Studio ArTour Artist Patsy Dew

Posted on August 21, 2020

The camera helps me engage with the visual world, whether in nature, or society, or by myself observing how window light interacts with a flower. On my regular morning walks, the camera turns the walk into an adventure of discovery, helping me to see patterns, or the wonders of a dew-laden spider web. Back home, I sort through all the images I collected, rating and labeling them. And then deciding which to print as enlargements, or on greeting card stock, or to use in creating books or boxes.

Many years ago, visiting studios on the ArTour, I bought an accordion artist book to fill with my images. Then with Judy Saye-Willis’s help, I started making books myself, figuring out how to print on the paper of the books, how to fold the paper in different ways (see the “butterfly book”). One year I had a series of pictures of grates, and figured out a way to make a “Grate Book Series” of tiny books, each one a picture of a grate when unfolded. I needed a way to hold the set together, and in an ah-ha moment, created a box to hold them. Making boxes out of the images then grabbed my interest, providing a myriad of ways to combine patterns and subject into physical form.

During the Pandemic I have taken advantage of this abundance of time at home to play with photography, to explore different ways to use my images, and to hone some new skills. This spring I made many Origami boxes, experimenting with Japanese papers, and figuring out what size of top print would fit each size of the folded bottoms. I now have two shelves of models; no more guess work! During the summer I have been working with transferring my images to polymer clays, and then playing with the possible ways to use this new medium…book covers, cylindrical containers, boxes, translucent covers.

Art Sale – All proceeds to be donated to support: Juxtaposition Arts in N. Minneapolis and The Hideaway in Northfield

For years Joan and Jim Spaulding have supported local artists, transforming their restaurant into a gallery. They do not take a cut of any of the art sales; all go to the artist.  During the time that my framed prints have hung at the Hideaway, two major events have disturbed our universe, the Pandemic, and the brutal murder of George Floyd.  I feel moved to respond.

I am donating all proceeds from the sale of any of these prints: half to Juxtaposition Arts in North Minneapolis, and half to the owners of The Hideaway.  Juxtaposition Arts is an amazing organization in North Minneapolis that “develops community by engaging and employing young urban artists in hands-on education initiatives…”

Prices are not reduced. The incentive is to support two worthy organizations that nurture artists.  The prints are hanging at The Hideaway now, and purchasers may take them upon purchase.  The sale runs through August 31.  The prints may be viewed on my website: patsydewpix.com