There Ain't Nothin' Wrong

Okay... so this is part two of a small series of posts that represents the re-opening of the Bakery Gallery.

This particular talky-too is about our next artist who will be exhibiting...

JEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNN   THHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMAAAASS

or for those of you NOT use to bullet-time - Jen Thomas. 

So you might be thinking "Joseph. there are many J.T.'s in the world" (not Justin Timberlake) how do I know which one you are talking about. My answer would be "The important, cool one" She's not the one rock climbing in the picture or wearing an entirely too small bikini or twerking. She is the one from Chicago...the one that makes pretty stellar art, whether it be a drawing, a print or a book (or other multi-pollinated things) 

(this is her pulp-painting... taken from happyfaceschicago.blogspot.com)

Here is a bitty-bio about her:

Jen Thomas is an educator, book artist, printmaker, and writer based in Chicago, Illinois. She earned her B.F.A. in Communication Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University; studied printmaking at Plymouth University, Exeter, England; and completed her M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Book & Paper Arts at Columbia College Chicago. When she’s not drawing medical anomalies and taxidermied animals on handmade paper, she spends her time editioning etchings of trailer parks under her own imprint, Veronica Press, and running her new exhibition and workshop space, werkspace. Jen teaches illustration and graphic design at the American Academy of Art and Illinois Institute of Art, in addition to community book arts workshops across Chicago. Her writing has appeared such publications as little bang, The Bonefolder, Punk Planet, Afterimage, and Blister Packs; her artist’s books are featured in 1000 Artists’ Books: Exploring the Book as Art.

You may have noticed that bit about her running her own gallery that hosts exhibitions as well as workshops. Welllllllll... you should check out the site too. If you are in Chicago or visiti it with any sense of frequency I would also like to speak very highly of its offerings. 

WERKSPACE

The intrepid collector can also find her work for sale at a little site (maybe you've heard of it) called ETSY. 

Veronica Press

Ok, ok get on with it. What is this artist all about? Well, how about this:

Spinster

or perhaps just a little bit of this...

Corset 6

I'm not even opposed to show just a tiny bit of, this...

divine mandate

Alright, so we've seen the work, but what the heck does it mean?!?!?! Well, it just so happens that we have an answer for that too: 

Over the last ten years, one by one, I have watched nearly all of my friends succumb to their urges to have children, an urge that I feel pretty certain that I have never felt. Their lives have changed, presumably for the better, and mine has, too. Now, instead of discussing our careers, world events, or pop culture, those moms and I discuss the finer points of spit-up, eating habits, and poop color. I’m fascinated and repulsed simultaneously, certain now that I need not ever have a child of my own. I can just play with their babies and return them when their diapers are full, their stomachs are empty, and I need to get back to work. As a woman, does that make me selfish? Unfulfilled? Inadequate? Incomplete? We should all want to have children, right?

The work in Nullipara explores the societal ramifications of a woman’s choice not to have children, as well as the greater historical evolution of pregnancy’s impact on women, both physically and emotionally. I’ve juxtaposed derogatory words like “spinster” and “old maid,” originally relatively benign in their meanings, with imagery of now archaic medical practices. Vice-like maternity corsets, forceps, dead rabbits and mice have all been replaced by organic cotton and pregnancy tests that require a potential mother-to-be only to urinate on a plastic stick and wait five minutes. In rethinking both changing medical practices and ideas about women’s roles, I created pastel drawings on handmade paper sewn with traditional embroidery stitches—women’s work to pass the time while carrying a child. These quilted drawings serve to fill that imaginary void in a woman’s life—a void that doesn’t necessarily need filling. 

I think we should end this with the pertinent information that you all so desire. 

The Who: Jen Thomas

The What: Nullipara

The When: July 26th - August 30th... The actual Opening will take place on the 26th from 6 pm - 8pm. Lots of food and great dj'ing will accompany. 

The Where: The Bakery Gallery: Conveniently located at 1330 E. 12th Street. Davenport, Ia 52803

The Why: To Start it back up. 

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. 

Roar of the Rar Rar

This seems like an appropriate image to start of the next post about our upcoming artist - Ms. Rebecca Ann Rakstad (Reba Rar Rar for you trendy gals and guys)!

Rebecca likes wood type. Likes it a lot. She tends to make amazing/beautiful/funny/poignant etc... etc... with this wood and type. Oh yes and ink too. Let's not forget that. (I digress) Anyway, Rebecca is going to be having a solo show at the ol' Bakery here in the very near future. It'll run from Friday, August 26th until Saturday, October 22nd


Let's look at a piece...

Type is letterpress, image is 4-color offset (I think) If I am wrong I stand corrected. 

Now it's time for that bit about the who's and the what's and the where's (oh boy do I ever love this part)


Who is the who:

Chicago artist Rebecca Ann Rakstad

What is the what: 

"Rar Rar Press" a collection of letterpress posters and print work

Where is the where:

The Bakery Gallery is conveniently located at 1330 E. 12th street, Davenport Iowa 52803. Copious amounts of delicious food will be served.

When is the when: 

We're doing an earlier Opening this month - 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on August 26th. The exhibition will run from August 26th until October 22nd. The Bakery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm. Buy a brownie or better yet... some pizza.

This woman does NOT kid around. 

We here at the Gallery are particularly proud that Rebecca has agreed to do a FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC presentation on her work the afternoon before the Opening. WHAT!!! That's right, she's driving on over from Chicago and will be here to speak to you, yes you! (The plural you) 

Details, give us details!

When: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm on Friday, August 26th

Where: St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Art Center Rm. 141

How: Through the power of speech, bending light and internet delivering tubes

Why: Because she is interesting and we want to give you an opportunity to hear her speak. 

A frequent statement in many of our lives. 

Artist’s Statement:

 Rebecca Ann Rakstad (aka Reba Rar Rar) took her first letterpress class in 2004 and Rar Rar Press was born shortly thereafter. Rar Rar uses handset wood and metal type with a Vandercook press to make postcards, posters, notebooks and more, drawing equal inspiration from pop culture and irony as from the craft and history of hand-lettered prints. Rakstad received her BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA from Columbia College Chicago, while using her DIY skills for the Midwest punk scene, booking shows between making zines and record covers. Her zines transformed into artist books, then when free copies became scarce, Rakstad took to letterpress to fully expand control over the printmaking process. The works of Rar Rar Press have appeared in indie craft fairs all over the country, including: Renegade, Bust Craftacular, Crafty Bastards, and Art vs. Craft. Rakstad is a member of the Chicago Printers Guild and in 2011, Rar Rar moved into a new location in Pilsen that will soon host workshops and events, so everyone can learn how to be a little more DIY.

For those of you who don't know how this whole shindig work here is an example:

up above we the type.

down below we see the print.

oh it's so true. 

Finally I encourage you to check out Rebecca's etsy page (http://www.etsy.com/shop/rarrarpress) where many of her posters and postcards are for sale at any hour of the day. You can always buy from us too...there will be plenty to choose from and Rebecca is bringing lots and lots and lots.

As always 100% of the money that comes from selling work at the Bakery is given to the artist. We do not take a commission. We just love showing you new stuff. (If you ever feel like donating...well that's a different story) So what I'm saying is support our artists and buy some visual culture!

See you there.