Bibi sets up the Akin Museum show

The Akin show opens on Sunday. Bibiana Matheis has curated over 80 artists in the 4th annual "Meeting the Past" exhibition. Artists were asked to respond to works in the collection of the museum. Her brainchild put to reality, Bibi is one of the most creative and generous souls I know. Not only is she an amazing artist in her own right, she finds ways to promote the artists she meets and to use her talents to engage the community in thoughtful reflective ways. Recently she  has been working on a photo documentation project of interesting folks in the Hudson Valley ( doing a little write up and display each week at the Mid-hudson Heritage center in Poughkeepsie, NY), and she just dismantled a show of paintings by Chinese artists she met in her travels that was up at the Hammond Museum in Salem NY. She also photographs musicians and many of her works are on her husband's fantastic music blog (Frank Matheis' countryblues.com).

Years ago I mentioned to her that I wanted to convene an artist support group, and next thing I knew we had a date, a bunch of letters went out, and thirteen of us were meeting monthly.
Bibi has a way of getting things done, of dreaming really big and then firing up those around her. I miss her and have fun remembering how together we manifested some pretty awesome events. Now she goes on her own, pulling together collections of works and masses of artists!!! She has been nominated for the Dutchess County Executive Individual Artist Award and will receive the award in October. Hurray for all of us. Bibi really does raise the water level for all our boats to float.