I was so happy to enjoy a visit with artist Shannon Amidon in her San Jose studio preparing for her upcoming show, Diary of a Naturalist at TechShop 300 S Second St
San Jose, CA 95113  where she is currently artist in residence – the opening reception is Friday, September 4 from 7 -10 pm with live music by Mark Camp!

In this series Amidon has used laser cutting tools to create artwork inspired by Victorian naturalists, exquisite silhouettes cut away from the top layer of vintage book covers.

I adore the period feel of these pieces and am quite taken by how environmentally friendly  they are too.

Here’s a sample of the back  in which a wooden panel has been applied to provide a secure base for hanging hardware.

I love this array of laser cut insects in front of one of her encaustic paintings featuring a silhouette of a tree. No matter which medium Amidon is working with, there is a strong voice running throughout, a respect and love of nature, of materials and of the silhouetted form – a modern Victorian perhaps?

Here the insects are pinned to a wall like an entomologist had passed through…

…maybe one had.

Oh, and a biologist too.

These lovely specimen bottles were also laser etched by Amidon at TechShop.

So much to discover in Amidon’s studio – like these planters she’s created out of vintage books…

…and cascades of printed pages in a variety of different treatments.

It’s always fascinating to study an artist’s inspiration wall – it turns out someone was a ballerina!

A ballerina with a wall of power tools – my kind of artist!

I’m really looking forward to the reception – I dare say there will be more than a few red dots! the exhibition will run until September 25 and Amidon will be teaching some classes at TechShop too!