GALLERY 1 - ASSEMBLAGES BY ROBERTA

GALLERY 3 - Love One Another - Activism In Art

Friday, September 29, 2017

"To Everything There Is A Season...."

"To everything there is a season..."... and one very long season, that changed my life in many ways, is now changing.. making sense (cents) of things could be the title to this assemblage of treasures I put together to explain this transition.

 I feel like I am in a whirlwind, spinning in what could be many different directions... yet grounded in Christ's sacrifice and love. I was pretty much a child, 30 years old, when I started as Treasurer at Christ Church, which turned into what would eventually become Parish Administrator. I grew in faith and learned so much along the way ministering with 5 different priests at Christ Church, and several supply clergy. On this journey, I know angels were watching over me, in many ways, and I was even blessed to literally hear them singing over me in joy at some of my decisions for Christ. I have so many to thank for the opportunities I have had!

So now, this season is ending officially on September 30th... I feel it is now a time to laugh, a time to dance, a time to embrace, a time to use what God has given me in a new and different way, to help others, and to share Christ's love. I look forward to it.. and am excited, and thankful for what the next season holds.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Lapsarian II - The Fall

Full view of The Lapsarian
Eve Holding Apple
This is a second assemblage I've done depicting the story of Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent (often depicted as a snake), and eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, (often depicted as an apple tree). 
The Apple with core inside



Friday, September 22, 2017

Saint of the Woodlands

 
Setting out the objects to
put together.
Legs and shoes attached
Ready for
the arms.
Staining and working
on the back of the box
A Woodland Saint in the making.... Thanks to hubby John for his help too!
Side View
Front View
Inside waiting to go
to the Fontana Library
Art Show in October

The arms, croquet stakes
and salad tongs as hands
Husband John helping me attach the crutch legs
to the box body part.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Penny Jars

Glued an open zipper on a jar
then mod-podged ripped tissue
paper on the outside.
 A fun assemblage for the upcoming Holiday Art Market at Gallery 223.  These penny banks would be fun jars for collecting the loose change you find in your pockets, on the street or in a phone booth, etc. 
Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck!

Tissue paper drying, then stained to
darken it and make it look aged.

Finished penny jars for sale.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

The Pear Nibbler

My latest assemblage for your viewing entertainment...
THE PEAR NIBBLER
The inspiration for this piece was from an old 1893 “mug shot”, featuring a notorious, hardened criminal, 23 month old François Bertillon, who was caught nibbling all the pears from a basket.
While this may look like a girl, little boys used to have long hair and were kept in dresses while they were young back in the 1800’s. The dress part was for convenience before they were potty trained, the hair was considered youthful and baby cute.
This mug shot is adorable, but it is also remarkable as a historical artifact: it is one of those rare objects that documents a part of history while also giving us a glimpse into the life and personality of its creator, the father of young François, Alphonse Bertillon. Alphonse was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who was responsible for standardizing the modern mug shot. (Fun fact: the profile shot was included because Bertillon thought our ear shape might become a unique identifier, in the days before fingerprinting).
Capturing a lighthearted moment in his life and relationship with his son, this photograph brings Bertillon to life as a real man and a father. One can’t help but look at this photograph and imagine the exchange between naughty son and bemused father, perhaps as he worked on inventing mug shots in his workshop one afternoon.
Mug shots have become one of the most iconic, recognizable photographic forms in the 20th century; this image is special because it infuses this relic of visual culture with the personal history of its inventor.
I have embellished the story a bit, creating the WANTED/REWARD picture frame, and the nibbled pears, with teeth added, and an expression from one of the pears that reads “It wasn’t me.” There is an old 1800’s baby shoe that may have been the type that François would have worn in his attempted get away.

This mug shot is adorable, but it is also remarkable as a historical artifact: it is one of those rare objects that documents a part of history while
also giving us a glimpse into the life and personality of its creator, the father of young François, Alphonse Bertillon. Alphonse was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who was responsible for standardizing the modern mug shot. (Fun fact: the profile shot was included because Bertillon thought our ear shape might become a unique identifier, in the days before fingerprinting).
Capturing a lighthearted moment in his life and relationship with his son, this photograph brings Bertillon to life as a real man and a father. One can’t help but look at this photograph and imagine the exchange between naughty son and bemused father, perhaps as he worked on inventing mug shots in his workshop one afternoon.
Mug shots have become one of the most iconic, recognizable photographic forms in the 20th century; this image is special because it infuses this relic of visual culture with the personal history of its inventor.
I have embellished the story a bit, creating the WANTED/REWARD picture frame, and the nibbled pears, with teeth added, and an expression from one of the pears that reads “It wasn’t me.” There is an old 1800’s baby shoe that may have been the type that François would have worn in his attempted get away.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Working at Gallery 223, Lake Geneva

I am a member of a local art gallery, Geneva Lake Arts Foundation's Gallery 223, at 223 Broad St., Lake Geneva, WI.  My daughter is also a member.  We joined about a year and a half ago, and have enjoyed our time of meeting other artists, volunteering at the Gallery, participating in the Art Shows, and selling our art!  I have sold about 15- 18 items since I joined, and it has been very encouraging for me in many ways.  Usually, when Kasey and I work the Gallery, we bring various work to do between visitors.  I sometimes bring bookkeeping, other times art project that I am working on.  Today I brought some fun art things, that will be part of the Christmas Holiday Art Show, that is part of the Winter Show that will also be going on at Gallery 223.  Kasey captured me working on these penny bottles.. "A Penny For Your Thoughts", that I am hoping to have at the Holiday Show.

I love that my daughter and I share this same interest in creating art, and that we can work together at the Gallery too!

Saturday, September 2, 2017

What The Cluck? ... sometimes you just have to say it!

 "What The Cluck"

My inspiration was the vintage photo of Henri Groulx and his pet rooster, France, circa 1920.
Note the cigarette in the boy's mouth, and the shoes he is wearing.. a similar shoe is featured in this assemblage... the "box" is actually a letter tray for a desk, and is decorated with croquet post stakes, a cast iron rooster on the pedestal, a spittoon on top, a small old pipe, pool ball, dice and many smoked cigarettes, ...this boy loves smoking as much as his rooster, it seems.. *lol*