San Francisco Bay area artist Mari Andrews returns to Jackson later this month; specifically to the J.H. Muse Gallery, where she will attend a gallery reception to celebrate her new catalogue on Friday, October 16. The exhibition, “Paperless Drawings,” will be on display at the Muse October 14 – November 30, 2009. Andrews will give a talk about her work during the reception.
Though she creates sculptures, Andrews refers to her works as drawings. Looking through her work on line, many of her works do appear to be sketches on paper, not photographs of three-dimensional installation pieces. Organic and whimsical, these works also convey a respect for nature’s mysteries. And they reveal a true understanding of the forces and universal shapes and forms common to all living things. “Lefty,” pictured above, is a happy and transparent worm hole. A funnel-shaped, petaled aperture extends itself, and if you watch and wait, you sense a sucking force capable of pulling matter through the aperture, down and around a curved tunnel. Whatever is pulled through gets popped out the other end, much as an air gun pops out a ping pong ball.
Or, this sculpture might just represent a wicked pitching arm trajectory.
Andrews, as part of a very large family, grew up looking for some solitude and 
spends lots of time cataloging and gathering the objects she uses in her art. “Her deep engagement with materials both natural and man-made implies continuity with a common source and the unifying energy that flows to us from the world and back again,” says the gallery.
I see a bit of humor, too. And that’s a very good thing. A smile in the art offers us an “incredible lightness of being.” For more information, contact the J.H. Muse Gallery: 307.733.0555.
Last week’s J.H. News & Guide’s Stepping Out section featured a story on two young entrepreneurs. Artemus Huhn and David Dahlin have founded an arts consulting biz for local art, the Art Vibe Project. They’re matching up retailers with local artists’ works. Good stuff.
Now, what about that idea we wrote about (The News & Guide put up this writer’s letter to the editor on the subject, thank you NaG!) some months back, of filling empty store spaces with local art? We cannot find too many venues for that. Here’s a reprint of that letter, a letter inspired by Berkeley, California’s downtown arts initiative.
Window Dressing
Downtown Berkeley, California is transforming its empty storefront windows by using them to exhibit local art. The practice lightens commercial spaces darkened by the economic downturn. The program was the result of year-long talks between that city’s Office of Economic Development and the Downtown Berkeley Association.
Our growing artist population works hard to secure exhibit space; why not give them some free space while creating displays to enliven Jackson’s business center as we enter our summer season? Individual property owners ideally donate their window space. Artists get exposure, windows are lively; exhibits would reflect Teton County’s environs, talent and values, and our real estate looks good. Win, win, win.
Berkeley’s exhibits include a large amount of children’s art, particularly work from the Habitot Children’s Museum and local high school students.
This program is something the Jackson Chamber could embrace, and it supports an economic sector requiring creative solutions. This program may be most valuable for emerging artists; I’m guessing, though, that galleries will want to participate. If they do, they should release commission duties resulting from a “window sale,” but a variety of collaborative models are possible.
Such a program affords storefront businesses some fine public relations opportunities. Windows might display several artists simultaneously. Rotate your window art.
Let’s use this sagging economy to find new answers for Jackson’s arts, and let’s allow other community examples to inspire us; most certainly, we inspire them.
Tammy Christel 
