Art, Poetry, and Exhibits for a New Year!

Happy New Year!

As this new year began, I completed two sets of serigraphs. The first titled Sheep, Duck and Cow from my Animal Engineering Series and the second titled Chinese, French and Mexican from my Quest Series.

Animal Engineering Series - Sheep, Duck and Cow

I completed the above set of serigraphs titled Sheep, Duck and Cow from my Animal Engineering Series. The rich black ink on pure white paper along with the vibrant colors give these pieces a dramatic and festive feel. Collectively, the fatted state and sweet dispositions are valued and exaggerated by humanity. Specifically, in Sheep the hair is lengthened over a rounded belly, in Duck the egg, breast and feet are enlarged, and in the Cow the utter and belly are engorged to show how each of these animals are being changed to suit humans desires. 

Quest Series - Chinese, French and Mexican

I have been working on a new series titled Chinese, French and Mexican from my Quest Series. Quest Series plays with food showing that every culture has made valuable contributions. Above I am showing a few images of the process. Following is a list of the images: Chinese original drawing, Chinese transparencies, Chinese two color print, French original drawing, French transparencies, French a two color print, Mexican original drawing, Mexican transparencies, and finally Mexican a two color print.

Magic Circle:

Animal Tales / Poems

Magic Circle: Animal Tales / Poems

Magic Circle: Animal Tales / Poems is published and is a available for purchase through this website by going to the contact page, or at The Art Gallery at 460 Harrison Ave., C-2 in the SoWA Arts and Design District in Boston, MA. 

I have been invited to participate in Gallery on the Green’s Word Art 2025, to do some readings at The Art Gallery in Boston, and at Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art and Performance in Connecticut.  I will post more information about these events in my next post.

In print, some of my poems, along with the related artwork from Magic Circle, have been included in the following publications.

Sanctuary Magazine’s Poetry Corner at this link:

https://www.sanctuary-magazine.com/poetry-corner.html 

My poems are featured in February 2024 and three more will be featured again this year. The following audio of Monkeys, Boa and Crocodile is one of this years poems.

Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter’s at these links:

https://www.connecticut.sierraclub.org/bearporcupineandme 

https://www.connecticut.sierraclub.org/copy-of-fall-in-love

My poems are featured in December 2024 and February 2025.

The Alchemy of Art and Play Exhibition

This February I will be showing two chine colle’ prints at The Art Gallery at 460 Harrison Avenue C-2 in the SoWA Arts and Design District in Boston. Cloud Nine and Dreamscape are chine colle’ prints from my Xtrasensory Series. In (e)Xtrasensory Series, dogs represent the beneficial spirits that they are. They have helped humanity along life's journey since ancient times. The dog spirits in Cloud Nine and Dreamscape are the present-day counterparts leading the way to enlightenment. (shown above) They will be apart of an exhibition titled The Alchemy Between Art and Play.

This exhibition explores the dynamic interplay of art and play, highlighting how artists use experimentation and a playful mindset to transform materials into captivating, thought-provoking masterpieces. By embracing curiosity, spontaneity, and joy, artists liberate themselves from constraints and explore unconventional techniques and mediums.

Through this bold fusion of art and play, the exhibition celebrates the power of imagination and ingenuity to transcend boundaries. It underscores the universal essence of creativity as a driving force for exploration, understanding, and expression. Whether in the playful realms of childhood or the studios of artists, imagination has the transformative ability to reinterpret, reshape, and redefine our world.

Exhibition Dates: February 1 - 28

First Friday: February 7

Reception: Saturday, February 16, 3pm - 5pm

National Association of Women Artists’ Winter Small Works Exhibition

Dear Kathleen Zimmerman,

 We are pleased to inform you that your work has been accepted in the up-coming NAWA exhibition, Winter Small Works, online at www.thenawa.org

Universe Series - Saturn Siesta (shown above)

Exhibition Dates: February 1 - February 28, 2025

Online Reception and Awards Announcement: Thursday, February 13, 5-6 pm

Universe Series uses a variety of animals to represent life as they ponder the latest scientific    theories concerning the Universe. These playful explorations look towards Space and at humankind's reaction to it. Saturn Siesta imagines what makes up the rings of Saturn.

Be sure to check back for new art, poetry readings, and exhibitions! I will update this post until I am ready to share another post in spring. Contact me if you have any questions or want a signed copy of Magic Circles.

Kathleen Zimmerman

MA is Where it's At!

Embracing Uncertainty

Sowa Art District in Boston - October

     Embracing Uncertainty, organized by Claudia Fiks, draws on the philosophical ideas of Bertrand Russell, who believed that embracing doubt fosters wisdom, creativity, and growth. Russell argued that the pursuit of absolute certainty limits progress, while uncertainty can spark intellectual and artistic exploration. This exhibition challenges artists to explore their vulnerabilities and the unknown within their work. It encourages both artists and viewers to see uncertainty as an opportunity for growth, reflecting Russell's belief that accepting unpredictability can lead to new perspectives and innovation. 

Note: Universe Series - Night Mare & Monkey Mars were in this exhibition.

Screen printing

Zea Mays Printmaking in Florence, Massachusetts

     Serigraphy, commonly known as silkscreen printing, is a modern printmaking mode with a very old history. Its origins can be traced to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in China and then it made its appearance in Europe in the 18th century. It is a stencil-based printing process, which has been used widely for commercial purpose, but it takes skill and knowledge to make a fine art print using this method. Some historically important fine artists who used this method of printmaking were Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall and Peter Max.

     The most important part of the process is making drawings that will make great transparencies or stencils. Zimmerman understands this and creates her original drawings, not only as works of art on their own, but thinking about how they will translate into stencils. Her thoughtful use of the white of the paper, her textured shading and her attention to the negative space all are essential in her drawings and make this translation natural. Once her drawing is complete, her stencils are made by separating the elements of her finished drawings to create a layered design, so each color has its own stencil. Once this is done the rest of the process goes as follows. Her stencils are placed on very fine screens that are coated with a light sensitive emulsion and encased in a metal framework. The screens are then exposed to intense light for a specific time so that where the stencils block the light; the emulsion remains soft while the rest of the emulsion hardens. These soft areas are then rinsed out with water leaving open areas where ink can pass through. When ink is applied, it is pushed through these open areas marking the paper below. One or more screens are made this way depending on the number of colors desired in the print. The inking is also repeated using one screen per color to layer the different colors on each sheet of paper in the edition.

Note: Zimmerman was working on Animal Engineering Series.

Speak Up III

Sowa Art District in Boston - November

Dear Kathleen,

We are thrilled to inform you that your artwork Rights - Balanced & Unbalanced has been selected for Speak Up III. Cameron Sumner thoughtfully reviewed your submissions and was deeply impressed by your creative expression and its powerful message.

This exhibition will provide a vital platform for artists to engage with important social and personal issues and share their perspectives with a broader audience. We are excited to have your voice as part of this conversation.

Warm regards,

Claudia 

Note: Rights - Balanced and Unbalanced are in this exhibition.

Wabi-Sabi

Sowa Art District in Boston - December

   The theme of this exhibition is inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi — a perspective centered on the acceptance of imperfection, uniqueness, and transience. It encourages us to appreciate the simple, rustic, and unassuming, challenging the traditional Western ideals of perfection and grandeur. This show will create a space for reflection, where the overlooked details of life are celebrated, and the beauty of imperfection is embraced.

Note: Nursery - Hey Diddle, Nature - Stone, and Nursery - Black Sheep will be in this exhibition.

Zimmerman Fine Art Studio

Here & There!

The Slater Museum in Connecticut held a regional juried exhibition in which Yin Yang - China, the drawing, was chosen. It is shown on the far right.

The Mill Works in Connecticut gave me a Solo exhibition. My intaglio prints, serigraphs and cast sculpture graced this lovely local venue as shown below.

The Canal Street Art Gallery in Vermont is where I had a Solo exhibition titled Up Close & Personal. That show featured my BlockHead Series, To Be or Not To Be? Forest and Star Series, as shown below. Since I am a gallery artist, the gallery always has some of my work in the gallery so visit when you are in the area.

The Art Gallery in Boston, Massachusetts, in which I am a gallery artist, exhibited my MidLife - Adrift & Anchored serigraphs in their current Transformation exhibition. My artwork is featured in the middle and far right in the last photo below.

Artsy is now selling a number of my serigraphs. Click on the link below to see, and acquire, your favorite works of art.

https://www.artsy.net/artwork/kathleen-zimmerman-midlife-series-anchored-and-adrift-diptych

Kathleen Zimmerman

YES!!!

Dear Kathleen Zimmerman,

Congratulations on being accepted into CAFA’s 113th Annual Exhibition! Your piece Yin Yang - China has been selected by the jurors to be admitted into our show.

Gabrielle Robinson, CAFA Director

This regional juried exhibition sponsored by Connecticut Academy of Fine Art gives me the pleasure of exhibiting at the historic Slater Memorial Museum! Note: This drawing was also juried into and won an award at the Mystic Museum of Art in another regional juried show.

Exhibition: July 1 - August 9

Opening Reception: Thursday, July 11, 2024 • 5-7 PM

Address: 108 Crescent Street, Norwich, CT 06360

Museum Days & Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and-Saturday 10 – 4pm

I will be at the opening and hope you will be too!

 Dear Kathleen: 

We would like to welcome you as an “Artist / Performer” member of the Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art, and Performance! You are officially a CHAP! 

Thomas D. Buccino, Jr., Executive Director

I am happy to have a local venue to exhibit, do readings and listen to live music. Concerning the first, I will be having a solo exhibition at Mill Works in their gallery from mid-July through mid-September. All the details are listed below except that I will be at the opening and most Saturdays between 10 and noon. Hope to see you there!

WELCOME TO THE ART GALLERY and NEW ENGLAND ART CENTER!

”I am honored and thrilled to start working with you. Congratulations on being accepted into our gallery. Your exceptional talent and creativity are truly inspiring, and I am excited to have you as part of our vibrant community.”

Claudia Fiks, Manager/Director

I received this notice informing me I will be a gallery artist at The Art Gallery, or for short, TAG. It is located in the SOWA Art District in Boston at 460 Harrison Avenue, Unit C-2, Boston, MA 02118.

I will be participating in at least three group exhibitions annually, have an ongoing presence on their website and ARTSY, as well as be apart of this vibrant artist community!

Rabbit Hole in exhibition at a neighboring gallery in 2023.

Yes is what I like to hear!

Kathleen Zimmerman

Early Summer Exhibitions in New York, Vermont and Connecticut!

The graphite drawing Rights - Unbalanced, shown below, will be in NYC June 7 - 22! It is my submission for the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) 135th Anniversary Annual Members Exhibition. Exhibition details follow:

One Art Space

23 Warren Street (Tribeca), New York, NY 10007

And online at theNAWA.org & OneArtSpace.com

Friday, June 7 – Saturday, June 22, 2024

Gallery Hours: Monday – Sunday, 12PM – 6PM

Opening and Award In-Person Reception

Friday, June 7, 2024 • 6-9 PM

It was created to express the way some try to take away the inherent rights of animals and women.

Note: This drawing won the John Fleming Memorial Award when shown at the Guilford Art Center Annual Juried Exhibition.

I just finished transforming more of my graphite drawings into hand-made small edition intaglio prints. Intaglio printmaking has a long history. Metal plates with an image cut, or etched, into the surface then printed by applying ink into the recessed image and run through a press began in the 1400’s. This mode of printmaking has been used by Renaissance artists such as Albrecht Durer and Rembrandt, by Expressionistic artists such as Kathe Kollwitz and Francisco Goya and by Graphic Artists such as M. C. Escher. It continues to be widely used today by Contemporary artists including me.

Balanced and Unbalanced below are both from my Rights Series. Rights Series concerns a balanced and an unbalanced way of treating both animals and humans.

Some more, or Summer (hahaha), intaglio prints that I finished and are ready for exhibition follow. All were created to celebrate the drawn, or rendered, image. I added just a touch of meaningful color and white charcoal for contrast and texture.

Moon Rabbits and Counting Sheep Two below are from my Farm Series. Farm Series honors farm animals for what they have given to humanity. Moon Rabbits plays off rabbits' appealing rounded shape as well as mythical ideas surrounding these animals. Counting Sheep Two plays off sheep’s' social nature and explores interpersonal dynamics of groups. Both these works of art are at Canal Street Art Gallery in Bellows Falls, Vermont!

Three Bears, Black Sheep, Hey Diddle, Little Crooked, and Little Lamb below are all from my Nursery Series. Nursery Series takes a contemporary look at several traditional nursery rhythms/lyrics. All these works of art will be in exhibition in July through August at the local art/performance center Mill Works in Willington, CT.

Night Mare, Saturn Siesta, Monkey Mars, Rabbit Hole, and Milky Way below are all from my Universe Series. Universe Series uses a variety of animals to represent life as they ponder the latest scientific theories concerning the Universe. These playful explorations look towards Space and at humankind's reaction to it. Who hasn't dreamt of scary aliens invading from afar, imagined what makes up the rings of Saturn, wondered what it would be like to live in the caves of Mars, thought about when we might be drawn into the black hole that keeps our galaxy together, or seen heaven when we look up at the stars? Come and let your mind take a journey with these not-so-scary life forms. All these works of art will be in exhibition at local art/performance center Mill Works in Willington, CT as well.

Yin Yang - China below is a graphite drawing and symbolic portrait of China. I created it when I first moved to Beijing for a five-year long residency. This work of art was juried into the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts 113th Annual Exhibition which is being held at the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, Connecticut. This drawing won an award at a Mystic Museum of Art regional juried exhibition.

Slater Memorial Museum

108 Crescent Street, Norwich, CT 06360

Exhibition dates

Monday, July 1 – Friday, August 9, 2024

Museum hours

Monday, Wednesday, and-Saturday 10 – 4pm

Opening and Award In-Person Reception

Thursday, July 11, 2024 • 5-7 PM

If you are in NYC this June be sure to visit One Art Space to see Rights - Unbalanced. If you are in Vermont this summer, be sure to stop by Canal Street Gallery to see Moon Rabbits and Counting Sheep. If you are in Connecticut in July and August be sure to visit the Slater Memorial Musem to see Yin Yang - China and Millworks Saturday mornings between 10-12 to see my latest intaglio prints, serigraphs and me!

Kathleen Zimmerman