New Bedford

Ships' masts continue to dominate the skyline of one of the nation's earliest Whaling centers.

Site of the first ship built in New Bedford in 1767.

My husband David and I ventured to New Bedford, Massachusetts for the first time this past summer. What a treasure! Lots of art galleries and studios, several museums, a national park site, all sitting on the water of Buzzards Bay and steeped in history. One of the most interesting things I learned is that many of the early whaling families were Quakers and very egalitarian in their social views. Because of this the whaling ships, and the town, included African Americans, Wampanoag Indians and Anglo Americans living and working together. The city continues to be multi-ethnic today.

I love this juxtaposition of historic brick and stone.

Blue

I'm thrilled that one of my horseshoe crab totems, "Blue Bloods" has been accepted into BLUE at the Cambridge Art Association. The show was juried by Joseph Thompson, director of MASS MoCA.

BLUE runs from November 9, 2012 until January 10, 2013 with a reception Friday, November 9 from 6:30 - 8 pm at the Kathryn Schultz and University Place Galleries.  

www.cambridgeart.org for more details.

Neighborhood Art

I was recently part of a neighborhood public art project in the Lowell, Massachusetts neighborhood where I have an art studio at Western Avenue Studios. The Acre, as the neighborhood is called, has been a landing place for new immigrants since Lowell was first founded as a planned industrial city. Wave upon wave of new residents have called The Acre home...from the Irish and French Canadians, to Greeks, Cambodians, Latinos and now artists of all stripes!

The public art project enlisted artists and neighborhood residents of all ages and ethnicities to paint "Welcome" in dozens of languages on the North Common amphitheater steps. I painted the "namaste"step. The project was an opportunity for great fun and a great sense of community!

The art of collaboration

Recently, David and I were guests on a panel about collaboration between artists, held at the 119 Gallery in Lowell. This event was in conjunction with an exhibit by collaborators Donna Dodson and Andy Morelin. Read what Donna wrote about the panel for the Boston Globe.


http://www.boston.com/business/blogs/global-business-hub/2012/05/visual_arts_col.html 


And check out the show at the 119 Gallery. http://www.119gallery.org

APPEARANCES in Provincetown

APPEARANCES is a Green Arts Festival happening in Provincetown, MA from April 20 - 29, 2012. Outdoor installations (including mine!) will remain until June 9.

I'm thrilled to be part of the festival -- showing my Horseshoe Crab Totems. I installed them this week at Foss Woods (Location 8 on the APPEARANCES map of all outdoor installations.)

Last fall I noticed lots of horseshoe crab shells had washed up on the sand at Pleasant Bay in Orleans and I began collecting them, not really having any idea of what I'd do with them. But I love their shapes and colors. And I love that they've been on this planet for millions of years. According to Wikipedia, the earliest horseshoe crab fossils are found in strata from the late Ordovician period, roughly 450 million years ago. Another notable fact is that horseshoe crabs have blue blood -- which makes them valuable to scientists....as well as to artists!

Art from the heART

I have lots of crocheted "infinity" scarves in Valentines' colors, along with lots of fiber art, fabric pins and silk scarves. It's an extra special open studios this Saturday afternoon at Western Avenue Studios. Many of us are participating in Art from the heART. You can enter a raffle for gift certificates by visiting various artists and collecting hearts -- all while you're seeing and purchasing great art and Valentine's Day gifts. You can find me in Studio 434 -- I'd love to see you!

122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA

www.margotstage.com for directions

Shawn's Sisters

I recently completed the latest of my "Memories in Cloth". Shawn's sisters contacted me to create a piece for each of them from the silk neckties and braces (suspenders) of their younger brother who had recently passed away. Once again I felt honored to do this kind of work, both as an artist and as a human being.

Artistically, the challenge was to create two distinct pieces from the same stash of fabrics. As a human, the challenge was to listen and hear who the person was, to translate that into a visual tribute.

Nikki and Melissa were delighted with the results, which delighted me! When Nikki came to Lowell to my studio to pick up with artworks, she said my timing was impeccable. I paused, not sure what she meant. "This is the week, one year ago, that Shawn passed away. And to receive these pieces now is just perfect." Divine timing, not mine!