Artist Statement:
Making artwork is the way that I communicate and connect with the world around me. My work's unifying undercurrent plays with ideas and concepts surrounding nature, healing, and the human connection. The paintings I make are layers of dye, ink, acrylic, and oil paints that depict abstracted forms and colors found in the natural world. The viewer might find these familiar shapes and forms going for a walk in the woods, an open field, or in a neighborhood. These mundane everyday images become joyful and rapturous on the canvas. The shapes and forms are familiar but seen in a new way. Exploring nature in this way signifies our layered human connections to the world and how we as we humans move through our lives. Being an artist that creates images that provoke a smile is a delightful privilege during these stressful days.
Creating colorful paintings and ceramics using abstracted appropriated forms from nature is what my artwork is. Using traditional techniques to prepare the substrates acknowledges the early Arts and Crafts movement's ideology. William Morris says, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." Surrounding the viewer with beautiful colors and peaceful calming forms found in nature is the purpose of this work. My Connection series is about the connections we humans have and need and how we affect one another. It began in the summer of 2020. The circles and squares are the doodles I make on my paper when I sit in meetings or classes taking notes; they help calm me. So I decided to make them big. I hope they help to calm you too.
Making artwork is the way that I communicate and connect with the world around me. My work's unifying undercurrent plays with ideas and concepts surrounding nature, healing, and the human connection. The paintings I make are layers of dye, ink, acrylic, and oil paints that depict abstracted forms and colors found in the natural world. The viewer might find these familiar shapes and forms going for a walk in the woods, an open field, or in a neighborhood. These mundane everyday images become joyful and rapturous on the canvas. The shapes and forms are familiar but seen in a new way. Exploring nature in this way signifies our layered human connections to the world and how we as we humans move through our lives. Being an artist that creates images that provoke a smile is a delightful privilege during these stressful days.
Creating colorful paintings and ceramics using abstracted appropriated forms from nature is what my artwork is. Using traditional techniques to prepare the substrates acknowledges the early Arts and Crafts movement's ideology. William Morris says, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." Surrounding the viewer with beautiful colors and peaceful calming forms found in nature is the purpose of this work. My Connection series is about the connections we humans have and need and how we affect one another. It began in the summer of 2020. The circles and squares are the doodles I make on my paper when I sit in meetings or classes taking notes; they help calm me. So I decided to make them big. I hope they help to calm you too.
Bio:
Maggie Clifford-Bandstra (b.1970) United States. In 2021 Bandstra completed her M.F.A. in painting at Savannah College of Art and Design in 2021. Bandstra has a Masters in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University and a B.S. in Education from Loyola University of Chicago. She has been building her multidisciplinary studio practice alongside her job as an arts educator. In 2014 she started curating pop-up art shows with the mission of helping artists connect with their community. These Networking events grew in to the Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective a 501c3. Bandstra currently lives in Grand Haven, MI. with her family. Her paintings are nature abstracted. The human connection to nature inspires her paintings and pottery. She extrapolates the simple forms and colors that she finds in plant life and the landscape. Using an exaggerated scale, movement, and patterns to deliver a healing message through her work. She is encouraging us to take notice of the beauty in the world around us.
Maggie Clifford-Bandstra (b.1970) United States. In 2021 Bandstra completed her M.F.A. in painting at Savannah College of Art and Design in 2021. Bandstra has a Masters in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University and a B.S. in Education from Loyola University of Chicago. She has been building her multidisciplinary studio practice alongside her job as an arts educator. In 2014 she started curating pop-up art shows with the mission of helping artists connect with their community. These Networking events grew in to the Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective a 501c3. Bandstra currently lives in Grand Haven, MI. with her family. Her paintings are nature abstracted. The human connection to nature inspires her paintings and pottery. She extrapolates the simple forms and colors that she finds in plant life and the landscape. Using an exaggerated scale, movement, and patterns to deliver a healing message through her work. She is encouraging us to take notice of the beauty in the world around us.
Education
Masters of Fine Art in Painting, Savannah College of Art and Design, (online) GA. 2021
Masters of Science in Educational Administration, Michigan State University, MI. 2002
Bachelor of Science in Education, Loyola University Chicago, IL. 1993
Work Experience
Bandstra Studio LLC-2008- Present
Multidisciplinary Artist, painter, potter, and curator creating artwork in my studio, organizing exhibits and art events in West Michigan.
Hope College Adjunct Professor art department 2022-
Holland Area Arts Council, Education Director 2019-2020
Contracted to implement educational programming for the Holland Area Arts Council. Developed instructor application process and course evaluation survey and trained staff on the new system.
Hudsonville Public Schools Art Teacher & Department Chair 1999-2020
I taught fine art classes to PreK-5th grade students. Developed a district-wide art curriculum and art show, mentored new art teachers in the district. As the Head of Art Department, I led community service projects, was a Member of the Curriculum Council, Member of the School Improvement Team; my students created hundreds of pieces of artwork for the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital 2011 & 2014. In 2017, HPS won the First ArtPrize Youth Collaborative Award for our entry; You Be You. In 2018 I received the Innovation in Education Award and 25 years of service to public education.
Louis Armstrong Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, 3rd — 4th Grade Teacher 1994-1998 I planned and implemented the comprehensive gifted program in an enclosed third and fourth-grade classroom. Participated in the development and implementation of the school improvement plan, technology plan, and curriculum goals. Developed after school Junior Great Books program, Oversaw Young Author program for the whole school,
Our Lady of the West Side, Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, 5th Grade Teacher 1993-1994 I planned and implemented lessons in all subjects for 5th-grade students.
Awards
Bess Catherine Coats Scholarship SCAD
Innovation in Education Award HPS
Board Positions
Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective-Founding Board Member and President
Grand Haven Community Center Board Member
Affiliations
ArTTable
College Art Association
Michigan Art Education Association
Muskegon Museum of Art Friends of Art
Collections
Priority Health, Grand Rapids, Mi
Grand Valley State University Allendale, Mi
Grand Rapids Chair Co. Grand Rapids, Mi.
Spectrum Health Grand Rapids Mi
Destination Consultants, LLC Grand Rapids, Mi
Mercy Health Center Muskegon, Mi
School Zone Publishing Company, Grand Haven, Mi.
Health Point, Grand Haven, Mi
Holland Hospital, Holland, Mi.
Press
Poppy Project
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2021/09/a-couple-planted-thousands-of-poppies-in-memory-of-their-son-it-became-an-artprize-entry.htmlhttps://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/local/2021/09/15/fennville-poppy-field-featured-local-artprize-entry/8331806002/
Gnomes of Grand Haven: a pandemic project https://www.fox17online.com/news/coronavirus/something-good/artist-is-hiding-gnome-statues-every-single-day-for-people-to-find New Exhibition:
Significance in The Serendipity by Maggie Bandstra, West Michigan Tourist Association. May 11, 2020, www.wmta.org/2020/05/11/new-exhibition-significance-in-the-serendipity-by-maggie-bandstra/
https://www.maggiebandstra.com/
https://www.instagram.com/maggiebandstra/
https://www.facebook.com/Bandstra-Studio-251817681685194
https://www.lakeshorevac.com/