The Power Is Inside of You!!!

Jill Lanza.

Jill Lanza...

Jill Lanza!

Here is the thing, Jill is an astounding artist. An amazing artist. I don't know how many comic book adjectives you want me to place in front of her name, but I can continue. Uncanny, tremendous, etc... At this point in time you might be saying "Joseph?" I urge you to check out her website. To see what she has accomplished in the past 8 years. If you disagree with me...well, it happened and we'll have to have slightly awkward facial ticks against each other in the future. 

I don't think you will though. Jill is an artist and a professor (Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design). She's a thinker and a parent and a significant other and a presence and she exists in a big way in this wacky world of ours - living in Chicago and traveling where she needs to (wait a minute... you mentioned super hero before, is she... could she be?!?!?! ) 

Let's look at a tiny, little bit of her work. 

Scape (exterior)

Scape (Interior)

Jill is an interdisciplinary artist. This phrase can take on a multitude of meanings... and that is perfectly fine. We, as humans, want to judge and desire clarification and to that response I will say this. She deals in fiber arts, papermaking, book arts, visual narratives, photo (digital and analog) and installation art. In fact, and this is a great HOORAH to me, she is coming to install the show so that ever thing falls in its place. Rare, not unheard of (see Jen Thomas, Adam Beadel, Angela Wilson and Matthew Hoffman) but certainly exciting.

                        

Beyond A Blanket (details) 

Oh hey, does anyone want to read her artist's statement (rhetorical question and not up for debate. Read it :)  )

In my work, I absorb my surroundings while conducting a constant exploration of word play and definitions. From consumed topics such as: my daily digital life, vulnerability, and neighborhood histories; each study allows for me to develop a new space for the viewer to consider. Working interdisciplinary, allows me to challenge the viewer in their space. I cross from a shared spaced into an intimate space—from installation to book to new media. My work begins with a moment had, a phrase said, or a task taken to create my narratives. I gather and reference the textures and topography that surround myself as I test my research through process with fibers, papermaking, and installation. The laborious actions and collaborations to create my details intertwine with my research–as I take a moment had, or phrases heard, and combine them with histories and data. A community audience is mandatory in my work and research. I seek to make a small change, to fuel a discussion, and bring lost stories to attention. Thread is a common medium throughout my work. It is a drawing tool to bind each layer or a structural element to build an installation. The delicacy and strength of thread holds meaning as a domestic material that I challenge in process and strength. Whether in the confines of a loom, frame, a book, or an installation space, I seek to construct artificial spaces for the viewer to discover new narratives. In Power Down, Pixel Study I specifically step back to analyze the pixels in my life and my community with engagement and collaboration from creation to audience activation.

Bubbly Creek

Jill, and most likely her adorable child, will be popping about in the Quad Cities next week ( Thursday and Friday) She has graciously offered to host a presentation of her artwork. This will be showcased at St. Ambrose University. Specifics man, specifics!!??!! Ok, calm down

Jill Lanza talks on Friday, Sept. 20th from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm in Rm. 141 of Galvin Fine Art Center, located in the fine city of Davenport, Ia.

Cross Stitch Keyboard

This means that she will also be present during the opening at the Bakery Gallery. There is rarely a person more... personable to talk to. Ask her questions, look at her work, maker her think, make your head explode!!!

So...

Who: Jill Lanza – click here to view Jill’s website

What: Power Down, Pixel Study: an exhibition of fiber arts, handmade paper, and installation techniques

When: 1) Friday, September 20^th 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Jill will host an hour long

            presentation discussing her current body of work and its multiple meanings.

2) Friday, September 20^th 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Opening Reception and

artist visit.

3) Friday, September 20^th – Saturday, October 19^th Exhibition. Tues-Sat 7:00 am-6:00 pm

Where: The Bakery Gallery. 1330 East 12^th Street Davenport, Ia 52803

Why: Community, art, interaction, baked goods

To What Extent: dialed to 11

Hello Rock

Play

Questions? You know who to ask. (hint... it's me)

Comments? Please give us feedback as to how we are doing. 

Wanna come but are still confused? Don't be. Get ahold of me. We're pretty nice folk. 

So many people! It felt like a...

One thing I don't think anyone will ever accuse me of being is prompt. This opening happened awhile ago it's true. In general I don't get images up in a timely manner, but c'mon Joseph. 

Let me say a few things about the University of Iowa's master's program opening: 1) It was by far the highest attended show in Bakery history! Clocking in at right around 100 people. It's the first time all of the food was eaten. 2) People LOVE artist's books. They may not always understand them, but they certainly love them. 3) What a great show of support from the supporters of that program. Intelligent, thoughtful, and caring. 

Another thing that can be said about me is that I am not a particularly "skilled" photographer...particularly when it comes to trying to capture the essence of an event or moment. I tend to go for the "I'm tall, raise the hand" type of photos, which I am well aware does not escalate the artistic integrity of said photos. Really Ms. Anna Pate needs to be working camera detail, but it was a big weekend and she had a particularly large parcel in her uterus. (hint: it's a baby) If anyone happened to take better or more enticing photos (which is really almost anyone) I'd love to post them here. 

Here's what I can provide for you. Enjoy. Imagine a lot more people and energy and sweat (wait, that may have been just me) well imagine a sweaty Lappie. (you DO NOT have to) 

Lot's of looking and gallery founder Heather blessing her child.

A "book table". So much good stuff and so little space. We had to set up a couple of 

Opening night spots to fit everything.

The formidable Kim Maher. Former SAU Book Arts student, current UI student, future big deal.

Radha Pandry, Islam Aly, and Zachary Stensen showin their stuff. 

OOoohh... we're so party, it's so fun (or) how to rock without even knowing it. 

How many people wanted to buy this Radha Pandry piece? Well, there were 4 offers and probably some silent wishes. 

The local Quad Cities Art Critic was taken aback, needed a breath. 

This time Craig Kelchen makes it into view.

So many patterns, such a nice spread, look at all of those conversations. 

Thank you for everyone who attended. 

Please consider following this blog. It's got all of the sporadic info about the Bakery Gallery that you could ever need. Let's talk about the next show - Local Flavor Angela Wilson. It's looking good. We can even chit-chat about shows after the shows. All of this is coming in the nearest of futures. When I am on, I'm on. I just suffer from long off periods. 

Take care and say "hi" to the fish for me. 

The Bakery Gallery

The Looky-Loos Are Fever Pitching

Here are several more examples of graduate student work that will either be appearing at the Bakery gallery this Friday or is representational of what is being show this Friday. 

Laura Capp "Xantippe"

Jill Kambs "Recovering the Archive" (may not be the title... I'm guessing"

Barbara Landes "Converging and Diverging"

Jill Kambs "Underground"

Did we mention the talk that is going on before the Opening this Friday? (I know we did because I looked below.) 

Regardless, we have the pleasure of having four University of Iowa Book Arts Grad students speaking about their work and times from 4 pm until 5 pm on Friday the 24th of February in Rm. 141 of the Galvin Fine Arts Building conveniently located in St. Ambrose University. 

WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES JOSEPH!!! Karen Carcia, Jill Kambs, Cody Geiselman, and Kalmia Strong

What other things would you like to know? I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability. 

Etched Deep

Let's try to not make TOO big of a deal about this, but have you ever seen Sarojini Jha Johnson's artwork before? Are you familiar with the word stupendous? Or perhaps the phrase "technically jaw-dropping? Do you like narratives or color or prints or food?

You need to be at this Opening. Really you do. I say that about all of them (because they're all pretty great) but you REALLY need to be at this one. You know what else? She's doing a free lecture earlier in the afternoon at St. Ambrose that you should attend. You won't regret it. 

Here's the info: 

Who:             Sarojini Jha Johnson

What:           Prints and Books: An exhibition of etchings and books by the Indiana artist.

When and Where:         a) The Opening is Friday, October 28^th  6:00 pm until 8 pm at the Bakery   Gallery conveniently located at 1330 E. 12^th street Davenport, Ia 52803. The show runs from the 28th until December 3rd. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sarojini will also be doing a (what will surely be EXTRAORDINARY)  free and open to the public lecture earlier in the day from 4:00 until 5:00 at St. Ambrose University’s Galvin Fine Art Center (Rm. 141) 

(Fox and Datura) 

A brief statement from the artist: 

My family came to the United States from India many years ago. My prints reflect my preoccupation with the knowledge of India as I experienced it through my journeys there and through stories told by my parents. Certain objects and images are persistent in my mind and emblematic or evocative of many things, from mundane to sublime. Some of these objects are plants such as datura and images of my favorite deities such as Ganesha and Lakshmi. Uprooted people often experience a longing for things that remind the of their former home. This sort of nostalgia or yearning for familiar things, especially food, has been a part of my family’s experience for as long as I can remember. My octogenarian father grows exotic vegetables with names I do not even know in English. This amuses and amazes me. I believe that the dialog about culture and nationality is vital and that the visual arts are an important forum for communication of the subtleties and variations of individual viewpoints.

Threatened and Endangered Creature Charms

The Biography:

Sarojini Jha Johnson has taught printmaking and foundations at Ball State University since 1985. She grew up in Ohio and earned undergraduate degrees in French and drawing from the University of Cincinnati. She received an MFA in printmaking from Miami University where she began working with animal and plant forms in her prints. Her work places natural forms in a fictional context. An essential theme expressed is the human desire to make time stand still in order to experience a particular moment in time. Her main medium is color intaglio printmaking, a medium that allows for great creativity and invention in terms of surface and color. Recently, she has been exploring memories and impressions of India, her country of origin. Animal images such as fish and birds still emerge in this work. 

As a side note Sarojini teaches at the school where two of us received our BFA's and was highly influential (even though I never took one of her classes) at the time. The work ethic, production and quality of the printmakers at Ball State was something to behold (and I think it still is) This is in largely due to Sarojini and her partner-in-crime David (who faithful attendees will remember from the June 2010 Bakery exhibition...see the archives) 

We're very proud to have her show at the gallery. We hope you will be too.