Clearly I'm excited. Clearly.
And showing off for the camera. But whatever, here's the story:
When I was 16 my Birthday present was a trip to Jersey to stay with my Aunties, and as I turned 26 this year I felt it would be sweetly sentimental if I went back. And then it turned out my Auntie M was having a show at Grounds For Sculpture in early May and it just made sense to combine the two!
Plus, the last time I was at one of my Auntie M's shows I was in diapers. So it was a while ago!
Grounds for Sculpture is on the old NJ state fair grounds and is a rambling garden filled with modern sculptures (including some of founder J. S. Johnson (of Johnson & Johnson)'s works which are...special.) as well as a fine restaurant and several exhibition spaces.
It's kind of like wandering through Wonderland, you're never quite sure what's going to be around a corner.
Alas, it wasn't yet in bloom but this massive arch drenched in wisteria must be quite a sight when it is! Bet it smells divine!
More wisteria, this time as a fun tunnel to walk through.
Dappled glade. Even the landscaping went into the realm of art here.
And apparently the climber gene was not completely lost on me, I simply had to climb the art! With such nice toe holds I could have gone higher but I was nervous of getting yelled at for disrespecting the art. Their website specifically says not to climb anything, woops! (Which is bull. Don't artists want people to react to their art?? I freaking climbed it yo!)
Aaaah! Panthers!
Just kidding, they're fake.
IT'S REAL.
(And it's entirely possible I stepped in some of it's poop. Entirely possible. But I discreetly wiped it off so I wouldn't break the illusion of being a Fancy Lady. Too late.)
After a really fancy ribbon cutting (thank God for champagne) I escorted the Auntie to her show space. I think I look like a bodyguard helping a celebrity through the paparazzi. But it was more like preventing her from running away to hide in the shrubbery until people went away. Shyness must be a hereditary quality along with being freakishly pale. Go us!
Marilyn Keating... Marilyn Keating. Go that way.
This guy was the first thing to greet you when you walked into the big building, just drawing you upwards to see what other magical things lay in wait.
It was curated excellently and the space itself was perfect for Auntie's art, being so open to nature which is such an important part of her work.
Auntie M and Auntie D had to talk to lots of people, but a lot of them were dear friends which made up for having to be nice to strangers!
The incredible 'Flying Fish'. My Auntie loves kites! And fish! Auntie Deborah did an exquisite job painting it, lovely irridescence to it.
This one made me laugh as it's a story about how Auntie M used to do that to flies and then chase Miss Linda around with them. Oh sisters...
'Carpenter Bee', I watched two buzz around chewing holes into the beams of the cantina, so many things that happen in that little paradise turn up as art. The hammer head and ruler frame make me giggle.
The original of the 'What Hums in You' print that hangs in my kitchen and it's companion 'Periodic Visitor'.
'Forest Feet'
As you can see, Auntie M loves a good toy. Much cooler than my Fisher Price Lil Snoopy I had as a kid. Though she did make me a horse I could wheel around on named Annabelle. And a Narnia dollhouse complete with a wardrobe you slid the back out of, sleigh, and lamppost (Miss Linda made the Pevensie dolls). And a horse with a weight you could balance on things to rock back and forth. And a paper mache fish I named Sputnik that hung in my attic room. Oh, and a playhouse in our backyard.
Basically I had the best childhood ever.
And I take it back about Snoopy, I saw one at a flea market the other day and wanted to take it home with me, I loved that dog!
'WaterBoatman' Get it!!
(In case you didn't take classes at Dawes when you were a kid, a Water Boatman is the common name for Corixidae, a water bug.) Hilarious!
'Dragonfly Road Rage' Hahahhahaaa apparently a sick sense of humor is also hereditary. The other day I was in a bar and made a joke about drowning cats in a sack. (How do I have friends?!?!) I love that she explained why a lot of her prints are of dead animals: because "they don't move". They seriously are some of my favorites of her work.
'Hand of Durga' Durga is a Hindu goddess (total badass) who is usually depicted holding all ten of her weapons in her hands (impressive multi-tasking). I like the idea that if she added a paintbrush to her arsenal she would be a patron saint to artists and aid them with her qualities of fearlessness, creative force, and sense of humor even under stress! With that handle looking remarkably like that of a knife she'd clearly use art as a weapon. Don't mess with Durga. She'll cut you. With a freakin' paintbrush!
One of the coolest parts of the whole night was this delightful story: while going through some papers Auntie M found her kindergarden report card in which her teacher, Mabel, says she shows clear artistic potential which should be encouraged and that she'd like to keep in touch to see how she grows. Well Auntie googled her, invited her to the show, and Mabel came!!
She is the dearest lady, and was just so happy to see what became of little Marilyn. I think she exceeded Mabel's expectations! Being an artist isn't an easy gift to be given, and I think we were all so touched that she'd had a cheerleader at such a young age. Now she has Auntie D and loads of friends and family too!
The show was such an exciting way to start off my visit, though we were all glad when it was over. Whew! Still, it's not every day one gets to be the niece of a famous artist! And if anyone is in the NJ area go go go!!!
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