Posts tagged lake michigan
Gilded Nature, A Solo Exhibition by Alexa Karabin

I am so excited to announce my solo exhibition at the Ludington Arts Center! It will be very exciting to see so many pieces in one place. They have a beautiful gallery, and this should be a fun exhibit. I hope some of you are able to visit!

The Nest

Alexa Karabin

The Nest

Handmade Watercolor, Deer Hair, Rubies, 24k Gold Leaf, Geodes, Glass on Panel

20''x20''

$6,000

 

Statement for the Nest:

First, there was the Deer. A painting that was inspired by an incident that involved a deer that was shot on my property, and the subsequent months that followed, watching the animal return to the earth. When only fur was left, I collected some, but left most of it. The day after I collected the fur, a giant oak tree fell on where the body once rested. Months later, in early spring, the pandemic had started and I spent more than a month inside. Scared. Finally, I forced myself to go outside and explore the woods. And that is when I found it. A bird had made a nest out of deer fur! The Deer’s fur. This piece was inspired by the feelings I had at that moment of discovery. 

 

Using a variety of techniques, I create artworks that explore themes of natural history, historical occurrence, memory, and cycles. My materials are found and handmade—my most precious material is my grandmother’s antique jewelry that I crush and use to make handmade watercolors. This piece also includes rubies, emeralds, 24k gold, deer fur, geodes, and glass.

Ekphrastic Poetry by Elizabeth Kerlikowske and Scott Bade Inspired by Equinox: Day and Equinox: Night

“Poets of Southwest Michigan engaged with the Equinox Exhibition artwork under the direction of Elizabeth Kerlikowske, President of Friends of Poetry.” Poets responded to the exhibit that was curated by Maryellen Hains and Anna Z ILL. View the exhibit at Ninth Wave Studio. See Elizabeth Kerlikowske and Scott Bade respond to my pieces Equinox: Day and Equinox: Night in the videos below. Videos were produced by Linda Rzoska of Ninth Wave Studio.

Elizabeth Kerlikowske / Soup

AlexaKarabinEquinoxFullPiece1Day.jpg

Scott Bade / Equinox: Night

AlexaKarabinEquinoxPiece2Night.jpg
Day 51

My pendants are finally going into the electroform bath today! I am SO excited. After a year of experimentation, I will finally be able to release a real collection of jewelry. Each of these pieces encapsulates a little bit of my heart and soul. I can’t wait to share them with you!

Day 15

I inherited my grandmothers very large collection of costume jewelry. For the last several months I have been using the damaged beads and odds and ends in my handmade watercolors. The green bead on the bottom came from her collection and inspired the luna moth above.

Day 14

Am I better? Am I worse? I don’t know. I have always been bad.

My brain just thinks visually. Impulsively. I have always made art with my intuition. Writing is not like that. It’s planned, it’s ordered. There are rules. Bear with me while I figure mine out.

I am kind of having fun though, figuring out my words. So thank you for sticking with me.

Art Fair Season is almost here!

I am only doing 3 fairs this season, because I have 2 little ones at home, and it is a lot of work to leave them. Visit me at these locations, and say hi! I will have a huge collection of work available, that you can only find if you visit me at one of these fairs. If you can't make it or you missed me, be sure to check out my gallery. I now offer custom works, too. 

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair in Bronson Park, Kalamazoo, Michigan - June 1st- 2nd

South Haven Art Fair, South Haven, Michigan - June 30th-July 1st

KRASL Art Fair on the Bluff, Saint Joseph, Michigan, July 14-15th