Studios Midwest

News

2011-03-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

The Galesburg Civic Art Center was saddened to learn of the death of Kathy Budd, a Studios Midwest Alum from 2004. Most would remember Kathy as creating metal and bee's wax sculpture at Carl Sandburg College. A link to a remembrance of Kathy by her students is here: http://www.oswegonian.com/news/remembering-kathy-budd-1.1961597

2010-08-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Today I'm heading back to Massachusetts where I'm finishing up my Masters. It's been a great summer here in Galesburg. The opening went really well, thank you to everyone who came out.

I will be posting more documentation next week on my website, http://michelledickson.com . So you can check that out for more pictures of the installation I did for Studios Midwest as well as other work.

Thanks for a great summer!
--Michelle

show opens tomorrow!

2010-08-06T08:07:00.001-07:00

The show opens tomorrow with a reception from 7-9pm! The title of the installation is On Dwelling(s). I hope to see you all there!

digital print for gcac

2010-08-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

This is the digital print that I will be donating to the Art Center for auction at their Wicked Disco event.

2010-07-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

The installation is progressing well. Last night Mark Holmes gave a great lecture on his work at The Box, but now that the lecture date has past I can take over the entire gallery. I'm pretty excited about that. 10 days until it opens!

So I thought I'd post some pictures of the 2D work I've been doing while taking a break from working on the installation.

Open Studio Tomorrow!

2010-07-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow There will be an Open Studio in the Box Gallery from 5-8pm. You can come by and see what I've been up to for the last month.

Since I've been installing in the gallery for the past couple of weeks it's going to be more of like a preview for the show.

Hope to see you all there!
--Michelle

pictures of the studio

2010-07-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the first week of the residency. I jumped right in and started working on a sculpture and began experimenting with a few new materials as well. Things have been progressing pretty rapidly since then, I'll post some new pictures with my next update.

--Michelle

Introductions

2010-07-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

My name is Michelle Dickson and I am happy to be this summer's Studios Midwest Resident. This is week 3 of my residency and I have been quite busy in The Box gallery where I have studio space and will be showing this August. I work primarily in sculpture and installation though I have a background in painting and drawing. I plan to turn The Box into one large installation involving sculpture, video, and drawing.

This week I began installing in the main gallery space and I'm very excited about how things are coming along. I will post pictures soon. In the mean time, you can check out my website www.michelledickson.com to see some previous work.

--Michelle

Raffle to Support Studios Midwest

2010-07-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

Tickets are now available for this Mark Holmes Drawing. Tickets will be on sale at the Art Center through August 7th and are priced: 1 for $1, 6 for $5 and 15 for $10. Tickets will also be available at all Studios Midwest events. The winner will be chosen at the Studios Midwest Opening Reception on August 7th. You need not be present to win.

Update from 1988 Artist - Cynthia Kukla

2010-06-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Last week we received the following update from Cynthia Kukla who is an alum of the Studios Midwest Program.

"Dear Galesburg Folks:

I hope your arts projects and life are good. I was a 1988 Studios Midwest resident and still love the memories. Enclosed is a composite exhibition announcement for my art work that I wanted to share with you. Currently is Virgina Woolf and the Natural world, a group show featured during the upcoming 20th international Woolf conference at the Ann Wright Wilson Gallery, George College, Kentucky.

For over ten years, my work contains imagery from ancient Egypt, Greece and various cultures of the Fertile Crescent coupled with contemporary imagery. They are all on my web site, http://my.ilstu.edu/~cmkukla ."

2010 Studios Midwest

2010-05-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

In its long-standing tradition of welcoming exciting artists into the Galesburg community, the Galesburg Civic Arts Center is pleased to announce that Michelle Dickson, an installation artist from Amherst, MA, will be our Studios Midwest artist-in-residence this summer.

A community-run visual arts residency from its inception in 1986, Studios Midwest has been administrated by the Galesburg Civic Art Center for the past seven years. During its tenure, the program has fostered the independent visions of 97 artists from across the United States, and globe, as they have shared their talents and worked with the Galesburg and surrounding communities. Like all highly regarded arts programs, Studios Midwest is committed to ensuring both quality of work and the perpetuation of the residency.

In these uncertain times, when arts programs nationwide are facing funding issues even as more and more artists seek the creative prospects of residencies themselves, it only makes sense to take a moment to be sure that Studios Midwest continues to attract the best artists and the most support. Last year, Studios Midwest began a two-year review to plan the residency’s next steps carefully and creatively.

We are pleased to announce that Fall 2010 will see the roll-out of a reimagined and revitalized Studios Midwest residency, one which we believe will ensure Galesburg’s connections to the larger art world for years to come. Michelle Dickson’s presence in Galesburg this summer is the first step towards the renewed Studios Midwest.

To keep updated on the Studios Midwest residency as it happens and what past artists are doing, please visit this blog.

Studios Midwest 2010 programming is made possible with support from:

Illinois Arts Council

Dick Blick Art Materials

Hinchliff Pearson West

Mark Holmes and The Box Gallery

Michelle Dickson's Bio:

I am currently based in Amherst, Massachusetts working on my MFA at the University of Massachusetts. I was born in Jacksonville, Florida and I received my BFA from the University of Florida in 2008. Although my background comes out of painting and drawing, in the last couple of years I have been exploring more sculptural and installation methods. My work is autobiographical and deals with concepts of personal memory and temporarily. Working in a site-responsive manner, I attempt to create installations that have a specific relationship with the physical scale of the viewer's body and relevant speculation about the real world. I want to achieve a reconnection to the interior self through triggered memory.

A Successful Year

2009-08-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who helped make 2009 a successful year for Studios Midwest. The exhibition will be up through August 13th at the Box Gallery, 306B East Simmons. Exhibition hours are Tuesday - Friday 11-4.

The image to the right is of Jeff and Mona, who had the opportunity to meet at the Studios Midwest opening reception.

Green Lines Moving Forward

2009-08-03T09:56:00.001-07:00

Green Lines Moving Forward

A Community Project by Resident Artist Jeff Schmuki and the Galesburg Civic Art Center.

Community members are invited to use numerous wheat grass blocks to reclaim parts of their town for responsible use. Beginning from the Box Studio, a green line will be formed by laying each block one in front of the other. Expanding and moving forward, the green line is people powered. It follows the sidewalk, crosses streets, and runs through various parking lots. The path lingers and flows all within the vision of the people engaged with moving it. New patterns emerge between people place, memory and future. Those taking part claim a new use of space through the delineation of this green line. The destination is the vacant lot where the old department store burnt down a few years ago. Today, there is debate over its future use and the community is concerned. Will it become a park space or a parking lot? This green line moving forward offers a metaphor for the empowerment of the people’s desires for a greater quality of life in this town. A green space/parks movement is but one example of how this can be framed. The purpose of this project is to create discussion over what might best serve the community in the city planning and development. By working together through community engagement a more enriched conversation regarding potential solutions to common problems can be explored.

Installation View

2009-08-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Smaragdine Table

red winter wheat farmed into various recycled containers from community -- later removed and mounted on wall.

360 x 120 x 6 inches

Pelt

2009-07-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

Pelt:

wheat grass, 20 x 60 x 45 inches

Do Seed Companies Control GM Crop Research?

2009-07-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

From the August 2009 Scientific American Magazine | 4 comments

Scientists must ask corporations for permission before publishing independent research on genetically modified crops. That restriction must end.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=do-seed-companies-control-gm-crop-research

Monsanto Machine

2009-07-29T15:18:00.001-07:00

GMO corn and soybeans, repurposed commercial products

ChiaCurtain Final

2009-07-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

Mature Stage of ChiaCuratin

ChiaCurtain Redux

2009-07-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

After adding a second crop of chia, I have now taken off the germination face.

The machine now returns water back to the reservoir for reuse through an additional pump....no leaks!

Aquaduct

2009-07-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

Aquaduct: Grown from repurposed air conditioner pans from the roof of the Box Space.

Dimensions: 42 x 126 x 8 inches

Rope Trick

2009-07-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Rope Trick: chia, woven fabric rope

ChiaCurtain

2009-07-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

ChiaCurtain is now in development....

Undoing

2009-07-15T06:32:00.000-07:00

I dismantled a work which required a stronger water pump than I have available. The wandering line was much like a charcoal drawing and activated the space. Removed, the studio is very still and quiet.

Works in Progress

2009-07-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

I now have full use of the space and am treating the studio as a laboratory for plant based works and experiments.

Mel Chin's Revival Field

2009-07-11T08:02:00.003-07:00

Revival Field is my favorite work by Mel Chin.

http://www.satorimedia.com/fmraWeb/chin.htm

Studio and Germination

2009-07-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have been in residence since June 21st and the studio will be free of construction in a few days. I am looking forward to beginning my usual site responsive installations.

Additional Influences

2009-07-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

Portable Fish Farm: Survival Piece #3, 1971, by the Harrisons.

If I were to chooses just one influence besides my personal experience of Hurricane Katrina, I would easily say the early works of Helen Mayer Harrison and Newton Harrison.

Among the leading pioneers of the eco-art movement, the collaborative team of Newton and Helen Mayer Harrison (often referred to simply as "the Harrisons") have worked for almost forty years with biologists, ecologists, architects, urban planners and other artists to initiate collaborative dialogues to uncover ideas and solutions which support biodiversity and community development.

http://www.theharrisonstudio.net/index.html

Intervention and Art

2009-07-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

Pictured --The Rev. Billy in Action

There have been a few questions about my interventionist practice so please follow these links for a primer.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_intervention

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_jamming

http://www.revbilly.com/

http://www.theyesmen.org/

2009-07-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

Art on the move - Galesburg, IL - The Register-Mail

2009-06-26T21:51:00.001-07:00

Art on the move - Galesburg, IL - The Register-Mail

Posted using ShareThis

Barbara (Basia) Krol

2009-03-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Basia will be showing her new paintings at Vanderpoel Museum in Chicago, IL through May 5, 2009. The reception will be held Sunday April 5, 2-4pm.
for more information visit http:vanderpoelartmuseum.org or www.barbarakrol.com.

2008 Studios Midwest Events

2008-06-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

The Studios Midwest artists have arrived and are getting settled in their summer home.

Please join us for the introductory slide show on Tuesday June 24 at 7pm in the Round Room at Knox College's Center for Fine Arts.

You will be able to see their progress on the on July 10 from 5-7pm at the Open Studio event.

On July 22 in the Art Center Gallery Cheryl Meeker will be giving the Claire Smith Memorial Lecture. The lecture will begin at 7pm.

Please join us for this year's Studios Midwest events and welcome the artists to Galesburg!

Former Artist Update -- Sarah Frechette

2008-03-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Studios Midwest Reader,

Today I visited your blog -- and would like to speak about my experience as a past participant and show off a few of my newest marionettes.
1) Lady Maiikawa -- wood carved
2) Wally -- foad carved

A big THANK YOU to Heather for updating the blog information!

SARAH FRECHETTE -- PUPPETKABOB

I attended Studios Midwest back in the summer of 2002. I had fun living with photographer extraordinaire & now life long friend Mark Dungan! Mark and I were adopted by Ralph and Sally -- we called them "Mom & Dad". I must say I miss the pepperoni and green olive pizza!
That summer was a bumpy ride for me -- filled with beautiful landscapes and a big pot hole.

A month ago I moved from NYC to Portland, OR. West coast baby! Since the summer of 2002 I toured with Phillip Huber (Being John Malcovick) as part of a marionette rock opera, for which I made the puppets costumes. And I have studied many times in Germany with 84 year old Puppet Master Albrecht Roser discussing his theories on Zen and puppetry. I have performed with my own marionette creations in USA, Germany and China.

If I think about the list of crazy skills I now have -- I owe quite a few to Galesburg. I learned how to stilt walk in Bill and Lisa's front yard -- wicked awesome! Carolina helped me sew a wonderful stilt walking costume so I could walk at Art in the Park. I paid Tom Lytle 10 cents to help me weld metal peacock feathers in his backyard studio under a heat waves of 110 degrees. These moments I cherish and my stilts & feathers I treasure.

To see more of my puppet creations go to www.puppetkabob.com

Sunshine & Memories, Sarah

Artist Update -- Mahara T. Sinclaire

2008-03-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Mahara's work is on display at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette, LA . This includes work Mahara created while at the Studios Midwest Residency. The exhibition entitled "We Are All One: Stories and Foibles by Mahara T. Sinclaire" will be on display through April 26.

Deadline Extended

2008-01-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

The application deadline for the Studios Midwest Program 2008 has been extended to February 15, please let all your artists friends know about this wonderful program!

Artist Updates

2008-01-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

We have been a little behind in Artist Updates so here is some information we have received in the last few weeks.

In December we heard the following from Pamela Allnut:

This painting is part of a series of water images that grew out of the work I began in Galesburg. (Incidentally, I painted over all of the pieces I did there, except a double portrait of Bill and Lisa.) I needed much more time to work through the vision I had. It took a while, but now I feel like it has matured. I'm grateful for the support that the residency provided when I was beginning this journey.

Best wishes to you for the new year! Please greet the arts community for me!

We also heard from T. Max Hochstetler in December as well who participated at the beginning of our twenty years.

It was a fine summer that I spent in Galesburg even though the facilities were meager and not overly great for the creative processes, I met many fine artists and enjoyed the local arts community hosts. Due to Studios Midwest, I have maintained a life-long friendship with Swiss artist, Martin Cleis of Arlesheim.
On a recent trip to Germany, my friend Martin met up with my wife and I for a couple of days visit in Eisenach and Erfurt.

In January we have heard from two former artists.

Hello,
I'm a former artist-in-residence, from l993!
My name is Diane Richey-Ward, and my website is: www.dianericheyward.com

I was there during the summer of that year, with Carole Spelic, Sonia Carlsborg, and 2 others, and had a fantastic time. (We all had to help with sandbags during the huge flood in the Midwest that year.)

Since then, I've gone on to participating in residencies almost every year.
Please see my residency info on my resume on website. It's not updated, I'm afraid, but I've had two French artist-in-residences since the website was updated.
This year I'm teaching Art History and Drawing in Paris, starting next week, with my college in California- American River College.
And a residency will follow in Arnhem, Netherlands for 6 weeks following the Paris semester.
It is really quite a year, 2008, so far.

Thanks for writing and keeping me updated on your website and current activities.
I'll never forget my time with your organization.

Last but not least we have heard from Basia (Barbara) Krol

That she will be displaying work at Shorty's Children's Boutique in Chicago.

The opening reception will take place on Friday February 1, 7-9pm.

Shorty's is located at 1410 N. Michigan Avenue.

Keep those updates coming. We enjoy hearing what our former artists are up to.

Artist Update: Mahara T. Sinclaire & Agnes Janich

2007-11-15T20:51:00.000-08:00

Marhara T. Sinclaire will have concurrent solo shows this spring. We are all One: The Stories and Foibles of Mahara T. Sinclaire at the Arcadiana Art Center in Lafayette, Louisiana will showcase eight murals from her Alice series, the Myth Cycle mural she created during her tenure at Studios Midwest and a 12' x 21' mural completed in 2006. The Merced Multicultural Art Center in Merced, California will present her murals from 2007.

Maraha T. Sinclaire was a Studios Midwest Artist in 2005

Agnes Janich will exhibit her photography show Masks at the The Polish Institute in Vienna from November 14 - January 17.

Agnes Janich was a Studios Midwest Artist in 2006

Are you a former Studios Midwest Artist? Send us an update and we will share it on the Studios Midwest Blog, studiosmidwest@galesburgarts.org.

Artist Update:G.E. Colpitts

2007-11-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

G.E. Colpitts writes:
"Things have been absolutely crazy busy here and I was prepping for a one-person show out in Iowa (glazing ceramics like a madwoman and firing on a continual basis for about two weeks) which opened on October 29. The drawings I did have been very successful in competitive exhibition; several nationals and some regionals, and the big drawing just won second place a the Plaza Juried Regional Exhibition at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago.

I hope all is well in Galesburg, I do encourage people to apply for residences. It was such a treat to spend 8 weeks with you having nothing to do but work in the Studio!"

G.E. is the Chair in the Department of Art and Design at Judson College in Elgin, Illinois. She was a Studios Midwest Artist in 2005.

Are you a former Studios Midwest Artist? Send us an update and we will share it on the Studios Midwest Blog, studiosmidwest@galesburgarts.org.

2008 Application Available

2007-11-12T13:52:00.000-08:00

The 2008 application for Studios Midwest is available by visiting the Galesburg Civic Art Center's website, www.galesburgarts.org/pages/residency.

Welcome to Studios Midwest

2007-11-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

Studios Midwest is a visual arts residency program dedicated to the creative expression of the artists who participate. This residency takes place each summer for a period of eight weeks and is presented by the Galesburg Civic Art Center, a non-profit, community-funded organization, located in downtown Galesburg, Illinois. 2008 marks the residency program’s 23rd year.

In 1986 a small but enthusiastic group from within the arts community invited artists to Galesburg for the summer to create art. The program has since merged with the Galesburg Civic Art Center, increasing resources and becoming part of an over 80-year tradition of promoting the visual arts in Galesburg. This exceptional program fosters a sense of community between the participating artists and local residents. The Studios Midwest committee encourages artists of all media to apply.