Charles Danforth Gallery, Jewett Hall, 天美传媒
November 13th – December 19, 2018
Maine artist Martha Miller collaborates with her daughter Lisbeth to make colorful, larger-than-life, mixed media paintings. Together, they tell the story of living with a traumatic brain injury.
AUGUSTA 鈥� Beginning on November 13th, the Danforth Gallery will present 鈥淭he Is of Lis鈥� by artist Martha Miller.聽 The exhibit will run through December 19th and a series of events have been scheduled at the Danforth Gallery to accompany this exhibition.
Miller from Woolwich, Maine, tells the story of her daughter, Lis, through colorful and unique multimedia paintings. 聽Lisbeth suffered a traumatic brain injury at age six and never recovered, experiencing uncontrolled seizures, severe behavioral disturbances, verbal and memory deficits, and anxiety. 聽Her life of love, hope, pain, desperation, anger, and beauty is depicted in Miller鈥檚 work.聽 Miller paints pictures of her daughter at different stages 鈥� dreaming, coming out of a seizure, exploring 鈥� and incorporates the portraits with a wide variety of images, some of which are based on drawings produced by Lisbeth.
Lisbeth鈥檚 own creativity has remained strong throughout her life. 聽The artwork that she produces after having a seizure are her attempts to communicate her experiences in that moment, even though she is not able to remember producing the work when no longer in postictal state. 聽Miller brings these works into her own, thus collaborating with her daughter to produce the artwork.
鈥淟isbeth IS an artist,鈥� Miller says, 鈥渁nd I believe that on a spiritual and psychic level, she and I are collaborating in this series, and that at that level she understands and has entrusted me to tell her story. 聽She is also teaching me new and powerful ways to make images.聽 I am learning from her seizure drawings which are a direct line to the subconscious.聽 The paintings have become both portrait and self-portrait.鈥�
This exhibition marks the first time that this ambitious series has been shown. 聽The artwork will literally excite and vibrate the gallery space with their awesome beauty and strength. 聽UMA and the Danforth Gallery community are honored to bring this incredible display to light.
Events scheduled throughout the exhibition includes 鈥淔igure It Out鈥� a TV show incorporating a figure drawing session to be filmed at the Danforth Gallery; a Potluck Talk where Miller will discuss her work; and a Dinner Reception with a panel discussion.
These events are hosted by CAUSE (Community of Artists for UMA Social Empowerment) and are scheduled as follows:
Thursday, November 15th – Reception Dinner
Symposium on Art and Mental Health, A CAUSE Empty Bowl Event in the Danforth Gallery
Open reception – 5:00-6:00pm
Sit-down Dinner 6:00-8:00pm (Tickets required)
Proceeds go to support a local non-profit.
Tickets available at (click on Danforth tab). 聽$20; $10 with Student ID.
Tuesday, November 27th, 11:30am-1:00pm 鈥� TV Show Filming
鈥淔igure It Out鈥� a TV show incorporating a clothed figure drawing session and conversations with artists to be filmed in the Danforth Gallery.
Monday, December 3rd, 11:30am-12:30pm – CAUSE Potluck Talks in the Danforth Gallery:
Martha Miller will participate in an artist talk at the Danforth Gallery.
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Gallery hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00am-5:00pm, Fridays 9:00am 鈥� 3:00pm