New Events

Travel Log, encaustic on board, 6 x 6 inches

I have the above encaustic painting included in the 2010 National Small Works Painting exhibition at The Main Street Gallery in Groton, NY from December 3, through January 2, 2011. I'm happy to say I'm actually going to be able to see this show because it's not far from where I spend Christmas with my family. This show didn't have a theme other than size so I find it ironic that this piece was chosen since it seems to resemble a map of the Finger Lake area in upstate New York where we wander every summer.

I've been working hard in the studio and will be open next Friday evening if you're in the area stop in. Here's more information about what's going on at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts. There's a craft show happening from 5-11 pm so you can get some of your gift buying done while checking out contemporary art. I'll be selling lots of fun things in my studio, new bracelets, painting pendants, a few painted purses and small paintings. I hope to see you there.

Free Flow, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 inches

New Fiber Work

I've been playing in the studio. Well sort of, play means to take part in an enjoyable activity simply for the sake of amusement. Since usually I'm working towards some goal, an exhibition or juried show submission there seems very little time for play. Intellectually I know play and experimentation are important ingredients to innovative work, it's just hard to make the time and space for what sometimes feels frivolous. I mean no one wants to look like a fool or waste time or supplies. Even though I'm working to have some finished pieces to enter in a juried show I'm trying to remain open to new ideas and to play. I feel like I'm on the verge of something wonderful but I continue to fall a little short and sometimes I really hate what I have at the end of the day. This is something I have on the wall right now but it's still a work in progress. My friends come in every day and encourage me with kind comments. I tell myself "Keep going, it's too late to turn back now."

This is a painting on broadcloth stretched on stretcher bars, covered with dyed silk that I ironed and then a crinkly piece of dyed silk pinned on top of that. It's interesting and getting closer to something I might call finished.

I listed 5 hand painted wristlets on my Etsy site.

If you're new to Etsy you can check out my favorites to see some really cool things.

Craft Show at DCCA

I think that sale I made 2 weeks ago went to my head. Last week I signed up to do the Craft Show at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts on the evening of Dec. 4th. That gave me 10 days to make product which is now 5 days, yikes. Yes I'm counting Friday, I might even be hand finishing things at my table that night. Nothing like a deadline to get yourself moving. On Wed. I took one of my purse panels cut it in half and made my first wristlet.

Here's my second one, 4 to go.

Putting in zippers isn't exactly fun but I'm crossing my fingers they'll go smoothly because I don't have a lot of time for mistakes. I'm also hoping to whip up a few more bracelets.

In the midst of this craft explosion(and I do mean explosion, you should see my house) we took a family trip to check out Eastern State Petitionary in Philadelphia. This prison was built in 1829 based on the idea that solitary confinement and labor would lead criminals to become pentinent. Each prisoner had a private cell with plumbing and heat and a private exercise yard. After 147 years of consecutive use it was abandoned and left to decay in 1971.

The minute I walked in the door I was snapping pictures. If you live close by you really should go. If you do, make sure you take your allergy meds and be ready for the funkalicious smells. The property has been left to deteriorate naturally and that's what makes it so cool. The history of how and why it was built is fascinating but I was in love with the textures and the crumbling layers of days gone by. How is it that disgusting, disintegrating plaster walls, wooden doors and metal structures can be so beautiful, or at least to me. On top of all that they have invited artists to create installations to compliment the wonder of this place. The installations fit in beautifully and are shown in some of my photos.

Matthew and Jonathan Stemlar : Juxtaposition

Judith Taylor : My Glass House

Linda Brenner : Ghost Cats