I have a show now up at the Oak Park Public Library! It is called “Lore,” inspired by the Norse/Scottish/German folklore of my heritage. It is up until April 27, and there is a public reception on Sunday, April 15, from 3:00-5:00 pm. All are welcome! There will be snacks!
When I was in Shetland for my residency in 2016 I came across these Tattit Rugs, pile bedcovers from the 17th-19th centuries, which were covered in symbols of protection. This discovery reawakened my fascination with the folklore unique to the islands. I remembered believing my grandparents stories about the trows living in the hills behind their house, among other things. I had the opportunity to see museum exhibits and buy books to really dig into it. The Shetland Isles are uniquely situated in the middle of the North Sea and have been owned by both Denmark and Scotland, so have a blended history and folklore. They are and have been a crossroads where Picts, Vikings, and other cultures have settled or at least influenced the culture. It wasn’t until last year that I really began to explore the subject in earnest, quickly realizing how vast and overlapping and rich this territory is, so I decided to include my Norse and German heritage as well. The commonality is an encouraging and unexpected thread I’m excited to understand further. Even after working on these paintings for months, I feel I’ve only scratched the surface. I’ll be working on this subject for a while, I think.
Meanwhile, I also have a mixed media piece in the 97th Annual Artist Members Exhibit at the Oak Park Art League. The show opens on Friday, April 13 at 7:00 pm.
“Thank You” – 48″ x 24″ Acrylic, collage and image transfer on board
