Pinchpots for Hungarian Birds

I received a fine little package this week from artist Brandon Boan. He’s just returned from a month of teaching in Hungary. The following, entitled Pinch Pots for Hungarian Birds, was made during his work on a series of thermal drawings which will be showing soon; I’ll be sure to update with details as I get them.

Migration

I’m pleased to have some of my work included in the upcoming group exhibition, Migration.

Opening Reception: Sept. 11, 6 – 9 PM.

Migration will be on exhibit from 9/11 to 10/17.
Work Detroit is open Tue – Sat, 11am – 4pm.

There will be a migratory performance entitled ‘No Fixed Address’ on 10/02, from 8 – 10pm

***

Migration manifests in many ways: changes to a neighborhood’s demographics, personal identity, contested borders, or movement in a lifetime or a week. These changes bring about conflicts (and resolutions) of space, economies, labor and industry, and race and ethnicity, to name a few. This exhibition brings together a wide range of creative work inspired by these issues.

Artist List:
Susan Aaron-Taylor
Gabriella Boros
Jacklyn Brickman
Terrence Campagna
Christopher Cannon
Daniel Farnum
Dave Fischer
Sadko Hadzihasanovic
Richard Haley
Andy Mattern
Robert Mirek
Erik Olson
David Edward Parker
Lisa Poszywak
Kelly Salchow MacArthur
Patrick Wise
Matthew Zivich

Curated by:
Michael Borowski
Urmila Venkatesh

Special thanks to Stephen Schudlich and the Work: Detroit staff.

Click here for the Facebook event page/invitation.

From Letters to Words

I think I have the luckiest mailbox.

My dear friend Jude writes the most wonderful letters. I’m giddy every time I get one! Jude Stuecker is a fiber artist whom I met at Penland in North Carolina where we were both Studio Assistants during an 8 week Spring Concentration. She made a beautiful quilt for Felix that lives on the red recliner. Jude is currently in the middle of her busy summer show and festival season.

Also this week I received post cards from ever talented writer and poet Claudia Manz. Claudia changed my perspective on poetry completely. I met her during a month long fellowship/ residency at Jentel in Wyoming. Prior to that I just didn’t “get” most poems, didn’t really know how to think about them and in turn took the unfortunate stance that I just didn’t really like poetry.  After hearing Claudia share some of her favorite works as well as watch her work and listen to her read, I found a whole new appreciation and enjoyment for poetry altogether.

Claudia sent two poems from Portland.

en-grass-ed

In doing some research, I’ve come across some interesting ways of working with grass and had to share.

I hadn’t heard of artist Tomas Saraceno until doing this search, but have become completely smitten by his work. Here are his Floating balloons of grass from the “Lighter than Air” exhibition at Walker Art Center.

This next image also of Saraceno’s doesn’t involve grass but is just too gorgeous not to share:

Keep off the grass! was an undulating suspended landscape that was installed in the Southern California Institute of Architecture’s school gallery for 8 weeks.

Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey grew grass on vertical surfaces including a cathedral and mausoleum.

as well as portraiture.

I also came across some grass lamps.

All images in this post belong to their respective owner/ artist.

LOVE mail art project & ATCs

Information about the Love mail art project was sent to me by Aimee (see mail from her here and here). I have been working on a piece of artmail to send to Romania as well as a few artist correspondents.

Simultaneously, I’ve been working on some Artist Trading Cards for an event/ exhibition at Richmond Art Gallery in British Colombia, Canada.

supplies:

::polyethelyne

::packing tape

::electrical tape

::box cutter

::sharpie

::love

Pile of postcards:

All they need now are stamps and a mail box!

ATCs or Artist Trading Cards are another fun way to get other artists tiny works. The gallery requests that the works be sent in a Trading Card sleeve/ 9 card sheet. I still need to pick one of these up, but my cards are ready otherwise.

All of them together:

and a few close ups:

Like my other recent work, these are made using reclaimed polyethylene. I got a slew of it from someone on freecycle back in Delaware. It had a lot of wonderful marks left from plant roots and mud from it’s previous use. The piece I used for this set of works though, had also been used while I was cleaning one of my screens after printing. The red marks are the screen filler that was washed out of the screen and dried onto the polyethylene. I love how many lives things can have and to think sending them out to others gives them yet another life is really quite exciting.

Death Notes II

Last week I received artmail from a former classmate of mine, Ben Kiehl.

Ben said “The whole motive for the image started by holding two sharpies at the same time and trying to control the image in spite of the double-strokes.”

I’ve always appreciated the amount of dexterity and meticulousness found in Ben’s artwork. I’m so pleased to receive bits such as this in the mail.

serenety sent via post

Last week, my mailbox was presented with artmail from Elizabeth Isakson. Liz is a dear friend, who’s work has such a lovely sensitivity and grace to it.

I love how serene the imagery here is. It came just in time: I was a little hectic with party prepping last week (don’t get me wrong, it was all fun!). This reminded me to take a deep breath and enjoy.

Liz and I actually live in the same town. Near or far, I do love mail!

reType

Last week I was able to spend some time with my friend and fellow mama, Melissa Hardman. She surprised me with a wonderfully crafted handmade book! I can’t get enough looking at or holding it. I love the colors and text combinations and that it is completely recycled. The simple Japanese stab binding lends itself well to this little lovely.

Some pics to share the love:

and lastly, a shot of our little boys playing in the sand. They’re only about a month apart in age and both way to busy playing to look at the camera!

Late Night Photo Shoot

I have had this New House: urban/suburban project brewing for a while now. I started it while F was still napping in the Ergo on my back. The house was so large though that I kept waking him up while I was working on it. Nap time is crucial “mama gets things done time” around here. We’ve finally gotten to a point where F naps in the family bed, so my work time has gotten a little more productive- I can move my body a bit more freely now anyhow. I do have to admit, at times I miss having my little sleeping muse right over my shoulder.

Papa and Felix helped me set up the photo shoot last night.

Lastly, my favorite shot of the night:

I’ve updated my website too- a couple more images can be found there.

Up and Running

I wouldn’t call it full, but there are items in my Etsy shop! I am happy to have some things listed again, and look forward to keeping a steady flow of inventory. The current batch of items are hand painted birds on American Apparel Classic Girl Ts in various colors and sizes.

I’ve been having loads of fun painting the birds!