Mary had a Little Lamb

Open Studio is presented Mary Had A Little Lamb, a solo exhibition by Bloomsberg, Pennsylvania-based artist Marilee Salvator from October 8 to 31, 2009. Using collected and appropriated imagery, Mary Had A Little Lamb incorporates three installations that explore the artist’s past and address broader, historical issues surrounding the roles and stereotypes of women. The work deconstructs conventional imagery and questions the complicated ideals that delineate public and private boundaries. The installations incorporate a variety of media including screenprints, monoprints, watercolours, found objects, vintage fabrics and embroidery.

At first glance, the work appears to be playful, but closer examination reveals elements such as child-like drawings combined with anatomical diagrams reminiscent of sex ed textbooks. Through the unsettling juxtaposition of innocence and knowledge, Salvator seeks to illuminate issues relating to childhood abuse.Incorporating issues of autobiography and feminist ideals, Mary Had A Little Lamb draws the viewer in with playful patterns, bright colours and child-like imagery, which quickly give way to feelings of discomfort and disruption. According to Bridget Indelicato in the accompanying essay, these playful and alarming installations safely bring the viewer to a place of hope and empowerment.

Marilee Salvator received her BFA (honours) in printmaking from Illinois State University, Normal, IL, in 2000 and her MFA in printmaking from University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, in 2004. She currently resides in Bloomsburg, PA, where she is Assistant Professor of Printmaking and Two-Dimensional Design at Bloomsburg University. Salvator’s artwork ranges from traditional 2-d prints to mixed print media/installation. Her work tends to flux back and forth between issues of autobiography, feminist ideals and abstraction. In the past five years, Marilee Salvator’s work has been exhibited in over 30 exhibitions throughout North America and abroad. Recent solo exhibitions include Circles, Fairbanks Gallery, Oregon State University, Corvalis, OR, and Ring Around The Rosie, SNAP Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta. Recent group exhibitions include The Stream of International Prints, Anyang, S.Korea; 2009 China Sanbao International Printmaking Exhibition, Jingdezhen, China; 5th International Biennial of Miniature Art, Warszawa, Poland; 2008 Pacific States Biennial, Hilo, HI; and Stampa D’ Arte, Fondazione Bevilacquq La Masa, Venice.

Bridget Indelicato operates editorB.com, a writing and copy editing service for the visual arts sector. She currently lives in Peterborough, Ontario, with her husband and imaginary dog.

Exhibition Brochure: Download Brochure Here