2018 11 trip to chicago

I decided to make a trip to Chicago for two reasons.  The first was to make my first visit to the National Museum of Mexican Art in the Pilsen area of Chicago.  I had never heard of this museum until recently and I was pretty excited to get down there for their Dia de los Muertos exhibit before it closed.

One aspect of the exhibit was especially interesting to a found object artist like me.  The museum had asked local artists to contribute a veliz project or to answer the question, "What would you pack to take with you to the next world?"

This ofreda was magnificent.

I was thrilled to discover the works of three Mexican artist whose homes/studios I had visited on my trips with Colleen Darling and Michael deMeng during Dia de los Muertos.

The black pottery of Carlomagno Pedro Martínez from San Bartolo Coyotepec

A papier mache alebrijes from the Linares family of Mexico City

Clay work from the Aguilar family of Ocotlan

 

In the protest exhibit I found Oaxacan prints from artist I own in my own collection:  

Urtarte and Burro Press

Here is my favorite image from the visit.  The 43 butterflies represent the missing students whose deaths have never been forgotten in Mexico.

Next up on my agenda in Chicago was a trip into the Rogers Park neighborhood.  The murals near the interurban are spectacular.

 

The real reason to be here was to visit Kim's Corner Food managed by Thomas Kong.  I had just read this book:

Thomas Kong may not be the best neighborhood grocer, and he may not be the best collage artist ever, but a visit to this unique location is like walking into a outsider artist experience first hand.

It appears that access to the store is limited as this is a very safe neighborhood.  I think Mr. Kong does not really need to have customers but prefers to work.

Mr. Kong did greet me and let me in--and then went right to work on more collages.  He makes his collages from the remnants of the products he sells.  Despite some physical issues, he was in good spirits.

Once inside there are collages tucked everywhere.  I mean everywhere.

As I picked a route back to Milwaukee I came across Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

 

 

I would have to say that this trip to Chicago exceeded my expectations.  

2018 Kate Church Workshop: Create a Figurative Sculpture Duo

Create a Figurative Sculpture Duo

September 30-October 5, 2018

Kate Church

I was able to attend, for the second year in a row, a doll making workshop with Kate Church from Nova Scotia, Canada, on the Shake Rag Alley campus in Mineral Point, WI. This was a five day workshop.

Here is the class description for the workshop: "In this week long intensive Kate will teach you the techniques she personally uses to build her sculptural figures using polymer clay, cloth, and wire construction. You will create two sculptures. Choose a horse, bird, or rabbit approximately 15” tall as your major piece of the workshop. Starting with a drawing you will design and make a fabric pattern, then use wire to build the form that will animate your piece. Exploring your own process you can use paint, found objects, fabrics, or collage to embellish your work of art. In the second part of the class you will be creating a figure to ride or lead or perhaps dance ... with your fantasy critter. Kate will have patterns available if you feel you are not ready to design your own. Get ready for an extraordinary, fun, and inspiring ride!"

On Sunday, September 30, the group gathered in the Smeja Studio, our workshop space, for a great and meet dinner.

Kate Church (left) and our Shake Rag host Sandy

Kate's class sample

Most of the classes that I take at Shake Rag Alley are in the Lind Pavilion.  This class is across the highway in the Smeja Studio, home of a leather making artist.

My workspace

The base of the figures is made from a pattern on stretch material.  Sewing is not in my wheelhouse so Kate was gracious enough to do all my pattern making on one of the numerous sewing machines in the room.

My crow

My horse

Kate teaches how to sculpt heads from polymer clay.  It is not a skill I have at my command but each day we would sit down as a group and practice sculpting heads.  Once the heads are ready they are baked in an oven.

This was my favorite head from the workshop and shows the progression from pure polymer clay to the painted version.  We used makeup and pan pastels to get the face to where we wanted.  

What I really like about this technique is we get to make the figures do what we want on any object we choose.  Most of the students used a decorated fabric but I went white so that I would have the opportunity to finish them however I want.

For the horse, I decided to texture the cloth so it would be paintable.

For the crow, I decided to go with a paper texture with the idea it might not get painted.

So much for not painting

The crow became the project I worked to completion. It got some feathers as I went along.

Meanwhile, around the room, the group was busy on their own projects.

Liz

Merle, all the way from Perth, Australia

Libby

Mike and Ruth

Mike

Ruth

Deb

 

Kate with Sally

Sandy

...and then there was me!

I want to thank Shake Rag Alley and Sandy for hosting a great workshop.  A big thanks to Kate Church for her talent...and her patience.