Before we delve into the vibrant world of artistry, let’s take a moment to acknowledge and honor Mary Elizabeth Atwood, our esteemed Artist of the Month for May & June 2024.
“My mother was an artist and my father, a song and dance man. I was raised on Irish folklore and fairy tales. My mother’s parents and her siblings were all artists. As the oldest of 6 kids, I remember there was always some kind of creativity going on…from puppetry to making large rather odd forms with paper mache to clay work to painting big murals on the living room walls. When I had children, my sisters would teach them the ins and outs of puppets, clay and painting. That thread of creativity is evident today in my grandchildren. I didn’t start painting and working with clay in earnest until 20 years ago. I was a remarkably shy child and was drawn toward theatre when I learned I could “put on” a character and become “other”. I loved being on stage but gradually I turned to the visual arts. I’m an abstract painter. I paint the essence of what I see in something or someone. Painting for me is like meditation. I can totally lose myself in a canvas. The clay masks are archetypal…each one formed on my face with intention. Almost all my inspiration (whether paint or clay) comes from the magic of the fairy tales I learned as a child and my fierce belief in the authenticity of women’s stories.”
