Exhibit: On the Map Farber and Schmid-Maybach
The Capital City Arts Initiative’s exhibition, On the Map, presents drawings by Jon Farber and ceramics by Catherine Schmid-Maybach, two artists who show viewers creative possibilities for finding their way.
About his art, Farber said, “A portion of my work is dedicated to creating intricate maps of where I live. As an avid outdoorsman living near Lake Tahoe, I use a variety of mapping systems to not get lost. Whether using a paper map with a compass, or looking at an interactive map on my phone, a topographical depiction of where I am is an essential tool when in the woods. Cartography can depict such a wide array of information simply with the culmination of lines, colors, and a spattering of a few symbols. Maps give the viewer an understanding of where they are and where to go next. It can give a representation of elevation, a depiction of distance, it can help tell a story or portray a moment in history. I work to create abstract depictions of the region I live in and this provides me with an understanding that things are always changing and it's easy to get lost in life. And sometimes all I must do is look at a map to find where I am. He refines his mark-making style with Sharpie, Copic, and Posca markers.”
Describing her artwork, Schmid-Maybach said, “The last years I have been working on flat, low relief wall plaques and platters. I use ceramic materials and techniques to layer patterns and images and build a visual narrative adapting to each layer that comes out of the kiln. Using mostly my own photographs, I continually experiment with transfer techniques and decals to add layers in multiple firings. I often photograph while driving, without looking or composing the image. The result is a graphic sampling of patterns, bits of landscape and urban elements, instead of pictures of specific things or places. Working in layers allows me to address moving between different realities: to combine different places and times. I grew up with two cultures and this has underscored my feeling of moving in between, encountering disparate elements and realities everywhere. My ceramic work has allowed me to pull these pieces together.”
