I have art on exhibit at the Lewisville Grand Theater. This post gives context to the pieces on display.
“Retrospective” as defined by Merriam Webster:
I struggled with the theme, Artist Retrospective, for several reasons:
- The theme suggests I’ve been an artist for years.
- We were limited to using art we’ve created in the last 5 years.
- Each person can submit 2 pieces of artwork to represent the theme.
You can imagine how I was going around in circles in my head, it did not seem realistic to represent the theme given the rules. I haven’t been an artist for very long, at least not in my head and even if I have been an artist for decades, it seems more striking to see how a person’s art has evolved from 10… 25… or 30 years ago to the present.
The hamster in my head turned over ideas for days and nights until the eureka-paired-with-a-sly-grin-moment occurred. I found a way to follow the rules while also playing by my rules.
Not only do I collect strangers’ ephemera, but I have a bin of my own childhood ephemera. Old book reports, short stories, diaries, journals, notes traded in class… and germane to this exhibit: homemade catalogs, menus and advertisements from the 4th grade – 5th grade.
I am thrilled I found a way to beat the 5-year limit while also following the rules.
Title: Childhood Pastimes
Artist Statement:
These are examples of some of my artistry when I was elementary school aged. I enjoyed making catalogs, menus and flyers just for fun. This was before the time of digital photography and Photoshop.
Medium: Assemblage
Notes:
The catalog on the left is a joint effort with my childhood friend, Angela Villareal. She contributed her own catalog pages complete with prices for her products. On display is my contribution to the catalog, Dens (sic) Food. As a former managing editor, the word “topings” is killing me. But it adds authenticity.
I think Dens Food sounds like a wonderful place, not sure it would have made money back then at those prices. Dessert for 48 cents? Whatever it is, I’ll take two, please. I also feel relatively confident not all the prices are written in my handwriting.
I have products available on other pages, including brooms, bikes, a bible game and checkers. But I kept the theme food related for this assemblage art piece.
Additional childhood ephemera includes a hamburger joint, Den-Den Express and RD Holguin Restaurant. I used script printing and a rose which obviously suggests this is a fine dining restaurant.
Next, there’s Den-Den Donuts with a catchy slogan: “If they’re fresh, you know they’re Den-Den Donuts”.
These pieces were most likely created when I was in the 5th grade, in Plano, Texas. This was the time before Photoshop – instead, there were programs like Printshop with snazzy graphics as we see in my art. I also remember using a program called Gem Draw.
This was a time of dot-matrix printers that had a distinct buzz as they printed on accordion folded printer paper. The paper had perforated strips with holes on the left and right of the pages, this is how the paper was fed through the printer.
The “Love” and multi-colored bunting decoration are my machine embroidered creations. I wanted to create the effect of a child’s bulletin board without overdoing it, because the star of the show is indeed the ephemera replete with typos.
Title: Adulthood Pastimes
Artist Statement:
With improved skills, experience, and the benefit of technology, I’ve expanded my joy for creating fictional advertisements as an adult. I think the 4th grade version of myself would be pleased that I still get to play.
Medium: Photograph
Notes:
Monet had his “Blue Period” as did Picasso. I have my “Aspic Phase.” I have been in this phase for a couple years and am not likely to find a way to jiggle out anytime soon. Instead of making up restaurants as I did in the 4th grade, I’ve expanded by making fictional organizations, such as the North Texas Aspic Association. I even have a hashtag. We are 2 members strong, not including La Poodle and my 4 ventriloquist dolls. We could use a few more members, all are welcome.
I made the aspic using a 1950s cookbook then garnished it and photographed the meal. It’s meant to look like a full page advertisement you might find in a print magazine. A close friend and work associate picked up on a tiny detail, a page number, on the bottom of the ad. This was one of the final elements I added to the piece and I’m pleased he noticed.
The art is on display from June 3 – July 8th at the Lewisville Grand Theater. 100 N. Charles Street, Lewisville, TX.
The framed aspic art is available for purchase (framed: 19 1/2″ x 23 1/2″) or any size you wish. It would look great in a kitchen, office or anywhere you want to inject some oddball humor. Your purchase would also support the fledgling NTAA. (North Texas Aspic Association). 😉
Note about the bulletin board: it is a cork and magnetic. I didn’t want to ruin my precious ephemera by using tacks. Oh, the wondrous solutions found on Amazon.
Want to challenge and explore your own creativity? Join the Visual Art League of Lewisville.
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