FRANCES MELHOP

artist + curator + art gallery director

 

Born:                                           Christchurch, New Zealand

Lives and Works:                   Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

 Education

 2023   CAS Curatorial Practices, Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland
                                   
2020    MFA, Photography, Printmaking, and Painting, University of Nevada, Reno

 2017    BA, Studio Arts, Photography, Painting and Art History, University of Nevada, Reno 

Solo Exhibitions

2025        Visible Mending, solo exhibition, Motomoto Gallery, Arao, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan

                  Timekeeper, solo exhibition, Reno Tahoe International Art Fair, Reno, NV. USA

2024        tender material, curated by Maria Sorensen, Dienstgebäude Art Space, Zurich, Switzerland

2021        Losing Touch, Melhop Gallery º7077, Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

2020        in the middle of this nowhere, MFA thesis exhibition, Jot Travis Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

2019        New Crop, 2-person show, Mark Combs and Frances Melhop, Capital City Arts Initiative, Court House Gallery, Carson City, NV, USA

2018        Vanish, MFA Midway Advancement to Candidacy Exhibition, Jot Travis Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

2017        The Comstock Portrait Project 2013-2017, Haldan Gallery, Lake Tahoe Community College, Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

2016        Telling Tales, Sierra Arts Foundation Gallery, Reno, USA

2013        Down the Rabbit Hole, St Mary’s Art Center, Virginia City, NV, USA

2012        Submerge, Duo Scorpio CD Release, The DiMenna Centre for Classical Music, New York, NY, USA

2009        Times of Transformation, Arthaus66, New Mexico, USA 2006 Tall Tales, Cannes Film Festival, Arista Gallery, Cannes, France

2006        Tall Tales, Cannes Film Festival, Arista Gallery, Cannes, France

2005        Case Abandonnati, Premiata Showroom, Milan, Italy

 

Selected Group Exhibitions

2025        Women Pulling at The Threads of Social Discourse: Don’t be Absurd, CAMP (Contemporary Art Modern

                Project) Gallery, Palm Beach, Miami, FL. USA

Layers of Reiteration, co-curated by Candace Garlock and Melhop, Sierra Arts Gallery, Reno, NV, USA

Shrines and Portals, SCOPE Art Fair Miami, FL, USA

54th Annual Art Faculty Exhibition at Truckee Meadows Community College, NV, USA

                  Honeycomb, travelling exhibition, curated by Candace Garlock, NV Humanities Gallery, Las Vegas, NV, USA

2024        UnSaid, curated by Maria Sorensen, Dienstgebäude Art Space, Zurich, Switzerland

                  Origen Compartido, curated by David Miranda, Radio28CS Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico

53rd Annual Art Faculty Exhibition at Truckee Meadows Community College, NV, USA

                  Disappearing Birds project by Jen De Los Reyes, Co Prosperity Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA.

                  Affordable Art Fair NYC, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, NY, USA.

2023        52nd Annual Art Faculty Exhibition at Truckee Meadows Community College, NV, USA

2022        TTL Teeny Tiny Trifecta. Jury Selection Committee: Tori Cherry, Ashon Crawley, Diana Nelson, Neal Rock, Darryl Smith, and Hagan Tampellini.
Second street Gallery. Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
JULIA MARGARET CAMERON AWARDS 2022
, Women Seeing Women 2022, Tintype Self #16 from the Obscurations series, Barcelona, Spain

EYE want candy, summer group exhibition, Melhop Gallery º7077, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

                  Wedge Outside the Box, Dolls and Effigies, JTB gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, USA 

FACULTY EXHIBITION, Whispers Across Time series, Haldan Gallery, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

2021        Cat Art Show LA, “A New Beginning,” “Cat Hat” image 2008-2021, curated by Susan Michals at the Golden Pagoda, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Shelter, Melhop Gallery º7077, inaugural exhibition of the gallery, Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe, NV, USA

Pulse, a collection of works organized around a theme of the gathering, or movement of energy. HSH Interiors, Truckee, CA, USA

2020        Obscurations, Social Distance Gallery, MFA virtual exhibition created by Benjamin Cook, USA

2019        Placed/Displaced Exhibition, Rocky Mountain Printmaking Alliance, Arizona State University, AZ, USA

                  Air New Zealand - Kiwis In LA, Annual juried group show, Mourning Piece, 18th St Art Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA

                  Home, jurors Mia Dalglish and Lisa Woodward for the SE Center for Photography, Greenville, SC, USA

                  Between Plate and Paper, McKinley Art Center, Reno, NV, USA

                  No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, Cincinnati Art Museum, OH, USA

Persistence, in honor of Women’s History Month, juried by Lori Pratico, founder of Girl Noticed, at The D’Art Center, Norfolk, VA, USA

                  Translating Silver City: Artwork from the Permanent Collection of the Resident Artist Program in Silver City, Nevada, USA

                  The Magic Silver Show: The Elena Diane Curris Juried Photography Exhibition, juried by Bradly Dever Treadaway, Fulbright Scholar to Italy, Faculty member

and Digital Media Coordinator at The International Center of Photography in New York City. Clara M. Eagle Gallery at Murray State University, KY, USA

                   Contemporary Voices in Photography, Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts, Juror: Aline Smithson, founder of the online photography

journal LENSCRATCH. RICPA gallery, 118 N. Main St. Providence, RI, USA

                  Off the Press: Tahoe/Reno Area Printmakers, Haldan Gallery, Lake Tahoe Community College, Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

                  Existence: SELF-PRESENCE, Whittemore Gallery, , University of Nevada, Reno, USA

2018        Sum of the Parts, MFA Review Exhibition, MFA Review exhibition, Jot Travis Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

                   5th Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary Photography, Barcelona, Spain

                  Air New Zealand - Kiwis In LA, Annual juried group show, Santa Monica Art Studios, Santa Monica, CA, USA

                  The Wind Calls, The Brick Gallery, Capital City Arts Initiative, Carson City, NV, USA                                

City of Trembling Leaves, Jot Travis Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

2017        Annual Student Art Show, University of Nevada, Reno. Juried by Garth Johnson, curator of ceramics at the ASU Art Museum in Tempe, Arizona, USA

                  Paradoxical Existence, The Comstock Portrait Project 2013-2017 MFA Review exhibition, Jot Travis Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

                  A Sense of Place 36th Annual National Juried Fine Art Competition Exhibition at the Gertrude Herbert Institute in Augusta, Georgia, curated by Michael Rooks of

the High Museum in Atlanta, USA

                Meed1 juried exhibition, at Gallery19 Chicago, IL, USA, curated and juried by Jennifer Murray, Executive Director of Filter Photo

Comstock Portrait, 9th juried Pollux Exhibition, curated by Julio Hirsch-Hardy, Managing Director and Senior Curator of the International Biennial of Fine Art

and Documentary Photography, at Valid Foto, Barcelona, Spain

                45th International Art Show, Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, Brownsville, Texas. Juried by Cesar Martinez of San Antonio, Angel Cabrales of El Paso, and

Annie Moye of Atlanta, Georgia

2016        Infinity Jot Travis Gallery University of Nevada, Reno, USA. Juried by Mark Van Proyen, Art critic and Associate Professor at the San Francisco Art Institute

2015        Out on a Limb Mathewson Knowledge Center, University of Nevada, Reno

2013        Animal Fairy Tales, Fables, Fact or Fiction, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, USA

                  Art Nevada St Mary's Art Center, Virginia City, NV, USA

                  Arte Contemporanea, Abitart Gallery, Rome, Italy

                  Marionette, Abitart gallery, Rome, Italy

                  Tales selected works, ArtBlast McKinley Arts Center, Reno, USA

                  EdibleArt, Artspace Gallery Reno, USA

                  Pinhole works, Art Caffè Letterario, Rome, Italy

2012         Art on The Hill, Artown, selection from the “Ancient Olives” series, Reno, USA

2011        Bianco Nero, Vista gallery, Rome, Italy

2010        Ancient Olive Trees series, MIRA, Vecchio Frantoio, Pallazzo Palmieri, Martignano, Italy

Ancient Olive Trees series, MIRA Martignano International Artists Residency, Accademia di Belle Arte, Lecce, Italy

                  Pinhole Camera Visionaries, Lagniappe Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand

                  Ghost Girl, Arthaus66, New Mexico, USA

                  Waterbabe, Globe, Milano, Italy

                  Miniatures, Ghost Gallery and Gossamer Collective, Seattle, USA

2009        Silence, Vista Gallery, Rome, Italy

2008        Pollicina, Canon ProFashional awards, Dusseldorf, Germany

The Fairytale Continues, Arthaus66, New Mexico, USA

2007        In Teatro, Paul Maurin Gallery, Paris, France

 

 Artist in Residence

2025   AIR Motomoto, Arao, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan

2024    Radio 28 Creative Studios Residency, Common Threads exhibition work, Mexico City, Mexico

2022   MOMI Printmaking Residency, Sebastopol, California, USA

2021    INCAHOOTS Artist Residency, relief and monotype printmaking, Petaluma, USA

2016    Silver City Artist Residency, to produce a collection of photographic portraits, recordings of the recollections of Comstock Folk, homes and the desert environment.

Silver City, Nevada, USA                                                                                                                      

2014    St Mary’s Art Center Artist Residency, intaglio printmaking, Virginia City, Nevada, USA

2010    MIRA Artists Residency in Puglia/Salento, Italy, producing a collection of 44 traditional 4x5” black and white negatives of Olive trees circa 1000 years of age.

Contact printed on Ilford Fibre Based Paper

Awards

2025   Nevada Arts Council Artist Fellowship

            Shrines and Portals, curatorial award, SCOPE Art Fair Miami, FL, USA

            Timekeeper, solo exhibition booth at Reno Tahoe International Art Fair, Reno, NV, USA

             Professional Development Faculty Grant, Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno NV

2024    Nevada Arts Council Major project Grant for Artists

     Professional Development Faculty Grant, Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno NV

2022    Honorable Mention, Julia Margaret Cameron Photography Award, Obscurations series, juried by KK de Paul,

             Isabela Pacini and N.A.Vague 

2021    Scholarship award, INCAHOOTS Artist Residency, printmaking, Petaluma, USA

2020    Scholarship award, Social Documentary Network, InDesign for Photobooks, taught by Glenn Ruga

              Honorable Mention, Julia Margaret Cameron Photography Award, Self Portrait, juried by Elizabeth Avedon

2019    Outstanding Graduate Student Award

            GSA Outstanding Artist Award

              Holmes Art Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno (photography and painting)

2018    Nevada Arts Council, Professional Development Award

              Oct GSA Travel Scholarship

              Outstanding Graduate Student Award

              April GSA Travel Scholarship

2017    Black & White Magazine Looking Back Looking Forward Award (pinhole photography)

              Nevada Arts Council Jackpot Award

              Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Art 338 Photography, University of Nevada, Reno

              Lucy Nieder MFA Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno (photography and painting)

              Holmes Art Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno (photography and painting)

              Graduate Dean’s Merit Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno (photography and painting)

              Deans List, University of Nevada, Reno

              Winner of Black and White Magazine’s Alternative photography competition

              Finalist in the Pollux portrait Awards

2016    Infinity award, University of Nevada, Reno (painting)

              Cherie Lynn Duhart Scholarship (painting)

              Jessie Dewar Scholarship (painting)

              Deans List, University of Nevada, Reno

2015    Deans List, University of Nevada, Reno

              Annabel Shelley Scholarship – for dedication to the Arts

2014    NNDA Comstock Innovator of the Year Award for St Mary’s Art Center

2013    Art Blast, City of Reno Best in show Award

              Annabel Shelley Scholarship – for dedication to the Arts

              Nevada Arts Council Jackpot Award

2010    Finalist in the Spider Black and White Awards, United Kingdom. Black and white images on 4x5” infrared film

2009    Awarded by Luerzer's Archive, title World’s 200 Best Advertising Photographers for the images for the campaign of Descamps, France 2009/2010;

nominated again 2011/2012 for Trelise Cooper Campaign NZ, and 2012/2013 for Duo Scorpio “Submerge” Images NYC, USA. Luerzers have been

compiling an archive of the World's Best Photographers, Graphic Designers and Directors for over 20 years

2008    Honorary placement in the "Canon ProFashional Awards" Germany. Selected works from the “Pollicina” series

 

Permanent collections 

2023    Don’t Cut Your Hair It’s Beautiful, collaboration on artists book with Kellee Morgado, Redfield Fellow of the Black Rock Press, collection of the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, WA, USA

2020    Don’t Cut Your Hair It’s Beautiful, collaboration on artists book with Kellee Morgado, Redfield Fellow of the Black Rock Press, collection of the Black Rock Press, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA

2020    Collecting Community History Initiative, Autry Museum of the American West, LA, CA, USA

2019    Betwixt and Between, intaglio print, University of Utah School of Art, Salt Lake City, UT

              Vanish (2 images) Magic Silver Collection, Murray State University, KY, USA

2018    Rick, from The Comstock Portrait Project, 2013-2017, to the collection of the 5th Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary Photography, Barcelona, Spain

2017    Jim McCormick from The Comstock Portrait Project 2013-2017, to the collection of Resident Artist Program in Silver City, Nevada, USA

1994 - 1999 Collaborated with Australian artist Susan Norrie on 3 exhibitions. Our photographic works appear in permanent collections such as Nancy Hoffman Gallery, NYC, USA and NSW Art Gallery, Sydney, Australia 

  

Selected Press and Interviews

 

2024        PBS Interview Frances Melhop, Director, Melhop Gallery °7077 about the “Far Beyond the Walls” Exhibitions

                Reno News & Review, Art Behind Bars. Far Beyond the Walls Exhibition feature

                Double Scoop, Art Behind Bars. Far Beyond the Walls Exhibition feature

Schwingen.net UnSaid: fireworks, a porcelain soldier and a stitched mandarin. Artist/curator feature
Shoutout Arizona, 29 Jan 2024. Artist gallery Feature
Create Magazine, Frances Melhop: Exploring Tactile Mediums and the Virtual-Physical Intersection. Artist feature

2023        Artillery Magazine NYC, 18 May 2023. Curator + Gallery Feature

Create Magazine Issue 37, June/July 2023. Artist Feature + interview

Meer Magazine, May 2023, Curator + Gallery Feature

New Visionary Magazine, NYC, issue 6, May 2023. Artist Feature + interview

                  Arts For Hearts Magazine issue 2, April 2023. Artist Feature

2023        Double Scoop, NV Arts News, Guerrilla Gallery, Feb 2023. Curator + Gallery feature

2022       Tahoe Quarterly, A Fresh Take on Tahoe Art, interview with Kayla Anderson, nomadic gallery

                  Tahoe Weekly, Melhop Gallery º7077: Art with Conceptual Ethical Substance, interview with Kayla Anderson

2021        Double Scoop, NV Arts News, Long Term view, interview with Kris Vagner. (Melhop Gallery º7077)

2020        Lilley Museum, Quarantine Sessions, University of Nevada, Reno. (Obscurations, Mourning Piece)

                  Double Scoop, NV Arts News, interview with Josie Luciano. (Mourning Piece)

2018        Lilley Museum/University Galleries, University of Nevada, Reno (Vanish Exhibition)

2017        Reno News and Review Newspaper, Reno USA (The Comstock Portrait Project)

                  Reno Gazette Journal Newspaper, Reno USA (The Comstock Portrait Project)

2016        Reno News and Review Newspaper, Reno USA (Silver City Artist in Residence)

                  Reno News and Review NewspaperReno USA (St Mary’s Art Center Arts Program)

2010        Little Thing Magazine, China (Dollhouse)

2009        Artslant Magazine, (Times of Transformation)

                  Her Magazine, New Zealand, Artist Interview (selected work from Italy)

2006        Moda Lisboa, TV and Newspaper, Portugal (Sport/Animals series)

2005        Fashion TV, Milan Italy, Artist interview (Premiata campaigns)

 

Artist talks/ guest lectures/ juror

 

2024    March, Artist Gallerist talk, professional practices, University of Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

2023   Sept, Juror Reno Tahoe Art Awards

2022    July, public panel discussion mediator with artist Zoe Bray and Museum Director Vivian Zavataro, Lilley Museum, University of Nevada, Reno

2021    April, Artist talk Saddleback College, CA, USA

              April, guest lecture Saddleback College, Professional Practices class, CA, USA

              March, guest lecture, Arizona State University, AZ, USA

2020    April MFA Thesis lecture, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

2019    March Artist talk, Capital City Arts Initiative, Carson City High School, Carson City, NV, USA

2017    Dec, Artist talk, Capital City Arts Initiative, Dayton High School, Dayton NV, USA

              Sept, Artist talk, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

              May, Artist talk, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

              May, Juror, Annual Student Art Exhibition, Lake Tahoe Community College, Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

2016    Artist talk, Black Rock Press, Book Arts Department, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA

2014    Director of Non-Profit Arts Organization lecture, Dept. of Business, Sierra Nevada College, NV, USA

2012    Artist talk, Photography Department, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

 

Additional Education

2019   ACUE Effective Teaching Practices Certificate. Association of College and University Educators. This certificate signifies my completion of a 25-module course in effective teaching practices requiring the implementation of evidence-based instructional approaches. The credential is co-issued by the American Council on Education and distinguishes faculty for their commitment to educational excellence and student success.                                        

1991 - 1994   Technical Photography, Sydney Institute of Technology, Sydney, Australia                                        

1986 -1988   Psychology, Political Science, Philosophy of Religion and German Literature, History and Language, Life Drawing (School of Fine Arts), UC Canterbury New Zealand                                                                                                     

1980 - 1985 Photography, Graphic Design, Ceramics, Drawing and Printmaking at Christchurch Polytechnical Institute, while attending high school at St. Margaret’s College, Christchurch, New Zealand. School Certificate awarded, University Entrance accredited, University Bursary Scholarship awarded.

 

Selected Published Editorial Work    

 

2000-2018

 

Vogue Pelle Italy, Vogue Gioiello Italy, Vogue Accessories Italy, Vogue China, Marie Claire Italy, Elle Portugal, Gioia Italy, Anna Italy, Casamica Italy, Sposabella Italy Edizioni Condé Nast, Glamur Slovenia, Her Magazine New Zealand

New Zealand Women’s Weekly, Little Thing Magazine China, Freundin Germany, Harp Column NYC USA

 

 

Selected Published Editorial Work    

1995-2000

 

Vogue Australia, Vogue Entertaining, Vogue Living, Vogue Brides Australia

Good Medicine Magazine, Ragtrader Magazine, Cleo Australia, Elle Australia, Good Health Australia, Girlfriend Magazine Australia, Soup Magazine, Bride To Be Magazine, Honeymoon Guide, Good Medicine Cosmetic Surgery Guide Australia, Underground Surf Magazine Australia, Cosmopolitan Australia, She Magazine Australia, Dolly Magazine Australia , Rolling Stone Australia, Australian Women’s Weekly, Australian Women’s Forum, Australian Men’s Health, Country Style Magazine, FHM Magazine, GQ Magazine, Olympic Medalist Jane Flemming’s biography

 Selected Published Advertising Work

 

1995-2016

 Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair Italy, Face Magazine UK, iD Magazine UK, Marie Claire Italy, Vogue UK, Purple Magazine, Vogue France, Vogue Australia, D Della Republicca, Io Donna, Elle Portugal

 

Selected Published Editorial Work    

2000-2018 

Vogue Pelle Italy, Vogue Gioiello Italy, Vogue Accessories Italy, Vogue China, Marie Claire Italy, Elle Portugal, Gioia Italy, Anna Italy, Casamica Italy, Sposabella Italy Edizioni Condé Nast, Glamur Slovenia, Her Magazine New Zealand

New Zealand Women’s Weekly, Little Thing Magazine China, Freundin Germany, Harp Column NYC USA

 

 Selected Published Editorial Work    

1995-2000

 

Vogue Australia, Vogue Entertaining, Vogue Living, Vogue Brides Australia

Good Medicine Magazine, Ragtrader Magazine, Cleo Australia, Elle Australia, Good Health Australia, Girlfriend Magazine Australia, Soup Magazine, Bride To Be Magazine, Honeymoon Guide, Good Medicine Cosmetic Surgery Guide Australia, Underground Surf Magazine Australia, Cosmopolitan Australia, She Magazine Australia, Dolly Magazine Australia , Rolling Stone Australia, Australian Women’s Weekly, Australian Women’s Forum, Australian Men’s Health, Country Style Magazine, FHM Magazine, GQ Magazine, Olympic Medalist Jane Flemming’s biography

 

 

Selected Published Advertising Work

1995-2016

 

Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair Italy, Face Magazine UK, iD Magazine UK, Marie Claire Italy, Vogue UK, Purple Magazine, Vogue France, Vogue Australia, D Della Republicca, Io Donna, Elle Portugal

 

Other Work Experience

 

2020-2025 Adjunct lecturer, Art History, Art 270 Women in Art, Survey History of Art 261, Introduction to Drawing Art 101, Art 100 Visual Foundations, Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, NV

 

2022 Adjunct lecturer, Printmaking 221A and 221B, Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, CA and Introduction to Printmaking Art 124 at Western Nevada College, Carson City, NV

 

2020 Adjunct lecturer SOTA Introduction to the Arts, 101 Fall semester, University of Nevada, Reno

 

2020 Graduate Teaching Assistant Instructor of Record, Art 124, Introduction to Printmaking, Spring semester, University of Nevada, Reno

 

2019 Instructor of Record, Art 100, Visual Foundations, Fall semester, University of Nevada, Reno

 

2019 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Instructor of Record, Art 100, Visual Foundations, Spring semester, University of Nevada, Reno

 

2018 Instructor of Record, Art 141 Photography department, Spring and Fall semesters, University of Nevada, Reno

 

2017 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Art 338 Photography department, University of Nevada, Reno

 

2013, 2014, 2015, Executive Director/Creative Director and Curator of St Mary’s Art Center in Virginia City, a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit organization. I revived and regenerated the historic St Mary’s Art Center rebuilding a vibrant and thriving Art Center, rebranded the organization entirely, designed and populated a new website, donated professional photography and graphic design for all publicity and marketing materials, created an exciting new Resident Artist program; curated more than 30 exhibitions per year, and coordinated creative workshop/art class schedules for children and adults which are so urgently needed in Nevada. I introduced new talent to the region, show cased our own, and secured many grants and funding for the arts, programming, artists and the restoration of the building, culminating in the NNDA “Comstock Innovator of the Year” award.

 

 Current Projects

*Founder and Director of Melhop Gallery º7077, which opened as a brick and mortar in 2019 amidst the Corona virus pandemic to provide support and an alternative virtual and physical space at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. In 2023 the gallery project went nomadic, representing 12 national and international working artists. The gallery is an artist run business presenting emerging and established artists, working in both traditional and non-traditional mediums, exhibiting new perspectives and a strong thoughtful work ethic.

*Timekeeper - The Timekeeper series hovers between embroidery, painting, drawing, and soft sculpture—each one a spiral quietly tracing time and memory. The spiral becomes a visual mantra, embodying the existential dilemma and delight of living within unstoppable time: its relentless forward motion, its circling returns, and our deeply human impulse to mark its passage. Stitch by stitch, the spiral grows outward from a central origin, echoing the cyclical nature of life and the quiet energy spirals produce. Like the rings in a tree trunk, each line of stitching maps time, emotion, and experience—capturing heartbreaks, joys, injuries, revisited again and again as the stitch line returns on itself while persistently moving forward. The humanness of each sometimes-wonky stitch is intentional, a mark of presence and vulnerability. They are records of lived time.

*Common Threads - Part of my quest to distill the essence of being human initiated these life-size monotypes. Simple pressure prints of dresses are overlaid with contour stitching of female bodies, representing freedom, love, the body, desire, and the myriad of sensations we experience. Each dress has stories and memories attached to it, held within it. These impressions are reaching for the familiar recollections absorbed into loved garments of friends and myself. We are living in a world where simulation is much of the mode of experience. The works produced in this series hold a conversation, with a similar mission to preserve and celebrate human touch, memory and physical realities. All while slowing down, sensing dreams, stories, and the passage of time, embedded in these garments.

* Rogue Nevãda - a portal for art + culture + environment     www.roguenevada.com

It is an Arts, Culture and Environment site, supporting and exploring the output of artists living and working in Nevada, a large, high altitude, dry desert state in the USA. I observe and communicate how the Wild West environment in many ways informs, forges and shapes their work.