Mollusca Gastropoda at Oberlin College

Mullusca Gastropoda exhibiting at Oberlin College, Ohio, April 5 - June 4, 2010 in the Ruth Hughes Collection of Artists' Books. Reception and lecture by Johanna Drucker on April 9. Following the exhibition it will become part of the permanent collection at Oberlin College.

It is currently on view at the Philadelphia Center for the Book through Jan 12, 2010. If you find yourself in either neighborhood, chekitout.

Starting now....

My new year's resolution is to update my news blog more often, so here goes....Still loving my new studio in W. Oakland. Still trying to move out of my old studio - tough with no deadline!

Save the Date! My show at Berkeley Art Center opens Sat. Feb. 6th

Process and Place: The Transformative Potential of Artist Residencies February 6 – March 28, 2010 Opening Reception: Saturday, February 6, 5-8pm

visit www.berkeleyartcenter.org for directions/details/program and panel dates and more

Six local visual artists—Anne Lanborn, Amy Berk, Edith Hillinger, Brooke Holve, Mary Curtis Ratcliff, and Elizabeth Sher—attended the same artist residency program in New Zealand, all at different times. In this exhibition, they will exhibit work in a variety of media that demonstrate the ways the experience shaped their artmaking process and practice. In this exhibition, the notion of place, the nature of retreat, and how that impacts the process of artmaking will explored through an examination of the artists’ own work and experiences. An artist panel and walk thru will be held on Mar 4 at 7 PM and a workshop on residency selection on Mar 13 at 4 PM.

Making a Move

I am making a MOVE - also making a movie - BUT I am moving my studio as of 10/1/09. This is huge for me as I have been in this one for almost 2 decades !!!! But the clean white walls are inspiring me to fill them. Stand by for lots of new work - and a really good place to see what I have recently made in person.

Finally ! (or soon)

I am finally working on my new, improved and far more aesthetic website. Please stay tuned!

On the art front I have been in group shows at the Alameda Museum and as a 2008 Berkeley Public Artist Selection at City Hall (see jpgs) and have been making new work. Also completed 3 more artist books (see jpgs).
On the film front have begun videotaping interviews with film partner Maggie Simpson on our documentary Rituals of Remembrance which will look at the ways other eras and other cultures proceeded through the grieving process. We have completed some great interviews with Victorian mourning expert Maureen De Lorme, artist/writer/psychologist Dr. Amalia Mesa Bains, and artist Darren Waterston.

New Books

My newest book is Beetlemania, a revisiting of one of my etchings. It will be in the upcoming CODEX International Book Fair & Symposium, February 8 - 11, 2009, along with another new book, Myths of the Andes. 

Another recent book is Pandora's Recipe Box, featuring images from Perfectly Normal: Chnaging Bodies, Growing Up, Sex & Sexual Health by Robie Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley. I have chosen to honor the book, author and illustrator, as well as children who deserve the information to feel comfortable with their bodies and make responsible and appropriate choices as they move into and through their adolescent years. 

Myths of the Andes will also be at ArtRead, February 9 - 16, 2009 at the Oliver Gallery at California College of the Arts.

Politics as Usual (not)

When Nixon won, the late NY Times film critic Pauline Kael said, "How could he have won? No one I know voted for him!" And so it was last night - actually I do know one person who voted for McCain. This fall in my Digital Drawing & Painting class at CCA we did political art pieces - part of the assignment was to plan how to publish or exploit the work. Some posted them around school, some emailed them just to friends, and some used the internet. Anything possibly considered political was fair game. Here are my two pieces. The Waiting Room is from one of my triptychs. The War Bride appropriates Nina Berman's amazing photograph which in my opinion says it all about this war.