Like vines in the night...

maps, works in progress © 2011 Megan Chapman

This has been another exciting week in the studio, the maps of the night are starting to solidify in concept and execution. I am compelled to keep working on them as they gain their own momentum and pull me along for the ride. There are now eight complete maps of the night. I am still hoping to have ten to twenty of them created by the First Thursday in February.

I am really enjoying the quality of the paper and the size as well. The paper is 24x 36" with approximately a 1.5" border on all sides of the image. The edges of the image are not kept pristine and one can see some of the process left behind in the inky stains and drips. I like this quality of the maps as well, a sense of immediacy in execution and in the need to get them in front of viewers. The surface of these paintings have a drawn feel and has been fully considered, yet there is still plenty of room for the viewer to wander throughout the map. The words and stories within the maps are personal to me, but also convey universal themes that many can relate to. There are brush strokes left plainly visible below the surface, which is something that rarely happens in my work. I love how these strokes create ridges within the piece where at times the charcoal is allowed to darkly gather or perhaps a flash of blue, a faint tinge of orange or a vibrant green is left to linger, taking the piece away from the stark black and white. These pieces are still linked within the larger white series but are the start of a new direction.

I love the tactility of the paper- it begs to be touched and I invite viewers to handle the maps, not only to touch them but to also hear them. The paper crackles and lowly rumbles as it is moved about and picked up and read. As I stated last week, these works will be extremely affordable at only $100 a painting, and due to the nature of these works they can be affordably and safely rolled and shipped in a tube all over the country and the world.

I will leave you with one of my favorite lines from my latest map and some more of the recent sounds inspiring this body of work.

"A strange language grows like vines in the night, and I think I would rather learn your words than any others..."



Until next week, keep fighting and be sure to come back for a preview of my completed maps.

This is May.

Selections from the Vault © 2010 Megan Chapman

These are the first of the new white series to be shown in the Vault Gallery for the month of May at the Fayetteville Underground. They had their debut last night, and I am happy to report the two pieces on the left, Right Words, Wrong Frequency and Where Strangers Dreams Cling have SOLD! This was such a thrill for me, validation of this direction and so many other things. I had a smile on my face all night. Another piece, To Collect Sounds, from my Fire and Noise series sold from my studio as well. It was a wonderful night, with record crowds and very inspiring all around. I am off to another opening reception tonight at the Sugar Gallery to see Crafting Place, this will be the first time my photography will be shown in a gallery, outside the works I did for the secret blocks that involved the resin. So May is starting off with a bang. I look forward to resting and recharging soon, so that I can get back to work on the white series and see where it takes me next.

In other news, the white series was also recently featured in two other art blogs, you may be interested in visiting. It is always an honor to have my work featured, Thanks again Jennifer and Debs!

I hope your May is wild.



and as always keep fighting...

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My friend Thomas Petillo, a brilliant photographer (who will be showing at the Fayetteville Underground in the Fall) and my musician friends, Hammock have been really devastated by the recent Nashville flood. Their new combined book/CD set just went on sale and it would really help these talented artists out in a very concrete way if you bought a copy. Go here to order yours today! Thank you.

This was April

A Manual for living : A ten page guide

detail © 2010 Megan Chapman

April was kind and filled with surprises. I am grateful that I keep a blog to remind me of what I actually manage to accomplish in a month. I think artists are so good at ignoring what we actually do, because many times while we are working we are also sitting, staring, napping, dreaming and zoning out in one manner or another. I believe a lot of magic happens in those down times and lulls, no matter how frustrating it feels when we are going through them. I slept a lot and strangely, and took some personal days away from the studio this month. I attempted to take better care of myself and some days were healthier than others, but at the end of the month I can look back and still feel quite proud of myself.

I completed 4 new paintings in the new white series this month that I am very happy with. I sold ten paintings this month. I had three photographs accepted into a juried exhibition and worked on a grant application. I had many great conversations about art and life with friends near and far. I worked on things concerning the Underground studios; I attended meetings. I kept a type of journal, took photographs, took time away from facebook, listened to a lot of great new music, and enjoyed walking around town and the sweet smell of spring on the wind. In a nut shell, I was very inspired and productive this month, and because of this I am grateful.

Thank you all.

Now, let's see what May holds...