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The framed "Character Flags" received nationwide publicity in 1995 when 10 of
them were displayed on Capitol Hill. The orders started rolling into Betsy's
studio, but the response that meant the most came from a fifth-grade teacher in
Colorado. "She wanted to buy some of my flag prints so her students could write
their own morality lessons on them," Betsy recalls. "Well, that was too
expensive–the prints that I use for the flag series are individually cut and
trimmed with threads from vintage textiles. But we worked out a way to do it at
a reasonable cost."
The Flag Project took off and has spread to schools in
Missouri and Iowa. "Each student picks a trait such as `honesty' or
`reliability,' researches it, then writes about it," says Betsy, a former Sunday
school teacher. "Students are encouraged to discuss the meaning of their chosen
trait with parents and fellow students. It's a multidisciplinary project–art,
history, English, character education–and the students learn and grow a
lot."
So has Betsy. "I started as a jewelry maker, then did oil portraiture,
then opened a needlework shop," she says. "The narrative collages came about
almost by accident. As an artist, I never know where I'm going. I start with
something, and it takes me somewhere else."
STAR-SPANGLED MANNER
Betsy's studio overflows with quilts, scraps of
needlework, yellowed lace–"bits and pieces of anonymous women's lives." (f) A
1930s swimsuit hangs from an antique boomerang on a hand-woven rug. "The shades
of blue in the rug reminded me of the ocean, so I knew it was right for this
piece." (g) A child's
swimsuit. "I added the stars and grounded it on a piece of turkey-red, vintage
fabric–the same red brown-red shade that's used in the flag."
OLD GLORY STORY
(h) "I don't have a system, really. I surround myself with whatever I pick up
at flea markets and think I can have fun with." Here, spools of vintage ribbon
and stacks of assorted ephemera await the artist's touch. (i) Betsy's flags, like many of her pieces, include old photos. "I see such hope in
those faces." (j) "Reliability," part of her flag series.
the Art of Business
"KEEP GOOD RECORDS OF YOUR CUSTOMERS
they are your best
salespeople! They like your work. They bought it. They'll tell their
friends."
"I LIKE PUBLIC SPACES FOR SHOWS. My favorite places are coffee shops
and cafés. It's fun to be out in the marketplace."
"FOLLOW YOUR MUSE. Do
what you really enjoy. Often work that doesn't sell right away will become
popular several years later. I'm not sure why, but it seems to me that it works
that way."
"ASK! Ask for gallery space. Ask people to visit your studio. Enter
shows and keep entering, especially national ones."
To see more of Betsy's work, visit www.betsynimockcollection.com
Originally published in the June/July 2005 issue
Dream Americana page
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