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

Poetry Friday

I have moved my weekly poetry posts to Friday to be part of "Poetry Friday" at the suggestion of my dear friend & awesome writer ~ Martha Calderaro. I am still trying to get an idea of what exactly poetry Friday is, however I do know many writers and poets post poetry on Friday and one of them 'hosts'. I also know i have discovered many a wonderful poem surfing around on Friday, so here is my poem for this week ~ one of my favorites by William Carlos Williams

The Red Wheelbarrow

so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white
chicken

I was first introduced to this poem in an illustration class eons ago ~ the teacher gave us this poem to illustrate. As the images exploded before my eyes the lines settled into my mind, for me to return to many times. Then recently I discovered this beautiful picture book about William Carlos Williams' life ~ A River Of Words the story of William Carlos Williams written by Jen Bryant & illustrated by Melissa Sweet. The illustrations and design of this book blew me away - I think it is a true treasure that I highly recommend you seek out and enjoy ~ the story of a passion for poetry, the wonderful poems and the fantastic illustrations!!!

peace

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Well i hope everyone has had a wonderful day of thanks & gratitude. Don't know if anyone has noticed but it has been a bit quiet on this end of this blog. The reason being is that a week ago I was involved in an incident that put my hands out of commission for awhile :(. Both hands had to have stitches but luckily nothing too serious and for this I am truly thankful. But I have had to lay low & rest which is one of my life lessons that I keep struggling with. So on this day of thanks I am truly grateful for my hands that will heal and will soon be messing around in the studio again. It is these times that make me appreciate how much working & creating is as important to me as breathing. So I will be back (soon i hope) but for now I wish for all peace and love!!!

just a few reminders.....

Friday, November 13, 6-8pm ~ opening reception for the Icons & Alters 16th annual benefit exhibition @ the New Art Center, Newton, MA. Follow this link to see all the pieces that are available! The show runs from Nov.13th - Dec. 13th, 2009.

Also mark your calendars for RED It's more than a color: metaphor, feeling idea or hue @ the Cambridge Art Association. I am happy to announce that Lush was accepted in this show. The show will run from Nov. 10th, 2009 - Jan. 14th, 2010 and is exhibited in 2 places - the Kathryn Schultz Gallery, 25 Lowell St. & University Place Gallery, 124 Mount Auburn St (both in Cambridge). The opening reception is Friday, November 20th, 6-8pm in both galleries. This show was juried by Carl Belz, Director Emeritus, Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. I am not sure where Lush is but will let you al know as soon as I do :).

Other arty events not to miss ....

The Dana Hall School Art Gallery will feature an exhibit by David A. Lang titled Sculpture from October 20 through November 24, 2009. Gallery Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. And here is an article about the show ~ there is a video too!!!


Also an installation by Evelyn Berde ~ "Leaving The River" an Installation of Art about Loss and Love, Mass College of Art & Design, Arnheim Gallery
November 16, 2009 – December 3, 2009
Opening Reception: November 18, 2009, 5 to 9 pm

the poem for the week

Otherwise
by Jane Kenyon

I got out of bed
on two strong legs.
It might have been
otherwise. I ate
cereal, sweet
milk, ripe, flawless
peach. It might
have been otherwise.
I took the dog uphill
to the birch wood.
All morning I did
the work I love.

At noon I lay down
with my mate. It might
have been otherwise.
We ate dinner together
at a table with silver
candlesticks. It might
have been otherwise.
I slept in a bed
in a room with paintings
on the walls, and
planned another day
just like this day.
But one day, I know,
it will be otherwise.

Hot off the Presses ~ i got my first grant!!!

This weekend I learned that I was one of the lucky artists to receive The Artist's Valentine Grant!!! This is my first grant and I am very excited!! Thank you Ben Aronson who was the juror this year, and everyone who is involved in this great program. I love the concept ~ artists supporting artists ~ below is a list of the recipients & a little information about the whole idea.
2009 Grant Recipients, juried by Ben Aronson
David Lang - Kinetic Sculpture

Virginia Fitzgerald - Sculpture
A. Laan - Photography
Laraine Armenti - Oil Painting
Judith Jaffe - Mixed Mediums
Carolyn Stock - Stained Glass
Margot Stage- Fiber

Since 1996 over $47,000 has been awarded to visual artists of every discipline: painters, fiber artists, printmakers, installation artists — the gamut. Every penny of these grants has come from the sale of artist-made valentines. All labor is volunteer, and all valentines are donated.

Proceeds from the annual Valentine sales (which have been held every Feb. for the past 13 years) are used to fund a juried grant competition for artists. Artists who have donated work to the Artist's Valentine are eligible to apply for an unrestricted grant to further their art. The awards are made through the jurying of slides or digital images (of their professional work).

Ten nationally known museum curators, gallerists, professors, working artists, and critics have served as jurors to the Artist’s Valentine, including Barbara Krakow, Nick Capasso, Pamela Clark Cochrane, Bernard Toale, Joseph Carroll and Ben Aronson, among others.

thank u 4 waiting!!

this dress will be part of the Icons & Alters Show at Newton's Nen Art Center. I am very excited to be part of this event. I have listed all the informattion about the show below. The opening is this Friday - it is a beautiful space and should be a fun party!!! peace



icons + altars
The New Art Center's
16th Annual Benefit Exhibition
November 13 - December 13, 2009

Opening Reception:
Friday, November 13, 6-8pm

icons + altars features work by 107 regional artists who have created work specially for this exhibition + sale to benefit the New Art Center. Artists respond to the themes of "icons" + "altars" in many media including painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, ceramics, + sculpture.

Visiting the gallery is always FREE!

107 tickets for artwork are available for the 107 pieces in the show. Buy a $250 ticket to select an original work of art and support the New Art Center. Each ticket enters you in the drawing at the closing reception, where you are guaranteed to take home an engaging piece of art. Due to the diversity of work and tastes, the majority of ticket holders get one of their top choices!

Purchase your ticket by 7:30pm on opening night for a chance to receive an additional ticket!

Purchase your ticket by November 10 and receive a $15 Gift Certificate to Limited Editions located at 1176 Walnut Street, Newton Highlands

To purchase tickets for art please call (617) 964-3424, visit the gallery, or send in a Mail-in order form.

Gallery Information ~ all of our exhibitions are free and open to the public.

Gallery Hours:
Monday -Friday 9am-5pm
Sat & Sun 1-5pm
Closed November 26-28; Open Sunday, November 29.

a poem a week keeps.....

As I am still trying to come down from my many extremely creative months working on 'this comes from within', I am waking up to all the possibilities of inspiration around me. I have joined a group where we share a photograph a day ~ this activity has sent my creative brain in to over drive. Suddenly I am seeing the world in a new light. It has made the past weeks wildly intense ~ I am acutely aware of the changing colors of Autumn. This state of mind has reminded me of the time when i was painting still-life's ~ I would be walking around seeing possible paintings and now I am seeing wonderful photos ~ unique compositions, interesting lighting, wondrous textures & surprising reflections. And while on this creative buzz I decided to make sure i keep other art forms in my life , especially poetry. So I am going to try to post a poem a week ~ because 'assignments', like a photo a day or a poem a week seem to work well for me. So in honor of my 'new' way of viewing the world I am going to share this poem which I found in my current studio when I moved in.

'This much I do Remember' by Billy Collins

It was after dinner.
You were talking to me across the table
about something or other,
a greyhound you had seen that day
or a song you liked,
and I was looking past you
over your bare shoulder
at the three oranges lying
on the kitchen counter
next to the small electric bean grinder,
which was also orange,
and the orange and white cruets for vinegar and oil.
All of which converged
into a random still life,
so fastened together by the hasp of color,
and so fixed behind the animated
foreground of your
talking and smiling,
gesturing and pouring wine,
and the camber of you shoulders
that I could feel it being painted within me,
brushed on the wall of my skull,
while the tone of your voice
lifted and fell in its flight,
and the three oranges
remained fixed on the counter
the way that stars are said
to be fixed in the universe.
Then all of the moments of the past
began to line up behind that moment
and all of the moments to come
assembled in front of it in a long row,
giving me reason to believe
that this was a moment I had rescued
from millions that rush out of sight
into a darkness behind the eyes.
Even after I have forgotten what year it is,
my middle name,
and the meaning of money,
I will still carry in my pocket
the small coin of that moment,
minted in the kingdom
that we pace through every day.

- Billy Collins"

Nothing is Safe!!!

As I mentioned in my last post I am seeing dresses EVERYWHERE!!! so here is one out of an interesting material .... any guesses????

peace!!

the calm after the storm

so 'this comes from within' is gone!!! dress taken apart, curtains down, walls painted over, eggshells swept up. It is amazing ~ when the time came I was ready to move on!!! But it has been interesting, this post-installation period. The past 4 months it have been crazy, I NEVER felt like I had enough time, balancing between the demands of creating an installation (something i had never done before) and the needs of a family that was used to having me around more. It was an intense time, and now I have some breathing room. I can go to my daughter's soccer game and not need to race off down to Boston ~ nice. But it is also weird!! I LOVED working on the installation, I LOVED the intensity of the work ~ the envisioning of the space, the problem solving, the physical work and especially painting the walls!!! I loved my walls. I guess what i am 'struggling' with now is trying to figure out the normal pace of things again!!! I have many ideas and projects that i can do, call for work to submit, dresses to finish, in fact my hands are itching to get to work. I really want to dive head first into another big challenge. However i just might need to remember a more balanced and possibly more health approach to work and life! That said ~ I am seeing wonderful materials EVERYWHERE and I am champing on the bit to make dresses ~ many, many dresses. But i usually don't because I am needed some where else. However, finally i couldn't resist the spectacular yellow leaves!! Fall is my favorite season, one reason is the wild explosion of colors around me. Everyday I am stunned by the beauty!!!

this year is so amazing I have started lugging my camera everywhere to take photos of these autumnal treasures. One day while walking the hound I came across some yellow leaves that stopped me in my tracks ~ I liked their shape and weight & they spoke to me in dress speak - i saw a skirt. So much to Scruffy's chagrin I stopped and collected the leaves to bring home. I soon found some others that moved me and before they all dried out I made this dress ~

by the time to took the photo the light from the setting sun was super intense. So with that intensity and with the inspiration for the dress coming from the yellow leaves I call this dress ~ SunBurst! It is always good to be outside creating a dress ~ I am glad I have a little more breathing room to do that!!! peace & happy fall!

Natick Artists' Open Studios!!!!!

Sunday October 18th, 12-5 pm ~ Natick Artists' Open Studios .... many wonderful artists!!! I will be at my new studio ~ Winchell Building, 25 Washington Ave - corner of Washington and Cochituate st . I am on the second floor. I am sharing my space with the wonderful artist Jeanne Williamson!! Come by and say HI!!!! peace

tomorrow 'this comes from within' comes down!!

...and in honor of the dismantling I wish to post a piece that the writer/poet Tariq Zayid wrote about the installation. For me he captures the spirit and essense of 'this comes from within'.

Thank you Tariq!!!

Virginia Fitzgerald: Poetic Dresses, Magical Spaces

Ritual space is place transformed. What is around you is inside you and what is
inside you is around you. Mind and place have become what in Gaelic is beautifully called fighte fuaighte - woven into and through each other. What you make of it is your own, but moments like this don’t happen often and should be experienced when they come along.

In South Boston, at Medicine Wheel Productions, 110 K Street #9, the artist Virginia Fitzgerald has created a rare magical environment called ‘this comes from within’. Entering the room is part of the performance itself. Sheer black cloth falls in front of you, bearing forth a view of the room, shadowed, hazy, morphing to the touch. A subtle physical event that sets a mood of displacement and simultaneous discovery.

You enter. In the center of the room, lit from the inside - the main light available in the room - is an oversized dress with gorgeous folds and shapes,sensuous in its own power as objet d’art. As the eyes adjust to the low light, details emerge. What was a powerful dress now has other connotations. It is made of papier-mâché and eggshells. Hundreds of eggshells flowing downwards, thin cracks visible. Delicate yet maintaining a strong dignity of purpose. The interior light continues to create dimensions from every angle. The metamorphosis is elastic, absorbing.

Emerging as the eyes adjust further - figures, ivy, flowers, machines, contours of image and shadow. The walls, once unseen, are now alive. As if from within the dress the light emanates and creates right in front of you. Mutating forms appear in the naturalizing measure of eye adjustment, as film developed from Polaroid cameras. The dress seems to posses an extraordinary power.It is created and it is creator. Origin Goddess of experience and form casting its spell into the darkness and creating light, image, meaning, mystery, life as experience itself.

Toward the back of the room another mystery awaits. Through long cords of bead and cloth, a shape is cut into the back wall that glows red. Like Duchamp’s Étant donnés, though the viewing plane is wide open, another world is revealed within the wall opening. Lit in red, and draped with red velvet, the opening manifests all sorts of memories and antique incarnations. Rather than contextualize this exquisite redentity, I will leave you to create your own associations, as the space demands.

This is an installment that surrounds you with an open poetic space rather than pummel you with meaning. It is passive in its influence, but grips you with its intensity. It is ritualistic in that it takes you out of ‘ordinary’ space and puts you in touch with the imaginal realm. The possibility of travel is yours, the artist has provided the portal. How far you wish to travel is your point of entry and departure, physically and mentally.

Virginia Fitzgerald has created something special. A space to enter and become. Hers is a transcendent art, one of those phenomena many people have only been able to experience in dreams. This is the artist as sorceress of apparition. '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

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

Posted using ShareThis

for those who can't make it there in person....

upon entering the galley one is struck by the power and emotion of the piece. you enter this dark, magical world through a membrane of tulle and find yourself at the base of a glowing, larger-than-life dress made of eggshells and papier-mache. As your eyes adjust the rest of the fecund environment reveals itself. The wall come to life; full of swirling vines, creeping insects, dancing figures and so much more. In the back of the gallery one finds a glowing opening revealing a lush chamber. 'this comes from within' will be on exhibit through October 16th @ Medicine Wheel Productions . 110 K st. Boston.

HOWEVER ~ it is MUCH BETTER to experience in person!!!!

The gallery is open m-f ~10-4 and you can always call to set up an appt. - 617-596-5179.

I will be there tomorrow afternoon.
The closing reception is Wednesday, October 14th, 5-8pm.

Spread the word and hope to see you there.

peace

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

Introducing 'fecund'

Another venue where you can find a dress ~

NAOS Group Show:"Doors & Windows"

Morse Institute Library ~ 14 East Central Street, Natick

September 1 - October 31, 2009

This is 'fecund' ~ it is enamel paint on an old window ~ wooden frame and all.

I used many different reds.

I love the pattern, and especially the shadow that it makes on the wall!!

There are many interpretations of windows and doors to be found in the show - worth a stop if you are in the neighborhood!!!

Also I finally figured out how to put a link to my fan page on this blog - check out the side bar :)

peace

Another opening, another party... or two!!!

First the opening on Friday night was wonderful - thank you to all who came. Also the installation is up for about a month so please stop by if you can - people have been having quite the experience. Medicine Wheel is open m-f and plan to have the installation ready from 10-4pm. I also can arrange to meet anyone there and have access to the gallery - so please contact me if you are interested in viewing 'this comes from within'.

Next ~

You are invited to attend the Artists’ Reception for
EAT the ART

Thursday, September 24, 2009,

6:00 – 8:00p.m.
BHCC ART GALLERY
EAT THE ART
A group exhibition showcasing works in varied media on the theme of food as art
September 14 – October 31, 2009

Including work by:
Alice Abrams Laraine Armenti Mara Aspinall June August Martha Bedrosian Alex Campbell Catherine Davis Ernie D’elia Pauline Delin Mary Dunn Lisa Fay Virginia Fitzgerald

Michael Guadagno Joe Greene Elisa Hamilton Jennifer Hill Leise Jones Pam Jorgensen

Christiane Corcelle-Lippeveld Jeannette Martin Heidi Mayo Laura Miner Monica Mitchell Farnaz Mobayyen Karen Moss Kate Moss Maureen O'Connor Paul Osborne

Vicki Kocher Paret Cortney Provini Amy McGregor-Radin Ken Reker

Irena Roman Roberta Towel Lisa Sears
Maria-Amaryllis Siniossoglou Christina Spangler Stephanie Mahan Stigliano

Vanessa St. Laurent Lisa Thompson Roberta Towel Jeff Warmouth

the show runs from Sept. 14- Oct. 31, 2009

Gallery talk : tues., Oct 13th, 2009 1-2:30p.m.

New Perspectives/Now Perspectives:

Tues, Oct 6, 2009 6:30-8:30p.m.

featuring local writers and poets, with introductory remarks and information on local hunger concerns by the Greater Boston Food Bank

gallery hours M/W/F : 10am-5pm, T/Th: 10am-7pm, Sa: 10am-2pm

the gallery is free and open to the public.

it is located @ the Community College stop on the MBTA orange line.

AND finally ......

WAR and PEACE:
Images of Conflict and Resolution in the 21st Century show at Lynn Arts, Inc. will have a closing party from 6-8pm on Tuesday, October 13th. The juror, Ken Hruby will be there from 7-8pm if you would like to meet him.

If you are interested i plan to attend both these functions!!! The BHCC gallery throws a pretty nice party!!! hope to see you there!!!

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!!!)

Yeah for the world wide web!!!!!

Isn't the Internet amazing???? It is always interesting to me to see what information gets where and how. I just goggled myself to see if my facebook fan page comes up and low and behold I found my Dress of Etiquette on the web site Emily Post’s Etiquette Daily ~
http://www.etiquettedaily.com/2009/07/summer-fashion-the-etiquette-dress/.

Now sadly my facebook fan page did NOT come up - I still need to work on that. But I have set up a fan page!!! (Yeah - after many frustrating hours of my computer freezing up) And so there is another site about my work out in cyberspace. Now I am not completely sure the difference between a fan page and a blog because everyone can view the fan page -you don't need to be a member. However with the fan page i was able to create a photo album which chronicles the construction of 'this comes from within'. Also I have been able to post the information about the opening which is helpful ~ since I still don’t have the official postcard invite and the opening is only 15 days away. But my mantra lately has been – it will all work out!!!!

Now back to the fan page …. To view my new fan page with the photo album …here is the address.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Fitzgerald/127363913633?ref=search&sid=690681189.2554966880..1

Lastly, today this quote was emailed to me and I am amazed on how timely this delivery was. As I am finishing this installation, I have been working hard on my artist's statement about it & this quote had given me another perspective. Many who see the eggshell dress immediately think wedding dress and even though it is a white dress I was not going for wedding dress, per say. However this quote put a different spin on the idea of being a bride, giving me an entirely new thought process. So I say again ~ isn’t the Internet amazing????

“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.” Mary Oliver

So once again, thank you Mary Oliver & peace