The University Gallery is alive again with a belly of art after two months of hunger. Mare Blocker’s collection Shadowplay will keep it vibrant and full of life until March 20.
The walls glow with pride – watercolor paintings pop with color and texture and watch as the attendees drift among the art when they’re not following the artist around like a flock of ducklings hoping to catch any of her words.
Despite the prevalence of watercolor in the room, Blocker says that she has never really painted with watercolor. Her husband, Buzz, was a watercolor artist, and after his loss she decided to “[pick] up his paints.” The method for these paintings came from working online during the pandemic. She says “I drew with Sharpie on a nice big white bamboo paper I had, so students could see the lines on a screen.” She starts with an outline—the shadow—but other than that, she starts with no preconceived notions.
Wandering her paintings with curious viewers, Blocker explained how her bucket-list/retirement travel has influenced her work. Scuba diving is visibly inspirational to her two paintings titled “Entanglement” 1 and 2. Pride fills her voice as she explains to an attendee that it’s both a reference to fishing line tangling divers and their equipment, but also how we as people become entangled with the things around us—relationships and the like.
Huddled around her latest paper-cut masterpiece, Blocker shared that this one was done without a sketch. “It’s just like drawing, but with a knife,” to which the gaggle waiting on her words quietly erupted in amazement. The work took her 50-60 hours and eight or nine X-Acto blades. Other than that, she only used a sewing needle and an antique hole punch from her artist grandfather to make small circles.
If you visit the exhibit, one thing to keep an eye out for is that none of the paintings are signed because Blocker is accustomed to her art being bound into a book with a colophon (artist’s name and information) on the first pages. Information about her folk art papercut series can be found on her Instagram @mareblocker.
The University Gallery (Ingram Hall) is open 8am-4pm Monday to Friday. This collection is completely worth any time you can carve out of your schedule. Blocker’s students know her as a kind, warm, and compassionate soul. I know her as someone who believed in me and gave me a safe space to be creative when I needed it most. A person’s soul is captured in every piece of art they make. The gallery is filled with warmth and compassion. It’s a safe space if you need it right now.
If you want to meet Mare or talk to her about the exhibit, there will be another showing on Saturday, March 2 from 1-3pm.
