Art & Design

This past weekend I traveled up North with my new Holga camera, found some great fall coastal scenes to capture on film.  I'm looking forward to developing the film and posting the results on this blog in the near future.  Meanwhile, to conclude texture week, I'd like to introduce you to an artist who turned the definition of tactile art on its head for me.  Back in 2003, desperate and yet curious for a creative outlet, I registered for a Design class with Washtenaw Community College's art department.  My instructor was Beili Liu, a successful and progressive artist in her own right.  A U-M Art & Design Masters student, on the first day she had us transform a piece of paper into sculpture.  Sounds simple and yet the creative juices immediately flowed.  We followed her gentle study through twine, wire, foam, cardboard, vellum, and basically any other materials we wanted.  To this day, I appreciate the lens through which she trained me to approach materials.  I've never looked at a scrap of paper the same way since.

To my delight, Beili Liu has done well since those days years ago.  She recently won third place in Grand Rapid's publicly-juried ArtPrize contest for her work titled "Lure/Wave, Grand Rapids".  From the picture I immediately I knew it was her artistry.  Look at the intricate hand-woven poppies, the strings, the play on depth and the cast shadows.  Beautiful.  What an honor to have worked with her. - l.o.d.

Artist Beili Liu at Artprize