JAM FINE ARTS

  • Home
  • The Artist
  • Portfolio
  • LookBook
  • JAMdrops
  • Contact
  • Home
  • The Artist
  • Portfolio
  • LookBook
  • JAMdrops
  • Contact

Julia Thecla: Undiscovered Worlds

5/27/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
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
0 Comments

Natural World Entry

5/21/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
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

0 Comments

Later Impressions entries

3/8/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: Sunday, March 9, 2025, 11:59 PM.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTED ARTWORK: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 by 11:59 PM.

DROP OFF: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201. Shipped artwork must be received by April 16, 2025.

EXHIBIT OPENS: Saturday, April 19, 2025

ARTISTS' RECEPTION: Friday, April 25, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

CONCURRENT EVENT: CAVA's Learning Symposium on Sunday, May 25, 12:00 to 3:00 PM. Free for CAVA Members.

PICK UP: Sunday May 25, 10 AM-12 PM and 3:00-3:30 PM.

Artists are responsible for on time delivery and pick up. All work left beyond the pick up date is subject to a $10 daily fee and is uninsured after 5 days.
0 Comments

RFP Mount Vernon Iowa Sculpture trail

3/3/2025

0 Comments

 
https://chicagoartistscoalition.org/call-for-artist/mount-vernon-iowa-sculpture-trail

Link to RFP with pictures:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e1e77a6c41803487918f315/t/6789f151ce4ffb4a004255a9/1737093464223/2025_RFP_MVAAC.pdf

0 Comments

Tethered fairy circle

2/26/2025

0 Comments

 
My work explores the natural world through sculpture, mosaic, and installation, informed by biology and environmental science. I seek to bridge art and nature, fostering wonder, connection, and sustainable creative practices.  
Tethered Fairy Circle highlights the hidden networks of the forest. Expanding on my Floe Series (waning geologic ice), Outgrowth Series, and Canopy Series (celebration of trees), this piece continues my commitment to honoring the intricate environmental dynamics that sustain life.  
I propose a fairy circle installation near a tree on-site, composed of approximately 20 papercrete mushroom sculptures ranging from 8” to 16” tall. The mushroom caps will feature decorative butterfly-wing mosaic patterns in white, off-white, clear ceramic, and glass, with all edges ground and sealed for visitor safety. The installation will span 9’ in diameter with a wood chip base, and the Arboretum may provide a wood chip connecting path. Each mushroom will be secured with lawn stakes through screw eyes, and beneath each will be a woven net, slightly frayed to suggest the texture of mycelium, adorned with glass and reflective beads, and also anchored with small ground stakes.  These materials are weather resistant so the mushrooms should be fit for sale next Spring.
Mushrooms are more than ephemeral forest dwellers—they drive decomposition, regeneration, and nutrient exchange. Rooted in folklore, the fairy circle sparks imagination while revealing the occult mycelial networks beneath our feet. This sculptural colony highlights the fibrous conduits of information and nutrients, offering a moment of reflection on cycles of renewal and interconnectedness.  
This installation invites visitors into an enchanted space where art and ecology—fungi and tree roots—intertwine, cultivating curiosity and appreciation for the delicate balance of life beneath the forest floor.
0 Comments

reference images

2/22/2025

0 Comments

 
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.
Picture

Picture
Picture
0 Comments

tethered fairy rings

2/18/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.

0 Comments

Rooted in rockford call for entry

2/9/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
​​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.
https://klehm.org/rooted-in-rockford/
0 Comments

piSun acquired by LLCC

2/6/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
✨ Exciting News! ✨
I’m delighted to share that my artwork, "piSun," has found a new home at Lincoln Land Community College! This 30" round canvas is a fusion of math, art, and astronomy—featuring a spiral bead weaving encoded by color with thousands of digits of pi. At its heart is a 24" radiant sunlike center, surrounded by swirling loops designed to evoke solar flares and dynamic lines of magnetic plasma.
It’s always rewarding to see my work spark curiosity and conversation, especially in a setting dedicated to learning and exploration. I hope "piSun" inspires students to see the beauty in numbers and the universe itself!
I have more artwork available and am always open to creating custom commissions. If you're interested in a unique piece that blends art, science, and symbolism, feel free to reach out!
A huge thank you to the Arts in Architecture - Capital Development Board of Illinois for administration of the grant. Thanks again to Lincoln Land Community College for welcoming this piece into your space.
0 Comments

ASMR-Glass cutting

1/25/2025

0 Comments

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

    artist

    Julie Mars' current events, projects, & inspirations.

    Archives

    May 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    July 2024
    June 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    January 2019

    Categories

    All
    33 Contemporary Gallery
    Acrylic Painting
    Activist Jewelry
    Addison
    Addison Art Guild
    Addison Center For The Arts
    Addison Public Library
    Advice For Artists
    Andy Warhol
    Angela Haseltine Pozzi
    Antonia Ruppert
    Arctic Ice Sheet
    Art 101
    Art 101: A Regional Juried Exhibition
    ArtBeat
    ArtBeat Of Fox Vallery
    Art Exhibit
    Art Exhibition
    Art History
    Artist Statements
    Arts DuPage
    Arts DuPage Month
    Art Show
    Arts In Architecture - Capital Development Board Of Illinois
    Artspeak
    ASMR
    Assemblage
    Astronomical Art
    Award
    Bead Installation
    Bead Mosaic
    Bead Mural
    Bead Tutorial
    Bead Weaving
    Beadweaving
    Beneath The Surface
    Benefit Art Auction
    Benjamin F. Calvert III
    Best In Show
    B House Live
    Biomass
    Bits And Pieces
    Blackfoot Glacier
    BlackStar Panopticon
    Blue Lit
    Blue Star Vase
    Body Of Work Podcast
    Brauer House
    Bruce Peterson Art
    Bruce Peterson Artist
    Bruce Peterson Legacy Collection
    Call For Artists
    Call For Entries
    Canopy 2
    Canopy Series
    CAVA
    CAVA Later Impressions 2025
    Charles Williams
    Chat GPT
    ChatGPT For Artist Statements
    Cheryl Holz
    Chicago Art History
    Chicago Sculpture International
    Chicago & Vicinity Shows 1897 Through 1985
    Chris Palm
    Circles Of Light: Halos In Contemporary Art
    Cleve Carney Museum Of Art
    Collaboration
    Collaborative Art
    Collage
    College Of DuPage
    Conspirituality
    Corner Art
    Corner Installation
    Cosmos
    Creative Reuse Chicago
    Dan Flavin
    DIY Jewelry
    Dorothy Bury Shaw
    Drops Of Jupiter
    EAC
    EAC Biennial
    Ekphrastic Poetry
    El Anatsui
    Elemental Impact
    Elgin
    Elmhurst Artist Guild
    Elmhurst Artists' Guild
    Elmhurst Artists's Guild
    Elmhurst Art Museum
    Embracing Texture
    Embroidery
    Engraving
    Environmental Art
    Epiphany Center For Arts
    Estate Planning For Artists
    Evanston And Vicinity
    Evanston Art Center
    Expressions: Art & Verse 2023
    Faces Of Addison
    Fairy Ring
    Felix Gonzalez-Torrez
    Fermilab AIR
    Fiber Art
    Fine Line Art Center
    Flat Round Peyote
    Floe Series
    Fractal Bead Pattern
    Frankfort Arts Association
    Fundraiser
    Fundraising
    Game Of Shrooms
    GenderPop
    Geoff Bevington
    Geometric Tiles
    Glass Cutting
    Goldilocks Panopticon
    Goldilocks Panopticon 1
    Gwen Fisher
    Hallie Morrison
    Hallie Sanclemente Morrisson
    Harper College
    Hilma Af Klint
    Honeymoon Panopticon
    Hyperbolic Beadweaving
    Hyperbolic Form
    IL
    Illiart
    Illinois Art
    Illinois Artist
    Illinois State Poetry Society
    Illustration
    Installation
    Installation Art
    Interactive Art
    Jason Rogenes
    Joan Ladendorf
    Joann Murdock
    Josephine Burke
    Jr.
    Juicy Sunrise
    Jules Breton
    Julie Mars
    Karla And The Phat Cats
    Kavanagh Gallery
    Kenneth Kemp
    Klehm Arboretum
    Kohler Art Center
    Layered Stained Glass
    Legacy Collections
    Lewis Achenbach
    Lincoln Land Community College
    Lynda Benglis
    Lynne Kornecki
    Maker Art
    Margherita Bernardi-Trahan
    Mars Patterson
    Mary Dillon
    McAninch Art Center
    Midwest Collage Society
    Mike Vanko
    Millefiori
    Mirror Art
    Mixed Media
    Modular Hyperbolic Sculpture
    Morteratsch Glacier
    Mosaic
    Mosaic Wall Art
    Muggletonian Cosmology
    Mushrooms
    Nancy Rosenberg
    Non-profit Art Fundraising
    Norris Cultural Arts Center
    North Central College
    Nuclear Fusion
    Oak Park Art League
    Oceanic Panopticon
    Oddball Art Labs
    Oesterle Library
    Olafur Eliasson
    Online Exhition
    Outdoor Sculpture
    Outgrowth
    Panopitcon
    Panopticon Series
    Par Excellence Redux
    Permafrost
    Photography
    Photo-luminescent Pigment
    Pi
    Pi Day
    PiSun
    Podcast
    Pop Art
    Pop Surrealism
    Proposal
    Pseudoscience
    Pseudoscientific Art
    Public Art Project
    Public Sculpture
    Rare Glimpse
    Reflective Art
    Reflective Bead Mosaic
    Regionalism
    RFP
    Robert Wilson
    Rooted In Rockford
    Safety Pin Jewelry
    Salvage
    Scienceart
    Sculpture
    Sculpture At The Kavanagh
    Sergio Gomez
    Sharl G. Smith
    Shroomdrop
    Side Street Studio Arts
    Sierpinski Tetrahedron
    Silent Art Auction
    Small Works 2022
    Solar Art
    Solar Flare
    Solar Panels
    Solar Power
    Sourcing
    Stained Glass
    Sue Anderson
    Tammy Deck
    Tania Blanco
    Tethered Fair Ring
    Thwaites Glacier
    TLD Design Center
    Union Street Gallery
    Upcycled
    Upcycling
    Urbex
    Vase
    Visual Harmony
    Wall Sculpture
    Warhol2023
    Westmont
    White Glacier
    Women's Art
    Woven Bead Mosaic

    RSS Feed