the Art of the Doll

On Christmas eve I had an early present when I went to the Newton Free Library to view Georgette Benisky's show, " The Art of the Doll". The show runs through Dec. 30th (I know it is short notice but if you can get there it is worth it!!) I found the show magical and inspiring ~ full of color and beautiful fabrics. Her dolls have a wonderful presence that took me in. One of my favorite pieces is Blanc ~ it made me stop and exhale, such a welcomed experience during the crazy holiday season!! As an artist i was very taken by the different materials and processes. I felt quite a kinship with the work - the wrapped arms of some of the dolls were similar to the tentacles on Medusa. And I was just plain moved by the fabrics and embrodiery. It was inspiring because I have been playing around with more ideas that revolve around fabric!! I so loved making Lush and really want to m

ake more fabric pieces!!! So the timing couldnot have been better.

So if you are in the neighborhood of the Newton Free Library (330 Homer Street, Newton Center) take the time to stop in and see the show - it is really a treat!!!

thanks & peace ~

Black Widow is heading for the windy city

Black Widow got accepted into the national Women's Caucus for Art's exhibition 'From the Center' to be shown at Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL. I am so excited ~ besides getting into this nationally juried show, the juror was Lucy Lippard!! Lucy Lippard is an internationally known writer, activist, and curator from the United States and she was an early champion of feminist art, and among the first writers to books on contemporary art. I have read many of her writings and I am so honored that she selected one of my pieces!!! Black Widow was one of only 45 pieces selected to be shown at Woman Made Gallery from over the 450 pieces submitted; there will be an addition 30 pieces to be featured in the online gallery and in the catalog. If you go to the online gallery you can read Lucy Lippard's entire juror's statement ~ but I wanted to highlight part of her statement here because it addresses DRESSES ......

"Another thread, so to speak, was the number of pieces on clothing, specifically dresses. How many of us wear dresses on a regular basis? Not me, for sure. Yet these dresses seem to represent fantasies. They are for little girls and sexy sirens, representing our childhoods (happy and unhappy) and the dreams of glamour and success that remain intertwined in the female image, often seen through a lens of irony or disillusion." ~Lucy Lippard

I am honored that one of my dresses will be represented in this exhibit! Now all I need to do i figure out how to ship Black Widow to Chicago (with no packing peanuts)....any suggestions????

peace

dress project 2010

Happy to announce that the dress project 2010 calendars are in the building!!! Twelve months of different dresses ~ something every house needs!!!

the calendars measure about 10x15" when open, and is bound with a double looped wire for easy opening. The calendar features many dresses, such as ~ fecund, the bread dress, & sizzzzzzzzzzle to name a few. This will be the fourth year of the dress project calendar and if I say so myself - this is the best so far!! some cool photos!!

So for a mere $20 (plus s/h) you too can have dresses all year long!! Just email yours truly and we can arrange to have one delivered to your door!! you can also email if need more information about the calendars or just want to say hi!! :)

~peace

want some arty, one of a kind gifts???

Just a reminder to checkout the Small Art Showcase for wonderful gifts for everyone!!! If you haven't heard about this wonderful site here is a brief description.....
a collection of fine artists who are making their work accessible and affordable to art lovers and collectors. These fine artists who, besides making larger scale work, are also making smaller work. All work presented by the artists via this site is priced between $25. - $500. Couldn't ask for anything better!?!

This is the second year that I am participating and I am trying a new format for my site ~ a blog page instead of a web page. On my site i am offering my 2010 dress project calendar & my book the Dress Project ~ the beginning ( a photographic documentary of how the dress project began in Well Beach, ME). You will also find my 4"x6" wall dresses (such as ~ Fortunate dress, shown lower right) & my photographs of the ephemeral dresses as well as some and other expressions in dress forms (such as Rose flow shown upper right).

Besides me there are other inspirational artists, like Jeanne Williamson, Catherine Evans, Deb Putnoi along with 20 others!!! Check out the site and the work of these artists, and consider supporting them by making a purchase :), or telling other people who appreciate art about this site. Some other arty sites to visit are The Fine Art Department and Whimsical Paintings, they are similar to Small Art Showcase. have fun surfing!!!

Thank you & peace

from Gallery Z.... join us this weekend

Please join us this weekend at Gallery Z!!
Gallery hours 12-8PM Saturday with a Special Sunday Event!!

This Sunday, December 13, 1:00 - 3:00PM Gallery Z is hosting a Champagne Toast to celebrate with all the artists included in this month's exhibition, "Functional Objects of Desire".

We're is thrilled to host this new, unique, and one-of-a-kind exhibition for our last show of the year. This show aims to highlight the functional aspect of artwork, allowing viewers to embrace the arts in their everyday lives.

Right on time for holiday shopping on Atwells, don't be surprised if you find the perfect gift for him, her, or even yourself! This show has a little bit of everything whether it's jewelry, furniture, accent lighting or a portrait; everything is one of a kind and hand crafted by local artisans.

Featured in this show are Andrea Valentini, Virginia Fitzgerald, Jennaca Davies, Karenna Maraj, Jeff Soderbergh, Deborah A. Bruns-Thomas, Dan Denton, Erik Bright, Joshua Enck, Jeff Edwards, Mike Pichette, and Carol Scavotto. Ewa Romaszewicz is offering portrait commissions with examples on display in the exhibition. Additionally, artwork by Kevork Mourad and Stephen Brigidi is on display.The Opening Reception for this show is Thursday, December 17, 5:00 - 9:00 PM and is combined with our monthly Art, Food & Wine.Featuring the cuisine of several restaurants from Federal Hill and wine, hand-selected by Mark Gasbarro of Gasbarro's Wines, 361 Atwells Avenue on Historic Federal Hill the event will benefit City Arts.

Go to http://www.galleryzprov.com/ for the full press release and to view a slide show of the artwork from this exhibit.
The Gallery is open 2-8PM Wednesday and 12-8 Thursday - Saturday, by chance, or by appointment.
Don't forget about FREE VALET PARKING courtesy of our neighbor Zooma, located 245 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI 02903.


About Gallery Z
Located on Providence's Historic Atwells Avenue (Exit 21 from Interstate 95) since 2001, Gallery Z offers an eclectic collection of works by 20th-21st century Armenian, American, international, and Rhode Island artists. Opening receptions are held on the third Thursday of each month. Owner and photographer Bérge Ara Zobian, spearheading efforts to raise public interest in the arts, dedicates an entire front window to the public forum.

Also, Gallery Z is a TAX FREE ZONE. For more information, click here.
And, as always, all exhibits are free and open to the public.

The gallery can be found on the World Wide Web at
Please feel free to contact the gallery at galleryzprov@aol.com.

Gallery Hours:

Wed 2-8pm
Thurs-Sat 12-8pm
By appointment and by chance

MEMBER - Gallery Night Providence
MEMBER - PWCVB, Providence Warwick Convention Visitors Bureau
MEMBER - Federal Hill Commerce Association
MEMBER - Americans for the Arts

Directions to Gallery Z:

From the North:
Take 95 South to Exit 21. At the end of the exit ramp, take a right onto Atwells Avenue.

From the South:
Take 95 North to exit 21. At the second set of lights take a left onto Atwells Avenue.

Gallery Z is located on your right at 259 Atwells Avenue.

Thursday, December 17th
5:00 - 9:00PM

two milestones for the Dress Project

Yesterday my friends and I made a road trip to Providence, Rhode Island to drop off 5 dresses at Gallery Z to be part of their show,"Functional Objects of Desire". I am especially excited about this show, besides being an exciting show in a great space, it represent two milestones for the Dress Project! The first being that this show is the 12th juried group show for the Dress Project in 2009 (besides my two installations ~ it has been a wonderfully full year!!)!!! And secondly ~ the Dress Project has crossed state lines!!!!

The dresses that left the state are two big sculptures ~ the 'Red Alert Cocktail dress' and 'In Memory of....' and 3 mini dresses fresh of the work table. Pictured here is 'tuck under thumb and hold firmly' or chopstick dress (it is made from chopstick wrapper that have the instruction on how to use chopsticks properly). I hope to post pictures of the other two later - one is another crossword puzzle dress and the other was inspired by 'this comes from within'. I called it 'precious', made out of rice paper, feather, eggshells and glitter ~ it makes my heart soar.

The show will run from December 9th ~ December 23rd with the opening reception on December 17th 5-9pm. The Gallery is wonderful and located in an Italian neighborhood full of yummy smells. After dropping off the work we had a delicious salad and pizza just down the street from the gallery so make a plan to come by the show then grabbing a tasty bite!!!

Another fun show that is featuring a dress is Icon and Altars at the New Art Center which is ending this Sunday. There will be a closing reception Sunday, December 13th, 3-5pm with the ticket drawing @ 4pm ~ i have heard it is lots of fun to be there for the drawing.

A wonderful ending to an fantastic year!! and i send many thanks out to the universe for offering me all these amazing opportunities and giving me the support systems to be able to seize the moments!!! I am truly, TRULY grateful and hunger for more ~ wonder what 2010 will hold?!!!! thx & peace!!!

poetry friday

this week I found the book 100 essential modern poems by women, edited by Joseph Parisi and Kathleen Welton at my local library. In this volume besides the 100 poems there are small biographies of each of the 49 women poets which I found as interesting to read as the poems!! while leafing through the pages of this wonderful find I came across this poem by May Swenson which i thought i'd share today. Along with this poem I have posted some of the photos that I took while in Portland, OR when my friend and i made the bread dresses.

Neither wanting more
by May Swenson

To lie with you
in a field of grass
to lie there forever
and let time pass

Touching lightly
shoulder and thigh
Neither wanting more
Neither asking why

To have your whole
cool body's length
along my own
to know the strength
of a secret tide
of longing seep
into our veins
go deep...deep

Dissolving flesh
and melting bone
Oh, to lie with you
alone

To feel your breast
rise with my sigh
To hold you mirrored
in my eye

Neither wanting more
Neither asking why

~ peace

For all those who were wondering.....

I got my stitches out and I am getting back to the studio. I must confess it has been a frustrating few weeks - not being able to work and especially not being able to get my hands WET! ~ an act that I will never take for granted again!!! So today as I was puttering around my studio, getting back into the swing of things, finishing up another mini~dress I celebrated having my hands free again! I was using some water based black stain and realized that I was pleased when my hands got black because I could wash them (it is amazing the wonders of small miracles) .... but then I remembered that I have always wanted to experiment with making a dress out of fingerprints!!!
What a great way to celebrate getting back to work and getting my hands dirty. Of course this is a no mistake kind of deal and the dress was getting wider than I wanted. But I also had fun overlapping the prints to create some dimension in the skirt. Definitely more fingerprint dresses to come. I was also wondering about using stain instead of ink, etc... So great to be back and be pondering these issues!!! Peace