Melinda Steffy, artwork and art-writing

IDEA: shadows and intangible imagery

I'm in the preliminary stages of a new piece that is going to cast significant shadows if installed on a wall. I've been contemplating how best to make use of the shadows, and ran across some images of Kumi Yamashita's work. Now I'm fascinated by the idea of incorporating an intangible image, dependent entirely on the correct angle of light or viewer perspective.

This Yamashita piece particularly caught my attention because it looks similar in scale and installation to mine. Brainstorming...

"Myth/Memory" at the Crane Arts Building

This winter, I'm pleased to be exhibiting four of my mixed media installations in The Hall at the Crane Arts Building, presented by InLiquid. "Aubade: Mnemosyne Sings" will be installed as a wall-to-wall, 15'x15' spread of vibrant yellow textile, accompanied by the burned paper piece "Ode: Hestia Travels" and the copper and iron "Introductions I and II: Mars Enters/Venus Receives."

"Myth/Memory"
January 5-February 27, 2011
The Hall at the Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA

Receptions: January 13 and February 10 from 6-9pm

In Myth/Memory, memory, mythology & alchemy intertwine with the simplicity of a nine-patch sewing sampler and the belief that materials retain meaning from previous uses. Using symbolic materials such as the spice turmeric, tarnished copper and burnt paper, Melinda Steffy constructs rhythmic visual compositions that draw on additional themes of numerology, entropy, sustainability, domestic life and improvisation.
Painstaking processes of stitching, pinning, cutting and tearing result in loosely constructed grids, left rough and unfinished, with subtle variations and frequent repetitions. The pieces are deliberately fragmentary, brief, to give the feeling of a nearly forgotten story or a fleeting line of music.

See the details at InLiquid.com

New Wilmington Painting

I have several textile-based pieces in this group show by the New Wilmington Art Association that focuses on experimental painting practices and new trends.

"New Wilmington Painting"
January 7-28, 2011
Pierre S. duPont Arts Center Gallery, Tower Hill School, Wilmington, DE

Opening reception: Friday, January 7 from 5-8pm

Installation shots at Fringe Wilmington

A few images of my pieces in the Visual Fringe show as part of Fringe Wilmington, on display at the Shipley Lofts from September 29-October 21, 2010. Although the lighting wasn't great for photos, I really enjoyed how having both the "unfinished" concrete wall and the smooth drywall enhanced the craft/fine art dichotomy in my artwork.

Melinda Steffy in Fringe Wilmington's "Visual Fringe" show

Three of my recent pieces will be in the "Visual Fringe" exhibition as part of Fringe Wilmington. The show will be up from September 29 through October 21 at the Shipley Lofts, 701 Shipley Street, Wilmington, DE.

There are several receptions to choose from:

Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
"Visual Fringe" opening reception and Fringe Wilmington kick-off

Friday, October 1, 2010, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Art on the Town reception

Thursday, October 21, 2010, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
"Visual Fringe" closing reception

ARTWORK:
"Aubade: Mnemosyne Sings"

"Ode: Hestia Travels"

"Untitled (Solitary)"

Installation shots at The Grantham Church Art Gallery

A few images of my show "Collecting Stones: Minerals and Material Memory," on display at The Grantham Church Art Gallery from July 25-August 28, 2010.