A million thanks to reporter Courtney Holden for interviewing Becky Hawley and me for this article. Here it is!
‘Artists in Dreamland’ exhibit described as a visual dream diary
The annual dream art show opens May 4
By Courtney Holden Special to the Reporter-Heraldreporterherald.com
Posted: 05/03/2012 02:36:07 PM MDT
Members of the Poudre Studio Artists and Galleries invite people to “dream a little dream with them” this May with their fifth annual presentation of “Artists in Dreamland.”
“Every piece that’s in the exhibit is inspired by dreams in the night,” said Kat Peters-Midland, the show’s organizer and an exhibiting artist. “When you walk into this exhibit, you’re walking into a visual dream diary.”
“Artists in Dreamland” runs through May 26. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 4.
The show features a range of artistic mediums, from small paintings and sculptures to multi- and mixed-media presentations. All are representations of a dream that their creator had. Peters-Midland, for example, describes a ceramic sculpture that portrays a dream she had about visiting a friend on a farm and the warm, welcome feeling with which she woke.
“I took that essence of the nurturing mother in the dream and made a sculpture out of it,” she said, adding that the piece’s bright colors reflect a vibrant apron her friend wore in the dream.
Fellow artist, but first-time dream artist, Becky Hawley’s pieces depict dreams that have recurred over the years.
“It’s been really fun because it’s made me step back and look at the dreams from a different angle,” she said. “I look at all of them together, and I see these common psychological themes in them. It’s kind of scary.”
Peters-Midland notes that the show is highly personal to each of the artists presenting. She hopes that the show offers a chance to see unique art, while encouraging visitors to better appreciate their own dream
“We see ourselves when we sleep. We dissolve into the collective unconscious,” she said, mentioning Carl Jung and her own background in psychology. “We all dream in symbols. I can personally relate to these symbols, but also, we all can.”
Artists will include a short description about the dream-muse behind each piece.
“It really gives you some insight into the dream,” Hawley said. “You get to look into other peoples’ heads.”
