Saturday, December 25, 2010

Season's Greetings


MAY THE BLESSINGS OF THE SEASON BE WITH YOU!

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a joyous New Year!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Our Darling

 
I am extremely lucky to have good friends around me, who always have insightful tips for me. Like this one from a fantastic graphic designer I know. A while back, he said to me: "Your work is great, but you really need to improve your photography." I took his work to heart and bought a new camera. Got some clip lights and created some white drapes. The result...I have to say, I am very happy with....

This is a new, soon to be listed on ETSY piece, called Our Darling. Part of my latest Soul House series that uses old bird houses as foundations for mixed media assemblages.This one is has a little different feel than some of the others. But I love the way the inside came to life with just a little light shining in from the side.

And finally.... A hearty congratulations are in order for.....Laurel Martin. The winner of my giveaway, who's name was chosen at random by my son Henry! If you didn't win, don't worry, there will be other giveaway in the next few months. You'll just have to stay tuned... there's a lot more fun in store for 2011!


 

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Today is the Day!


Good Luck and Happy Holidays!
                                                                            
You may have heard...I am doing a special giveaway today. After all the chores are done, cookies baked, gifts wrapped, cards made and packages packed... I will be drawing someone's name out of a hat.

So cheer me on as I take on my holiday to do list. Leave me a comment to tell me how you get through your holidays and you will be entered to win this one of a kind signed collage.  "A boy."

I've been playing with my blog layout and even added some new features. Sign up for my newsletter and mailing list. I've got some great things planned for 2011, don't be left out.

Don't forget if you spend $50 or more on my ETSY site you get FREE SHIPPING any where in the US. I'll even gift wrap your purchase!









Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Fast times - looking to slow down

It finally feels like winter here in the beautiful Green Mountain State. It's cold and blustery outside, the days are shorter, the ground is covered with snow and our German shorthair  pointer will not go outside without his sweater on. In the morning, the boys are bundled up waiting for the bus in the morning donned in hats and mittens, huddling close to their hot chocolate. Salad days have ended and hearty soups and hot sandwiches are staples in my lunch box.  The buzz all around is about driving to the mountain, shredding and sledding, getting out to enjoy the white stuff. And then of course, there's the Holiday Parties, cookie swaps, shopping and decorating... so much to think about and so much to do. There are so many things to prepare for the end of the year holidays, it feels that if I don't slow down, just a bit, it will fly by without me being able to enjoy any of it. How quickly it can change from a magical to stressful.  I  want to sit back and relax and enjoy the beauty of it all, but the nagging feeling of all the "stuff" that has to get done, can be overwhelming.

So what are the things you do to keep yourself engaged in the spirit of winter? How do you find balance in all the holiday hustle and bustle? 

Anyone who posts a comment this week will be entered in a special drawing on Sunday.... More details to come.... stay well.

LR



Sunday, December 5, 2010

South End Holiday Hop Artist: Jackie Mangione

Shop Local! Shop Hand Made. Support the ARTS!

South End Holiday Hop!
December 10,11,12
Throughout the South End of Burlington Vermont

4th Annual South End Holiday Hop. Artist Market and Open Studio. Shop local, support your community, see your neighbors and buy amazing wonderful goods for all your holiday needs.
 
Location: All along Pine Stree, starting at Maple St. going past The Soda Plant, from the top of Kilburn and St. Paul including Howard St. all the way down to Lake Side


Burlington


Burlington,
Friday: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun:12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

While you are out doing your Holiday Hop, make sure you stop by the Soda Plant to check out the work of my dear friend and neighbor, Jackie Mangione. Jackie has a tremenous joie de vie, that is embedded in her work and her personality. She is a joy to know and a huge supporter of the South End Art scene.  


Abundance



Jackie is a fantastic painter and teacher. Her recent passions in art includes the use of acrylic and watercolor paints to bring out the vibrancy of colors. She paints with a quest for detailed brushstrokes in her work. As of late, she has been painting the Burlington skyline, wild and native birds of Vermont. She is also inspired by lesser recognized great artists of the 18th century, Jean Honore Fragonard.


Mountain Flurries

Hope to see you out and about this weekend! Happy Hopping!



 
 







Tuesday, November 30, 2010

SMALL WORKS Opening Reception @ SPACE GALLERY 12/3

December 3-January 29: “Small Works” @ the SPACE GALLERY on PINE STREET, in BURLINGTON, VT.


The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery will unveil the second edition of our ‘Small Works’ exhibit on Friday, December 3rd with a opening reception from 5-9 pm. Expect an array of artwork 12″ or smaller in size. Last year’s show proved influential in creating awareness of the many local talents in and around Burlington. Perfectly sized for holiday gifts.

 
Kristen Richland- Traffic day

...and,  you know who will be there for the opening on FRIDAY.... moi! ......and you should know i have pulled some of my favorite little pieces together to hang in the show...(six altogether, some very new... ) and you should also know that there are some fabulous local artists showing their work in this show... like KRISTIN RICHLAND... who creates whimsical and fantastical little paintings of divine creatures. ( something that i would never, in a million years be talented enough to do!)  Kristen works at Artist's Medium, which is a terrific locally owner art supply shop, here in williston. She is a tremendously giving person, who is full of joy and life. I love her point of view fantastically creative mind. Check out her work at her website... and you  should stop by on friday at the SPACE gallery to see her stuff live and in person. and say hi to me, because you know i'll be there. it is the 1st friday of the month. so that means... BURLINGTON art walk.  game on, art fans.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Queen City Craft


What are you doing this Saturday?
Me, I'll be shopping at the Queen City Craft Bazaar. Life and scheduling has gotten in the way of me selling my wares at this bi-annual craft show, but I still have a few hours on Saturday to check out some of the best indie crafters from across the state.
John Brickles

all my favorites will be there...
 
boda.boda

Happy Fantastic Designs
Strange Dolls
 
and about 20 other fantastic artisans and crafters!
Don't miss it.  You won't be disappointed.
2010 Holiday Queen City Craft Bazaar



Robot Dinosaurs



Saturday November 20th

 
10am-5pm

Union Station at 1 Main St. Burlington VT


Free Parking (in lot next to building)

Free Admission!

Jess Graham

The Queen City Craft Bazaar - Vermont's Premiere Alternative Craft Fair is an indie craft fair showcasing unique handmade goods from local crafters, designers, and artists. Find out more about this event and many of the artists at http://queencitycraft.blogspot.com/


  



Sunday, November 14, 2010

Brush Strokes

There is something incredible about being able to witness the emergence of a butterfly from it's cocoon. The process is slow and full of anticipation. When the creature finally breaks free of it's shell that it is has transformed all it's cells and pure being into something complete different and awe-inspiring. Not that the caterpillar is not a beautiful thing. That stage of the insect's life is equally as important. But, I think it is the dramatic change into flight that is so compelling and remarkable to me.

I have had the unique opportunity to watch a similar transformation in a dear friend. She has pushed through huge life lessons to emerge transformed and inspired.  I have know Heather Brush since we were 15. She has always been a talented artist and writer to me.  Somehow, over the years, Circumstance obscured these parts of her being from her daily life. A few years ago, she stood at a crossroads without much of a road map and had to rely on her own sense of self, her own inner bearing to start the long road back her inner artist. She has finally arrived at her destination, emerged from the shell had created around her. And I am so proud of her achievement. She inspires me daily.

Heather lives outside Roanoke, Va with her two  kids. She was been busy the past few months creating a body of work to show in a new gallery: The Artisan Center along the Crooked Road. The gallery has yet to officially open, but yesterday, she sold her first piece! It is an amazing feeling, the first time someone hands you money for a work of art.  It's inspiring and empowering when some one recognizes your accomplishment in such a way. Congratulations Heather on your success!

Here's to bigger and better milestones!
Don't dream it, Be it!
Shake out those new wings and fly.

You can learn more about Heather and her beautiful mixed media works at: http://heathersbrushstrokes.wordpress.com/





Sunday, November 7, 2010

Art and Hours

If you missed the reception for What Remains at Seminary Arts, but you still want to see the show, don't fret. You can swing by any time it's open for classes which is:
Tues 3:30 to 8 pm 
Wed 2:30 to 5 pm
Thurs 3:00 to 8 pm 
Saturday 10 am to 2pm 
or by appointment (802) 253-8790
 
To be honest, I am a bit overwhelmed by the tremendous response the show has had already. It has gotten quite a bit of press and  I have sold quite a few pieces already.  I am so grateful for all the people who have helped me get to this point. I could not have done this without any of you.

Jim and I went out this past Friday to check out the Art Walk in Downtown Burlington. If you are not familiar with this. Many businesses and galleries open their doors to the public on the 1st Friday of the month to celebrate the art exhibition they are showing. The Art Map Burlington, prints a great monthly guide to exhibition in and around Burlington. They also have an informative website with links to different artists blogs/websites. I am not an art critic so I won't even attempt to judge any show. I will leave that those who are far better versed and eloquent than me. I only have my opinions and observations, so I will share those with you.

Our first stop was The SPACE gallery, to see their new show:  Make Art, Repeat. It was great to see Christy and other artists in the show at their opening reception. I'm always impressed by Ashley Roark's shadow and light work. This installation did not fail to astound  me. The work seems simple, she creates patterns with  pins, (and now large nails) in the wall, but the effect when she applies directional light is wonderful. It simply needs to be experienced to be understood,

Tarrah Krajnak
Then we headed downtown, in search of dinner and more art. Following the recommendation of a friend we saw at the SPACE gallery, we stopped at the Firehouse Gallery. We checked out two exhibits there: Homunculus and An Inch of dust.

Homunculus, by UVM professor, Steven Budingtonn is a Dali-like exploration of the human body and technology. A fantastical  interweaving of fleshy parts, i-pods, artificial hearts and cosmetic surgery. Beautiful, yet slightly gory and monstrous, his painting and drawing are surrealistic and provocative.

On the second floor we saw An Inch of Dust by Tarrah Krajnak, who also teaches at UVM. Krajnak takes archived photos and projects them onto sculptural paper pieces and then re-photographs them. The result is a distorted  image laced in mystery and memory. 
Jon Gregg

Our last stop was at the Amy E. Tarrant Gallery, where we saw the work of Vermont artist Jon Gregg.This show, simply titled “Recent Works on Paper”, consists of  50 works of oil pastels on paper, all untitled. His work is very moody and abstract. Landscapes, villages, horses and come into view through his scratchy silhouettes of images that look more like paintings than drawings. 









Sunday, October 24, 2010

Ghost Stories-Mixed Media Shrine Workshop at Seminary Arts


Ghost Stories-
Creating Mixed Media Shrines from found objects
Saturday October 30th 9 am to 4 pm
Waterbury Center, VT
Workshop fee: $75 (plus small materials fee)

Whether it’s an old family photo or grandmother’s rocking chair, we’ve all felt the presence of someone long gone when we encounter their things - the imprint they leave behind after possessing an object for a long period of time…the aftereffects that are left behind in and around the objects of our daily lives. It may be just a fleeting memory, a faint electric impulse that jolts us into thinking, into feeling that person’s wordless presence, but it is there. The ghost of a person, left behind in the yellowed paper, the cracked leather, the worm-eaten wood.

These objects, these things once had owners. They were bought and sold, made and broken. Some of them were kept and treasured, while others were forgotten in attics. Each has a story to tell, whether it is in the voice of young girl or the whisper of an old woman.

This workshop will lead you through the process of creating a unique work of art from artifacts. You will learn to gleam the story from found objects and create a unique work of art. Explore your own imagination to find the ghost in old things and bring forth their tales in a 3 dimensional form.



 
Materials

The most important thing you bring is a hinged, closeable box, like a cigar box, jewelry box, old tin box or something similar- the top should be able to stay open. This will be the foundation for your shrine, so make sure it is something you are willing to work with.

The rest is the filler:

Old photos, something personal to you or complete strangers, just some that strike you. (Make color copies of your old photos at Staples if you don’t want to alter the originials)

Ephemera, Old photos, postcards, cards, letters, etc.

Fabric, lace, ribbon, trim you find interesting –

Small picture frames, found objects, like clock parts, gears, typewriter parts.
Small figurines, dolls parts, game pieces, toys, household items, etc. Bring things that you are drawn too.

Also bring:
Any Acrylic pants you might want to use
Paint Brushes (a couple small detail brushes, and some cheap brushes (1/2 inch to 1 inch in size)
Basic Tools like pliers, scissors







Friday, October 22, 2010

What Remains -October 22 to November 20 - One woman show in Waterbury Center






I was able to take some pictures of the exhibition this afternoon as the sun was setting. The natural light the main room where my work is hanging is simply wonderful. The old seminary building is the perfect location for me to display my 1st ever solo show. I am so grateful to Mame for encouraging me to put this together and to my friends and family who have supported me and cheered me on through this process. I am overjoyed with how great the space looks. The photos don't do it justice. You will just have to swing by to take a peak.
 


 










Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Show is Hung!

Yesterday, I went over to Waterbury Center to hang my solo art exhibition: What Remains.

34 pieces: assemblages of various sizes, mixed media collage, and altered books. Almost all of them new work.

I have put together other art exhibitions and been involved in group shows, but this endeavor is my 1st solo show. I feel like I am growing up as an artist. Perhaps it's a coming into my own.

I have to admit that it's a bit scary to put yourself out there and exhilarating as well.

I've been working hard at getting the word out about the show. Writing press releases, making postcards, tweeting, and talking it up on Facebook. Now, with it only three days away, I have no idea of what to expect. I don't know how many people will make the trek to Waterbury Center to celebrate achievement with me on Saturday.

I'm headed back there tomorrow night, after work, to move things around a little and start tagging everything.  I've still have a ton of stuff to do, but feel so very accomplished at this point. And so very thankful for all the people who have supported me and cheered me on.   This is something that I have pushed myself to do, but could not have gotten here without all of you.

So, in this quite moment, before settling off to slumber I thank you for that. And, reflect on what it is all about.

The one thing I know, the one thing my art is reflective of, is the reality that "this moment" is fleeting. That no matter how hard I try to hold on to it, Sunday will be here sooner than I know.  So, to live each moment, with fullness without regrets is all I can do.  Embrace the now, for tomorrow will be only memories..... but great memories that I will have for a lifetime.








Monday, October 11, 2010

Michael deMeng comes to VT!

(finally... yeah!!!!)
 
(c) Michael deMeng
About two years ago, I drove down to Topsfield MA, to take some classes with Michael deMeng at Absolutely Everything. What happened to me that weekend was equivalent to taking a can opener to the top of my head and just cranking away.  It was the catalyst to the art that I am making now. The point of no return. The beginning of my transformation. 
 
Now fast forward to the present, I have my work up at the S.P.A.C.E.  gallery and opening my debut Art Exhibition,, "What Remains" in about 2 weeks. There are so many opportunities are unfolding in so many strange and wondrous ways. And for the icing on the cake, Michael is teaching here, this weekend in Vermont! and only 15 minutes from my house at Shelburne Arts Center!  In addition to teaching to classes, Pandora's Box and Angels and Demons, he is showing some of his recent work in an Exhibition in the SAC gallery. How's that for luck. I am so excited to be taking a class with him again. I can't imagine where this weekend will end up taking me creatively. We will just have to see.

(c) Michael deMeng
I know there are some spots open for his class, contact SAC @ (802) 985-3648 for more info or check Michael's website for details. He's a terrific teacher, with a great sense of humor and creative insight. He is also a huge inspiration to me as well as a lot of other mixed media artists I know. If you get a chance to swing down to Shelburne, stop by the reception on Friday Night from 5-8pm, check out Michael's magical assemblages and say hi! It's going to be a ton of fun!









Sunday, October 3, 2010

What Remains - Opening Reception October 23rd



The few last month has been so productive for me. I feel like I have finally hit my slipstream and getting into the flow of it all. I am so blessed to be able to be moving forward this way, creating art almost everyday. Art that seems to touch people deeply and personally.

Now it is October. The leaves have started to fall and the days grow colder and shorter.Halloween is right around the corner and I am reminded that this is the time when many people believe that the veil between the living and the dead is  the thinnest.  We allow ourselves to be spooked and to think of ghostly things in this darkening time of the year.

So it is auspicious that I am a part of two very "haunting" shows. The The Art of Horror, which opened this  Friday, October 1. The reception, which was part of the Burlington Art Walk,  was simply terrific. I met so many wonderful people and had an amazing time! Thank you Beth, Kevin and Christy for putting together this event.

And....

In just about 20 days, I will be hanging my own work at Seminary Arts in Waterbury Center.  The show is called, "What Remains" and is a collection of work from the past two years that deals with the essences, the aftereffects that are left behind, in and around the objects of our daily lives. The things that I pull together to create my art is "What remains." The stories I weave together are ghost stories, moments that are remembered if only in our dreams and vague recollections.

Whether it’s an old family photo or grandmother’s rocking chair, we’ve all felt the presence of someone long gone when we encounter their things - the imprint they leave behind after possessing an object for a long period of time. It may be just a fleeting memory, a faint electric impulse that jolts us into thinking, into feeling that person’s wordless presence, but it is there. The ghost of a person, left behind in the yellowed paper, the cracked leather, the worm-eaten wood…

By sifting through these disparate objects,  I have found the compatible bits and pieces of others’ lives and woven their faint and ancient energies together until they sing together in one voice. These new pieces not only speak to the sadness of these lost and forgotten things, but they remind us that their owners have been lost and forgotten as well.

And if them, what of us?

Join me on October 23rd as we celebrate the past and the future and where "when lingers" at Seminary Arts in the Center.  I will be posting more info about the show and the workshop I am going to be teaching on October 30th. Stay tuned....