On the other side of Open Studios!!

Well that was quick, open studios came and went in a blink of an eye!!! 

My studio moved into the ha;; for easier access ....

I was so pleasantly surprised by the number of people who were able to find me and my studio.  For anyone who has been to my studio they know it is not the easiest place to find, even when you are confident in where you are going ... up the loading dock, up the darkened stairwell, through the heavy fire door and turn left.  :)

photo by David Lee Black
he captured me installing and dancing with 'flirt...' 

one of my many ploys to
help people find my studio

And since I was the only Natick artist that was opened their studio in that part of the building, I didn't think many would come.  But, what is the saying .... 

"build it and they will come" which they did, making it quite a successful weekend. 

And as usual, I have so much to say, ponder and share about the weekend, but today I must be brief!! So I am going to let others share their vision of my studio and their experience!!! 

photo by Ruth Nelson

photo by Ruth Nelson

Here are some photos from some wonderful photographers that dropped by ... David Lee Black , Annie Messier and Ruth Nelson and then check out the blog written by one of my studio visitors, a rather famous visitor, one with their own blog, Moonieandme?!?! 

me and Moonie

Click the below link and check out Moonie's visit to my studio.  It appears that he truly enjoyed himself.  And be sure to check out Moonie's earlier post which talks about his visit to the magical land of David Lang's studio.  

MOONIE AND ME!! 

blog post about Moonie's visit to my studio!!

much fun!!! 

peace, va

#wip wednesday: so many art happenings ....

a quick post from the road, as I am college visiting with my eldest and have a few minutes before I need to wake my teen. and there is so much going on ...

'kitchentableseries ... on the road' Yonkers, NY

first, tonight is the opening reception for 'Art on the Common' in Natick:

An outdoor art installation in celebration of our common connection to community and shared art. We have several interpretations from talented and well known local artists adorning the ground and trees @ Common Street Spiritual Center...the Opening Night is starting @ 6 o'clock in the evening Wednesday October 14 so we can capture some of the falling away sunlight....sun starts to set at 6:07P:-) 

But come whenever you can and then join us at Gallery 55 across Main St. to say hello, and please stay for Poetry Night at 7:30PM. The Art of the Common will be in place for a few weeks and just in time for Natick Artists Open Studios.

Local artists for Art on the Common include Scott Pressler Virginia Fitzgerald Carmine Saccardo Karin Stanley John Mottern Anna Coburn, and Molly Saccardo, and a huge thank you goes out to all of them and to Ian Mevorach at Common St. who facilitated and inspired the vision of ART on the COMMON.

Common Street Spiritual Center is at 13 Common St. Natick, MA 01760 across from backside of the Town Common and next to Post Office. 

'skywarrior II ...' is holding court again, on the corner of School st and Common St. Although this time she is being a bit shy!! Many folks have said that they can't find her, that i need to move her, add streamers to her, and I have declined.  I feel that she is who she is no matter where she flies.  If in this locale she is feeling the need to blend in, so be it!!! 

So if you are in the area tonight, stop by or any other time, see if you can find her. Maybe she will take a shining to you and appear!!!

Then this weekend is the 

Natick Artists Open Studios!!! 

I took off last year for personal reasons but I am back!! And I will be showing some matted illustrations, drawing from the #kitchentableseries and some paintings!!!!

one of a series of oyster painting in gouache

It will be interesting as this year I am the only artist in the upper floors of the building and it is only David Lang and myself in all of the Winchell Building?!?!?!

kitchen table series 

But David and I always have fun and I am looking forward to TWO days STRAIGHT in my studio!! 

well it is time to tour the campus of Fordham!! 

thanks for joining me here on my art blog!! 

 peace, va

happenings ....

'skywarrior II .... ' installed at Art on the Trails,
Hopkinton, MA

It is the fall and that means lots o'stuff going on ... school starting, summer ending and in a month ...
Natick Artists 
Open Studios!!! 
So before I fall into a black hole of activity, I just want to get some information out into the world!!!

First, THIS weekend, on Saturday, September 19th, at 2PM, there is going to be a celebration of poetry in Hopkinton at the exhibit, Art on the Trail.  This is the outdoor sculpture exhibit where 'sky warrior II ...' has been holding court since August 1st.










It is a lovely collection of sculptures, scattered along Hopkinton's Center Trail, curated by sculptor, Michael Alfano, and tomorrow twenty area poets will present their poems inspired by the installation and sculptures.  This poetry presentation was organized by Polly Brown and Cheryl Perreault.

Click here to view the electronic collection of the poems to be presented tomorrow.  It is lovely to see that my piece, 'sky warrior II ...' has inspired some of the verses.

"Poetry on the Trail" 

21 poems inspired by an exhibit of sculpture 

on Hopkinton’s Center Trail 

Spider Woman, by Cathy Weaver Taylor 

This Heartbeat in the Woods I Hear 

inspired by Virginia Fitzgerald’s heartbeat dress

There is a heartbeat beating in these reticent woods how it reverberates

the ancient, patient message how the wind listens

and tells the trees to listen too

how the trees speak to the birds

and the birds sing out

this message to the world.

There are no secrets here.

There is no gossip in the branches. Nothing here is insignificant.

There is simple, sacred promise

that the earth loves every single living thing. Everything is beating life out loud. Everything here is creation.

Cheryl Perreault 

Also on the horizon is the
Natick Artists 
Open Studios 
and this year I AM participating.
I missed last year as there was just too much other life stuff taking my attention!!
But I am happily revving up for the big weekend .... SO MARK your CALENDARS!!!!

In prepping for the big weekend, the NAOS committees have been getting art into different venues around Natick and I am happy to say that I have a piece in the "People" exhibit at the Morse Institure Library.  I contributed this wonderful photography of graffiti in Chelsea, NYC.  Many people who see it assume that it is collage but not by me, I just saw this wonderful scene and clicked!!!

I realize there is so much more to share ...

but I think this is enough for now!!

Also my awesomely creative artist friend, Christina Zwart, texted me this week:

"not enuf hours for the rest of our lives."

kind of captured the feeling of this time of year ....

So on that noteI am going to sign off with of my 'daily notes to self':

from this thursday:

Thursday, September 17, 2015

today, let us remember to slow down ....

as we physically experience the craziness of the start of the new school year and the end of summer, let us remember to slow down; remind ourselves of the slow circles of nature ...

Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace. 

 May Sarton 

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

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

'insatiable' ~ out and about, again

Yesterday I delivered and installed 'insatiable' 

at the Natick Public Library, 

as part of the Natick Artists' Open Studios' 

group show, Green.

This exhibit features original pieces by over 40 

Natick Artists Open Studios participants, 

it includes photography, painting, printmaking, sculpture,

 mosaics, ceramic, glass, mixed media and more.

The curator and I perched 'insatiable' in the atrium stairwell 

where she is stretching out her tendrils.  

I am excited about how she is displayed; 

hanging but not hanging, 

up-close for library visitors but not too accessible

to little hands :).  

I am super excited to have her out in the world again!!! 

I hope to do a workshop sometime during the show 

but I am not sure, as my fall is pretty full. 

More about that is another post. :)

Save the Date: 

Natick Artists Open Studios 
October 19 & 20, 2013
 noon - 5 pm 
AND
the opening reception of 
'breaking open'
October 19, 2013
5-7pm
@ Fountain Street Fine Art
Framingham

Bringing Art & Craft into Our Local Community by Creating Spaces where Everyone is Inspired to Thrive! 

Traveling dresses and dates to SAVE!!!

Just to keep everyone up to date 

(there seems to be  A LOT going on right now!!! :)

~ here are a few announcements from the studio ~ 

Persephone's dress

don't slip

eat your vegetables

clementine dress

 Just sent these pieces off to the Ann Street Gallery in Newburgh, NY for their Yumilicious! exhibit. 

 This was the first time that I printed 'don't slip' and 'Persephone's dress' as large photographs which is always exciting.  And while placing my printing order I decided to throw in 'sizzzzle' which I will be showing this weekend at Open studios!!

Yes, save the date, mark your calendar ~ 

this weekend is Natick Artist's Open Studios!!! 

The excitement and craziness is growing in the Natick Artist community 

as we all dig out our studios, trying to make it navigable for our visitors.

I will be camped out in my wonderful studio at 

25 Washington Ave, second floor, on the left.  

There hopefully will be many balloons guiding the way. 

 Click here for the full web site and the map.  

I am planning to have dresscards, dressmats, dresstags and 

my new series of collages, as well as other interesting artistic adventures.  

  

And remember you can ALWAYS bring some green/brownish fiber like material to add to 'insatiable'  When I was performing her at JP Knits for their Yarn Crawl people came in with lots of items.  One family came in with old soccer socks which we cut into strips and added to the beast.  It was such fun ~ all three siblings, ranging ages 4 -10, were nestled in to the couch, crocheting and NOT wanting to go :) 

And lastly ~ 

SAVE THE DATE 

for 'Upon Further Consideration' at Regis College, 

on Friday, October 26th, 

David Lang and I will be hosting a closing reception.  

There is also supposed to be a gallery talk that afternoon so the finer details will be coming.  So if you have not seen the show and needed an extra reason to go - you now have a the reason ~ a party!!

  

Hope to see you at one of these arty occasions!!!

peace

Exciting new work from the Studios of Virginia Fitzgerald

(now for the post that i was writing when i realized the past post, from June, hadnot even been published!!! :)

'mirror, mirror' mixed media collage on panel

These past few weeks have been super full, which is befitting for September, with the usual starting of a new school year. And to add to the excitement, I just added a few big gallery shows, a couple performances and an open studio or two, keeping me 'out of trouble'.

Lots of good things have been going on ~ meeting new people, learning new techniques and creating a  new series of collages ~ all good, but I must confess I really miss writing my blog.  Even with my quick update on my Facebook artist's page, I miss how the act of writing my blog helps me to flesh out my current projects and artistic going-ons.  I realize that this blog is an important record for me about what is important in my artistic journey, and hopefully others enjoy reading it as well.   

So with that revelation in mind I here is a 'quick' post about my newest series and where you can find one of these pieces.

As I have mentioned in an earlier post (the lost  post), I am part of Fountain Street Fine Arts' CSArt ~ and as I have been exploring what my CSArt pieces will be I created these mixed media collages ~ one is pictured at the beginning of this post. These collages don't exactly fit the criteria for the CSArt but I am SO, sO, So excited about the pieces as their own series!!! 

I see the series as a natural continuation of The Dress Project. The pieces speak to many issues that I am deal with in The Dress Project, especially the demands of certain societal expectations.  And this work is 2D which gives me some ability to show it in more places.  But most of all I LOVE to create these surreal worlds.

One of the first places where the series is debuting is at the Attleboro Arts Museum for their 21st Benefit Art Auction.  And they have set up an online auction so even those who are far away can view, bid and possibly win my newest work ~ see info below for online auction.

The piece I donated is called, 'there's no place like home, andy'.  It is a mixed media collage on paper and measures 5x7" with an 8x10" mat.  The dress and hanger are separate pieces that I have created then sewn onto the piece.  This detail picture gives you a sense of the dimensionally of the work.

'there's no place like home, andy'

detail

I am truly intoxicated by this series and have been working on paper and on panels.  I hope/plan to have a few at this weekends Natick Open Studios - but to do that I need to go work on them.  So . . . I must run.  

Check out the Attleboro Online Auction, here is the direct link to my piece.  And thank you for visiting my blog!! peace.

You can now view the Attleboro Arts Museum's 2012 Benefit Art Auction Items ________________________

The Attleboro Arts Museum's Benefit Art Auction is the Museum's   largest fundraising event of the year.  Proceeds from the auction   fund colorful and innovative arts programs for all levels of artists   and art students and a range of exhibitions.    You can now view (and place bids on) our handsome offering   of auction items by visiting either: The Museum: actual auction items are on display through   November 1, 2012.  86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703.   Tues - Sat, 10am - 5pm.  OR Our online auction website through October 31, 2012:    www.biddingforgood.com/attleboroartsmuseum2012 __________________________________________   Tickets are now on sale for the live auction event: Saturday, November 3, 2012 Tickets: $35 in advance;   $40 at the door.    •  Each ticket includes wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres •  Doors open at 5:30pm •  Buffet from 5:30 - 6:30pm; beverages available all evening •  Live auction begins at 7pm Attleboro Arts Museum 86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703   To order tickets: 508-222-2644 x13 or   office@attleboroartsmuseum.org __________________________________________ Endless thanks to our valued 2012 auction sponsors:   Headline Sponsors City Spirits; Fine Catering by Russell Morin; Rockland Trust; Sensata Technologies; The Sun Chronicle Partner Sponsors  Anawon Trust/Bristol County Savings Bank; Collins, Smith & O'Connor, LLP; Mansfield Bank; Barbara and Peter Ottmar Friend Sponsors Bliss Bros. Dairy; Castro, Thresher & Oliveira, PC; Willow Tree Farm

http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Browse.action?auctionId=169965519&searchTerm=fitzgerald&search=Search&_sourcePage=rDlJDQwHKdxLYsuDKS9t0adu0wt2lnOlBiTONnwlpGE%3D&__fp=j9m3yWnNqAc%3D