Our twentieth post of the series, Artists in the Time of Coronavirus includes Gerri Spilka, Laura Lyn Stern, Dan Rose, Ingrid Trash, Lesley Haas, Rosalind Bloom, and Margot Sweed! Thank you for all who submitted! And if you want to participate, send your statement (250 words max) and 2 photos to support@theartblog.org. More details here. Stay safe and stay positive, and come back in the days to come for more “Artists in the Time of Coronavirus.” We have a wonderful community and are so proud of being able to share everyone’s art.
[Note: We have gotten over 200 submissions, so if you haven’t seen yours yet, don’t worry- it is coming, and we can’t wait to post it!]
Gerri Spilka
Stepping off my beginnings as a quilt artist, my textile pieced work of the last decade plus has been mostly large scale, bold shape and very colorful. In the last several years I have also been incorporating textile printing and painting techniques, allowing a quicker, more direct response. Made in the last month, the subdued color palette of these current pieces are work in progress sketches reflecting a “back to basics” as I experiment with a new printing approach in my studio in South Philadelphia.
Website: www.gerrispilka.com
Laura Lyn Stern
Both currently on exhibit at Eilandarts in Merchantville, NJ. Contact ni@Eilandarts.com
Although my daily routine has changed much during these past few weeks, I am fortunate to have in place an established studio space within my home, so can still work productively without environmental risk.
I am a full time Art teacher, so have not been at school for 2 weeks… negotiating just how to effectively teach studio classes remotely (a new term had just begun in early March, so my classes met once and did not have time to “jell”) in a meaningful way.
Trying to accept this quarantine reality as a rare “gift of time” has been more difficult than I could have envisioned. Getting into a creating/creative mindset has been challenging without being overwhelmed with what is going on around us all.
My artwork is bas relief mixed media / mosaic. The two images presented are part of a series I’ve been working on for several years that celebrate the spiritual connections between animals and man. They are both currently in the “Brave 100” exhibit at Eilandarts in Merchantville, NJ.
Laura Lyn Stern www.LauraLynStern.artspan.com
Dan Rose
One of my greatest fears is dying by drowning, like smothering when you can’t catch your breath, no matter what you do. Coronovirus shuts down the ability of the lungs to breathe. As a member of the most vulnerable category – older and with underlying health issues, I am 79 – I actually do not mind the end, but not by drowning.
Matisse inspires me because at the same age as I, he was making the large joyful cut outs, one of which Dr. Barnes commissioned for his gallery and we can walk in and see for ourselves. Each day I work on 3 x 5 inch water color paper making small faces using pencil, pen, acrylic paint, and metal foil. One of my inspirations continues to be Philadelphia artist, Mikel Elam, whom I consider my teacher. For the past 25 years my major medium has been the artist book, usually one of a kind and over a hundred of these are collected at the Kislak Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
Art takes us beyond ourselves; this truth I embrace and am grateful that ArtBlog showcases the Philadelphia art community for the last 16 years and now especially.
Dan Rose, Philadelphia
Ingrid Nuttle
Lately, my once fluid painting style has become sporadic and stippled. My process is now less about the visual big picture and more about focusing on each dot as it drops onto the paper, so doodles are becoming thick and heavy mixed-media pieces as I layer my anxieties onto them. Dots, squiggles and busyness has taken over this once clean sketch about washing hands, and I know it isn’t finished. As this global situation intensifies, so does my obsession with miniscule details in my painting. It’s one of the many cards I have been making and sending to my Grandma every day since Grandpa died two weeks ago, and the themes of which have ranged from sympathy and grief to fear and hope. I trust that my cards to Grandma will be lovely and soft again, one day very soon.
Instagram: @theredcrayonstastethebest and @_ingrid_art
Website: www.ingridnuttle.com
Lesley Haas
As an artist working with the Medium of Paper, I’m always collecting/using a myriad of papers. These two images were created quite recently and now that I’m home bound, I’m getting into my small kitchen studio to release my need to create.
Please feel free to get in touch!
Strength and Good Health!
Rosalind Bloom
There’s good news and bad news. Some of each is always to be expected.
The good news is that I moved out of my studio of over 20 years to work at home. I had been delaying the move and then couldn’t. It turned out the timing couldn’t have been better! I’m loving working from home and of course, now, I have to.
The bad news is that like many of my fellow artists I have a show up which is closed to visitors. I was scheduled to hang another show in mid-March and had everything ready to go. That was cancelled at the last minute when the university gallery was shut down along with the university. Now I’m wondering what will happen to the exhibition scheduled for May. Its frustrating and disappointing, but trivial compared to the more serious concerns for people’s health and livelihoods. I’m grateful I can continue to make art and have a safe place to make it in. Stay safe everyone!See more of my work here. https://rosalindbloom.net , IG @rosalind.bloom , http://www.davinciartalliance.org , https://inliquid.org/artist/bloom-rosalind/
Margot Sweed
I’m an after hours (Philly healthcare worker) pottery type making wheelthrown functional stoneware. I handcarve my pieces.
I have a home studio sans kiln. Hoping my kiln access at Earth Center Pottery opens up soon. Mainly sell through shows/FB/IG.@margotspottery on Insta
@margot’s pottery on FB
