Marilla Martin, Lucile Stephens, Marcia Scroggs,This show is very dear to me as it is named in honor of my grandmother, Agnes Stephens, who was a wonderful artist and inspiration to so many of us. This was our third family exhibit over the years that included my mother, her three sisters and a cousin. Several younger family members (the Agnes’ Women Junior League) contributed their artistic musings to the opening night festivities.
While sitting around drinking beer and coffee after the last Agnes' Women opening reception, we came up with the idea of building art pieces with different themes that each of us could make our own interpretations of. In this year's exhibit we ended up with some very different pieces with the same or similar titles. My theme was “Roots”. Others included “More Than Enough”; “Under Pressure”; “To Hell in a Hand Basket”; Mythology and Fairy Tales.
Amazing Yellow Winged Tutu Girl in Disguise
Anna Anderson, Lucile Stephens, Olivia & Emily Coiner, Rosemary Griggs
The opening night reception was a big celebration. Each of the six artists came dressed in a primary or secondary color from the color wheel. Many friends, art patrons and family came decked out in their own versions of inappropriate island attire. Our family has a long history of playing dress up. Any holiday or family gathering we're apt to bring out the costumes. We've had Thanksgivings where the attire was inspired by turkeys from outer space. Another Thanksgiving the family came dressed as cavemen. Some of my earliest memories are of an entire male cast of Cinderella as a silent musical with my grandfather being the fairy godmother in boxer shorts and a sheer hoop slip. No wonder my art is slightly skewed.
More Than Enough
Jack's in the Box - Featuring Jack's Rabbit
To Hell in a Handbasket
Til the Fat Lady Sings
A Fairy Tale Debunked
Under Pressure
Roots
Catch & Release
Beware! Wolves in Sheep's ClothingI've done a few commission pieces lately where the collectors gave me free reign to create pieces within a fairly loose parameter. We worked together to build on a general idea and created pieces that had personal significance to the collector.
Kate's Jack
Bonding
Studio with eager studio assistants
Slightly Skewed Showroom“Handling dear old Mother Earth, whether it be digging potatoes or making pots and plaques, does not leave much room for hysteria.”
I will be exhibiting in three art shows in the next few months beginning with Glynn Art Association’s 18th annual Spring Arts and Crafts Festival here on St. Simons Island, April 9-10 from 10 am – 5 pm. My usual booth space is #3 along the side walk across from Glynn Art’s beautiful new gallery space.
On Mother’s Day weekend, May 7-8, I will be showing at the Dunwoody Art Festival in Dunwoody, Georgia which was voted “Best New Event in the Southeast”. This is a new show for me but I’ve heard good things about it and am eager to see how my work is received there.
The next show in my spring schedule is the one I’m really excited about. It’s my family’s third exhibit at the Glynn Art Association Gallery titled “Agnes’ Women III”, named after my grandmother, Agnes Stephens who was an accomplished artist and an inspiration to us all. Over the years, several of my family members, including my mother, three of her sisters and a cousin put a large exhibit together and pull out all the stops with costumes, props and spontaneous frivolity. Though our art covers a wide range of subjects and mediums, it’s easy to see the common thread of humor and wit that runs through it. Opening reception is Thursday, June 2, with the exhibit running through mid July.
Last fall over a dozen pieces of my work were used on the set of an upcoming Universal Studios movie called Wanderlust, starring Jennifer Anniston, Paul Rudd, Alan Alda and Justin Theroux . The directors, David Wain and Judd Apatow, directed the hit movie The Forty Year Old Virgin, among many others. My pieces were displayed in prominent places around the set and I imagine they will be in the background of a number of scenes. We’ll see how it goes but I’m pretty excited about the possibilities this may open up. It’s scheduled for release this fall. I’ll post more about it as the opening date gets closer.
Another opportunity that has opened for my work came from my experience with breast cancer a few years back. While I was going through chemo and umpteen surgeries, I was unable to work in clay for almost two years but did muster the strength to draw and ended up with a journal of about 100 drawings and poems titled “A Stroll Down Mammary Lane”. My plastic surgeon expressed interest in using some of the drawings in an article he authored for a national plastic surgery publication to be out later this year. Though it won’t be titillating reading for most of us, its subject matter is very relevant to what I went through as it concerns the psychological effects of breast cancer and reconstruction and how creativity plays a part in the healing process.
I’ll be posting pictures of new work as they get completed so check back in periodically over the next few weeks. Please come visit me at one or more of the exhibits this spring. If you have any questions you may contact me via email or by phone at 912-223-2239. Happy Spring!
Catch & Release
Face Jug with Spigot
Heavy Metal Angler
Crookneck Crock
Party Favor Teapot
Chew Puppy
Goddess Platter
Fresh Squeezed Fruit Platter
Face w/ Metal Attachments
Vase Inspired by Peas
