On view now (virtually) at the Portland Public Library: Boundless Possibilities 2: USM Book Arts (External Site)

I am so happy to be part of this exhibition with the Critique Group at the USM Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 Center for Book Arts, and the Portland Public Library did a great job in creating the virtual experience!

Untitled, 2020: Art from Maine in a _____ Time is now on view online at the the Portland Museum of Art! While I hope we can safely go see the show in person soon when the museum re-opens, in the meantime visit https://www.portlandmuseum.org/2020 to view videos about the exhibition, explore the gallery through a virtual tour, and learn more about each artist and artwork selected.

Today is the day! Join the Portland Museum of Art this evening at 6 p.m. for the virtual opening of Untitled, 2020: Art from Maine in a _ Time on their Facebook page (External Site) or on their website (External Site). I am so honored to be included in this special exhibit. I hope you are able to check it out!

I am incredibly honored to have been selected to exhibit in the upcoming Portland Museum of Art‘s juried show Untitled, 2020: Art From Maine In A __ Time, opening February 12, 2021. Learn more about the show and other selected artists at the PMA’s website or in the Portland Press Herald.

Print, Fold, Cut!

Hosted by The University of Southern Maine’s Kate Cheney Chappell 83 Center for Book Arts

Three Saturday Synchronous Online Workshops with Zoom
October 10, 17, & 24, 2020
9:30 – 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
$80 for All Three Workshops, Click Here to Register Online or call (207) 780-5900

Maximum enrollment 15

Course Description:

Over the course of three sessions you will learn a set of at-home techniques and structures for creating engaging artist’s books with little surprises such as storage compartments, peek-through cut outs, and custom patterned paper. In the first session we will learn how to print patterned papers using simple supplies at home. Next, we will explore masu boxes, a folded box structure that can used to create a variety of book objects with storage compartments. And in the last session, we will learn to make a suite of single-page folded book structures and look at how to incorporate cut-outs to take advantage of both sides of the paper. 

Image Below: Workshop Student Artist Book by Emma Betterley-Dow

Supplies you will need:

• bone folder
• scissors
• x-acto knife with blades 
• metal ruler
• cutting surface, such as self-healing mat
• 1 roll of clear packing tape
• glue stick or white glue and small glue brush (optional, but handy)
• 12 sheets regular printer paper (white or colored) for in-workshop demos
• You can complete all techniques using computer paper if needed, but you may also want some additional light to mid-weight, foldable paper for your projects. Look for acid free options if possible. Some suggestions are:
  • Strathmore 400 Series 80lb drawing paper
  • Strathmore 300 Series 70lb drawing paper
  • Canson drawing or lightweight watercolor paper (such as Foundations 90lb watercolor)
  • Canson Mi-Teintes colored drawing paper
• scrap paper
• a few wooden blocks in the 2”x2” to 4”x4” range, such us cut up plywood (If you can’t get wood, cardboard cut into at least 4-5 smaller pieces of the same size will do in a pinch)
• Craft foam (sticky back is nice) https://www.michaels.com/9×12-adhesive-foam-sheet-by-creatology/M10032002.html or https://www.michaels.com/primary-adhesive-foam-sheets-value-pack-by-creatology/10104248.html or https://www.joann.com/sticky-back-6×9-foam-sheet-value-pack-40pc/16281818.html#start=1
• at least one 4-6” soft rubber brayer https://www.dickblick.com/products/speedball-soft-rubber-brayers/ (more, and smaller sizes, are handy if you have them already)
• piece of Plexiglas at least 9×12, a couple would be best, or one larger one
• something for moving ink, such as a palette knife, putty knife, spatula or plastic spoon
• ink:
  • Option 1: Speedball Water Soluble Block Printing Ink in a variety of colors you like and that you can mix together. https://www.dickblick.com/products/speedball-water-soluble-block-printing-inks/ (starter pack would work) – These inks print a little more vibrant than the screen-printing inks, and leave a slightly textured surface that you will need to be careful of when using a bone folder
  • Option 2: Speedball Acrylic Screen Printing Ink in a variety of colors you like and that you can mix together. https://www.dickblick.com/products/speedball-permanent-acrylic-screen-printing-ink/ (starter pack would work, white would be a nice addition) – I like these inks because they dry on the paper with a very, light, smooth finish that folds nicely.
• Paper towels or rags for clean-up
• dish soap, clear hand soap, Simple Green, and/or Windex for clean-up

In addition to these items you will need an internet connection to log-into the class, preferably on a larger screen such as a laptop or iPad (vs. phone) so you can see the demos. Please set up your workstation near your computer/iPad so you can follow along. Access to a sink is helpful for clean-up.

I am super honored to have been selected for Creative Portland’s most recent juried exhibition: 2020 VISION: PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE. The exhibit was moved online due to COVID-19 and is one view July 1st – April 15th at: https://www.creativeportland.com/2020VISION

Thank you to Creative Portland and the jurors for including my work!

You can now purchase my cookbook memoir, I love it when you make me coffee in the morning., at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChurchLadyPress

“Filtering The the Cyan(otype) Sea” is an immersive collaboration with Rachel Church and Melissa Bardsley, featuring a blend of cyanotype, video projection, and sculpture at ProjectEmmersive’s Magical Mystery Box. https://projectemmersive.com/

Location: 60 Washington Street, Biddeford, Maine.
Dates: June 6th-June 29th, 2020
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-5pm
Soft Opening Friday, June 5th, 6-9pm
$10 suggested donation via PayPal or at the door

ProjectEmmersive wants to ensure that all guests can experience this installation safely, thus only one person will be allowed in the space at a time and all guests will be required to wear a mask and sanitize their hands before entering. We understand that still not everyone will feel safe or comfortable coming to the space in person, so an online experience will also be available later in June… stay tuned!

In a collaboration with Gene Felice, a video projection of “Cyanotype Impressions of the Atlantic Ocean in Maine” was on view at the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference COP 25 as part of the exhibit entanglements, presented by the Algae Society: Bioart Design Lab. Learn more at: http://algaesociety.org/algae-society-exhibit-for-climate-summit-cop25-chile-madrid/ and http://algaesociety.org/blog/cyanotype-impressions-of-the-atlantic-ocean-in-maine/.