November 2020

Current Show

My Full M.F.A. online show Trauma and Beauty can seen here. 
https://www.artsteps.com/view/5f8a3452eb2bfd186777e8eb 
​And a portion can be seen at the Box Factory for the Arts in St.Joseph, Michigan.
​https://boxfactoryforthearts.org/series-5-bandstra//
​To Register for the Zoom Artist talk on 10/29/2020 at 6:00PM sign up here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScj1F9P-TikUJPhgDF8ip5XyvAKWziqR-Dn_CBq__HW4Mm3QQ/viewform

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The Box Factory of the Arts 1101 Broad St, St Joseph, MI 49085

Guarding the Art: At The Muskegon Museum of Art

https://muskegonartmuseum.org/
This month I get to guard the art during the Postcard Salon. Around 1,700 cards created by close to 600 artists are on display. All artworks created are 4 x 6-inches and use in a wide array of media and themes. The sale is on October 30 & 31.
The occupancy limit for this gallery is five guests
Friday, October 30, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm; and
Saturday, October 31, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
In consideration for others, the MMA is asking guests to keep their shopping to under 10 minutes. I am looking forward to picking up a few gems. This sale is a great way to start collecting work from your favorite artists and support the Muskegon Museum of Art. Art makes a great gift. At these prices you can afford to get something for everyone on your list.

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 Worth a visit: George Segal: Body Language at Meijer Gardens.

June 16, 2020 – January 3, 2021, George Segal: Body Language is the first opportunity to see the artist's sculptures side-by-side with a recent gift of prints from The George & Helen Segal Foundation complemented by additional loans of a painting, pastel drawing, and sculptures. 
I was moved to tears when I saw Blue Woman; the woman seems trapped at her desk working, which is the way I feel this month as I struggle to complete my thesis paper. I want to finish it so I can get back to my studio work. Segal's sculptures are so visceral they are cast from real people. This exhibition is so timely due to the pandemic. It has been so long since I have seen many unmasked people arranged as close together as these sculptures; it evoked an emotion I did not realize that I was missing. Blue Women is sitting alone vs. the other statues in the room and being so close to finishing this M.F.A., she affected me. I highly recommend a visit to see this exhibit. Don't forget your mask.

The chrysanthemums growing throughout the gardens are also a lovely symbol of the end of the warm weather I spent a little time storing images and colors for the long gray winter.

​
What are you Creating Episode #6: Zooming With Nikki Zuaro

My interview with Nikki Zuaro was great. She is going to do great things and is an artist to watch. 

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Upcoming shows

Holiday Artist Trail in Grand Haven Mi.  December 5th & 6th from 10-4 
Artisan 1322 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417 with
Kathy O'Brian and Mark Jones 
https://www.artisanofgrandhaven.com/
https://www.facebook.com/grandhavenartisttrail/
Gallery Uptown November 18th -- January 2nd 
​https://galleryuptown.net/holiday-gift-art-show

10/30/2020 https://allartworks.net/​

What I am Reading:
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Shinrin-Yoku: The Art of Forest-Bathing by Dr. Qing Li I picked up this book while researching my thesis paper. "Looking at natural fractal patterns can reduce stress by 60%."-Dr. Qing Li. I learned the Japanese word Komorebi has no direct English translation but is a Japanese word that roughly translates as the sunlight that filters through the tree leaves—written tree, escapes, light. This painting Looking Up is one I painted last month. It is a 34x40 inches mixed media painting in an attempt to capture that relaxed feeling I had during a yoga class I took in the park this summer. With the little bits of sky peeking through the leaves, perhaps I should retitle it Komorebi?

Maggie Bandstra, "Things Are Looking up" Mixed Media 34x40 inches on oil. https://boxfactoryforthearts.org/series-5-bandstra/

An Artist I am looking at: Anselm Kiefer 

"You could be seduced into thinking that art can redeem the work, but it cannot." -Kiefer. per the recommendation of my professor, Steve Knudsen, I began researching Anselm Kiefer, and I found this video. Just incredible work. Very inspiring, thought provoking and important work he is doing. He is a German born artist whose work  focuses on birth and death, construction, and deconstruction.  "Why are we here we do not know" These are just a few of his words that resonated with me in regard to artmaking. 

Anselm Kiefer: Remembering the Future from Jack Cocker on Vimeo.

Thank you for reading, watching and learning with me
Creatively yours,
Maggie Bandstra