Day 265 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Sixty-Five

Part One -  I worked on this guy early this morning (which was really late last night because I hadn't gone to bed yet).  I wanted to play around with the plaster cloth but I didn't want to tackle anything large.  I saw this guy in the materials bin in the basement and brought him upstairs.  I got him at a garage sale for under a dollar and I never intended to do anything with him but plaster cloth him into a new creature.

I really dislike this guy in his original state...except I like his dangly legs.

another view

I think he is supposed to be a pig or a boar but that doesn't seem like a very piggy or boary tail.

So I had to fill in all of the space between the original ears and forehead/nose area.  This is maybe just the first stage for this guy.  I don't know what I want him to be yet, other than just a creature.

First he gets the masking tape cover up.

The body and feet get the plaster cloth...tail tbd.

I love his dangly legs -- but I wanted to not have them be cloven hooves anymore.

I like them so much I made a little movie of them...like to see it?  Here it goes:

Part Two -- Juana and I visited Sanda Cook at her studio!  We had fun talking and getting to know each other and looking at her wonderful artwork.

Yep, I "made" Sanda do this pose.

Sanda and Juana.

Take two.

Take one -- much too serious.

That's better!

365/2013 - Day 274

another great day of working on both shows

First -- I finally remembered to shoot the banner for the October and November/December exhibits at the Northville Art House.  Curating one show, coordinating the other -- I got teary looking up at the banner -- this is such a dream come true for me...I can't even tell you.

This morning I met Joan up at the Art House and we did a quick walk around the gallery to talk about my initial concerns for hanging and layout for "Under the (Inspired) Influence".  We had a great brainstorming session,  Joan gave me some really good ideas, and I went back home to think about things and to have a cup of coffee with the cats.

While I was home I got a call from Anita Andersons who asked if she could bring some additional artwork for the show and some for the Store.  Oh man -- YES, please!!!!  I met Anita back at the NAH soon after it opened at 1:00 and updated Patti.  When Anita arrived we went up to the gallery to look at the collages she brought in -- oh man -- I adore Anita's collages.  Two of the three framed ones will be in the show and all of the unframed ones will be for sale in the Store during the run of the show.  Not just prints of Anita's collages, mind you -- these are the originals. 

So then when Anita left I went back down into the Store to talk with Patti and get some teaser shots of the incoming artwork from the artists in the show.

I am not showing you everything you get in one of Leann Meixner's mysterious VooDoo Kits...you will have to come and see for yourself!

Mike Sivak's table top shrines (they light up) and some of his "portraits"...I love this stuff SO much.  And why yes -- those are my Tookies and Tooklets right behind Mike's items.

A sneak peek at Diane Hawkey's fabulous beads.

Some of this jewelry is by Juana Moore.

A few of Anita Andersons' unframed collages.

Then I needed to get back home because my sister Sue was coming back to finish staining my front porch.  I really like the color and the way it is turning out.  THANK YOU, Sue!

Then it was back to the NAH one more time to meet up with Mary Fortuna who needed to install some of her artwork herself.  Mary hung a shelf and set up her wondrous beeswax figures herself because the work is extremely fragile.  Mary also brought two watercolor & prismacolor pieces that haven't been seen in this area before...I feel very honored.

Mary Fortuna installing her wondrous beeswax figures.

And then (after making a quick stop for a fresh bag of ice) it was finally back home again for the night.  I entered more of the "[small] Work Exhibit" entries into my logs and now I am ready for meds/elevation/cold pack.   I am tired tonight -- a really good, satisfied tired.  It is another big day tomorrow -- I can hardly wait!

The entries are coming in at a good pace for the juried "[small] Works Exhibit" for Nov/Dec.

365/2013 - Day 273

sneaky peeks

Tonight was the second night of art drop off for the show I am curating at the Northville Art House.

Oh. Man.

Five artists brought their work in tonight -- I am speechless.

Here are some snapshots from tonight...what a good time!  (And plenty of wacky photo bombing.)

Diane Hawkey was first to arrive, photo bombed by husband Doug Spalding and daughter Maura.

Doug watches Anita Andersons unpack her pieces...with Maura cracking me up.

This is blurry because of the fast and furious picking up of Diane's fabulous beads...with Juana Moore and Patti Witte.

Hi, Doug!

You-know-who with Anita and Renee Dooley (who was arriving).

Renee and Anita

Renee with one of her Vulture Women.

Two of Renee's pieces.

Anita and Juana inspect one of Juana's incredible pieces, a tribute to Henry Darger.

Mike Sivak photo bombs Juana.

Mike assembling his amazing "Parcae" game.

Even if I do say so myself...this is going to be magical!

365/2013 - Day 217

lots of running around and new art

Today Juana accompanied me on my running around on her side of town errands...which were mainly to drop off the Call for Entries for the upcoming "[small] Works Exhibit" to several locations.  Juana and I work well as a team.  We hit LIFT in Royal Oak, Book Beat in Oak Park, Utrecht in Detroit, Detroit Artists Market, Ferndale Public Library, Utrecht in Royal Oak and we went to Rust Belt Market in Ferndale but they weren't open so Juana said she'd take the forms over tomorrow.  Whew!

I was also absolutely thrilled that Juana delivered her painting "My Monster Heart" to me today when I picked her up.  I loved, loved, loved this very Juana piece from the first moment I saw it and we came to an agreement that if it didn't sell at the show she painted it for -- the Black, Red, & White Show at Funhouse Gallery -- when it came down I could purchase it in installments from her.  I am SO happy!

"My Monster Heart" by Juana Moore

Mothra, Gamera (the children's friend), and Godzilla

365/2013 - Day 74

Artists Reception at Woods Gallery


Tonight was the Artists Reception for the mixed media group show "Spirits" at Woods Gallery in Huntington Woods, MI.  It features the work of four friends:  Renee Dooley, Lisa Grix, me, and Juana Moore.  It is such a lovely show I am so happy to be a part of it.  Here are a few photos, but check out the entire photo album at the link below.

"Miss Buttons" (detail) -- Renee Dooley

"The Keeper of Secrets" -- Took Gallagher

"Ruh" -- Lisa Grix

"The Spirit of Bad Dolls" -- Juana Moore

Thank You to everyone who came to the reception tonight!  The show runs through April 11 during regular hours of the Huntington Woods Library.

Too many photos to list in this blog post but here is a:  LINK to my photo album on Facebook. 

365/2013 - Day 67 (updated)

a full day and night


A lot happened today...here is a little bit about most of it.

morning
I fell in love with Claudia Roulier's artwork a long time ago.  I don't recall exactly when I first saw her work, but when I was making and selling and collecting ATCs and ACEOs on eBay I bought this card by her.

a shot of a card made by Claudia Roulier (2005)

Jump ahead to January 24, 2013 and Claudia's blog post for that day -- I fell in love with the imagery instantly!  I got up my nerve two days later to comment (for the first time) on her post of the finished painting.  

The Juggler by Claudia Roulier

Several emails have been exchanged since then and today I made my first payment on this marvelous piece!  I am so excited I can hardly stand it!  The Juggler will be one of Claudia's pieces in an upcoming circus-themed show in Evergreen, CO that runs from April 26 to May 23.  Other artists in the show include:  Kathy Beekman, Penny Bidwell, Dave Sieler, and Tim Flynn.  Man...I wish I could go to see the show in person!

afternoon

The Northville Art House has given me the opportunity to curate a show of my own -- it will be in October of this year.  It will be called "Under the (Inspired) Influence" and I have chosen a handful of artists whose work has thrilled and inspired me beyond words.  There is so much planning and  preparation to take care of and this is the sort of thing I absolutely love to do.

October seems like light-years from right now, but I need to get down to work.  This afternoon I made an appointment with Joan and we discussed the first steps I need to get started on.

my friend Joan Potter Thomas...director of The Northville Art House

early evening

I picked up my friend Ruth and we headed to Juana's to pick her up.  Then we made a stop at the Woods Gallery to drop off one more piece of mine for the "Spirits" show.  

"Spirits" will be Baby Beast's last exhibition appearance

Lisa (in Gallery Director mode making adjustments) and Juana and Ruth snapping pics

Baby Beast casts really cool shadows in this lighting/setting

I'm SO excited to be in this show with my friends Juana, Lisa, and Renee!

evening

Next Juana, Ruth and I hotfooted it over to another incredible artist friend's solo show at Birmingham Gallery.  Kate Paul...what can I say about Kate Paul...how about just look at the photos and get yourself over to the show to see it in person!

postcard for Kate's solo show "Kateland" at Birmingham Gallery

this work is so cool -- it is interactive and lit from behind and you can adjust the background colors

my favorite piece in this show -- "Rebirth of a Rainbow"

detail -- "Rebirth of a Rainbow"

you may remember the painting I recently acquired -- "Earning My Stripes" (detail) -- this piece is not in the show, I just wanted to show it off again

night

Next Juana, Ruth, and I headed back up Woodward to Ferndale to see the exhibition "For the Love of Reading" at the Ferndale Public Library.  The show is an artful celebration of books, characters, stories, and reading.  Juana and Peggy have fabulous pieces in this show.  It is a really great show and the reception was packed!  Don't miss it!  (It is difficult to get photos w/o glare...but here are a few shots -- I'd like to go back and revisit the show when it is a little less crowded.)

Where Juana's piece is

closer view of Juana's "A Young Ladies Illustrated Primer" -- you need to see it in person!

Peggy's work for the show!

And you know how I rarely ever see anyone I know when I am out and about?  Well -- at the "For the Love of Reading" show we ran into Lisa and her friends outside of the library as we were going in...plus:

Peggy!

Carla!

and these two out of focus characters -- Mark and Leann!

After seeing the show Ruth, Juana, Mark, Leann, and I went to get some dinner.  Ha!  Good luck getting in anywhere in Ferndale on a Friday night!  We met up at one place (an hour and a half wait) and we moved back up Woodward to another restaurant with only a few minutes wait.  Good food, GREAT company...fabulous end to a long, FUN day!