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

'something's fishy' in Attleboro . . . .

It is about that time again, the Attleboro Arts Museum's annual benefit auction and I am so happy to support this gem of an institution.   

For this years auction I have sent another collage from my 'home sweet home' series* , since last year's collage was so well received.  (I believe there was a bidding war :) 

This year I donated "something's fishy", another personal favorite.

something's fishy 5x7”matted collage 

Make sure you check out the museum's online auction, as there are always many lovely pieces available. Here is a description of these collage series ~

*In her 'home sweet home' series,  Fitzgerald is challenging the ‘picture perfect’ life portrayed by magazines, catalogs and the media.  She takes the photograph of one of these Utopian settings and adds some surrealistic details then adds the empty, hanging dress symbolizing the emptiness of the pursuit of this idealistic life.   

Benefit Art Auction

The Attleboro Arts Museum’s Benefit Art Auction is a Museum tradition – supported by hundreds of artists, donors, area businesses and art lovers alike.  It is the Museum’s most important fundraiser and vital to the continued growth of our organization and arts programming in our region.

_______

Spotlight Exhibition Opening Reception and Sponsor Recognition (preview all Auction items before the live/silent event): Friday, October 11^th, 6-7:30pm.  Free and open to all.

Auction: Saturday, November 2^nd.  Doors open at 5:30pm.  Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703

Tickets are on sale now.  $35 in advance, $40 at the door (includes hors d’oeuvers, wine and beer).  Space is limited – call 508-222-2644  x13 or email office@attleboroartsmuseum.org

Auctioneer: Chris Barber, Skinner, Inc.

Online Auction Bidding: October 11th–31st
Our 2013 online auction site will launch on October 11th.  Start bidding in advance of the live auction!

www.biddingforgood.com/attleboroartsmuseum2013

inspiring and thought-provoking . . . .

Today in the Boston area there are MANY venues 

where one can experience some amazing art. 

I am going to highlight two of them here: 

First  (drumroll please!!)

Christine Zwart's opening reception is tonight!!!

RECEPTION: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th, 6 pm-9 pm

Carney Gallery, Regis College, Weston, MA

Here is what David Lang said about Christina and this spectacular exhibition: 

Christina Zwart "multiplicity"

Every so often an exhibition captures my spirit like few others. Christina Zwart has created such an event in her show titled "Multiplicity." She is an installation artist. Her work comes together at the Carney Gallery at Regis College on Wellesley Street in Weston, MA. The entire gallery has become an installation. It is visually rich, subtle, thought-provoking and profound. She uses rather unlikely materials to create her works, which sometimes present themselves as "events" rather than individual constructions. Let this exhibition elegantly and eloquently transport you to a realm of the unexpected through her celebration of "beauty in the imperfect." David A.Lang

 

click here to see more of Christina's inspired pieces

And to get in the arty mindset 

for the reception

you should run by Maynard for:

Open Studios

This Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 

ArtSpace Maynard,

63 Summer Street, Maynard, MA 01754

Jane McKinnon Johnstone

Brenda Cirioni
A wonderful collection of exciting and inspiring artists!! 

Merill Comeau

And before you head out on your arty adventure you might want to read the blog of a good friend of mine, Mark Green.  His latest post has stirred up many thoughts which I have pondered on my Daily Dress blog.  All of this addressing the lack of sitting still in our lives.  So I am listing the links to the different blogpost and then leaving you with some photos I took this morning, while on a quiet walk in the early morning dew with my trusty hound, Scruffy.

Mark's blog: moosevt.wordpress.com

virginia's daily dress inspiration(that's me :)

dailydressproject.blogspot.com

Wishing you a peaceful Saturday! xxx