New Artwork: Breaking the Pattern

I found this magazine, Ilutegija (Maker of Beauty), at a vintage bookseller's stall in Balti Jaam, Tallinn, just before leaving Estonia. Ilutegija began publication before Estonia's 1991 restoration of independence from the USSR; this issue was published at the start of 1992. Though I found it in Tallinn, it was published in Pärnu - where my Estonian residency was located. Due to the timing of my finding it, however, this is actually the first of the paintings made at my second residency this summer: Takt in Berlin, Germany.

The page is an embroidery pattern for bullfinches on a pine branch (the Eurasian or common bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, on a Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris). Rather than follow the stitching instructions, I painted a realistic male bullfinch and pine branch directly over the simplified pattern for him, leaving the original female bullfinch and the rest of the printed branch untouched, so the pattern and the painting sit side by side.

The bullfinch is a songbird, and in regional folklore it's tied to steadfast winter cheer. Estonia sang its way to independence in the Singing Revolution.

This is Breaking the Pattern, acrylic on Estonian embroidery-pattern page from 1992, 11.6x8.06”, 2026.

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Shelby Prindaville's painting of a bullfinch on a pine branch atop an Estonian embroidery-pattern page from 1992

Upcoming: Takt Residency in Berlin, Germany

I have previously completed multiple summers with two residencies when it was logistically and/or financially efficient to do so. Because international airfare represents a significant portion of the overall expense, the timelines lined up, and the locations are reasonably close, I’m pleased to share that I will be doing another two residency summer!

Following my residency this June at Loovlinnak Creative City Artist Residency in Pärnu, Estonia, I will be undertaking a residency in July at Takt in Berlin, Germany. I’ve been working on setting this up for several months, but though it does save on airfare it nevertheless is of course more expensive than doing just one - so part of the organizing included seeking funding. Fortunately, I was just awarded a Morningside University 2026 Ver Steeg Faculty Scholarship Grant that will partially support these projects (it was a very competitive year, so I was fortunate to be funded at all and did not get the total amount I asked for… but I received enough that I’m able to personally afford the rest!).

I am very excited to get to research and document ecosystems in Baltic and Northern Europe for the first time! My interest list includes Matsalu National Park, Soomaa National Park, the Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin, Tegeler Fließ, and Grunewald Forest.

German is an easier language to learn for English speakers than Estonian (German is category II, while Estonian is category III), and there is a Duolingo course for it, so I now plan to memorize a few phrases in Estonian but primarily work on my German!

On a personal note, I’ve been repeatedly told by other travelers that Berlin is one of the top vegetarian and vegan meccas of the world. I’m really looking forward to experiencing that firsthand!