"In Place" pairs the work of two first-place winners in MarinMOCA’s 2019 juried shows: Sonya Hammons and Susan Shipley. Each artist explores the concept of “place” in distinct ways, and the work was completed while the artists themselves sheltered in place during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis.

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Susan Shipley has painted maps of American cities to reveal the profound effect that geography has on individuals’ life prospects.  Many of her works are based on the Census Bureau’s Opportunity Atlas project, which relates outcomes in adulthood to the neighborhoods where children grew up. These vivid images invite us to reflect on causes of economic disparity as well as the importance of accurate census data.

Sonya Hammons created fiber sculptures that encase objects salvaged from industrial operations in Sausalito’s Marinship neighborhood in handmade wool felt. The resulting works create comforting, fire-and-water-resistant shelters for pieces of the working waterfront. Sonya’s outdoor fiber installation will greet visitors with an interactive, indoor-outdoor art experience that invites us to observe and participate in the ‘everyday architecture’ that often goes unnoticed in daily life.

About the artists:

Sonya Hammons
Geographer Sonya Hammons grew up on the boats of Sausalito. After a decade-long international career as a sustainability advisor for the United Nations, she returned to Sausalito to focus on art. Her materials-based work centers around handmade felt from local fibershed wool, salvaged boat rope, and local pigments and dyes. Black,white, naturally-occurring rust, and organic indigo form the color palette of her recent work.

Susan Shipley
After a 35-year long career in corporate real estate and finance, Susan Shipley retired to study and make art.  She has studied at UC Extension, College of Marin and several private workshops.  Working primarily with oils and acrylics, her work includes landscapes, the human figure and most recently her American Cities series.