Handmade in Barnard Missouri by Momoko Usami
On the occasion of the exhibition, Julie Blackmon: A Life in Frame, Kemper Museum commissioned capsule collections by two artists inspired by the work and career of Julie Blackmon for the Museum Shop. Each artist drew inspiration from different aspects of Blackmon's practice and created original works that respond in their own artistic voices.
One-of-a-Kind Porcelain Cowrie Shell with Xerox paper slide on hand felted ring stand. Comes with one paper slide, and instructions for making additional personalized slides is included.
Dimensions: Approximately 4"x 3"x 2.5"
Momoko created view finders with her unique take on documenting the memory, feeling, and atmosphere of living in the rural midwest with her family and young children. Living in the midwest she has many memories and sights that she really enjoys about the Midwest.
"I still like the idea of people holding cowrie shell as an amulet, and being able to use as an eye. The cowrie has a slit on bottom side to insert a small paper slide. The slide has two layers, a black and white scene on the front and a colorful intimate scene on the back. When held up to the light or sun the image on the back superimposes on the front"
About the artist:
Momoko Usami received a BFA and an MFA from Kyoto City University of Art in Kyoto, Japan. She moved to the United States in January 2008. She was one of the residency artist at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago in 2009/2010. Currently, she settled her personal studio on the countryside near Kansas City, Missouri. She started Art Farm, small art classes for the community, in 2014. Momoko draws inspiration from many things, including Japanese painting from the Edo period, dreams, and daily encounters on the street. Her unique, playful and often interactive ceramic works have been shown in the United States, Canada, and Japan.
