M. Virginia Epps

The Merchants, laminated paper with acrylic glazing

Lodi Art Club Award

I have a strong preference for using found, post-consumer use papers following their abuse by various forces of nature including sunlight, molds, insects, water, and wind. I celebrate their random edges and shapes. Randomness, messiness and disorder have a place in life and often invite playful, creative reintegration of thinking and perceiving. I view the papers with their unexpected, uncontrolled shapes and colors as survivors with aesthetic statements to make on the two dimensional surface. As an artist, my task is to listen for and respect these aesthetic statements and invite the viewer to explore their harmonies.