In an era saturated with digital media and technological innovation, the tactile experience of handmade art stands out as a profound testament to tradition, creativity, and human touch. Terry Ann Tomlinson's retrospective, "Paper Reimagined," which opened at MAQRO (Museo de Arte de Querétaro) February 21, encapsulates two decades of artwork made from hand-made paper, challenging our perceptions of this medium and inspiring introspection.
"Using ancient Japanese techniques and traditional natural Asian fibers, I make paper that has delicacy and strength, translucency and resilience," Tomlinson explains. "Through abstract imagery and minimal content, I explore the profound spiritual connection between all living things."
- Terry Ann Tomlinson
The exhibition features a ground-breaking, immersive installation, "Dreams of Medusae," that transcends traditional artistic boundaries by merging intricate handmade paper sculptures with immersive video projections, soundscapes, and AI technology. This interplay between the organic and the digital reminds us that art remains a vital bridge for profound connections in our ever-evolving world.
Tomlinson's artwork evokes visceral responses that provoke a return to life's essence, to the patterns and textures of existence rooted in nature. Her commitment to manual labor and traditional methods invites viewers to reflect on the importance of craftsmanship and the cultural narratives that shape our understanding of art. In her installation, she successfully creates a space where time is suspended, allowing for moments of introspection and genuine connection.
Antonio Arelle Barquet, Director of MAQRO, recalled his first visit to Terry's studio in San Miguel:
"I was impressed with the intense organic character of this compelling work: textures, colors, and fibers that make her pieces seem like creations of nature itself, full of life, fertile, vibrant, evocative. This is in total contrast to the preeminence of the audiovisual in our contemporary culture. Committed to traditional Asian techniques and manual labor, her installations transcend the limits of sculpture. All of which reminds us that one of the missions of art is to make us return to life and earth's maternal matrix. Terry Ann achieves this completely, and that makes her, without a doubt, one of the most prominent American artists living in Mexico."
"My opening at MAQRO last Friday was a huge success. It was my dream come true, to see my art in a retrospective spanning two decades in six large rooms of the magnificent Museo de Arte de Querétaro. To have more than 40 people make their way from San Miguel to Querétaro on a rainy night filled my heart with such joy.
"One of the rooms displays Dreams of Medusae Immersion Experience, an installation that merges my handmade paper sculptures with digital technology, music and AI. I took a huge risk in doing this groundbreaking installation. I attempt to create an experience where the audience is inside my art, not just an outside observer, and comes away with a sense of peace and self reflection... especially during these stressful times."
Wendy Moyer is a textile artist and friend/promoter of local artist friends. Most well known for her body of work that deals with loss and body image as a result of Breast Cancer, her works have been exhibited in several museums in Mexico including Casa Europa in San Miguel, the Museo de la Mujer in Mexico City, Centro de Las Artes de San Luis Potosi, and the Museo de Arte de Querétaro. She has called San Miguel home for the past 22 years.
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