Today we are tickling the teapotters with a challenge featuring a Milwaukee artist named Mary Nohl. She is one of the most innovative, expressive, interesting artists I have ever come across and I've only really known of her since she died in 2001. She was a single woman, ahead of her time in the art world, a collector of all things that she could use in her art, and I've become quite obsessed with her. Her home on Lake Michigan has been declared a National Register of Historic Places and is being preserved by the Kohler Foundation. In my diorama, I tried to include things she was passionate about: her cottage, her outside sculptures, her collections and recycling, Lake Michigan and its ecology.
There are too many supplies and ideas in this diorama to list them all. The basic structure is a watercolor painting I did, with lots of fun colors and shapes. Her favorite colors were red and turquoise. I tried to show what she could see from her window: the lake, the sunrise, the wild storms with lightening, the moonrise, the downtown Milwaukee skyline, the driftwood, rocks and tree trunks she would drag up to her home and some of her artwork, which was very extensive. She was very wealthy, not because of her art, she was born to wealth, so she could create all day, every day, and probably hardly spent any of her wealth, since she scavenged a lot of stuff. Her house is still full of all her art, furniture, mobiles, sculptures, pottery. She created a lot of fish, boats and crazy people inside those boats. Even toward the end of her days, when she was mostly bed ridden, she would draw and doodle. I think she would have loved Zentangle, as do I. Some of my recycled bits are some brown paper packing for sand, some tree bark for driftwood, spring bulb bags cut down for grass on the top left (my Mom saved them), some shell beads, and a tear-off from a yogurt container. I also decorated the back, just because I had so many ideas, just like Mary did. I wish I would have known of her when she was alive.
Date: Monday, January 25, 2021 GMT Views: 696
Favorited:2
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Splitcoast Challenge Host Proud Fan Club Member
Registered: April 11, 2016 Location: Posts: 30054
Mon, Jan 25, 2021 @ 10:19 PM
Awesome inside too Jean and what an interesting artist. I must read about her now. TFS. Happy day
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Registered: November 7, 2006 Location: Willamette Valley Oregon Posts: 34503
Mon, Jan 25, 2021 @ 10:49 PM
What a treat to leisurely peruse your diorama! And even out of focus quotes only the recipient will see. I love you used stones and washed up materials along the borders. I lost count of all the scrolls back up to catch, just ONE more thing and then realize I spied somethin' else! Love the moon and the lighting bolts over the city...fantastic textures, too! Wow, bfnm, a mixed media masterpiece. Yep, totally original!!!!!
------------------------------ Susan~~~One4Joydaily I'm a FAN CLUB member, U? MY GALLERYof visual Delights MY BLOG
Registered: February 23, 2016 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 22902
Tue, Jan 26, 2021 @ 5:49 AM
Yes, I can see this diorama is as full of "strange and marvelous" things as Mary's cottage. I especially smiled when I caught what looks like giant pieces of driftwood and logs and am imaging a proper little lady dragging them up from the beach.
------------------------------ Linda aka Bubbles
I'm not a Hoarder . . . I'm the Curator of an extensive collection of embellishments!!
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Registered: August 15, 2007 Location: Twin Cities MN Posts: 50599
Tue, Jan 26, 2021 @ 8:05 AM
You've created a feast for the eyes with this diorama! I really like your perspective on this....seeing what Mary saw from her vantage point and how that influenced her art. It makes us all take stock of what is right in front of our eyes.You've got so much to look at here...I need to go back ....don't want to miss all the wonderful details.
Registered: January 13, 2010 Location: in a constant state of confusion. Posts: 3320
Tue, Jan 26, 2021 @ 9:12 PM
Wow! There is a lot packed into your card, just as Mary packed a lot into her house and yard. Thanks for the challenge. It took me out of my comfort zone but I had fun making my card and learning about Mary.
Registered: January 8, 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 40385
Tue, Jan 26, 2021 @ 11:44 PM
Firstly, Jean, thank you for this fun challenge and introducing me to Mary Nohl’s art! Your diorama is amazing, so many wonderful details inspired by the works of Mary Nohl! This would be something special to receive in the mail~
------------------------------ Sue
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Registered: July 27, 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 131750
Wed, Jan 27, 2021 @ 3:50 AM
Wow, Jean. How are you going to bear to send this one out! I'm loving looking at all the detail - especially the skyline and the lightning. And the little house in the woods with the fence...the driftwood, the shell beads. It's all amazing.
Registered: May 26, 2015 Location: Oregon Posts: 5532
Wed, Jan 27, 2021 @ 11:28 AM
The way you have brought Mary to light is touching all our hearts. I love how you immerse yourself into the zone., as well. Thank you! Yes, the quote I used is an unmarked stamp.