'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!

* indicates required

Email Address *

 

Email Format:  html text

 

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

Your May calendar and the morphing of an idea ...

download and print for your personal enjoyment.

Here is your May calendar for you to print and enjoy.  

Also, this calendar works is part of a body of work that I am currently obsessed with, 

which I call 

#100daysofwomenwonders.

This project has grown out of my dailydress blog, on which I posted quotes of women in March in honor of Women's History Month, #femininewordsofwisdom.  Then with April came the #100dayproject and I decided to continue my celebration and sharing of words/quotes of women which I named, #100daysofwomenwonders. 

As so many of my projects go, in the first few days of posting women's quotes with a mixed-media dress collage I felt the need to do more, so now I am sharing women's quotes with a drawing of the woman and a brief bio of her.  

Who knows how else these project may morph by the end of 100 days?!? I do know I am loving doing the project, finding different quotes and researching the women. My head is swimming with amazing women that I hadn't heard of.  I feel like I student again (which is a wonderful thing) and my desk is a mess of library books.  

If you want to follow along with this project there are a few ways you can:

you can follow or subscribe to my dailydress project blog
https://dailydressproject.blogspot.com
or
follow my #100daysofwomenwonders on my Instagram account, virginiacreates:
https://www.instagram.com/virginiacreates/
or
you can join
'the dailydress project ...' group on FB
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

Also if you want a 'virginiacreate's monthly calendar in your inbox'
you can sign up here.
https://virginiafitzgerald.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=8978699b24201ab4b3138cbdf&id=4a8fde0071


“In a world where thrushes sing and willow trees are golden in the spring, boredom should have been included among the seven deadly sins.”  
Elizabeth Goudge, The Rosemary Tree

my 'dressproject', out on the town, at the Attleboro Arts museum ...

I am pleased and honored to announce that I am 

all installation photos were taken by Abby Rovaldi

the 'artist-of-the-month' at the Attleboro Arts Month!!

For the month of April, photos from my 'dailydress ...' series will be on exhibit in their Community Gallery. The majority of the photos are printed on aluminum which allows the spirit and details of the photos to shine through,  as there is no glass in front of the image nor material surrounding the image to distract.

'eat your veggies ...' & 'don't slip ...'

“dressproject…” Series by Virginia Fitzgerald; Photography on aluminum 

Exhibition: April 3^rd – 30^th, 2019

The Museum is closed on Saturday, April 20^th

Gallery hours are Tues – Sat from 10am-5pm

My 'dailydress ...' exhibition is running concurrently with the Attleboro's
'Tempera: Nature & Narrative'
exhibition: April 6th – May 4th, 2019

Opening reception and festivities are happening this Saturday:
April 6th:
2pm – 3pm: Egg tempera demonstration by exhibiting artist Eileen Kennedy
3pm – 4:30pm: Opening reception

Free and open to all.

all installation photos were taken by Abby Rovaldi

And as with all exhibits, I needed to revamp my 'dressproject ...' artist's statement:

'ladies in waiting ...'
my photos waiting to be hung.

“With the dress, I discovered my voice, the dress became my soapbox from which I could initiate a dialogue, engage in political debate, question social protocol and excavate my authentic self.” — Virginia Fitzgerald 

Virginia Fitzgerald is a passionate artist for whom life and art merge, which is reflected in all of her work. The objective of her art is to inspire others, urging them to think about their everyday lives, examine their surroundings, and revisit their thoughts, beliefs, and expectations. Fitzgerald achieves this through a multitude of media and series of work, one of these series being her “dressproject …” 

Fitzgerald’s “dressproject …” began in 2006 in Wells Beach, ME and since then Fitzgerald has created, designed, and built over a thousand of “artdress’es.” Fitzgerald has reinterpreted the dress form in a myriad of media and materials, such as; vcr tape, rope, asphalt, ice, rubber gloves, etc. Her “dressproject …” includes sculptures, photographs, ephemeral dresses, installations, and performances.  The “dressproject …” has also prompted a “dailydress …” blog, Facebook group and products, such as “dresscard’s,”  featuring origami dresses with empowering quotes and messages.  The “dressproject …” has led to collaborative projects where Fitzgerald works with different organizations,  encouraging the participants to bring new ideas, experiences, and emotions to the project. 

Fitzgerald’s “dressproject …” is relevant to the current issues being debated today. Fitzgerald sees the dress form as a symbol for one’s essential being, their core.  The work speaks to the emotional or lack of emotional connection between people. This body of work touches many people regardless of gender, age, background and experiences, and Fitzgerald strives to create a safe place for them to reconsider their place in the world.

As an artist, Fitzgerald is dedicated to making art that is provocative, that makes the viewer stop and think, art that will prompt a reexamination of an idea or belief. She is a champion of passion, individuality, and inspiration. Fitzgerald works and lives outside Boston with her two daughters in a house full of love and creativity. She is constantly observing, questioning, and exploring her surroundings.  To learn more about Virginia Fitzgerald please visit:

www.virginiafitzgerald.com

www.dailydressproject.blogspot.com

all installation photos were taken by Abby Rovaldi

Community Gallery 

The Community Gallery is located in the lobby of the Attleboro Arts Museum’s Emory Street entrance.  For over a decade the Museum has been pleased to offer this prominent gallery space as an exhibition opportunity for both promising and professional artist members. By showcasing one or more member artist(s) per month, the Community Gallery maximizes the exposure of unique art and contact with Museum viewers. Artworks on display are new works that are currently being produced within the exhibiting artist’s portfolios.

Hope you can stop by!! I plan to be there on Saturday afternoon.  If you have any questions you can contact the Attleboro Arts Museum: 

Attleboro Arts Museum,

 86 Park St., Attleboro, MA 02703, 

508.222.2644

attleboroartsmuseum.org

thank you and peace ~ 

Big sale on Society6 and some new products!!

From today to Saturday with 30% off EVERYTHING —no exclusions! 

That's right, yoga mats, furniture, window curtains, everything—

 all 30% off!!

think gifts?!? graduation & mother's day!!!

& 

Society6 has new items!!

'love squared ...' Travel Mug
sale: $29.00 $20.30

such as a

new style 

travel mug 

(check out this video!)

hanging out @ starbuck's

Also new is wrapping paper

I got some wrapping paper & used it for my 'dresscards ...'
& it is a lovely quality of wrapping paper!!

cherry-berry jumble ... wrapping Paper
sale price: $12.00$8.40

kitty kat (blue on green) Yoga Mat
$39.00   $27.30

& yoga mats!!

#1 mum, i love you more ... Throw Blanket$59.99$41.99

And then some of the old favorites: 

 perfect for Mother Day gifts:

you've got this, love frida ... Carry-All Pouch

Buy a Set of 3 and Save!       $49.99$34.99

the earth laughs ... Coffee Mug$16.99$11.89

CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY SOCIETY6 SHOP

happy shopping & peace!