Thursday, April 2, 2015

Spring News

Friday April 24th- International Sculpture Day 2015!

International Sculpture Day, or IS Day, is an annual celebration event held worldwide on April 24 to further the ISC’s mission of advancing the creation and understanding of sculpture and its unique, vital contribution to society. IS Day will include a wide range of events, openings, educational and promotional activities around the world to include, but not limited to open day at museum/sculpture park, open studios tours, demonstrations, workshops, panels, talks, presentations, discussions, parties and openings, sculpture exhibits, shows, tours…


Please join us for our final Artist Talk and Tour in NYC: If you have missed Avian Avatars and the Myth Makers in New York City, this is the last day to meet the artists and discuss the challenges and joys of team art making. Join the dynamic collaborative, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein for the closing events at either 5p or 7p. Walk through with artists followed by tea/coffee and conversation at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, 1412 Broadway @ 39th St.

Sarah Cascone from Artnet and The Huffington Post, recently picked this project as her number one spring public art show in NYC, and the Nashua Telegraph published a great write up on April 2nd about our story. Dr. Jill Kiefer also posted a nice write up on her blog April 1st, What about art? Lydia Warren posted a feature story ... "...went bird-watching on Broadway" on her blog, Today's the Day I.


Monday April 27th- Launch Day of the Avian Avatars at The Muskegon Museum of Art in Michigan

Avian Avatars by The Myth Makers: Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein

April 27, 2015 – May 1, 2016 in Muskegon MI

Avatar: a deliberate descent of a deity to Earth, an "appearance" or a "manifestation". ~Wikipedia

Since the beginning of human history cultures have identified birds as mythic and transformational. Their seasonal plumage has indicated change, signaled migration and foretold impending weather events. The Phoenix, Garuda, Horus, Ra, Thunderbird and angel iconography all address transcendence and rebirth. The world’s most symbolic birds – the Raptor, Owl, Crow, Pigeon, and Falcon - are flocking to Muskegon, Michigan, to consider our changing world.

The Muskegon Museum of Art is proud to announce that The Avian Avatars will be here on April 27, 2015, and they will reside in downtown Muskegon for a full year. Update: M-Live covered this event.



Support for this project is provided by Hooker DeJong Architects and Engineers, the Hines Corporation, Eagle Alloy, Nichols, Alcoa Corporation, Annoesjka and Alan Steinman, Jan and Chris Deur, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, and The Cheese Lady. Additional support provided by Verplank Truck Company and the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor/Third Street Grill. This project has been organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art.



Each monumental bird has something to say. They speak in different voices and from unique perspectives, but this gathering of Avian Avatars raises an alarm, speaking to modern humans who should heed their varied stories about the current human impact on their changing natural world.

Get to know The Realist, The Great Spirit, The Scold, The Tourist, and the Tastemaker this year in Muskegon! Update: Brandon Champion posted a preview on M-Live April 5, 2015. The Holland Sentinel posted a preview on April 8, 2015.



Tuesday April 28th- Book release day for The Contemporary Art of Nature- Mammals by Ashley Rooney

Ashley Rooney has assembled a comprehensive international survey of contemporary artists who use animal imagery in their art work. Featuring stellar artists such as Lori Field, Amy Ross, Shelley Reed, Wendy Klemperer, Peter DeCamp Haines, Susan Jamison, Resa Blatman and Elli Crocker this anthology represents the cutting edge of painting, sculpture and drawing being made today. I was honored to be asked to contribute the introduction, and even more pleased to receive an advanced copy. This gorgeous 9"x12" full color hardcover book is a must have for all the animal lovers and art aficionados out there! Get your copy today and look for an announcement about our upcoming group show at Francesca Anderson Fine Art in Lexington with a selection of artists from the book in June.


From the Press Release: Donna Dodson is featured in Contemporary Art of Nature MAMMALS, a collection of work by 98 international artists, displaying the range of animal art created today. The book reflects the continuing dialogue artists are having with animals worldwide and increases our awareness of the natural world and its functioning. The 450 color images show traditional works to atavistic totemic approaches to the cutting edge. Materials include ceramic, bronze, textiles, paint, wood, leather, and clay, as well as 3D digital techniques. Two renowned artists introduce the book. Donna Dodson, and Carel P. Brest van Kampen.