The first time Marnie Fender of Davisburg entered a work of art into a contest, she won. Her oil picture of a sailboat won a ‘Gold Key Award? in a scholastic art contest.
As Fender became a mother and stepped away from the business world, her art has blossomed, earning statewide recognition and her third one-person exhibition. Her exhibit, called ‘Embodyment,? will be at the Lansing Art Gallery Dec. 2 ? 30 and features about 30 pieces of artwork.
Fender’s work consists of charcoal figuratives that usually start with an initial sketch of a sitting model, but evolve into a statement or reflection of something going on in her life.
‘It’s a process where my own influences work into the pieces and I’d be surprised at what would come out in a piece,? said Fender.
Personal observations, thoughts and feelings sometimes trickle into the drawings.
‘I study the models and what pulls me to them, isolating an image that is strong in simplicity and directness. I want to elicit a response. Some pieces are forged to celebrate beauty or love, while others evoke uneasiness and personal struggle,? stated Fender in her artist statement.
Much of her work strives to affirm life, while showing viewers what is heroic and vulnerable in the human experience.
A personal family experience epitomizes the human and personal elements in Fender’s art. Her mother battled cancer for 18 years, longer than doctors initially gave her, before passing away about 10 years ago. That battle and the struggles of the whole family to deal with the situation play a role in her work.
‘Her tremendous experience and will to live, yet wanting us to independent, had an impact. In these pieces, the same determination was there in the characters I was developing. They were heroic, yet vulnerable,? said Fender.
?(It shows that) no matter what life throws at you, you continue. Through that, you are affirming the value of life by not quitting and going on.?
Fender enjoys the elegance and versatility of charcoal which can be set down and picked up while she raises her son, Nate who is approaching three years of age. She often works with a piece against the kitchen wall so she can watch after him. Fender is currently working on a series about Nate with three of the pieces near completion.
Not only is Nate a source for her art, he often goes to galleries.
‘He can walk into a group exhibit and recognize my work. He’ll run around (the gallery) and point out my work,? laughed Fender.
Years ago, Fender herself enjoyed art as a youngster.
‘As a child, I was interested in crafts and arts. My parents had me involved in parks and rec classes including art classes,? said Fender, who recalled her dad, a pharmacist, bringing home rolls from dot matrix printers allowing her to make large murals.
Fate also played a role in her becoming an artist. Fender caught mononucleosis her junior year in high school forcing her to spend a lot of time at home. One day, she discovered a box of paints under her mother’s bed causing her to explore art further.
While enjoying art, Fender decided not to make it a career and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and biomedical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
‘During the time in college, I did one or two paintings a year. Like around the holidays using pretty much oils,? said Fender.
In 2002, Fender left her career with General Motors to raise Nate which allowed her to pickup art on a more regular basis.
Continuing to take classes at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center brought her craft under the direct tutelage of Detroit artist Gail mally-mack, who Fender credits with helping draw out her artistic ability.
‘She saw in me someone who was willing to dig in. As she says, she likes to open the door and let the student take it,? said Fender.
‘Gail had a different approach to drawing. Instead of being technically tight, she was more about the experience of drawing? She showed drawing as a process of correction because you’ll make mistakes.?
While being aware many people might not consider art to be a stable career, Fender thinks more children today need to be exposed to art and the benefits it provides.
‘We need to try to bring art back into children’s lives. It’s constructive and a valuable form of expression,? said Fender.
Fender lives in Davisburg with her husband of seven years Norm and their son Nate. They moved to Springfield Township in 1998.
The Lansing Art Gallery is located at 113 S. Washington Square in Lansing, Michigan. For more info on Fender’s exhibition call 517-374-6400.