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RESIDENT ARTIST RPAC ART CENTER Current Exhibition RPAC Gallery www.rpacgallery.com/meredithmulhearn
S S E
What’s Inside Artist Statement 3
Unconditional Love
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Biography 4
The Storm
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Current Collection — Vanishing Series 5
Nostalgia I & Nostalgia II
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Collection — Dead Zones 6
Collection — Plant Blindness 19
Collection — Breathless 7
Lepisanthes & Sweet Flowering Bay 20
Sacred Breath
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Collection — Roots 9 Are We There Yet? Life’s Journey Follow Your Passion Gaia
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Meredith Mulhearn
Reclamation 1 & 2
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Miss Wilmott’s Ghost
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Public Art — Bow Wow Art Dogs 23
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News 24
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Exhibitions & Resume 25
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Artist Statement Nature. Emotion. Connection. Community. My artistic passion resides within this framework. We are a community of one, bound to nature, yet living in its absence. Paradoxically, we are losing our emotional connection to the very thing that sustains us.
“Nature has always spoken to me in quiet ways, but now I find there’s an inextricable link between me and the natural world that finds its voice in all my work.” As an artist, I believe in art for art’s sake. But as a member of humanity, I believe in art with purpose. As such, I use my work as a conduit for change and to foster awareness, particularly within the area of conservation. My art is my voice. My art speaks to universal truths, but acknowledges the role of individual experience. It seeks to harness the power of community by inspiring others to take action. Driven by imperative, I employ the most effective media to manifest my message. From here, the torch is passed, and the viewer must ask, “Have I lost my connection with nature? And how do I save what is sacred?”
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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Biography Meredith Mulhearn was born in Sayre, PA, but grew up in a small town in New Jersey. Here, she began feverishly creating from the moment she could grasp a crayon. In fact, her pediatrician foretold Mulhearn’s future as an artist, based on her fine motor skills as a young child. From here, Mulhearn pursued the arts, earning a BA in studio art with a minor in art history, from Wake Forest University and a MA from NYU in art therapy. Mulhearn’s time in New York City significantly influenced her focus on the natural world, as she struggled with its absence in the urban environment.
“Nature has always spoken to me in quiet ways, but now I find there’s an inextricable link between me and the natural world that finds its voice in all my work.” MM
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Meredith Mulhearn
In response, she engaged in intensive study of botanical illustration at the New York Botanical Garden. In 2019, Mulhearn became a resident artist at RPAC Art Center & Academy, where she continues to practice. Mulhearn’s work is part of multiple private collections, including the Philoche Collection in New York City. She is an associate member of Artists for Conservation, the world’s leading artist group supporting the environment. Mulhearn is also an exhibiting artist at Rowayton Arts Center and an active member of the New Canaan Society for the Arts and the Ridgefield Guild of Artists. Her work has been selected for numerous juried shows. With a focus on philanthropy, she has participated in collaborative projects, such as the Bow Wow Art Dog initiative, that give back to the community. Mulhearn’s work elucidates the tenuous relationship between man and nature. With a practice that merges conceptual and conservation art, her analytical bent emerged in response to a desperate and innate need to reconnect with the natural world. Mulhearn herself explains, “Nature has always spoken to me in quiet ways, but now I find there’s
an inextricable link between me and the natural world that finds its voice in all my work.” Exploring imminent environmental threats, Mulhearn’s work knows no boundaries. Driven by imperative, Mulhearn defines her work by subject matter and employs the most effective media to manifest her message. Mulhearn utilizes both traditional and unconventional media, bending each material to her will. The process for each piece is completely unique and often requires hours of specific training, research and experimentation to achieve the proper technique. Vacillating between large and small scale, the viewer finds themself immersed, either through inundation or intimacy. Her work often communicates a subtle urgency, juxtaposed against nature’s seeming tranquility. While her work is often suggestive, Mulhearn’s commitment to the cause is most certainly literal, her artwork directly supporting conservation initiatives. She blurs the line between art and philanthropy.
Current Collection Vanishing series Orchid Fever: A Costly Obsession In stark contrast to the common lack of connection with plants and waning conservation efforts, there is a group of individuals with an unhealthy obsession for orchids. Those who have succumbed to “orchid fever”, driven by greed and social status, seek out the rarest and most vulnerable species. Undeterred by legal repercussions, risk of kidnapping and death, they venture into the unforgiving jungles of the world to discover new species or capture the last remaining specimens (or they pay someone else to do their bidding.) Plundered to the point of extinction, orchids are smuggled around the world and delivered to the highest bidder. Sadly, the threat of extinction only serves to increase demand and market value. So, the more vulnerable the orchid species, the greater the likelihood that it will be hunted until no more remain in the wild. But not all smugglers are trafficking orchids. Bound by strict regulations and red tape, the very system intended to protect vulnerable plants may be unintentionally contributing to their demise. As orchid experts discover new or threatened specimens in the wild, they can’t compete with those who are illegally pillaging. Unlike orchid traffickers, who are paid handsomely and circumvent the proper channels, orchid experts’ efforts are hindered. By the time they obtain funding and the approval to procure and import a specimen, the orchids have all but disappeared. So, some are taking matters into their own hands. Are these smugglers true orchid vigilantes or thieves operating under the guise of conservationists?
caladenia pumila 5" x 7" mixed media on birch panel
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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Collection dead zones long island sound: dead zone
24" x 10" mixed media on glass
Imagine that your home is rapidly becoming depleted of oxygen. You find it difficult to breathe. You rush outside to find fresh air, but to no avail. As you start to become lightheaded, you check your phone for information, only to discover that the nearest oxygen-rich environment is miles away…and your car won’t start. Dead zones are hypoxic areas within bodies of water that can no longer sustain life. They are commonly triggered by excess Nitrogen and Phosphorus that enter streams and rivers, or from wastewater in highly populated areas. The algae population explodes and this sudden imbalance sets into motion a domino effect that ends in tragedy. The inhabitants, both plant and animal, are often left stranded with insufficient oxygen for survival. The Gulf of Mexico is home to one of the largest dead zones in the world, measuring about the same size as New Jersey. Dead zones are also a local problem, although on a much smaller scale. In fact, the Long Island Sound also has its very own dead zone.
gulf of mexico: dead zone
24" x 10" mixed media on glass
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Meredith Mulhearn
But don’t despair, there are changes being implemented to improve these aquatic environments and these efforts are already making a positive impact. If you want to help, you can fund research efforts and organizations that are eliciting large scale change, like rebuilding flood plains and updating wastewater treatment plants.
Collection Breathless
Breathless: Study #1
20" x 10" Phytoplankton on watercolor paper Part of the “Breathless” series. As we navigate a new world, in the grasp of a global pandemic, many have experienced a shift in perspective. Once taken for granted, each breath is now sacred. An involuntary process, respiration occurs automatically, ensuring survival. It’s not until this process is jeopardized that we become acutely aware of its urgency. Yet, before our lives were turned upside down and we found ourselves immersed in a “new normal”, we were unknowingly vulnerable. Without the presence of an imminent threat, we failed to appreciate the air that fills our lungs and fuels our bodies. In actuality, we owe our lives (and each breath we take) to ocean phytoplankton (which produces up to 85% of Earth’s oxygen.) Yes, it’s true...without these humble organisms, we would cease to exist.
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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Breathless
Sacred Breath
18" x 22" Graphite & Phytoplankton on arches paper Sacred Breath, part of the “Breathless” series, echos the form of a tree, thus reminding us of our connection with plants and our reliance upon them for survival as part of the carbon-dioxide oxygen cycle. As such, the entire piece is painted using pigment exclusively derived from ocean phytoplankton. Yet as I began to create the painting, it became evident that the piece was about so much more than our relationship with plants. Instead, the basis for Sacred Breath was the product of my subconscious response to the Covid-19 pandemic. When faced with the daunting task of individually painting each alveolus, initially I felt overwhelmed and a desire to just get each one behind me. But after only a few minutes of working, I experienced a revelation...each one of these spheres represents an individual. I experienced a profound and emotional shift in my work. I was no longer attempting to complete a task. But, rather, the process became one of reverence, a means of memorializing each person lost to the pandemic. This work speaks to our current struggle...the battles being fought as people on respirators hold onto life, the grief felt by friends and loved ones who have experienced loss, the unwavering strength of a community united, and the countless heroes in the trenches risking their lives for others every day. May you stay healthy and remember that every breath is truly sacred.
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Meredith Mulhearn
Collection Roots Ancient heritage honoring the past, interwoven with the present journey. Fueled by unconditional love. Community woven by nature, that which appears fragile is unbreakable. Colony of supporters, navigating the darkness, uniting together, so that one may reach toward the light.
My connection with plants has been represented in my work since the very beginning, but it wasn’t until recently that I found myself unexpectedly drawn to roots. Compared to the beautiful blooms that graced my botanical illustrations, these unsightly characters offered an altogether different appeal. Raw and gritty, these unseen heroes provide support and sustain life. But I had to wonder, “Why am I so drawn to roots now, after years of exploring botanicals?” The answer was simple. As with all my work, a need was being met. In the midst of a pandemic, I sought grounding. Roots provide the solid physical connection to earth that I so desperately needed. Additionally, at the beginning of the pandemic I discovered my biological family, a rather significant life event after almost 42 years. But due to restrictions, I was unable to visit and meet my newfound family in person. Instead, I explored my roots through the artistic process. While my roots series has great personal significance, it also is intended to convey a universal message that I find particularly relevant in the current climate. In my work, I use weaving to tell a story. Most of these speak of heritage, family and community. But they also are intended to elicit a feeling of grounding and balance that we so desperately need. The weaving as a whole symbolizes life’s journey. The golden thread references Greek mythology and represents our life’s path. In some cases silver replaces gold for purposes of conveying a slightly different message, but the idea of following a path remains the same. @Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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roots Are we there yet?
48" x 72" Mixed Media & PLANT ROOTs
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Meredith Mulhearn
roots
Like the child in the backseat constantly asking the age old question, this piece begs for our arrival. The viewer is asked to consider where they believe we are on this continuum. Are our identities defined only by the past (our roots)? Or are we moving toward balance and harmony? And if so, when will we get there? The piece begins with bold contrast and opposition on the right and left and merges harmoniously in the center where black and white coexist side by side in perfect balance. And even in the beauty of this peace, the viewer need only look outward to be reminded that it’s held together by strings under incredible tension... that may unravel at any moment.
Perhaps the question isn’t “Are we there yet?” but, rather, “How much longer until we get there?” @Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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roots Life’s Journey
15" x 12" Mixed media with plant roots
The original in the series, this piece uses a higher proportion of roots than most of my weaving. It seeks to fill our need for grounding during uncertain times.
Some of the weft is raw and bumpy, while other areas are soft and smooth, just as life’s journey has its ups and downs. But overall, the monochromatic use of earth toned yarns, paired with natural roots, has a tranquil feel. The “golden thread”, a reference to Greek mythology, guides us through life’s journey.
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Meredith Mulhearn
roots Follow Your Passion
12" x 15" Mixed media with plant roots
This weaving is a reminder to follow your heart’s path. It can be interpreted as a harmonious balance between one’s roots and one’s own unique dreams and aspirations. Conversely, it also represents the struggle to achieve such balance, since we often battle with this concept at various stages of life’s journey. Red, the primary color here, is the color of passion, inner power, fire and bravery. It’s balanced by the earth tones composed of roots and natural fibers. Bold color is intentionally used to suggest the strength of one’s inner passion. Semiprecious stones are added to this weaving to symbolize endurance and permanence, reminding us that our passions are unwavering. Follow Your Passion encourages us to pursue our dreams and honor our truth.
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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roots Gaia
15" x 12" Mixed media with plant roots
Gaia, the Greek goddess of the earth, reminds us that nature provides resources for finding solace, even under the most challenging circumstances. While the earth grounds us (as represented by roots), water also provides a substantial calming effect (as represented by blue and green yarns). This piece honors mother earth’s ratio of land to water, with around 71% of the weaving composed of blue and green yarn and about 23% made up of plant roots. In the face of uncertainty, seek balance through nature.
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Meredith Mulhearn
roots Unconditional love
11" x 11" Mixed media with plant roots SOLD — Now part of the Philoche COllection
A smaller, more intimate piece, this weaving highlights the significance of unconditional love during life’s journey. For this reason, gold wire is replaced by silver and natural fibers in the gray and silver family are utilized. The focus remains on calming tones, but explores slightly more contrast by using warm and cool colors. This piece was largely inspired by the unconditional love I’ve been blessed with from both my adoptive and biological families. Additionally, although we typically think of unconditional love in terms of family, this piece also explores the idea of unconditional love within the context of community. In the face of adversity, people come together to show this love and support, even for people they’ve never met.
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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roots The Storm
22" x 17" Mixed media with plant roots
Much like the tumultuous times we are living in amidst the pandemic, storms stir up anxiety, create uncertainty and plummet us into darkness. Yet, amidst the chaos there are silver linings. “The Storm” reminds us that even in difficult times, there is beauty. This recent storm that pummeled Ridgefield left us surrounded by destruction and shrouded in darkness, quite literally. Yet, Mother Nature, the same force that created this widespread devastation, is also home to unparalleled beauty. As we struggle to navigate the pandemic that has altered life as we know it, we find an outpouring of community support, a new appreciation for family and the knowledge that together, we will get through this. There is a calmness that settles in both before and after the storm, which reminds us that… “this too shall pass”.
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Meredith Mulhearn
roots Nostalgia I & Nostalgia II 12" x 12" Mixed media with plant roots
In the midst of a pandemic, when faced with this surreal reality, we struggle to find “normal”. As an artist, the creative process provides my outlet. It’s how I find balance. In the case of the Nostalgia pieces, part of my “roots” series, I was able to briefly regress to childhood, basking for a few moments in its naiveté. Playing with bright colors and timeless candy wrappers, the viewer is whisked away to a simpler time. While nothing can make these circumstances feel normal, I found respite while weaving. As with others in this series, the roots symbolize our connection to family and community, which have taken on additional significance in the midst of these challenging times. Typically, from one piece to the next there’s a visible progression to my thought process. The Nostalgia pieces, by contrast, are quite similar in both appearance and message. Through Nostalgia 1 I began sublimation, but felt the process was incomplete. As such, I felt compelled to continue with a second piece, Nostalgia 2. As a result, these tapestries are inextricably linked as two parts of the same journey and, therefore, are intended as a pair.
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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Autumn Joy
48" x 60" Acrylic on canvas
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Meredith Mulhearn
Collection Plant Blindness Plant Blindness is the inability to see or notice the plants in one’s own environment. Building off of the “Unguilding the Lily” series, I began exploring the concept of plant blindness. While “Unguilding the Lily” focused on encouraging the viewer to see plants through a different lens, the Plant Blindness series addresses a topic with more far reaching implications. Plant blindness, simply stated, is the inability to see the plants in one’s own environment. This widespread phenomenon has created a significant barrier to plant conservation. Because of technological advancement and the tendency to become absorbed in a fastpaced lifestyle, we often fail to stop and smell the roses, or in this case, they simply go unnoticed. Plant Blindness seeks to enlighten the viewer and foster the reconnection with plants that is so vital to our survival as a species. Sadly, people only invest in the things with which they are invested. So, as our connection with plants wanes, these jewels of nature that sustain us are gradually becoming extinct. And with less interest, it becomes progressively more difficult to promote conservation efforts. My plant blindness series is intended to entice the viewer to once again connect with plants, whether by creating a fresh perspective or physically engaging the viewer to interact with the art. As with most of my work, Plant Blindness takes the viewer on a journey of self-exploration.
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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Plant Blindness Lepisanthes
24" x 30" Thermochromic Paint on canvas A print of an antique botanical illustration is obscured with the exception of strategically placed apertures. The paint is applied with a slight transparency that allows the viewer to see vestiges of the image beneath the surface. This approach provides a glimpse of the image but is intended to evoke frustration and a craving to unveil what lies beneath. The only way to reveal the hidden portions of the image is to touch the painting. Amazingly, the body heat from the viewer’s hand transforms the thermochromic paint from dark grey to clear, magically unveiling the image beneath. In this way, the viewer must physically engage with the subject (plant life) in order to see it. This experience serves as a metaphor for and reminder of our need to engage with the plants in our daily surroundings in a more deliberate and meaningful manner.
SWEET FLOWERING BAY
24" x 30" Thermochromic Paint on Canvas SOLD
These interactive works are intended to be experienced as a pair but convey the same message independently.
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Meredith Mulhearn
Plant Blindness Reclamation 1
17.5" x 17.5" x 8" Oil on Computer Monitor
Reclamation 2
15" x 15" x 7" Oil on Computer Monitor
Reclamation 1 & 2 explore the concept of plant blindness, specifically the impact of technology on this phenomenon. As society depends more upon technological advancement, we become more isolated from nature. Trapped in office buildings, attached to electronic devices, we progressively lose our connection with nature. We thirst for this connection, attempting to bring nature back into our lives in the form of artificial plants and plastering our device backgrounds with idyllic images of nature. It’s a futile attempt to create a genuine connection. Reclamation 1 & 2 create tension through the contrast of traditional oil painting and modern technology. Deliberately raw and implementing an aggressive, high contrast color scheme, the images are both simultaneously beautiful and repulsive. This contrast is intended to trigger an emotional response to the pieces and evoke thought about the role of technology in our own experience of plant blindness. @Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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Plant Blindness MISS WILLMOTT’S GHOST
18" x 24" Glass Fragments and Acrylic on Canvas Miss Willmott’s Ghost features aggressive lines and fragmented glass to create a dramatic effect. It is part of a series exploring unconventional methods of portraying botanicals, designed to enhance one’s appreciation of form. So the story goes... a wellrespected British gardener had a fondness for Eryngium giganteum, a persistent plant species. So, when visiting other’s gardens, she would inconspicuously scatter seeds among their beds. The plants flourished and seemed to materialize everywhere. They still persist, so it’s as if her ghost haunts the gardens of England to this day.
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Meredith Mulhearn
Collection bow wow art dogs tiffany
by meredith mulhearn & Steve liker Tiffany: Inspired by the Tiffany style lamps of yesteryear, "Tiffany" was created in collaboration with artist Steve Liker. Using specialized materials designed to mimic stained glass, we began by laying out the design. Then we created color blocks and painstakingly applied the "leading." Tiffany has been featured in numerous publications representing the Bow Wow Art Dog initiative. Identity Crisis: Identity Crisis was inspired by Steve Liker and tells the story of a Great Dane who believes he is a Tuxedo cat. This Bow Wow Art Dog was created by applying acrylic paint and affixing accessories and wire whiskers. Playful and endearing, this piece has become a fan favorite among locals.
identity crisis
by meredith mulhearn
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Meredith Mulhearn
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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News Article for Creativity Connects Ridgefield Series https://news.hamlethub.com/ridgefield/neighbors/67496-creativity-connects-ridgefield-meet-meredith-mulhearn
Feature on Children’s Brain Tumor Project site
https://www.childrensbraintumorproject.org/2020/09/15/the-life-of-brookeblake-inspires-local-artist/
Hamlethub article about Tapestry for Brooke Blake https://news.hamlethub.com/ridgefield/eastchester/norwalk/ neighbors/67440-ridgefield-artist-s-tapestry-honors-legacy-ofbrooke-blake-100-of-sale-supports-children-s-brain-tumor-project-at-weill-cornell supports-children-s-brain-tumor-project-at-weill-cornell
Lauren’s Crazy Pet Show on MYCT 9 - Bow wow Art DoGs https://youtu.be/vgIWDfP7G8Y
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Meredith Mulhearn
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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Exhibitions Showing now at RPAC Gallery June 3 - August 1, 2021 Summer Solstice Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and Tina Cobelle-Sturges
Past Exhibitions at RPAC Gallery April 1 - May 30, 2021 Toe Dancer “Moment of Movement” Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and John BonSignore January 28 - March 28, 2021 The Art of “Astromythos” Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and Jon Sideriadis December 3, 2020 - January 24, 2021 Unconventional Women Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and Nancy Moore
September 24 - November 29, 2020 Seeing 2020 - RPAC Resident Artist Exclusive Show Including Featured Artist Spotlight - Meredith Mulhearn August 6 - September 20, 2020 STAY - Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and Lydia Larson March 5 - August 2, 2020 Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and Frankie Vinci January 9 - March 1, 2020 Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and Emily Laux November 7, 2019 - January 5, 2020 Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and Ken Scaglia September 19 - November 3, 2019 Featuring RPAC Resident Artists and Leslie Cober-Gentry
Resume
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Click here
@Meredith_Mulhearn_ART
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