About the artist
An artist and freelance writer, Malissa Martin Wilke also works and consults in social services nonprofit fundraising and administration. Her first children's book, "A Zoo Friends Lunch," was published in 2006. In her artwork, she focuses on encaustic (an ancient medium composed primarily of beeswax, resin, and pigment) and mixed media abstracts. Originally from Texas, she now lives in Lawrence, Kan.
Artist's statement
It is my belief that all people share in the pain and ugliness that is too prominent in our world, whether it is our own, observed, or unknown in our individual lives. My response is to create beauty; if we all share in the distress, then we must share in the beauty and perhaps some of the agony and despair dissipates when beauty is introduced into our universe.
We all have a story (also a guiding concept in my work as a writer); my hope is that my work expresses the stories people long to have told, but can’t tell themselves. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I believe that a single piece of art can tell a thousand stories.
Perhaps the pain and ugliness in our world also motivate my need to explore the coexistence of chaos and order. In one piece, it may be that I am attempting to impose order on chaos and in another it may be that I am acknowledging chaos in the midst of order, but all of my work portrays the connection between the two.
I just returned to Seattle from my 40th high school reunion. The Sainted One and I flew into Chicago and drove west to the farm town of Orion, Illinois. Here is what I learned on the drive and while there.
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I have continued to date The Butler I told you about last May.
It’s not like me to be so silent about my dating exploits, but this one seems like a keeper. I guess I was afraid I would jinx it if I wrote about him while we were still dating....
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“Thank you for waiting,” says the friendly male voice. “Your call is important to us,” he promises, pre-recordedly, “and will be answered by the next available associate.”
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I just got back from a trip to Nashville where I went for a family event. While I was there, I went to a Bruce Springsteen concert, since I was going to have to miss him at home. I do a lot of observing of people when I’m at a concert, it’s very interesting to watch the crowd and see who is actually coming to shows these days.
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When I first flew to Europe, suitcases could weigh 70+ lbs. and you could bring two PLUS a hefty carry-on. Now you get one checked suitcase (or pay a second bag surcharge) and it has to weigh under 50 lbs. (or pay an overweight surcharge.) Lost or temporarily lost baggage is at an all-time high and next-day delivery is wishful thinking.
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Not to toot my own horn, (but if I don’t, who will?) a while back, I predicted (earlier than anyone else in the blogosphere, according to my own highly-biased research) that Valerie Bertinelli’s addition to the Jenny Craig campaign could only mean one thing for Kirstie Allie:
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Move over, Rhonda Byrnes. I have "The Secret."
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Collective
Bright Lights
Flora
Genesis
My Father Dreamed of Santa Fe
Night Wind Dances in the Wetlands
October
Ostroushko's Nicaragua
Tradition
Treasures
