Our Surreality: At Eclipse Mill Gallery, N. Adams, MA

We are two creatively working women and -friends who have chosen each a year that we attempt to represent in this exhibition. Michelle and I are in our last trimester of our lives and we wish to emphasize that there is still beauty in us as well as our surroundings -- past its prime. We are showing our works with seriousness, wit and a sense of humor.

 Michelle will present a number of mixed collages with a surreal influence and other works relating to her year of isolation during Covid 19. I have for a year now dried flowers, leaves and plants. I have assembled them into 'scenes,' perhaps in a Dada fashion, while I am also using baskets from my collection.

We are all part of a throw away society! So we both make a point of it by including recyclable materials into our pieces that what we otherwise just discard.

Following now Michelle's statement:

I am a musician who began making visual art for the first time during the Covid lock- down. These pieces attempt to illustrate my reactions, moods, thoughts, realizations surrounding the tsunami of events (mundane to horrifying) happening between 2020 and 2021; the result of my confrontation with a historic or mundane daily life event.

Feelings, are like the weather, temporary perhaps but often leaving an indelible mark. What you see is my inspired attempt to process/interpret mine. My 'Emotional Selfies' were taken in mixed media mounted on discarded paper and cardboard substrates; their temporary nature intentional. 

Every Memento Mori echoes the process: this passing of days (fleeting events in our personal histories) to create a narrative rejoicing in our victories, filled with remorse for our transgressions. 

Flowers (how like them we are!) remind us to celebrate the transitory nature of being alive.

When we began thinking about the exhibition, we did not consider that this year is the 100th anniversary of Surrealism! And, here we are also celebrating it and DADA with our show!