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!!