Thursday Aug. 9th was my opening at the Eisenhauer Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard. I was honored to show with two amazing artists, Carol Bennett and Michel Brosseau.
Musicians played in the courtyard in front of the Eisenhauer Gallery the night of the show.
Elizabeth Eisenhauer, gallery owner, and I opening night after the show.
“The Swing” looked amazing hanging next to Michel Brosseau’s piece.
It was wonderful to see these pieces hanging together!
The Barnacle Cuff bracelets.
This has been an exciting few months of concentrated creating in preparation for my art opening at the Eisenhauer Gallery in Edgartown, MA. These are my newest pieces.
CONNECTIONS
10 1/2 x 17 1/8 “
[eggshells, found wood, steel frame]
If you take the time to notice you may begin to see connections between various disparate forms in nature and how they can abstractly relate to our lives. A dried piece of seaweed and spalted wood share this web-like pattern which could be thought of as an explorer’s map of the convoluted path of our life. Life is not a straight line between two points and we often find ourselves at a crossroads or even a dead end but it is important to remember that it is this tangle of decisions that makes life and this natural pattern interesting and enjoyable.
WALLPAPER #2
12 3/4 x 17 1/8 “
[eggshells, found wood, steel frame]
“Wallpaper” is a dialogue between the artist and interior designer within me. My passion to use natural and re-purposed materials speaks to the renewed interest in returning to the land and how it has influenced the current design trends. The texture of the placed eggshells evoke a similar soulfulness to that of peeling paint and it’s link to the history of a place. Playing off the idea of “weather” chipping away paint, the eggshell pattern reveals a natural motif reminiscent of vintage wallpaper. The combination of these elements conjure up feelings of nostalgia from childhood memories and are the material language of contemporary lifestyle choices.
THE SWING
7 3/4 x 17 3/4 “
eggshells, found wood, cotton rope
With so many opportunities and choices in life, it is very difficult to pick a path and stick to it. After enjoying years of capricious travel and re-locations, my perspective has been shifted and I’m now ready to leave my nomadic ways behind. I’m approaching this epiphany cautiously, though, and am finding a connection to barnacles who root down solidly, but at times to movable objects that are at the whim of the sea. I find life to be similar in that try as you may to actively control your path, you too can find yourself guided by the ebb and flow of the tides.
THE UNION
4 1/2 x 12 3/4 “
[eggshells, wood, steel frame]
This abstract representation of a union shows two individuals coming together to form a bond that is stronger than the sum of their individual pieces. It is executed in natural eggshells to underscore the rawness of human emotion.
ONCIDIUM ORCHIDS
29 1/8 x 18 3/8 “
[eggshells, wood, steel frame]
My flower series of eggshell mosaics are based on the intricate beauty of nature. They are small, intimate pieces that require close observation to understand its detail and exquisiteness just like looking at the elaborate design of a flower. Using eggshells as my medium I have created another link between my work and nature.
To see more of my work you can visit my website www.karenblackerby.com
karen blackerby 