In honor of national pumpkin seed day

In honor of national pumpkin seed day, the first Wednesday of October, I’m reposting this post about my ‘Persephone’s dress …’ (see link below)

I have also learned some fun facts about pumpkin seeds: 

- most nutritious plant based food

- great source of zinc, iron, & pumpkin seeds has 8.5% of plant based protein in 1 Oz. 

So eat those pumpkin seeds!!! 

And first eaten in 7000 B.C.

-Pumpkins themselves are thought to have first been discovered in North America and were widely used by Native Americans. Actual pumpkin seeds have been found in Mexico and date back as far as 7000 B.C.Pumpkin seeds have been eaten throughout history for sustenance and medicinal purposes too.
https://www.jcsqualityfoods.com.au/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-pumpkin-seeds/

VirginiaCreates: The God'dress' of the Harvest: Now that all my october shows are installed I can take a breathe (phew) and play Mom for awhile ~ which at this time of the year means carvi...

virginiacreates' october calendar ...

 

for your personal use - peace

'lilith ...' is receiving guests this saturday ...

Come meet the artist and experience 'lilith's room ...'

'lilith's room ...' is on exhibit through October 25th 

at the Anderson Gallery, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA.

This exhibit is the first time Fitzgerald has shown her 'dress of plastic ...' and 

her mixed media painting, 'why is a raven ...' as well as her site specific installation, 'lilith's room ...' 

Gallery hours are M-F 9-4, and the gallery will be open 10-3 pm on Saturday, October 23rd, during Bridgewater's homecoming weekend, 

as well as this Saturday, October 2nd.  

This Saturday you can meet the artist and experience 'lilith's room ...' 

as Fitzgerald will be gallery sitting from 12-3 pm. 

'lilith's room ...' is a space that dispels inhibitions and external limiting beliefs, while creating an safe environment in which to excavate and experience one's authentic self and rediscover one's imagination and creativity. 

• read more about 'lilith's room ...' on the virginiacreate's blog
• as a site-specific installation 'lilith's room ...' is best experienced in person.
• Anderson Gallery/ Bridgewater State University ~ 40 School Street, Bridgewater, MA 02325
• reach out to either the gallery at tel.508.531.2510  or email Virginia at va.work@comcast.net for more information or if you would like to set up time to see the exhibit.

a bit more about 'dear jeff ...'

CLICK HERE TO SEE INTERVIEW

  

With the airing of Chronicle's piece about 'dear jeff ...' I thought it would be a good time to share the story behind the sculpture and some of my work-in-progress sketches. 

Memorializing Amy Toyen through artist Virginia Fitzgerald's creation 'Dear Jeff'

In front of the Avon Free Public Library in Connecticut is the statue in tribute to Amy Toyen who died during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

The story of 'dear jeff . . . '
This dress is a commissioned sculpture for a man, Jeff, who lost his fiancée in the events of 9/11/2001. She had flown to New York early that morning to attend a business breakfast at the Windows of the World restaurant.  

On the 10 year anniversary of this tragedy Jeff felt that it was time to let go of his box of memories. He contacted me and asked me if I could create something from his collection of letters and cards and remnants from the tragedy. I was honored to have been asked and accepted the task.

Jeff handed me a large box full of letters; notes between the couple during college, cards of encouragement for new jobs, the announcement about their engagement, articles about 9/11, the missing person flyers, and then an abundance of condolences cards, from friends, family, coworkers, communities and even strangers. These communiques played a huge role is Jeff's recovery; the power of a caring community.

When Jeff approached me, he didn't want a memorial of his fiancée and her death. He wanted a sculpture that would portray the importance of community, and the positive growth that can come through adversity, as well as a celebration of Amy's spirit. The essence of this dress is similiar to the story of the phoenix, who rises from the ashes renewed after apparent disaster or destruction. 

peace

For the interview, I went through some of my sketchbooks or what I call my daybooks.  These are the books that I carry with me everywhere, and in which I put most everything; my 'to-do' lists, grocery lists, errands, important names and numbers, inspiring pictures, postcards and what-nots, and these are the books in which I write my ideas and figure out how these ideas are going to work.  

Needless to say I have many, many

of these books and it was quite an adventure to find the ones ('dear jeff ...' took me about a year to complete so the process spans 2 daybooks) I was using.  But when I did it was interesting to see my sketches and notes and I thought I'd share some here. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW INTERVEIW

Here is a video of the sculpture on the loading dock at a 9/11 Memorial & Museum warehouse, on the day that I dropped off the sculpture to add to the museum's permanent collection.

in the museum's online catalog

'dear jeff ...' is part of WCVB5's 9/11: Chronicle Remembers

 

'dear jeff ...' on the loading dock of the September 11 Museum's warehouse

With tomorrow is the 20 year anniversary of 9/11, many media outlet are recalling the event and what has happened in these past 20 years.  I had the honor of being interviewed by Chronicle, WCVB’s iconic evening newsmagazine, as part of one of their remembrance pieces.

Chronicle, WCVB’s iconic evening newsmagazine, will air “9/11 – Chronicle Remembers” on Friday evening at 7:30PM. Chronicleanchor Anthony Everett reports on the passions and dreams of several Massachusetts residents who died on 9/11/2001 and the people who continue their legacies. He also sits down with former ABC anchor Charlie Gibson, who was one of the first journalists to report the news of the attacks 20 years ago.

The interview will air tonight, Friday September 10, at 7:30 (EST) 

 

This month, let us never cease from thinking ...

 

...Let us never cease from thinking--

Virginia Woolf, Three Guineas

Thank you Virginia Woolf, for this most appropriate quote for this month of learning, 

September when many are heading back to school and work.  

To me thinking and questioning and exploring is so important for us all ~ 

I believe that we are students all our lives.  

Happy Learning & peace, Virginia

'lilith's room ...' is open and waiting for visitors!

My installation 'lilith's room ...' is now installed, and is ready and waiting for visitors.  

When you arrive in the gallery 'lilith ...' will beckon you to her unique room where a feast in blue and white awaits you.  'lilith's room ...' is a safe place to daydream and disappear, to wonder what and where you are and in this environment, what would you do??

photo by krismariephotography.com

'lilith's room ...' to the left, 'why is a writing desk ....' mixed media painting on canvas,
 'dress of plastic ...' on the right

I have created a dedicated blog page for this installation where I plan to post more photos, videos and further information about this piece.  Also I encourage you to leave any thoughts or comments on that page. 

thank you and peace ~

'lilith's room ...'
Anderson Gallery/ Bridgewater State University
August 19 - October 25, 2021 

Art Center and Gallery
Open to the Public 
Monday thru Friday, 9am-4pm. 
Closed Holidays 
Handicap Accessible 
tel.508.531.2510 

40 School Street
Bridgewater, MA 02325
email: Anderson Gallery

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

august is here and so is your #virginiacreates calendar ....

 

feel free to print and use as you wish!

the dailydress project: November has arrived!!!

the dailydress project: November has arrived!!!: AND REMEMBER TO VOTE!!! feel free to print and use as you wish! if you have received this post as an email click below to visit the entire b...

'dear jeff ...' has a permanent home in NYC ....

 Upon doing some research on this blog I have realized that I have fallen hopelessly behind on sharing the ebbs and flows of my creative journey ... but in lieu of explanations and apologies, I just diving in.

'dear jeff ...' had found a permanent home at the
National September 11 Memorial & Museum 9/11 MEMORIAL.

It has not been on exhibit as of yet, as the museum has so many pieces to share and exhibit.  When I delivered it to one of the warehouses in NJ, I was aghast at the shelves and shelves of items that are connected with the events of 9/11.  

At this point in time, nothing is on exhibit as the museum is temporarily closed because of the COVID virus.  But when it does reopen, the museum's administration will inform me when the piece is on view in their galleries.  And when it is I plan to have some kind of celebration gathering in that wonderful city - NEW YORK, NEW YORK (SO GOOD THEY NAMED IT TWICE).

Until then you can see the piece online as well as the many other art pieces regarding 9/11.  Also below I have added some of the notes and comments from the page.

Historical Notes
Hartford, Connecticut, native Amy Toyen lived in Newton, Massachusetts. She and her fiancé, Jeffrey, planned to marry in June 2002. Amy liked writing, drawing, and going to the theater. A marketing employee at Thomson Financial in Boston, on September 11, Amy was presenting at a technology conference on the North Tower’s 106th floor. She was 24 years old.

Curator's Comment
Amy Toyen (age 24) was engaged to be married in June 2002 to her college sweetheart, Jeff Gonski (age 26). The couple was busy planning their wedding in 2001 when Toyen’s life was cut short by her untimely death on 9/11. She had just ordered her wedding dress.

Around the time of the 10th anniversary of the attack, Gonski embarked on an artistic endeavor in honor of Toyen in what he referred to informally at the time as “The Dress Project.” Using a photograph of Toyen's wedding dress for inspiration, Gonski commissioned Virginia Fitzgerald, a Natick, Massachusetts-based artist, to design a replica of Toyen’s dress made from the newspaper clips, cards from well-wishers after 9/11, Toyen’s own letters and cards to Gonski, and other ephemera, such as announcements of Gonski and Toyen’s engagement and would-be nuptials and Missing posters. “It’s not just about Amy and myself,” Gonski told reporters, “but the support that came out of the community after it.” 

Fitzgerald titled the finished sculpture Dear Jeff . . .  . Created on a smaller-than-life-size scale, the delicate wedding dress is composed of largely handwritten notes and ephemera designed to tell a story of a courtship violently interrupted. According to Fitzgerald, “It was this outpouring of love and sympathy that Jeff really wanted to highlight with the sculpture. When we met and spoke about the commission it was clear that this wasn’t to be a memorial to Amy, but a testimony to the power of community and how Jeff would not have made it through this horrible life event without the love and support from friends, family and the community. He spoke about how not only did he survive but he wanted to celebrate the idea that even after such a hard loss, life goes on. To represent Jeff’s thoughts and emotions about survival and recovery I created branches with leave[s] and seedpods coming off the bottom of the sculpture and growing back into the piece. I wanted to capture the feeling of the phoenix, rebirth from the ashes.”


 https://collection.911memorial.org/Detail/objects/118706

Your May calendar (before the month ends ...)

the dailydress project: Your May calendar (before the month ends ...):

Where has the time gone?? But here is my #virginiacreates May calendar for you. and once again I was inspired by Max Ehrmann, Desiderata....



 if you have received this post as an email
click below to visit the entire blog,
blog link

keep peace with your soul ...

... and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. 
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,  
it is still a beautiful world. 
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. 


Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952

the dailydress project: introducing the fairylandproject to bring some mag...

the dailydress project: introducing the fairylandproject to bring some mag...:

“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”  E.B. White

 introducing a quarantine activity for all, the fairylandproject !...

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog,
blog link

or click here to join the dailydress project group on FB 

This month let us remember to be gentle with ourselves ...

Desiderata - Words for Life

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

— Max Ehrmann, 1927

\

Feel free to download and print this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

Go placidly into 2020 ...

 a wonderful poem for a new year ....

wishing all a joyful and peaceful 2020.

Desiderata - Words for Life

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, 

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

— Max Ehrmann, 1927

Feel free to download and print this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

subscribe to receive my monthly calendar in your inbox! 

                             and only my monthly calendar, scout's honor!

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thank you & peace ...

December is upon us ....

Remember This December, 

That love weighs more than gold! 

Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

subscribe to receive my monthly calendar in your inbox! 
and only my monthly calendar, scout's honor!

* indicates required

Email Address *

Email Format:  html text

thank you & peace ...

Happy November ...

In November, the earth is growing quiet.
It is making its bed, a winter bed for flowers and small creatures.
The bed is white and silent,
and much life can hide beneath its blankets. 

Cynthia Rylant

thank you and peace ...

the dailydress project: my computer ate my homework ....

the dailydress project: my computer ate my homework ....: "Never trust anything that can think for itself  if you can't see where it keeps its brain." J.K. Rowling Running a bit behind, but I blame technology :)

Start celebrating summer with my June calendar ...

What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade.

Gertrude Jekyll

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month.

p.s. if you are having problems downloading or printing the calendar, 

just leave a comment & email and I will send you a PDF.

Thank you & peace,

Virginia