JAM FINE ARTS

DePaul University published this exhibition catalog on Julia Thecla and it is available for free to download. 

https://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=museum-publications

I was a little sad to read that her later work was not well received. I like the extraterrestrial visionary world pieces. I don't like the ballet pieces at all. The candle soot work was nice. There is a meeting in Chicago this week about her work. I might go.

I've also been rereading The Monk, a Borges anthology, and some Algernon Blackwood. I also finally got a hardcover copy of Katy Hessel's book. I bought a book on art and activism but haven't read it yet. 

Mongerson Gallery is having a one night exhibition/reception celebrating Julia Thecla's work on June 11, 2025. RSVP here

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpGqyKzx3xH35M5z_uh_0WdYSLIurhlh8-Y5sokwcGuwGEcQ/viewform?pli=1

Entry 13012.586670 in The Natural World
Web site: www.jamfinearts.com
 Publicity: Yes
Category: mixed media

Canopy 1
Price: 3600 

Spring Triad
Price: 1200

Terms of Entry
Liabilities and Responsibilities
Submission of work for this exhibit will be construed as acceptance of all conditions set forth in the Call for Entry. CAVA and/or Mayslake Peabody Estate reserves the right to not display work that does not meet exhibition standards or the terms of this CFE. Reasonable precautions will be taken to safeguard artists' work from damage; however, neither CAVA nor Mayslake Peabody Estate, nor its supporters, volunteers, subcontractors, nor any of the participating agencies or businesses will be responsible for the loss or damage of artwork for any reason. CAVA requires that all exhibitors sign a release form provided by the Mayslake Peabody Estate; forms will be emailed to all accepted artists.

Artwork Sales and Commissions:
CAVA will provide to Mayslake Peabody Estate a price list for all pieces of artwork on display in the Exhibition. Mayslake Peabody Estate will handle sales of artwork during the exhibition dates. They will collect sales tax on the sales price and remit to the artist the sales proceeds less collected tax and commission of 25% for the Mayslake Peabody Estate. Mayslake Peabody Estate also requires artists to complete a W-9 form for any sales.

CAVA Summer Theme Exhibition
THE NATURAL WORLD
August 4–September 20
at the Mayslake Peabody Estate
1717 31st Street, Oak Brook, IL 60523
ARTISTS' RECEPTION: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
The Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) is pleased to present our summer juried exhibit, The Natural World, from August 4–September 20, 2025 at the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate.AWARDS: Exhibiting artists will be eligible for the following prizes:
Best of Show: $200  |  3 Awards of Excellence: $100  |  3 Honorable Mention Awards
Jurors: Dan Addington, Artist/Owner of Addington Gallery
             and Deborah Venezia, Director of Arts DuPage
CATEGORIES:
Drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, collage, photography, digital, fiber art

ELIGIBILITY:  ALL WORK MUST HAVE A NATURE THEME. This exhibit is open to artists 50 and over. You must also be a member of CAVA.
Mayslake Peabody Gallery Hours:
Monday–Friday, 12:00 noon–3:00 p.m  |  Saturdays 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.  |  Closed Sundays

I have a bunch of small mirrors that I can't build a larger piece out of. So I'm going to making this series based on millefiori paperweights out of them. I'm also working on a globe vase. I'm always cutting and grinding leaves for Canopy and SuperBloom.

Notes for For Klehm arboretum's outdoor exhibit proposal:

"Tethered fairy rings, in contrast, develop in woodlands and are formed by mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi form important symbiotic associations with many vascular plants, particularly forest trees. In his book Mushrooms of Northeast North America (Lone Pine, 1999), mycologist George Barron notes that trees depend on this type of fungi for survival.
“Each tree has hundreds of thousands of kilometers of fungal threads associated with its roots,” Baron writes. “It is these mycorrhizal fungi that supply the tree with the nutrients and water essential for healthy growth. In exchange, the tree gives the fungus sugars that are manufactured through photosynthesis in its leaves.”
The fungi use the sugar obtained from the partner tree as an energy source for growth and for maintenance of the mycelial network, as well as in the production of the fruiting bodies, or mushrooms. The more common trees in northern forests that form this type of partnership include birch, oak, beech, pine, fir, and spruce.
Tethered fairy rings grow around one or several central trees. The mycelium remains associated (tethered) with its partner tree’s roots, limiting how far from the tree the ring can expand. While free fairy rings are easier to spot in open areas, the tethered fairy rings of forests and woodlands are more numerous. Some common fungi that can produce tethered fairy rings include fly agaric, death cap, clouded agaric, and matsutake."

from https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2021/10/fairy-rings/

I am working up a ground installation of larger than life size 3D mosaic mushrooms. I am going to list the installation as 18" high. Each mushroom will have a doily-like round net collar at the base that spans out and overlaps with the net from adjoining mushrooms. The center of the fairy ring will be free of net so that kids can walk into the ring if they want to. The arboretum will  display a plaque that educates visitors about the symbiotic relationship between the mycorrhizal fungi and the tree/s near the installation site. I've requested a site near a tree so I can play off the tethered relationship.

I sort of wanted to do puffballs since they are the state mushroom of Illinois, but they don't have the classic mushroom shape that children will recognize immediately. 

I am going to avoid doing an exact species and go generic fairy patterned white, since I am trying to avoid some negative mushroom connotations. I don't want to do amanita muscaria or nightcaps. I also don't want  to create a wild colored and patterned  hippie psychedelic piece. I think I am going to do butterfly wing patterns in pale colors, white and reflective beads to give a fairy light effect at  night. The hyphae net collars will also have reflective white or silver beads. I may fray the fiber of the net to give the hyphae a fuzzy texture in places.

The mushrooms will be mounted on plywood bases. The net collars will be sandwiched between the mushroom and the wood. The bases will be painted brown. I am asking the arboretum to provide wood chips to lightly cover the bases and create an  8 foot circle. If they want to chip a little path to the circle that would be cute too.

The piece will remain on display outside for one year. Mosaics are no brainers for outdoor sculpture. I am thinking of crocheting the net collars out of nylon or polyester cord. Whatever I can stitch reflective bead into and fray a little for texture. I'd use cotton thread but preserving the white color  is important.

Thematically, I like the idea of using the folklore/fantasy hook of a fairy circle to engage peoples imagination and then the arboretum can take that attention and inform visitors about the wonderful symbiotic  relationship between the tree roots and the hyphae of the fungus.

​​Klehm Arboretum in Rockford is issueing a call for entries for an outdoor sculpture exhibit called "Roots." The exhibit opens June 7, 2025 and continues through May 30, 2026. Entries should be from Illinois based artists.
"Roots" may be interpreted by artists to depict tree or plant baased aspects, cutural origins, conceptural beginnings, historical elements or other context of the Rockford community itself, or any number of concepts as put forth by the artist that relate to the theme.

Artworks approved for this exhibition will be displayed outdoors for a period of one year. Artworks will be installed in select locations along paved, accessible paths at the facility.

Artists can propose existing artwork or an original concept.

Works are required to be created in any durable media, resistant to outdoor elements. Works  should not have sharp edges or be an endangerment to the public. All pieces must be available for sale with a 10% commission to the Klehm Arboretum.

Artists shall receive a $4000 stipend per piece selected paid upon installation.

​Deadline for applications is February 28, 2025.

I have an idea.

I am exploring ways to reuse bottle glass. I won't be making one of these, but I admire the technique.