Rosemary Mack

Artist Statement / Biography

In 2016 at the age of 65, I enrolled at the Sharon Arts Center to try my hand at painting. Thanks to a different sort of project assigned by Frankie Brackley Tolman; it became apparent that assemblage art was a much better fit. It was the beginning of what feels like a second childhood.

My studio is a playhouse filled with dolls, toys, board games and endless oddball bits and pieces. Shadow boxes, dioramas and goofy 3-D cartoons let me explore personal issues as well as take an off kilter look at the world. Being able to laugh at myself and the absurdity of the human condition is a great way to stay sane.

As is the challenge of learning new skills and figuring out how to put things together. Each piece teaches me something new and ideas continually pop into my head. Starting out this late in life means there’s no time to waste. If I’m not in my studio I’m out searching for more material.

I feel very lucky to have found something that makes me happy and anxious to start the day. While what I do isn’t “fine art;” it’s definitely “fun art.”