My Third Collaborative Book Entry, "Secrets" Upcoming Event:

(The photos above are courtesy of Maryann Riker, book artist and fellow ACE member)

I am pleased to announce I just completed my third Collaborative Book assignment, as curated by my fellow ACE (The Arts Community of Easton) decorative book artist, Maryann J. Riker. I was honored she asked me for a third time to participate in the piece; as this is my third time as one of the collaborating artists featured.

This time the theme was "SECRETS"....which could

refer to any kind of secret; or any view of secrets. Per Ms. Riker, the assignment was as follows: "SECRETS......We all have them...hidden and close to the heart...sometimes we open them to ourselves or unfold them to let someone else know about them...sometimes unbidden they whisper back to us..reminding us that they are there, keeping silent, but always with us...what secrets do you wish to unfold with us?"

The format of this piece consists of a 3"x3" square ocular-opening envelope as the container for the "secrets"; and could be created using any kind of media. Since I am a painter, I chose acrylic for one, and colored pencil for the other. The size was

a bit of a challenge, but I believe my designs work well.

The completed collaborative book will be submitted, and donated to the National Museum for Women in the Arts for inclusion into their Special Collections. In March of 2010, the book will be exhibited in the Phillipsburg, Easton area during National Women's History Month.

(These photos are only of the back side of each, unfortunately, since the rest of my pictures came out extremely blurry.....)

The piece on the left on the cream colored card stock paper, is my more serious "secret"; which focuses on an issue which unfortunately affects many women today, which is domestic violence. I am familiar with this all too well, as I too was a victim of it. The center fold features a poem which I wrote, and on either side of the poem is the image of a broken heart on one side, and wilted flowers on the other. You will understand why I chose these images after reading the poem which follows:

SECRETS, SECRETS

I could not tell

I was living a living hell......

Why was my husband that way with me?

Anger, depression, violence, hatred and jealousy.

Why did only a few believe me?

Like a wilted flower, apart from a beautiful bouquet;

Alienated and alone.

Years and time have passed, not all the wounds have healed.

Yet like a wilted flower, I was reborn

and bloomed again.

No longer tormented by the past;

and have flourished on my own.

The piece on the grey colored card stock paper is a more positive interpretation of "secrets".

On the back reads, "I have a Secret" in French, and on the inside reads "I love you" and "Love", also in French. On either side are heart-shaped floral designs which I created using colored pencil.

These kinds of artistic projects are very interesting, as every individual has their own interpretation of the theme; and it is great to see the finished product of all the smaller pieces becoming one artistic statement.

UPCOMING OPENING RECEPTION:

Women's Work--An Exhibit at The Gallery at St. John's from 1/3/10-2/28/10. Opening Reception on 1/3/10 from 12 noon-3 p.m.
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:16:08 -0500

An exhibit of five women artists will exhibit work at St. John's Gallery, 330 Ferry Street, Easton, PA from 1/3/10 through 2/28/10. An opening reception will take place on 1/3/10 from 12 noon - 3 p.m. and an artist's talk will also occur on 2/7/10 at noon. The public is invited.

The exhibit organized by Maryann Riker brings together five women artists and ACE members who carry on the tradition of women's work that is influenced by the feminist art movement heralded in the 1970's by such art world notables as Judy Chicago and Miriam Shapiro. It exemplifies the craft of the domestic arts into the mainstream of fine art/fine craft and these are demonstrated by Susan Huxley and Marya. Jackie Lima, Kim Robertson and Maryann Riker exhibit work depicting women in their domestic environments.
Also on view on 1/3/10 at the opening reception will be "SECRETS" a women's collaborative book by 20women artists who constructed origami envelopes that enveloped their secrets and were then bound into a 10 foot accordion book. The book, "SECRETS", will be on display at Moravian College for Women's History Month in March, 2010.

For more information on this exhibit, please contact St. John's Gallery at 610-258-6119.

I am proud to be a part of this collaborative work by many talented women, and was an opportunity to share something personal with the world in hopes of helping other women with the same experiences.

(PICTURES OF COMPLETED PIECE COURTESY OF MARYANNE RIKER, BOOK ARTIST:)