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Lisa Houck
Lisa’s studio
An interview with artist Lisa Houck
Tell us a little about your background.
I studied printmaking at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) in the 1970’s. I have been working as an artist in the Boston area for over forty years. I work in many different media, and I have done a few public art projects over the years. I have recently moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where I have a studio next to my home.
When did you know you were an artist? Was there a particular pivotal moment?
Around the age of thirteen, I had a wonderful art teacher in my public school in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He inspired me to think of art as something you could do for your life’s work. I still have a pastel self-portrait that I did in his class.
Who are your biggest influences?
I love the art of Paul Klee, and I wrote my MFA (Master of Fine Arts) thesis on his work when I studied at the Museum School in Boston in the late eighties. I like hand-crafted objects of all kinds and I am drawn to the textures and patterns in textiles. I like honest well-made things that show the touch of the hand.
Where do you find inspiration?
I am inspired by the variety and texture in the natural world. I am inspired by color and the love of making things.
What do you like to do for fun?
Yoga, gardening, walking, knitting, beading, cooking, and a bit of reading.
What are you reading right now?
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout and Overstory by Richard Powers.
What is your favorite medium(s)
Mosaics, Ceramics, Printmaking and everything else.
Can you describe your process?
I begin by laying out my materials and getting interested in certain colors and just starting something. Although my work can be drawn and planned out in advance, it changes in the process of making it. I like to have lots of things going at once so I can move around between pieces. I make very orderly pieces out of a chaotic mess of materials surrounding me. I sometimes look at photos and books I have collected to get me started on a new idea.
How is everything (Covid-19, social distancing, wearing masks, lock downs, shutdowns, the political environment, Black Lives Matter and the protests against police brutality to name a few) that is now being called our “New Normal” affecting your work and your life?
I am a very social creature and I am finding it difficult that I can’t have open studios or go to museums or art openings or host dinner parties. I am grateful for the beautiful space where I can work, but I am struggling to accept the isolation. I am very disturbed by the lack of leadership in this country during the crises we are facing, and I am hopeful that we will head in a new direction after the election.
Katja Oxman (American, b. Germany, 1942)
Unsuspected Turns, 1985
color etching on paper
Sally Dean Mello’s recreation of Katja Oxman’s print Unsuspected Turns
Rufus Hathaway (United States, 1770–1822)
Judith Winsor, 1795
Oil on canvas
Anders Zorn (Sweden, 1860-1920)
Zorn and His Wife, 1890
Etching
Angelica Kauffmann (Switzerland, 1741–1807), The Two Old Students (Die Beiden Studenten Alten), 1763, published by John Boydell (England, 1720-1804), etching
Andrea Andreani (Italy, c.1560-c.1623)
A Woman Contemplating a Skull, 1592
After Alessandro Casolini
Sekino Jun’ichirô (Japan, 1914-1988)
My Family, 1957
color woodcut
MUSING AROUND AT HOME!
Museums around the world are inviting people who are staying at home during quarantine to reinterpret artworks from their collection. Using themselves, their pets and items from the house, people are coming up with clever and amusing photographs and sharing them on social media.
We decided to jump on the bandwagon and have some fun!
Our Education Coordinator, Sally Dean Mello, arranged this still life after the color etching from the museum’s collection.
We have chosen five images from our permanent collection for you to try. Have some fun! We will spotlight a few of them in our museletter. Email your images to sally@artcomplex.org, or post on Instagram- please tag us @theartcomplexmuseum and use the #inspiredbyacm.
Laura Tryon Jennings
An interview with one of The Art Complex Museum’s painting instructors, Laura Tryon Jennings
Tell me a little about your background. When did you know you wanted to do what you are doing now?
Since I was a young girl, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I would spend all day drawing or creating something. My mother would encourage me to go out to play. Sometimes I took her advice, but often I would stand at the end of the driveway waiting for what seemed a reasonable amount of time to go back to making art. I majored in art in college and minored in graphic design. I always felt there was nothing else for me to be but an artist. The first seven or eight years after college I was a graphic designer, feeling it was a more practical choice. I continued to paint for myself. After my second child was born (I have three children, two boys and a girl), I decided to try being a full-time artist. I woke up at 5:00 am. Monday thru Friday to enable three to four hours of uninterrupted painting. I squeaked out another few hours in between naps and trying to keep the children entertained with toys at my feet while painting. I entered my first juried show and won best in show, which gave me the courage to keep going. I was fortunate to receive some awards, attention, exhibits, and sales, in those first few years which made me feel I was on the right path. Through the nineties and early two-thousands I was lucky to maintain a steady presence in the art scene. A series of difficult life events, including divorce and the death of my sweet mother, along with a horrible economy forced me to reevaluate how to go about being an artist. With the new challenge of being a single mum to three adventurous adolescents, I began teaching oil painting and became an expressive arts consultant/facilitator while continuing to paint. I ended up loving both of these other hats in the art world and for a while they were a bit more in the driver’s seat. After a few years of managing this balancing act, the reduced attention to my painting just wasn’t feeling right anymore. Now, I have blissfully returned painting to the driver’s seat while still incorporating teaching and expressive arts.
Who are your biggest influences?
There are so many artists. Off the top of my head the more well-known influences would be Edward Hopper, Pierre Bonnard, Jamie Wyeth, David Hockney, William Merritt Chase, Henri Matisse, and Edgar Dega. I’m constantly inspired by the artists I meet and exhibit with locally and in this region. I feel like I’m part of a community. I need to mention my mum too for her sense of fun, whimsy, creativity, perseverance, ambition, caring and love..among many more attributes.
Where do you find inspiration?
The light always informs and drives my work. The subtleties of light. Painting the stream of light falling into a room while the nuances of the landscape/seascape light play through the window vista grabs me on a core level. I tend to like cozy, quiet, scenic spaces.
What do you like to do for fun?
Anything involving my sweetie and my family! I also like hiking, yoga, bike riding, going to hear live music, hanging out with friends, and reading. A favorite activity is on Sundays. grabbing the Boston Globe, breakfast sandwiches, ice lattes, a little jazz music, and heading to the beach for a couple hours in the morning with my husband.
What are you reading right now?
I usually have a few going at the same time. Right now it’s Mary Oliver’s A Thousand Mornings, Anya Yurchyshyn’s My dead parents : A Memoir, Julie Andrews A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, and I always have some psychological and art books in the mix.
What is your favorite medium?
Oil painting on linen or panel.
Can you describe your process?
I’ve lived in coastal and scenic areas for a good part of my life. The connection to nature and beauty surrounding me is part of the energy I need to paint. The passion to create usually comes from a deeply felt place or concept. For instance, my rumpled sheets or “bedscape” series came from a very transitional period in my life. I tend to go through different phases of how I work on a painting. The one I’m currently using is first to tone a canvas and then sketch on top of the toning. I paint at least 2 -3 layers. My “wow” factor is at the very beginning of the painting. This is where all of the possibilities are in front of me!
How or where can people see your work?
I’m preparing for a solo exhibit at the Woodman Shimko Gallery in Provincetown, MA from July 24-August 6, 2020, which I’ve been assured WILL happen. My work is currently in a traveling group exhibit titled “Mel Leipzig and Friends” which began at the Art Complex Museum in 2017 and was exhibited at the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, MA in 2019 and will proceed to the Provincetown Art Association and Museum in 2022 (date TBA, check back on my website for dates). I’m represented by Copley Society of Art in Boston, MA, Elizabeth Moss Gallery in Falmouth, ME, Woodman Shimko Gallery in Provincetown, MA and Sunne Savage, in Winchester, MA. My work can also be seen on Instagram under Laura_Tryon_Jennings, my website at www.LTryonJennings.com, and in my Marshfield, MA studio by appointment.
Click below for a virtual visit to Laura’s home studio.
An interview with The Art Complex Museum’s yoga instructor Kezia Bacon
Tell me a little about your background.
I’ve been teaching yoga since 1997- almost half my life! I did most of my training at Kripalu, in the Berkshires, and try to get back there regularly to learn more. I teach several weekly public classes, including Wednesdays at The Art Complex, and also work with several private clients. (These days they are all online, because of Social Distancing). I also teach various workshops (“Meditation Basics” is popular), and run the outdoor Yoga at the River’s Edge program for the North & South Rivers Watershed Association.
When did you know you wanted to do what you are doing now?
I started teaching yoga when I was 25. I had been studying it for several years and my teacher encouraged me to become a certified instructor. At the time, I was also beginning a career as a freelance writer, and my hope was that the two vocations would balance each other and provide a sustainable income. It wasn’t until I added my work as a Wedding Celebrant (writing and officiating wedding ceremonies) to the mix that I truly found the balance I was seeking. So yes, I have three different lines of work, and together they are very fulfilling!
Who are your biggest influences?
For yoga, Mary Norton was my mentor. She ran The Yoga Center in Cohasset, and informed a lot of my teaching and business sense when I first got started. I’ve especially enjoyed Stephen Cope, a teacher and scholar, for his insights into yoga-related “big picture” stuff. These days I’m especially enjoying classes with Emma Boyle, who runs Dragonfly in Marshfield.
Where do you find inspiration?
Nature. Much of the writing I do (articles and website content) centers on discovering and sharing aspects of the natural world, at the local level (South Shore). Our local rivers (North, South, Green Harbor) are my happy place. Between that and talking with friends and family, I often gain insights and perspectives that I can incorporate into my yoga classes. For me, the meaning of life is to spread as much goodness and love around as possible. I’m always looking for ways to do that.
What do you like to do for fun?
Walk in the woods, kayak and paddleboard on the rivers, discover new places, share stories with friends and family. I’m also a huge music fan – listening to albums and podcasts, talking about music, reading about music, going to shows, and even playing/singing a little bit.
What are you reading right now?
Liz Phair’s memoir, Horror Stories, and the latest issue of Harper’s Magazine.
How has the current pandemic affected your teaching – the challenges, and advantages?
I had to learn quickly how to teach live classes online! Teaching to the camera on my laptop, constantly checking to make sure that I’m remaining in the frame, and not cutting off my head or feet – it’s been a learning curve. Also, my voice tends to get tired more quickly, because I have to project quite a bit more. On the bright side, people are generally at home, looking for things to do, and also looking for solace, so I’ve seen an increase in attendance, which is – of course – very welcome!
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on Zoom?
My students typically set up their laptops and phones at home, where life continues to happen, so there are often random sets of legs (human) walking through the backgrounds, and also pets and small children. But my favorite was the toddler who noticed herself on her grandmother’s monitor and started dancing joyfully, fascinated by her own image!
Social Distancing!
In late February, the Duxbury Middle School installed an exciting and colorful display of paper mache masks created under the guidance of their teacher, Amy Squillante. This exhibit is the latest installment of of our ongoing “Complex Collaborations” hallway exhibit series, showcasing the talent of our local students.
The masks are still there, hanging out together, while the museum waits to greet visitors again.
As we know, teachers, on a very short notice, had to adapt to teaching remotely. When Amy was asked how it was going, she responded:
“Remote teaching has been different and challenging. I have been creating drawing videos each week from ‘’Mrs Squill’s Art Basement”. The kids are practicing drawing, photographing their drawings and submitting in Schoology, our online platform. I’m a YouTube artist!”
Amy’s love for teaching and enthusiasm is infectious (sorry, no pun intended), and it shows in her students’ work.
Sally’s update on the Fish Project!
I have been working on completing the museum’s community herring run fish mosaic to be part of the Plymouth 400 celebration.
The mosaic is 23 feet long and will be installed on an exterior wall in the sculpture court at the museum.
While quarantined at home, in the spirit of hope and compassion, with the help of Michelle Green of High Street Studios in Hingham, I have been hand-making ceramic fish pendants to be given out to visitors at the reveal of the mosaic, date TBA.
The idea was inspired by the tale of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
The fish was sacred to the Greco-Roman mythology, where it held symbolic meaning of change and transformation.
In ancient Eastern Indian mythology, the fish is a symbol of transformation and creation. This is observed in the ancient flood myth in which Vishnu transformed himself into a fish (Matsya) to save the world from a great flood. In this form, he guided king Manu’s boat (which contained the select few survivors and seeds of life to re-create the world after the flood subsided) to safety.
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Thomas Hart Benton, The Little Fisherman, 1967, lithograph
The lithograph by Thomas Hart Benton, Little Fisherman, depicts a young boy wearing a straw hat while preparing his bamboo fishing pole to catch fish, an activity that many children enjoy doing with their father’s, especially on Father’s Day. The boy’s elongated, stylized hands and feet are typical features of Benton’s figures.
Thomas Hart Benton was one of the key interpreters of American life from the late 1920s through the mid-twentieth century, having created more than four thousand paintings and lithographs. Benton loved to trek through the back roads of the country and create pencil sketches of rural areas and the people who lived in them. Fishing was a favorite pastime of country life. His compositions celebrate America’s land, history, people and beauty.
While demonstrating Sekino Jun'ichirô’s mastery of composition and skill in printmaking, this print also exhibits the artist’s paternal love and admiration for his family (pets and all).
Sekino Jun'ichirô studied under Onichi Koshiro, one of the great founders of the Sōsaku-hanga, or “creative prints,” movement. Motivated by desires of self-expression, Sōsaku-hanga stressed the artist as the singular creator. This was in contrast to the Shin-hanga, or “new prints,” movement, which revived traditions of Ukiyo-e printmaking and nurtured a fundamentally collaborative philosophy.
🎨: Jun'ichirô Sekino (Japan, 1914-1988), "My Family," 1957, color woodcut on paper
#japaneseprintmaking #sosakuhanga #creativeprints #junichirosekino #japanesewoodblockprint #reliefprint #woodblockprint #blockprinting #artistsfamily #familyportrait #dogsinart #petportrait #catsofinstagram #artcomplexmuseum
Happy Father’s Day, from The Art Complex Museum to dads everywhere! We wish you a day filled with respect, adoration, and relaxation!
This lithograph by Thomas Hart Benton might remind some of us of our fathers and their resolute labors of love. No matter the “dad hobby” to which they dedicate themselves, whether it be woodworking, collecting, running or mechanics, a father’s stoic determination is often unshakable and something to be admired.
“Repairing the Sloop” depicts the artist’s son, T.P., working on his boat in Chilmark, Massachusetts. Following Thomas Hart Benton’s first arrival on Martha’s Vineyard in 1920, he and his wife Rita spent over fifty years summering on the island.
🎨 Thomas Hart Benton (United States, 1889-1975), “Repairing the Sloop,” 1973, lithograph
#happyfathersday #fathersday2020 #thomashartbenton #chilmark #marthasvinyard #sloop #boating #boatlife #boatrepair #printmaking #lithograph #americanregionalism
The Board of Trustees of The Art Complex Museum have decided to close the museum until June, 2021 or until such later time as the Trustees determine the museum can be reopened safely to the public and in reasonable furtherance of its mission. This was done due to the impact of COVID-19 and concerns about the safety of visitors, volunteers and staff. The uncertain trajectory of the pandemic and the evolving nature of government restrictions on museum operations make it difficult to plan for public operations for the next several months.
In addition, a number of capital projects to enhance the museum’s facilities and grounds had previously been approved. The time will be used to implement a number of projects which will enhance the visitor experience and upgrade the facilities to lay the groundwork for the museum’s next fifty years. Finally, the museum will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in June, 2021. Plans are that the museum will reopen to the public with an exhibition of its collections.
The Trustees express their gratitude to the members of the museum community, who may be affected by the extended closure, for their patience and understanding. They also express their gratitude to the many volunteers who donate their time and energy and hope that they will return when the museum reopens to celebrate the museum’s fiftieth year. To the visual artists, performing artists, and community organizations who may have had exhibits, performances, or events planned during the coming year, the Trustees appreciate their ongoing partnership and support during these uncertain times and look forward to resuming public activity next year. And finally, the Trustees thank each member of the staff for their flexibility, support, and ongoing commitment to the museum’s mission.
youtu.be/SmIn5yMIdmo View Duxbury High School students' extraordinary outdoor art exhibit, "Social Distancing"in honor of retiring art teacher Linda Klein after forty-four years of service.
MUSING AROUND AT HOME!
Museums around the world are inviting people who are staying at home during quarantine to reinterpret artworks from their collection. Using themselves, their pets and items from the house, people are coming up with clever and amusing photographs and sharing them on social media.
We decided to jump on the bandwagon and have some fun!
Our Education Coordinator, Sally Dean Mello, arranged this still life after the color etching from the museum’s collection.
We have chosen five images from our permanent collection for you to try. Have some fun! We will spotlight a few of them in our museletter. Email your images to sally@artcomplex.org, or post on Instagram- please tag us @theartcomplexmuseum and use the #inspiredbyacm.
This week the Duxbury Public Schools Art Department and The Art Complex Museum collaborated in a drive-by student art show installed on the museum grounds. The theme of the show was “Socially Distant” and each student portrait was remarkable. The paintings were well installed for those who wanted to view them while staying in their cars. And, even the parking lot was decorated! Those students who participated were: Kade Breiling, Audrey Ryan, Layla Frederico, Lydia Chesley, Adelyn Hovey, Charlotte White, Molly Bresnehan, Olivia O’Neil, Sydney Ropes, Katedyn Zamboni, Anna O’ Sullivan, Jillian Berry, and Cate Rosenberger.
Oh how I miss the days at the ACM with Olivia!
On June 8th, starting at 2:00 p.m., drive through the parking lot at the museum and see the exhibit "Social Distance" by Duxbury High School art students. The event, “Front Yard Art Show,” is a collaboration between the museum and the Duxbury Public School Art Department, #DPSAoutside
The Art Complex Museum has played an important part in the area’s cultural history for almost fifty years. Visitors have been offered events such as exhibit receptions, tea ceremony presentations, concerts, and educational activities.
Now, in the current COVID-19 climate, members of the staff continue to attempt meeting the needs of our community with a newly designed web site, additions to social media such as Face Book and Instagram and such new offerings as a new Museletter, Flashback Fridays and publishing information about highlights from our collection. Please remember that the museum is here for you - all be it virtually, right now. And, we hope that our offerings bring inspiration and enjoyment to you all.
Caption: masks created by Duxbury Middle School students which are the subject of just one of the many articles in the museum’s new Museletter.
Flashback Friday! One more gallery pic from our Wood as Muse exhibition in 2016. Guest curated by the Myth Makers, Andy Moerlein and Donna Dodson. Some Pat Keck, Donna Dodson and Venessa German on the left. #flashbackfriday #patkeck #mythmakers, #donnadodsonartist #artcomplexmuseum #woodasmuse #vanessagerman
Flashback Friday! Looking past some of Pat Keck’s work, to some more of Pat Keck’s work. From our Wood as Muse, exhibition in 2016. Guest Curated by the Myth Makers, Andy Moerlein and Donna Dodson. #flashbackfriday #patkeck #mythmakers #donnadodsonartist, #artcomplexmuseum #woodasmuse #andymoerlein
Flashback Friday! Another gallery shot from our Wood as Muse exhibition in 2016. Guest curated by the Myth Makers, Andy Moerlein and Donna Dodson. These are by Cape artist Breon Dunigan. #flashbackfriday #patkeck #mythmakers #donnadodsonartist #artcomplexmuseum, #woodasmuse #breondunigan #andymoerlein
Flashback Friday! One of Mike Wrights pieces from the Wood as Muse, exhibition in 2016. Guest curated by the Myth Makers, Andy Moerlein and Donna Dodson. Mike works with found materials and the assorted flotsam and jetsum she collects around her Truro home. #flashbackfridays #patkeck #mythmakers #donnadodsonartist #artcomplexmuseum #woodasmuse #breondunigan #mikewright #truro #andymoerlein
