Between the Lines - Altered Book Sculptures by Dawn Rosendahl

 Between the Lines: Exhibition of Altered Book Sculptures

I've had the pleasure of watching artist Dawn Rosendahl carve through pages as she creates her altered book sculptures in her Artist in Residence  studio at the Maitland Art Center, Maitland Florida. I was amazed to see the very beginning of this totem of sculpted books being built in her studio come to fruition in this exquisite tall assemblage of carved books. 
 

 

"Libra Totem" Inspired by Native American totem polls.
There are over 75 books in this piece.


The artist’s process is like an excavation, each book with its own archaeological dig. Using X-Acto knives and box cutters her process appears a bit surgical, and quite meticulous. Like a storyteller Rosendahl retells tales in a fresh new way, selectively piercing pages until the form emerges as a sculptural vision. She is able to use the text words and images to convey her message.

 "Hollywood Burning"

Rosendahl Artist Statement
I transform books into lasting sculptures, resurrecting them as they become obsolete in this age of New Media. I carve books like blocks of wood, transforming them into surrealistic works of art. The altered books tell new stories; continents, countries, and highways in an atlas shift into another world; history books are rewritten with the stories they tell; and words in an encyclopedia are shifted and layered into new meaning.

 "American Vision"

In addition to her tenacity of pushing through volumes
her work is intellectual and thought provoking.
One could find her work a valuable engaging work addition to their art collection.

 "Jackie"

I particularly enjoy the exhibition in the CityArts Factory venue as her altered books
stand out on the blue walls accentuating their sculptural forms. A must see!
Catch it by February 14th,
CityArts Factory is located at 29 S. Orange Ave Orlando Florida USA.

"Dawn Rosendahl transforms books into lasting sculptures,
resurrecting them as they become obsolete in this age of New Media"

 

Review
 Robin Maria Pedrero is a curator, public speaker, and passionate painter. Pedrero served on the board for the National Women's Caucus for Art. She is an elected signature member of the Pastel Society of America. She is awarded Best Artist in Florida 2012 by Baterby's Art Auction Gallery, listed in Florida International Magazine’s Florida Artists Hall of Fame, and the winning Artiste Wine Label artist 2012. Pedrero is an award winning artist with work in film, museum permanent collections, private collections & galleries in America, Great Britain, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, and Australia.

Seek a unique belief at "I Believe"

"I Believe" City Arts Factory Exhibition
presented by Art for All Spaces

"I Believe in Paint" by Parker Sketch

What do you believe in?  What do you not? These are questions of fundamental importance, shaping our psychological orientation toward life. Our deeply held beliefs are often challenged by the complex social, economic and political worlds in which we live.  Art for All Spaces invites you to a show about believing.  Through words and images, artists share the beliefs that inform and inspire them.  As a special treat, local poets will compose short verses based upon the artists' “I Believe” titles.

When I read the press release my preconceived expectation was that I would walk into an exhibit of Buddhas, New Age, Idols, Christian iconography, and ethereal creations. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the exhibit with the title "I Believe" defied most typical spiritual stereotypes. Walking through the main entrance of City Arts Factory in downtown Orlando several artists shared their company with me discussing their art while strolling down the hall browsing colorful abstract paintings. As I walked around the corner, my eyes were drawn and I stopped conversing.  I know I flashed a giant smile at Parker Sketch's "I Believe in Paint". I repeated out loud "I believe in paint". Like something from Peter Pan, I know I felt the sparkles of magic in the presence of a painting of the word "paint.".  I walked up to the art smiling all the more to dip into Namoi Butterfield's poem "I Believe in Paint"!

Awards were given to the BEST Poem and this one is a winner!

           

Artist and Sculptor Linda Brandt had several pieces of intriguing
works of art which spontaneously brought those of us near by to delve into discussion.
I am fond of her piece titled "Nostrils", simple yet intricate with delicate curls. 

I found the connection to "Dragon's" "nostrils"  in Naomi's poem serendipitous.

"Nostrils" by Linda Brandt

Quite often I have viewed the work of  glass artist Saulius J. Jankauskas in the Orlando art scene admiring his painterly way of working with glass. His classic symbolism of the vine is both elegant and contemporary in his work "Retro Flora II". 

"Retro Flora II" by Saulius Jankauskas

I encourage you to catch this exhibit filled with many artists whose works I admire.

Participating artists include; Ken Austin ,Linda Brant ,Marsha DeBroske, Stephanie Stalvey, Erick D Marquez ,Kim Mathis, Janae Corrado, Doris Smart, Rik Hayes ,Patricia Byron, Parker Sketch, Judy Batterson, Georgie Pratt, Bonnie Sprung, Tre Harris, Renee Wilson, Florita Realin, Saulius Jankauskas, and Cathy Hempel,Kayla Prommersberger

Art for All Spaces Art For All Spaces provides curatorial services for commercial and residential spaces, event production, promotion, and artist representation. You may contact, Brad Biggs at 407-450-2255, or
Christina Faille via email at artforallspaces@gmail.com .

 

City Arts Factory 29 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801

Phone:(407) 648-7060

Review

Robin Maria Pedrero is a curator, public speaker, and passionate painter. Pedrero served on the board for the National Women's Caucus for Art.  She is an elected signature member of the Pastel Society of America. She is awarded Best Artist in Florida 2012 by Baterby's Art Auction Gallery, listed in Florida International Magazine’s Florida Artists Hall of Fame, and the winning Artiste Wine Label artist 2012. Pedrero is an award winning artist with work in film, museum permanent collections,  private collections & galleries in America, Great Britain, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, and Australia.

"I Live in Orlando But Sometimes I Dream of Other Places" Gallery at Avalon Island

"I Live in Orlando But Sometimes I Dream of Other Places" 

Gallery at Avalon Island

Artist Lesley Silvia with her Paper cut  "Balancing Act" 22x30"

 Lesley Silvia's passion for paper cutting was spurred from her heritage. Scherenschnitte means “scissor cuts” in German, and is the art of paper cutting design which was founded in Switzerland  and Germany in the 1500′s, and brought to Colonial America in the 1700s by immigrants who settled primarily in Pennsylvania.
The art of Silvia's paper cuts takes on storytelling. One interesting aspect we discussed  is how she can depict gore, such as a beheading via a Silhouette, utilizing the art of cutting outlines out of black paper where upon the viewer can behold the tale without a bloodied image. Her creations are striking from a distance and even more intriguing up close as you see all of the tiny hand cuttings that make up the original artworks.

See more of the exhibit here The Art of  Lesley Silvia

"We love Orlando, but sometimes we need new adventures. This show is about dreaming and exploring. The artists featured are Bill Tarpley, Lesley Silvia, Chris Tobar Rodriguez, Tess Bo, Natalie Ayala, Mike Linger, Hio Oih, David Cookson, Maxwell Hartley, Richard Arm, Cody Zeigler, me, Adam J. Thaxton and Ivan Riascos. Jared Silvia will be DJing." - Gallery at Avalon Island

 

 

Installation by Sarah Beck

A few of us explored and discussed this installation by Sarah Beck
where I interpreted the shape of the piece to be a city or buildings. 
I like the color blocking and massive draping of this piece
created with trash bags.

 "The City" a series of graphic mixed media artworks by Chris Tobar

Tobar born and raised in Chicago, IL  attended the art Institute at the age of 12; one of the youngest students in many of his classes. He moved to Florida in 2005 to attended Full Sail University for Recording Arts but found his love in type, color and expression in Digital Art and Design. Tobar is a local Orlando multimedia artist and graphic designer, working with spray paint, wallpaper paste, paper and exacto knives.

I like the raw wood ground showing through this series. Tobar's City Series give me the feel of those quick flashes of driving through a city and looking through the glass window. The graphic cityscape pieces attract wanderlust taunting you to desire more.

The Gallery at Avalon Island is a part of the Downtown Arts District. It is a contemporary art space that displays work by emerging and established artists. The gallery is located in the historic Queen Anne style Roger’s building. It was built in 1886, and is the oldest operational building in Orlando.
Gallery at Avalon Island is a Contemporary Art Gallery located at 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL
Daily Operating Hours – Thursday-Saturday 11:00am-6:00pm

Catch this exhibit in January - mid February 2014

Review

Robin Maria Pedrero is a curator, public speaker, and passionate painter. Pedrero served on the board for the National Women's Caucus for Art.  She is an elected signature member of the Pastel Society of America. She is awarded Best Artist in Florida 2012 by Baterby's Art Auction Gallery, listed in Florida International Magazine’s Florida Artists Hall of Fame, and the winning Artiste Wine Label artist 2012. Pedrero is an award winning artist with work in film, museum permanent collections,  private collections & galleries in America, Great Britain, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, Canada, Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia.