Susan M Gibbons

7-24-19 Well, the alumni artist residency is wrapping up and it's been wonderful.  I've enjoyed getting to know the students and faculty of Azusa Pacific University.  It's been a time of rich discussions, renewing friendships and beginning new ones, and deep fellowship.  It's been a time of creativity and production for me as well.  I've been exploring both new and old materials and ways of working. Indie Yarn with Thai Bird's Nest Paper - In Process  I've discovered Indie yarn.  It's wonderful!  I'm currently working with it sewing it into Thai Bird's Nest Paper.  The work is so new I'm not sure what I'm doing with it yet.  All I know is that I needed to sew it into the paper.  I'm planning on painting it but need to sit with it before I do so.  Sometimes, I just need to piece to speak to me to tell me what to do with it.  This is one of those pieces.  I trust the process, the intuition, and the materials to direct me. 

7-17-19 Well, it's been almost two weeks at my Alumni Artist in Residency at Azusa Pacific University.  It has been an amazing experience. I've been able to connect with the students with critiques, conversations, and art making.  Interesting lectures have been great and it has been wonderful to see old professors and meet new ones, making connections and new friendships.  My art making has been on overdrive while here.  I'm working on two books, a construction, and paintings.  I feel engulfed with the creativity surrounding me with all of the MFA students working away while I work as well.  It's been good.  I've been able to focus on work centering around the Holy of Holies: a book and a construction.  While not literal in depiction, the work embodies the idea of the sacred space, the place to meet God.  We see Him through a veil of this worldly existence and the work uses materials to depict that idea.  Cheesecloth is an important physical element within the

7-12-19 Well, I'm finishing up my first week at Azusa Pacific University for my Alumni Artist in Residence here in California.  It has been a rich experience so far.  I've been able to see old friends, critique students' work, make art, sit in on lectures, and had my show opening.  What I am seeing with the students' work are topics related to our society: isolation, technology, abuse, feminine identity.  These students are digging deep into their concepts and ideas which makes for intriguing and poignant art.  I'm looking forward to seeing more of their works. My show was well received and I was actually thanked for showing work that depicts the darker times of life.  It was stated that within the Christian community, showing the negative or darker things of life can be considered a sin and that we need to always be positive.  Well, that's not life nor is that consistent within the Biblical narrative.  The Bible is full of dark and difficult times within it

7-1-19 I'm getting ready for my Alumni Artist in Residence at Azusa Pacific University.  I'm beyond excited for this opportunity!  I'm hoping that the residency will not just produce good things for me but for the students as well.  I'm scheduled to critique the graduate students' work, host a workshop, make work, host two field trips, and have an exhibit.  A full schedule, but one that should be a lot of fun! All the art work is finished and packed.  I'm in the process of packing my supplies and living materials for the month.  I'm so looking forward to this!  My show will be a process show.  The work is from a few years ago up until now. Since the work shows pure encaustic painting to mixed media/found object, to fiber works, my hope is that the students will see my process moving from media to media.  Thematically, the work revolves around sacred ideas and concepts.  Psalms, Lamentations, and the Crucifixion all inspire the works.  That, I believe, wi