AMY MEISSNER
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Inheritance: makers. memory. myth. travels to Juneau, Alaska.

2/3/2019

8 Comments

 
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska

​Inheritance: makers. memory. myth. was accepted as part of the Alaska State Museum's Solo Exhibition Series, so after finishing at the Anchorage Museum this summer, it re-opened on December 7 in Juneau. I was able to travel there and help install the final tricky pieces, attend the opening with my family and conduct 2 youth workshops. It was so outstanding to see the work in a completely different venue, have a deeper understanding of the process and feel like there's a burnish on the  work that comes from the privilege of installing it twice. There are 12 pieces in this body of work, one has sold and will be leaving the collection for its new home in Los Angeles.
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Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska

I've only been to Juneau a handful of times, but never in the winter. These photos were taken at about 4:30 in the evening...not much different than Anchorage in terms of light this time of year, but for those of you at a lower latitude it might take some getting used to. The bright gallery was a welcome sight.

Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Astrid checking out her handwork. She helped make components for the piece, "Lamb." I paid her by the piece, not realizing she would be able to complete one traditional "yo-yo" form in 8 minutes. "Mom. I'm making WAY more money than when you pay me by the hour."
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
(Right. So, it's really hard to be 12 and have to come to your mom's "thing." AGAIN.)

Some pieces were hung differently in this space.
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Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
"Panoply."

Others were hung the same.
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Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
"Archers: A Personal History."
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Light coming through the arrow holes in this piece. The leather words say, "When words failed, we launched arrows."

​It still took several hands to install "River," which is 21 feet long.
​
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska

I gave a talk and slide show on the evening of the opening about personal history, process and my cultural relationship to materials. I don't have a video of this, but I gave a recorded interview you can listen to here. You can also read a version on the Hand/Eye Magazine blog.

Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska

I'm excited to share news that the piece, "Descent," (below) was recently accepted into Fiber Art Now's Excellence in Fibers IV in the "Sculptural Works" category. The Anchorage Museum built the beautiful custom light table for it, featuring a diamond-shaped plexiglass window that fits perfectly below the sheer portions of the piece. The electrical cord is brilliantly hidden in the table leg.

Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska

Lastly, I led 2 fabulous (and hilarious) kid-filled workshops at the State Museum where we worked with old linens and inserted our own designs and embroideries into the existing handwork, making this old cloth 100% rescued and 100% our own. Their enthusiasm was over-the-top fun to be with.
​
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
Stealing a seat before opening night (the first time I'd sat down all day!), with the beautiful community art project "Needle & Myth" hanging behind me. The piece was made by 72 women, men and children who came together in the fall & winter of 2018 to celebrate the women in their lives.
Amy Meissner, artist | From the blog post: Inheritance: makers. memory. myth travels to Juneau, Alaska | www.amymeissner.com/blog/inheritance-makers-memory-myth-travels-to-juneau-alaska
"Needle & Myth," vintage handkerchiefs, silk organza, embedded found objects.

My gratitude to the many, many people who came together and made this second exhibition and the pieces within it  possible. I'm fully aware my work would not exist in this form without the generous donations of rescued or abandoned women's handwork. While the majority of the makers are Unknown and much of their work has gone uncelebrated, I love to think the hours they spent in the making way back when kept those mothers, aunts and grandmothers grounded and sane. I know it's done this for me.

This post is going out right before this exhibition wraps up on February 9, 2019. We'd love for it to come to a venue near you and the Anchorage Museum and I are diligently working on this. 

​Fingers crossed!

One year ago on this blog:

I AM INUIT exhibition at the Anchorage Museum.

Two years ago on this blog:

A history of relics.

Three years ago on this blog:

Finer.

For more of my work, best to follow me on Instagram: @amymeissnerartist
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8 Comments
Jenny M
2/5/2019 05:28:38 pm

It has been so interesting to follow your journey & read the stories of who has donated the handwork of women, and now to see the items displayed in such a respect & creative way is amazing.
Congratulations on your solo exhibition.

Reply
Amy Meissner link
2/6/2019 07:11:38 pm

Hello Jenny,
Thank you so much for your kind words here and for taking the time to drop me a note. I appreciate your thoughts!
XO
Amy

Reply
Lynn Rogers
2/6/2019 07:57:58 am

Congratulation Amy! I've so enjoyed following your journey. Can't wait to see what's next.

Reply
Amy Meissner link
2/6/2019 07:13:16 pm

Hello Lynn,
I can't wait to see what's next, too! I wish you well in your creative endeavors and so appreciate your note.
XO
Amy

Reply
Helen Geglio link
2/6/2019 10:09:14 am

Stunning installation, lighting and shadows are beautiful. Looking forward to more venues for this body of work.

Reply
Amy Meissner link
2/6/2019 07:15:03 pm

Hello Dear Helen!
Thank you so much for your kind words and contribution of thoughts and items from so long ago, now. I wish you all the best and think of you (and Amelia) often. Thank you for dropping me a note here.
XO
Amy

Reply
Suzanne Manning
2/7/2019 11:01:16 pm

What a beautiful venue for your beautiful, unique work, which continues to inspire me on my own fiber journey. Congratulations on this show, as well as the Fiber Arts Now Excellence in Fiber acceptance. Keep up the great work!

Reply
Amy Meissner link
2/8/2019 06:12:02 am

Hello Suzanne,
Thank you for your encouraging and kind words; I'm so honored you feel inspired by this work! I wish you the best with your creative life as well.
XO
Amy

Reply



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    Amy Meissner, textile artist. Photo credit Brian Adams, 2013. www.amymeissner.com

    Amy Meissner

    Artist in Anchorage, Alaska, sometimes blogging about the collision of history, family & art, with the understanding that none exists without the other.

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