By Cindy Blain
 Patricia Machmiller’s “River” etching features the accompanying poem: “partially eroded / summer light on petroglyphs / voices and echoes.” |
In her solo exhibit “Scented Breeze: Haiku Etchings,” at Gallery 9 through March 26, Patricia Machmiller marries her love of poetry with her love of printmaking. Her work combines three-plate intaglio prints with three-line haiku poems.
“The works represent an exploration of the compression of the image in much the same way that language is compressed in haiku - which is limited to 17 syllables,” according to Machmiller.
In both cases, the artist distills the imagery down to its bare essence to attain a potency that, while simple, is yet multilayered and subtle.
The process of creating this artwork was one of give and take. A haiku about water lilies inspired an image of the water flower, which then made the haiku too obvious. Machmiller composed a new haiku less direct in its allusion to the flower, thus creating a bridge of imagery between summer and water lilies unfolding.
To bring the art as close to the viewer as possible, the etchings are displayed without a frame or covering of any kind, and special clips avoid obscuring any of the pieces. This reveals the full beauty of the etching and paper, as well as the subtlety of the penciled haiku and Machmiller’s unique embossed chop mark.
A hand-bound letterpress book of Machmiller’s haiku will be available for sale at the artist reception. Black Palm Press in San Jose has scheduled a printing of only 60 books. At $6, the book is more of a gift of love than a commercial transaction.
After 30 years at Lockheed, Machmiller enjoys being able to devote herself to poetry and art.
“There’s a spirit to haiku that affects your life: writing haiku feels like a spiritual practice to me, although I have never studied Buddhism nor practiced Zen.”
This intriguing and beguiling exhibit is well worth a visit.
The artist reception is scheduled 5-8 p.m., Friday. The exhibit runs through March 29 at Gallery 9, 143 Main St. in downtown Los Altos.
The gallery is open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.
For more information, call 941-7969 or logon to www.patriciamachmiller.com
Cindy Blain is a watermedia artist with Viewpoints Gallery on State Street. For information on other art events, call (408) 268-5959 or e-mail cindy@cindyblain.com.
