Wednesday, August 31, 2011

One Day+One Exhibit=Happy

I took a replenish, "get outta here" and inspire "me" day yesterday to go to the Milwaukee Art Museum to see The Emperor's Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City exhibit. Need I remind you how much I love Asian art, furnishings and artifacts? I needed a drool cup viewing this exhibit. I was blown away.


It featured art, murals, objects, furnishings, all made with exquisite beauty and craftsmanship, from Qianlong Garden. This was a secluded compound of pavilions and gardens the Qianlong emperor designed in the 18th century in anticipation of his retirement. Lots of Buddhist shrines and some videos. This was the third and final stop in the world before these treasured artworks are returned to China. I made it just in time.
The show ends September 11 and a link: Milwaukee Art Museum.

No photos of the exhibit were allowed but I'll share what I could from this exhibit and then some other things. 

Well, this is it. Can you find moi in this pic?

But what I can visually share is the calm, serenity and magnificence of this museum. This was my first time here, ashamedly. It is a gorgeous museum architecturally with a fantastic art collection along the lakefront. Just what I needed.

After China, I went to see all the other exhibits/collections. Paid my respect to Picasso, O'Keefe, Leger + many more, and then an extraordinary thing happened. Roy Lichtenstein called me over to one of his Pop art paintings and he spoke to me. He said "kid (beats Ma'am), I know how much you love art, want to make it as an artist, so how would you like to be in one of mine? (Really? Ya talkin' to me?) See what it is like to have your work in a museum."  So I took him up on it and got several shots. Hard to do trying not to look at the camera when taking a shot. Here's one:


See, when I told you I needed to get away, I meant it!

It was such a great day. I learned a lot, made a new "friend,"  and tried to write a shorter, less cluttered post. Four hours to go until September.

August is officially a wrap and so is my short time off. Back to work tomorrow.

 

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Finding Even More Happy In August

I scheduled some much needed time off from work starting today, Saturday, August 27. I mention that because I don't know if I'll finish this post tonight so I want to be honest about my "today." Having just returned from my today, let me tell you it made me more than happy. It made me blissful and blessed.

I chose to start my day attending two of my favorite farmers' markets, greencity Market and another on Division Street, both I now miss due to my weekend schedule. It's a see-good, smell-good, hear-good, feel-good and TASTE good festival. A healthy high.

 I bought basil, tomatoes, blueberries, parsley, peppers and honey. I've finally learned to discipline myself at the market because so much of what I would buy ended up getting wasted and pitched. Money doesn't grow on trees or in the ground unfortunately :(

On to another festival: the Bucktown Arts Fest. It is a good show, quite competitive  to get into, tried twice unsuccessfully several years ago. I had a mission/intention going to this show. I have not attended many this summer and was feeling it. I felt the need to be around and connect with other artists - those brave souls doing an outdoor show- for inspiration and kindred-ship (is that even a word?)


First stop, one of my favorite artists/heroes, Anne Leuck Feldhaus as she was literally wrapping up a sale! She was unaware that this was even taken. I never want to intrude on any artist at a show with a camera. I bought a small painting.


Another artist/hero , who I recently wrote about, is Melissa Banks. She was also unaware that I took this.  But I wanted to visually introduce you to her and her phenomenal jewelry since I didn't before.
And then there is Jennifer Meyer, sistersan, a beautiful and phenomenal sculptor and welder of recycled materials. We met three years ago doing an Architectural Artifacts Holiday show and she is one of the greatest gifts to enter my life from that show. She is richly soulful, spiritual, wise and ridiculously funny. I haven't seen Jen for two years? but we are so connected that the physical didn't matter. Seeing her after this lapse of time was the best! She knew her picture was being taken and didn't want it. She was exhausted from the preparation for this show. I begged. :)

 
Two bookcases made from recycled filing cabinets. These are jaw dropping in person!!
Talking to her for some time at the show was empowering, touching and emotional for me. We never truly know the impact we have on other peoples lives, be it from our art or being, until your hear or read their words directly. I am so grateful I got to hear those words and take home a piece of her art as well.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Make Room For Clutter


ClutterClutterClutter.  I'm surrounded by it at home. Not a source of comfort. Au contrare.  However when used creatively, which I am in the process of doing, it can be a source of inspiration....  a new work in progress - mixed media graffiti style painting. It's suffocating just doing it.

In a recent blog post written by Los Angeles artist and Feng Shui consultant Anita Rosenberg,  whose entire body of work and life I admire and am awed by, she wrote about the function of clutter. We could all be far more productive by getting rid of the some subtle and blatant clutter of home and surroundings. It really says a lot about us as an individual and what is going in "inside." It could not be more timely. It is wonderful and I would like to share it with you:



Clutter has no geographic boundaries. You have to make them. I am aware of the impact it can have on every aspect of my life. I see it, feel it, think it, hear it, live it. I don't even want to imagine what it would taste like. On rare occasions, you can be inspired by it.

I titled this post Make Room For Clutter when in reality it should be Let's Not. For now, I'll finish cluttering up my painting, hence making room for clutter,and really try de-cluttering my home and mind. I am inspired by and making room for both.

P.S.: Did you notice how uncluttered this blog post is? It's a start.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Finding The Happy In August

If I could eliminate one month out of the year, like the 13th floor of a highrise, it would be the month of August. I would still acknowledge and wish all the people I know with August birthdays a Happy Birthday.  It just wouldn't be on my personal calendar. I don't know exactly what it is about August that always gives me so much angst. Don't even get me started politically. 

In times like these, I gotta find the happy. It's a process:


I reworked and consolidated these stoneware faces from Terra Cottage that I had for eight years and put them on one painted wood panel. Photo did not come out well but I like them and they're fun.


I actually am still on a high from this. Sir Paul and I share the same birthday- June 18th. Other than that.....

I'm not exactly sure IF this would this help me with August. Shows perhaps? I've been a spectator and not a participant with this one. The people doing it seem to be happy. It looks likes fun. Moving on....



I actually have been a participant in this one in the past and almost got certified before I got sick from ingesting dirty Lake Michigan harbor water. I have to start all over again. Art has taken over for now. Alas, I am a spectator until I ingratiate or find my way onto someone's boat. This does make me happy seeing the sailboats on the lake and in the harbor.

What REALLY makes me happy in August so far is seeing my new work in Flourish Studios. I love that I am starting over in a place called Flourish!
I dropped off a few mixed media pieces and bangles last Monday and they were on the floor when I stopped by briefly Friday night for an event. This is not the final display but they wanted to get them out and I am very happy. I will write more about them in a future post. Talk about a feel good place!

I am waiting to hear about getting in a gallery soon and working on new pieces and prospects. There are only sixteen days left in August. A lot can still happen so I'll just keep trying to find the happy.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Why Don't I Do More Shows, You Ask?

One of the many things I absolutely love about being an artist is getting in my safe, secluded creative bubble and creating out of my comfort zone. It doesn't take long before that particular creative bubble is maxed out, along with some finances, when the itch and necessity to venture out, face the public and Internet with my art takes hold. Yep, don my marketing and selling hat and get to the real work. Beret, fascinator, stetson, hard hat, your fashionable choice.

Art fairs and shows are a natural and necessary vehicle for artists to show and SELL their work. Indoor and outdoor. It is the best way to interact and connect with the public one on one, artistically and professionally. You can get verbal and non-verbal feedback about your work, SELL IT direct and build a customer base. 

Now that I officially declared my new artistic style as mixed media from functional, it is time to get this new work out there and sell it. No holds barred. It is Show time!

Except.....I have a fear of doing shows and some excuses for not doing them. Let's rattle off three fears:  financial-recouping my booth and expenses and not selling my work or enough of it; emotional-EGO/rejection; and physical - I don't own a car and limited residential space to store a tent. I actually sold my new tent several years ago after only two shows to a macro green farmer for farmers' markets in Wisconsin.  I have indoor and outdoor show experience so I do know of which I speak. Outdoor leaves me traumatized.

Artists put their heart and souls into their creations and most of all COURAGE into their  shows. There is an investment on EVERY LEVEL and I admire and respect their courage for making the haul and going the full distance(s). I'll have what they're having :).

Let me share one example of an extraordinary artist profile in courage and another one of my personal artist heroes, Melissa Banks of Rapt In Maille.  She is a full time WORKING (and oh does she) artist and designer of chain maille jewelry and does lots and lots of shows. She posted a recent outdoor experience at the Ann Arbor 2011 show on her blog that left me gasping. I want you to read it too. Perhaps you will gain an ever greater appreciation and insight of and for an artist's show life. Why do they do this?

Please click on the link below, to see what it is and can be like doing an outdoor show:    



I would love to again possess what it takes to do what she and every outdoor artist in particular does. I suppose I will some day. I certainly have a reason to do more shows- New Mixed Media creations and old excuses to go with them.

Thank goodness for the artists who help, instruct, inspire, lead, share and are honest with what is it truly like doing shows- Retail, Wholesale, Indoor and/or Outdoor. They are the pioneers and models for me to again GET OVER IT!

Recent read: Ceramic artist Eva Zeisel is 104 years old and still making art. She is introducing a new line of lamps and when recently asked in the WSJ:

Q: What do you want to achieve with your new lamps?
 A: I want to sell them.

Ms. Zeisel, that's all I want to do with my new art. Did you do shows? If so, how long did it take to get over the fear?

P.S. I have an indoor show coming up in October-Ravenswood Artwalk!  We'll see about more before this year is up. I'm not holding my breath. Definitely 2012.