2010: On this note......

Words can travel across thousands of miles. May my words create mutual understanding 
and love. May they be as beautiful as gems, as lovely as flowers.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Vietnamese Zen Master

May my blog and art do the same next year. 

Marilyn

I'd like to get one more post under my belt before this year is officially over. Oh, and use some unused shots from my August visit to the Chicago Botanical Gardens.  My 2011 calendar is providing the inspiration and words. 
Should I resolve not to plagiarize in 2011?

So on this final day of 2010, and for the New Year, lets:

Embrace Joy

Inspire hope

Cultivate love

Build intimacy 

Celebrate life.

HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!

2010:  It's a wrap.

My New Voice for 2011

I've started putting together my list of goals and to-do's (I'll call them "ta-da's") for 2011. In the process, I just happened? to find the lecture below by Brene Brown on TED. I've watched this several times. It touched a few emotional chords. I truly want to go into no-hold back, new territory mode to grow artistically, emotionally, personally and professionally next year. To do that I have recognized:   The Power of VULNERABILITY.

So my 2011 voice has verbs and nouns and enough to get me going:

V: Vulnerable, Visual, Verbalize

O: Originality, Organize, Openness, Overtures

I: Innovate, Initiate,Inspire, Internalize, Imperfection

C: Communicate, Create, Collaborate, Courage, Connection, Compassion

E: Embrace, Energize, Expose, Expand, Excite, Externalize, Express

Like an onion, I'll peel back some uncomfortable layers, maybe shed a tear or two, let go and allow myself to be a tad more vulnerable.  Especially when it comes to social media, writing, and pursuing my creative goals. So I'll just continue writing and perfect the imperfect. The new year doesn't start for a few more days.

Going from RAW to Absolutely FAB

Last week I had "planned" to attend a jazz concert at Orchestra Hall to hear Regina Carter and Esperanza Spalding. Two days before the concert I was presented with an opportunity to participate with several other artists from the Ravenswood Artwalk (RAW) and Blackbird Gallery in free studio space in the Fine Arts Building (FAB) for their open holiday show throughout the entire building.

A little background: The Fine Arts Building houses all the arts: writers, painters, musicians, dancers and vocal instructors. It is a landmark building and culturally rich.

Okay, what would you do?

Welcome to our space:

The artists:

Bill Moran, painter, who along with artist and past 

RAW President Laura Engel, put this together in 3 days!!

Fernando Mastroianni of Blackbird Gallery, 

with some of Bill Moran's artwork in Fernando's custom frames

Zofia Tomala Ceramics

I still have my eye and heart on the Buddha in the back on the left.

Ala Jaron Jewelry

A vocal instructor in the building who serenaded the studios.

Kathleen Toledano, friend and fabulous collage and mixed media artist

My Girls! Don't these look better on a wall than on a gym post?

Two of the many admirers in total awe my work. ; )

 Existential art!

(I couldn't let this go!)

 

 Bill Moran (we stopped counting!!)

Here's and Cheers to an art-filled life and a wonderfully unexpected evening!

To sum up this evening, it was FABulous!! I sold a lot of my work. It was so well received and appreciated. Even if people did not buy anything, the compliments and exposure was worth it and VERY validating. This venue proved even more to me how environment influences how art is received and perceived. On a lower note, my beverage of the late evening was wine and the photo of me was not very flattering. So sans photo.

So what's next.. The new ideas for my website are in place. I'm working on taking my art to another level and wherever these winding stairs take me. I won't make a lot of plans.

Stairs in FAB building.

Liberation...Wrapping up 2010

To create one's world in the arts takes courage.
Georgia O'Keefe

I began this year disillusioned, disconnected and somewhat defeated when it came to my art and creativity. Eleven months later, having worked through some of my creative blocks and mental limitations, I am letting loose and saying "Get me outta of the box!"

I am less afraid now to have more of me reflected in my work. Less projection and doubt of will it sell before I even get it out there, which I do, and why I have a tendency to hold on to some of my work. It will require different and more marketing and experimentation as I change my direction. If not, I will continue feeling bored, stale and stagnate. So, I have my artistic voice. I'll find my audience. I'm working on ideas and changes to my website.

Some totally random thoughts and musings I wrote to get to this level of liberation:

• With age comes..um... more age.

• As I clean my apartment, I remind myself to collect more experiences and less "things."

• Magic word today is Boundary. There is joy to be had in setting boundaries.

It also took yoga, music, artists, books, a new job, a Shamanic healer/reader, and photographer Jeff Phillips of Crowdspotting, who took the picture of me that you see above along with some others, during the Ravenswood Art Walk show. There was some playtime to be had :( He gave me creative license to play with the pictures. Hence,the box. See, I am a multidimensional person!

Thinking and working outside the artistic box takes time, patience, internal and external help. And yes, Georgia, courage indeed.

Now is the right time.

Lotus Sutra

Time to Feast Your Eyes on Some Artist Gifts

It's that time of year to give thanks and gifts! Ideally artist made :D. The calendar says November but by the looks of the stores and a local radio station ALREADY playing 24 hour Christmas songs to manipulate, oh I mean jump start, mood and time, it's December. I'll call it Thankmas.

In the spirit of Thankmas, artistic gift giving, AND for me, personally, "Getting Back Out There" show #2, I am participating in the juried Cornucopia Gift Fair put on by The Woman's Club of Evanston. Proceeds from this event support local community organizations.

Cornucopia Gift Fair
The Woman's Club of Evanston

1702 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
847-475-3800
http://www.wcofe.org
November 19-21
Friday 4pm-9pm
Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 12pm-4pm

Admission:
$10 for Friday Opening Night, includes live music, appetizers, 3 raffle tickets and unlimited weekend pass. Saturday or Sunday $5 presale or $6 at the door.

I am sharing a booth with Kathleen Toledano of Kathleen's Kloset. Our exact location will be known Friday upon our arrival. I'll repost this Friday night with details. We are both mixed media artists. I'll be featuring my assorted handpainted wood bangle bracelets, tea boxes, Friends boxes and soon to be discontinued handpainted boxes at discount prices. Mention this blog for 25% off select items.

Please bring and tell your friends, family, co-workers to what should be terrific weekend filled with jewelry, clothing and accessories to gourmet foods and home decorations.

Let's all get in the spirit and give thanks!! And ART!!
See you there.
11/19/10 LOCATED IN THE MUSIC ROOM IN THE BACK.

Very Into SOFA Chicago and Intuit Show 2010

Below are just a few of my personal favorites from this year's 17th Annual SOFA Chicago and new Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art. I love going to this show every year for the art, getting display ideas, observing attendees and their enviable fashion and style, talking to and appreciating the graciousness of the artists and gallery owners, and being in the safety zone since I can't afford to buy. It hurts, but I usually go into this show with the looky but no buyee discipline. These tend to be higher end collector pieces. Must invest in me! is my mantra.

Glass Buddha
Artist: Marlene Rose
I apologize for not providing titles to the pieces, photos of the artists, along with more detail. I felt uncomfortable taking these pictures even though everyone was.

Artist: Randall Rosenthal

These two mixed media pieces are actually wood sculptured and hand painted.

Artist: Willie Willie ( I think?)

If you are in Chicago, I encourage you to check this show out. Remaining show hours:

Saturday's hours are 11-8pm and Sunday 12-6.

Navy Pier Festival Hall

600 Grand Avenue Entrance 2

More Randomly Speaking....

Keeping it light, short, and sweet. Exhausted from lots of work hours, anxious and exhausted from the recent election. Seeing (and feeling!!) lots of red and feeling terribly blue :( from most of the results. So I bought some essential oils to spritz and smell and re-energize. Lots of art and exercise will follow today and this weekend after this gets posted.
Right now, I am finding some comfort and peace in other people's words. Hope you do too!

Comforting words and thoughts:

May every sunrise hold more promise and every sunset hold more peace.
Blessing

Relax. Breathe in deep. Hold it. Loosen your shoulders. Smile :)) Close your eyes. You'll be surprised how many voices you'll hear whispering sweet encouragements into your ear.

Dooley

What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what gets you out of bed in the mornings, what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know,
what breaks your heart and what amazes you.
Pedro Aroupe

All in good time.

Cervantes

And How Do You Take Your Art- Fine or Craft?

When you don't enjoy making the art you once did, don't like having unfinished or unsold box inventory around, can't succinctly sell it, and/or you lost some or all of your artistic passion, sage advice is take a break. All signs point to a new direction and a new approach. I am now appreciating and seeing the importance of taking my uncomfortable hiatus from making and marketing art this year. Thinking and working outside the box literally applies to me.

Two of my boxes showcased at the One of a Kind Show Chicago in 2008.
Served as a great ego boost. It still does.

Doing the recent Ravenswood Artwalk and the OOAK in 2007 & 2008 challenged me. It raised the bar for me emotionally, artistically, and creatively. It also left me soul searching as to what kind of artist I am, am I really?, and what I want to be. A TBD identity label or classification does not lend itself to effective marketing.

That's where the hiatus and doing RAW helped. It allowed me to create and introduce new work and ideas in a new setting. As a result, I feel more excited about my work. I have a bit more clarity, creative freedom and a renewed commitment. Attending the wrap party and listening to show and artist feedback also helped me to define my next steps. I'll still be functional but with a twist.

Frankly, I do not see myself as a Fine artist. Very beautiful, trained and disciplined like ballet. Instead, I do see myself continuing to create mixed media,colorful, eclectic, inspirational pieces but less crafty. A modern dance, which is more free flowing, less restricting. I'd like to hone my craft with less "craft." It will also guide me as to what future shows I apply to and where I best fit.

Last week, I went to an artist workshop to help with the "elevator" speech. We began by someone demonstrating and teaching us how to juggle, which indeed is an art with 3 or more balls.The workshop was okay. It reminded me how important it is to continue looking up. And take a break.

"Whatever you are, be a good one."
Abraham Lincoln

Taking In the Ravenswood Art Walk

Sharing some highlights from my recent RAW aka "GETTING BACK OUT THERE" show:

Central Gallery

Our first stop: the Central Gallery. Participating artists had the option of showcasing a piece of their work which allowed attendees to preview work in a gallery setting. The artist's name, medium and venue location were provided. I did and the gallery setting was an absolute high for me.

Moi in the Central Gallery soaking in all this magnificent art and supporting my piece.....
someday it better reciprocate!!:

Three Geishas No. 1

Mixed Media on Canvas

Now let's move on to my venue location. The signage on the door is something I aspire and will continue to visualize and work toward. We were located on the second floor...in a gym. Location and environment make a difference on how art is viewed and displayed not to mention impact sales.
Just wait. You'll see.

Up two flights of stairs and you shall see the talented and fun artists who shared this space with me:

Suzanne of nomadic ant jewelry

Denise Handwerker of Feltwerker

Oh, take a guess. You can see I did not get a wall. So the brick or wall was not an issue or option.
I didn't request a wall when applying. Lesson learned.

Photographer and angel extraordinaire, Jeff Phillips

Oil and Pastel artist, Joan Minsky :)))
Oh she's hysterically harmless!

Acrylic Painter, David Rhodes, davidrhodesartist@gmail.com
I'm a huge fan of his work and laugh.

Kristina Gosh, interdisciplinary artist

Last but not least...Puppetbiker. He/They are performance artists in the city who can put a smile on your face in no time flat. No age limit. It was fun to meet the mastermind behind this... that's him talking to the puppets.
They let him out of the box.

With this show now over and under my belt, I am beginning to feel empowered again. My strengths were reinforced as were some weaknesses. It all comes back. I definitely know what needs work. The big question: What kind of artist do I want to be? I'll continue to work at it, mix things up a bit, experiment, network,surround myself with fantastic people, and just get out there.

Next show: November.

Ravenswood Art Walk....Seriously Exciting!!!

http://www.ravenswoodartwalk.org

Time: Saturday, October 2 11AM-5PM & Sunday October 3 11AM-5PM

My Venue Location: #42 1806 W. Cuyler 2nd Floor in the HPI Building

opposite side of Corridor off Irving Park Road next to the Chicago Mosaic School

I will be featuring my handpainted boxes, wood bangles and new mixed media paintings.



Come celebrate the start of Chicago Artists Month.
Support over 300 local artists, artisans and businesses. Tour galleries.

Visit the Central Gallery (stop #1 on map- 4021 N. Ravenswood) to view my
Three Geishas No. 1 and the work of other participating artists.

Hope to see you there.

Display Your Art, Not Your Insecurity

I went to check my booth location yesterday for the Ravenswood Artwalk after receiving my show packet and promotional material. Hate going into these events blind. Did I mention it is October 2 & 3 from 11:00am-5:00? Oh, no worries. I will post at least one or two more times with details! I'm on a side street, not the main corridor :(, but actually it is pretty good. Spacious studio, lots of windows, brick and dry walls, and hardwood floors.

I am ecstatic about participating in this show and getting back out there. Well.... that was until my booth display insecurity resurfaced. BIG TIME. Displays are not my strong suit. Seeing this space put me in creative overdrive. Not in a good way. I still have some time to figure things out before I totally wig out. I need to de-stress over the display. What shall I do? What shall I do?

Twenty-four hours later....

With little sleep, some comic relief and sore hands, I had an idea of what I wanted. After work, I went to several thrift stores,Target and Home Depot and eventually found a great shelving unit that will break down easily and showcase my work much better. I knew it was the right thing to do rather than getting another table even though I wasn't excited about the investment. The prospect of not selling anything is worse. The studio wall space allows me to showcase my paintings since I can hang them on the wall or brick. I'll see which works better. Personally, I like the brick. Whatever, I'm inspired and hands down, it will BE AMAZING.

It Also Takes Time....Seriously.. Part 2.5

Mixed Media Geisha on Canvas

I am getting ready to do my first show of the year, the Ravenswood ArtWalk, Oct 2 & 3 to be precise. Nothing like a healthy deadline to get motivated. Since taking some uncomfortable time off to reorganize and regroup (which I documented ad nauseum and believe I'm through,) I now have some new work to show and much in progress. I am seriously excited. Just need to get them professionally shot!! Really, Seriously. These are much better in person.

Exactly one year ago, I was in the mindset and ready to move to Portland, Oregon. I visited for a week to see if it was my new beginning. I had mentally left Chicago way before that and felt I was just biding time here physically until the time and location felt right. Portland turned out not to be my "it" city. I loved so much of it but in time realized just not enough to move and completely start over.

I took the time, made the essential changes I needed to and made some decisions... like to stay in Chicago. The love/hate relationship I've had with Chicago over the years has transformed where I am once again feeling love, reconnection and support from and for this city. Since my change in attitude (always helps,) I am engaging and becoming even more involved in the art community here. That feels really good.

Lotus Blossom, Chicago Botanical Garden

I think that will now begin to reflect in my art and the business of my art. I've reined in my scattered energy. I'm attending workshops, exhibits, lectures, experimenting with new materials, taking greater advantage of the vast resources here, and am more comfortable calling myself "artist."

For my apartment.

It's all about Timing. Taking and making and sometimes wasting Time for whatever you feel you need to do. I will have more to unveil and reveal.
So naturally, please visit again.

It Takes Nature to Nurture....Seriously Part 2

I actually have been serious this past month. I am walking my talk and reconnecting with my passion and Muse. I've been working on new paintings, experimenting, weaning some of the boxes, and shooting some new experimental (arty) profile shots. More to come, more to do but it is a new start. Seriously.

One of the steps I took to reconnect was to go to the Chicago Botanical Gardens, specifically the Japanese Gardens. I fell in love with them in Portland, OR and here. Here is a lot closer. Before I visually take you on this personal path, I have to buy a vowel. Yoo-hoo, Vanna. They let me in anyway. It helps to have the right connections or good karma.
My path so far this year has been interesting, frustrating, exciting, doubtful, and rewarding....in terms of personal and artistic growth.

Nothing linear about it:

I worked through my fears and doubts and made my decision to continue on my chosen path. Just needed to cross some mental hurdles and blocks, take a hiatus and make new connections.

What I discovered waiting for me:

OM MANI PADME HUM
The Jewel in the Lotus
Brings joy and peaceful vibrations

resulting in:

"Endearing Geisha"
Mixed Media on Recycled Corrugated Cardboard Panel