COURAGE

How do you paint it? (or in my case, fiber art it? :)

"If someone were standing in front of your work, someone needing encouragement and hope, what would you create?" That was the question asked by artist Kathy Brusnighan to 16 selected artists, and the result is the traveling exhibit "COURAGE". It debuted  in October 2011 at Circa Gallery in Asheboro, NC (I wrote about that here) and has since traveled to Randolph Hospital, Moses Cone Hopsital, the Women's Only 5K Run, and the Forsyth Cancer Center. Currently selected works are showing at Baptist Hospital in the Watlington Gallery and on Friday, May 4 the larger body of work, including several new pieces, will open at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center in Yadkinville, NC.

Last week Kathy and I had the honor of being interviewed by David Ford for Triad Arts Up Close, a featured show on WFDD 88.5 radio. The morning started with a torrential downpour and let's just say we were unprepared for that little surprise! We arrived at the station drenched and I joked that we had a face for radio. :) We took our places at the microphones in the recording studio and proceeded to have a great time talking to David. He made it all so comfortable and easy...our time with him just flew by.

Kathy and I in the studio
(photos courtesy of Kathy)

Our host, David Ford

The interview is being broadcast in two parts, the first segment aired this morning. You can hear it here...and the second part will air Friday at 1:30. MANY THANKS to David and WFDD radio for helping us get the word out about this moving, meaningful exhibit!!

If you are local to the Triad I hope you will come out to Yadkinville and see the exhibit, and also the many other wonderful things that the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center has to offer! The opening reception is this Friday starting at 5:30 and the exhibit runs through July 7.

For more information about the COURAGE exhibit, please visit Art With Purpose.

Catching Up

Things have just been hopping around here lately! What have I been up to? Let's see...

I've been teaching...

 

Altered Surfaces - rust dyeing, stamping, discharging, and gelatin plate printing

(Here Deb and Lynn show off their awesome creations!)


Silk Scarf Dyeing...

I've been making clay buttons...

which have now been glazed and fired and I need to go pick up :)







I've done 2 festivals...

One the weekend of the hurricane and one the weekend it turned cold and rained! LOL! Yes, outdoor festivals are a hit or miss kind of thing. I can't say that it's been a highly successful adventure yet, but it's been on my list of things to try and I want to do a few more before I make a final judgement on their feasibility as part of my studio business. I don't like the unpredictability of the weather...


After all, gallery exhibits are climate controlled! I've had two openings in recent weeks...

"Courage"               
This is a traveling exhibit curated by my friend Kathy Brusnighan (seen left). A gift to the community, these inspiring and encouraging pieces debuted at Circa Gallery in Asheboro, NC on Sept. 15 and will be exhibited in hospitals and galleries throughout central NC through the end of 2012 where the exhibit will conclude at the Center for Creative Leadership. For more information on the exhibit and a schedule of locations visit Art With Purpose.

We all had a great time at the reception! Thanks Circa Gallery for hosting us!

 

(my piece is in the lower right..."Consider the Lillies (Even When the Sky is Falling)" hand dyed fabric collaged to canvas with dimensional flowers)







"Faces"

 
 Another fun reception! This show is at Sawtooth in the Davis Gallery and will run through November 17.





My pieces from L to R:
"Rest" and "Relaxation" (stacked)
"Sam"  (daughter of a longtime friend)
"Faith", "Kay Oss", and "Clara T." (whimsical)
"How Do You See Me?"  (interactive, changeable piece)
 

I've been hard at work on a memorial commission piece...but I can't show it yet...


The boys and I enjoyed an evening at the Dixie Classic Fair. My favorite part...the fancy chickens!

And of course, there have been lots of soccer games...

And baseball games, including a FUN! trip to Myrtle Beach for a tournament at The Ripken Experience!



Well, that's it in a nutshell!
(Did I mention I love coffee?)

:)

You're Invited

FACES
An exhibition of Portraiture
September 22-November 17, 2011
Davis Gallery at Sawtooth School for Visual Art

Featuring work by;
Jeffrey Cates
Steve Childs
Karen Fridy
Betti Pettinati-Longinotti
Tom Ogburn
Mark Spangenberg
Mary Bailey Thomas

Artists’ Reception; Friday, October 7 from 5-7pm.
Gallery Hours: Mon - Fri 10-7, Sat 10-2
336-723-7395 http://www.sawtooth.org/

Cue the William Tell Overture

Haven't had time to post in a while...classes, vacation, more classes, field trips to IKEA in Charlotte(fun!!), art fair. Oh, and back to school stuff!! Seriously, August should have at least one more week added to it. I don't know how I managed to cram it all in! :)

And...I've been working on this:

She got her hair today. I'm just giddy over making progress on this one! It's done with my hand dyes and will be in the "Faces" exhibit at Sawtooth Gallery in Winston-Salem. Opening reception is September 22. I'll have other pieces in the show too. Some yet to be made. I have three weeks.

Meanwhile, I have another piece in the works for the "Courage" show which opens on September 15 at Circa Gallery in Asheboro. I have two weeks to finish it.

And I'm working on a commission piece too.

<: O
(It may be a while before I post again...Wish me luck!! And please send chocolate!)

* Footnote: the piece for "Courage" is finished and delivered! Yay!

Back to It...The Rush is ON!

I can't believe June is almost here! It's going to be a busy month...I hit the ground running June 1 with the installation of the Cosmic Cow Society group exhibit at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center , opening reception June 3, 5-7:30 PM. Also opening June 3 is the faculty exhibit at Sawtooth from 5-7PM. Pass the clone please! :)

From there it's full steam ahead with shipping work to Sacred Threads and then making final preparations for teaching Summer Art Honors at Sawtooth and 3 kids/teen camps at Sew Original. I can't wait!! I love being around all those creative young minds! I may be the teacher, but I always learn from them as well. Be on the watch for lots of photo postings!

Throw in there some Elementary School graduation celebrations (how did my baby grow up so fast?!?), and other end-of-school-year festivities, and before I know it, it will be July!

Bring it!! It's going to be a fun summer!!

(image from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net )

Hurry! Don't Miss This...

Time is almost up! PAQA-South has made the "receive by" date a "post mark date" to give as many people as possible an opportunity to get their work entered.


The Professional Art Quilters Alliance-South (PAQA-South)announces its eighth Annual Juried Exhibition of Innovative Quilts: ARTQUILTSmovement

Movement evokes moods as varied as the individuals contemplating it. Rhythmic strains of music, the flow of language, lithe dancers, or public change and social advocacy; all are examples that encompass the meaning of movement. Are you startled by a sudden movement, drawn in to the quickly moving plot of a good book, or feel the pulse of your heart as bloods flows through your veins? Military maneuvers, the inner workings of a watch, and a well-oiled machine all portray this basic necessity of life: movement. We invite you to share your interpretation of Movement in quiltart form.

Exhibit Opens: May 20, 2011

Postmark Deadline for entry: March 19, 2011

Entry Fee: $15 for PAQA-South members, $25 for non-members for up to three works submitted.
Prospectus here: http://www.artquiltersouth.org/

Size Limitations: No larger than 40 inches wide and 60 inches high.

Contact: AQtransitions@gmail.com with questions.

Note: ARTQUILTSmovement will be judged via unenhanced digital image, only.

The PAQA-South International Juried Exhibition: ARTQUILTSmovement will open in the Allenton and Siemens galleries of the Durham Arts Council of Durham, NC.

May 20 – July 24, 2011: Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC

http://www.durhamarts.org/facility.html

It is possible that the show will travel, so please be sure to check the entry form as to whether or not you give permission for your piece to travel with the show, should it be chosen.

Let the Festivities Begin!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...and with it comes a blizzard of activity! Since my last post I have had LOTS going on...

First, an exhibit opening with the Cosmic Cow Society at the Gallery of the Arts Underground Theatre in downtown Winston-Salem. What a great evening it was! Not your typical art opening...we had a band - West Trinity - play music sets (not just background music), had a "Small Talks" session where each participating artist had 28 seconds to discuss projected images of each of their featured works, and we had door prizes too. It was a fun event! This exhibit runs through the end of December...stop by and enjoy some wine or coffee and of course, the ART!

Then came a rush to finish up and deliver items for Sawtooth's annual Deck the Halls gallery showcase. I had to laugh..the lady checking in my inventory asked me if my sewing machine ever catches on fire! I'm a little surprised it didn't....I had over seven pages of inventory! The sale runs through the end of December and there is something there for everyone....pottery, fiber, jewelry, paintings, ornaments, you name it. All made by local artists and very affordable!

Here are just a few of my things...



5 x 5 Minis

Wool geode, fabric and glass beads

 necklace

   

              16 x 20   "Rest" and "Relaxation"

                               

(details)

These pieces are painted and distressed Tyvek, paper clay faces, glass beads, and hand stitched silk mounted to painted canvases. The overall pictures are the best color...my camera evidently wasn't in the mood for detail color!

Then of course there was the yumminess of Thanksgiving to celebrate...I roasted a turkey, made sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole and my mom's famous rye biscuits, along with chocolate ribbon pie and pumpkin pie (OK, I bought that one ready made)...DH made his famous boiled custard, which for you non-Southerners is like eggnog without the spices and bourbon, very vanilla-y and sweet ...a family favorite. And, despite having set a beautiful fall table at my house, we hauled all of this yumminess to the in-laws to feast! They made all kinds of things to add to the bounty. It was a great celebration...one that earned me a trip to Quiltville to have a sew day with Bonnie and Lisa on Saturday! Woohoo! I got lots done and had a blast!

Then the kids got sick and so did I...ugh! But we won't dwell on that. Everyone is on the mend. :)

Meanwhile,  Lisa and I made it to Sawtooth's Deck the Halls preview night and it was AMAZING! I did take my camera, but was so busy drooling over all of the wonderful offerings and filling up my basket with Christmas presents that I never got it out! I will share one of my purchases though:

Gorgeous blue and white pottery...and I'm sorry, I don't know the artist. If someone will email me I'll add it to the post. These are for me...the rest of my purchases are gifts for other people, so no peeking!! :)

And so December begins...with lots more to do! There are halls here to be decked (almost done), cookies to bake, parties to attend, presents to finish (stay tuned for some future postings on this...once the recipients have unwrapped!), and the list goes on...

I love December!!

:)

News of the Day

I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself here today!

The White Heron

On Friday of last week I took a drive across the state to Dunn, NC to meet with the owner of the White Heron Gallery. Twice rescheduled due to snow, I was glad to finally make the trip! The gallery is a renovated two story 1930's house with great architectural details. (click on the link and then click on the white heron to see pictures) Still a work in progress, it is scheduled to open in just a few weeks. The owner, Adelaide, is an absolute delight...one of those people you feel like you've known forever. She is an incredible artist herself, and has a great vision for the gallery.

I'm pleased to announce that she will be carrying my work!

I am thrilled that my art quilt "Every One Fits In" made for Art Now for Autism 2009, was selected for the logo of Breaking Traditions 2010! Curated by Lynn Krawczyk, Breaking Traditions is a traveling exhibit that brings awareness and raises funding for worthwhile causes.

It is an open call art quilt event. I hope everyone will consider participating...you can find out more about the event here.

The deadline for entry is not until August 21 (receive date) so you have time to get creative!

:)

Cosmic Cow Society

Tomorrow evening, December 4, is the opening reception for the Cosmic Cow Society's first group art exhibit! Join us from 7 - 9 PM at the Maya Gallery, 340 Tate Street in Greensboro, NC, just a couple of doors down from Tate Street Coffee. There will be food (catered by Let's Dish) and music, and the reception is free and open to the public. This exhibit will hang until January 4, 2009.

Members of the Cosmic Cow Society are: Founder, Sharon Mitchell, Scott Plaster, Cheryl Plaster, Perry Boswell, Jude Lobe, Cass Catlett, Melanie Wilcox, Carole Donovan, Karen Shelton, Rose Wenkel, Brydie Palmore, and myself. Visit the Cosmic Cow Society web page for more information on this fun group of artists!