'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

Imagine all the people living life in peace. John Lennon

this post is a direct copy of today's daily dress inspiration blog .

With today being September 11th,  I felt that today's message and 

quotes were worth repeating. (and for those wonderful folks that subscribe to 

both my blogs, I apologize for the 'rerun'.)

may this dress bring peace ~

'dear jeff' (2011-2012)

for all of those affected by

the events of September 11th,

which is all of us - 

some more obvious than others.

Today's dress is a commissioned 

sculpture for a man who lost his fiancée

12 years ago today. 

At the 10 year anniversary 

of this tragedy he felt that it 

was time to let go of 

his box of memories.  

He asked me if I could create 

something out of his treasure box.

I was honored and accepted the task.

This was a 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

a cornucopia 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.

To read more about the piece, click here,

(though I just realized that longer 

description of this piece is yet to be written)

So for today I give you 'dear jeff' 

and the words of John Lennon, 

from his anthem, 'imagine'.

 One of my utmost favorite songs, 

with lyrics that reach into the true 

 depth of my soul and makes me ache 

for the world he describes!!

 let us all strive for peace in our time.

As John Lennon said : 

“War is over ... If you want it.” 

"Imagine"

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

if you have received this post as an email 

click here to visit the entire blog, thank you & peace 

2012, the review: install #1

2012 was a full year - personally and professionally.

during that year I embarked on . . .

new artistic adventures, such as my 'birds of poetry' for the Attleboro Public Library; 

exhibited my work in prestigious venues, such as the Attleboro Arts Museum and 

finished some major sculptures, such as, 'dear jeff'.

The idea of summing all of 2012 in one blog post felt like a daunting and very lengthy task ~ this past year was full of many noteworthy events. Also in all my recent social media research - the word on the street is that NO ONE scrolls down, not even your mother!!! (Catherine Weber, Weber Media Partners)

So to make it more palatable for you the reader and me the author I am going to break it down into smaller bits as well as reference past posts.  

So with no further delay - installation#1 of '2012, the review' ~ 

with this installation, a visual review. (you'll still need to scroll if you want)

The above image is a mosaic of some of my projects from 2012.  An idea I saw on artist's Bridgette Guerzon Mill's blog, contemplating the moon. I am a visual person so this was right up my alley.  However when I shared my mosaic with some piers, they mentioned that they wanted to see more - so the full images are images below, with a bit of a description.  A good way to start the year in review.

Bird by Bird: 12 x12 panel for Fountain Street Fine Art

new work: mixed media on panel

new work: 'raw', organic crocheting, representing the first year of my separation.

detail from 'lilith in blue' : acrylic paint on plaster

new work: "lilith in blue' acrylic paint on plaster

'birds of poetry' detail

installation of over 100 'birds of poetry in the library's atrium

new work: kids gloves

new work: 'pocket full of pretty green' part of series of mixed media collages

new work: 'dear jeff' commissioned sculpture made for man who lost his fiance in 9/11

new work: 'time to take flight'

new work: 'le chat' ~ part of series created for FSFA's CSArt program

new work : commissioned drawing

new product line: dressmats

going back to my roots ~ painted furniture

another flashback - stilllife painting

Going out with a BANG!!!!

As the saying goes all good things must come to an end.  And so it is for "Upon Further Consideration: what tells a story", my exhibition with David Lang at the Carney Gallery, Regis College, Weston, MA.  But we are not going quietly :) 

Tomorrow afternoon David and I will be conducting a gallery talk which will then lead to a closing reception.  So we would love to have all come and help us toast out our latest creative endeavor!! 

artists' talk ~ 4:00pm

reception to follow

Also some pieces have been added since the opening AND some pieces will be going back to their private homes.  'dear jeff', which is the commissioned by a man who lost his fiance in 9/11, is now part of the exhibit at Regis, for all those who could not make it down to Attleboro Arts Museum.  Another new piece that was in Attleboro's 8 Vision is 'kid gloves'.  And 'in memory of . . .' will be heading back to her owners, who kindly let me show her for this exhibition, thank you Bill and Joe!! 

peace

a Quick Peek at 8 Visions

Here are a few 'quick' shots of my pieces in the 8 Visions show at the Attleboro Arts Museum. 

'black widow' greets you at the door

My camera has a funny time with the lighting in the space so the color is off a bit - something I 'should' be able to fix. . . but alas. For now here is a little taste of the show.

'happily ever after'

The opening reception was a lovely evening - the museum's staff is so wonderful.  And it was such a treat to be able to show a group of my dresses in such a beautiful space and to debut a few pieces.  

'dear jeff' 

One of the pieces shown for the first time is 'dear jeff'.  Last night was especially special because Jeff Gonski, the man who commissioned 'dear jeff',  came to the opening.  

'dear jeff' is a sculpture made from the letters and correspondences that Jeff received from his then girl friend/ fiance and all the cards of sympathy and condolences that he received after he lost his fiance in the events of 9/11.  

This is a hugely emotional dress and this was proven last night as I watched as different people responded to the dress. I am truly thankful to Jeff for giving me the opportunity to work with these memories and for his bravery to share his memories with the world.

'kid gloves'

Also it was nice to be back talking to the gallery visitors about why I do dresses and why I chose the materials that I do, and all those fun questions.  

On that note, the gallery talk for this show - on Sept. 8th 2-4pm.

'lilith in blue'

And an extra perk of last night was that the two final jurors were at the opening as well ~ Seth Rainville,  curator at the New Bedford Art Museum and Bob Totaro, Director of J. Todd Galleries in Wellesley, MA. It was such a pleasure to meet them and talk to them about the jurying process.

'new york diner' dress 

 So this is a quick perusal of my part of 8 Visions ~ more to come (hopefully).  

Thanks to all that came to the opening - it was truly a special evening. 

And thank you to the other artists that were exhibiting last night ~ 

I am honored to be part of such a creative group!

(be sure to check out their websites - their names are links to their sites) 

2012 “8 Visions” Artists:

Patricia Berube – Cohasset, MA

Brenda Cirioni – Stow, MA

Susan Denniston – Scituate, MA

Virginia Fitzgerald – Natick, MA

Sand T Kalloch – Malden, MA

Niva Shrestha – Franklin, MA

Mary L. Taylor – Marshfield Hills, MA

Felicia Touhey – Portsmouth, RI

'provocative'

peace

If you are in the area of Attleboro . . .

As usual, the day before an opening and I am madly sending out emails, evites and announcements.  

If you are in the area, there are a few places where one could see my work in the next few weeks:

First, there is the 'Birds of Poetry' installation at the Attleboro Public Library ~ 

 And then down the street I have 7 pieces in the Attleboro Arts Museum's 8 Visions Exhibit ~ 

(3 of the pieces have never been exhibited before :)

And then this is what it is like to be a daughter of a mom who is working all the time . . .

peace

OPENING this WEDNESDAY

grant application submitted - CHECK

Any other artist out there feeling like the business end of being an artist is exhausting?!? 

Once again I am racing to get a grant submission in before the deadline (today), and each time I do this remember my desire to get better pictures of my work?!??!

This was the first time that I needed to prepare a powerpoint presentation so hopefully I dotted my i's and crossed my t's. 

Below are the 'slides'.

Now off to the next task . . . or maybe a nap?!?!? 

peace to all.