Rubber Stamp Portraits by Alison Johnson; Thread by Jen Dieringer; The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape, Photographs of New Americans by Mark Chester

ALISON JOHNSON
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I have always enjoyed creating art and have worked in all types of medium including oils, acrylics and pastels. After breaking my wrist, I found opening tubes of paint and other traditional forms of art difficult. These rubber stamp portraits were born out of necessity.
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Each portrait is created completely in rubber stamps. By varying the amount of ink on the rubber stamp and by adding layers of stamp images, I was able to create values in my rubber stamp portraits.
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The portraits are mostly of my close family and friends including a couple of self portraits. I carefully chose stamps that would reflect the subject’s likes, interests and personality. Library date stamps were used for the subject’s birthday. If you look closely, you will find all kinds of details in the images. Enjoy!

JEN DIERINGER
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Jen Dieringer is a Northampton-based maker who repurposes vintage, salvaged and reclaimed materials into functional art. This is her first foray into art entirely for art’s sake, but true to form, she uses salvaged materials in imaginative and unexpected ways. “Thread” pays homage to the utilitarian patchwork quilt, whose small patterns encourage the salvaging of fabric scraps.

MARK CHESTER
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Mark Chester’s powerful photographs showcase Massachusetts’s newest citizens, who hail from 190 countries and territories around the globe. Through Mark Chester’s lens, viewers can share and celebrate the richness of the Baystate’s cultural heritage. The project supports the mission of Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, the largest coalition in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. For further info on the project, visit markchesterphotography.com or www.familydiv.org.