Easter renewal

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Jo Myers-Walker
Paper-and-pencil sketch for the revised figure of Jesus for fabric wall hanging telling the story of Easter by artist Jo Myers-Walker

Starting with a sketch, as usual,
for a larger figure of Jesus

In-progress photo of revised fabric figure of Jesus for improvised fabric wall hanging telling the story of Easter by artist Jo Myers-Walker

Working on the fabric layout
with filler for shape

My improvisational fabric wall hanging will be installed again this year in St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Holy Saturday (April 8, 2023), after a bit of a refresh! It shows scenes in the Easter story, starting at the bottom (where St. Thomas Aquinas is presenting the story) and working our way to the top (with Jesus’s resurrection).

After the wall hanging was installed for last year’s Easter season, I was concerned that Jesus looked small and two-dimensional. Remembering some scriptures about the strong women who just kept going following Jesus, as shown in the fabric scenes, I decided to keep working and make His figure more prominent. I remembered my flat pattern class at ISU and sculpture class to help show Jesus as three-dimensional, animated and full of life. It was excellent timing for Lent.

Previously:

Skilled assistants work with artist Jo Myers-Walker on revisions to the fabric Easter story wall hanging

Skilled assistants secure some loose parts of the fabric while I sew a new book-holding hand on St. Thomas Aquinas (detail-oriented viewers had pointed out that his fabric version had only four fingers!)

Skilled assistants hold up revised Easter story wall hanging by artist Jo Myers-Walker showing the emphasized figure of Jesus

My assistants sewed the new figure on
with me helping. The wall hanging now
more strongly emphasizes the risen Jesus.
   

A comparison of the original and newly emphasized figure of Jesus in the Easter story fabric wall hanging by artist Jo Myers-Walker

Detail of the original top section (at left) and the same section
revised (at right) shows the difference in scale of the figure of Jesus.

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Figures in a scene

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Jo Myers-Walker
Photos of still-life watercolor painting and easel setup in orange logo for Figures in a Scene class at the ArtiFactory, Iowa City, Iowa

   

Update:
See my post “What’s going on!” for links to more upcoming dates!

Figures in a Scene class
Fellow artist Omer Sanan and I will lead this class. From the course description:
“The figure is captivating and expressive but is in need of a sense of place. We will be working from photos and sketches as well as still life setups. Omer Sanan and [I] will demonstrate techniques in drawing, watercolor and monochromatic value studies. There will be a short demo leaving time for walk-arounds while the paint is drying. In an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment we can all learn from each other.
Bring Arches 150lb watercolor paper for best results. A painting board, drawing board, or foamcore for your watercolor paper. Also, a drawing pad, pencils, watercolors or colored pencils, and photos to work from. Masks along with social distancing are encouraged.”

The cost is $35.00 per person for each 2-hour session. Register online at the ArtiFactory’s course pages, and see the Artifactory home page for more upcoming events!

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Postcards for Peace

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Jo Myers-Walker
A watercolor painting by artist Jo Myers-Walker shows a large crowd of stylized figures stretching off into the distance, coming together to advocate for a world without nuclear weapons

People coming together for “A world without nuclear weapons”

A favorite part of attending St. Thomas More Catholic Church is the opportunity to work with fellow parishioners for causes that are important to us. I painted this scene, showing people from all over joining together, to use as the decorative side of postcards for the group project Postcards for Peace. After this weekend’s Masses (January 28–29, 2023), churchgoers will have a chance to address the postcards to our political leaders and write why they are urging our government to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Nuclear weapons remain an active threat to all life on the planet, and sending postcards may seem a small measure. Recent church bulletins remind us to Pray — Study — Act, even when the odds seem against us; and they include a World Peace Prayer for contemplation (link is to some historical information about the prayer on liturgy.co.nz).

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It Happens Here, Too

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Jo Myers-Walker
A silhouetted figure in a dark urban space in a promotional image for the informational event It Happens Here, Too about human trafficking

   

Update:  This event will be rescheduled after being cancelled for weather safety concerns. Keep an eye on the Johnson County Human Trafficking Coalition social media for updates!

Previous post:
It Happens Here, Too:  Human Trafficking in Iowa
Informational event at Iowa City Public Library (sponsored by the library and by the Johnson County Human Trafficking Coalition)

Diana Cox and I will lead one of the break-out sessions at this event, where we’ll show and discuss the short documentary film “Chosen” about teenagers deceived into trafficking. I’ll also be learning from other presenters and attendees! This open-to-the-public event brings together many people and organizations involved in working against human trafficking and helping its survivors.

I’ll have cards and scarves from my Creating for a Cause collections for sale to support causes including Lila Mae’s House. The founder of Lila Mae’s House, Sister Shirley Fineran, recently received one of six Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards given by the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking.

From the event description:  “Human trafficking is happening here in Iowa. Come to learn more about how to identify human trafficking, the tactics used, and join break-out sessions to talk with others about how this issue affects our communities.”

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Fabric scenes on a smaller scale

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Jo Myers-Walker
Flying dogs and owners, improvisational fabric wall hanging by artist Jo Myers-Walker

Flying dogs and owners, 17″x 13″

I’ve been using up material left over from the (church-wall-sized) Easter story wall hanging to create these little improvisational wall hangings, or “magical narrative fabric collages.” This size is easier to manage, which was especially helpful when I was recuperating from a knee replacement earlier this year! Being creative can be useful in recovery — you figure out how to make things better. The varied textures and shapes of the leftover fabric inspired images of childlike fun.

I’ll have these collages at the Eastside Artists Show and Sale which continues Saturday and Sunday (December 3 –4, 2022), along with watercolor paintings, cards, and more!

Fanciful improvisational fabric wall hangings by artist Jo Myers-Walker

At left, Violin lesson, 12″ x 15″;  At right, Flower picking, 10″ x 12″

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Eastside Artists Show and Sale 2022

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Jo Myers-Walker
Postcard announcing 2022 Iowa City Eastside Artists Show and Sale with collage featuring realistic female cardinal and map of Iowa city area by collage artist Chris Carman

(Click image to view full size)

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,
December 2, 3, and 4, 2022:

“Local Art from Hand & Heart” — I’m looking forward to having a booth at this year’s in-person (face masks required) Iowa City Eastside Artists Show and Sale!

The event is held at the Masonic Building, 312 East College Street in downtown Iowa City. You can find more information at the Eastside Artists website and Facebook page.

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What’s going on! (sticky post)

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Jo Myers-Walker

(This post is “stickied” to remain at the top of the blog; newer blog posts may appear below.)

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Exhibit at Iowa Artisans Gallery

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Jo Myers-Walker
Artist Jo Myers-Walker point to a painting while talking with an attendee of November 2022 show opening at Iowa Artisans Gallery

Discussing one of
the watercolors
   

Still-life watercolor painting and some small whimsical fabric artworks by Jo Myers-Walker

This display includes some little
tapestries I’ve been making.
More about those later!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the opening event at Iowa Artisans Gallery for the show “Creating for Causes,” featuring my Creating for a Cause artwork and products. The exhibit remains at the gallery (207 E. Washington St. in downtown Iowa City) for the month of November 2022, along with the work of many other artists in many mediums and styles!

(Photos in this post courtesy of Jeanette)

Wall of watercolor artwork by artist Jo Myers-Walker on display at Iowa Artisans Gallery, with a close-up on four paintings of women

This wall includes paintings of women whom I
imagined symbolizing the courage of survivors

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Autumn workshop at the Prairie

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Jo Myers-Walker
Watercolor paints and sketches arrayed on a tabletop with a pair of colorful glasses

   

Friday, October 14, 2022,
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.:

Join us for my workshop Imagination Unbinds Hope, at Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat near Wheatland, Iowa! We will be painting intuitively, finding shapes in clouds and our imaginations, finding our voice. This is a day of discovery, meditation and release, enjoying the beauty of the Prairie.

Cost is $45.00 per person including lunch and art supplies. You can register online at the event page on the Prairie Retreat website.

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Sunday conversations

Posted on September 23, 2022 by Jo Myers-Walker
Sunday Conversations, watercolor painting of rocking chairs on an elegant front porch by artist Jo Myers-Walker

Sunday Conversations, 16″ h x 20″ w

Update:  The Octagon show was great (and windy!), I saw lots of friends and left new paintings at the Octagon Shop. (My original post is below.)

I’ll have this new painting, “Sunday Conversations,” at the Octagon Art Festival this Sunday (September 25, 2022, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) along with other original watercolors, prints (including my illustrations of “Rufus Rutabaga Flicktail Finds His House”), and cards (including ones from my Improvisational Fabric Wall Hanging). The Art Festival web page now has a list of this year’s artists and a map to our booths.

These rocking chairs were inspired by the front porch of Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat near Wheatland, Iowa. I’m looking forward to returning there to lead a workshop on October 14 called Imagination Unbinds Hope (update: the workshop date is in the past).

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