LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN MEMORY JUGS AT LINCOLN CENTER'S VISIONS AND VIEWPOINTS NATIONAL JURIED ART COMPETITION 2012-13

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "My Three Mothers" Memory Jug 2013

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "My Three Mothers" Memory Jug 2013

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "My Three Mothers" Memory Jug 2013

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "Skating on Thin Ice" Memory Jug 2013 displayed
in the lobby of the Lincoln Center. My husband is in the background.

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "Skating on Thin Ice" Memory Jug 2013

Visions and Viewpoints National Juried Competition at the Lincoln Center Gallery.
My memory jug is on the pedestal in the middle of this view.

The Lincoln Center Gallery in Fort Collins hosted a national competition of fine art and I was lucky to have two of my found-object memory jugs selected for this exhibition by Guest Jurors Louis Recchia and Zoa Ace. Competitions are always hit-or-miss, but this time I studied the jurors' artwork on their websites, and entered pieces that were both colorful and whimsical, based on their visual leanings. 

This is my first time exhibiting in this newly remodeled gallery, my favorite venue in Fort Collins. 

The show, which opened last year on November 30, finished up yesterday, January 5, 2013 and I ran down with my tripod and camera to grab these installation views. So many reflections and lights make for a sparkling show but lend some difficult photography conditions. 

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "My Three Mothers" Memory Jug Closeup

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "Skating on Thin Ice" Memory Jug Closeup

Below is the preview article from the Loveland, Colorado Reporter Herald about the exhibition.

Here is the link to the Lincoln Center Gallery to view its past and current exhibitions.

THOMAS MATHIES' CARVINGS OF CRUCIFIXES AND SKULLS (LAURIE ZUCKERMAN'S HUSBAND)

Thomas Mathies' carving of Jesus Christ on the cross is hand-hewn from
cottonwood roots he found along the Poudre River outside of Fort Collins.
Traditional egg tempera and gesso, typical of colonial New Mexican
religious folk art, were used for painting and antiquing the forms.

Thomas Mathies' cross carving with skulls is handmade from cottonwood roots.
Below is an authentic wood carving of San Jose (Saint Joseph) by the
famous 19th century New Mexican woodcarver, José Benito Ortega.

Closeup of Thomas Mathies' wooden cross with skulls 

Closeup of Thomas Mathies' wooden skulls 

I am so lucky to have a husband who is an amazing artist. Tom Mathies has been creating several amazing carvings this past year from found cottonwood in the style of Colonial New Mexican religious folk art. These are my birthday and Christmas presents!!!

Tom is professional a research animal biologist, but he has always had an artistic side. On the other hand, I have always been an artist with a biologist bent. We met on a nature adventure to Costa Rica in 1985 and just celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. While on our honeymoon to the Southwest, I bought the San Jose carving at an American Indian jewelry shop in Moab, thinking it had been made in Mexico. Shortly afterwards we discovered that our San Jose was made in the late 1900s by a famous New Mexican santero, José Benito Ortega. 

We have spent our entire married life researching the works of Ortega and other colonial santeros showcased in museums around New Mexico and Colorado. We own a stack of books on the topic, and have collections numerous crucifixes from Mexico and the Phillipines. Tom's carvings fit perfectly into our religious folk art obsession.

Here is a photo of Tom's creation for my birthday last year. This cross is based on the Colonial New Mexican tradition of straw appliqué, still practiced today. Read more about Tom's cross at my earlier post from 2011.

Thomas Mathies' straw appliqué wooden cross 2011

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN'S HOME ALTAR TO HER LATE FATHER, GEORGE ZUCKERMAN

Closeup of "My Father's Altar" by Laurie Beth Zuckerman, 12-12-12

"My Father's Altar" by Laurie Beth Zuckerman, 12-12-12

For comparison sake, here are two additional photos
that I took from back in 2003.

Closeup of "My Father's Altar" by Laurie Beth Zuckerman, 2003

"My Father's Altar" by Laurie Beth Zuckerman, 2003

12-12-12. Finally had a chance to photograph "My Father's Altar" this morning. My birthday, and the birthday of the Virgin of Guadalupe. I hadn't taken any recent pictures of the altar since it was out on display at the Loveland Museum Gallery during my "Memento Mori" solo retrospective in fall of 2009. It has really filled in, especially on the bust of Jesus. The other day I promised on this blog that I would post a completely up-to-date picture, dust and all!! So fun to see all of the changes. 

I love the pair of old Mary and Jesus photos on the wall, especially because the Mary is my favorite Mother of Sorrows image. Some of the Mary's have come and gone to other altars, but essentially it is the same altar I wake up to every morning and say goodnight to every evening. I built this altar beginning in October of 1996 when my father first passed away. Sixteen years of collecting the perfect pieces to maintain the look and coloration of this altar. That is a long time to work on one altar. Yet, what seems even longer is the last time I saw my father alive. That seems like a lifetime ago.

Wondering about the Teddy Bear on the altar. My father gave me that Teddy Bear when I was five years old. Still have it after 56 years and have never had to mend it!! The small framed photos are pictures of my mother and father during the first happy years of their marriage.

Post from the other day:

While looking through my photo files of my home altars, I came across these two 2003 shots of "My Father's Altar." At the top of this blog in my banner image is a more recent version of the altar. It is fun to compare the changes that I have made over the years. There are several small statues and frames depicting the Sacred Heart of Mary, although the headliner of this altar is the chalkware bust of Jesus, which came out of an old church in Montana before being sold on the antique market. 

Sadly the vintage glass Christmas bulb rose in the bottom middle was broken by my last male cat, Mr. Munchkie, who I frequently referred to as my little Altar Boy. After one hop up on this altar cabinet, the rose rolled off onto the hardwood floor. End of rose.

Please join my dear friend, Rebecca Brooks at her blog for the 12 days of Mary sharing by artists around the world: Recuerda Mi Corazon. I have linked this post to Rebecca's site on this, Day 12, and previously Day 9 of Mornings with Mary.

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN "MOTHER OF SORROWS" HOME ALTAR INSTALLATION

Here is the photo of my late mother, Blanche Kleid Zuckerman that I shared in yesterday's post, December 8, 2013. This is a detail shot of my mother's permanent altar in my home. I choose a variety of reds for this shrine, based on the types of colors my mother enjoyed wearing. The fabrics are vintage velvets, and the antique glassware is known as Goofus glass. It is almost always painted in metallic tones of golds and reds. Several of the small containers hold my mother's jewelry. Even some of the dried roses and other petals on the front of the altar table were saved from the flowers that were given to us when our mother passed away in 2001. Several of Blanche's favorite belongings are also on her altar, including her candelabra, candlesticks, and monogramed pitcher. Everytime I look at the colors and textures, I feel that my mother would approve!!

I have collected many vintage/antique santos from Mexico for this altar. Pictured above is the featured wooden Madonna from Mexico wearing a silver resplendor crown that I purchased especially for her.  Some of my mother's jewelry is hanging from the Madonna's neck, and a tin Sacred Heard of Jesus is just above her head.

Please join my dear friend, Rebecca Brooks at her blog for the 12 days of Mary sharing by artists around the world: Recuerda Mi Corazon. I have linked this post to Rebecca's site on Day 9 and Day 11 of Mornings with Mary.

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN DIA DE LOS MUERTOS OFRENDA TO BLANCHE KLEID ZUCKERMAN

I am reintroducing this Day of the Dead altar that I created for the Loveland Museum Gallery's "Grave Matters Exhibition" in 2006 in Northern Colorado. I had framed this old photo of my mother, Blanche Kleid Zuckerman (who my altar was dedicated to) to resemble an iconic religious print of the Virgin Mary. I turned a digital copy of the old photo into a sepia tone and placed it into an old velvet frame. Día de los Muertos ofrenda altars typically employ pictures of one's loved ones who have passed, alongside religious prints and paintings. My photo of my mother served double-duty on my own altar.

I have reposted these pictures in honor of what would have been Blanche's 90th birthday earlier this week. Blanche was born December 4, 1922 in New York City and passed away from ovarian cancer on June 14, 2001 in her home in Santa Monica, California. I am so fortunate to have been with her at her bedside, holding her hand, while she slipped into the great beyond. Happy Birthday, Blanchie!!

Please join my dear friend, Rebecca Brooks at her blog for the 12 days of Mary sharing by artists around the world: Recuerda Mi Corazon. I have linked this post to Rebecca's site.

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "Forbidden Fruit" ofrenda installation
was created at the Loveland Museum Gallery
as the focal piece of the 2006 Grave Matters Exhibition

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN "FORGET-ME-NOT" HOME ALTAR INSTALLATION

A jumble of Madonna and Marys populate my "Forget-Me-Not" altar which sits next to my office desk. I was inspired by the Santo Nino de Atocha altars that I have seen in Chimayo, New Mexico. It has a bright feeling in its coloration, but it holds a deeply sorrowful feeling at its core. After my mother, Blanche Kleid Zuckerman passed away, I was worried she would forget me. This home altar is my plea to her to please not forget me, to be my Guardian Angel always. It is also my statement back to her that I will not forget her either. That I will always be the keeper of her flame as long as I am alive to do so. These altars I have been sharing of my mother, whose 90th birthday would have been this week on December 4, hopefully give you an intimate glimpse into the world of my personal family altars.

Please join my dear friend, Rebecca Brooks at her blog for the 12 days of Mary sharing by artists around the world: Recuerda Mi Corazon. I have linked this post to Rebecca's site.

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN'S HOME ALTAR FOR HER FATHER, GEORGE ZUCKERMAN

Back in 1996, I began an altar for my father, George Zuckerman, who had passed away in September. This ancestor altar has grown in depth over the 16 years I have been adding to it. The altar, which permanently resides in my bedroom, thus qualifying it for home altar status, contains many lovely 20th Century Virgin Mary's made of chalkware from molds. Although they are typically generic images, they each take on a patina that renders them unique. You can see other details of this altar at the top of this blog in my banner. Altars are about the whole effect—the gestalt—but that whole is made up of myriad parts, each expressive and wonderful on their own. A good altar is one where everything gels together, because each item on the altar is beautiful and meaningful. I have carefully considered each and every element I collect and place on my father's altar.

I have posted this Mary photo in conjunction with my dear friend, Rebecca Brooks' "Mornings with Mary," an annual tradition that Rebecca hosts on her blog: Recuerda Mi Corazon. Please join in on the sharing of tradition and contemporary Virgin Marys posted by artists around the world, on each morning of December until the culmination of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12th, which just happens to be my birthday! This year the date will read: 12-12-12!! That won't happen for another 100 years!!!

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN'S BELLA DONNA MEMORIAL ALTAR FEATURES THE VIRGIN MARY

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "Bella Donna Memorial Altar"

installed at the Loveland Museum Gallery 2009

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's "Bella Donna Memorial Altar" displays vintage Madonnas and dozens of other Catholic and eclectic icons, all in bronze-gold tones. Pictured above is a detail of one of my encrusted Marys that honors and holds the memory of my cousin, Donna Zuckerman, who tragically died along with her husband on their honeymoon in 1973. This altar has been exhibited at my solo retrospective at the Loveland Museum Gallery, and the Durango Art Center in Southern Colorado. Please read the statement below that I wrote for the Loveland show.

I have posted this Mary photo in conjunction with my dear friend, Rebecca Brooks' "Mornings with Mary," an annual tradition that Rebecca hosts on her blog: Recuerda Mi Corazon. Please join in on the sharing of tradition and contemporary Virgin Marys posted by artists around the world, on each morning of December until the culmination of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12th, which just happens to be my birthday!

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN'S DIA DE LOS MUERTOS MADRE DOLOROSA OFRENDA AT THE LONGMONT MUSEUM'S DAY OF THE DEAD SHOW

Detail of Laurie Beth Zuckerman's Madre Dolorosa Ofrenda Altar

at the 12th Annual Longmont Museum's Día de los Muertos Exhibition 2012.

Detail of Laurie Beth Zuckerman's Madre Dolorosa Ofrenda Altar

at the 12th Annual Longmont Museum's Día de los Muertos Exhibition 2012

Table details of Laurie Beth Zuckerman's Madre Dolorosa Ofrenda Altar

at the 12th Annual Longmont Museum's Día de los Muertos Exhibition 2012.

Floor detail of Laurie Beth Zuckerman's Madre Dolorosa Ofrenda Altar

at the 12th Annual Longmont Museum's Día de los Muertos Exhibition 2012.

Photos of children: George Zuckerman and Elizabeth Zuckerman.

Floor detail of Laurie Beth Zuckerman's Madre Dolorosa Ofrenda Altar

at the 12th Annual Longmont Museum's Día de los Muertos Exhibition 2012.

Photos of Laurie's parents, Blanche and George Zuckerman.

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN'S FIREPLACE MANTLE CURIOSITY ALTAR. DO YOU HAVE ONE, TOO?

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's fireplace mantle "altar or curiosities."

Laurie Beth Zuckerman's fireplace mantle "altar or curiosities." It is not really an altar in any intentional form. It is certainly not symmetrical, as are most of my altars. Some of the objects are collected from Mexico. Others are handmade by my husband, Tom Mathies. It is an odd assortment of oddities.

What do you have on your mantlepiece? I would love to see your displays. Share your photos with me, perhaps. Email them to me at: lauriebethzuckerman@gmail.com

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOS OF CIUDAD DE OAXACA'S BUILDINGS

Ciudad de Oaxaca, Mexico

Ciudad de Oaxaca, Mexico

Ciudad de Oaxaca, Mexico

Ciudad de Oaxaca, Mexico

Ciudad de Oaxaca, Mexico

I have been taking pictures of building doorways and windows since my first travels south of the border in the early 1980s, but these particular photos from Ciudad de Oaxaca's historic district are my most favorite pictures of all. These aged combinations of paint, plaster, wood, and wrought iron are a painter's dream palette and a photographer's bonanza! Oaxaca is a World Heritage site in the southernmost state of Mexico.