JAM FINE ARTS

Happy news! I applied for Fermilab's Artist-in-Residence Program. It's something I've been wanting to do for years but my portfolio wasn't where I wanted it to be until this year. The slide show above is the pool of images I used for the application.

In other news, I'll be in Art 101: A Regional Art Exhibition at the Oak Park Art League September 1 through September 30. The juror is Sarah Cox the curator from the Elmhurst Art Museum.

At work we just finished up the summer concert series and we are promoting Lewis Achenbach's show. I am working on the next show for Dorothy Bury Shaw's beautiful art and poetry exhibit. She is our spotlight artist for Arts DuPage Month.

Here's my statement of intent from the Fermilab application:
STATEMENT OF INTENT
​
I have been an avid Fermilab Arts and Culture fan for years. I’ve attended many art shows, science talks, and tours at the facility. I’ve taken my children, their friends, and nephews to the Fermilab annual open house several times. I have always had an interest in keeping up with cutting-edge science news. Although I cannot claim to be able to understand many of the science papers or  technology specs surrounding cutting-edge laboratory experiments, I’m an avid reader of popular science books, blogs, and  podcasts. Science discovery can be beautiful or chilling, but knowing how the world works and how to work with it is just as much a human undertaking as the Arts.
 
I understand that Robert Wilson, Fermilab’s founder, had a similar philosophy. Although scientists no longer expect new science to always be beautiful, artists will always have the freedom to find the beauty in scientific revelation and the wonder of discovery.

I hope that the attached portfolio of images of my past work will adequately convey how much science, mathematics, and technology inspire my work.
 
‘Floe’ is a series in progress. ‘Floe’ is a documentation of extant geologic ice and appreciation of climate science.
‘Oceanic Panopticon’ was created to celebrate Earth Day 2021. It is a woven bead mosaic of the Pacific ocean (courtesy of satellite imaging) on a convex security mirror. It is an appreciation of climate science. 
‘Juicy Sunrise’ is a wistful piece about the promise of fusion energy. It was created on a disco ball. When lit correctly, it appears to have a glowing center in the middle like the NIF’s fusion reactor at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.
‘Outgrowth’ is a series of installations built from soft, pliable, hyperbolic biomimetic forms that I wove out of just beads and thread.
“π Series” is woven in a continuous expanding circle using color coded digits of π. Creating them was like orbiting around the ‘moon,’ ‘sun,’ and abstract field of view in the night sky.  
‘Galaxy Cluster’ is a mosaic of woven galaxies on an upcycled globe vase. 
‘Cosmos’ is woven to suggest a black hole.

My intent, if given the opportunity to be an Artist in Residence at Fermilab, is to learn as much as I can about the current and proposed experiments being worked on at the laboratory. I would then interpret what I’d learned about those endeavors into beautiful works of art. The Fermilab Art Gallery is a great exhibition site. I would take the exhibition space into consideration while designing the body of work.

Thank you for considering me for Fermilab’s Artist-in-Residence Program for 2023. It’s a thrill for me just to apply.  Either way, I always enjoy the artists that the judges choose each year, and I know I will be delighted again this year!

"Why aren't there any prices on your website?"

The reason is simple. I exhibit at many brick and mortar galleries and online galleries. Each of these venues takes their own percentage of any work of art they sell. A few take nothing, others will ask up to 50%. Because of this my pricing varies a lot, sometimes by over $1000 or more. 

When it comes to the web galleries and Etsy, I have to work in domestic crating/packaging and shipping charges. That also adds a lot to the retail price, but it can be more convenient for the client.

You are welcome to contact me by email at jamarsart @ gmail.com for a direct quote. If the piece is in my possession instead of in a gallery, I will quote you my base price. I can only do this because I am currently not under contract with a representative gallery or consulting firm. If a piece is temporarily on display with a gallery, I will get you in contact with the gallery to purchase through them. I usually exhibit with non-for-profit or academic galleries. It is important  to support them and I happily agree to share through commissions.

Comments are open. I'd love to read your thoughts on this matter.

Artists who reside within 50 miles of St. Charles are invited to submit entries to be judged for acceptance into Vicinity 2022. Open to all 2D and 3D media. Entries must be original work in content, design and execution and new to the Norris Galleries. One entry allowed per artist. Please refer to the Vicinity Show Requirements below for more information.
Vicinity Show deadlines:

• Friday, September 9 (12 pm – 4 pm) Artist or their representative must drop off work in person during this time block. See Vicinity Show Requirements below for more information about work eligibility and preparation
• Saturday, September 10 Entries will be judged
• Sunday, September 11 Artist will be contacted via email or by phone about the accepted or declined status of their entry
• Monday, September 12 Artist or their representative will pick up declined work during time slot pre-arranged with the Norris staff
• Tuesday, September 13 Show is installed
• Saturday, September 17 – Saturday, October 29: Show dates. Gallery is open to the public Thursday – Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm while show is up
• Sunday, September 25 Public art reception (2 – 4 pm) Awards will be presented
• Sunday, October 30 Show work picked up by artist or their representative (by appointment only – details will be shared with accepted artists)

Important Vicinity Show Information and Requirements:

• Non-refundable entry fee ($30.00) is due on DROP OFF DAY (cash or check only).
• Artwork must be original in concept, design and execution – no reproductions, no giclees.
• 2D artwork must be ready for installation and all work must have artist identification attached to the work listing artist’s name, title of work, price of work, media and artist’s phone number. 2D work that is not correctly prepared for installation will NOT be accepted in the show. All 2D works must be framed with hangers attached to the back of the work and connected with flexible hanging wire. Saw Tooth hangers are not acceptable.
• ALL WORK MUST BE FOR SALE and remain on exhibit for the duration of the show.
• Vicinity 2022 will be available for viewing online during the show and following the conclusion of the show. The Norris collects a standard 30% commission on all work sold through the Galleries.
• 2D work cannot exceed 6 feet in width, 6 feet in height and 50 pounds in weight (including frame and glass).
• 3D work must be able to fit within the gallery’s glass display case (maximum height of work = 24”, maximum width = 24”, maximum depth = 15”, and max weight = 20 pounds) OR work must fit on gallery display pedestals OR work must be free standing. All entries must be able to fit through the Lobby door and be able to be easily handled by the gallery volunteers (maximum weight = 50 pounds). 3D work includes, but is not limited to, jewelry, sculpture, glass, fiber, ceramics, book art, mixed media, etc. 
• The required Exhibition Agreement will be available on-site on the DROP OFF DATE. Each artist or their representative must complete an Agreement to have their work considered for the show.
• Artwork must be NEW to the Galleries, and accepted work must remain on exhibit for the duration of the show. Work must be appropriate for viewing by all audiences.
• Artists are responsible for insuring their artwork.
• The show judges will designate monetary show awards for “Best of Show” and “Awards of Excellence”, and will also determine Honorable Mention awards. Information about the judges and the awards will be posted on the Norris website in August.
• By submitting their work for judging, artist agrees that the Norris Cultural Arts Center may photograph and use the accepted work to publicize the show and the Center.

Norris Galleries – Summer 2022
As of July 1, 2022, masks are not required for individuals when inside the Norris Cultural Arts Center unless otherwise posted at the entrances. Visitors may choose to wear masks. If circumstances change before drop off day on September 9, notices will be posted. Contact the Norris at 630-584-7200 during gallery hours with questions.

Whether I am weaving tiles or assembling a piece, eyes are busy. I love to have something to listen to while I work. I listen to a lot of podcasts, videos, and audiobooks. I want to recommend a very important and timely one, Conspirituality. The hosts describe the podcast as "A weekly study of converging right-wing conspiracy theories and faux-progressive wellness utopianism." You can also hear the podcast on the Conspirituality Podcast YouTube channel.

I only learned about the link between magical thinking and vaccine denialism relatively recently. (I think it was from another highly recommended podcast, Mindscape.) I am not above having my own streak of magical thinking, but it has become apparent that  religious people and the varieties of new age believers have magical thinking in common. Q-anon and other conspiracy beliefs are resonating and growing within both groups.

Conspirituality podcast has been exploring this social phenomena in depth as it has developed from the spring of 2020 as the social fallout surrounding Covid-19 took hold. The podcast's hosts are long time martial artists, yoga instructors, and ex-cult members. I am listening to the podcast consecutively for the most part with some skips. It is a fascinating American/Canadian historical document from three men who can give uniquely insightful commentary on recent events. It was stunning to listen to the early podcasts and then hearing the hosts react to the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol.

The most interesting thing about these gents is that as embedded as they are in communities that are aswim in conspiratorial and magical thinking they have emerged as respectful skeptics. They interrogate diverse woomunities, conspiracy theorists, and influencers' words and actions with intelligent commentary, interviews, and thoughtful essays. They will help you navigate through and make sense of all the Nonsense.

That said, they are deep divers. The podcasts are long; many are over 2 hours. In addition to that, they have a Patreon where they upload even more content every week. Highly recommended.

Link: ​https://www.harpercollege.edu/services/arts/small_works.php

Celebrating its 101st year, the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) proudly announces a regional call for art work with Art 101: A Regional Juried Exhibition.  OPAL is looking for work that best demonstrates the artist's use of materials and mastery of skill in their chosen medium.  
Artists are invited to submit up to 3 images that best represent their current artistic practice.  
Submissions are open to artists over 18 years of age, living in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. 
All mediums will be considered. (drawing, painting, mixed media, digital/new media, printmaking, photography, ceramics, fiber, glass, sculpture).
Size is limited to 48” in its largest dimension. All work should have been created in the past 3 years.
Juror:  Sarah Cox, Manager of Collections and Exhibitions, Elmhurst Art Museum
Dates to Remember:
Call opens:  March 18th, 2022
Submission deadline: Friday, July 15th, midnight
Email Notifications of Acceptance: August 1, 2022
Delivery of work: August 22-27, 2022
Exhibition dates: September 1-30, 2022
Opening Reception: September, 9th 7-9pm
SUBMISSION VIA SUBMITTABLE ONLY - LINKImportant Information:

• Accepted work should be shipped or dropped off to our Carriage House Gallery at 720 Chicago Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 and arrive between August 22nd and 27th.
  
• OPAL reserves the right to reject work that is significantly different from the original submission.
  
• All accepted work must remain on display through the duration of the exhibition.
  
• Submission fee is $40 for up to three images of work. One additional image will be accepted for each 3-dimensional piece at no additional cost.
  
• All work must be ready to hang. Work that arrives with saw tooth hangers will not be installed. Works with frame hanging wire and D-rings preferred.
  
• Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
  
• Submission fees are non-refundable.
  
• All shipped work received, MUST include a prepaid shipping label for return of the work. OPAL will not ship work without this prepaid label.
  

Juror Information:
Originally from Geneva, Illinois, Sarah Cox is the Manager of Collections and Exhibition at the Elmhurst Art Museum, in Elmhurst, Illinois. She works closely with artists, curators, and creative groups to create innovative exhibitions. She also manages the Mies van der Rohe design home, the McCormick House, located on the museum’s campus. Previously, Sarah was the Manager of Collections and Exhibitions at the Zanesville Museum of Art, in Zanesville, Ohio. She earned her BA in Studio Art and Art History from Illinois College and her MA in Art History and Theory from Northern Illinois University. Sarah has also interned at the Museum of Contemporary Art-Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, National Hellenic Museum, and the Geneva History Museum.

Artist statement on the three submitted pieces:
​"Throughout my career, I have created a distinct body of woven bead mosaics on canvas, panels, salvaged glassware, and other objects. My work evolved out of an interest in environmentalism and upcycling. I create my mosaics on second-hand or salvaged objects. These three works have been layered over salvaged security mirrors. I enjoy working with glass on mirror for the added luminosity from the light bouncing back through the glass beads. In addition to glass beads, I also weave reflective beads into the designs. Again, this adds another luminous effect that, in these pieces, also references the reflective phenomenology of water and ice. I weave the bead mosaic tiles out of new beads, but the supplemental beads between tiles are often second hand.

These three pieces are from an exploration of environmental issues surrounding climate change. "Oceanic Panopticon" is a study of the Pacific Ocean that is one of largest engines of Earth's climate. "Permafrost Panopticon" and "Morteratsch Glacier" are from a series of pieces in which I am calling attention to bodies of geologic ice while they still exist."

By the time I got in to the art center last Saturday, all of the shrooms I made to give away for #gameofshrooms2022 were gone. Today I learned that a family posted pictures of their shroom hunt with my shrooms to IG. I did a screenshot and here they are. It made my day.

Fermat's Library posted this fractal pattern today. It could easily be a beading pattern for triangle weave from Etsy. If I make this, I'll make a large 2-D sheet first to see how it develops. I think at a certain point the large triangle in the middle will be so huge it becomes less useful. But who knows? It could be a cool net to layer over something.

I doubt I will design something with it. It's too....kinda...nerdy. Or those are my emotional associations surrounding the image anyway.

After that, there are many 3-D versions of this pattern on line for those who want to make a little beaded sculpture. I'm looking for an image to post here and the 3D version is called a Sierpinski tetrahedron. Here is an image:

One made with beads will be a pliable and will start to slump. The image above is a 3D print.

Here's another one made with bugle beads and two sizes of seed beads. I don't like to mixup my bead sizes too much. I'd just use uniform round beads with triangle weave for this exercise.

This was made by Gwen Fisher of Gwen Beads. She makes and teaches a lot of geometrically inspired beading patterns. Check out her amazing website and blog. I'm a big fan. I'd love to meet her. 

A design note on the above: I see a jump ring on it. It would be way cooler to make a beaded chain that goes through the larger triangle voids of the piece. I'd wear that. Maybe I'll make a very nerdy necklace someday. Or, if as a choker a series of them can lie flat against the neck pointing outward it would be like an updated version of my daughter's 1.5" spike collar. Could be edgy and fun space jewelry.

Today is Game of Shrooms 2022. You can read about it at yumfactory.com . This is the 3rd annual GoS. I think it's cute. There are a few in the Chicago area, but we are very spread out. I don't recommend anyone get into their car this year to drive to pick art shrooms in 2022. I *do* hope it takes off many more people do it next year and it becomes a walkable or bikeable event in some areas.

I think it could be a cute event that also doubles as promotional activity for museums, indy stores, libraries, park districts etc. like how everybody wanted to be a Pokemon Go stop when that was a thing.

You can see where mushrooms are popping up on Instagram by following #gameofshrooms2022 or #shroomdrop .