Chicago Artist Julie Wishmeyer
I am very excited about introducing the work of Julie Wishmeyer. I first encountered her art at the Blue Line Studio. Unfortunately, her pieces just don’t come across in photographs as well as they do in person.
Julie uses collage/mosaic/mixed-media techniques to assemble a cohesive final product out of a myriad of intriguing and unexpected materials. For example, Massai Mask is made out of wooden beads, shells, and hair sticks.
I love that when you first see one of her pieces, all the ingredients are not immediately recognizable. It does not even occur to you that something is out of the ordinary.
On the wall, Blue Fairy looked like one of those expensive, jeweled decorative masks. It was only upon closer inspection that I noticed the mirror ball, the sequined butterflies, and the plastic gemstones.
She challenges the conception of what can make up great artistic compositions by using materials that one would expect to be available at the discount dollar store. She and Van Gogh both did Starry Night. Van Gogh used oil paints. Julie Wishmeyer used yo-yos, tops, plastic beads, and sequins. Awesome.
