'holy trinity', juried into 'Three'

'holy trinity ...' (2010)

I am happy to announce that my fiber piece, 'holy trinity ...' was accepted into Attleboro Arts Museum's National Juried Exhibition, "Three", which opens this Thursday and runs through to July 13th.  I am honored to be included in this group of artists from all over the country.  And as always it is such a joy to participate in anything that Mim Fawcett and the incredible AAM staff are doing with their lovely museum.

'holy trinity ...' is part of my 'creatures' series.  The series consisted of fiber pieces that I crochet in an intuitive and organic manner.  I usually start with a certain color and a variety of yarn, once I begin crocheting I just follow the piece's lead.

Many of my 'creatures ...' have beads.  Each piece in 'holy trinity ...' has a word bead, 'strength', 'wisdom' and 'trust', along with other beads.  When exhibiting my 'creatures ...' I prefer to let the curator decide how to display the piece, adding another organic element to the 'creature ...' I wonder how 'holy trinity ...' will be exhibited in this exhibit?!?!

opening this thursday atthe Attleboro Arts Museum.

I am also pleased to announce that the Attleboro Arts Museum's gift shop is carrying some of my merchandise.  Last week I delivered dressproject notecards, tote bags, mugs and a wonderful collection of my mini buttons.  Below are the pictures that Attleboro posted on their Instagram account.

So if you can make a trip to Attleboro and stop by the museum.  If possible, come by this Thursday evening, June 14th, 7-9pm, and join in the fun of the opening reception.  For all information about the exhibit and reception, the details are listed below or click on this link here: the AAM's website

attleboro arts on instagram

attleboro arts on instagram

Three A National Juried Exhibition 
June 14th - July 13th, 2018Opening Reception: Thursday, June 14th, 7-9pm

Reception Includes:
Presentation of juror’s awards
The announcement of the 2019 national juried exhibition theme
Live music from Debbie Barshay, Joan Lawton and Noriko
Whitaker – a flute trio from the Lafayette Band of North Kingstown, RI

THREE Juror – Juror Alexander Castro is a writer and journalist. He regularly contributes arts reporting and criticism to Art New England, Big Red & Shiny, Mercury, and GLASS Quarterly. His writing has also appeared or is forthcoming in untethered, Don’t Take Pictures and Lost Balloon. In 2018, Castro was a runner-up for the inaugural Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing.
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attleboro arts on instagram

thank you and peace,  

where did the weekend go?!?!?

There are not enough days in the weekend. 

Rod Schmidt

'flirt' the installation in its stairwell
Thank you to everyone who braved the cold and ice this weekend to join me at the opening receptions for these two exceptional exhibits.  

Here are some pictures from the receptions and the prep. 

I also have written a few words about each exhibit.  I hope to do so more but one never knows where the time goes.  I have been referencing this blog to gets some dates of dresses, etc. and numerous times I saw the notation that 'I will write more later' but it seems as if later doesn't happen?!?!?

Flirt 

Mother Brook Arts and Community Center (MBACC)

Dedham, MA

Jean Ford Webb, Executive Director of Mother Brookand

'the daily dress series'

at Baldwin Hill Art 

Natick, MA 

  

I am so happy with both these shows!! 

Flirt is a fabulous selection of art from 14 different artists 

(myself being one). 

This show is their inaugural exhibit, introducing

 Mother Brook to the community.  

The building used to be an old school, 

and fortunately instead of razing it, it was turned into an arts center.

It is a beautiful space, with the warmth of old world schools.  

I was fortunate enough to be asked to create a piece for one of the stairwells, and voila 'flirt' the installation.

During the opening I observed many people posing 

in front of the piece, which is fun.  

Red Alert Cocktail Dress is also on exhibit there 

and was the subject of many visitors' photos as well.  

'the daily dress series' is another exhibit that I am truly excited about.  For this show I made photos of a selection 

of my ephemeral dresses and  the gallery framed them beautifully.  

It has been so exciting to see this dresses as a collection. 

 I also penned little stories that went with each dress.  Something that I have been wanting to do forever,

but it took the deadline of the opening for me to really sit down.

For this exhibit, Baldwin Hill

also asked to exhibit my creature and 'insatiable', and 

I was astonished by how excited I was to exhibit my creatures, 

and I was over the moon about working on 'insatiable' again !!

Last night during the reception I sat by my beast and crocheted away, while engaging in wonderful conversations!! #heaven!  

So thank you Mother Brook Art and Baldwin Hill for offering the opportunity to create new works and revisit some old ones.

xxx

Fashion and Fiberarts at Dana Hall

'lilith in blue' greets gallery visitors

There is only one week left of this stimulating exhibit, Fashion and Fiberarts, at the Art Gallery at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA.  I sadly missed the opening as I was west taking care of family.  However I am going to make-up for lost time :) as I have been invited to create a collaborative dress with the entire student body which will be worn during the Dana Fashion Show in the Spring.  This means I will be camping out at Dana during the show's last week, leading workshops and encouraging creative participation.  More about that project later ~ for now I wanted to share some photos of the show.  

'lilith in blue' with Merill's work

Whenever my fiber pieces, especially my creatures are exhibited I give the gallery complete freedom to display the pieces anyway they see fit.  So when I entered the gallery I was thrilled to see how curator and beloved teacher, Michael Frassinelli, displayed the work!!! Many time the curators display the work in ways I never have thought of.

I especially liked how he placed 'raw' over a podium - letting it ooze and slither.  

I am so honored to have been included in this exhibit - all the work is exciting.  I have always enjoyed Merill Comeau's wondrous fiber collages, her uses of clothing with a past, giving them new life.  Her pieces of deconstructed clothing made a wonderful juxtaposition to Sarah Campbell's and Tia Penney's beautiful coats and hats - ready to be worn.

Here are two examples of Michael's envisioning my creatures in a way I had not considered.  I love the pairing of 'blue angel' and my crocheted shawl, and the way he hung 'pinkie' created a delightful shadow!!

peace

new series: subscription cards

CARD#4

Last week my life took a swift turn as my father had a serious surgery and I ended flying to Phoenix to help. Even though I brought my bag full of tricks - needle and thread, crochet hook, I have turned to another one of my recent obsessions : subscription cards.

CARD#5

CARDS FROM LAST YEAR - WITH SEWING

This series began last year when I was in the throws of my divorce and consequential move. It was a very stressful time and I didn't have any time to go to my studio, so I suddenly  began to obsessively draw on subscription cards, easily found and a convenient  size ~ any doctor's waiting room and fits into my purse.

CARD#6

TRANSFER#3


People questioned my choice of subscription cards - couldn't I just as easily do these drawing on better paper?!? Well when I worked on plain paper it wasn't the same. The  subscription card gives me a structure  to work with.  

CARD#1

Also, I liked the idea of working with an item which annoyed many and that most people just toss. This was the same attraction that brought me to my bottle cap jewelry business, many moons ago. And as happened with the bottle-caps is happening with the cards, as I start collecting subscription cards I notice the vast variety, some with wonderful colors, designs and graphics. When I draw on each card I incorporate these elements in the larger design.  As with so much of my work, I view the card as a puzzle to solve, how do I make the card work as a whole.  However, also allowing an intuitive, organic approach to the drawing. This is the similar theory behind my 'creatures'. 

TRANSFER#1

Since arriving in Phoenix I have been busily and obsessively working on cards?!?! I'm not sure where they are going, but I KNOW I need to do them.  But I wonder - are they pieces on their own, springboards for other pieces or just a way for me to stay sane?!?! My thought is that they are all of the above!!

While here I have also experimented with using the cards to make transfers (thanks to Cheri Clinton's workshop)  and see many a possibility!!!

So here are some of these obsessions - putting them out into the cyber world. If u have thoughts or suggestions I am curious to hear them, if you so desire.  Now back to the current card!! :)

Peace

Creatures are out and about again

This Tuesday is the opening of Fashion and Fiberarts at the Dana Hall School gallery, Wellesley, MA.  

I am honored to announce that I am part of this group show, in the prestigious company of Sara Campbell, Tia Pinney and Merill Comeau.

  

For this exhibit they are showing some work from both 'the dress project' ~ 'lilith' and 'emily' and my creatures. 'insatiable' is also making an appearance and I plan to spend some time with the Dana students feeding the beast.

Information about the opening and the show is below.

 

Always excited to exhibit my creatures as I leave it to the curator to decide how and where they will be hung/exhibited/placed.  Can't wait to see the show!!! Peace

Jamaica Plain Open Studios @ JP Knit and Stitch

It has been a thoroughly busy past few weeks for me ~ 

8 Visions at the Attleboro Arts Museum, 'Upon Further Consideration' with David Lang at Regis College and this weekend - I had the pleasure of performing 'insatiable' at  JP Knit and Stitch for the Jamaica Plain Open Studios. And once I got to this lovely store I realized that this was exactly what the doctor ordered for this overly committed artist!! 

 Genevieve Day of JP Knit and Stitch has created a dreamy haven for anyone interested in any type of handiwork (beautiful fabrics and divine yarns). For this weekend I had been invited to perform with 'insatiable' and I had two heavenly days crocheting and talking to their wonderful clientele .  I also introduced a large selection of dresscards and dressmats which were quite nicely received!! 

On top of all that fun, this weekend we introduced my Organic Crocheting Workshop that I will be teaching at JP Knit and Stitch on November 4th.  I am thinking this will be a perfect way to spend the first day of daylight saving ~ sitting in this cozy spot and freely crocheting, seeing where your hook will lead you.  Check out the class posting on their site and join me for this meditative and relaxing afternoon.

So all in all this was a wonderful weekend which I would like to share . . . 

my wonderful space int he shop - love my creatures in their windows!!

one of my 5x7 dressmats

one of the dresscards that i made especially for jp Knits ;) 

an eager visitor who really wanted to get into the spirit of the piece!

another fan of 'insatiable' who even crocheted onto the piece

dressed and ready to feed the beast

and now I am a bit prepared for the Natick Artists Open Studios, 

for that weekend i'll be in my studio @ 25 Washington St. 

Natick Artists Open Studios
October 20 & 21, 2012
noon - 5 pm

peace

Taking Wings Westward . . .

"winged victory"

"insatiable"

 Happy to announce that 'insatiable' and 'winged victory' were accepted into "The Art of Fiber": 

Rediscover this ancient art form through the unique vision of more than 20 contemporary artists. From appliqué and cross stich to basketry and mixed media, the artists in this exhibit represent a wide range of techniques, materials, and subject matter. Expect the unexpected as traditional meets contemporary in this juried exhibit.

Davis Art Gallery

44 Portland Street, Worcester, MA  01609, 3rd Floor, 

Opening Reception:  May 24, 2012, 5-7 p.m.

Featuring:

Bayda Asbridge
Ani Baronian
Kerry Bart-Raber
Jennifer Baum
Frank Cole
Andrea Driscoll
Virginia Fitzgerald
Ann Hanscom
Tobi Hoffman
Celia Knight
Robyn Lane
Kimberly Marshall
Janet Miller
Corina Palmer
Judy Rolt
Janice Sisti
Carolann Tebbetts
Kay Thompson
Marion Vaitkus
Max Verga
Erika Davis Wade
Mihoko Wakabayashi

back from the dead and taking 'flight'

Hello all and hope you are all well.  I don't think I have ever gone this long between blog posts but it seemed as if mother nature and life had a different plan about my past 6 weeks.

As many of you may know I am in the process of getting divorced, which is taxing on many levels in itself.  And the plan was to move into a new apartment on February 1st, but instead of packing I ended up sick in bed!! I seemed to have contracted a new, 'trendy' and wicked virus that can take people out for weeks - and that is what happened.

I was down, but not out & luckily I am slowly getting back to normal.  In the past few days I have made way too many trips to Ikea to count - but boy is that a great place to outfit an entire apartment. Last week they delivered 33 boxes to my new abode!!! allen wrench, anyone.  So hopefully before April 1st I may have my apt. assembled and my girls and me settled (fingers crossed)

I have also been trying to get back to my art. ( I don't think I have darkened my studio door in weeks, but I digress)   To help get me back into this wonderful state of mind - I had a show which opened on March 1st ~ Flight of Fancy at Amazing Things, Framingham, MA.

'insatiable'

'womb wrap' seen thru the doorway

my 'creatures' !!!

For those who follow my facebook artist page you might have seen the announcement.  For those not on facebook, I apologize. Facebook updates were about all I could do that opening week.

I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook (well I am questioning social media in general - but that may be for another post).  However it offers an easy way to announcements out there in the whole.  So if you want to, you can 'like' my artist page, and all that means that you will get my art news, but no pressure!

The opening of Flight of Fancy was well attended, even with the snow storm!!! And the show looks great!! It is a three person show ~ David Lang, Carl Staley and moi! and all of our pieces compliment each other's wonderfully.

When we were granted this exhibit opportunity we decided to have our theme be play!!! We all recognize the importance of the journey and the process as much, if not more, than the end product.  I was pleased to exhibit mostly fiber works and I even performed 'insatiable' during the opening. And to add to the fun, some of the people who came to the opening (such loyal followers :) had come to my 2010 Open Studio when I was just introducing  'insatiable'.  At the opening they marveled at how much the piece has grown and changed!!  I hope to go to the gallery at last once more to work on the piece ~ that would be between all my box opening and furniture building.

This 'moving' has presented me with an interesting conundrum. With all this unpacking, I have been swamped with endless packing material, much that I think would be great to crochet into 'insatiable'!!!  In fact I was thinking of starting an entirely new piece, made solely from all the plastic packing material from my move ~ the plastic from the new mattresses (so wonderfully thick), the thin white plastic wrap that was protecting some of the furniture and the endless plastic bags that carried all the smaller purchases. This is a challenge as I can't throw anything out - much to the chagrin of my eldest.  But I can guarantee that at least some of these fine material will make it into 'insatiable' and hopefully during 'Flights of Fancy'!!!

So stop by if you can - the show runs thru March 29th.  If I do go 'preform' I will post it :).

Also there was a marvelous write up in the MetroWest Daily News:

March 1, 2012
'Flights of Fancy' in Framingham

Three artists making "sexy" woodworks, crocheted "creatures" and moving sculptures that broadcast old baseball games are quoting Socrates' observation "Wisdom begins in wonder" to describe their show at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham. Carl "Chip" Staley, Virginia Fitzgerald and David Lang are showing varied works that seem to fit together in "Flights of Fancy: The Importance of Play" which runs through March 29.

Chip off the block A cabinetmaker and artist, Staley creates sculpted woodworks shaped to suggest the flow of music and imagination. The Natick resident is showing a dozen sculptures he called "graceful, sexy 3-D doodles." A carpenter whose business is named "Wooden Wisdom," Staley said, "My work is mysterious and spiritual. It takes you places."

Tangled up in blue Departing from prior work, Fitzgerald is crocheting semi-abstract pieces she called "creatures" that seem to take on lives of their own. The work named "Medusa" might be a knit orange hula skirt for a mermaid. Beside its tactile appeal, a three-part piece, "Trinity (Trust, Strength and Wisdom)" seems to subvert the Greek myth of the Fates who measured out men's lives in yarn.
Her most ambitious piece, "Insatiable," has "grown" to be 8 feet tall like hanging moss. "It's turned into a monster that doesn't want to stop," said Fitzgerald. "It's become a performance."

Clockwork orange Part tinkerer, part conjurer, Lang transforms gears and feathers, sprockets and copper tubing into automatons that shake, rattle and roll out the whimsy. They enact mini-mechanical pantomimes that might be jokes, nostalgic skits or even moral tales. Featuring clam shells and pictures of Renaissance nudes, "The Day the Castinetti Sisters First Learned to Fly" is an elaborate sight gag. Resembling an old buggy built the Unabomber, "Play By Play" will emit radio recordings of vintage baseball games.

"This show embodies the idea the best art is serendipitous," said Lang, of Wayland. "When you work, unexpected stuff comes out."

A reception will be held Thursday, March 1 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Amazing Things is located at 160 Hollis St., Framingham. For information, call 508-405-2787 or visit www.amazingthings.org.

well, thanks for reading, happy to be 'back' & peace