An Artist's Update

Some gifts come only when we stay in one place

--Wahtola Trommer

A Warm Welcome to my friends and supporters

Standing in the center of the Vessel in NYC.

December 2022

IN THIS ISSUE

EXHIBITS (4)

WILLOW HARVEST

PUBLIC ART WORKSHOP

RECAP (2)

Hello Winter Spring-ers!

It was just what I needed to pull this newsletter together for you as it lifted my spirits considerably remembering all the wonderful experiences and travels I've had this winter! This late winter/early spring has held a number of significant disappointments for me. As an artist, I am continually applying for new opportunities that will challenge and excite me, often waiting up to 8 months to hear whether I get it. That leaves a long time to anticipate, wonder and dream about it. One of my favorite authors Kao Kalia Yang wrote a beautiful article depicting the aftermath of disappointment that comes when applying for opportunities. I hope you can find some time to read it as many artists don't often talk about this aspect of their practice.

Let's enter Spring and see what is new and growing in our lives!

Martha

Solo Exhibition

in, out, Through. 

March 7 - April 22, 2023

(38 pieces)

Kaddatz Galleries in Fergus Falls, MN has generously invited me back time and again to show my work since attending the 2018 Hinge Arts Residency.

Show statement for this most recent exhibition:

Unexpected pivots

a mudslide, unseen until already slipping downward

stumbling toward solid footing.

Fleeting contact with others

watching fire burn to ashes 

tending to plants growing

using these as materials to forge a path forward. 

Connecting to the tangible, creating simply

giving up a well worn path of seeing things as I want them to be

instead choosing to recognize what is true and real today, in this moment.

Losses, alternate ways, continually realigning.

in, out, Through.

Artwork by Martha Bird created from June 2020 - February 2023 

in the backdrop of a global pandemic and worldwide social uprising movement.

Where: Kaddatz Galleries, 111 W. Lincoln Ave., Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Massachusetts Exhibit

Kinetic

March 7 - April 8, 2023

This Massachusetts group exhibit on Cape Cod includes one of my sculpture Soul.

Kinetic art is art that moves or has an element of motion. Artists making kinetic art may use motors to produce motion or structure the work to respond to the natural movement of air currents.

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I like to surprise guests when they walk into the gallery, and this show does that with endless oscillation of movement and ethereal sophistication, says Executive Director Molly Demeulenaere.

This juried exhibition is curated into a collection of 2D and 3D work, including sculpture, assemblages, sound recordings, film, paintings, and even puppetry. With 36 artists presenting from around the country, guests will take in artistry and craftsmanship often reserved for large urban museums. 

Invited Artists: 

Sarah Ahearn

Kevin Baldwin

Martha Bird

Renee Bitinas

Jim Burwinkel

Vivian Cavalieri

Marc Chicoine

Helen Duncan

Carolyn Dunford

Cynthia Frank

Rachel Green

Erika Heffernan

David Held

Matt Henderson

Paula Hodecker

Joshua Hudak

Michael Kolitsky

Ronni Komarow

Leigh Lambert

Ryan Lewis

John Magnan

Cassia Maia

Edward Mills

Anne Morse

Susan Overstreet

Julia Owen

Antje Roitzsch

Nina Samuels

Ellen (Asia) Scudder

Robert Scutt

C. A. Stigliano

Krista Voto

Bill Washabaugh

Ed Whitmore

I was fortunate to travel to "the Cape" to attend the opening of this wonderful exhibit in a state I previously lived!

Wisconsin Exhibit

Ruby Red

February 24 - April 9, 2023

A wonderful juried exhibition inspired by the love of community and the arts to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Phipps Center for the Arts. 

A soft sculpture of my first service dog Ruby (circled above) on display along with a memorial card with her photo, and book "Little Dog Lost" by Marion Dane Bauer featuring illustrations based on the memorial card photo!

Featured Artists include: Gloria Adrian, Ta-coumba Aiken, Margy Jean Balwierz, Barbara Bend, Martha Bird, Lonnie Broden, Charles A. Condo, Pauly Cudd, Alison Czech, Susan Davies, Dian Dewi, Barbara Evan, Christi Furnas, Dianne Ginsberg, Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin, Claire Goldstein, Joseph Haid, Amanda Hanlon, Annie Hejny, Chuck Hoffman & Peg Carlson-Hoffman, Philip Hoffman, Jodi Holm, Stephanie Howell, Sara James, Susan Kattas, Hillary Kempenich, Steve King, Lee Kisling, Joan Kloiber, Sandra Luedke, Katelyn Mariah, Audrey Martin, Ann Meuleners, George Moore, C.B. Murphy, Jennifer Nyffeler, Evan Perry, Susan Phelps Pearson, Teri Power, Carol Rogers-Tanner, Jacque Rosenau, Brenda Ryan, Michal Sagar, Brianna Seipel, Suzanne Sisson, Lana Sjoberg, Paul Stapp, Tom Stewart, Susan Strand-Penman, Cheri Thies, Moira Villiard, Kirsten Yocum, and Joe Young.

Where: Phipps Center for the Art, 109 Locust St. Hudson, WI 54016

Galleries hours: Monday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. and Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Celebrating Creativity Exhibit 

March 5 - May 26, 2023

A group exhibit that includes a collaborative piece I made for an international "Women in Woodturning" event. Our piece includes a Magnolia wood-turned bowl (Sally Ault), Kooboo Rattan (Martha Bird), and sheep fibers (Tina O'Brien) to create a wonderful sculptural piece.

The Annual Member/Supporter Show is intended to celebrate the work of member artists and makers who create at Art Works, as well as the work of the larger community of supporters whose contributions make programming happen here every day.  Joint work created by two or more artists received special preference for collaborative elements.

Where: Art Works, 3795 Pilot Knob Rd., Eagan, MN 55122

Gallery Hours: Tuesdays 10-6 pm; Fridays 10-2 pm

Willow Harvesters Extraordinaire!! 

March 30, 2023

Thanks to the wonderful generosity of the MN State Arts Board Creative Support for Individuals grant, I was able to hire 3 amazing helpers for this year's harvest: Katie Himanga, Colleen Foehrenbacher and Emily Donovan. Be sure to click on their name to learn more about these amazing women!

Martha Bird is a fiscal year 2023 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.  This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Workshop Completed 

"Making it Public"

From January - March, 2023 I participated in the Making it Public 5 week virtual intensive workshop designed for artists who are interested in exploring and expanding their public art making practice. It was facilitated by Cándida González from Forecast Public Art, with guest speakers. Topics included project management, best practices, funding, site analysis, community engagement, and project ideation.

I'd recommend it to anyone interested in expanding their art practice into the public arena!

RECAP 

New York: Tenuous Threads Exhibit

Martha with sculpture Bespoked and curator Patricia Miranda (right).

RECAP 

Photo tour of NYC

I had a wonderful time on my trip to The Big Apple--in January 2023 to attend the artist reception for: "Tenuous Threads"—group art exhibit in the Chelsea Arts District of NYC

I experienced spiral vessels/baskets in many architectural sites around the city. There is a picture of each.

• The Whitney Museum had a “basket” elevator.

• The Guggenheim is a Frank Lloyd Wright spiral building.

• The Vessel is a copper spiral building that is 16 stories high!

A trip of a lifetime!

Thank you for sharing in my life!