Triangle Art Review

Featured Event      MM4 Challenge

Carolina Mixed Media Artist Guild

Archived Featured Events

June 2008
May 2007

Members of the Carolina Mixed Media Artist Guild gathered together  for the MM4 Challenge at Artist Alley, a sweet little boutique gallery located at 167 E. New Hampshire Ave in Southern Pines, NC. 

What's MM4 you say? It's means Mixed Media Madness Mission {Code name: MM4). All the members were asked to create a mixed media work that used over 30 different common items with totally uncommon results. Each was allowed, (but not required) to add two items and not use two items. Everything from vintage red wooden building blocks, a bundle of pattern paper to an assortment of amusement ride tickets were incorporated into very diverse finished art pieces that were all incredibly well crafted and original. Take for example Jeanne Rhea's, "Space Junk" a multi media explosion of color light box with quirky blacklight effects that had "universal appeal".  

'Space Junk"

"Looking for Art"

The theory behind, "Memories and Dreams' offered by Lucy Seymour Shupe is that the "object reveal a story as I work; dusty old memories; dreams of what might have been, places seen and waiting to be seen; but most importantly, life's lessons learned." Intriguing!

Fayetteville artist, Penny L. Arrowood's entry entitled "Travels with the Muse", a 12 by 12 diamond hung canvas depicting a sense that the "Art" itself is a journey and the process takes us to new places or the dreams of future destinations."

Plenty of folks traveled up and down the narrow hall from room to room ,checking out what the next room had to offer to excite the eye. From the "Angel" piece in the front window to "The Globe" by Durham artist Karen Stinehelfer at the very back of the galleries walkway. Dozens upon dozens of objects of art and crafts from local area artist filled the space with color and craftsmanship.

The most interesting observation is that with every artist using relatively the same objects, (there was actually a list of items that each received that was identical) no two works were even remotely alike. This was a great test of the Guilds originality and this observer thought they passed with flying colors.

The Cary artist Diane Starbling offered "Casa Della Restaurant", which she describes as a "vintage postcard of a rural motel of the early 1950's."  There was even an eerie birdhouse which housed the ghost of past ancestors.

The work of the Carolina Mixed Media Artist Guild  (now that's a mouthful) will be on display through the month of March at Artist Alley. You can check out their blog site here

 - J. DiGiulio