the basket that flys
Dana Mattson and Bev Mattson
Dakota Art Gallery Show
October 2018
Paintings on monotype with oil based inks
All unsold paintings framed, $950
How do we heal the structures
Painting: 13″ x 15 1/2″ • Framed: 21″ x 24 1/2″
Dana:
How do we heal the structures of the planet, momma?
Mom:
We can bring ourselves in, to make sure we are all together. We got separated in the old days. I’m kinda surprised we haven’t taken off, but we’re staying close to home because we pick up a lot of information that way.
How's your body feeling?
Painting: 13″ x 16″ • Framed: 21″ x 25″
Dana:
How’s your body feeling?
Mom:
Not great in the assessment area.
Dana:
What do you ask when you take an assessment?
Mom:
Who is alive?
Dana:
And what do you hear?
Mom:
I’m listening to the ones that are coming in, and also I am maybe tapping into my other lives.
We are out here hanging our boats
Painting: 17″ x 10 1/2″•
Framed: 26″ x 19 1/2″ • Sold
Mom:
We are out here hanging our boats…
What am I trying to say?
I am on the boat now in this good chair
and I’m looking around.
I see different stones and spots of light
that are homing to me. It’s beautiful how their lives circle around ours and they can come in and look back at us.
I think Bev Mattson is in my space.
I can’t talk to her
I’d be talking to myself
and that could send me flying.
Dana:
You’re on the boat.
You are sitting in your good chair
and flying perhaps.
Mom:
Well I’m not done yet cuz I just don’t want anything to scare me
Spokes
Painting: 13″ x 16″ • Framed: 20 1/2″ x 24″ • Sold
Mom:
We are out here hanging our boats…
What am I trying to say?
I am on the boat now in this good chair
and I’m looking around.
I see different stones and spots of light
that are homing to me. It’s beautiful how their lives circle around ours and they can come in and look back at us.
I think Bev Mattson is in my space.
I can’t talk to her
I’d be talking to myself
and that could send me flying.
Dana:
You’re on the boat.
You are sitting in your good chair
and flying perhaps.
Mom:
Well I’m not done yet cuz I just don’t want anything to scare me
Naked dress
Painting: 12 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ • Framed: 19 1/2″ x 23 1/4″• Sold
Mom: We’re going on a flight now.
I hope I get back to where I come from.
Dana: What do you wear when you fly?
Mom: I put on a naked dress.
I shut my eyes
Painting: 13″ x 16″ • Framed: 21 1/2″ x 25″ • Sold
Mom: Um… That felt good.
Dana: Well what felt good about it, Bev?
Mom: I… shut… my… eyes.
Aren't I Dana?
Painting: 16″ x 13″ • Framed: 23″ x 20 1/2″
Dana: Aren’t I Dana?
Mom: No you’re not.
Dana: I thought I was Dana.
Mom: How long did you think that?
Dana: Am I sometimes Dana?
Mom: Quite often… oh… that helped.
Dana: How did it help?
Mom: Well, you didn’t know whether to put your left foot in this place or that.
Dana: I still want to know who I am.
Mom: Get in the basket!
ACA pillow
Painting: 13″ x 16 1/2″ • Framed: 21 1/4″ x 24 1/2″ • Sold
Mom: We stopped at the aca-pillow place.
Dana: What’s an aca-pillow?
Mom: I don’t know.
Dana: What do you do at the aca-pillow place?
Mom: You go there and be a bird.
Babies and blueprints
Painting: 13″ x 16″ • Framed: 21 1/4″ x 24 1/2″
Dana:
Do you remember when we were babies?
Mom:
Yes. Babies are good for us.
Dana:
How are babies good for us?
Mom:
Babies come in and have a recipe on their backs.
Dana:
Is that like a blueprint or a fingerprint?
Mom:
You find that out.
Best friend
Painting: 14″ x 12 1/2″ • Framed: 23 1/2″ x 21 1/4″ • Sold
Mom:
Who is your best friend?
Dana:
I am my closest, longest friend.
Mom:
Wow . . . so it’s not simple,
it goes all the way
down.
Ecstacy
Painting: 13 1/2″ x 20 1/2″ • Framed: 21″ x 29 1/4″ • Sold
I’m in ecstasy
I’m gone
I’m going
I’m a dead . . .
giveaway!
~Mom
Good opportunities
Painting: 11″ x 15″ • Framed: 20 1/2″ x 24 1/4″ • Sold
Mom:
You’ve had good opportunities
for seeing things,
and when you have trouble doing things
I will help you.
Dana:
Thank you!
Mom:
You’re welcome!
I’ll keep the world off your back
and put it on your shoulders.
Dana:
That’s it, isn’t it?
And I’m writing all this down
so when I’m troubled
I can remember
our words.
Mom:
Yes… And I’ve got a couple words
to hang on to myself,
ladders…
netting…
emergency vehicles…
and I’m going to use them soon.
Dana and Mom get in the Basket
Dana:
Momma, I have to write an artist statement
about our show and I don’t know where to begin.
Mom:
It would help if they put some words in off the line.
Dana:
Like off the cuff?
Mom:
Exactly.
Dana:
Well, I’m not sure how to “off the cuff” here…
You choose your mother as your art collaborator
and it’s like choosing velcro…memories and images,
births, deaths, first and last recorded dreams
all come forward.
Mom:
Outta the box!
Dana:
Yes, it’s all come outta the box and it’s not
going back in. Hello… Goodbye…
Art… Family… Aging… Dementia…
Hello… Goodbye…
Mom:
Just say I’m coo-coo, everyone in my family was coo-coo.
Dana:
I am in your family…
Mom:
Well…?
Dana:
Is this the artist statement?
Mom:
Yes, you can change the words each time.
Dana:
Change the words… change the language…
could this change the way we see
and think about the world?
Mom:
Yes!
Sing to your body…
Make it up…
Do you get it?
How are you doing
Painting: 12 1/2″ x 16″ • Framed: 21 1/2″ x 25 1/4″ • Sold
Dana:
How are you doing?
Mom:
Well, it’s been a little slow going.
We thought it was going to be faster like going down the stairs.
Dana:
Now it’s like going up the stairs?
Mom:
Exactly. And we were all excited
thinking we would go today.
But the crew is here
and they’ll let you know right away
when it’s going to happen.
They’re French,
and they’re coming to help.
And Marie is here too
and she’s French . . . Canadian
. . . or just Canadian . . .
Let it go!! This is the time!!
They’ll see us doing turns
in the aurora birdie alis.
I got tired of waiting
Painting: 12 1/4″ x 17″ • Framed: 19 1/4″ x 23 1/4″ • Sold
Mom:
I got tired of waiting
for myself.
I came here to sing!
Am I getting the best of you?
Dana:
You’re bringing out
the best in me!
Mom:
Good! It all makes sense
if you pay attention
to both sides.
I just open up the lid
and it’s all right here
for me.
Look who’s inside
that flying place!
I’m right here on the edge
Painting: 12″ x 14 1/2″ • Framed: 20 1/2″ x 25″ • Sold
Mom:
I’m right here on the edge
I’ve done the walking
now I’m a part of it.
Dana:
You’re part of everything.
Mom:
Yes. And it’s good to have my kids
and all of my cousins.
Dana:
We are right beside you where ever we are.
Mom:
Yes. And you’ll have fun with the seeds,
and the flowers,
and the water.
Boy, I have to go. I’ll be OK… and so will you.
In the basket place
Painting: 13″ x 16″ • Framed: 20 1/2″ x 24″ • Sold
Mom:
Remember when we went in the basket place?
Dana:
Remind me.
Mom:
People could use it to get to where
they want to be.
A basket that flys.
Surprises
Painting: 12 3/4″ x 15 3/4″• Framed: 21 1/4″ x 24 1/2″ • Sold
Mom:
There’s always such a surprise here, And it’s good to get influence, is that the right word?
Dana:
Like feedback?
Mom:
Yes, because we don’t know how it’s going to go, although I got a couple things from the future.
Dana:
What sort of things?
Mom:
Interplay and groups of people. I send them to different places. Everyone wants to be in our group, they like how the chairs are placed. There’s a woman here holding her back, and then a bird comes and is beeping in her mouth. I stopped trying to find things and just go with it.
Dana:
If you and I just go with it, is there anything we would want to take with us?
Mom:
Make sure we have enough… words.
Dana:
I thought you were going to say enough food. surprises
Mom:
Well, one leads to the other.
Dana:
I’m going to take your word for it.
The comrades are coming in
Painting: 12 ” x 13″ • Framed: 21″ x 25″ • Sold
The comrades are coming in. The phones let the comrades come in.
Hugh people are coming here.
We are in the house
with the x-ray machine
and the ladder.
~ Mom
The comrades are coming in
Painting: 12 ” x 13″ • Framed: 21″ x 25 • Sold
The comrades are coming in. The phones let the comrades come in.
Hugh people are coming here.
We are in the house
with the x-ray machine
and the ladder.
~ Mom
The door is wide open
Painting: 14″ x 12 1/2″ • Framed: 20 1/2″ x 24″
The door is wide open I was going to put a light in the doorway but I’m getting slower now. This is a wonderful moment. I’m close by and so are you.
~ Mom
When does this thing end
Painting: 12″ x 15 1/2″ • Framed: 20 1/2″ x 24 1/4″
Mom:
When does this thing end?
Dana:
What thing?
Mom:
Well, everything we had to do to get here… Did you have to do anything special to get here?
Dana:
I sure did!
Mom:
We were all in the same boat as you,
getting here with you…
Where the light enters you
Painting: 10 1/4″ x 14 1/4″• Framed: 20 1/4″ x 24 1/4″ • Sold
Dana:
The poet Rumi said,
“the wound is the place
where the light enters you”.
Mom:
Then we’re going to your place.
Dana:
Where do I live?
Mom:
Spain…and there is something
we are scared to touch there.
Dana:
I’ll hold it for you
for the time being.
Mom:
Then I’ll leave you messages.
Dana:
Yes messages…how about
on little slips of paper?
Mom:
Yes I will.
I’ll write on cream cheese
and the green.
Who-Who
Painting: 12″ x 15″ • Framed: 20 ” x 24 ” • Sold
Mom:
Promise me you won’t forget
the Who-Who.
Dana:
I will never forget the Who-Who
even though I may never know
what the Who–Who
truly is.
Mom:
You’ll know when it comes to get you.
She’s going to be taking us soon
and she will come up
to your door
and let you know
I’ve gone.
Creation Myth
Dana:
Momma,
If we are all in the same boat
and the boat starts to sink…
Mom:
I hate to tell you . . .
I was screaming,
I’ve gone blank since then,
and wet my pants.
I swim like hell, people help,
they grab me by my nightie,
because that’s what we’re wearing.
We are loving each other,
and kissing each other,
well, some of us are bossing us around.
It’s all things up above,
and down below,
like it’s written.
And the mother figure is here,
looking back and forth.
She has ears like a bird would have.
She’s doing a little fluttering.
The next one coming along
will be getting us on the boat.
I just play with it,
I say what we do
and what we have here
today.