In 2014 I created this version of my website, the grid was one of the first home page images of current art. My domain name remained the same since 1997 and from spring of 2010 until autumn 2014 I was blogging on this site. Since combining both on this version, it’s been an enjoyable art form for me.
Celebrating 50th Year as an Artist, 2014-2016 brings to mind major exhibitions, expanded art series, hospital purchases, beginning of Sunwise Celebration Open Studios, public art, bead jewelry, and expanding product lines beyond greeting cards and Giclee prints. Our humble Sunwise Farm and Sanctuary became an official Monarch Waystation.
Let us do our best, even if it gets us nowhere might be my favorite piece of all time. Community Art Center invited me to give a gallery talk about its evolution. It was used for publicity of the Drawn to Kentucky: Works on Paper exhibit at Arts Place Gallery. There were several other group shows from this period; More&more, notBIG(3), Fertile Ground, Beyond the Horse, HORIZON – Contemporary Landscape 2015, New Year, New Art, Juxtapose, Firmly Rooted.
Please explore the links included here, I wrote extensively on these subjects!
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Happy Birthday with Murmuration”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2014, thinking of my dad and Henry Miller
Birds of a Feather, featured works on paper and found object sculptures with guest artist, Lesley Patterson-Marx. We collaborated on a few pieces. Another collaboration included music of Helen Davey. Very focused on drawing, there was a big series on Twinrocker Linen paper, some of which was purchased by UK HealthCare. They were in a solo show, On a Wing, at Woodford County Library.
© Kathleen O’Brien, collaboration with Leslie Patterson Marx, “4 Elements Around”, print, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2014
© Kathleen O’Brien, collaboration with Helen Davey, “Pentad, 52 Project”, print, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2014
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Hawk Prayer Stick, Sun Worship and Turkey Fan”, a sample of drawings on Twinrocker Linen paper, 2014, UK HealthCare collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Announcing Sunwise Celebrations“, drawing, 2014
© Kathleen O’Brien, “At First I Thought It Was the Earth, Now I Know It’s the Universe“, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2015
Legacy Blaze Artists, Kate Sprengnether, (KAC organizer), Kathleen O’Brien, Janice Durham, Don Ament, Mary Rezny, with Lexington Mayor Grey on the right, 2015
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Crossroads and Quadrants”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, one of 30 geocentric artworks that emerged as soul maps, 2015
The then Lt. Governor Crit Luallen in her office with “Gladiola Garden”, 2015
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Curve of the Earth, birth of Thunder”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, Community Art Center “Horizon” Postcard 2015
At “Beyond the Horse” exhibition at tribeca trunk, 2015
Talismans was a different sort of solo show, in that there were talismans for the wall and to wear. I introduced my bead jewelry, beads of antique, ancient, vintage and handmade varieties, displayed with ID tags.
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Talisman for East Bluebirds”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2015, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Talisman for Happiness”, detail, antique, vintage, ancient and handmade beads, 2015
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Talisman for Eire”, ID sheet, antique, vintage, ancient and handmade beads, 2015, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Talisman for Writers”, acrylic, paper beads, a talisman for the wall, 2015, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Talisman for Artists“, copper leaf, drawing, beads, paper beads, a talisman for the wall, 2015
Drawn to the Earth was a solo show in honor of the Earth and to celebrate Earth Month, exhibiting 30 visionary maps & contemporary landscapes & the Geopoetry of Stanley D. Brunn, Ph.D.
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Let us do our best, even if it gets us nowhere.”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2015, premiered at Drawn to the Earth exhibit.
“Drawn to the Earth” feature article in Advocate Messenger, Bobbie Curd, 2016
© Kathleen O’Brien, “50 Geobotanicals”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2015
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Butterfly Cycle”, drawing, 2016, celebrating becoming a Monarch Waystation
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Mound Map”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2016
© Kathleen O’Brien, “New Brush Wood Thrush”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2016
© Kathleen O’Brien, new bead necklaces, antique, vintage, ancient and handmade beads, 2016
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Talisman for Mothers”, detail, antique, vintage, ancient and handmade beads, fabric, 2016, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, New Products for Open Studio, 2016
One more post to go in the series!