Featured Artists
Molly Sanger Carpenter
“Beyond the Secret Door”
“I have always been enchanted by Alice in Wonderland. As a child would imagine all the things beyond the tiny, secret door that Alice encountered early on in the story. Perhaps beneath the trees, flowers and toadstools were little, magical treasures to be found.”
Artist Statement
There’s a personality game that a friend plays that starts with “picture a cube”. Once, when she asked me to play, I pictured a clear cube (box) that I could get into, but was standing outside of. I live in and create work that is “outside the box”. Having been classically trained in the visual arts I felt that I needed to take my work somewhere further. I wanted to make artwork that caught the attention of the viewer and did not recede quietly into the background. Combining my knowledge of materials and techniques I have developed my process to create the work you see today; using clay, paint, glass, semi-precious stones and just a touch of magic. My most recent work is of ornamented sculptural relief that celebrates nature and the spirit, often combining elements of sculpture, mosaic and painting. I start each piece with clay, and hand finish with paint, gold leaf and mosaics of glass and semi-precious stones. I have developed the process of creating these artworks over a period of time and trial, having landed on this particular technique after much experimentation. What I have now is a process of my own from start to finish. The work takes time- I cut each piece of glass by hand and apply with tweezers- while other aspects of the process require patience as I wait weeks for materials to properly cure.
Biography
Molly’s studio is located in the large sun-filled parlor in the downstairs of a 300 year old farmhouse where she lives with her husband and dogs. All of her materials are non-toxic and earth friendly. The fields, water and woods provide constant inspiration. Her days are filled with the things she loves best: family, friends, art and the spirit of nature. Molly’s work has been widely exhibited in galleries and shows, and is in private collections worldwide. It has been at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and at various galleries and venues including the Coliseum NYC, Rockefeller Center, The Goodwill Games, The National Arts Club, The Philadelphia Sketch Club, The Plastic Club, and at the headquarters of the National Sculpture Society, NYC.
Lisa Muller
“The Meadow’s Edge”
Artist Statement
“I approach each painting with the same curiosity I have for any new place I visit. Through layering of collage, paint, charcoal, and marks made with various implements, I first build an abstract surface which could probably stand as a finished painting. The figurative imagery that I work into the abstraction weaves in and out through more layering, until
the two make friends with each other. An interest in the emotional lives of animals helps to keep story lines ambiguous. Sifting through stacks of daily scenes in my head, I’m after a certain stillness that holds an energy too wiggly for its quiet moment. In these imaginary worlds of flora and fauna there is never just one way to look at things.”
Biography
Lisa began working in the arts as a way of keeping up with her DIY family in the 1960’s. After earning an MFA in ceramics from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, she spent many years working in clay, creating among other things, a line of decorative tile sold in shops an galleries across the country. Eventually, Lisa’s fascination with 2-D imagery led her back to her first love, drawing and painting. Her work has been exhibited nationally in galleries,
museums, and countless art fairs. As part of her full time studio practice, teaching is one of the ways she chooses to share, and grow, her skills. She conducts workshops and classes privately, and at various venues which have included Wayne Art Center, Touchstone Center for Crafts, and Albright College in Reading PA. Currently she maintains a studio in central
New York, where she and her husband are renovating an 1800’s farmhouse with the occasional help of neighbors, and their dog, Sophie.