Paper and More

Above piece is Untitled by Howardena Pindell, 1973 Ink on punched and pasted paper, talcum powder, and thread on paper, 10 1/8 x 8 3/8" (25.9 x 21.3 cm) The Museum of Modern Art. Gift of Lily Auchincloss, 1974 © 2009 Howardena Pindell (Image is from the MOMA web site.)

If you follow Joanne Mattera's blog you've read her recent reviews of the exhibition at the MOMA Paper:Pressed, Stained, Slashed, Folded that is up through June 22. (I am hoping to get to NYC on the heels of the conference at Montserrat and see it myself.) Thanks Joanne, for the posts. This exhibition and Dorthea Rockburn's folded paper pieces brought to mind Folds, a paper and encaustic piece by Denise Stringer-Davis that is part of the Degrees exhibition on view here in Houston until the 31st at M2 Gallery.

Above: Folds by Denise Stringer-Davis, Waxed toilet paper, variable size

Besides Davis, the work of San Antonio artist Michelle Belto and myself also use paper as a major part of our work in this exhibition.
Belto makes her own paper and molds it to suit her needs. Mother's Sewing Basket is a collage of paper, Encaustic and garment fasteners used in clothing construction. She said this piece is part of a series that pays homage to the women seamstresses in her family.


My work, Slow Burn/Skin Deep below, is primarily hand made paper and wax. I didn't make the paper. It is Thai paper made of sanitized abandoned bird's nests. Thick and rough like a grass matt and very organic looking. It is part of a new series of works I call Organic Compounds.

Above: Gwendolyn Plunkett, Slow Burn/Skin Deep, 42" x 24" x 2", Encaustic and handmade Thai Bird's Nest paper on canvas on panel.

Degrees Exhibition runs through Sunday, May 31 so you still have time to see it.

In the MOMA show, the Howardena Pindell piece at the top is one of my favorites but I am intrigued by John Cage's Wild Edible Drawing No. 8, from 1990. It is handmade paper of milkweed, cattail, saffron, pokeweed and hijiki.

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Untitled, 2009 Rebea Ballin

At Joan Wich & Co here in Houston this month was an exhibition by artist Rebea Ballin whose work is not of paper but on paper. Prismacolor (black) pencil drawings of hair. Conversation with the artist in the Houston Chronicle last week is fresh and candid about how she came to this subject matter. Landscapes came to mind with my first glance at the work from the door.
No, but maybe.
A quote from her conversation with Douglas Britt, "What made me want to zoom in a little bit more was an interest in the landscape aspect of hair in the scalp, the textures and things like that."


Thurel Wright's piece above
At A Good Idea on Paper , Eleanor Jane Cardwell's blog, you can always find interesting works made of and on paper. May 22nd post features the work of Thurel Wright.

The May 15th post features Artist Valerie Jolly's work. She says "she casts objects in sticky wet tissue paper."

Something Old, Something New

Top two pictures: works by Grace Magnet at MSquared Gallery, Houston Heights






Houston Heights 19th Street has been one of my favorite haunts ever since I moved back to the big H. I love rumagging through the quasi antique and junk stores that line both sides of the street. Recently, besides junk and antiques, you can fine really good meals and art. The newest gallery addition is named 18 Hands Gallery representing artists who work in clay. Their enaugural reception was last evening and I stopped by. The crowd of visitors were excited and the buyers were participating as well. Folks were trying to hang on to their purchases while nibbling on the very tasty food treats and hold a glass of wine at the same time. (Top L-Gallery, R.- work by Betsy Evans. 2nd row L.- Loes Berendschot & Chris Silkwood...Mosaic, R.-Kathy Blossom)
I particularly enjoyed the work of both Betsy Evans and Loes Berendschot. (See photo) The sculptural and whimsical elements their works appealed to my senses. There was plenty of high quality work to go around from more utilitarian objects to the decorative. Congratulations to all the artists participating with 18 Hands gallery. I wish you much success.
Check out their web site www.18hands.com

Another gallery on 19th, not as new to the steet as 18 Hands is MSquared at 325 W. 19th Street run by Max Harrison. WW-3 a three women exhibit by artists Grace Magnet, Joyce Harlow and Linda Huff just came down today. I was particularly taken with Magnet's lush works on paper. I love the way she saturates the images in color while maintaing that beautiful textural quality of the handmade paper. Other elements besides color...text, abstract shapes drawn in pastel make very poetic suggestions. These works are part of Magnet's “GeSchichten” series inspired by "wisdom and poetry of The Little Prince by St. Exupery." (See statement http://www.m2-houston.com/moreinfo/ww-3web.pdf)
They very much reflect a poetic and passionate vision in my mind. Check out the MSquared web site at http://www.m2-houston.com. The next featured artist at MSquared is Earl Staley.

Another new in the old is a newly opened gallery on 11th (also Houston Heights district) ... Dan Allison has hop-scotched across the (side) street from G Gallery, Red Bud Gallery and Texas Collaborative with Red Square at 223 E. 11th Street. His enaugural exhibition features works by artists Zoanna DeLuz Maney, Lydia Bodnar-Balahutrak, Heather Chase and new works from the TCA Studio. I love the old space made new again and the space is good for showing art. You can find Balahutrak's work at her web site in my links. Her work is poignant and edgy at the same time. Textural, earthy, yet strong in form. Maybe it is the grit of the dirt and charred elements played against the beautiful transluency of the wax that suggests suffering, the saintly and sacrifice. I think even unaware of her references (Chornobyl) one would still have this connection with her work. Check out Red Square Gallery information on line at http://www.texascollaborative.com/.