Arty happenings, THIS week!!!!!

Some of many exciting events that are on the calendar this coming week, in no particular order!!!!

First I am so pleased to be exhibiting some of my dressphotos at the Wellesley Center Starbucks for the month of November! So if you are in the area make sure to stop in for a toasty warm drink as the cold northeastern winter months arrive.

As I hung my photos last night,  I remembered that it was over 7 years ago that I exhibited some of my still life paintings at this exact Starbucks, in fact on this exact wall. This realization gave me a moment to reflect on the amazing journey that I have been on and how intrigued I am about where the journey will take me!

Secondly, this Sunday I hope you will join me at the Artisan Market at Roots and Wings. This past week I have been I have been madly making dresscards and other daily dress intentions inspired items. Roots and Wings is a lovely place, offering wonderful classes in yoga, meditation and so much more. The market will support Roots & Wings' nonprofit organization Branching Out for Youth.

Then last but not least!!, I am so sad to say that 'breaking open' is almost closing. The show ends on Nov. 10th. But there are still some events that may help you get there!!

On Thursday, November 7th, from 5-8, we are having a gathering where the gallery will be open later.  Come by for some refreshments and lively conversation!!  I'll be there to talk about the work and answer any questions.  

I am also gallery sitting on Saturday, November 9th from 2-5pm and plan to be there late Sunday afternoon.  So stop by if you can. 

The experience of putting together an exhibit I find to be quite the roller coaster ~ exhilarating, challenging, exhausting and yet satisfying and so rewarding.    You work so hard to put together a cohesive body of work, then deliver and install the work.  After that, there is the excitement of the opening and, if you are lucky, there will be an artist's talk.  These events usually go on when you are in a state of exhaustion, disbelief and excitement, having just installed the show.   

Then once those big events are finished, you have the job of getting people to go to the gallery. For me this is one of the harder parts of exhibiting.  In today's busy, busy world I am torn about adding one more invitation, obligation to the mix.  

But then again I am proud of the work, and especially for sculpture, one gets such a richer experience by being with the work, verses seeing it in pictures.  So I set up events that might make the visit more enjoyable. 

But this is part of being an exhibiting artist! It is a job/calling/passion that I love!! and an experience that I am so blessed to have the opportunity to share!!! 

p.s. one last event!

tonight is the annual benefit auction for the Attleboro Arts Museum.  I went last year and it was SO fun!!! Also I donated one of my 'home sweet home' collages,' somethings fishy'. Click here if you want to bid online ~ 

Well time to make more dresscards!!! peace

next up . . .the 'breaking open' artists' talk

I appreciate this is short notice 

AND I appreciate that this is not a great time for many (?!?!?) 

I was especially wondering how we came up with this time and date as I was preparing my girls' dinner at 6AM this morning so they can eat while I am chatting about my work ?!?!?!?

alas, now a days there really isn't a good time to plan much of anything :) 

But if you can make it this evening,

 Anne Wright Gilson and I, Virginia Fitzgerald, 

are going to be chatting about our work in 'breaking open', 

this evening, Oct. 22nd, from 5-7pm, at Fountain Street Fine Art. peace ~

And here are a few pictures from the opening taken by gallery visitors.  I especially like the one with the close up of one of my ceramic dresses with gallery visitors and other dress sculptures in the background!!! That was taken by artist/musician and awesome guitar teacher, Steve Broadley!

my co-hort in art, Anne Gilson!!! 

for your visual entertainment

TODAY is a BIG DAY!!!
if you can make sure to stop by, either my open studios or the reception for 'breaking open' which is tonight at Fountain Street Fine Art!!! click invitations below for more information

And for your visual entertainment, below is a video of me demonstrating the many ways of exhibiting 'raw'

next on the agenda . . .

Now that 'breaking open' is open, I am suddenly able to think about other things.  'breaking open' had hijacked most of my brain's band width for the past months!

I have physically felt my mind slowly recognizing that the show is hung and that that task is done.  It was an amazing feeling, however brief, because soon everything that I had put off; taxes, student progress reports and other commitments, all started vying for my attention.  But it all good!!

In fact this next weekend is going to be wonderful, so full of art and art talk!  And I wanted to give all a head's up so you can come join the fun.

First, on the evening of Saturday, October 19th, at Fountain Street Fine Art, we will be having the opening reception for 'breaking open'.  The official time is 5-7 but I am thinking we might be there a bit longer.  Anne Gilson and I are so excited about sharing this show with everyone.

October 19 & 20, noon - 5pm.  my studio is at the
Winchell Building Artists Studios,  25 washington ave.

But before the reception one can take in more art at the Natick Open Studios, in which I am a participant!!

Yes, for most of Saturday and all of Sunday I will be in my studio, chatting with all those wonderful folks that stop by.

I am also so pleased that Eujin Kim Neilan of Uni-T fame is going to sharing my studio with me.  So make sure you come by to see her original paintings as well as her silk screened apparel and accessories.

All these arty events basically guarantee a wonderful weekend, one in which I hope that you can join me.
Thank you and peace ~

Natick Artists Open Studios
October 19 & 20, 2013
noon - 5 pm
Winchell Building Artists Studios,  
25 washington ave.  Natick, Massachusetts
link above for link to map

'breaking open' is OPEN!!!!!

I have so much to say about these works,

 but for now the photos will tell the story . . .

'to have and to hold', 'womb wrap (uterus), 'raw' and 'random' 

with paintings by Anne Wright Gilson

 'random' (detail) organic crocheting

metamorphosis' - collaborative sculpture 

created with the Dana Hall student body 

in the spring of 2013

'to have and to hold' (detail) 

press release

'tethered and torqued' and 'this is me, a work in progress' 

'to have and to hold', 'metamorphosis' and 'dear jeff'. 

paintings on the wall by Anne Wright Gilson 

'this is me, a work in progress' embroidery on vintage slip

'shiva' acrylic and pencil on arches watercolor paper. 

this painting was started in 2011, at Vermont Studio Center

and finished about hour before delivering it the gallery

'tethered and torqued' and 'breaking free' 

' to have and to hold'  sculptural dress made mostly out of white rubber gloves.

And here is a favorite dressdrawing/quote 

that has motivated me during these past months ~

peace

so many gloves so little time . . . .

Here is a little visual teaser about one of the pieces that I am hoping  to exhibit next week  at my two person show, 'breaking open' with Anne Gilson at Fountain Street Fine Art.  

The working title of this piece is 'to have and to hold .  .  .' 

one person's trash is another's treasure or inspiration

I had been wanting to work with rubber gloves for a long time.  It was when I found this metal structure by the side of the road did the idea for this sculpture solidify!

Look Mom, it's a hat!!!

First I wrapped the structure with fabric, tulle and ribbon, in whites, pinks, and creams

.

and then the attaching began . . . 

and continued . . . 

and continued . . .

I should have bought the gloves in bulk!!

detail

will it ever stop?!?!? not yet

To see the final piece, come to the show ~ opening reception October 19th, 5-7pm.

and yes that is the same weekend 

as the Natick Artist Open Studios!!!

so come prepared for a weekend of awesome ART!!!

peace

the uterus is in the mail . . .

Finally I  got this piece, 'garden of eden' into the mail, to be included in Helen 

Klebesadel, The Exquisite Uterus: The Art of Resistance.

I am so excited about this piece and this project and

I even got my sweetie Harriet to participate.

Harriet's contribution, a uterus covered with coins

This piece/project has inspired an entire series of fiber organs which I hope to have finished for my up-coming show, 'breaking open' with Anne Gilson at Fountain Street Fine Art!

Working on my heart now.

Be sure to check out all the amazing and exquisite on pinterest ~ 

Exquisite Uterus Preview Board ~

The Exquisite Uterus Project: The Art of Resistance:

 Posted here are images of completed and/or in progress Uterii that are a part of the now traveling EUP: Art of Resistance Exhibition. The project was initiated in the spring of 2012 in reaction to the most current ‘War on Women.’ Artists and educators Alison Gates and Helen Klebesadel decided to offer feminists the opportunity to participate in this collaborative art project to channel some of the rage we were experiencing at the attacks on women’s reproductive health in this political environment, and to raise funds for women's reproductive health organizations. The response has been overwhelming. Plans are underway to create a fundraising catalog and to make it possible for others to participate in the digital part of this project. In the meantime you can find the fabric to participate here: http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/1080580 The original exhibition's path (Future venues in the works): Union Art Gallery, UW-Milwaukee, September 2013 Armory Gallery, UW-Madison, March 2013, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, January 2013 Steinhilber Art Gallery, UW-Oshkosh, September 2012

Currently on my worktable . . .

 my contribution to

  Helen Klebesadel's Exquisite Uterus Project.

This is a project that I LOVE!!

As I mentioned in a past post, me and uteri, 

this project jump started my creative juices 

and the process has been very gratifying. 

I plan to add more beads along the fallopian tubes 

and stitch the flower/uterus piece of fabric to the lace.  

But otherwise I believe it is near completion, 

which is good as it is due 

at the end of the month.

This post is an example of a newer approach 

I am taking with this blog ~

showing work in progress. 

I want to do this for a few reasons:

first, I love to see other artist's processes.  

Secondly, I am hoping use this blog

 as a way to 'curate' an exhibition ~

In a few months I am part of 

a two person show at Fountain Street Fine Art.  

I am showing with the talented Anne Gilson, 

and I still am not completely 

sure what I am going to show.  

(don't tell anyone :)

So to feign off panic

 I thought I'd post shorter post with 

the work that excites me, 

the work that I am using 

my precious time to create,

the work in all it's glory, 

in all its different states.

 And maybe via the lens of my blog, 

I will see a pattern or a direction to take 

for this show?!?! 

Also I would love to hear what you, 

faithful my readers, 

see or think about the work.

Collaboration is a wonderful 

and powerful tool!

So feel free to email me 

or leave a comment!!

Now back to the worktable ~

thank you & peace

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