red shiny cabinet decoupaged with pieces of Dog & Pony Show woodcut broadside by S.V. Medaris

Dog & Pony Show Cabinet • 14in x 7in x 4in • Salvaged materials: cabinet, thrift shop t-shirts

Opening Reception at Artisan Gallery this Friday night, April 11, 5-9pm (for multiple shows!)

Here’s the skinny on the 2 separate shows (actually, there’s 3 shows; I have work in 2 of them) at Artisan Gallery….

Artisan Gallery • 6858 Paoli Road, Paoli, Wisconsin 53508 • 608-845-6600

Habitat ReStore’s 2014 Salvage Art Show

Preview all of the Salvage artwork at at the ReStore’s online Salvage Art Show!
d_p_show_cabinet1

Dog & Pony Show Cabinet • 14in x 7in x 4in • Salvaged materials: cabinet, thrift shop t-shirts

This annual event showcases the possibilities of salvaged materials, as envisioned by area artists (including some Artisan Gallery artists). More than 50 unique works of art containing salvaged materials are donated to the Habitat ReStore and displayed at Artisan Gallery, Paoli.

The purpose of this event is to keep materials out of the landfill and raise funds to help Habitat for Humanity of Dane County build affordable housing. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Dane County.

Dog & Pony Show Broadside

Dog & Pony Show broadside • approximately 24in in height • Salvaged materials: old scrap barn wood, thrift-store t-shirts

For my pieces, I printed The Dog & Pony Show broadside onto handmade paper (that I made from 100% cotton thrift-store t-shirts). Then hand-colored the print with water-based inks, then (for the cabinet) cut the prints up into segments to decoupage onto this tiny little (ebay) wall cabinet you see here. For the ‘slab’ piece, I found some old, dirty scrap lumber in the barn, then after cleaning it and painting it, adhered the hand-colored linocut blockprint to it, following by layers of varnish. When I was washing and sanding and preparing it, the weight of the thing was ridiculously heavy, but there was also something satisfying about the heaviness of it. Reminded me of those old clay tablets in The Ten Commandments (my childhood religious education).

soon2be_red

Soon to be Chicken Pot Pie. • image area is approximately 4in x 6in. • color woodcut, letterpress on paper.

Food & Craft

From Artisan Gallery: “This show will touch on many aspects of this rich topic and will include fine craft used in the everyday dining ritual as well as non functional works ranging from still life to explorations of the politics of our food, where it comes from and how it changes us. Supporting local artisans intersects perfectly with the ideas of farm to table dining supporting the local food economy and so during this exhibit the Artisan Gallery and Creamery Cafe will be partnering with many of our wonderful local food purveyors and artists for special events throughout the exhibit with details to be announced.”

I have 5 new pieces in this show. This Soon to be Chicken Pot Pie that you see here, is one of four in a Food series I did for this show. All of the woodcuts and lead type were printed on the letterpress (Showcard Press). Getting more familiar with this wonderful, old machine, and really enjoying the speeded-up production because of it (loooove being able to actually do letterpress again!)

More…

To see all of the 2014 Shows & Events featuring the art of S.V. Medaris & Market Weight Press please visit the Exhibits/Events page.

head of chicken, woodcut in color