Sullivan's Island Creatures

New photographs from Sullivan’s Island and The Isle of Palms, which is near Charleston, South Carolina. Sullivan’s is a beautiful historic island that is known for Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Gold Bug”. Poe set the story on the island because he knew it well….he was stationed on the island at Fort Moultrie while enlisted in the Army. If you stand at Moultrie’s shoreline you can see Fort Sumter (famous for the very first shots of the American Civil War). I think you could probably swim from one Fort to the other if you were in decent shape. I recommend visiting the Forts and getting some information from the Park Rangers…very helpful. Here are a few of my masked photos from the trip.

Goldbug Mask

Bandelier National Monument Artist-In-Residency

I was honored to be selected as an Artist-In-Residence at Bandelier National Monument (New Mexico) for the first two weeks of October. This is my fifth park residency since 2016. During the residency I lived in the park, held demonstrations, and (of course) modeled my masks in the beautiful park. Bandelier is a gorgeous place with a rich Native American history. I also enjoyed exploring Santa Fe and nearby Los Alamos. I highly recommend the residency!

Bandelier AIR Selection Committee Chair Carolyn Florek with Jym.

Big Cypress National Preserve Artist-In-Residency

I was honored to be selected as the March Artist-In-Residence for Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida.  Big Cypress Preserve shares a contiguous ecosystem with the Everglades so I was able to work and play in one of the largest areas of protected land in the North American lower 48.  I took a boat ride out amongst the mangrove islands, hiked into chest deep swamps, and explored the nearby Miami art scene.  At the end of the residency I had an Art Show / "Meet and Greet" at the Swamp Welcome Center.  This is my fourth National Park Service Artist-In-Residency in three years.  

Lassen Volcanic National Park Artist-In-Residency

I had the privilege of being an Artist-In-Residence for Lassen Volcanic National Park in North California.  I lived and worked in the park for two weeks in July.  As with my previous National Park residency, I focused on creating regional animal inspired masks.  Lassen has a particularly unique landscape: it boasts all four types of volcanos.  I was able to photograph and model my masks on a plug dome, composite, shield, and cinder cone volcano.  There may be no other place in the world where I could have done that in a relatively short period of time.  I also enjoyed photographing the masks on snow drifts, frozen lakes, lava tube caves, and deep blue lakes.  You can follow all of my modeled masks on my Instagram account. 

Artist residence / studio view. 

Artist-In-Residency lodging in the Park Ranger quarters. 

Mask Day at the Loomis Museum at Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Visitors were invited to watch my process and learn about the art of mask making.  

"Cinder Cone" volcano at Lassen Volcanic National Park

Night sky photograph I took at "Chaos Crags" volcano at Lassen Volcanic National Park 

Lassen Peak and Lake Manzanita 

Petrified Forest National Park Artist-In-Residency

I was a summer 2016 Artist-In-Residence at Petrified National Forest Park in Arizona.  I lived in a Park historic cabin for three weeks across from the legendary Painted Desert Inn.  During my residency I made five original animal masks and worked with models to photograph my work in the unique and otherworldly landscape.  I also displayed my work at the Holbrook Train Depot for their monthly art series, showed work at the annual Route 66 festival, and held a two day demonstration at the lovely La Posada Hotel in Winslow.  

Artist-In-Residence cabin

Mask painting demonstration at La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona.

Petrified Forest Park Rangers Katie Woods and Sevilla Soto generously modeled my masks for me in the Park.

Historic Holbrook Train Depot art demonstration for the month of June.

Mask display at the 'Route 66 Festival' National Park booth in Holbrook, Arizona.

Shooting at Blue Mesa in The Petrified Forest National Park