Passages Exhibitions I-V

For the past five years a core group of women have been involved in an art exhibit series entitled Passages. Beginning in the spring of 1999 , junk artist Renee Kropat began innocently collecting lace for a painting project. Walking past a going out of business wedding gown store, she stepped inside and became lost within the miles of lace, beads and ribbons. She left with seven wedding gowns but soon found herself going back again and again. In the end she had 30 wedding gowns laying on the studio floor when he husband asked "Uh, what are you trying to tell me?".

Hence, the beginning of the Passages Exhibitions.

The first was Passages based on a Wedding Gown. Ms Kropat then sent out a letter inviting artists to experience a different type of art program. It began with: "I have recently come into possession of many old and some new wedding gowns. I initially began collecting the gowns to salvage the lace and bead work for a possible project. However as I spent time with the intricate and delicate work, I began to formulate an idea for a new exhibit and am inviting you to take part in this adventure."

"Wedding gowns are fascinating to me for the story they tell, the hopes for the future and in some cases the realization that all is not what we have hoped for or wanted. My own wedding gown lays untouched in the bottom of a trunk, handmade by my mother, never to be tossed out but as I do not have any daughters, probably seldom to be seen again. The wedding gown is not just a symbol of a unity between man and women but of a passage into adulthood. Using the wedding gown as a basis, I want to create an art exhibit that tells stories about our own individual love(s) and how we are/were affected by them in our lives. Some of the stories will be joyous, some tragic, some funny. Perhaps someone will tell about the past, the present, the future or a fantasy. Is your love a friend, an animal, a job, or a life process? The final artwork need not be wearable or even functional. You as the artist may create as you need as long as the finished piece relates to the theme -Passages- and a part of the wedding gown is used - so go ahead and quilt, clay, bronze, video, paint, paper mache, cut, embellish, burn, photograph, create!"

To further entice the artists, they were all invited to a special Tea on June of the same year as part of the entry process. The $75 entry fee includes an authentic English Tea , and a choice of a wedding gown. Each artist was given a number and the wedding gown was chosen by lottery. 25 Artists participated initially and some artist enter more than one final piece.

The final exhibition was held in a small gallery managed by Ms Renee Kropat in a small community not known for art. The unusual concept was well received and publicized by the local papers. The opening attracted over 250 people and many returned for a second and closer inspection.

Passages II: the goddess within

The success of the first Passages, found Ms Kropat being asked to come up with a new Passages concept. Being a Junk artist has it advantages since Renee loved to explore old warehouses, junk stores and the forgotten cellars/attics of friends. In the process she discovered in a store fixture warehouse, a box of female forms. These forms were primarily used for bathing suit display. Made of thin white plastic, beginning at the neck and ending at the upper thigh, this frontal side only forms became the basis for Passages II - the goddess within.

Another Call for Entries mailed out with the following: "After the fun and successful adventure with Passages - based on a Wedding Gown, I was asked what I was going to do for the next passages exhibition. I tried out several ideas on friends and discovered that I needed to return to my original ideas. Passages was an opportunity for artists to not only meet with each other, to explore a part of life utilizing an unusual canvas but was also a subject that many of us could identify with in any art form. As a multi-media artist, I often tell stories with my art and find that when I draw from my own soul, I can create."

"Therefore, after many possibilities, I have decided to again take a journey, this time within my own spirituality and create what I feel is the goddess within. As I reach a more mature age, I find myself reflecting not only on my past living life, but also on life in general and how I relate to the overall scheme of the universe. Goddess by definition is a female deity, one of exception grace and beauty. Often called by other names, from earth mother to the one, the goal of this exhibition is to allow the artist the freedom to create their own concept of goddess as she may relate to themselves or others. The ³canvas² for this exhibition is a partial female form (torso) that is to be included in part or whole in the final artwork. Again, the media is left up to the artist and you as the artist may create as you need as long as the finished piece relates to the theme ³Passages² and a part or all of the torso is used - so go ahead and quilt, clay, bronze, video, paint, paper mache, cut, embellish, photograph, create!"

The artist were invited to a special Goddess Celebration on the full moon of September 30, 2001. The entry fee included a goddess feast and libations, presentation of that year¹s Passages blank ³canvas², and photo session for each individual goddess. To encourage goddess thinking, Ms Renee Kropat created a goddesss wand for each participant made from old decorated rods, painted and a special top created for each wand. 25 women artists participated.

The final exhibition was to be held in the gallery of Ms Renee Kropat. However on 9/11/01, the world changed for so many including Ms Kropat. Shortly after the terrorist attack, Ms Kropat closed her gallery and returned to her home studio.

But because she had promised to carry out Passages II, the final exhibition was delayed until May of 2002 instead of February 2002. The exhibition was held at Ms Kropat¹s home which was large enough to house all 25 participants. Over 200 people came in and enjoyed the exhibition.

Pre Passages III: Trust and Surrender

The third passages was to be based off Ms Kropat¹s newly found ability to trust in friends and family and to surrender what had not been able to surrender before and that was need for help and support from others. Passages III was conceived in the summer of 2002 and it¹s was not born until April 2004.

"The concept for this art cooperative activity was originally based on the experiences of nine artists who created and passed nine ³dolls² to each other. After I read and studied their book, I realized that I was in need of an experience where I would have to give up what I perceived as the ideal concept of a finished art piece, but instead surrender it to other artists and trust them in creating just the right piece."

Instead of a English Tea, or a goddess Celebration, this time the artist were asked to participate in a Swap party. The entry fee was replaced with the following.

"Join us for an unusual beginning to one of my typical Passages Programs. Please attend a trust and surrender swap party. The rules and entry fee are simple: It¹s a pot luck - bring your favorite food.... then bring any art supplies/equipment that you no longer want and be prepared to barter /trade it to some one else. You must give away your unused or unwanted supplies and at the same time you must take from the person you are giving them to. (Even if you don¹t want the supplies).. It¹s a perfect time to clean your closets. Trade as much and as long as you need but remember ²You must receive when you give. You must give to receive."

Passages III - Trust and Surrender.

Concept. A group of artists created their own individual base projects, began the embellishment and then passed it to the next artist who added their own artistic flair. The artworks were then passed through the group and returned to their original owner.

Rules: The base project was a Wrap of each individual artists' choosing. A wrap was defined as anything from a cloak to a shield to a protective covering to a warm fuzzy. The material for the wrap was up to the initiating artist: photographs, cloth, ceramics, wood, metal etc.

A journal designed by each artist accompanied the piece but the type of journal was left up to the originating artist - written, visual, photo, boxes etc.

Each piece was passed via mail or UPS service to allow each artist to have private time in examining the artwork without influences (perceived excitement from the owner before them!) The packaging for the artwork could also be considered a part of the overall wrap. No one was allowed to completely destroy the work of someone before them and all artists must accept that their contribution may be altered or perhaps covered up. No one was allowed to tell the next artist what to do.

A suggested 1-2 month work time/piece was desired. If an artist could not complete one segment of the artwork, they were to be passed on with at least a signature piece. The signature piece represented the artist and could be as simple as a button. At no time did we want someone to give up and not complete and withdraw. Each artist was to - Trust your instinct that you did to the piece what had to be done and you surrendered it accordingly, regardless of how much or little you perceived you did.

Dates:
Final sign up for the Passages III, September 15, 2002
Begin Originating Artist Artwork - October-December 2002
First Collective Group Showing- April, 2004
First Public Exhibition - High Road Gallery, Worthington, August, 2004

The final pieces were return to the originating artists early 2004. A private showing for all the artists of the final pieces received occurred in April, 2004.. Originally 26 artists signed up for this adventure. 21 of the 26 artists completed the journey.

And now after learning so very much about working on a long term project with other artists and on my uncomfortable interaction with the written journal, a new passages is being introduced:

Passages IV - A Window To Your Soul (2004-5)

Join us for a special evening at Encircle - in Uptown Westerville - October 10, 2-4pm, 30 North State St. Westerville

A. Receive details on this Passages Process and exhibit.

This is the fourth Passages program offered by Gallery 202. This program is based off the concept of journaling - telling a story about yourself for all to read........ but not necessarily in words. The hope is to encourage the ability for the artist to feel comfortable about telling her story - and creating a piece of artwork that is a window to your soul.

B. Enjoy fine-catered food and libations.

C. Receive a gift certificate and other goodies from Gallery 202, Partners in Art, Inc. to help with your creativity. Then go and Create a Journal (in your choice of materials,) tell about part of your life that you would like to share.

D. Final Artwork Due after October, 2005 - TBD

E. The number of participants will be limited to 20.

entry fee $60 - includes food, $25 gift certificate from Encircle, a journal/book of your choice and more. (non-refundable, make check payable to Gallery 202, Partners in Art, Inc.)
Images/and Passages IV final show Passages V - Staying connected (2006)