Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Winter News

At the end of year, it is a time to reflect- to look back and also to look ahead... 

In brief, 2016 was a great year for my studio practice. I had four solo shows: one of which was my first solo museum  show at the New Bedford Art Museum. In addition, I participated in three museum shows in Michigan, Maryland and The Netherlands. One of my public art projects became the subject of a controversy that went viral and spawned several petitions, a town proclamation, a welcome home parade and a traveling pop-up show that raised over $1000 to help breast cancer patients and their caregivers. At the end of the day, Seagull Cinderella was named the Unsung Hero by Kristen Pacheco and the People of New Bedford. And last but not least, one of my sculptures stood proudly through one of the most difficult and historic elections in modern history: Madam President, A Monument to the First Woman President of the United States and to the Dream that Every Girl Can Become the President of the USA. 

The Myth Makers (Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein) also had a great year. In April, we built The Wildwood Phoenix in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In May, we moved The Avian Avatars, our national traveling art project, from Muskegon Michigan to New Orleans, Louisiana for a two year loan. In June we built The Dance, a pair of Sandhill Cranes at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. And in October we built The Mighty Merganser at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, Maryland. Thank you to all of the generous sponsors, donors and funders of our public art projects. We are so lucky to do this work and to connect with individuals and communities through art.

On a more personal note, I lost a hero of mine, my mentor and friend Joseph Wheelwright (1948-2016). He was a great artist, a family man and one of the founding members of the Boston Sculptors Gallery.

Coming up in 2017: we will be publishing new catalogs for myself, Andy Moerlein and the Myth Makers. If you would like to receive one in the mail, please send me your mailing address. Also coming up in 2017:  Only from Maynard, Jan 18th-Feb 25th at Artspace Maynard: a group show featuring the artists in my new hometown, Love/Lust, Feb 8th-26th at the Boston Sculptors Gallery, a members group show and Valentine's inspired fundraiser, 31 Women, March 3rd-31st, a group show at the James Library & Center for the Arts in Norwell in honor of Women's History Month and The Forest Through the Trees, April 18th-May 27th at 6 Bridges Gallery in Maynard, a three person show with nature photographs by Brent Mathison and wood sculptures by Andy Moerlein and I.


Jan. 20-Feb. 5, 2016 "Mermaids," New Bedford Art Museum, New Bedford MA



Feb 24-March 25, 2016 “Zodiac: Donna Dodson,” The St. Botolph Club, Boston MA





July 10-30, 2016 "Avian Heroines," Colo Colo Gallery, New Bedford MA




Sept 7-Oct 9, 2016 "Donna Dodson: Zodiac," Boston Sculptors Gallery, Boston MA


Nov 19, 2016-Feb 26, 2017 "Avian Inspirations: Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein" Academy Art Museum, Easton MD.