Forecast Group Show

Forecast Group Show at The Institute Library

From February 7, 2026-March 29th, 2026, I had the pleasure of having my most recent works of art in Forecast: Reading the Signs Art Exhibition at The Gallery Upstairs in The Institute Library in New Haven, CT. The show was curated by Martha Willette Lewis and it was my very first in person group show featuring some of the tarot prints, Other World prints, and my Norse Rune Zine. This particular show was about artworks invoking divination, and all of my most recent work IS related to divination. The timing, location, and type of work requested felt heaven sent. One of my personal goals in the past four years has been to move from the craft show/vending circuit to having my work in a gallery, so this was an important first step to getting into more galleries. 

Martha selected artists from all levels whether it be emerging artists or established artists for the show. Thirty artists were in the show total, and I wasn't sure what to submit or if there was a limit, but Martha encouraged me to submit as much as I wanted. I selected Equinox II, Mother, and Dragon Moon from my Other World's Series, The World and The Devil from my Major Arcana Series, and The Norse Rune Zine, which I allowed visitors to pick up and touch. 

My prints displayed with one another the wall

The opening of the exhibition was one of the coldest days of 2026 that I can remember. It was about -10 degrees Fahrenheit with the windchill that evening, and while we had periods of snow melt, there was still plenty of ice and snow piled around parking spaces in downtown New Haven. I wanted to dress up for the occasion, but what to wear on such a bitterly cold evening?

Forecast Opening Coordinate

I layered a stand collar black victorian style long sleeve blouse under a blue velvet ruffle dress with black fleece lined tights and dark brown fur lined boots. I put my hair into two side front hanging braids, and wrapped ivory colored ribbons around them to protect them from the wind. I wore my Mystic Eye necklace, faux fur hat (ivory with black highlights), a cool blue makeup look, and my trusty black crown and studded satchel. Of course I wore a long black wool coat over everything as well as cashmere lined leather gloves while outside. I never actually took my hat off the entire time. It was I suppose an essential part of the look, and the gallery upstairs wasn't that warm, especially at night, so it all worked out. 

Gingerbread Cookies I made for the opening depicting Book of Spells, Crystals, Crystal Balls, and Gingerdead men cookie cutters

Martha asked each of the artists to bring a food item to share for the opening ceremony and also requested it to be on theme with the exhibition. I made gluten-free Gingerbread cookies. Just the sort of thing that will warm you up on a frigidly cold winter night. I pride myself on my unique cookie cutter collection, and used my crystal balls, book of spells, and gingerdead men for the occasion. 

Marsha Borden

The artwork in the exhibition was so unique. During the Opening, I was able to talk to many of the artists in the show and ask others about their interpretations of the cards or prints in my work.

One of my favorite pieces was a needle point by artist Marsha Borden. It was a play on palmistry and what different lines and fingers mean in a modern context. I thought it was very clever.

Nadine Nelson - Adrinka Divination and other works

Artist Nadine Nelson was doing divination readings with her Adrinka Divination deck, and one of the cards from this deck was also on the wall between the windows. She had such an inviting presence. 

Several artists submitted various card decks or examples of some of the cards that they had designed. 

Stephanie Johnson - Oracle Cards

Lys Guillorn - Conversation Deck

The Spiritus Mundi Tarot by Andy Morgan

Forward Tarot by Adam Niklewiez

There were also other collages as well as a few three-dimensional art pieces, one of which was a converted monopoly board into a spontaneously intuitive comment to the player to your immediate left. The artist showed me how to play the game, which was a somewhat complicated compendium of different divination tools and techniques. It involved selecting a spiritual looking marker like a laughing Buddha, using a skull pendulum to determine what direction to start, using a planchette to decide on which square to start on, rolling the dice to indicate how many spaces to move, selecting an action card if prompted, holding the card on your forehead facing the other players in the game, and telling the player to your left the first thing that pops up in your head. I was admittedly still trying to wrap my head around the order of the directions, so I told the person to my left something I was thinking of earlier that evening. 

Day Dream Alston

Lesley Finn - Why Desire It?

Golden Planchette Sculpture

Interactive Spirit Board Game

Martha had also already planned a Closing Ceremony at the end of March, and had asked artists if they wanted to contribute to activities for attendees during the event such as offering readings, reciting poetry, or giving a presentation. I volunteered to do Rune stone readings with my illustrated Elder Futhark Zine.  The end of March was still cold, but not bitterly so, and I was able to wear the dress I initially envisioned for the opening to it. 

Closing Coordinate

Up Close Closing Coordinate

I paired a navy blue dress with gold flocked starts and moons from Chinese indie brand Souffle Song, with a cool gray princess sleeve blouse with a ruffle collar, very light blue diamond tights, a black hat with black and blue roses and silver hardware, black and silver accent boots, and a variety of jewelry including a gold necklace with divination symbols (like the crystal ball, tarot card, a hand), an evil eye bracelet, silver ornate earrings with a blue stone, a smoky quartz ring, lapis lazuli, labradorite, and azurite beaded bracelets, and a decorative gothic black and gold bracelet with ring extension. I felt a little bit like I was channeling Stevie Nicks between having long blond hair, the dramatic sleeves of my blouse, and the shorter black top hat. I am wearing the bounded hem Nolaria petticoat with this dress, and it is the first time that the bottom ruffles and bustle details really stand out in comparison to other times I have worn it.  

Donald Brown -The Moon, The Emperor, The Hanged Man, Death and The Tower

During the Closing Ceremony, Donald Brown recited poems that went along with each of his tarot cards above. He said that the poems were written in the 90's, and later he did the paintings that were inspired by the poems. I later gave him a Rune stone reading and he purchased one of my zines to to familiarize himself (again) with the stones. 

The Illustrated Elder Futhark

I originally illustrated all of the Elder Futhark in order to learn the meanings of the stones in about a week. The imagery I selected is a combination of simple recognizable symbols, Norse mythology, and Tarot inspired imagery based on the meanings of the divinatory system. I  used to think that it was somewhat random and might be hard for people to use or understand, but seeing all the different work in the show helped me realize that a lot of the artists and guests were already familiar with tarot and it was a good jumping point to learn more.  

Most of the other artists in the show volunteered to do tarot or oracle card readings, but I was the only person offering Rune stones. Most of the people I did readings for, it was their first time using Rune stones. I did about 6 or 7 one stone readings in the 90 minutes allotted for this activity, and then Martha transitioned the remaining guests to Kate Laity's presentation on tarot imagery and its origins. Before Tarot became a system for divination, it was a nobleman's game coming from Persia through northern Italy, into many of the symbols and inspired illustrations we recognize today. There was apparently a huge tarot exhibition going on at that time in Venice, Italy (just missed it while we were attending Carnivale), but the exhibit is coming to NYC this summer through part of October and it is my plan to see it! 

I was so honored to be part of the Forecast exhibition along so many talented artists in the local community. I also fell in love with The Institute Library itself so much so that I ended up hosting a meeting for my fashion group to the library while the exhibition was still up. Stay tuned for that in the next blog post!