Girls Can Do Anything: An Artist's Book

Awarded 2024 Franklin Furnace Xeno Prize

An annotated recreation of a little book I made in 4th grade (1964) after being denied a paper route because I was a girl. The book was destroyed by my 4th grade teacher, breaking my heart. It features stick figures doing all the “jobs” a “girl” could do, including scientist, mailman, and fireman. But, alas, the “girls” that got the book destroyed included a movie star showing cleavage, along with two other “jobs” which . . . Well, you'll have to get the book.

April 2022: I am honored to say I received an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship! IACA states: the 2022 Illinois Artists Fellowships are awarded to “exceptional artists who have created a substantial body of work throughout their career and contributed to the foundation of Illinois creativity.”

Cross-Section: Armed included in 4th Midwest Open at Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, January 22 - February 13, 2021

I live in a wonderful rural town in Union County in Southern Illinois. For a small population, we have had an unusually large number of COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths. Like the rest of the country our town is strongly divided -- leaning heavily conservative. There is major resistance to following protocols, especially wearing masks. I created this series of Burma-Shave like signs to try to encourage and communicate with my neighbors.

I live in a wonderful rural town in Union County in Southern Illinois. For a small population, we have had an unusually large number of COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths. Like the rest of the country our town is strongly divided -- leaning heavily conservative. There is major resistance to following protocols, especially wearing masks. I created this series of Burma-Shave like signs to try to encourage and communicate with my neighbors.

I live in a wonderful rural town in Union County in Southern Illinois. For a small population, we have had an unusually large number of COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths. Like the rest of the country our town is strongly divided -- leaning heavily conservative. There is major resistance to following protocols, especially wearing masks. I created this series of Burma-Shave like signs to try to encourage and communicate with my neighbors.

"Starve the virus" is a recent quote from Donna Shalala, 18th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001.

I live in a wonderful rural town in Union County in Southern Illinois. For a small population, we have had an unusually large number of COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths. Like the rest of the country our town is strongly divided -- leaning heavily conservative. There is major resistance to following protocols, especially wearing masks. I created this series of Burma-Shave like signs to try to encourage and communicate with my neighbors.

I live in a wonderful rural town in Union County in Southern Illinois. For a small population, we have had an unusually large number of COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths. Like the rest of the country our town is strongly divided -- leaning heavily conservative. There is major resistance to following protocols, especially wearing masks. I created this series of Burma-Shave like signs to try to encourage and communicate with my neighbors.

I try to be kind and work with a sense of humor.

American University Art Museum's exhibition * "Topographies of Life: Pam Rogers, Lynn Sures, Mel Watkin"* includes "Cross-Section: Armed and Cross-Section: Nautilus along with 4 other new works. September 3 - December 15, 2019. I hope you can join us for the gallery talk and opening on September 7, 5-9 pm. Curated by Jennifer Riddell.

ILLINOIS ARTS COUNCIL 2019 FELLOWSHIP

Collection of Contemporary Art, John Burroughs School, St. Louis acquired large scale tree MIGHTY CHRYSANTHEMUM TREE in March 2019

Saint Louis Art Museum acquired mapwork SPRAWL: SPORES in 2019, donated by Nancy and Ken Krazberg, St. Louis

A Burma-shave style sign project located in my front yard. Unfortunately, Union County, IL has gone from red zone to purple since posting this sign project in December 2020.

UPCOMING Exhibition: 2019
Upcoming: Topographies of Life: Tracing the Source:
Pam Rogers, Lynn Sures, Mel Watkin

Curator: Jennifer Riddell

American University Museum of Art, Katzen Center for the Arts, Washington, DC, September 3--December 15, 2019

John S. Burroughs School Collection of Contemporary Art acquires "Mighty Chrysanthemum Tree," large scale drawing on paper,
25 feet x 38 inches

Saint Louis Art Museum acquires mapwork "Sprawl: Spore" donated by Nancy and Ken Kranzberg