HOME: An Artists and Writers Project

HOME: An Artists and Writers Project HOME: An Artists and Writers Project

Gallery Exhibition
January 15 - March 6, 2015

Reading
February 19, 2015, 5:30pm Project participants:
Mindi K.

HOME: an Artists and Writers Project features the work of over thirty Kalamazoo area artists and writers expressing, deliberating, musing, mulling, lamenting, celebrating, championing, conveying, satirizing or otherwise expounding upon the broad concept of Home. The idea of Home affords a wide range of creative interpretation, extending far beyond the physical manifestation of a place, to emotiona

l, theoretical and metaphorical points of view. Home can be a place, a person or group of people, a feeling, a state of mind, or an abstract sense of belonging, wonder and warmth. The concept of Home—from house and family, to the banal minutiae of our everyday lives—is often taken for granted. Yet it is deeply personal and critical to our well being. All people, regardless of their socio-economic status, gender, race, or creed, need shelter, and we all desire love and a sense of belonging. Over the past year, many of the artists and writers in the project participated in a series of meetings and workshops, forming new connections and sharing their experiences and inspirations. Several collaborated on works for the exhibition, while others created their own personal expressions, conveyed through literary and visual media. A wide range of perspectives is represented in the exhibition, from Home as a comfort zone, to the issues of homelessness and “broken” homes. In addition to the exhibition at the Rose Netzorg and James Wilfrid Kerr Gallery at the Richmond Center for Visual Arts (January 15-March 6, 2015) that will also travel to the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers, MI (March 15-April 15, 2015), the HOME project includes a companion publication of selected works, a collaborative print suite, and a reading event at the Richmond Center (room 2008) on Thursday, February 19 at 5:30pm. The exhibition and the reading are free and open to the public. Bagnall
Marion Boyer
Ricardo De Sousa Costa
Kristin DeKam
Margaret DeRitter
Michael Dunn
Sharon Eckstein
Morry Edwards
Debbie Eisenbise
Danna Ephland
Heidi Fidler
Deborah Gang
Gail Griffin
Donna Groot
Maryellen Hains
Ladislav R. Hanka
Kathy Jennings
Elizabeth Kerlikowske
Elizabeth King
Honore Lee
Dave Marlatt
Gail Martin
Marsha Meyer
Denise Miller
Paul Nehring
Sarah Nemire
Lynn Pattison
Sydnee Peters
Robert Ed Post
Linda Rzoska
Elaine Seaman
Nancy Homan Stroupe
Rose Swartz
Vicki VanAmeyden
Mary Whalen

Reading participants:
Deborah Gang
Kathy Jennings
Margaret DeRitter
Denise Miller
Gail Martin
Kristen DeKam
Dave Marlatt
Debbie Eisenbise
Robert Ed Post
V. Van Ameyden
Marsha Meyer
Heidi Fidler
Gail Griffin
Danna Ephland
Elizabeth Kerlikowske
Morry Edwards

Support provided by the Kalamazoo Artistic Development Initiative, a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Additional support provided by the Gwen Frostic School of Art, Western Michigan University.

Today is the last day of the exhibition at the Richmond Center! We are open until 9pm. Come see the Wheel of Fortunate a...
03/06/2015

Today is the last day of the exhibition at the Richmond Center! We are open until 9pm. Come see the Wheel of Fortunate and all of the other wonderful works in the HOME show.

Artist: Mindi BagnallTitle: Wheel of FortunateHere are three more of the paintings from the installation.Much of our fat...
03/05/2015

Artist: Mindi Bagnall
Title: Wheel of Fortunate

Here are three more of the paintings from the installation.

Much of our fate is dependent on where and to whom we are born. Some lucky few are born into wealth while many others are born into poverty or worse. What happens after that is another story, but I am intrigued by the notion that our lives are initially ruled by chance as it plants us in a shack by the river, a suburb in Chicago or a penthouse in Manhattan.
This is a working wheel of fortune. Viewers are encouraged to spin the wheel and see where they might land if their fates were actually on the line at that moment. In order to reflect as accurately as possible the odds of fortune at birth, I researched housing and living conditions of people born in the United States. The images on the wheel depict the full gamut of potential outcomes from homelessness to luxury living.

03/03/2015

More haiku from artists and writers in the HOME show:

Writer: Sydnee Peters
what we spiral from
returns blooming on linden
and feathered in scent

Writer: Robert Ed Post
Sun rising as I walk
Dog owners tighten leashes
Drivers smile and wave

The garage echoes
Gunfire with a heart’s rhythm
The woodpecker is back

Frost, chilling rain
Flowers wilt in the windowbox
Tall maples blaze

Frost thick on the roof
Dad won’t start the furnace
Until Thanksgiving

Over the skylight
Crows circle and caw
The cat stretches skyward

Writer: Linda Rzoska
There between the trees
Will of the wisp
Escape

Seeking home
Light between the trees
Will of the wisp

There between the trees
Come closer
Welcome home

Writer: Nancy Stroupe
Old fence falling down

Gives fresh vista bright with light
And roses next door.

Writer: Vicki VanAmeyden
graffiti letters—
free older Lab to good home
twilight on chattel

Writer: Elizabeth King
I am a love letter
sent to "Home," who ended up here.
Your kiss, my postmark

Writer: Marsha Meyer
Nestled in routine
enough gardening to w**d
wander now & again

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Four girls, one bathroom
A lesson in forbearance
We took turns waiting

Artist: Denise Miller Title: Untitled mixed media on antique cabinet door
03/03/2015

Artist: Denise Miller
Title: Untitled
mixed media on antique cabinet door

Artist: Mindi BagnallTitle: Wheel of FortunateHere are four more of the paintings from the installation.Much of our fate...
03/03/2015

Artist: Mindi Bagnall
Title: Wheel of Fortunate

Here are four more of the paintings from the installation.

Much of our fate is dependent on where and to whom we are born. Some lucky few are born into wealth while many others are born into poverty or worse. What happens after that is another story, but I am intrigued by the notion that our lives are initially ruled by chance as it plants us in a shack by the river, a suburb in Chicago or a penthouse in Manhattan.
This is a working wheel of fortune. Viewers are encouraged to spin the wheel and see where they might land if their fates were actually on the line at that moment. In order to reflect as accurately as possible the odds of fortune at birth, I researched housing and living conditions of people born in the United States. The images on the wheel depict the full gamut of potential outcomes from homelessness to luxury living.

03/02/2015

Have you had the chance to see our exhibition HOME: An Artist and Writers Project yet?

If you haven't, be sure to come see it before this Friday at 9pm. The exhibition will be coming down after that date.

Writer: Debbie EisenbiseArtist: Mindi BagnallPhotography: Brooks EisenbiseTitle: Home Coming
03/02/2015

Writer: Debbie Eisenbise
Artist: Mindi Bagnall
Photography: Brooks Eisenbise

Title: Home Coming

03/02/2015

Today we're featuring writing by Robert Ed Post:

ONE-ROOM APARTMENT
The walls were painted the shade of egg shells.
The frayed beige carpet had seen better days.
Two sets of book shelves, oak,
overlooked an old grey mattress.
It needed Van Gogh’s bright
sun-flowers or a wild midnight blue
punctuated with flaming stars. Instead,
a scarlet scarf draped over the lamp
bathed the room in sunset.

* * * * * * *
PROMISES
Newlyweds’ promises
once filled this house,
the walls bright as a bridal gown,
as dapper as a groom’s tuxedo.
Ghosts of arguments
show beneath new paint.
The fly strips sway,
thick with memories
and pantry moths.

* * * * * *
Home
is the only place
where your papa
can dance
and play
the accordion.

* * * * * * *
THE DOGHOUSE THAT GRANDPA BUILT
Grandpa dreamed a doghouse and made it so--crates once discarded became walls caulked, then insulated with burlap. He shingled the pitched roof, hinged the door, fitted glass for the windows. “I might need to sleep there myself,” laughed Grandpa. Drivers-by remarked the pale green paint, the shade of maple leaves in April. Even a stoic dog blind to color knows the fickle wind and appreciates walls that defy winter and offer a summer shadow.

02/28/2015

Here are some haiku from artists and writers in the HOME show!

Writer: Morry Edwards
More than wood or bricks
a home stands
in our hearts and minds.

Writer: Mindi Bagnall
two sweet chicks
hot lights in the house
they have wings

Writer: Marion Boyer
We rise in one gasp—
the throw! The slide! Dust. The glove
smack—he's safe at home!

In your arm's warm curve
I sleep. Night's starry cloak slides
over us. Snow comes.

Writer: Margaret DeRitter
In the yard a wedding boat
sculpture with bells and angels
dissolves in the rain

Home is a real hard roll
and pizza made by Italians,
that New Jersey crust

Remembering spring—
maple pods and mountain laurel,
the lingering blaze of azalea

Writer: Debbie Eisenbise
Girls point at their hands—
a map of home—Michigan.
The Black Sea glistens.

My knees are islands
in a tub of warm water.
The first snow falling.

Writer: Heidi Fidler
Softly, snowflakes fall.
Feathered red lands on green bough,
Black tea burns my tongue.

Writer: Elizabeth Kerlikowske
The house big and dark
but the porch light is on
inside me

Writer: Lynn Pattison
Wasp deposits eggs
in the caterpillar---kills
to make them a home.

Address

2290 Auditorium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI
49008

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 9pm
Saturday 12pm - 6pm

Telephone

(269) 387-2455

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