Julia Mitchell

Julia at her loom

I am a tapestry designer and weaver of 50 years’ experience, my earliest influences being the work of the Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut masters, Matisse, Anni Albers and the Bauhaus ethic of process as it relates to form.

My work is exhibited extensively in invitational and juried group and solo shows, and is in many collections worldwide. I divide my time between developing new bodies of work and fulfilling corporate and private commissions.

I combine traditional tapestry techniques with processes worked out over time to achieve the results that I’m after: the effects of wind, water, light and shadow on the natural world.

Cave Weaving, 42 in. x 96 in., wool, silk and linen tapestry

My goal is to convey a sense of beauty and mystery in all things. I weave in a blend of wool, silk, and linen yarns to achieve nuances of texture and reflectivity as well as subtle color shifts.

During the Pandemic, I was in a virtual show at Silvermine. They made this video, and it tells you more about my work and my process. I hope you enjoy it.

www.juliamitchelltapestry.com

Siberian Irises at the Pond, 48 in. x 36 in., wool, silk

Edge of the Pond 5, 51 in. x 28 in., wool and linen tapestry

Green Seaweed, 48 in. x 36 in., wool, silk and linen tapestry

Nancy Bauer Dillen

I received my BS in Art Education and Constructive Design from Florida State University (FSU) followed by a two-year Fellowship for my Masters degree. For 35 years I served as Art Professor and Program Coordinator at Brevard Community College (BCC), now Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) in Melbourne, FL. I have been an exchange instructor, guest lecturer, juror, and art consultant both nationally and internationally. My summers were spent attending and/or teaching classes at Arrowmont School of Arts in Gatlinburg, TN. Now retired, I spend my time painting and drawing, exhibiting, conducting painting and drawing workshops, and volunteering with local and state art and community organizations to promote the arts for everyone.

Game Day, Oil paint, 36 in. x 60 in.

As Marcel Proust said, “The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” In that pursuit I have created multiple series, fulfilling my need to dream, play, and do the “unexpected” through magically realistic oil paintings that celebrate life. The Water Circus Series is one of my most recent bodies of work that reflects the two worlds in which I live… the real and imaginary. Water Music, Game Day, Blue Garden, Superior Mirage and Trumpeter’s Jubilee are examples from that series.

Blue Garden, Oil paint, 36 in. x 36 in.

I have populated my magical paintings with found objects and anthropomorphized household objects. One such object, a little yellow Duckie that washed up on the banks of the Indian River became the inspiration for several paintings as seen in Blue Garden.

Since I am concerned about our environment, and curious about what takes place within the tannin-colored river waters, I have placed my characters in an imaginary underwater zone.

Superior Mirage, Oil paint, 36 in. x 36 in.

My paintings and and drawings have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States and Canada. I was a founding member of Ten Women in Art and exhibited with them for over 33 years throughout the Southeast. Currently, I am the Exhibition and Symposium Director for the Florida Artists Group. My artwork is found in private and public collections. I live and work at my home in Melbourne, Florida. More of my work, including other series, can be seen at my website: https://dillenart.com.

Water Music, Oil paint, 36 in. x 36 in.

Trumpeter’s Jubilee, 28 in. x 28 in.

Amy Short

Amy Short is an award winning, Pittsburgh, PA based ceramic sculptor who has garnered attention for her unique, whimsical style. Her handmade terra cotta and polymer clay work explores themes of humanity’s impact on our environment, the human figure exploring self-esteem, and themes of motherhood.

“I have created with most mediums, and I always come back to sculpture. The idea of creating something from a lump of clay with its tactile nature and the challenge of creating interest from all angles are what draw me. I also love that you can create sculpture using any medium and skill. A sculpture can be painted or drawn upon or have materials added to it. The possibilities are limitless. I enjoy working with terracotta, stoneware, and polymer clay but will always be open to anything that interests me or may enhance my sculpture.”

Birth of Venus, Polymer clay, paints and stains, 11.5 in. x 12 in. x 11 in.

Diminished Protection, Polymer clay, wood, paints, wax, and stains, 13 in. x 12.5 in. x 9 in.

Amy holds two Bachelor’s degrees from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, one in French, the other in Fine Art with a concentration in Sculpture. She also spent time in Europe studying French and painting. She believes that travel creates a better understanding of our world, cultures, and people and therefore makes one develop more grace and empathy for one another.

“My sculptures share a personal narrative about human existence and our desire to understand our place in the world. Through the figure, I look to identify emotion and empathy with subtle glances, gestures, gender, texture and color, most frequently through the archetype of the feminine or child. I incorporate animals into my work to speak to their importance or lack thereof in the eyes of humans. The animals are often enlarged or reduced, creating physical and psychological contrast. In my art, I consistently pose questions as I strive for a better understanding of humanity’s place and purpose in the world.”

“My desire is to evoke emotion, empathy, and understanding. I want to create a discussion about the human experience and our desire to understand our own existence and space in the world.”