Day 219 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Nineteen

Much excitement today.  Juana and I went to DAM to see the current show, we had lunch at Cass Cafe, I went to Sue's, when I arrived home my new camera was here!!!

I was so thrilled to have a piece in If You Build It, They Will Come at Detroit Artists Market.  Each and every artist made such incredible works with their five pieces of wood.  Here are just a few of my favorites from the show.

Peggy Kerwan - Conditioned Response

Rick Cronn - In Writing

Chad Davis - Searching For Direction

Senghor Reid - Crisis

Molly Diana Murphy - Wood Mask Box

Joe Culver - Incontrol

Terri Light - Nightswimming

Mary Fortuna - Long Legged Tiger Puppet

another view

Took Gallagher - Woodlee

Nancy Rodwan - Noble Steed

Lisa Grix - My (Not So) Secret Garden

Julie Woodard - Origami Bird

Andrew Schmidt - Geomancy

Sandra Cardew - Figure With Young Hare

another view

detail

detail

Brian Pitman - Whorl

Bruce Giffin - Blind Faith

Andrea Rosenfeld - Build From Within

another view

Krysti Spence - Wound

Teresa Peterson - Midnight Garden

detail

Jessica Woodard - Sunset Over Mountains

Jeff Cancelosi - A Conversation with the Past

Barry Roth - Untitled

Sanda Cook - Then and Now...

okay...some more Woodlee views...

 If You Build It, They Will Come
Detroit Artists Market   August 1 - August 29
4719 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI  48201
313-832-8540

After DAM Juana and I went to Cass Cafe for a lovely and delicious lunch of calamari amidst the incredible paintings on display.  This show is called The Detroit Portrait Series: Writing Our Own History (Through Art) and is by Nicole Macdonald.  The show runs July 19 - September 13.  Here are just a few shots from our table.

There was just something about this painting...the colors, the overall look, the church, the brush strokes...plus, he looked like he was saying stuff to Juana.

The Detroit Portrait Series: Writing Our Own History (Through Art)
Cass Cafe    July 19 - September 13
4620 Cass Avenue
Detroit, MI  48201
313-831-1400

Day 205 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Five

YAY -- some actual activity to report after a few days of nothing.

This morning I dropped off Woodlee at Detroit Artists Market for the If You Build It, They Will Come.  (click the links for info)

I was greeted by Dalia Reyes, DAM's Program Manager.  Dalia and I looked over my paperwork and checked Woodlee in.  Dalia went to make me a copy of my paperwork and I looked around the DAM store area -- such wonderful artwork for sale. 

While Dalia and I were finishing up at the counter a man came over to say hello and look at Woodlee.  Dalia introduced us...it was Matt Fry, DAM's Director.  After a bit of conversation we all exchanged business cards and I was back on my way home. 

I really really like Detroit Artists Market.  It is a warm and welcoming place with a splendid array of all kinds of artwork.   I won't be able to make it to the opening for If You Build It, They Will Come but I will be going back sometime during the run of the exhibit to see all of the wondrous ways that so many artists used their five wood pieces.  I am SO excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this super clever show!

Woodlee holding onto his paperwork for me before we left.

Dalia greets us for intake at the Detroit Artists Market.

Checking Woodlee's paperwork.

Bye, Woodlee!

Woodlee, Matt Fry, Director and Dalia Reyes, Programs Manager -- Detroit Artists Market

If You Build It, They Will Come

August 1 - August 29, 2014

Detroit Artists Market

4719 Woodward Avenue

Detroit, MI  48201

(313) 832-8540

Day 187 - 365/2014

Day One Hundred Eighty-Seven

Today I got back to the business of staining the pieces of wood from Detroit Artists Market that will become "Woodly" (or some variation of that name) for my submission to DAM's Call for Art "If You Build It, They Will Come".

I decided to see what the base piece would look like if I put a coat of the black stain over the first coat of blue stain...since I was not so sure if I liked the look of it.  I figured if worst comes to worst I can always re-coat the base piece one more time with black stain...or I can paint it.  In the meantime, I tried just the black stain on the other pieces of wood...I like how it looks.

Back outside on the deck to stain the wood...this time I put the stain in a plastic dish and used a sponge brush to apply it, then rubbed it off with an old cut up t-shirt.  This first piece is black stain over yesterday's blue stain...not so sure about that right now.

I like how the black stain looks...I like the stripey effect.

All of the wood.

It felt like it was going to rain so I brought everything inside to dry in the guest bathroom.

The four leg pieces of wood were originally two pieces of wood that had very deep splits in them.  On the surface where the pieces came apart there are small bits that sanded smoothly but that will not accept the stain...no matter how many time I try to apply it, it just rubs right back off...I will most likely leave it like that...unless I think of something else...maybe acrylic paint will stick there.

Here you can see the difference between the piece of wood that is the base (with black stain over blue) compared to the plain black stained legs...I am still not sure about it.

The pieces all stacked the way it will be assembled.  I still need to get some help with the drilling of the holes for the long thin wood screws...they will need to be pretty precisely drilled -- one shot because the wood is not that wide...but I think it can work as long as I am not the one doing the drilling.

I am pretty sure I will still paint some sort of really simple face...perhaps a very simple pattern overall as well...again, not totally sure yet.  But you know -- I am pretty pleased so far with the way this is turning out...considering I had originally thought I'd be plaster cloth'ing on top of the wood -- using it mostly as a sort of armature...but this show is more about the five pieces of wood being incorporated into the piece...a good deal of it really show be featured.  And oh yeah...I think Woodly may still need some sort of a tail.