INDIGO ARTISTS

MIRIAM MISENKO

Miriam's art will be online soon!

 

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

The making of art, to me, has often been an ongoing struggle to translate a multi-dimensional world onto a two dimensional surface. I don’t perceive art as a momentary snapshot in time, but a layering of visual images along with emotions, sounds, words, tastes and other sensory perceptions. Although trained as a painter, I have never been fully satisfied with just paint on canvas. I enjoy the feel of a variety of surfaces; carved wood, fine upholstery, metal, clay, whatever I can find to express my thoughts. Currently I have been enticed by the process of working with clay and firing them in the raku method. The spontaneity of this ancient firing method intrigues me and I enjoy the uncertain results of the mix of glazes, combustion materials and environment. It is like there is another mysterious creator in the piece, other than myself, who has the final say in how the piece will turn out.
The subject matter in my work are things that stir my heart deeply, whether it is something humorous, tragic, scary or touching. Often I entice the viewer into my work by tempting them with intricate patterns and details, light-hearted imagery, inviting them to linger and enjoy the textures and nuances of the piece, even before they are actually aware of what they are looking at. At this point the piece no longer is solely created by me, but continues to grow depending on how the viewer perceives it and what personal experiences they bring when trying to understand it. Here is where I feel the making of art moves from a solitary and selfish endeavor to a shared experience and a dialogue with others.
“The Susan Series” began with the discovery of my mother’s vintage needle packet from the late ‘40’s that I discovered in her sewing kit. The needle packet portrayed 4 blissful women sitting around and sewing and was entitled “Sewing Susan”. I then created a raku tile and cherry coffee table with the “Sewing Susan” image on it. From there I was inspired to venture deeper into Susan’s life by creating a multitude of raku-fired tiles depicting various aspects of Susan’s life, cooking, cleaning, in the beauty parlor, drinking a martini, in lingerie, etc. The series has been very fun for me and I am constantly looking for other “Susan scenarios”. I hope you enjoy your Susan as much as I enjoyed creating her.

BIOGRAPHY
Miriam Misenko was born in Philadelphia and began her artistic education at Carnegie-Mellon University and later received her BFA in painting from Northern Kentucky University. She received her MFA in painting from the University of Cincinnati. She exhibited widely throughout the Midwest while living in Cincinnati, and then on the east coast when she moved to Pennsylvania. Miriam was represented by the Subculture Gallery in Soho in New York City. Misenko’s work tends to focus inward, and her view is often one of humor. Her pieces are multi media, working in a variety of materials such as oils, stained glass, clay and wood. Her latest pieces are raku-fired ceramic tiles depicting the imaginary life of “Susan” a character she discovered on an antique sewing card. She is also working on a humorous series of oil paintings she entitles the “Bad Yellow Dog” series. Miriam now lives is Madrid, New Mexico with her husband and landscape artist, Dan Boldman.

Selected Group Shows

2002 Terrie Bennett Gallerie, Taos, New Mexico
2001 Mayfair National Juried Show, Allentown, PA, Honorable Mention
2000 Group Show, Pocono Manor, Mt. Pocono, PA
2000 Group Show, Liztech Gallery, East Stroudsburg, PA
2000 Group Show, Laura Craig Gallery, Scranton, PA
2000 “Regional 2000,” Juried Show, Marywood University, Scranton, PA,
award, solo show
2000 Mayfair National Juried Show, Allentown, PA, 2nd place
1999 Liztech Gallery, East Stroudsburg, PA
1998 Allentown At Museum Invitational, Allentown, PA
1991 Group Invitational Exhibition, Ohio State Governor’s Residence,
Columbus, OH
1990 Ruth Volid Gallery, Chicago, Ill
1988 Middletown Arts Center, Middletown OH, Best of Show
1985 Zolla Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, Ill
1985 The Hunter Museum, Chattanooga, TN
1984 Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
1984 Bienale International De Merignac Bordeaux, France
1979 The Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH

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