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 completes her M.F.A. in painting at Savannah College of Art and Design. 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 studio practice alongside her full-time 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. Her work is in many public and private collections.
Maggie Clifford-Bandstra (b.1970) United States. In 2021 Bandstra completes her M.F.A. in painting at Savannah College of Art and Design. 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 studio practice alongside her full-time 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. Her work is in many public and private collections.
Education
Savannah College of Art and Design MFA in painting, Savannah, GA 2021
Masters of Science in Ed. Admin. Michigan State University, Lansing, MI 2002
Bachelor of Science in Education Loyola University, Chicago, IL 1993
Selected Collections
Ottawa County Art Trust, Ottawa County Mi
Grand Valley State University Allendale Mi
Grand Rapids Chair Co. Grand Rapids Mi.
Spectrum Health Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Ludington Mi
Destination Consultants, LLC Grand Rapids Mi
Mercy Health Center Muskegon Mi
School Zone Publishing Company, Grand Haven Mi.
CWD Grand Rapids Mi
Health Point, Grand Haven Mi
Exhibitions:
2021 Lowel Fine Arts Center, Lowell Mi. Solo Show
2020 Box Factory St Joseph Mi. From Solo Show Chaos to Beauty
Holland Area Arts Council, Holland Mi. Solo Show Significance of the Serendipity
2019 Mi Arts Holland Area Arts Council, Barbara Padnos Award, Holland Mi
Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibit, Muskegon Museum of Art Muskegon Mi,
Gallery Uptown, Grand Haven Mi.
Lowell Arts Center, Lowell Mi.
Forest Hills Fine Art Center Artist in Residence Ada Mi,
Pretty Project at Nomad Gallery by Richard App Grand Rapids Mi.
2018 ArtPrize 10 DeVos Convention center, Grand Rapids Mi. Sept 14-Oct. 8
Holland Area Arts Council “Color Riot” Holland Mi. Aug. 19-Nov. 5th
2017 ArtPrize 9 City Water Building Grand Rapids Mi
UICA Jump Off Grand Rapids Mi June
LVAC Art In Motion, May 20 Grand Haven Mi
UICA Live Coverage, Grand Rapids Mi
Collector Show, ArtPrize Hub, Grand Rapids Mi
2016 ArtPrize 8, Grand Rapids Mi, Sept- Oct.
Muskegon Museum of Art Regional Juried Exhibition May - August
SLCC Art and Aps show Spring Lake Mi April
Spring Show Richard App Gallery, Grand Rapids Mi April
UICA Live coverage Event, Grand Rapids Mi March
2015 Painters and Photographers, Armory Art Center Grand Haven Mi. December
Gift of Art University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor Mi, December
ArtPrize 7 Women’s City Club Grand Rapids Mi
ArtWalk, Armory Art Center Grand Haven Mi
Osteria Rossa, Solo Show Aug.-Dec.
UICA Live Coverage, Grand Rapids Mi
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids MI
2014 Art Prize Women’s City Club, Grand Rapids Mi.
The Littles Exhibition, Richard App Gallery, Grand Rapids Mi
Festival of the Art Show UICA, Grand Rapids Mi
UICA Live Coverage, Grand Rapids Mi
Gallery Uptown group show, Grand Haven Mi April
2013 Art Walk, Grand Haven Mi
Art Prize Women’s City Club Grand Rapids Mi
Mi Arts Show, HAAC, Holland Mi
Talking With Painters, FireBarn Gallery Grand Haven Mi
Festival Of the Arts Regional Show, Grand Rapids Mi
UICA Live Coverage Event
2012 RePrize HAAC, Holland Mi
Mi Arts Show HAAC, Holland, Mi
Art Walk, Grand Haven, Mi
ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Mi.
MMA Regional Show, Muskegon Mi
Festival of the Arts Grand Rapids Mi.
UICA Live Coverage Grand Rapids Mi.
Celebration of the Arts, Grand Rapids
2011 Fire Barn Gallery, Group show Grand Haven Mi
Holland Area Arts Council group show Holland Mi.
Favorite Things show Art Cats Gallery, Muskegon Mi.
Gallery Uptown Grand Haven “Convivial” a 5 women show
Art Prize 2011, Grand Rapids Mi.
The Theater Bar Grand Haven Mi.
Art on the Riverfront, Grand Haven Mi
42nd Festival of the Arts GRAM, Grand Rapids Mi.
Tulip Time Poster Top 20 Exhibit HAAC. Holland Mi.
2010 Art Prize 2010 Grand Rapids, MI. Lafontsee Gallery
Walberg Gallery A Few of Our Favorite Things Show
2009 Art Prize 2009 Grand Rapids, Mi. Open Concept Gallery
Art on the Riverfront GHAAC
2008 Kowalski Design Center “Whimsical Women”
Salmon Festival Grand Haven
Art on the Riverfront GHAAC
GVA Reeds Lake Clothesline art festival
GVA Spring Member Exhibit
Gallery Uptown
2007 GHAAC group show
Art on the Riverfront
Gallery Uptown
Savannah College of Art and Design MFA in painting, Savannah, GA 2021
Masters of Science in Ed. Admin. Michigan State University, Lansing, MI 2002
Bachelor of Science in Education Loyola University, Chicago, IL 1993
Selected Collections
Ottawa County Art Trust, Ottawa County Mi
Grand Valley State University Allendale Mi
Grand Rapids Chair Co. Grand Rapids Mi.
Spectrum Health Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Ludington Mi
Destination Consultants, LLC Grand Rapids Mi
Mercy Health Center Muskegon Mi
School Zone Publishing Company, Grand Haven Mi.
CWD Grand Rapids Mi
Health Point, Grand Haven Mi
Exhibitions:
2021 Lowel Fine Arts Center, Lowell Mi. Solo Show
2020 Box Factory St Joseph Mi. From Solo Show Chaos to Beauty
Holland Area Arts Council, Holland Mi. Solo Show Significance of the Serendipity
2019 Mi Arts Holland Area Arts Council, Barbara Padnos Award, Holland Mi
Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibit, Muskegon Museum of Art Muskegon Mi,
Gallery Uptown, Grand Haven Mi.
Lowell Arts Center, Lowell Mi.
Forest Hills Fine Art Center Artist in Residence Ada Mi,
Pretty Project at Nomad Gallery by Richard App Grand Rapids Mi.
2018 ArtPrize 10 DeVos Convention center, Grand Rapids Mi. Sept 14-Oct. 8
Holland Area Arts Council “Color Riot” Holland Mi. Aug. 19-Nov. 5th
2017 ArtPrize 9 City Water Building Grand Rapids Mi
UICA Jump Off Grand Rapids Mi June
LVAC Art In Motion, May 20 Grand Haven Mi
UICA Live Coverage, Grand Rapids Mi
Collector Show, ArtPrize Hub, Grand Rapids Mi
2016 ArtPrize 8, Grand Rapids Mi, Sept- Oct.
Muskegon Museum of Art Regional Juried Exhibition May - August
SLCC Art and Aps show Spring Lake Mi April
Spring Show Richard App Gallery, Grand Rapids Mi April
UICA Live coverage Event, Grand Rapids Mi March
2015 Painters and Photographers, Armory Art Center Grand Haven Mi. December
Gift of Art University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor Mi, December
ArtPrize 7 Women’s City Club Grand Rapids Mi
ArtWalk, Armory Art Center Grand Haven Mi
Osteria Rossa, Solo Show Aug.-Dec.
UICA Live Coverage, Grand Rapids Mi
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids MI
2014 Art Prize Women’s City Club, Grand Rapids Mi.
The Littles Exhibition, Richard App Gallery, Grand Rapids Mi
Festival of the Art Show UICA, Grand Rapids Mi
UICA Live Coverage, Grand Rapids Mi
Gallery Uptown group show, Grand Haven Mi April
2013 Art Walk, Grand Haven Mi
Art Prize Women’s City Club Grand Rapids Mi
Mi Arts Show, HAAC, Holland Mi
Talking With Painters, FireBarn Gallery Grand Haven Mi
Festival Of the Arts Regional Show, Grand Rapids Mi
UICA Live Coverage Event
2012 RePrize HAAC, Holland Mi
Mi Arts Show HAAC, Holland, Mi
Art Walk, Grand Haven, Mi
ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Mi.
MMA Regional Show, Muskegon Mi
Festival of the Arts Grand Rapids Mi.
UICA Live Coverage Grand Rapids Mi.
Celebration of the Arts, Grand Rapids
2011 Fire Barn Gallery, Group show Grand Haven Mi
Holland Area Arts Council group show Holland Mi.
Favorite Things show Art Cats Gallery, Muskegon Mi.
Gallery Uptown Grand Haven “Convivial” a 5 women show
Art Prize 2011, Grand Rapids Mi.
The Theater Bar Grand Haven Mi.
Art on the Riverfront, Grand Haven Mi
42nd Festival of the Arts GRAM, Grand Rapids Mi.
Tulip Time Poster Top 20 Exhibit HAAC. Holland Mi.
2010 Art Prize 2010 Grand Rapids, MI. Lafontsee Gallery
Walberg Gallery A Few of Our Favorite Things Show
2009 Art Prize 2009 Grand Rapids, Mi. Open Concept Gallery
Art on the Riverfront GHAAC
2008 Kowalski Design Center “Whimsical Women”
Salmon Festival Grand Haven
Art on the Riverfront GHAAC
GVA Reeds Lake Clothesline art festival
GVA Spring Member Exhibit
Gallery Uptown
2007 GHAAC group show
Art on the Riverfront
Gallery Uptown