“Lake Superior Flora on Boulder” by Julia C. Spencer
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Mixed Media on Paper
I’ve always been inspired by nature. I often look at the ground when I walk and find tiny treasures like a mushroom sprouting, plants growing in sidewalk cracks, moss on trees. My favorite place to explore is Lake Superior’s shoreline. I’ve collected rocks there since I was young. That collection and my affinity towards rocks inspired me to work with semiprecious stone beads in my jewelry.
Currently, I’m into making geometric patterns on watercolor backgrounds. I enjoy working loosely in watercolor and I enjoy the unpredictability of working wet-on-wet.
When doing representational art, I do quirky animal portraits, often in ballpoint pen, which I think is an under utilized medium.
PROVIDED BY:
Avivo Artworks
Since 2004, Avivo ArtWorks, formerly Spectrum ArtWorks, has been working to support professional artists living with mental illness. Located at the Lighthouse, a Community Support Program in Minneapolis, the program meets its mission through a community-focused and recovery-based approach. Its multi-faceted art studio and programming assists artists at reaching and maintaining their artist-related goals such as making new art, connecting with other artists, and accessing exhibition and grant opportunities.
In addition to this, each year the program organizes a new exhibition that aims to meet its mission to challenge stigma and raise mental health awareness. In 2015, the program partnered with the Minneapolis Institute of Art to bring “In Conversation,” a residency and exhibition that featured 17 artists from the program. Each participant created a new piece of art that was in conversation with an object or artwork in the museum’s collection. In 2017, Avivo ArtWorks facilitated “The Big Picture,” a group exhibition that presented artwork that explored wellness in recovery through art. “To Really See,” opening August 2017 at the Hennepin County Library – Central Minneapolis, is Avivo ArtWorks first every traveling group exhibition. The show explores the medication-taking experience and will feature artwork from artists who use Avivo ArtWorks services and artists from across the state of Minnesota.