The problem with being a literalist

This is literally what Mary Pal posed to the group on July 1:

For this final challenge in the first series, we will focus on the area of Naturalistic Intelligence (good at appreciating the world and nature).   

I was ruminating...for a couple of weeks when I read the following article on July 14th.

The Boston Globe

Should chimpanzees have legal rights? - The Boston Globe

In the next few months, an animal advocacy group called the Nonhuman Rights Project plans to file a case on behalf of its first animal client. It has already chosen the plaintiff, a captive chimp,...

The question asked in the first few sentences in the article by Chris Berdik, "Should dolphins, great apes, and elephants be granted rights of their own?", got me to thinking.  I have been periodically worried about the chimps aging in now underfunded and mostly forgotten science labs.  

It's In the DNA...Somewhere

I remember Dr. Sherer, a social anthropologist, lecturing about how man is differentiated from animals...one of those criteria was tool making.  Really.  I went to university that long ago.

Who can look in the eyes of a chimp and not see an intelligent being?

I decided to create a portrait of a chimp that reminded me of formal portraits (of important humans) progenitors, with a mottled background.  In this case I created the background by rubbing over stabilized black walnut shells...working toward the title of "It's Just Nuts...Not to"

First Draft:  It's Just Nuts

This is the way it stayed for a couple of weeks...more ruminating.  Questions occurred to me....mostly about how alike are we to our  anyway?  How much DNA do we really share?  Speaking of DNA...where on the DNA chain does "inalienable rights" get attached?  Just when is that that we 'inherit' our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

Purple Urchin

Echinoderms R Us

For this challenge, I reverted to one of my favorite phylums- the echinoderms.

Something about the radial symmetry attracts me, or maybe it's the abundance of circular patterns :)

Above is a scientific drawing of a sea urchin test- which is the shell that remains after the spines fall off and the animal inside decays.

I showed a modicum of self restraint and just gave this one a bit of purple around the edges.

Detail of the mouth (?)  He was made from silk and Evolon, heat cut.  He was fun as always!

Red Fox, Blue Fox

For the 9th challenge, I remembered how much fun it was (still is) to open a new box of crayons, knowing I could use those 64 colors to bring drawings to life, going inside or outside the lines.  I love the smell of Crayola crayons and the names they give the colors, like Melon, Chestnut and Periwinkle.  I don't know what Sienna is, but apparently it can either be Raw or Burnt.  No one knows how to cook sienna properly, it seems.

The real Northern Red Fox's color varies from a light tangerine orange to a dull reddish brown. How about a Cornflower Blue one?  Sure, why not?  And why stick with the regular green grass when we could go with Magenta and Fire Engine Red instead?



This was a terrific way to wrap up the first cycle of Viewpoints9. Not only did I get to play with fun colors, but I came back to one of my favorite genres – portraits. The structure of his face is different than my usual human subject, but he has a personality. I think I see a slight grin – or a smirk? – under those whiskers.

Thank you, to the 9 artists who joined this group and shared your thoughts and your artwork! I've learned so much from you, and look forward to continuing the journey in "cycle 2". 

Tech Specs: hand dyed cotton fabric, cut and layered using raw edge applique, free-motion machine quilting, rayon and poly thread

Where's Jack?

I had fun with this challenge and in the end trying to come up with a title for my quilt, with the family helping was a fun event too!

Where's Jack

Artist statement: News Flash- Giant Bean Stalk Discovered in Jungle. 
Explorers have discovered a Giant Bean Stalk, thought to have been extinct, deep in the heart of the jungle. We are unable to reveal the exact location for fear of thief of this rare specimen. Botanical researchers are trying to contact Jack as his expert opinion on the authenticity of the discovery is needed.

Materials: Cotton fabric, dye, fabric paint, tulle, metallic and cotton threads.

Techniques: Dyeing, printing with foliage, created fantasy bean stalk, painted wadding, machine applique, machine quilting.

 Thank you to my fellow Viewpoint 9ers for taking the time to come up with these amazing challenges, pushing us out of our comfort zones, extending our skills and knowledge and forming friendships across the seas. It has been marvellous and I look forward with anticipation to a new, exciting round beginning on September 1!

A Horse of a Different Color

Equus - 24 x 18 inches

Equus - detail

When I saw the original photo of this lovely chestnut draft horse, I was, of course, drawn to the texture of his mane. And this challenge, with the opportunity to play around with color, was a perfect chance to let loose.

Sculpted cheesecloth, water-soluble wax pastels

Participating in the challenges with the eight other artists in this group over the past year and a half has been a wonderful experience and I will watch your progress in the coming year with great interest. Play on!

Unnatural

Here we are, completing our first full cycle of nine challenges. A year ago, Martha Wolfe pulled us all together from around the world to participate in a virtual fiber art collective focused on exploring alternative sources of inspiration.  She proposed we borrow from the theory of multiple intelligences (lo and behold, there are nine!) to inspire our work. What a ride it has been, and what innovative work has resulted.  For this final challenge in the first series, we will focus on the area of Naturalistic Intelligence (good at appreciating the world and nature). 

Now, who isn't inspired by the colors of nature - a red rose, a vibrant orange sunset, a vivid turquoise ocean?  However, your challenge is not to mimic but to alter the colors of nature – to create a work of any aspect of nature with unexpected and surprising color substitutions. Be free. Go crazy! Have fun.

Installation in Germany by Rainer Bonk and Bertamaria Reetz,
 designed around the theme of equality, tolerance and solidarity

I leave you with the words of Dylan Thomas, from one of my favorite passages in A Child's Christmas in Wales, where he describes one of the gifts from his list of "useless presents" (always the best kind): 

"...and a painting book in which I could make the grass, the trees, the sea and the animals any colour I pleased, and still the dazzling sky-blue sheep are grazing in the red field under the rainbow-billed and pea-green birds."

Portrait orientation. 

Gallery opens August 26th.

Color Me- Whatever!

what a great challenge for me.

One of the reasons I enjoy exploring the microscopic world is that the pixilated renditions we typically see are man made- either colored by stains, or by computer.

I love that sense of freedom, and use it as an excuse to run riot with all kinds of color combinations in unexpected places.

Above is a cholla skeleton, digitally altered and renamed Color Me Happy

Here is a nautilus shell with just a bit of added color for impact.

Finally, here's Sand Dollar Spectrum, featuring NO colors found in nature!