First of all visual arts are diverse art forms. For example painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, and architecture are visual arts. Furthermore,many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts also involve aspects of visual arts. Wikipedia
Something New-Visual Art Network to Support County Artists
For 34 years, each October artists across Santa Cruz County have opened their studios to the public. Above all,the Arts Council Santa Cruz County sponsered these Open Studios Art Tours. As a result of COVID, the methods changed. Nonetheless,their support has not faltered. The county created the Visual Arts Network, an online space for artists to display their art. In addition,the Network showcases the work of the many creatives that call Santa Cruz County their home. https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/04/new-visitor-rack-card/
How The Visual Art Network Supports Artists
First of all,the Visual Arts Network of Santa Cruz County is a directory of over 300 artists. For example, you’ll find a wide variety of creators from painters, sculptors, woodworkers and much more. Furthermore,each artist has their own page. In order for the public to learn about their process and their creations. In addition, one can connect with them directly. That is to say that one may search by name, location or medium, explore all the artists, or meet featured artists.
Finally, local artists are so lucky to have the support of the county. In addition,the Open Studios Event Director, Ann Ostermann is a masterful, innovative leader. Furthermore,her bright personality welcomes everyone to the delight of art. In conclusion, inclusivity reigns supreme.
The Visual Arts Network is no longer active. Arts Council Santa Cruz continues to support artists through the annual Open Studios and in other year long activities.
I am honored to be the first Featured Fiber Artist at the Santa Cruz Art League’s (SCAL)virtual interviews. This posting represents my memory of the interview as well as combined with the notes I made beforehand. Val Miranda, executive director of the Santa Cruz Art League narrated . During a technical glitch, I lost sound. Val engaged with the audience at that time.
Featured Fiber Artist
Let Us Breathe, Ann Baldwin May
First Featured Fiber Artist
Val Miranda: Ann Baldwin May,art quilter As Execuive Director of the Santa Cruz Art League I am pleased to have you as our first Featured Fiber Artist.please inroduce yourself. How did you come to art?
Ann: Thank you, Val. I am very honored to be the first Featured Fiber Artist at the Santa Cruz Art League.My sewing career reaches back to high school where I took 2 years of sewing. The focus was on clothes construction. In the 1970s I started quilting. My focus was bed quilts.
Exploring other Avenues of Creative Expression
Around 2008-09, I began exploring other avenues of creative expression. So I moved towards art quilts. I took a class on fabric layering from Meri Vahl. During this time I created several large art quilts combining my love of Mexican folk dance with my quilting. These 3D colorful skirts and costumes stand out as Mexican outfits.
My First Juried Art Show
In 2010, I entered my first juried art show. It was the Pajaros show in Watsonville in conjuction with the Birding Conference put on by the Pajaro Valley Arts Council. My work was included on the brochere. The following year, Great Blue Heron at Dusk won an award at another show. So I was encouraged to continue.
In 2016, I opened my studio at the Santa Cruz Art Center downtown,Then I applied to Open Studios for the first time. So for Open Studios and First Fridays, I take over the lobby and fill it with my art.
I am all about Color! Texture! and Movement! I make Nature art quilts; like underwater fantasies, trees and landscapes. Abstract and Mexican inspired fabric collages.
Traditional Quilts versus Art Quilts
Val- Can you tell us a little bit about the difference between traditional quilts and art quilts?
Ann-Most people are familiar with bed quilts. A quilt is made up of three layers sewn together; the back , the batting inside and the top. Being able to wash a quilts is foremost for a bed quilt. 100% cotton is always used for washability and durability.
An art quilt often uses tradional quilting techniques to make wall art. When one is not concerned with washing a quilt, a wider range of fabrics can be used. There is also a wide variety of art quilters and the techniques they use. Many art quilters do not have experience with making bed quilts or even sewing. Some dye their fabrics, paint on their fabrics or print their own designs on fabrics. I don’t do any of those techniques.
FABMO offers an Incredible Variety of Materials
For me there is such an incredible variety of printed fabrics and materials.I choose to use those to create my art. I am a big fan of FABMO, the non profit now based in Sunnyvale. Volunteers go weekly to the San Francisco Design Center. They collect all kinds of materials to keep them out of the landfill. They make these materials available to the public for a donation. PreCOVID they were coming to Santa Cruz about 5 times a year to Harvey West Park. They are having several selection days in Sunnyvale. But I haven’t been to their new location. sign up for their newsletter at https://www.fabmo.org/
Other Local Featured Fiber Artists
Val- That is interesting that art quilters use such a variety of materials. Are you familiar with Consuelo Underwood’s work at teacher at San Jose Statet University. I know her work to be very engaging.
Ann- No, I don’t know her. I wanted to give a shout out to Susan Else. She lives in Santa Cruz. She creates 3D figures out of fabric often with whimiscal themes. More recently she has been adding electricity and lights to her pieces. One of her pieces is of a merry go round with the animals riding the people.
The Piece in the Member Show
Val- Could you tell us a little bit about the piece that you have currently in the Member Show?
Ann- My piece in the Member Show is Let Us Breathe! Physically the art quilt is in Minneapolis. Digitally it is in the Art League show. Several weird random events happened concerning this art quilt.It’s all good.
The Murder of George Floyd
Around Memorial Day when we all witnessed the murder of George Floyd, I was horrified. as many others.The artist buzz on the internet questioned how this would affect one’s art. At first I was too stunned to do anything. Later I thought about what I could create within my own style to address the issue of racial injustice.
So I made an abstract type of art quilt for the background, incorporating African designs to support my view. Then I created a cutout silouette of man and a woman. I dressed them in African fabrics. I made red white and blue hearts to place on their chests. My thoughts were for them honoring thier cultural roots. Including their love for America while America was not returning their love.
A Call for Entry
Then I saw a call for entry from Dr. Carolyn Mazlotti who I had heard speak at a conference before. The call was for Rascism:In the Face of Hate We Resist. I hesitated applying. My thoughts were that this was a moment for black artists to shine. Then I thought of the saying, White Silence Eguals Violence. So I decided to enter the show to show my support for the BLM.To my surprise and joy,my piece was accepted.
I was instructed to send my art immediately to Ohio where Dr.Mazlotti lives.As you can imagine Dr.Mazlotti worked quickly to organize this show. She explained that there would be 7 venues and that she was writing a book about the shows. However, when I sent my quilt off, I had no knowledge of where the venues would be.
The Fires Began
Then the lightening stuck and the fires began. I live near UCSC. So when UCSC was evaculated I was extremely worried that we would be next. When my friend from Watsonville offered me a room in her house, I jumped at the opportunity.I ended up staying there for 4 days. After the second lightening storm passed over SC, I returned home.
A Bit of Disorientation
Luckily, everything at home was fine. However the whole experience was disorienting. It was during that first disoriented week back that I heard from Heidi, a friend from high school who lived in Minneapolis. Her text included a photo of my art quilt. She said that it was in a Swedish magazine.What? I was totally confused. I had no idea how these very different parts of my life had come together. Heidi graciously sent me the newsletter. The random pieces began to fall into place.
Announcement in Posten,the newsletter of the American Swedish Institute.
The First Venue for the BLM Show
The Swedish American Institute in Minneapolis is the first venue for the show. The title of the show morphed into We are the Story. The newsletter chose my art for their article promoting the show. My name was printed prominently. If it hadn’t been, Heidi would not have known that it was my art.
I also learned that Heidi is half Swedish and formerly worked at the institute. Therefore , she was on their mailing list. The number of random events really surprised me. Without one of them, I wouldn’t have learned about any of it. Finally, all of the different parts of my life came together to make sense.
My Process
My process changes depending on which portfolio I decide to make.My nature quilts are the most popular with the public, landscapes, underwater fantasies and trees. I use a table to create these works of art.
Nature Quilts
I lay a piece of backing fabic on a table. Then I cover it with batting, the soft material that goes inside of a quilt. Then on top I create a scene. When I am finished, I cover the scene with tulle netting. I free motion quilt the three layers together. Free motion quilting involves lowering the feed dogs on the machine. This lets the sewer control the movement of the quilt.
Abstract Pieces are made on a Design Wall
green yellow bits on design wall, an abstract piece in the making
My abstract pieces are made on a design wall . I use a huge piece of flannel covering the wall. Fabric adheres to the flannel. I choose 3-4 colors that I want to use. Then I search for the complimentary hues, the light and darker shades of that color. I look for decorative threads or details in that color wave to include to add texture.
Sometimes I couch or zigzag yarns to create fabric that I cut apart to use. Then I put them up rather randomly on the design wall. I balance the fabrics or details that stand out more. Sometimes I choose to do curved line piecing to create movement. I begin sewing pieces together. I keep checking that the piece is balanced for color and texture.
Mexican Inspired Collages or Art Quilts
Mexican inspired collages or art quilts start with me choosing the fabrics that go together or that I want to use. I gather my materials with no plan in mind. So I consider color and what I want to use. I often have to work backwards. Finishing the plain top and then adding 3D objects or found objects.
But sometimes I need to plan where the objects will be placed. I have to wait until after quilting the top to add the 3D found objects. Quilting over thick or hard objects creates problems for the sewing machine. If I add a bright ribbon, I then it can be added while quilting so I don’t duplicate sewing. So lots of forethought goes into these pieces.
Market Day
I have written detailed step by step instructions on these processes on my webstite if anyone is interested.
Val-What do have in store for the future? This is the answer I should have given.
About a year ago , I took Janet Siverglate’s class in assemblage. I have been mulling ideas around since then. I have a piece just about finished using wooden sewing spools and some whimsical items.
Val- I have only been at the Art League for four years now. I am aware that they was a Fiber Show a few years back. Maybe that is something that we can consider doing again in the future.
Choosing a name for an art work is not an easy task. Yet, when the title of one’s art piece fits the work, it feels like pure genius.The title can capture the essence of the piece. What the artist wants to say or what the piece is about. I find it worth the effort. Yet, many times genius can elude us.
How To Name An Art Work
“Untitled- Number 325” The running joke of a prolific artist from a fiber group was just that. Untitled Number 325. That is how she answered when asked what the name of her latest piece was. She liked doing the work but not the naming part of it. So each piece was left unnamed.
On the other extreme,Brad Burkhart,a local clay sculptor created a lengthy group process to name a piece. He asks the group questions which lead to a consensus for the piece by consensus. He strongly supports and promotes this process. How to name an art piece can be a private or a public effort.
I Put on my Poetry Hat
Both of those processes feel unsatisfactory to me. I name my pieces by several different methods. My preferred method is to put on my poetry hat metaphorically. I try to think of an engaging title that adds to the viewer’s experience. What I was thinking about while making my art?
At times I think about what the piece looks like. People read all of my titles once they realize that they are engaging and interesting. Naming my art is an opportunity to share my creative vision and to engage with the audience. I don’t want to hand such an important element of my expression over to anyone else.
Here are some examples of my art and how and why they were so entitled.
What I Was Thinking About
Rogue Wave, an abstract art quilt, 36″ x 36″
A rogue wave or sneaker wave often hits the Central Coast of California in the winter. It is a large,strong, unexpected wave that can be very dangerous. While making this art quilt, warnings for rogue waves were being broadcast daily on the news. As my pieces included colors that reflected water and movement, I chose that title.
A Fitting Genre and Style
This art quilt is named Sherman Alexie Comes to Bookclub,
Sherman Alexie Comes to Bookclub is a modern piece inspired by the new membreño colors of black, white and rust. Mr. Alexie is a Native American author who writes about urban Indians. I thought that it was a good fit for this piece. Although it is a bit of an inside joke, if the audience doesn’t know Sherman Alexie .
Under the Savannah Shade using African fabrics, 36″ x 42″
Under the Savannah Shade is a bright abstract art quilt. The African fabrics in greens, oranges, and yellows reminded me of a hot summer’s day. Wouldn’t some shade be nice? The blue material provided that shade.
Descriptive Titles
When genius eludes us, a descriptive title will do. What do you see in the art piece? Does it remind you of something? What location is it inspired by?
Challenges
Under the Shady Tree,37″ x 25″Great Blue Heron at Dusk, 31″ x 25″Gridlock I, 33″ x 31″Gridlock II, 42″ x 36″
May I share some challenges to naming one’s art. Early in my art career, I named some pieces Gridlock I and Gridlock II. Gridlock II was juried into a “MAYHEM”show at the ARC Gallery in San Francisco. In spite of that honor, I couldn’t remember which piece was number I and which was number II. I decided to avoid numbering my art again. You may have a different opinion.
Naming a Series
Shore to Sky ZShore to Sky F
Yet, when I did a series of small abstract art quilts based on the colors of the sky meeting the land and water . I named them Shore to Sky A,B ,C through Z that presented no problems. Maybe the wider range of colors helped me differentiate the pieces better.
Conclusion
Part of being as artist is sharing one’s vision with the local community and the greater world. Naming one’s art can add to the presentation of our work. It is a personal statement. Do not miss this opportunity to connect with the public.
These are just some examples of how I named my art quilts. Were they helpful either directly or indirectly? Do you have some ideas of your own that you think worked well? Please share.
Sea Dragons Exhibit at Aquarium,Birch Aquarium,San Diego.
TRADEMARK AND COPYRIGHT 2019 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. By Julie Watson
All things considered Seadragons & Seahorses, Birch Aquarium’s new permanent exhibition that brings seadragon conservation to the forefront. Above all,the exhibition is home to Weedy Seadragons and several species of seahorses and pipefish.
For the first time ever, Birch Aquarium has successful bred Weedy Seadragons behind the scenes of this exhibit. In short,only a handful of aquariums around the world have bred these unusual fish. The babies are not on display, but you can learn more about their exciting birth on our Seadragon Breeding Program page.
Birch Aquarium,Scripps San Diego,CA
Why Seadragons and Seahorses?
The husbandry of seadragons is increasingly vital due to the impacts of climate change, warming oceans, and illegal collection of wild populations, whose numbers are still widely unknown.
Birch Aquarium has been successfully rearing seahorses in captivity for nearly 25 years. Similarly, that makes us a leader in the field. Furthermore,we hope this new exhibit will result in our first successful seadragon breeding.
Weedy Seadragons
Surprisingly,these seahorse cousins use their bright coloration and seaweed-like appendages to hide among the kelp-covered rocky reefs of temperate southern Australian waters.
Sea Dragons in the Golden KelpSwimming With Sea Dragons
Monterey Bay Aquarium
From the first time I saw sea dragons at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I was fascinated. Was it a plant? Was it an animal? Seadragons and sea horses are surprisingly cousins. Unfortunately, for the interested public the Monterey Bay Aquarium exhibit is no longer. The sea dragons returned to the wild as the Aquarium often does.
I have created several art quilts inspired by the sea dragons. However, nothing is quite like seeing the real animal. That is why I was so excited to hear of this new exhibit and the excitement that it is generating.
ALICE @ CERN
Originally published By Lisa Renner in University of California, Santa Cruz student newspaper.February, 2019.
A collaboration of Art and Physics
First of all,what happens when artists visit science labs and hear scientists explain their work? Find out by attending the exhibition The Fusion of Art and Physics on view in March,2019. R. Blitzer Gallery,2801 Mission St.Santa Cruz,CA Originally,UC Santa Cruz physicist Stephanie Bailey conceived of the show to feature works created by 17 pairs of artists and physics graduate students. Last fall, Bailey organized another science-art collaboration with the show Motors Surround Us. That show had pieces of art created from simple electric motors made by introductory physics students. https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/07/why-art-and-science/
Meet Two Collaborators
In the beginning, Dr. Bailey linked Bryson Bost,an artist, and Johnny Davenport, the physics doctoral student together. First,the young scientist showed Bost the instruments he uses to explore really thin crystals at the lab. Then, he also showed him how it is possible to see what the crystals look like on an atomic scale. Finally,Bryson Bost,a 36-year-old artist, creates intricate patterns using acrylics and pigment inks “You could actually see the spaces in between atoms,” said Bost. “It was like I can’t believe I’m seeing a pocket dimension. It’s almost science fiction.”
A Whole New World
In addition,Bost felt honored to get a chance to see a world that he has no experience with. Moreover, Davenport’s explanation of his work was enthralling. “It’s so advanced you feel like you’re talking to a messenger of some god,” Bost said. For example,“You feel like you’re getting in touch with some strange divine formula for the fusion of art and science show.
No Jargon allowed
For his part, Davenport said he enjoyed the opportunity to translate his ideas into ordinary language. Aboveall, he avoided technical jargon. Similarly,Davenport thinks scientists spend too much time in their own world. “A lot of times we fall back on technical language to be able to communicate complicated concepts,” he said. “The hardest thing to do is to distill it down to something presentable to a different medium or a different audience. But science isn’t just intended to benefit scientists.” The move for scientists to communicate with the general public is extremely necessary in these times.
Creating Began
After that first dialogue, Bost went back to his studio. First, he began working on the creation for the show. The atomic-level images he saw inspired his art.After that, he created a piece filled with intricate patterns. Furthermore,his materials included acrylics and pigment ink. In all, he spent about 40 hours. What happens when artists visit science labs and hear scientists explain their work? Find out by attending the exhibition The Fusion of Art and Physicson view in March,2019. R. Blitzer Gallery,2801 Mission St.Santa Cruz,CA.UC. Santa Cruz physicist Dr. Stephanie Bailey conceived of the show to feature works created by 20 pairs of artists and physics graduate students. Last fall, Bailey organized another science-art collaboration with the show Motors Surround Us. This show had pieces of art created from simple electric motors made by introductory physics students.
Video of the Show
Video of Fusion Show at R. Blitzer Gallery (partial) Highlighting the Collaboration of Art and Physics at R. Blitzer Gallery, Santa Cruz,CA March, 2019. Music by Robert Blitzer observed by Charles Sutten, artist.
The Collaboration
Meanwhile,the collaboration between local artists and Ph’d Physics candidates at the University of California,Santa Cruz is over. Yet, I learned that there is a wide range of study within the field of physics. Above all,some scientists are studying theorical physics using a chalkboard, chalk and a computer. However,others are doing a variety of experiments in labs.
Dr. Bailey’s Brainchild
Firstly Dr.Bailey, a non artist , organized an art show, Fusion .In addition,it is part of a mission to bring the concepts of physics to a wider public. Certainly,“Art is a much more friendly and inviting way to attract people than physics,” she says. To clarify,Dr. Bailey worked with mosaic artist, Beth Purcell to organize the show. Above all,the artwork is more than a few pieces of beautiful art. Moreover,they can be considered extraordinary teaching tools. In other words something a professor can bring into the classroom to convey an important concept in physics.
Tauna Coulson is the curator
Similarly,the artists involved also exhibited a wide range of study; painting,glass, fiber, and multimedia. Tauna Coulson, is the curator of the show is working hard to make sure everything comes together.http://coulsondesign.com/author/tauna-coulson/ In conclusion,at the end of the 2019 school year, Dr. Bailey moved to Chapman College in Orange County, California. Their gain UCSC’s and the Santa Cruz community’s loss.
Brad Burkhart, clay artist participated in the Collaboration between Art and Physics. He is a lover of Physics as well as clay scultpure.Brad recommended that I read Art and Physics a book by Leonard Shlain. It truly opened my eyes to the science of art.
Brad Burkhart shares his process-clay and physics
Since finishing my sketches for the project, I have been turning them into clay relief form. Due to time issues,not all sketches could become sculptures for the group show on March 1. My goal was to finish 4 of the 6.Notwithstanding this goal was daunting. Each of the clay pieces require over a month of slow drying before firing. By necessity, I sped up the drying process. I used an electric heater in the studio. Moreover, I devised an open lath support under the sculptures to allow them to dry faster. Finally, I found local potters,Steve and Bonny Barisof. They agreed to do this firing for me.
The process-
Below are a few photos of the transformation from sketch to sculpture.
Firing is always an unpredictable process. This one was no exception. The three top pieces came out beautifully. However, apparently I had not dried the bottom one enough. Unfortunately, it fell apart in the kiln.
But the disintegration of piece #4 led to some new insights. My wife and I discussed the broken piece. We decided to mount the main pieces on a board. A quote on Chaos Theory is its show title. After that, we named the other pieces in a similar way. As a result, using physicist quotes or theories added to the exhibit.. I invited Hendrik to participate. In the end we went with my wife’s suggestions for the show. In other words,her suggestions were easier to understand by average viewers. However, I present them both below because they are both insightful. I am still deciding on final names for the pieces. Although I have definitely embraced Hendrik’s name for #3.
Hendrik’s Suggestions:1.) Superconductivity by John Bardeen, Leon Cooper, John Robert Schrieffer2.) What is it? Fermi-Dirac or Bose-Einstein3.) Einstein, Soccer and Gravitation Waves4.) Parity or no Parity, Noether, not Hamlet will answer this question.
Wife Ann’s Suggestions:1) “Things” Can Be Regarded on One Level as Structures and on AnotherLevel as Processes —-T. R. Young
2) By Making Everything as Small as Possible the Waves Become MuchMore Agile and Faster —-H. Ohldag
3) Are You the Observer or the Observed?
4) The Final Outcome…Is Radically Affected by Tiny Changes in theInitial Conditions —-S. Morgan
Complexity theory also denies the concept of the objectivity, or separation of the observer from the observed (Young 11).
4) Steev Morgan: Applying Chaos Theory to Artistic and Cultural Practice
Continuing Work at Hendrik’s New Lab
In addition to preparing sculptures for the show, I have continued to interact with Hendrik at his new lab. I am awaiting his comments about having my piece “What’s Your Sign?” in his new lab at the Berkeley Cyclotron. He is just getting started there.
In the meantime, we discovered that the research conducted at SLAC resulted in a significant breakthrough in understanding the speed of magnetic waves. Previously it had been thought that 1 mile per hour was the limit. But they discovered through the experiment that if materials were made small enough, this speed could increase up to 500 miles per hour. This is particularly significant because computer memories use magnetic storage. With the right design, it now appears possible to significantly increase storage. Moreover,while lowering energy use significantly.
Naming a Piece at the New Lab
I try to name my works through a group consensus process. We have been attempting such a process at Hendrik’s new Berkeley Lab location. We hung an unnamed piece in the researchers’ lounge with a suggestion box nearby. See the piece below with set of suggestions. Feel free to participate in the process by e-mailing Hendrik or myself your suggestions. I envision sorting these out along with names for the show pieces later this spring.
Artist Bryson Bost (left) and UCSC graduate student Johnny Davenport.Courtesy of Stephanie Bailey
Art and Science
Humanities, Arts, Crafts and Design Practices (HACD)
Stephanie Bailey, a Ben Lomond resident, nuclear physicist, and physics lecturer at UCSC, teaches introductory physics for life science majors. As part of her classes, Bailey attempts to bring in humanities, arts, crafts and design practices (HACD). The aim is to incorporate other skills into the classroom to make a well-rounded student.
“It is important our students build bridges between disciplines in order to address real world problems in order to span disciplinary borders,’ Bailey said. “Incorporating HACD into our physics curriculum makes better scientists. Just as it leads to improved educational outcomes for undergraduates, HACD experiences have value for STEM researchers as well.”After introducing these practices into my classroom, I saw it did make for better learners. I thought it does not have to stop here, so I imagined it could help researchers as well.”
Twenty Pairs-UCSC Lecturer Leads Collaboration
As a result, Bailey got the idea to pair 20 physicists with local artists to create a piece or pieces of work. In addition the art would be shown in an art gallery in March.
“I worked to pair each physicist with an artist,” Bailey said. “I wanted each physicist to explain to their artist what work they were doing. Most importantly, it was then up to the pair to express the work visually.”
The Art Community Joins In
Through an open solicitation to the art community, Bailey said she was shocked at how many artists responded interested in the project. One of the artists was a Santa Cruz native, Tauna Coulson. Coulson and first year UCSC graduate student Arturo Quezada worked ogether. Quezada worked previously in the Velasco Lab.
One Pair
“We had this great conversation and then he took me to the lab where he is essentially studying a type of microscope,” Coulson said. She explained the two worked together to explore the artistic beauty of graphene. For instance, graphene was one of the materials Quezada is looking at using the microscope.
Engagement of People with Physics
The objective for the collaboration is to enable access and engage people with physics through art. Similarly, to think about the role physics plays in their lives and in the world at large. The final pieces of art will be displayed at the Blitzer Gallery in Santa Cruz. Bailey is hoping to organize an opening reception with panel discussions with the artist/physicist pairs.
Panel Discussions
“It will be a moderated panel where the artists and physicists can talk about the creative process in addition to what was learned working together,” Bailey said. Bailey said she is still looking for donations to organize and fund the exhibit. Those looking to help fund the project can visit: https://slbailey109.wixsite.com/fusion/donations
In addition to being one of the artists, Coulson is also the curator of the exhibit. According to Coulson,the pairs in addition to the artwork, will write up a short piece explaining the physicist work.
In Conclusion
“Physicists do not normally interact with artists. Those circles rarely cross paths,” Bailey said. “For me this has been a wonderful opportunity to meet other people while at the same time bringing me closer to a whole other community in Santa Cruz.”
Open Studios 2018 is Santa Cruz County’s premier art tour of the year. Furthermore,visitors come from all around the state to visit the studios and meet the artists. For example, joy comes from seeing the special environments that each artist creates in their home or garden.
Barn Owl by Alexandra Sanders
Therefore,these members of the New Fiber Group of Santa Cruz County are excited to be part of the Juried Open Studios Santa Cruz County October 2018.
Fluttering Leaves, art quilt
Ann Baldwin May
Juried Open Studios Artist #184 Moreover,all original art quilts and fiber art Mexican inspired fabric collages or abstract wall art. In addition, found objects and redirected materials are always a possibility. Also featuring throw pillows, king sized artful pillow cases and very large fabric gift bags, $20. or free with purchase over $100. Above all,visit my studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center, 1001 Center St. First Fridays Oct. 5, 5-9pm Open Studios 13-14, Oct. 20-21.
Currently,(2018)a World of Fiber Art at the Santa Cruz County Building is on view at the Santa Cruz County Building on Ocean St. Above all, fifteen art quilts by Santa Cruz artist, Ann Baldwin May are currently on exhibit at the Santa Cruz County Building. In addition,the exhibit is at the 701 Ocean St. facility in Santa Cruz. Furthermore, the show runs through July 27, 2018.
A World of Fiber Art at the Santa Cruz County Building
Under the Savannah Shade using African fabrics
From Bed quilts to Art Quilts
Vacant Lot
Fabmo Materials
Firstly, May gets her material from the non profit group known as FabMo.http://fabmo.org It is an all volunteer run organization. Moreover,the group provides high-end materials to artists, teachers and others for creative reuse. A statement of the website, FabMo.org, reads: “These exquisite textiles, wallpapers, and tiles are from the design world.They are usually only available to you through a designer. FabMo makes them available on a donation basis. Our work keeps about 70 tons a year of them from the landfill.” PreCOVID FabMo also typically came Harvey West Clubhouse about four or five times a year. In addition, special selection dates occur in Sunnyvale, California.
Award Winning Artist
In 2019,She entered her first art piece in Pajaro Valley Arts exhibit titled “Los Pájaros.” Her work was titled, “Great Blue Heron at Dusk.”
The following year it won a merit award at the Olive Hyde Gallery in Fremont,California. https://olivehydeartguild.org/
As a result, Ms. May was encouraged to continue her art quilt adventure.
Great Blue Heron at Dusk
Color! Texture! Movement!
Overall,May has completed about 350 art quilts and counting.. Furthermore, her work has also been shown at the R. Blitzer Gallery in Santa Cruz, in Chicago, San Francisco, and at New York Arts.
“Above all,I’m all color, texture and movement; that’s what I have to do,” Baldwin May said. “Furthermore,it takes me to another place. In other words, it feels very comfortable to build on skills that I already know, that I am confident in doing.”
Once more, May will take part in the annual Open Studio Art Tour in October,2018. Meanwhile, she does most of her work at her studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center. In other words,for Open Studios her art fills the lobby at the Santa Cruz Art Center at 1001 Center St. She also participates in First Friday Art Walk.Similarly,this is an informal, monthly art tour where artists and galleries open their doors to the public.
Ann Baldwin May was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. Moreover,she began sewing in junior high. Later,she received her education from University of California, Irvine (History, BA Elementary Teaching Credential, Masters in Teaching Spanish) Meanwhile, her first quilting class was in 1975. After that,she basically never stopped making quilts.After she retired in 2012 After working 36 years as a bilingual teacher and Bilingual Resource Teacher, she retired. As a result, in 2012,she turned her attention to making art fulltime.
Purchased art
Over the years,Kaiser Permanente bought five art quilts.for their facilities in Scotts Valley and Watsonville, California. Again she participates in the juried Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour. Furthermore,her work is currently being shown at New York Arts in TRIBECA, New York City. https://newyorkart.com/
Contact info
Ann Baldwin May Santa Cruz Art Center, 1001 Center St.#4 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 baldwinmay49@yahoo.com 831.345.1466 annbaldwinmayartquilts.com Facebook- AnnBaldwinMayArtQuilts@annbaldwinmay Instagram-annbaldwinmay
Finally,Some of Ann Baldwin May’s favorite artists.
Marion Coleman Art Quilter receives an impressive award! Today the National Endowment for the Arts is announcing the newest recipients of the NEA National Heritage Fellowships. Moreover,they range from an old-time fiddler to a Day of the Dead altar maker to an R&B musician. The NEA National Heritage Fellowships are awarded annually by the National Endowment for the Arts. Certainly,they highlight the breadth and excellence of the artistic traditions found in communities across the United States. As a result,the 2018 recipients will receive a $25,000 award. Furthermore they are honored in Washington, DC at an awards ceremony. In addition they are presented at a free concert on September 28, 2018. The concert will be streamed live at arts.gov.
Ethel Raim(New York, NY)—traditional music and dance advocate In addition,Raim is the recipient of the 2018 Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Fellowship. It is in recognition of an individual who has made a significant contribution to the preservation and awareness of cultural heritage. 2018 NEA National Heritage Fellows
“The 2018 NEA National Heritage Fellows have dedicated their lives to mastering these distinctive art forms. As well as sharing them with new audiences both within their communities and nationwide,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts. “We look forward to celebrating them and their incredible artistic accomplishments this fall.”
About the NEA National Heritage Fellowships
The National Heritage Fellowships is the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. It recognizes the recipients’ artistic excellence. Furthermore it supports their continuing contributions to our nation’s traditional arts heritage. Over the years including the 2018 class, the NEA has awarded 431 NEA National Heritage Fellowships.
200 Distinct Art Forms
Recognizing artists in More than 200 distinct art forms. Former winners included bluesman B.B. King, Cajun fiddler and composer Michael Doucet, sweetgrass basketweaver Mary Jackson, cowboy poet Wally McRae, Kathak dancer and choreographer Chitresh Das, and gospel and soul singer Mavis Staples. More information about the NEA National Heritage Fellows is available on the NEA’s website. https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage
Nominated by the Public
Initially,the public nominates the Fellowship recipients. The recommendation is often by members of their own communities. Then a panel of experts in the folk and traditional arts judges the work. After that,the panel’s recommendations are reviewed by the National Council on the Arts. Afterwards they sends the recommendations to the NEA chairman. Finally,the chairman who makes the final decision.
Class of 2019
In addition,the NEA is currently accepting nominations for the 2019 class of NEA National Heritage Fellowships. The deadline is July 30, 2018. Finally,visit the NEA’s website for more information and to submit a nomination.
First of all, I am delighted and excited to announce that I am the recipient of a 2018 NEA National Heritage Fellowship. Certainly,many thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts for this tremendous honor. Above all,I remain grateful to the African American Quilt Guild of Oakland, the Women of Color Quilters Network, family and friends for your support through the years.
Thank you Congressman Eric Swalwell
In addition,thank you Congressman Eric Swalwell for your visit. It was a delight to share my quilts with you. Moreover, thank you Ora Clay for your encouragement and support. In addition,thanks to the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) for helping me and others reach and teach community members to enjoy quilting. Certainly,congratulations to the other NEA fellows. #NEAHeritage18
As he retires from painting his striking Santa Cruz murals, James Aschbacher is re-inventing his art.
The Life of James Aschbacher
Sadly, after a action-packed 66 years, artist and muralist James Carl Aschbacher passed away. His wife author Lisa Jensen, and several dear friends, were at his side. James was born October 9, 1951, in Evanston, IL. For 16 years he was co-proprietor of Atlantis Fantasyworld comic book store with Joe Ferrara. At age 40, with no previous artistic training, James gave up retail to pursue art full-time.
His first Magic is Magic.
Though he’s best known now as Santa Cruz’s most popular muralist, James Aschbacher once wrote a column for Magic Magazine.“I had a little stage show when I was 16,” he reveals. “My dad and I did magic acts—sawing the lady in half, that kind of thing. Even some Houdini tricks.” As he readies himself for another Open Studios season, transformation is still part of Aschbacher’s visual magic.
Murals
Over the past 15 years, James Aschbacher muralist painted with his wife, GT film critic Lisa Jensen, some with entire classes of fifth-graders from around the county—have sprung up everywhere, 18 in all. Working with private clients and city partners, Aschbacher has created wall-sized fantasies populated by his whimsical flying fish, twirling birds and cats, and fanciful folk with wild hair. Retiring this year from the mural game, citing back trouble, Aschbacher now devotes himself full time to painstakingly crafted, shaped, incised and painted artworks.
Atlantis Fantasy World
A Chicago native, Aschbacher came west in 1975 with a girlfriend who was attending UCSC. “I saw the palm trees and I loved it immediately.” He began supporting himself with a mail-order business in illustrated and vintage children’s books. To expand his valuable collection of comics, he searched all over. “I went to flea markets,” he recalls. “And that’s where I met Joe Ferrara. We were both go-getters. In 1978 we opened Atlantis Fantasy World on Pacific Avenue.”
Aschbacher recalls the scene as “fun, weird, wild times. We handled some Star Trek stuff, and when Star Wars opened six months later, sci-fi came out of the closet. We were the first with TSR role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.”
He started Experimenting with Art.
After the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, Aschbacher retired from the comics scene. He started experimenting with art. “I had all these ideas, but no skill,” he says with a chuckle. “I never took an art class. Having grown up working in construction with his dad, Aschbacher was no stranger to woodshops. With cans of spray paint and hand-cut stencils, he began feeling his way into a style. “I did 200 paintings that way, spray paint through stencils on illustration board. I was obsessed,” he admits. “To work late into the night,I installed lights in the back yard.”“I learned on the job,” he says with a grin from an astonishingly neat work table at the studio end of his mid-county home.
Painting Fanciful Figures
The next breakthrough came when he started painting fanciful figures onto the stencils, each coated with hundreds of coats of sprayed color. “Lisa’s mom gave me paint brushes one Christmas, so I started carving in wood, then brushing paint into the carvings.” His familiar style was born. First a plywood base, then the painted board nailed onto the wood, and finally a border of encised and painted hieroglyphs. “Paul Klee’s quirky drawing gave me confidence that I didn’t have to have an academic style, I didn’t need perspective.”
The size of each painting was originally determined by the sizes of the recycled scrap board. Only later did he make large foundations for the highly popular pieces, available at the annual Church Street Art Fair, at Bargetto, on Pasta Mike sauces, etc.
Entering the Art Field
Aschbacher entered his first Open Studios in 1995. “I’ve been doing it for 25 years,” he notes. And it has been very very good to him.
“Then I started getting galleries,” he says, including Many Hands in Santa Cruz and two in Chicago. “Those were big for me, since my family was from that area.”
Color and Certain Symbols
As the years went by, Aschbacher’s palette got brighter. “I wasn’t brave enough at first.” Color is now a central feature of his style, along with the hieroglyphs. “Certain symbols—the circle, the cross, the star, the wave—are universal. And I like to alternate lines and solids. I’m a Libra, so I want balance.”
A devoted pizza and pasta chef, Aschbacher says he never tires of creating in his highly recognizable style. “It might bore other people, but not me, because I always love seeing how it will look.”
Do his smiling creatures reflect his own persona? “Absolutely. My mission is to make people smile.”
James was a board member for many yearsof the Santa Cruz Arts Council.
LOCAL COLOR Now in his 25th year participating in Open Studios, James Aschbacher has had a great deal of success locally with his vibrant signature style. PHOTO: CHIP SCHEUER.
Above all, Sandy Takashima Shaw sees art as a place to begin conversations. Furthermore, she is a lifelong painter. In college, she majored in business and studied fine art. She’s half Japanese. Sandy grew up in Ohio. After graduation, she moved to Japan. That is to say she wanted to learn more about her heritage. She then traveled around Asia. Finally, she moved to San Francisco to begin work as a marketing manager in the technology industry. After years of painting in the evenings, Sandy was able to quit her day job. At last,she began to travel the world and paint.
Now she lives in Aptos with her family. Furthermore,she paints while the kids are at school. Her work appears in galleries around the U.S. Moreover,she teachs art. Google San Francisco recently commissioned a work for their office. She still travels annually with her family to surfing destinations. AND, fun fact, she’s also a certified life coach!
Sandy Takashima Shaw in front of her art
An authentic Artist
Foremost,Sandy’s main goal is to be completely authentic in her personal life. That is to say,Hher vibrant, mixed media acrylics feature hundreds of layers of paint, Japanese rice paper and ink. Similarly,my goal as an artist is to create art to spark positive social impact, thoughtful conversation, and meaningful connections.
the AND series
In her newest series is the AND series. For example, each painting represents an issue in our current political, social and cultural landscape. In addition,the word ‘and’ is prominently featured in each and brightly illuminated.
Art Inspired Salon
Out of this series, the idea was born to create an Art Inspired Salon. In addition,the salons bring people together to create positive actions. For example, we can take create the world we want. Furthermore,she holds the event at her studio. Attendees come together to enjoy food, beverages and conversation. They study the series on display and discuss.
Looking ahead,I believe that if we stay optimistic that positive change is possible. We will be more motivated to take personal action, both small and large. We can make the world a more compassionate and kinder place. It is time for feminine leadership to rise and heal our country and world.
Thanks, Sandy! We look forward to joining in the discussion.
Current and Upcoming Events
October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018
Resilient and Revived Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History The Chamber of Heart and Mystery Exhibit January 5 – February 4, 2018
Spoken/Unspoken Juried Exhibit Santa Cruz Art League Reception: February 2, First Friday, 6:00-8:00pm February 8 – March 17, 2018
I had the pleasure of meeting Sandy Takashima Shaw, a kind and generous artist.
