Announcing the rebooting of my dailydress project ....

Though I started making dressart and my 'dressproject'  since 2005, I started my 'dailydress project ...' on May 31, 2013.  It stemmed from a personal need to have daily positive and inspirating messages because that year was pretty intense for me. And as is my nature I wanted to share the words of wisdom that I found so I started my 'dailydress project ...' blog.

click here to go to blog

I posted daily for over a year, May 31, 2013 - July 11, 2014. Then my posts became less daily so that I could focus on other projects of my life. Then when my oldest, Maya, headed off to college I turned again to my daily posting, this time focusing the posts on topics and themes that I wanted to share with my daughters, my book of motherlove. I posted 97 days of 'motherlove', and once again life demanded my attention and my posts became more sparatic and far between.

Now loved ones of mine are going through a difficult transition,  so I am rebooting my dailydress blog!!  And honestly I couldn't be more happy! My 'dailydress' blog has been one of my favorite things to do.  I am a quote junkie, jotting down inspiring quotes whenever I see one, the more obscure the better. So if you are interested in "a collection of art, quotes, advice, recipes and life hacks to help us all navigate this brave new world ...." click this link to visit the entire blog.

I have also created a 'dailydress' project group on FaceBook, so if you are on FB please join the group! the more the merrier.

'the dailydress project ...' Public group · 384 members Join Group 'the dailydress project ...' @ https://dailydressproject.blogspot.com a collection of art, quotes, advice, recipes and life hacks to help us all navig...

click here to join the dailydress project group on FB

thank you and peace, 

dresstags on foreign shores

May this dress remind you to learn from the past and to savor the peppermint and thyme you find along the way (in Dougga, Tunisia)

For those of you not on Facebook I want to share lovely phenomena which has come from this cyber connection that social media allows us.

(Not that I am in anyway promoting FB.  As I have mentioned here I have a love hate relationship with social media, there is good and bad, as it is with many relationships.  But today's story springs from of the good.

dresstags heading to Asia

Thanks to social media my dresstagging practice has reach a much larger audience. That is very gratifying since I usually never see where or if my dresstags are found.  But with the wonders of Iphones, instagram and the likes, I can post pictures of these little parcels of goodwill and good fortune and their message is sent and received virtually, and usually to much enthusiasm. 

Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou, China

Clara's story: "This dresstag was left at the Guangdong Museum's small shop in Guangzhou. A little later I could not resist, went back there and saw the moment the young woman picked up the dress and looked very intrigued by it. She looked around and saw me, I guess she connected... and then she smiled. I smiled back and left."

This positive energy has been very important when inspiration fails or financial stress looms.  This cyber-encouragement lead me to doing my Daily Dress Inspirations blog/group, my daily morning meditation practice where I find a quote that I need to hear for that day/at that moment and post it with or without a dress.

May this dress inspire you to appreciate the art all around you. — Dar Ben-Gacem, Tunis, Tunisia

This practice has been invaluable to me during these past months and appears to be supportive to others as well.  Via Facebook I have received messages of how the quote I choose what perfect for someone to read.  Here is a comment that was shared on FB.  I LOVE  the idea that I live in a corner of her life:

"my experience has been that I/we are planted where we/I can meet those special people bringing in the light, lessons and love in unique ways that I/we most need at the time we/I are in need. Virginia Fitzgerald was introduced to me by my daughter the first year I lived in Massachusetts. Her creativity is the outward result of her inner beauty. It seems she shares each day exactly what I need. I have a feeling she lives in a corner of my life just waiting to provide these dresses just for me. So happy you have found her as well. We all make the world go round!!!!" G. Armstrong

The dress on the photo was left at a market in GZ, with the delicious dragon fruits. I left there and some 10 minutes later, when we walked back to that area, the dress was already gone and a young woman, that I think works there, was looking at us with a very big and friendly smile!!!! — in Guangzhou, China.

Social media has increased the reach of my dresstagging practice.   Because of FB one of my artist/friend/dresstag followers, who was heading to China asked if I wanted her to take some dresstags with her!!! YES!! and I posted on FB that my dresstags were heading to Asia, which lead to two other friends offering to take some to Tunisia!!!where they were going to spread dresstag inspiration in french!!! So very exciting!! 

So during the past week I have been receiving beautiful photos from abroad.  These pictures have been tremendously welcomed by me, amidst this times of holiday stress and some loneliness triggered by figuring out how these family focused time unfold when you are divorce.  I am continually amazed how my dresswork seems to go out into the world, just to return to help me.

left in the Alps

left at the Frankfurt Airport

May this dress bring you (and us) safe and sweet travels! This one was left on a shelf of maple syrup in the Montreal airport.

So here are some of these treasures, most received this month, and one from the Alps a few summers ago!! Thank you dress carrying world travelers, Martha Calderaro and family, Liz Gray, Jacqui Bloomberg and Clara Bohrer, I am truly grateful!!! peace

link to the FB photo album #dresstagsabroad  and you can follow my dresstagging practice on instagram, @virginiafitzart

Arty happenings, THIS week!!!!!

Some of many exciting events that are on the calendar this coming week, in no particular order!!!!

First I am so pleased to be exhibiting some of my dressphotos at the Wellesley Center Starbucks for the month of November! So if you are in the area make sure to stop in for a toasty warm drink as the cold northeastern winter months arrive.

As I hung my photos last night,  I remembered that it was over 7 years ago that I exhibited some of my still life paintings at this exact Starbucks, in fact on this exact wall. This realization gave me a moment to reflect on the amazing journey that I have been on and how intrigued I am about where the journey will take me!

Secondly, this Sunday I hope you will join me at the Artisan Market at Roots and Wings. This past week I have been I have been madly making dresscards and other daily dress intentions inspired items. Roots and Wings is a lovely place, offering wonderful classes in yoga, meditation and so much more. The market will support Roots & Wings' nonprofit organization Branching Out for Youth.

Then last but not least!!, I am so sad to say that 'breaking open' is almost closing. The show ends on Nov. 10th. But there are still some events that may help you get there!!

On Thursday, November 7th, from 5-8, we are having a gathering where the gallery will be open later.  Come by for some refreshments and lively conversation!!  I'll be there to talk about the work and answer any questions.  

I am also gallery sitting on Saturday, November 9th from 2-5pm and plan to be there late Sunday afternoon.  So stop by if you can. 

The experience of putting together an exhibit I find to be quite the roller coaster ~ exhilarating, challenging, exhausting and yet satisfying and so rewarding.    You work so hard to put together a cohesive body of work, then deliver and install the work.  After that, there is the excitement of the opening and, if you are lucky, there will be an artist's talk.  These events usually go on when you are in a state of exhaustion, disbelief and excitement, having just installed the show.   

Then once those big events are finished, you have the job of getting people to go to the gallery. For me this is one of the harder parts of exhibiting.  In today's busy, busy world I am torn about adding one more invitation, obligation to the mix.  

But then again I am proud of the work, and especially for sculpture, one gets such a richer experience by being with the work, verses seeing it in pictures.  So I set up events that might make the visit more enjoyable. 

But this is part of being an exhibiting artist! It is a job/calling/passion that I love!! and an experience that I am so blessed to have the opportunity to share!!! 

p.s. one last event!

tonight is the annual benefit auction for the Attleboro Arts Museum.  I went last year and it was SO fun!!! Also I donated one of my 'home sweet home' collages,' somethings fishy'. Click here if you want to bid online ~ 

Well time to make more dresscards!!! peace

inspiring and thought-provoking . . . .

Today in the Boston area there are MANY venues 

where one can experience some amazing art. 

I am going to highlight two of them here: 

First  (drumroll please!!)

Christine Zwart's opening reception is tonight!!!

RECEPTION: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th, 6 pm-9 pm

Carney Gallery, Regis College, Weston, MA

Here is what David Lang said about Christina and this spectacular exhibition: 

Christina Zwart "multiplicity"

Every so often an exhibition captures my spirit like few others. Christina Zwart has created such an event in her show titled "Multiplicity." She is an installation artist. Her work comes together at the Carney Gallery at Regis College on Wellesley Street in Weston, MA. The entire gallery has become an installation. It is visually rich, subtle, thought-provoking and profound. She uses rather unlikely materials to create her works, which sometimes present themselves as "events" rather than individual constructions. Let this exhibition elegantly and eloquently transport you to a realm of the unexpected through her celebration of "beauty in the imperfect." David A.Lang

 

click here to see more of Christina's inspired pieces

And to get in the arty mindset 

for the reception

you should run by Maynard for:

Open Studios

This Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 

ArtSpace Maynard,

63 Summer Street, Maynard, MA 01754

Jane McKinnon Johnstone

Brenda Cirioni
A wonderful collection of exciting and inspiring artists!! 

Merill Comeau

And before you head out on your arty adventure you might want to read the blog of a good friend of mine, Mark Green.  His latest post has stirred up many thoughts which I have pondered on my Daily Dress blog.  All of this addressing the lack of sitting still in our lives.  So I am listing the links to the different blogpost and then leaving you with some photos I took this morning, while on a quiet walk in the early morning dew with my trusty hound, Scruffy.

Mark's blog: moosevt.wordpress.com

virginia's daily dress inspiration(that's me :)

dailydressproject.blogspot.com

Wishing you a peaceful Saturday! xxx

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 

it all started seven years ago . . . .

wedding dress (brenda's dress) 

the beginning of the dress project

it all began on wells beach, me. in 2006. i had an idea of an image of a dress and while walking on the beach one morning i picked up a stick to see what this 'dress' would look like.  i drew a sleeveless, life sized dress and  filled it in with the beautiful beach rocks & then proceeded to let the high tide take it away ~ giving me a new, clean canvas on which to make another dress.  the process felt so right and so gratifying that for the rest of the vacation i made a dress!  & each day i would walk the beach with no preconceived idea and would just listen to which material i was to use that day... 

(from www.virginiafitzgerald.com, 

click HERE for photogallery)

It all started, innocently on 

a family vacation, 

in Wells Beach, ME.

A broken glass, 

a sea of drowning ladybugs 

and a nagging thought 

lead me to create 

the DressProject.  

Follow this link to read 

Helen Prunty Krispien's article: 

Drowning ladybugs lead to fascinating art project, 

(for more about ladybugs and dresses)

Since then I have created hundreds of dresses, 

in a myriad of media and materials.

Some in unique locales:

dress #3 from wells beach, me.

new york diner dress (2006)

I have made LARGE dressese

this installation centered around an 8 foot tall dress of eggshells 

'this comes from within' medicine wheel productions (2009)

and I have made small dresses 

abc dress (2006) about 1 inch square

some dresses have a message:

'in memory of  . . . .' (2008) in private collection

made with plaster tape, dog tags and photos of soldiers 

honoring those who died in Iraq.

'ripple' (2010)

a drawing that I contributed to a charity 

raising money to help the gulf after the BP oil spill.

I have made ephemeral dresses and dress sculptures

 which reside in public and private collections.

'lush' (2009) in private collection

And 7 years later, the desire to make dresses is just as unrelenting as it was in Wells Beach.

The dress continues to inspire me to venture into new realms of expression;  performance, installations and collaborative art.

'metamorphosis' (2013) made with the Dana Hall student body

The dress has lead me to

my dresstagging practice

the world of greeting cards and

my daily dress inspiration blog (dressblog).

one of the first dresstags, portsmouth, NH

dresscard  - soon to be for sale on Etsy

I have made dresses out of plaster, plastic bottles, VCR tape, 

fresh pasta, shells, maps, clothes pins, 

fall leaves, dog hair, ribbons, 

even nail polish . . . Nothing is safe!!!

winding roads (2011) paper-mache, paint, marker 

'cicada' (2012) mixed media painting on panel

'time to take flight' (2012) mixed media collage, part of the 'home sweet home' series

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.

thank you

And I thank you for your continued interest 

in my dress obsession, 

your company and support has made 

this journey all the more gratifying. 

peace