AM – 4PM
Saturday, 11 AM – 3 PM
Sunday – Tuesday, Closed

6165 Center Grove Road
Edwardsville, IL 62025
*On the Campus of Edwardsville High School 

Telephone: (618) 655-0337
Email: office@edwardsvilleartscenter.com

Altogether over 30 local artists will have one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts for sale, ranging from jewelry to pottery, scarves to winter paintings, and much more! After purchasing a gift, you’ll have the opportunity to create your own wrapping paper and package your gift, making it a truly personalized present!

Residual Impact at the Jacoby Arts Center

RESIDUAL IMPACT

October 12-December 23, 2017

Artist Reception on October 20, 5 to 7 pm

I am honored to have been invited to participate in this exhibit with renowned potter Arthur Towata and Eastern Illinois University professor and sculptor Ann Coddington at the Jacoby Arts Center in Alton, Illinois.  

Residual impact explores our interconnectedness to the environment, the imprint we leave in nature and somatic memory. It hopefully inspires reflection and encourages the protection of our natural resources.  

I have eight large pieces in this show which are beautifully balanced by remarkable knotted and netted sculptures by Ann Coddington and the incredible textures and shapes of Art Towata's pottery and paintings. The show is gorgeous and thanks to curators Sun Smith-Foret, Penny Schmidt and Jane Sauer, who brought us together, it is the first time in many years that I've been given the opportunity to "speak" to my environmental concerns within a show devoted to same.   I've included my statement below.

A peek at Dakota, shibori rusted silk, 92"x48" in the background through
Ann Coddington's netted piece (title ?) in foreground.

Broader view rear of gallery with a sample of all the artists' work in view.

As a printmaker over 15 years ago, I experimented with fabric to lift prints from rusty farm tools. It was love at first sight! I embraced organic printing, as I called it, because it inspired spontaneity and informed my ideas about process and content. Treating fabric as a vast landscape, I adapted arashi shibori techniques to wrapping rusted pipes, tucking leaves into folds to create additional resists. I prefer to work with silk because it is beautiful and deceptively fragile, but capable (to a point) of surviving the assault of rust printing. Rust is a gorgeous medium, offering an array of colors and exciting, unpredictable patterns when tempered by tea and tannins that defuse the corrosive power of the rust resulting in permanent and stable marks on the fabric. This unsettling recipe of rust and silk goes beyond mere design, however. It is a fitting metaphor for both the fantastic beauty of our earth and the assault on the environment that we are perpetrating to our own detriment. 

On Saturday, October 21, starting at 2 pm Ann Coddington and I will be participating in a gallery talk with demos that I hope will bring that statement to life for those in attendance.  If you click on the showcard above with text, you can read a brief statement of Ann's.  

Arthur Towata has been making pottery for many decades.  His work is the embodiment of his experience defined by the environment that surrounded his forced internment as a child during WWII at Manzanar.  On Friday evening, Oct 20, beginning 7:30, after the main gallery artist reception, there is a special event Hidden Histories with films and discussion on the Japanese internment camps where Arthur can share his very personal experiences.  

More photos of the exhibit can be found at the exhibit page for JAC here. 

I was also invited to populate the gift shop at Jacoby with a number of new scarves and wraps that I've been making such as this very large sheer silk wrap in which I incorporated elderberries.

52"x78" silk wrap with elderberries

The Jacoby Arts Center is located at 627 East Broadway, Alton, Illinois 62002.

Please visit the website for more information about Residual Impact and the concurrent exhibits in the east gallery as well as other events associated with the shows.  

The Devil Is in the Details

Cedarhurst Biennial opens Sunday, July 30, 2017 with a preview for exhibiting artists on July 29.  The show continues through October 8, 2017

The Biennial is open to artists in Illinois south of I-80, and the metropolitan regions of St. Louis, MO, Evansville, IN, and Paducah, KY.  They award great prizes -- so fingers are crossed.



My piece (left), The Devil Is in the Details, was accepted into the show.



I'm in good company--several local friends are also in the show.
Susan Bostwick - ceramics
Brigham Dimick - painting
Andrew Dobson (two pieces!! Yeah!) - photography
Laura Strand - weaving
David Yates - painting

In all there are 60 pieces in the show by 54 artists juried from a pool of 140 artists and 383 entries.

Cedarhurst is situated in the midst of a sculpture park at 2600 Richview Road, Mt. Vernon, IL.
This link will provide visitor information and hours:  Cedarhurst information

Making It In Crafts III -- the reception at the museum

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to be able to attend the opening of this exhibit at the Art Museum for Greater Lafayette. Altogether about a 4 hour drive for my husband and I, but we did combine the trip with a visit later to a dear friend who lives in Indiana about 2 hours south of Lafayette.

When we started looking for a hotel close by the museum, we discovered that Purdue University was holding graduation ceremonies the same day as the opening, so rooms were going for premium prices and we opted to stay in Crawfordsville about 27 miles to the south on Rt 231. I recommend the Best Buy that is just off I-74. Very nice room. Cracker Barrel is conveniently next door,  so we grabbed an early supper there before changing and driving up to Lafayette for the opening. I had the route memorized from the delivery trip in April, but the museum is easy to find.

 Pat Vivod, Carpe Noctem     shibori rust print on silk dupioni
Kathleen Nowak Tucci's (Alabama) pieces on either side.  Scroll down for another shot of her work.

The exhibit features 140 works by 51 artists from 25 states, Australia, and Canada spread over 2 galleries in the museum. A full color catalog was created that has photos of all the work plus artist websites which I've been exploring day by day since I received mine. Jim Sondgeroth pictured left was the guest curator. I had lunch with him the day I delivered work and learned that like me, he taught high school art for many years. He serves on the board of the museum. Jim personally selected all the artists for this exhibit and the previous two held in 2011 and 2014. I'm very proud to be included in this one... and very happy to say I've been invited back for the 2020 show.


On the day I delivered my work I met Jim and Michael Crowthers (left)who is the museum curator and installer of the exhibit. Michael did a phenomenal job in arranging the exhibit. I couldn't be more pleased with how my work was showcased. This exhibit is stunning both in the calibre of the work and the diversity of the mediums.


There were six artists I think at the reception including Joshua DeMonte (below) who came all the way from Maryland. Joshua was a delight to meet and talk to. He attempted to educate me about 3-D printing which is his medium now (he is a metalsmith). He teaches at Towson University.

For additional information on the show and a complete list of the artists plus individual images of my work, see the post I did announcing the show here.

Following is some of the work I photographed while at the reception.

Pamela MacGregor / Ohio     L-R: Sprout, Geisel, Session Tea Pod    felt

Kathleen Nowak Tucci / Alabama
Shield Necklace, Fringe Skirt
recycled motorcycle and bicycle inner tubes, brake cables

Joan McGee / Oregon
Flower Garden (L) silk organza, Golden Landscape (R) lambsuede

Carrie Schumacher / Illinois
C: Daphne's Diary, magazine R: Consequence of What You Do to Me, romance novel

Carrie Schumacher, Stay (Away/Awhile)
romance novel

Diane Siebels / Virginia   Head 10
cotton, velveteen, thread

Diane Siebels, Head 10 (detail)

Pat Vivod, Memento Mori    shibori rust print on silk dupioni
L: Melanie West / Maine    Shades of Yellow Big Bead    polymer necklace

Pat Vivod, Bono Malum Superate, shibori rust print on silk dupioni
in the wall case: Jeffrey Lloyd Dever / Maryland, Promesse du Jardin, polymer clay necklace
far right, Carrie Schumacher's work

Diane Siebels / Virginia   Head 9  fiber

There were a few other artists working in fiber or using fiber techniques with non fiber materials such as Brooke Marks-Swanson / Indiana, who I met, but forgot to photograph her work. She does striking large scale wearable adornments/jewelry using hand knit leather combined with silver and gold. Kate Cusack / New York, does equally striking wearable neck pieces using zippers and thread. Jill Ault / Michigan had three stunning art quilts in the show using digitally printed cotton to create optical effects. Geoffrey Gorman's rabbit, below left, utilized fabric that is rusted over time by the wires that bind the fabric to the form. I saw Gorman's work at SOFA Chicago a few years ago.  

Geoffrey Gorman / New Mexico
L-R: Bachmani, Blue Backed Woodpecker, Magpie with Chair
mixed media, found objects

Chris Francis / California  Sideboard Shoe - Tribute to Gerritt Rietveld
mixed media (Chris has designed shoes for Lady Gaga)

Glass, ceramics, wood, leather and furniture and jewelry made up the rest of the show. I couldn't begin to capture everything, but here are a few more highlights.

Bennett Bean / New Jersey
L-R: M# 1890 Vessel, M# 1808 Double Cylinder, M# 1888 Vessel
pit fired, gilded, painted earthenware

Anne Boothe / Pennsylvania
Civil Root, kiln cast lead crystal

Michael Wilcox / Indiana
Sidewalk Racer (roller skates front left) Dog Days (fan at rear)
No Preservatives Added (potter's wheel)

L: Richard Satava / California,  Double Moon Jellyfish, glass
R: Paul Stankford / New Jersey, glass

Joshua DeMonte / Maryland
Arcade Coil,   33% glass filled polyamide (3-D printed)

Eric Knoche / North Carolina
Story, wood fired stoneware with slip and glaze

There was a sizable crowd at the reception and I got to meet and chat with many people and all of the artists in attendance. One of the highlights was meeting this woman and her electric shoes! I didn't get her name but WOW! Guess what I'm wearing to my next opening?  :)

FYI: I had the permission of the curator and director of the museum to photograph.  

Making It in Crafts III -- Lafayette, Indiana

I am absolutely thrilled to be included in the invitational exhibition -- Making It in Crafts III -- May 12 to August 27, 2017 -- at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette in Indiana. I delivered three pieces in person last Tuesday and met the guest curator, Jim Sondgeroth.  

The opening reception is Friday, May 12 from 6:30 to 8:30, with remarks by Jim Sondgeroth at 7 pm.  

Carpe Noctem © 2015
Shibori rusted silk dupioni and organza, with tulle and
processed leaves, 68" x 60"

Making It in Crafts III features 140 works by 51 artists (clay, glass, metal, wood working and fiber) from 25 states plus Canada and Australia. I'm in very good company. From the looks of the catalog, the show should be stunning. You can get a peek at some of the other artists' on the brochure posted on my Exhibitions/Events page.

Memento Mori © 2015
Shibori rusted silk dupioni, 66" x 48"

MAKING IT IN CRAFTS III

ART MUSEUM OF GREATER LAFAYETTE
102 SOUTH 10TH STREET

LAFAYETTE, IN   47905

MAY 12, THROUGH AUGUST 27, 2017

This exhibition will feature 140 works of art by 51 prominent professional craft artists (clay, glass, metal, wood-working and fiber), from 25 states plus Canada and Australia.  These artists make their living by creating and selling fine art crafts.  Many of the most renowned artisans are juried participants in the most prestigious art shows in the U.S.  Including Chicago’s SOFA at Navy Pier; Grand Rapids’ Art Prize; and Ann Arbor’s Summer Art Fair.  Guest Curator, Jim Sondgeroth has personally selected and invited each artist.  This unique exhibit expands on the first two Making it in Crafts exhibits shown at the Art Museum in 2011 and 2014.  It is one of the most exciting and comprehensive arts and crafts shows to be presented in the Midwest.

Platinum Sponsor: Reed & Company, Barb and Tom Reed
Gold Sponsor: Keystone Architecture

Exhibiting Artists:  Peter Antor,   Jill Ault,  Boris Bally, Bennett Bean, Sharif Bey, Dixie Biggs, Anna Boothe, Tanija and Graham Carr, Bede Clarke, Andy Cooperman, Annette Corcoran, Darryl Cox, Angela Cunnninham, Kate Cusack, Joshua DeMonte,  Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, J Paul Fennell, Melanie Ferguson, Brian Fireman, Douglas Fisher and Jeremy Humpherville,  Steven Ford and David Forlano, Chris Francis, Jeremy Frey, Geoffrey Gorman, Billy Hall and Henry Levine, Nina Hole, David Huang, Eric Knoche, Robert Levin,  Pamela MacGregor, Brooke Marks-Swanson, Jennifer McCurdy, Joan McGee, Carol Milne, Woodrow Nash, Kathleen Nowak Tucci,   Edward Risak, Jon Michael Route, Richard Satava, Carrie Schumacher, Eric Serritella, Diane Siebels, Bonnie Stahlecker, Paul Stankard, Debra Steidel, Timothy Sullivan, Judit Varga, Jacques Vesery, Patricia Vivod, Kate Vogel and John Littleton,  Shannon Weber, Melanie West, Michael Wilcox, Matt Wilt       

Bono Malum Superate © 2017
Shibori rusted silk dupioni, 67" x 48'