Art in August Artists for 2018

Painting, Collage

Ceramics has always played an important role in my life. As a middle schooler in the Netherlands, I was given the key to the art room to work independently and assist my teacher on special projects.
I later studied Economics at the Free University in Amsterdam and worked as a financial analyst. To find balance, I returned to ceramics, studying sculpture with Dutch artist Femke Kempkes, focusing on the human body.

After moving to the U.S., I paused again—until my daughter’s pottery classes reignited my passion. I took lessons at the Munroe Center for the Arts, completed the technical education program at Mudflat Studio in Somerville, MA, and began handbuilding classes with Susan Bernstein, who introduced me to coiling and helped shape my voice. Currently, I study with Judith Cooper, who encourages my sculptural, narrative direction.

These conversations with clay bring me joy, peace, and acceptance. Afterwards, I feel rested, relaxed, and refreshed—better able to face the outside world again. If more people took the time to work with clay and connect to the earth, I believe the world would be a more peaceful place.

Michiko Katsumi was born in Shizuoka, Japan, and currently lives and works in Winchester. She has a degree in Textile Design from Joshibi University in Japan and has had private studies in Japanese ink painting (fufo ga).

Michiko has had solo exhibitions at Aoyama Gallery in Tokyo, Wainwright Bank in Cambridge and Winchester Hospital, and has been part of group exhibitions at the Ginza Gallery and JosuikaiKan in Tokyo as well as at the Cambridge Art Association national prize show in Boston and the Winchester Public Library.

She has won several awards, including Best of the Show and First Prize at the Cambridge Art Association fall salon and the Essex Art Assoc jurors choice award.

Carolyn Latanision works primarily in water media, exploring its unique challenges and possibilities.  She achieves an open, lively technique whether painting cityscapes or people, savoring rich dark textures, light, shadow, form, and the human spirit.  She continues to develop a series of paintings of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, having grown up within a few blocks of the blast furnaces.

Latanision is an award-winning Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, Allied Artists of America, New England Watercolor Society, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Philadelphia Watercolor Society, National Association of Women Artists, Rocky Mountain National Watercolor Society, Whiskey Painters of America, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club in NYC, and an Elected Member of the American Artists Professional League, among other national affiliations. In the Boston area, she is designated a Copley Master in the Copley Society of Art and a Master Artist in the Cape Cod Art Center..

Her work is in more than 30 corporate collections and many private ones

She regularly teaches several watercolor classes in her Woburn studio September through May. Studio: 500 West Cummings Park, Suite 1050, Woburn MA 01801

I produce fine contemporary jewelry and other metal designs primarily in the precious metals of gold, silver, palladium, and platinum. These are often further defined with the addition of texturing, gemstones and other unique lapidary, or resin inlay. "Clean. Crisp. Geometric. Architectural. Subtle elegance." This is how my work is described by gallery and show customers and viewers, and by commission clients. Designing and fabricating engagement and wedding bands and other custom jewelry, often with people’s stones, is particularly meaningful to me and, of course, the clients. With a long career in education and national education policy, I have purposefully incorporated teaching as a significant facet of my current goldsmithing career.

Growing up, I always was mesmerized by sparkling gemstones and metals and I often incorporate something illuminating into my designs. Whether or not I intricately plan a jewelry piece in advance of producing it or just spontaneously fabricate one as I go along, the result is inevitably something that is unique with a contemporary flair that complements, rather than overwhelms, a wearer. When designing jewelry or other metal work, I always thing about whether I would wear it, use it, and/or display it. Anyone who knows me sees a reflection of me in what I design.

Born in Bari, Italy, Lucia attended the Academy of Fine Arts, guided by the inspirational works of Leonardo Da Vinci and her arts professors, Labianca and Antonini, among the most famous in France. Soon after, she moved to Boston to finish her studies at the Art Academy of Boston.

In collaboration with local galleries, she planned her first exhibition and sold her first artistic works. In 2010, she opened “Rubini Art,” an art studio and place of education for art lovers of all ages.

The success following the opening of the gallery led to the creation of the “Van Vogue” fashion show in 2014, arousing great interest among people furthest from the art world. The project was born from the idea to merge feminine beauty with the harmony of artistic technique. It was shown in Bari, Italy and also in Boston, MA to rave reviews.

In the spring of 2019, Lucia produced a successful student show at her gallery which attracted the attention of the Italian TV station International and resulted in a special program.

Lucia is also active in the community. You can see her work at Town Day, the Farmers’ Market, and other establishments around Winchester, as well as on two utility boxes on Washington Street that she painted as part of a Winchester Cultural Council program.

As a lifelong Winchester resident, I’ve been inspired by the beauty of nature and by our arts community. I have explored mixed media, ceramics, and printmaking, and currently focus on Japanese textile dyeing techniques, inspired by research in Kyoto. I’m grateful for the opportunities to exhibit, teach, and collaborate within our creative Winchester community.

In my youth, memorable art classes with WHS teachers Tracy and Walker and private lessons with Susie Vrotsos nurtured my love of art. I studied Art History at Tufts University and Studio Arts at the Museum School, focusing on printmaking and mixed media.

My interest in textiles began when I worked for the custom banner company Design Flag Company. After workshops at Haystack School of Crafts and with Kiranada Sterling Benjamin at Mass College of Art, I was inspired to research Japanese textile dyeing at Kyoto City University of Art (MFA).

I’ve been working with Japanese techniques such as rozome, katazome, shibori and indigo dyeing for over 20 years. My work includes traditional crafts, scrolls and kimono as well as large scale mixed media and public art installations.

My imagery and process are inspired by the power and wonder of each season. My practice of observing movement and change in nature is a form of meditation that heals and nourishes the soul. Through my art, I like sharing this experience by creating spaces where one can relax and reflect on the beauty of nature.

Through my photography, I share fleeting moments in nature that bring a sense of peace and reflection. My series of Windblown Waves captures my textiles fluttering in the breeze at Art Ramble in Concord and at the Winchester Artists Network tent at the Winchester Farmers’ Market.