Back on Campus

Most schools are back in session this week, though slightly delayed due to Irene.  I love visiting Univerisity galleries so here is a re-cap of some great places from the past school year, inspiring you to discover something new when getting back on campus.

Trinity College is a hop, skip and jump from our school so it is an easy and welcomed outing on a spring day.  Their campus chapel is filled with detailed relief carvings on all the pews - perfect for graphite rubbings (and the rev. was amused with our visit).

Mixed Media class trip:

The Smith College Art Museum is always a fav destination because of its close proximity to the center of Northampton.  Our main interest was the "The Last Silent Movie" installation by Susan Hiller (a Smith College alum). With a background in anthropology, Hiller documents on film lost or nearly extinct languages where the speaker is only heard and not seen (except for the scant text identifying the speakers/language titles).  On our way to the museum's artist decorated bathrooms in the lower level, we discovered this illuminated installation by Machiko Agano , whose work I had also experienced at the Fuller Craft Museum.  I love how the delicate woven process creates an imaginative ephemeral environment through its structure.

Creative Response thru Art Class trip:

Machiko Agano

gotta love super sized donut paintings!

artist designed sink in the 'ladies' room

In June Steph and I caught the end of "When I Last Wrote to You about Africa", a retrospective exhibition by Ghana artist El Anatsui at the Davis Museum at Wellesley College.  His shimmering draped wall pieces are made from found aluminum and wire.  it was worth the drive to see them in person!  I especially liked his installation of hundreds of small tin boxes that covered part of the gallery floor in reference to a crowded marketplace.

El Anatsui "Sacred Moon", 2007

sculpture by foot

The summer gave me time to explore places I've always wanted to visit that are worth a day drive from Hartford.  Chesterwood is the home/studio of Daniel Chester French located in Lenox, mass.  he was an accomplished sculptor that envisioned beauty in major public spaces, including his spectacular Abraham Lincoln memorial in Wash. D.C.  His home and studio are on stunning grounds, and the high-ceilinged studio included a moving platform that exited by rails to the outdoors so he could view his work in natural light.  How cool is that!

French's studio from his formal gardens

Looking in from the back porch

"swizzle" by Carole Eisner, viewed from the porch 

"Ironherd" by Anne Huibregtse, part of the outdoors sculpture exhibit

The next week we visited Storm King sculpture park near Cornwall, NY (just over the CT line).  It was spectacular - the setting in the hills, the sculpture in view everywhere, the funky tram ride. All I can say is 'go see it'!  I can't wait to go back in the fall for a view in full color (I'll add more photos in another post, so many cool sculptures to show you).

Mark di Suvero, South Fields

Ursula von Rydingsvard, on the museum building's lawn

di suvero and roy lichtenstein's "mermaid"(that once raced in the America's cup)

Pack a lunch, Get in your car and GO!

save the Date!

The Women's Caucus for Art is sponsoring a few shows this fall.  The first on their exhibition agenda is opening on Sept. 9, 2011.

Art Opening!

I am honored to be included in the show "Uncommon Threads" at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT (ck out my image on their postcard!).  It is a 3 floor gallery with eclectic work on all floors and some artists studios.  If anyone gets up there, take a pic or two for me!
Ck out their website:  http://www.studioplacearts.com/galleries.html
In the Gallery

August 16 - September 24, 2011

    The Main Floor Gallery: 

Uncommon Threads - A group show featuring work that pushes the boundaries for traditional needlework and explores the use of nontraditional media.

In the Second Floor Gallery:
Frozen Still Lifes: Photography by Krista Cheney

In the Third Floor Gallery:
The Diana Days by Nikki Gardner

Featured Art: "Spontaneous Embroidery 3" by Anita Gangi Balkun

NOTE: The SPA Galleries will be closed on Sept. 20 & Sept. 21

View from 2 wheels

I am an avid bicycle rider and have found my way to the great rail trails nearby.  I so enjoy the feeling of freedom on a bike and often use it for freeing my mind too.  Trying to convince a friend to take up biking, she said she hadn't been on a bike since she was 15.  that's exactly the reason to do it again, that youthful feeling of unlimited energy!  Thanks to the continued construction on the trails, you can now go from Unionville right into Westfield mass.  A fantastic day trip, including a stop at Red Riding Hood's Basket or a first aid run to Kane's Market (yes, a moving encounter with a bee landed me an ice pack from the friendly folks at Kane's, thank you!) Check out their new "bikers' snack oasis"!  Go out…ride a bike!

Farmington Valley Greenway, Simbury.

Narragansett Beach at the end of the South County bike trail.

Me, Dana n Judy

Legal Graffiti wall on the William O'Neill bike path (so. county r.i.)

Turtle march, near north granby/southwick ma. line.

Art Opening!

Another local show with a wonderful mix of photographers, curated by Stephen Kobasa:

save the Date!

Here's an upcoming show with work by local artist Nancy Morrell, save the date in Sept.  Art, wine and food, what's not to love!

Art Opening!

before the sun sets on summer, you may find yourself heading out to Long Island along route 25A. be sure to make an 'art stop' at the Mills Pond House gallery in St. James.  As part of their Dance, music and art festival on the gallery grounds, the show "American Mosaic" opens this weekend, Aug. 13th, 2 pm. The show is a juried exhibition of artwork addressing expressions about heritage. I have 3 works included in this show and (most likely) will be attending the opening.  come on by, and catch the ferry on the return. A Great 'day-cation' for art!

To tempt you further to L.I., I've added some pics from the ferry as we headed towards CT and witnessed an oncoming thunderstorm.

Call for Artists: WHAL Sept. show

Here is the prospectus for the 'Clothesline Exhibit' sponsored by the West Hartford Art League:
Hope you will consider entering, it's a new format for a great community event! You already know my affection for clotheslines!!

The West Hartford Art League

ArtWalk 2011

A ONE DAY PUBLIC ART CELEBRATION

featuring a juried art exhibit

SATURDAY, SEPT. 17, 10 A.M. - 5:30 P.M.

Rain date Sunday, Sept. 18

ArtWalk Clothesline Exhibit

Location: On the green, under the tent, on Raymond Road in Blue Back Square. Free parking in the Town Hall parking lot.

Requirements: All work must be unframed and able to be hung from a clothesline on the green in Blue Back Square.

Categories for entries: Painting, photography, collage, printmaking, mixed media, drawing, and digital collage. Original work only; no giclees. Any artwork that can be configured by the artist to hang from a clothesline (stretched/unstretched canvases, matted, etc.) is eligible.

Submission: Digital entries due at WHAL by Wednesday, Aug. 24. Manual entry drop-off is Wednesday, Sept. 7, Clubhouse Gallery, noon to 2 p.m., and 5 to 7 p.m.

Entry Fee per piece: Members $10, non members $15. Up to four pieces of may be entered. All work must be for sale. The Art League receives a 30 percent com- mission on all sales.

Selection: Accepted artists will be listed on our web- site www.westhartfordart.org on Saturday, Sept. 10. The ArtWalk Clothesline Exhibit will be juried by a selection committee tbd.

Accepted Digital Drop-off: West Hartford Art League Clubhouse Gallery, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 9 to 11 a.m. All work must be clearly labeled on the back.

Promotion: ArtWalk will be widely publicized through press releases to local and regional media, on our website and facebook page, and through paid advertising.

PLEASE NOTE: All unsold work will be brought to the WHAL Clubhouse Gallery for pick-up on Monday, Sept. 19, 9 to noon.

While the West Hartford Art League will take the utmost care to protect the artwork, we accept no responsibility for loss or damage of any kind. The show committee reserves the right to disallow the exhibit of any work that, in the opinion of the commit- tee, is considered detrimental to the good public image of the show and sponsors or that is too fragile.

Inquiries: West Hartford Art League, 860-231-8019

Entry submissions:

Digital:

• Images must be JPEG format, resolution of 200 dpi. • Please check to make sure CD is readable. Unreadable CDs will be disqualified. A full view of artwork is required. • All CD-Roms must be PC compatible. CDs will not be returned. Please do not send DVDs. • All files should be named as followed: firstinitial.lastname.abbreviatedtitle.number. • Label your CD (print please) with your name, phone number, e-mail address, and total number of images. • Images incorrectly identified or labeled will be disqualified. Title of work on digital image must match title on entry form to avoid confusion.

Hand-delivered:

Bring your completed entry forms, along with fees, to the Clubhouse Gallery Wednesday, Sept. 7, from noon to 2 p.m., and 5 to 7 p.m. Attach an entry label to the back of each piece.

Completed entry form, CD-Rom if entering digitally, and entry fee must be received by Wednesday, Aug. 24, (not postmark date) at our office:

37 Buena Vista Road West Hartford, CT 06107 Attn: ArtWalk Clothesline Exhibit

ArtWalk Clothesline Exhibit Entry form Print Clearly

Artist ____________________________________ Address __________________________________ City, State, Zip _____________________________ e-mail _____________________________________ Phone ____________________________________

I agree to all conditions stated in the prospectus and understand I must check the West Hartford Art League website for acceptance.

______________________________________________

signature

If hand-delivering, cut and tape an entry form to the back of each piece of artwork submitted. If entering digitally do not separate. Numbers and titles must correspond to those on CD and entry.

1. Name________________________________ Title __________________________________ Medium __________________ Price _________ size ______________

2. Name________________________________ Title __________________________________ Medium __________________ Price _________ size ______________

3. Name________________________________ Title __________________________________ Medium __________________ Price _________ size ______________

4. Name________________________________ Title __________________________________ Medium __________________ Price _________ size ______________