An Artist's UpdateApril 2021 |
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A Warm Welcome to my friends and supporters |
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photo: Martha with service dog contemplating Nebula. Artistry exhibit: Woven |
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Welcome to long time friends and supporters, as well as to the new people that are joining as a result of seeing my artwork at a recent conference (more on that below). I don't know about your location, but in Minneapolis we might just be "changing seasons" both literally and metaphorically--although that feels tentative at the moment as it IS snowing and we do have more trials ahead. Nevertheless, for me it feels like a time of "taking account"--both in my art life and also with my community at large. You will see that many of the exhibits and videos of me in this newsletter involves doing just that. Other things that fall into this "taking account" category for me are: --In February 2021, I completed the 6 month post-close evaluation of my Vocational Rehabilitation Services case as a small business (Visual Artist in Fine Arts). Again, my art business was deemed a "success" based on an income/expenses federal formula! --My MN State Arts Board Creative Support for Individuals grant spending/creating requirements are complete. This included: purchasing powerful photography lights and learning with a mentor, major website updates and creating art. --Just last week, I finally created a comprehensive filing system to hold all the hard copy documents related to my art life. I'd been stacking them up on top of the dog kennel since 2016! I am so relieved and pleased to have this work behind me as I have some exciting things brewing for this summer. What about you--what are you looking forward to in the next several months? Feel free to reach out and share. Martha |
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Reflections: Living CreativelyMarch 11 - end of May, 2021 (2 sculptures) |
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The Eagan Outlet Mall offered the Eagan Art House a storefront to showcase invited artists to highlight the Art House as a community powerhouse. Soon after, I received an exciting email in my inbox that said: "I am reaching out to you to invite you to be considered for this special show. You have been invited because your artwork is strong and represents the heart of the Eagan Art House" which values living creatively. When asked "How do you live creatively?" I answered: "I regularly create art so I can get something out of inside of me, so I can see it, look at it and say yes that is how I feel or that is what I’m wrestling with. I use the principle of pleasure to guide my making. What color, texture, material, body movement, focus will bring me pleasure in this moment, and then I follow it. This makes for an engaged, vibrant life.” Location: Twin Cities Premium Outlets in Eagan 3950 Eagan Outlets Parkway, Eagan, MN 55122 Storefront: Park in the covered garage. Walk out of the center walkway doors of the garage. Cross the street and use the main walkway into the store area. Store front will be straight ahead just off to the right at the "1 o'clock" position. |
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Art of PossibilitiesApril 21 - May 14, 2021 (2 art pieces) |
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Celebrate creativity that knows no bounds. This is the 57th annual celebration of abilities and fine art created exclusively by artists with disabilities from around the world. We come together virtually to be inspired, uplifted and in awe of the distinctive creativity of our remarkable community of artists.* We invite you to support the artists by purchasing their original pieces of artwork. *My art can be found in Mixed Media and Photography. |
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In Person ExhibitCreate Connections 2021May 2 - July 16, 2021 (a trio of pieces based on the woven sculpture below) |
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Come visit this exhibit to witness the transformation and expansion of this wearable art piece Descent/Dissent created in honor of RBG. Two other local women created their own art using this woven sculpture as their starting point: Natalia Pederson a fashion photographer from the European country Belarus who "feels a deep connection with Ruth Bader Ginsburg as Belarusian women play a pivotal role in their country’s fight for democracy" and Angelica Moralés a Guatemalan American digital artist who says "Thank you RBG for everything you have done for All Womxn until your last breath." All three pieces will be shown together under the title RBG: One Step at a Time including the 2 page document "Martha Bird's Dissenting Opinion" which is an artistic rendering of Martha’s descent into the analysis of a “court’s ruling” in her own life circumstance. It follows the format of a full-dress opinion that contains the five elements as cited in the Judicial Writing Manual: A Pocket Guide for Judges, Second Edition. 2013. Opening Reception!! Please join all 3 artists (plus many more from the exhibit) at this in person* event. When: Sunday, May 2, 2021 Time: 5:00 - 6:30 pm (I will be arriving at 5:30 pm) Location: Art Works Eagan, 3795 Pilot Knob Rd. Eagan, MN As an added bonus, you are invited to visit my studio space in the building to see my working space with my beautiful willow bundles and 12' soaking tank. *All CDC guidelines followed (masks, social distancing, disinfecting) |
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Exhibit (virtual)2020 Reflections & Beyondongoing (2 art pieces) |
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From November 2020 - January 2021, I was part of a weekly virtual Drawing Club led by COMPAS teaching artist Katrina Knutson through Avivo ArtWorks. We made new art in different media with various techniques that incorporated drawing: abstract, collage/mosaic, botanical, portraits, blind contour drawing, still-life, watercolor, charcoal, pastel and pencil. My artwork focused on using material remnants from the Minneapolis 2020 uprising. |
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I'm super excited to announce more: Thanks to grant funding |
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Features added: - Home page: new logo for my credential Holistic Nurse Baccalaureate-Board Certified. The HNBCC (credentialing organization) credits me with the logo idea.
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- Home page: new Artist Video. Click the black screen arrow below to watch 2 min video (above photo is the thumbnail image you actually see on my website home page)
video created by Lundy Pictures |
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- About page: a newly organized "CV PDF" documenting the totality of my arts life!
- About page:a recording of a custom song written about my life Weave Together
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- Updates page: blog post about Metabolizing Minneapolis events through Art
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- Shop page: an additional 40 pieces of art available for purchase
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for the MN Social Services Association Conference & Expo 8 artists submitted 12 pieces of art for consideration. I was thrilled to be selected and see how many iterations of my art they used before, during and after their March 2021 conference with 3500+ attendees. I laughed every time I encountered it from: bingo cards, treasure coins buried in their website worth gift cards, email headers, speaker backgrounds, brochures, postcards. And I was paid for it! |
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Thank you for interest and support! |
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