Look at the little things ...

feel free to print this calendar for y9our personal enjoyment

“Find magic in the little things, and the big things you always expected will start to show up.”

― Isa Zapata

Your #virginiacreates May calendar is coming to you a bit late because I was on an artist's retreat in San Gimignano, Italy and, blessedly, I had little WiFi.  The retreat was run by Michael Dowling of Spoke, www.spokeart.org, an amazing organization that I highly recommend you look at the work that they do!!! 

This month's #virginiacreates calendar is featuring one of the collages that I made during my retreat.  Inspired by a story that Michael shared on our first morning.  He spoke about a woman who was committed to an asylum and who collected stuff out of the trash to embroider and to create with.  The asylum staff saw this habit of going through the trash as proof of her mental sickness and medicated her.  This story broke my heart on so many levels.   I am a woman who has used trash and debris in much of her work - from an international business of making jewelry out of used bottle caps to a room sized installation centered around a n 8 foot dress sculpture made out of used eggshells. 

the magical city of San 
Gimignano   

So on my first day of retreat,  I wondered the magical streets of this medieval town with Michael's story replaying in my head.  Soon my attention was drawn to a discarded museum ticket and this series began.  Below are some more of these collages.  Most are created on 4x6 watercolor paper, though as the series progressed I was just working with my found treasures, creating unique art objects.

peace

many of the 'collages'

property of Virginia Fitzgerald

property of Virginia Fitzgerald

 

so this is happening ...

Earlier this year I was invited to have a solo exhibition at the Anderson Gallery at Bridgewater State University.  When touring the gallery space I was told that I could paint on the walls which made my heart jump for joy.  

One of my favorite exhibits had been my installation 'this comes from within ...' which was staged at Michael Dowling's Medicine Wheel, back in 2009.  For this piece I covered the walls of the gallery with what I now refer to as my 'intuitive line painting'. So when I was presented with the option of painting on the gallery's walls I jump at it.

Instead of covering the entire gallery I decided to concentrate on one side of the gallery, creating a space centered around my sculpture, 'lilith in blue ...' For this installation I have covered a desk, a medicine cabinet, a rocking horse and a hanging panel of fabric, along with numerous knick-knacks, with my 'intuitive line painting' in blue and white, to create 'lilith's room ...'  

I am very excited about this installation.  I have been painting the components in my studio for the past few months and wish to share a few of the 'in process' photos and videos here.

lilith's rocking horse ...

flipping the hanging fabric panel to paint the other side ...

the second side of the fabric panel wit ladder

a quick look at how I create the particular line quality for my 'intuitive line painting'

a colleague suggested that my process creates a look similar to batik.

This is quite an undertaking so watch this space as there is more to come ...

thank you and peace

'out beyond ...', my contribution to the Medicine Wheel's Day Without Art

'out beyond ...' acrylic on board, 2x2ft

This fall Michael Dowling put out a call for artist to create one of 1,000 panels to be exhibited during  Medicine Wheel's Day without Art and I jumped at the opportunity.  I have worked with Michael and Medicine Wheel on numerous occasions and each time has been a rewarding and inspiring experience,  as was the case with this time. 

The vigil starts tonight at 11:30pm at the BCA and continues for 24 hours. Here is more information about the event, a link to Medicine Wheel Productions as well as a link to donate to this important community.  And below that information is a bit about this painting as well as a visual documentation of the many stages that the painting went through.  Enjoy! 

Medicine Wheel Vigil 

Day Without Art

World AIDS Day 

Friday December 1, 2017

Boston Center for the Arts 

539 Tremont Street 

Boston, MA 02116 

Vigil begins at 11:30 pm on 

Thursday November 30th 

on the BCA Plaza 

and runs for the full 24 hours of Friday December 1st 

ending at Midnight. 

Gather at 11:30 for a processional walk into the Cyclorama Plaza! 

In 1987 a small group gathered in a San Francisco storefront to document the lives they feared history would forget. This action served as the beginning of the Names Project, also known as the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Today, 30 years later, over 1000 artists, visual and performing, have re-invested in the power of that action to create a space to hold the human heart, a space to reflect, a space to remember, a space to see who we can be for ourselves and one another. 

To honor this anniversary we will be displaying a large section of the AIDS Memorial Quilt during the vigil. 

Please bring an offering of remembrance to leave in one of the Medicine Wheel shrines. 

DONATE

World AIDS Day 

Friday December 1, 2017

Boston Center for the Arts 

539 Tremont Street 

Boston, MA 02116 

Vigil begins at 11:30 pm on 

Thursday November 30th 

on the BCA Plaza 

and runs for the full 24 hours of Friday December 1st 

ending at Midnight.

Now about 'out beyond ...' 

This Fall I saw this call for art,

" As we gear up for the 26th annual Medicine Wheel and the 29th Day Without Art/ World AIDS Day we are looking for 1000 artists to re-invest in the power of Art and Healing to create a space that holds the human condition. Please consider painting a 2 foot by 2 foot panel with the theme of AIR in the colors of the sky to be part a the 1000 voice mural at the Boston Center for the Arts December 1."

and I happily answered YES! 

With the theme of AIR and the colors of the sky I decided I would work in blues and revisit my ' intuitive line paintings' from my installation that I creates in 2009 with Medicine Wheel, 'this comes from within ...'  Painting the walls for that installation is one of my fondest creative moment memories!!

'wall detail' from 'this comes from within ...'

 I love how organic these method of painting is for me.  

This painting method is a true dialogue between me and the work, 

as you will see how this painting went through so many versions 

before the painting and I agreed it was finished.  

When I got the blank white 2x2 board I started out by painting in big letters,

"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing"

Recently I am enamored with Rumi's poems and 

especially this line and the meaning of these words.

Once the words were painted, my journey began, shapes and objects appeared

and disappeared.  

in this photo you can still see a few of the lettering ...

at this point the lettering has vanished ...

now is the time with the subtle changes ... this can also be the most frustrating time
as I don't want to overwork the painting, but somethings still don't feel right

painting in my living room, my daughters are so patient with me :)

voila - the finished painting, waiting to head back to Medicine Wheel Productions

Enough already!!!

“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” Scott Adams

a story ~ Last Friday, Illustration Friday’s topic was 'trail' (I was very excited about the topic, had many ideas but alas never executed them, but that another story). I was reviewing some of the others entries and came across an illustrator who made a trail of dead fish and wrote in her comment ‘enough already!’ ~ I could not agree more (I can’t find the link to the illustration but I will post it asap when I find it). Then the same day I saw one of those heart wrenching images of a bird covered with oil with only his open, sad eye showing through. The next day I read an editorial about how there should be criminal charges brought against BP because this disaster came from cost cutting and neglect, but once again it sounds like the real guilty are protected by the structure of big corporation. Grrrr….

For a few days this all percolated until I decided that I was pissed and wanted to make a dress about the oil spill…. That day my mind was on fire – I was sketching, pondering, playing with different materials. However the next morning I found my critic talking me out of this dress ~ ‘a cliché, what am I going to do with another large sculpture, I should focus on the projects I have going on in my studio, blah, blah’. So I put that dress idea aside, trying to ignore this quiet ache in my heart. Now it was Friday again and Illustration Friday presented a special topic ~ Ripple!! The special part is that all entries can be posted for sale on this new website which was started by a community of artists trying to make a difference and raising money for the relief efforts in the gulf!!! (Click here to get the full story) It is inspiring and wonderful and ignited my oil spill passion again!! So I am back thinking about a possible ‘oil’ dress but this also reconnected me with my installation ‘this comes from within’.

As I figured out what my donation illustration would be, my mind went back to walls of ‘this comes from within’ ~ my installation that I created last summer. This piece has been heavily on my mind!!! It was a year ago that I started working on transforming the gallery at Medicine Wheel. I miss that project!!! ~ the scope of it, the intensity, the focus, how it challenged me in so many ways and I pulled it off!!. In my studio I have started painting shaped pieces of wood in a similar style to the walls of the installation – limited color palette and that intuitive approach to the painting – 'what does my gut say to paint here'. I am excited about this work ~ creating those walls last year was a magical experience for me. So with my ‘ripple’ illustration in mind I reviewed some of my photos from ‘this comes from within’ and was surprised by how they felt timely and appropriate for a cry of outrage for this disaster. So many marine and marsh animals were represented on those walls – sea turtles, crabs, nesting birds, lizards, some much more & I am sure there was even a mermaid or two looking out. Now I am not sure what my 'ripple' illustration will be but I wanted to share some of my creatures with you today and to encourage you to check out the 'ripple' site and purchase some original art and support the cause to help the animal victims of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill.

it has a great sound track too!!!! peace all!!!

http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com/

Natick artist fashions found objects into sculpture - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News

Natick artist fashions found objects into sculpture - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News

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BIG RED & SHINY: EXHIBITION & EVENT LISTINGS

BIG RED & SHINY: EXHIBITION & EVENT LISTINGS:

"MEDICINE WHEEL PRODUCTIONS
'this comes from within'
October 4, 2009 - October 16, 2009

This Sunday, Oct 4th, 2:30 - 5:30 meet Virginia Fitzgerald, the artist of 'this comes from within'.

Upon entering the gallery one is stuck by the power and emotion of the piece. You enter this dark world through a membrane of tulle and find yourself at the base of a glowing, larger than life dress of eggshell and papier-mâché. As your eyes adjust, the rest of the fecund environment reveals itself. 'this comes from within' will be up until October 16th @ Medicine Wheel Productions,
110 K St # 9
Boston, MA 02127-1619
(617) 268-6700
gallery hours: m-f 10-4
Closing party : October 14th, 5:00- 8:00 pm

'this comes from within' photos

'this comes from within' is complete and open ~ now my job is to document it and get the word out about it before it comes DOWN (in two weeks). As I worked diligently on this all summer i knew it was an installation - with a break-down date & i was ok with that. But true confessions - October 16th is coming much faster than I want!!! The the opening was wonderful and i got in there with a tripod and got some good pictures ~ so things are good. And I am set up some extra gallery hours (*see note below) and there will be a party on October 16th!!!! (mark your calendars).

Here is a link to an album of some photos of the installation~

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=115839&id=127363913633&l=208e0e8cb8

and I hope to have a video soon!!!

**** EXTRA GALLERY HOURS THIS WEEKEND!!!! ~ Sunday 2:30~5:30

i hope to have something yummy - brownies and cider!!

peace

I got a feeling that tonight is going to be a good night!!!

there is nothing like a song that totally fits the feeling of the moment ~ thank you Black Eyed Peas & itunes!!!

So tonight is the night ~ and 'this comes from within' is actually, mostly, basically, for the most part finished. After logging in an 11 hours day yesterday I turned the lights out on the gallery feeling good!! Of course there are a thousand different things that i want to change, remake or tweak but for tonight the piece is ready!!!! And surprising I am ready!!! One might think that i would be in a deep sleep coma but there is NOTHING like adrenaline and the high one gets from watching people respond to your work. The past few days people have wandering in to see how the installation is coming along and I have been blessed to witness how they are moved. It has been such a long, amazing journey ~ starting in February when I was offered this tremendous opportunity, and then since June 1st basically living @ Medicine Wheel, physically creating the space. There is so much I would love to share about the process however today I need to take care all those wonderful details needed for an opening - food, business cards... and then take a breathe & tried to be present for the opening. I feel so blessed to be able to follow this overwhelming passion and to have so many people around me who cheer me on - thank you!!! & peace!!!
p.s. it is nearly impossible to capture the installation ~ but here is a attempt, but if you can come see it!!! it is an experience!!! :)

Finally.....

Michael Dowling & Medicine Wheel Productions
present
‘this comes from within’
an installation by
Virginia Fitzgerald

September 18th ~ October 16th, 2009

opening Reception~
Friday, September 18th, 5-8pm

Medicine Wheel Productions
110 K St.
South Boston, MA
Gallery hours: M~F 10-4
or by appt.

further info.
call (617)596-5179 or (617)268-6700
~
virginia fitzgerald fan page
on facebook
~
www.virginiafitzgerald.com
www.medicinewheelproductions.org

peace





(for some reason it took me FOREVER to get this postcard together. nothing like placing the order for your show's invitation less than 2 weeks from the opening -- nothing like last minute promotion :) if you want to have a postcard sent to you please sent me your address!!!)

We have a DATE!!!!

The date has been set for the opening reception of my installation at Medicine Wheel ~

drum roll please.......

Friday, September 18th 5~8pm.

So mark your calendars, plan your evening, get a babysitter... it should be worth it!!

Of course I still need to finish it but all in good time. Right now i am trying to create the invite and I am struggling with my photo decision. Since the space is not finished I am going for a detail, a close-up, kind of a teaser ~ here are some that i am thinking about ..... any suggestions???

bachelor #1 ~

bachelor #2 ~

bachelor #3 ~

bachelor #4 ~

bachelor #5 ~

Also Medicine Wheel got a great article in the Herald this Sunday ~ http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20090823reclaiming_no_mans_land/srvc=home&position=7

Lots going on ~ very exciting!! So spread the word because this installtion, my entire summer of work, is only going to be there for a few weeks!!! the fun of an installation!!! Peace!!!

Eggshell installation update

The installation @ Medicine Wheel is coming along!!!! Here is a view of the gallery ~ showing the door cutout and most of the mural. In the middle of the floor is an 8 ft circle of sheet metal.

Below are some close up of the mural (the white lines are chalk lines)

It has been an adventure to see where the mural goes - it just grows and grows....
After the mural reached a certain stage it was time to focus on the main point of this installation...the eggshell dressafter collecting mirrors we started breaking them ~ a popular job among my helpers. I told all who asked ~ that if you break a mirror in the name of creativity you get 7 years GOOD LUCK!!! There is a lot of good luck at Medicine Wheel :)

Once broken then we pasted the pieces on to the metal circle. I wanted to do the mosaic before the dress so that the dress would sit on the mirrors. I have now come to reconsider this order of process because as i am building the dress I hear the mirror pieces readjusting below my knees.

But once the mirror mosaic was complete ~ the dress was begun!!!! eggshell by eggshell.....

There is still much to be done and time is running short. The official opening reception date has not been finalized although i believe it will be in the second week of September as there will be a new show in the gallery at the end of September.

It has been such a wonderful experience working with the Medicine Wheel crew ~ we have realized that almost everyone of the fifty some students that are working there this summer has worked on this installation in some capacity.

This summer the students are also working hard on a park in the community called No Man's Land. The Medicine Wheel youth group began reclaiming this area of South Boston in 1998 ~ this summer they are selling bricks which will be used to make a path which they call 'Our Common Path'. If interested you can buy an engraved brick which will sponsor their Youth Employment Program - all funds go directly to employ the Medicine Wheel youths. If you are interested email medicine wheel or go to their website http://www.medicinewheelproductions.org/. I was able to go to a hot dog social this week at No Man's Land and I found it a very inspiring oasis!!

So there is the update .. now back to the eggshells!!!! peace!!!

Awesome Al!!!

Work at Medicine Wheel is cruising along!!! The energy and enthusiasm is thrilling. I can't tell you what it is like to watch your ideas comes to fruition & at such a scale!! On Tuesday I came in to find the dress 'doorway' cut and the walls gray. Then to add to my glee, my sheet metal was delivered to me by awesome Al. He is a painting student of Michael's and a man who knows about sheet metal. Last week as I was pondering the floor and what the dress would sit on I thought that a circle of sheet metal would be ideal. I mentioned this to Michael, wondering if he knew of a good place to find such a treasure and he said to talk to Al who happened to be in class that day. Al was so helpful and in less than week later I had my 8 ft. round circle of sheet metal. The serendipity of this project so far is blowing my mind!!! I am also aware of how pieces of this installation are coming together… the dress doorway leads to a back area of the school. When I started this project it was a small black space but on Tuesday that had changed and that space was completely opened up. Suddenly I saw that space as part of the installation ~ a exhibition area for my pink foam pieces. I put up some pink tulle that I had brought and I loved the effect. Who knows what the end result will be however this project is teaching me to be open, experiment, consider all possibilities and see what feeds off what. And having my wonderful helpers makes this all so much more possible!!! As the space became gray I realized that the ceiling needed to be black – so Billy started to paint the ceiling black. And Amy has been a stellar painter ~ painting gray paint around my black lines. Rachel has overcome her fears of heights up while on the ladder painting the pipes black. Jake is always ready to help ~ finding me a ladder or helping me get my doorway flush into the wall!!! I am truly blessed to have such helpful helping hands!!!

Thanks all & peace,

Let the excitement begin.....

At the beginning of the month the gallery at Medicine Wheel was emptied and I began my eggshell dress installation. Even though I had been planning and sketching and plotting for the past months - once the room was empty all bets were off - everything in my mind shifted. I suddenly realized that not only was I going to be building a large eggshell dress I had to create an entire environment. I needed to consider the walls, the ceiling, the floor, the lighting, .....

One thing i hadn't planned on was a door in the middle of the back wall. I was told I could anything I wanted to with it - change the size, change the shape or cover it up. I realized that i didn't want to cover it because having the door gave the room air, it allowed for a draft, a breeze ~ I wanted to have the room breathe. So I was keeping the door but how to have it work with the eggshell dress???

my first thought was to make it a dress, like a shadow. I took a piece of charcoal and sketched the dress on the wall to get a visual of what that would look like. I drew a large dress encompassing the entire door as it was. Once I drew the dress I started sketching an environment around the dress. I drew this room totally out of whack - a huge couch, a bed with wrong proportions, wild plants ~ Dr. Seuss meets Alice in Wonderland.

Now I realized that the dress door was too big but I had liked the scale of some of the sketches so I thought I'd just outline SOME of the drawings in black. Well once I had my paint brush in hand outlining some of the drawings ~ I couldn't stop!!! The ideas were flowing out of my brush and onto the wall - I was in the zone. This line lead to this shape.....

Now the idea for the space was to have the entire room painted a dark, warm gray with black line drawings over the gray, & my thought was that the black lines of my sketches would show through the gray paint. Well it didn't - the gray was too dark~ bummer. So after taking a moment to realize that i had covered most of the room with my black line drawings that were NOT going to show thru, I needed to reassess. The new plan was to decide what of the sketches I really liked and paint around them, and what sketches could be totally painted over. SO with the help of some of the amazing Medicine Wheel students I started painting the walls gray. It was A LOT of work - but it almost done.
This installation has been such a learning and growing experience for me already and I have just begun. When I am not at Medicine Wheel physically working, I am working different elements out in my head(even in my dreams). I am learning how to direct people and to open up my creative process. I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity and so excited to be along for the ride!!! peace