An Artist's UpdateJune 2024 |
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“Creation is a spiritual practice...Being heard is healing.” --Nancy XiaoRong Valentine, Artist |
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Flower Show 2024 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum |
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A Warm Welcome to my friends and supporters |
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IN THIS ISSUESOLO EXHIBITION PATREON FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY ADOPT A DRAIN RECAP (4) |
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Hello Friends, A warm thank you to all who attended my studio Grand Opening during the St. Paul Art Crawl in April. Inviting people in felt like an important part of LANDING in my new studio. And if by chance you missed it, or want to come again, this month I have even more to share with you in my arts building. I've brought all my work out of storage and filled my studio and the 3rd floor gallery with my art--sculptural and functional basketry, as well as my multi media work. When I opened the boxes that had been in storage for years, my feeling was "hello friend, I haven't seen you in so long." Come and see what kind of creations come out of my heart and soul. What prompted this? A curator from an out-of-state Art Museum requested a studio visit with me so she could pick some pieces for their upcoming show (more details to come). With this solo exhibition, you are really invited to enter my world of creations. This comprehensive retrospective exhibit is only available for the month of June. Join me for this month's First Friday event on June 7th (details below) or make an appointment! Come July most of this art will return to storage and my home. I'd love to hear what we would see if you were going to share your heart and soul with the world. Martha |
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Martha Bird's Retrospective Solo Exhibition Weaving Wholeness May 25 - July 8, 2024 |
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You are cordially invited to join me for the OPENING of the solo exhibition: Weaving Wholeness This is a comprehensive retrospective that brings together an array of Martha Bird’s artwork in sculptural basketry (2016 - 2024), functional basketry (1994 - 2024) and other media such as photography, mosaic, painting and fiber art (1978 - 2024). Artwork is available for your viewing pleasure as well as purchase in both the F-O-K Gallery (interior and exterior walls) and in Martha's studio 308B. When: June 7, 2024 from 6-9 pm. during the F-O-K Studios First Friday event Includes: Multiple art studios will be open. Live music from 6:30-8pm: Jazz duo with Jon Pemberton on piano and Brad Bellows on valve trombone. Where: F-O-K Studios, 106 Water St. W., St. Paul, MN (old red brick building on Harriet Island) Free parking Other viewing times: The building is open to the public Sunday-Saturday 8 am - 6 pm so you could visit the gallery portion of the exhibition. Contact Martha at martha@marthabirdart.com to schedule a private tour that would include her studio during the month of June while the retrospective is on display. Everyone is Welcome! |
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If you enjoy reading these newsletters... |
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You might REALLY love my once a month Patreon posts that tell a deeper story. Patreon is a new way to dive in AND support my art practice. What is it? A platform for Creatives to build and engage community What is on offer? Become a "Creativity Champion" for $3 per month and receive Exclusive Content (I post once a month, at the end of the month). Thank you to everyone who has supported me through Patreon to date. Every time I type up my post, I smile because I enjoy sharing more of the ins-and-outs with you. If you are interested to try it out, click the button below and subscribe. You will get immediate access to see: before and after photos of my new studio learn about how creativity takes courage for me how I handle feeling stuck ways I play with contemplative mark-making in my art how I prepared for the St. Paul Art Crawl and what amazing things happened at it how the heck I stay on track and keep moving forward
Then at the end of every month you will get a new email post from me about one aspect of my art practice. I'm so excited to share this with you! |
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Artwork as backdrop for fashion photographer! |
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About a year ago, I came across a photo of a fashion runway show where fiber art sculptures were suspended around the whole space. I took note, thinking that would be a really cool venue for my work--one I'd never considered. Not long after, a fashion photographer pulled me aside and said he was "kind of a big deal" and was known for unusual backgrounds--one of a kind. He said he'd love to consider some of my work for a backdrop. I said YES! With permission he shared photos with me. |
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Artwork: Nebula by Martha Bird Photo Credit: David Kenyon Photography Model: Lola Raine |
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Fun Fact Adopt a storm drain and name it |
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My drain is called: Willow Weave Did you know that everything that falls down our street storm drains go right to the nearest river? For me, that is the Mississippi River. So last year when I was visiting the Eco Building at the State Fair, I decided to do my part and adopt a drain. Every month I clean it and then report back the pounds of material I kept out of the river. It's very satisfying! Anyone else want to join in? |
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Recap 2024 Willow Harvest is in! |
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Recap New York City Exhibition |
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What a privilege to exhibit alongside 48 other women artists from around the world in Constellation: Women's Invitational Small Works Show The green arrow in the photo is pointing to my 9 inch sculpture. I met wonderful artists and had great conversations at the opening reception on April 4, 2024. A big thank you to Curator Ingrid Butterer for a fantastic job. |
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I was honored to have one of my sculptures exhibit alongside 37 other fabulous works at What Fierce Looks Like: Artists of the Women's Art Institute The opening reception at Form + Content in downtown Minneapolis on April 13, 2024 was standing room only. It was a great opportunity to catch up with cohorts from the St. Kate's Women's Art Institute I attended in 2018. |
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The St. Paul Art Crawl was a fantastic first time event for me. I've written a "blog-like post" on Patreon about my experience. If you decide to join for $3/month, these posts will "unlock" and you'll be able to read much more about my experience--from the prep, the hook I used to start conversations with strangers, specific photos of the art that sold, and you'll hear some of the fun exchanges I had with the public, and learn how people responded to my art. |
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Recap Thank you gift to our F-O-K Creatives volunteer |
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After the St. Paul Art Crawl, the 4 studios that celebrated grand openings, spearheaded a collection of funds so Petalcore Collectives (Studio 303A) could share their magic by creating a thank-you/we-appreciate-you gift for the Very Hard working volunteer of F-O-K Creatives. I donated some of my willow to be used for the bouquet. Thank you @petalcorecollective for your skill and talent!! If you need flowers for any occasion, they are the go-to for magical creations! |
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Thank you for sharing in my life! |
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