Gallery Reception- Winter Meditation

Exhibition Showing: January 8 through February 13

Artists:

• Ann Ringia, photography
• Fred Ringia, photography
• Kirsten Lund, multi-media

Artist Statement Kirsten Lund 

This work reflects my love of textiles and my interest the human urge to worship, create, play, and adorn. The ambiguous iconic shapes in the work can appear either ancient or modern, biomorphic or manmade, with a common denominator of symmetry. The influence of Indian culture can be seen in the motifs, colors, and methods I use. Tantric art with it’s often abstract central shape; shisha mirror embroidery, applique, kantha stitching, and techniques from the rich embroidery traditions of India have all been significant inspiration. The results are kin to devotional objects, but with an awkward, goofy, or sexual flavor. They might suggest totemic objects, emblems, talisman, or an altarpiece – something that reflects a reverence for the energy of life and commemorates the history of the needle and thread across cultures and centuries.

Artist Statement: Ann & Fred Ringia

On March 25, 2011, while exploring the Huron-Stokes Reserve, a park just west of Zeeb Road, siding the north side of the Huron River, we noticed that there were beautiful single globules of ice suspended from twigs, branches, and vines growing along the river bank. We photographed some of these.

Curious to see the possible developments and whatever we might have missed, we returned the next day and found a very better area on the south bank of the river, just east of Zeeb Road bridge. We were amazed to see that the ice globules were growing into interesting and unexpected ways, depending on their location. We were hooked!! We visited the area everyday for a total of five days, taking pictures before the temperatures rose too high and these ice structures all melted away.

The conditions we had encountered by chance were very special. The river was high to begin with and dropped about a foot during the five-day period. In addition, the daily temperatures changed from a high in the mid-thirties in the afternoon to the low teens during the night every day, so there was thawing and melting during the afternoon throughout the entire upstream watershed area. This melt water raised the river level during the late afternoon and night just when the temperature dipped below freezing. The water level rose just enough to make contact with the previous days ice formations and make new additions, each of the five days.

We feel very lucky to have witnessed this amazing spectacle and are pleased to share it with you.

Art exhibits are available for viewing Monday – Friday, 10 am to 5 pm; during public concerts, and by appointment. For more information or to make an appointment, call 734-769-2999.