February Newsletter
Monica Bryant, Heavy Heart, paper mâché and acrylic, 2024, 5” x 4” x 2”
Greetings!
I thought I would share my thoughts and feelings in this blog with you.
Teaching paper mâché is a way to keep my mother close to me. She came out to visit me in the 80’s and taught a class in paper mâché here in California with me. It was fun and memorable. She was an artist in Kansas. Pat Potucek 1925-2011. She was born on February 13th and she loved that her birthday was between Lincoln’s birthday and Valentine’s Day. She was a versatile artist who painted murals, landscapes, portraits, and she illustrated books.
She was busy and creative her whole life. She painted a mural around my bed as a baby and never stopped. I was the oldest of six children. She loved us all so very much. Recently my brother brought to me a rolled up, falling apart, life sized self-portrait she did some time in the 80’s. I am sharing the photo of it here.
Pat Potucek, Self Portrait, @1982, pastel and acrylic on craft paper, 72” x 36”
I started making paper mâché hearts when I was the art teacher at Ursuline High School. My students were great, and they expanded the possibilities with their creativity, adding wings and haloes to the hearts. They symbolized love, faith, and humanity. This year I have expanded my making of hearts to include Sacred Hearts and Immaculate Hearts in the Catholic tradition.
One thing I read is that the sacred heart is appreciated because having a heart shows the humanity of Jesus. Another strong feeling I have is from seeing my mother’s heart when her surgeon showed me a movie of her heart as she got stints put in a month before she died. It was so extremely wonderful to see my mother’s heart. Her heart looked like her. Her heart was uniquely hers as all our hearts are.
Some other influential ideas I have come across lately. I recommend listening to Ezra Klein’s January 9th podcast “How to Discover Your Own Taste”. I like how he points out that in Instagram and Facebook the algorithm keeps us in a loop reinforcing the same ideas and taste . I do believe we are all more alike than different and it is our similarities that are so universally liked. The podcast suggests good ways to go a little deeper and step away from the loop.
I also read The Rise of Techno-Authoritarianism by Adrienne LaFrance in the Atlantic. It is quite foreboding in its discussion of AI. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the Italian Futurists and comparing their ideas to the ideas in Silicon Valley. Ideas like action for its own sake, just get the ideas out as fast as you can or someone else will beat you to it. Our son works in Silicon Valley and he remains optimistic about AI and the technology. I appreciate his optimism for all the fantastic technology that is growing and growing. So, I am also hopeful that these developments will be good.
Turning to matters of art exhibitions, The Avian Art Exhibition at The Museum of Northern California Art in Chico, is now open for all to see. My piece, "The Flight of the Chickadee," is on display until March 3rd. If you can, make a visit! I’m planning to make a visit to Chico.
Monica Bryant, Flight of the Chickadee, 2023, mixed media on panel, 6” x 6”
Other news, The Bodega Art Gallery now showcases more of my crow and bird paintings, alongside select paper mâché hearts. If you find yourself craving a scenic coastal drive, I encourage you to visit the quaint town of Bodega and immerse yourself in the rich art of the gallery.
When J. Darling Dunnivin picked up work for The Bodega Art Gallery
she chose these hummingbird paintings I had just finished.
They are called The Lovely Bird and Floating on Air.
I hope this newsletter ignites your creative spirit and fosters a sense of connection and inspiration. As always, I'm grateful for your continued support and enthusiasm for my work.
Warm regards,
Monica