For further updates, please see social media: @malaurabrickerart, @frogpatchpaperandworks, @mab13artstudios
Continuing On
I’ve been neglectful posting. 2022 was a hard health year. I stepped away from many things to deal with a a long-term health issue. I am better, but changed. I won’t stop creating, but I will adapt. Here’s to new creative opportunities in the coming year!
New Spaces
This summer I took some time away from creating new works to create something even better - a new studio! This was definitely a “group project.” Family and friends gathered together to help with demolition of old spaces, prep for new, and finish out the new space. A new 10’ x 20’ buidling overlooks my garden and I can finally reclaim my old workspace as part of the house. My art bits, which clutter corners of my house, are slowing finding their way to the new space. But this isn’t just a space for me. I’m making plans which hopefully can be announced before the end of the year. Change isn’t always easy, but it is necessary for growth. Couldn’t have made this change without my family. Thank you!
Growing Season
It seems appropriate halfway through the vegetable garden’s growing season that my art grows as well. I’m wrapping up projects and commissions during the month of June in anticipation of some time away. I’m not going far, just to my backyard to build a new art studio! The build will culminate with some time with my sisters as they help me decorate, design, and physically move everything in my studio from one location to the next. I’ll still be checking my email and will start scheduling new commissions beginning in August. For updates on the build process, please check out my Facebook page, Facebook.com/malaurabrickerart.
My Art Apothecary
I’m often asked where I get all the botanicals I use in my art. Some people have told me they envision me working in some sort of enchanted-forest-type environment, or a wizard’s greenhouse with all manner of growing things waiting their turn to be added to the artist’s potion. Sorry, my collection of plants is not that glamorous nor fantastical. (Although honestly, I wouldn’t mind if it were!)
My dried flora come from everywhere and anywhere: a friend’s yard, a thoughtfully gestured bouquet, leftover florist bits, something found along the side of an empty road, my own garden. I do like to think I’m assembling an “art apothecary” of sorts - each item is carefully dried, pressed, stored in its own meticulously labeled container and placed neatly on my shelves. To date I’ve amassed about 100 different types of vegetation and natural fibers, ranging from larkspur to coconut husks, My work space is small so I’ve become more focused on organization. This makes it very easy to go where inspiration leads and choose which botanical to add to which piece of art.
Perhaps one day I will grow out of my small space and build that wizarding greenhouse after all.
Beginnings
We’ve made it halfway through the first month of 2021! Personally, I feel that in and of itself is something to celebrate.
Typically, I spend the beginning of a new year plotting how to “get ahead".” This year, my goal is to help others get ahead. This year I’m looking to help some artists close to me launch their dreams. There’s lots of details and planning to do, so stay tuned. Hopefully soon you can help me celebrate their new beginnings.
An Experience
Earlier this week I picked up three pieces of art I submitted to an art show, the DrewBoy Creative 2020 “Blue Show.” This amazing organization hosts an annual color-themed exhibit. Originally scheduled for a March 2020 opening, it was an unusual experience to remove my work from the walls of a show that never was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The works lining the walls were intense and beautiful, each featuring the color blue in some way. And yet, there were no patrons, no viewers, no one to appreciate the time, talent and creativity of the artists or of those who hosted the show.
My art is temporarily home. It is posted on my website. It awaits its new home. Like so many other artists, we wait. And we create. We will never stop creating.
Something New
As 2019 comes to a close, experimenting with something a little different—paper casting. Here’s my first attempt at some shapes, trying to get the pulp mix just right to be used in my collages.
Fall Bits
Welcome to my blog, Bits and Pieces. Seems oddly appropriate my first blog entry is about collecting bits of fall foliage to press and use in future projects. I never quite know what I’ll need or when I’ll use it, but always a good idea to pick it up when you see it. The photo is before pressing. They have since been pressed, bottled, and tucked away in my my “floral apothecary.”
WE'RE LIVE!
Well, the day is finally here. My website is now live! Please check back from time to time as I add more content and continue building the site.