Current Projects:

TRANSITIONS on the JOURNEY

Marcene is continuing to build bodies of work, both figurative and conceptual, mapping our journeys and representing transitions along the way. As the artwork tracks different aspects, it falls into these series: JOURNEY SQUARED, DECONSTRUCTING HOPE, and SALVAGE ENDS....

JOURNEY SQUARED

Journey Squared fine art exhibit and collaborative project connects local to global neighbors, reflecting on our personal and shared journeys as they are affected by implicit bias, and how we move forward together. Outreach programming can accompany segments of the project. 

• Mapping the Journey are miniature postcard art paintings representing transitions along one's personal life path, with all realism removed. The resulting paintings represent the emotions. The objects and subjects become secondary as viewers relate to the experience of transitioning emotions rather than comparing nouns.

DECONSTRUCTING HOPE

These paintings illuminate the various inspirations that guide us. 

This work is fluid, with water and wind conveying movement, transitions along peoples’ journeys. The work directly seeks an innate healing connection with the viewer. It invites the viewer to recognize one’s own transitions breaking through barriers and choosing pathways:

• "Finding Talismans" figural paintings show the moment of hope, as the person notices a reminder toward their goals. Often those symbols of hope are breaking through from another realm. Other times the inspiration is within reach, between color field veils. Those paintings show a person reaching through layers to connect with the talismans in the environment.
• "Searching for Keys" nonfigural paintings hone in on the talisman itself, the symbolic object that we tend to identify with in nature, or in daily life, that help guide us through obstacles. 
• "Breaking through Barriers" nonfigural paintings focus on energy moving through barriers. A barrier line within each painting divides the composition from past influences to future aspirations. The way shapes interact with that line portrays our approach to challenges.
• "Collecting Charms" miniature 4x4" paintings crop tightly to the symbol, and treat it as a charm to be treasured. These are embellished with metal, glass, and ceramic accents.
• The final stage of the Finding Talismans series is about "Sustsaining." Figural paintings reveal the fruits of one's accomplishments in the borders on the Rothko referencing planes, as the person reflects on their methods, motifs, and ethics, along their journey of acquiring each feather in their cap...do they lift up community in the process and clear a path for others' success. 

SALVAGE ENDS

• Salvage Ends mixed media paintings are a nod to the artist's upbringing in a family of fiber artists, growing up as the daughter of a wonderful dollmaker fiber artist Dorie Sheridan, who created Spirit Guides and Guardians. "My memories are embossed with the textures of fabric, with salvage ends giving a preview to the colors that emerge in the woven pattern." Marcene Layers symbols of representation, to tell the story of  individuals and of community, of women as nurturers, protectors, guardians and guides. The roots of their stories are painted and constructed into separate sections like salvage ends. Some of those sections hold found objects, metal, wax and fiber sculpted work, occasionally including original work by Dorie. Mangrove roots flow up merging into the scene, sharing the role as guardians, since mangroves are actual protectors of our environment. 

Marcene founded ArtHouse6, purchasing and renovating an historic 6,400 square foot building into galleries, studios, tasting rooms, and lodging for visiting artist residencies and local arts collaboration and  mentorship. The mission was successfully completed, dispite it taking place during complicated pandemic conditions. 

With the ArtHouse and Marcene's Studio On 7 as Artist Residency sites, she  explored the Highline to Highline track, From Riverwalk Pittsburgh Highline to Manhattan Highline, with Johnstown as the central hub connecting NYC, Johnstown, and Pittsburgh.

     Through ArtHouse6, Marcene and collaborative artists: 

    * Hosted 30 residencies 

     *Supported and elevated 60 artists and 10 arts organizations

     *Brought notariety of Johnstown Mill inspired art to NYC audience  

     *Brought international recognition to global and regional artists

Seven fellow US Artists, along with Marcene, exhibit in France, through the ArtHouse6 Crosswind fine arts mentorship project. The cultural arts project is titled Made In New York. We are thrilled that the host organization, Avelan'Arts was able to make health safety adjustments to still complete this project during the pandemic!

Space as Muse is a Residency project where artists, writers, and musicians spend time immersed in two different spaces, responding to each unique environment. Those spaces are Oasis and Retreat, the suites on floor 3 of ArtHouse6. This  interdisciplinary project considers the influence our surroundings have on our creative expression.   

Cocooning Series: During the carona shutdown period, Marcene painted in 2 isolation residencies, first at the ArtLoft7 studio, and then a second solo residency at the ArtHouse6 studios. "The isolation brought out a layer in my work...sensitivity to the hibernation process, with anticipation of our emergence. This also applies to everyday life as we contemplate upcoming changes."  

Some of that work exhibited and sold in France and in Norway.

Global Tales IV exhibit by 8 artists in 5 countries, is the first exhibit at Off the Rails Gallery in ArtHouse6...the exhibit was postponed in 2020, to open after the pandemic crisis has subsided. In 2021, the show exhibited successfully. Out of this grew the solo show featuring Irene Christenson, one of the Global Tales artists. Irene gave the first ArtTalk at Off the Rails Gallery, for the first official Tuscan Room Salon Fusion gathering, which was very well received.