Sunday April 1st was the Book Arts Bazzar at the Wishcamper center in Portland. An event in celebration of book makers, artists etc. very fun and inspiring .I sold a few books and a lot of my decorative papers ( monoprinted, paste paper design, silkscreened).

                                    WISDOM BOX PROJECT
I have been a companion at the Center  for Wisdom's Women since the fall of 2011.
My involvement started out as an internship for the Chapliancy Institute of Maine ( ChIMEofmaine.org) from which I was recently ordained as an Interfaith minister. Companioning the women and being a  part of the center has been a rewarding experience,  so I have stayed on as a volunteer.

Last summer ( 2011), we had to temporarily leave  our space as it was being renovated. We wanted to come up with a creative project that was simple and portable for the women while we were in transition. I suggested painting & decorating matchboxes and inserting prayers ( poems , blessings and inspirational sayings) into the box - after taking the matches out. It became popular with many of the women- actually "soothing" and "meditative" as some of the women have reflected. We have called them "Wisdom boxes" and continue to sell them as a fundraiser for the center ( http://www.wisdomswomen.org/).

Spring/Summer Teaching Schedule:

Saturday May 19th at GAllery 302 ( www.gallery302.com) from 9:30-4:00
PRINTMAKING/SURFACE DESIGN WORKSHOP
In the morning , we will work our surfaces, using matt medium ,paste paper paints, collage ,gold foils etc. ,and then monoprinting with Akua ( soy based inks) in the afternoon. All material included, no experience necessary.

Saturday, June 9th Gallery 302
BOOK ALTAR WORKSHOP- Using decorative papers, and an assortment of embellishing materials, we will create a structure in which the center panel is worked in layers. No experience necessary, all material;s included.

Thursday July 12th Gallery 302
Printmaking/surface design.

for more information about these classes, contact s.shepley@roadrunner.com ; to register call ( GAllery 302) 207-647-2787.

monoprint/surface design workshop

I am in the process of writing up a flyer for late winter/early spring classes.

The focus will be monoprinting and creating surface design. The latter refers to building up surfaces that can be, then "underpaintings" or a background for a print. Either way, this class is designed to appeal to painters and printmakers alike as well as to the individual who simply loves to play with color and texture.

Gallery 302 monoprint workshop.

I offered a monoprint workshop at Gallery 302 ( a cooperative Gallery in Bridgton, Maine http://www.gallery302.org/)) as part of their Winter series classes. They have nestled off a corner in back of the gallery- It is an excellent space for teaching and part of the proceeds go the gallery itself. Check it out!!; very warm and inviting. There were 5 of us monoprinting with Akua Inks. very fun and a great antedote to a chilly january day !

pages for the Sketch book project

I have been working on putting together images for the Sketch Book project which is sponsored by the Brooklyn Art musuem and tours nationally. There will be an opening at Space Gallery in April ( Congree st. Portland, Maine) of a compilation of sketch books. In mine, I used monoprints and transfer images to create my pages loosely based on Thomas Merton's book THE BOOK OF HOURS and his concept of "Le temps vierge".An experience of time which is both full and empty."nowhereness in the middle of movement, a point of nothingness in the midst of being"- It is a time of openness to everything just as it is.