(1908-1986)
May 27-July 9, 2017
The Good Luck Gallery
945 Chung King Rd
Chinatown
Los Angles, CA 90012
(213-625-0935)
Zemankova's Coat of Arms
by Sandra Vista
(Untitled (AZ592) 1970's
painted satin-ink on paper
16.5"x 11.75"
Zemankova began making art in her fifties after her children had grown. One of her sons was a sculptor who supported her in beginning her art making journey. She had lost one of her four children during infancy. A tragedy that she never recovered from and lead her to making art. Her artwork consisting of embroidery, collage, pastel and ink, became an antidote for her perpetual "melancholy".
Born in what is now called the Czech Republic, Zemankova's artwork is influenced by the embroidery patterns and designs seen in her native country's embroideries and dance costumes. Zemankova was interpreting her cultural art forms in contemporary terms by using familiar material like embroidery thread. She was inadvertently in the zeitgeist of the 1960's and 1970's by including everyday "domestic" items like thread, pins, fabric and beads-ala Lucas Samaras and Miriam Shapiro. Zemankova also used stitched collage and conceptually pierced the drawing paper with every stitch.
Considered an "Outside Artist", who today might be viewed as a feminist and an entrepreneur, Zemankova without gallery representation, had "open houses" every few years to exhibit her artwork. Jean Dubuffet exhibited her work at an Outsider Art Exhibit, also in 1979 she exhibited in London.
Zemankova is receiving deserved acclaim at this time. The Good Luck Gallery is the first gallery to exhibit Zemankova's work on the west coast.
Untitled (AZ585) 1970's
pastel, ink, embroidery on paper
24.61" x 17.72"
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