Lyn Bishop : Sharing Secrets

Recently I spent a few days working with another artist on ideas for a new collaborative project. We brainstormed together and addressed technical issues surrounding the media we wish to use. It was a productive three days and we ended the session with strong jumping off points in which to proceed.

Marriam-Webster defines collaboration as: “ to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor” For most visual artists, the process of creating art with others doesn’t come naturally. Western society tends to focus on the work of the singular artist. When viewers are confronted with jointly created work they often question the authorship and analyze the precise contributions of the individual rather than take the work in as a whole. This point of view can presents a barrier to what the work is really about, and does not consider the symbiotic relationship of the artists involved. (more…)

It seems that just a few years ago only a few people knew about lenticular imaging, even though the techniques have been practiced for well over a decade.

Thomas Mark, a 40 year veteran in the industry and evangelist for the trade organization FlipSigns!, points out that the origins of this industry were shady to say the least. Snake oil salesmen and shysters used the optical illusions generated through interlacing images together to trick innocent customers into believing in a products magic abilities. Thankfully, times have changed. (more…)

The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art held the Monotype Marathon over the weekend. This intensive printmaking event is a successful annual fundraiser for the ICA.

Artists are encouraged to invite a sponsor to underwrite their participation in the event and are able to print at selected studios within the Bay Area. Sponsors donate $300 to the ICA and in return are given the opportunity to use their donation as an opening bid for prints during the silent auction held after the exhibition. This years exhibition runs July 1-19 and the silent auction takes place on the last Saturday of the exhibit.

The Marathon is a collaborative effort between the ICA and several facets that make up the arts community in the Bay Area. (more…)

I have recently collaborated with eighteen other artists to produce over eighty mixed media collaborative prints based on the book The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle. The work is on exhibit at the Krause Center for Innovation Gallery at Foothill College from April 7- May 15. I hope you can experience this body of work first hand.

On Friday, April 18th we will have an artist’s reception from 6:30 - 7:30 pm with Multimedia Open Mic Night to follow until 10:00 pm. The KCI Cafe coffee and dessert bar as well as the college’s observatory and telescope with be open throughout the event.

THE TORTILLA CURTAIN PROJECT
A series of mixed-media collaborative prints

Participating Artists: Terry Acebo Davis, Jose Arenas, Sheila Baptist, Becky Barber, Daniela Barnea, John Betts, Lyn Bishop, Pati Bristow, Sandra Delman, Dorit Elisha, Yin Yin Hung, Yukari Lassange, Cindy Lee, Kent Manske, Gene Torchia, Tom Wacha, Peter Wehrmeyer and Karen Zeller.

In addition, the author, T.C. Boyle, will be speaking on campus on May 14th. The book signing will take place at the gallery after his talk in Appreciation Hall.

Foothill College Author Series Featuring T.C. Boyle
Wednesday, May 14, 3- 4:30 p.m.
Appreciation Hall (Room 1501)

This month I delivered a special commission to new patrons. The work, Tides of Life, is a collaboration between collector and artist, with the collector providing basic materials and initial inspiration for the direction of the work. Together with original photographs from both the collector and my own collection, I created an image that speaks to the meaning of the Meoto-iwa, or Wedded Rocks of Futamigaura, and celebrates long-lasting love.

The two rocks of Meoto-iwa are considered male and female, and are named Izanagi and Izanami and represent the primal couple in Japanese traditional history. According to legend, it is from this couple that all the Japanese islands were formed.

The rocks are also deemed husband and wife, and are joined in matrimony by sacred ropes called shimenawa, made from braided rice stalks. The ropes weigh almost a tonne alone, and are replaced yearly in a special ceremony.

Below are photographs documenting the creative process. The work is 23”x43” and printed on hand prepared luminescent paper. This was my first large print using the new Golden Digital Grounds (Clear Gloss).
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