I have been honored to participate in many of these workshop as a photographer and as a contributor, since David has used many of my sculptures as props/models. Here are some of my photographs from just a few of David's workshops!!!
'flirt ...' detail
The photographs that result from these workshops blow my mind!!! It is always a thrill and a treat to attend and for tomorrow David has put together an awesome line-up!!! hope you can join us!! XXXX
'lilith in blue ...', along with the beautiful and talented Melanie Moore and Kaya Alexandria Wadsworth Worthington, owner of CapeCodGypsea, were photographed in front of the Atlantic ocean. I thought that she looked so at home outside in the elements!!
During the lecture I spoke about 'lilith in blue ...' and the historical/biblical/mythical figure, Lilith.
talking during 'wake up and smell the poetry' 2015
Lilith's story can vary depending on the source. The one that I reference in the name of my sculpture is the Lilith that was Adam's first wife in the Garden of Eden. She was made like Adam, out of dirt, her own individual creation, not from any part of Adam. With this individuality came an independent spirit and a strong will which was not acceptable in Eden. So Lilith was banished from the garden and God made Eve, using a rib bone from Adam with the intention that Eve would be more obedient ... enter snake, stage right.
Upon relaying Lilith's story I recognized some similarities between my 'dressproject' and Lilith's strong will and eventual exile. 'lilith in blue ...' is a plaster dress sculpture on which I painted images which allude to life, nature, passion, pleasure, knowledge and femininity. As i spoke suddenly I saw this sculpture was an embodiment of my 'dressproject'.
After the lecture, I was planning to return 'lilith in blue ...' to my studio but in the driveway of my studio there was an old push grass cutter and I put 'lilith in blue ...' by the contraption. It felt like 'lilith' had a thought about this relic and suddenly I knew that 'lilith' had many thoughts and instead of going back into my studio, 'lilith' went back into my car to go out and contemplate the world.
She went many places last Spring and I witnessed a series develop -
be it in a book form, or in a gallery.
Sadly, I had to abandon lilith's adventures with the increasing pressures of 'real life', but I knew that her returned to the studio was temporary. If I can get funding for her travels we would be back on the road. in NO time flat. In fact when I envision this series I see lilith and I criss-crossing the country, contemplating the brooklyn bridge, the mississippi, a hay stack, an oil drill, the badlands!!!
the list can go on and on.
But until the lilith lottery ticket arrives,
here are a few of the photos from lilith's journeys so far.
'lilith contemplates evening ...' (2015)
'lilith contemplates single stream recycling ...' 2015
'lilith contemplates that freedom is not free ...' 2015
'lilith contemplates detours ...' 2015
'lilith contemplates the art of lisa barthelson ...' 2015
'lilith contemplates a change in careers ...' 2015
'lilith contemplates palettes ...' 2015
'lilith contemplates sanctuary ...' (2015)
'lilith contemplates the cost of parking ...' 2015
new cards at Renew in downtown Natick. note the cards featuring their great merchandise
print of illustrated quote
First I replenished the stock of cards and prints at Uni-T at the Natick Collection. I brought new cards as well as many new prints, which included some of my illustrations.
I introduced these illustrated prints at my open studio
Then on to Renew Arts & Industry, where not only did I restock their origami dresscards, but I added some of the new dress notecards, such as 'sizzzle...'
AND also added some notecards featuring some of my photographs of their beautiful merchandise!!
new dresscard image, 'sizzzzle ...'
' #kitchentableseries V ...' pen and ink. inspired by an instagram posting by another 'dress' artist, Karen Arp-Sandel.
In Attleboro, MA, you can find one of my #kitchentableseries drawings at the Attleboro Arts Museum as part of their Benefit Art Auction.
Today is the last day that you can bid online so make sure to click this link to bid and to see all the beautiful offerings.
And now for the big news!!! the California news!!
I am happy to announce that I made my first sale via/thanks to the internet!!
mixed media dress collage, is now in CA!!!
Thank you instagram's 'randomartist222', who saw my dress collage
that I had shared on instagram and inquired if it was for sale!!!
YES!!! but .... she was in CA and I in MA?!?!
Well she made some suggestions and she waited patiently as I set up my paypal account and investigated shipping and then voila, she still wanted it!! the USPS got it there safely, she liked it in person ....
SO
I successfully made my first online sale!!!!!!!
(the crowd goes wild!!!)
And with that under my belt ... there will be more!!!
This past Saturday I had the honor to speak at 'Wake up & Smell the Poetry". I spoke about my beloved #dressproject and what a wonderful experience it was for me!!! To get back into my #dressproject mindset is such a joy!!
And I was in the company of many inspiring and talented people. First, Susan McGee Bailey and Camille Breeze were the two other presenters (click here to read their bios) and then there were so many moving and wonderful performances/poems during the open mic. portion of the program.
I am happy to say for those far and those who couldn't attend, the entire exhilarating morning was taped by HCAM and will be available for viewing sometime in June.
(no worries, I will share when it is out!! ;-)
Below is a slideshow of the photos that I collected to accompany my talk; just a few of my dresses to help me demonstrate where the #dressproject has gone during these past nine years :)
Also on the exciting news front, this week I had my first day as shop photographer at this tremendously awesome store in Natick, RenewArts & Industry!! talk about this visual wonderland:
I am so excited about this opportunity as it has allowed me to purchase a Macro lens for my camera and it is such a treat to photograph all their amazingly cool merchandise!! So a win-win all around. So below are a few of the photos from my first day!! Loving my new lens!!!
see why I am so happy!! a visual wonderland!!!
So that's a bit of what has been keeping me out of trouble.
Also, as much as I LOVE writing these posts and would love to post daily,
I am realizing that isn't going to happen at this point in my life.
so please visit that blog and see what happening there!!
and, I will be here as much as I can, because as I was preparing for my lecture I referred to this blog many times and recognized the importance of this visual diary of my journey as a mother, artist and creator of the #dressproject. And I am truly grateful for your company on this terrific ride!! xx
as anyone who has read my blogs know I have a love/hate relationship with all things social media!!!
I understand it's perks but I am very suspicious of the black hole of time is can be and how social media fans the flames of comparison and create even more internal strive.
So thank you all for the 'likes'!! That is one of the perks of social media, these venues bring like minded people together. The people who like my FB page are interested in the going-ons of my studio and my work. That is a wonderful, wonderful gift to an artist!!!
then there is my ongoing and omnipresent obsession with the dress . . .
#vadressobsessed.
I wonder if other mothers get distracted by the idea that
bacon strips would make an awesome skirt??
'janus . . . ' #fromthelandofdragons In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, and thereby of gates, doors, doorways, passages and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past. It is conventionally thought that the month of January is named for Janus, but according to ancient Roman farmers' almanacs Juno was the tutelary deity of the month.
Janus presided over the beginning and ending of conflict, and hence war and peace. The doors of his temple were open in time of war, and closed to mark the peace. As a god of transitions, he had functions pertaining to birth and to journeys and exchange, and in his association with Portunus, a similar harbor and gateway god, he was concerned with travelling, trading and shipping. (thank you wikipedia)
