Working album: Early PMVI - Google Photos

Working album: Early PMVI - Google Photos

Bev Richey/Artist Bio/Rabbit Hole

Bev Richey/Artist Bio

My undergraduate degree in psychology is from the University of Connecticut and in 2008 I began advanced studies in art history at UW-Milwaukee. From 1978 to 1994. I had an active public art career in the New Haven, Ct area. 

A 1995 move to a rural Wisconsin farm town,  from this east coast urban center within commuting distance to NYC, allowed me to rest and recuperate.  

My early art life included many socially conscious and feminist site-specific performances, installations, exhibitions, and social engagement projects. I worked as an arts administrator, an arts organizer, and an artist. While creating in various transient media and later influenced by Judy Chicago and New York feminism. I became best known for working in the feminist medium of cake. 

In 2020 during the pandemic, ARTSPACE a contemporary gallery in New Haven, Ct included a retrospective exhibit of one of my large-scale works (1988) called “The Amazing Bureaucratic Birthday Cake” serving the people in a group exhibition titled “Who Governs?” (exhibition zoom reunion) That same year The New Haven Museum included another early project of mine in their 2020 exhibition titled “Factory”. This work was a group exhibition I organized titled the “First Show of 1984” based on George Orwell’s novel. 

“Later, experimental artist Beverly Richey took over PMVI and developed groundbreaking work in feminist art and the subject of food as a political statement. She was the driving force behind PMVI's legendary one-day “1984” exhibition in the former factory, which had crowds of visitors lined up around the block.” NHM

"PMVI- The Papier Mache Video Institute,  New Haven’s premier DIY avant-garde artists collective that hosted the legendary “1984” exhibition, the largest Elm City underground art show in the 1980s." FACTORY EXHIBITION The New Haven Museum 2020 

Relocating from a  populated urban area to a rural Wisconsin town (in the Driftless Region) of under one hundred residents, resulted in developing an intimate relationship with natural time and space. This led to a deep interest in nature’s impact on the human experience. Now after several decade-long investigations into these insights, my work identifies as the “Human/Nature/Series”. These interests in psychology and the natural world gave birth to my current creative process and project. 

In 2015 I added a  “painting” practice to my studio life. Shortly after that, I introduced the “FIRST HUNDRED PAINTING SERIES” 2015-2022 In this project, I committed in advance to painting a hundred paintings as a way of trying something new. I recently completed #50 of the series. These paintings range in size but average around 3x4FT. They are organic abstract forms done in a wide range of colors. They reflect a variety of psychological concepts including Carl Jung's theory of missing psychological parts to contemporary ideas about brain plasticity.

 Left to Right Susan Barnett and Bev Richey
Special Thanks to curator Susan Barnett for overseeing the exhibition installation. 
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ellis

LINK TO ARTICLE: October 2022

"Pandemic art and more - local Jewish artists featured at Urban Ecology Center exhibition" | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle June 2022

additional info about exhibit 

LINK TO ARTICLE: March 2024"Jewish Artist Show was held at the Shul Center in Bayside"  https://www.jewishchronicle.org/2024/03/06/jew

ish-artists-exhibition-was-held-at-the-shul-center-in-bayside/

FOX News 6 Jewish Artist Show at Bayside Shul TV interview (March 2024)

https://www.fox6now.com/news/jewish-artists-exhibition-shul-center-bayside

My concern for the efforts of the artists is seen again here. When given a chance for a moment at the mike,  I call up those artists who have worked behind the scenes to contribute to the cultural well-being of the community. 

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INFORMATION ABOUT "FOURTHCOMING" THE EXHIBITION AND THE ARTISTS

 

CEDARBURG, WI–The Cedarburg Cultural Center welcomes two new exhibits to usher in the Autumn season   “FOURTHCOMING" : The Art of Jonathan Ellis, Bev Richey, Miriam Sushman & Adria Willenson” will be on display in the West Gallery from Oct. 21 through Nov. 26. The exhibit and sale will feature a wide variety of works by the four artists, who came together a little over a year ago and launched their collaborative initiative, “Foursights,” in order to showcase their unique styles. Their first exhibit was at the Urban Ecology Center last spring and summer and they are happy to create new work showcasing their evolving styles for the Center. Work displayed will include gestural abstract paintings, paintings, mixed media on canvas, and mosaics based on the flora and fauna of Wisconsin.    Concurrently on display in the Center’s East and Corridor Galleries will be “Autumn Spotlight: The Art of Kristin Gjerdset & Bunnie Werth," an exhibit of works by two Southeast Wisconsin artists specializing in works that celebrate the natural world.     ABOUT THE ARTISTS:  ·         Jonathan Pierson Ellis, a devoted visual artist from birth, was educated at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Jonathan has a prolific body of work and an eclectic contemporary style rooted in emergent truth, love, humor, and theory. His drawings, paintings, and sculptures are reflective of a refined artist exploring identity, materials, and life itself as Art.   ·       Bev Richey's undergraduate Bev Richey's studies were in psychology and in 2008, she began advanced studies in Art History at UW-Milwaukee. From 1978 to 1994, Richey became a public artist and community arts administrator. A move to a rural Wisconsin farm in 1994 from New Haven, CT provided her with an opportunity to rest and recuperate and explore a nonelitist culture. Her early art involved political and feminist site-specific performances, installations, exhibitions, and social engagement projects. In 2015, she moved in a new direction, experimenting with a new “painting” practice. Shortly thereafter, she introduced the “FIRST HUNDRED PAINTING SERIES” 2015-2023.   ·         Before becoming a mosaic artist Miriam Sushman worked as a photojournalist in the USA and Israel. Her passion for mosaics was ignited while working on a mixed-media table. Having learned to work with a variety of mosaic methods and materials, she has taught workshops and classes to children, teens and adults in addition to leading community projects.   ·         Adria Willenson is a mixed media artist with a Master’s Degree in Visual Studies from Cardinal Stritch University. From creating a multi-artist studio space and art gallery to selling her own paintings, art has been her true passion for nearly 25 years. Growing up near the Schlitz Audubon Nature Preserve which contains 6 miles of trails along the Lake Michigan shoreline, she has had a deep appreciation for nature which has served as a constant theme throughout her artwork. Willenson finds daily inspiration for her art through her natural surroundings on a partially wooded lot within walking distance of this nature preserve. While she has worked on many mediums such as watercolor, oils, acrylics, and textiles over the years, the current focus of her work incorporates mixed media, fiber, and acrylics, featuring a combination of geometric shapes and floral imagery.   ·         Kristin Gjerdset is professor of art and art department head, teaching painting, drawing and art history at Wisconsin Lutheran College. She also serves as the Schlueter Art Gallery manager, organizing exhibits throughout the year. She has organized and traveled with students to Costa Rica, France, Grenada, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, along with U.S. national parks and art museums, believing in the importance of providing inspiring experiences for learning.   ·         Bunnie Werth has been a member of the art community for more than 40 years. She received her professional training at the Layton School of Art and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in fine arts/ printmaking. Werth has been active in painting, floral arts, and handmade collectibles and owned and operated Newberry Thicket in Cedarburg from 2003 to 2016. She now works in her private studio creating paintings that are inspired by the beauty of the natural world, fantasy, and figure drawing.    The public is invited to a free reception on Oct. 22 from 1-4 p.m. in celebration of both of its current exhibits. Complimentary refreshments will be available alongside a cash bar.

 

 

ABOUT THE CEDARBURG CULTURAL CENTER Located in the heart of historic downtown Cedarburg, the Cedarburg Cultural Center has been the cultural hub of the community for more than 35 years. We are the Center for Art, Music and History in Ozaukee County. We provide a gathering place to celebrate community, the arts, and local heritage. A free gallery with frequently changing exhibits surrounds the Center’s performance space, which features music, theatre, comedy and educational presentations. Our classrooms, galleries, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The Cedarburg Cultural Center is free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays 12 noon to 4 pm.   ###