Dana Mattson and Bev Mattson
Dakota Art Gallery Show
October 2018
Paintings on monotype with oil based inks
All paintings framed and $950
Painting: 13" x 15 1/2"Framed: 21" x 24 1/2"
How do we heal the structures
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.
Painting: 13" x 16"Framed: 21" x 25"
How's your body feeling?
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.
Painting: 17" x 10 1/2"Framed: 26" x 19 1/2"
• Sold •
We are out here hanging our boats
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
Painting: 13" x 16"Framed: 20 1/2" x 24"
• Sold •
Spokes
What’s going on?
Dana:
I don’t think I know what’s going on.
Mom:
Pity.
Dana:
Maybe you could give me a little clue.
Mom:
I don’t think I’d give you a knife in back.
Dana:
Good! No knife in back. What kind of clue could you give me?
Mom:
Reddish light or just plain eating red.
She would like it in the true form. She’s still rolling there.
Fun to watch her I can see.
Dana:
Could you tell me what you see?
Mom:
She already has her spokes down for peppermills.
Dana:
Spokes…and peppermills…
The clue has something to do with what goes round and round?
Mom:
You’re getting it.
Painting: 12 1/2" x 15 1/2"Framed: 19 1/2" x 23 1/4"
• Sold •
Naked dress
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.
Painting: 13" x 16"Framed: 21 1/2" x 25"
• Sold •
I shut my eyes
Well what felt
good about it, Bev?
I… shut… my… eyes.
Painting: 12" x 14 1/2"Framed: 20 1/2" x 25"
• Sold •
I’m right here on the edge
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.
Painting: 12 1/4" x 17"Framed: 19 1/4" x 23 1/4"
• Sold •
I got tired of waiting
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!
Painting: 12 1/2" x 16"Framed: 21 1/2" x 25 1/4"
• Sold •
How are you doing?
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.
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?