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 215

exciting new art acquisition!

photo collage by Justicia Barreiros

Last night I made a donation to the Meg Perry Center (in Portland, Maine) in hopes of getting first choice on one of the twelve incredible collaborative paintings that were created during the "Hidden Ladder Lock-In" fundraiser.  And YAY -- I was able to get my first choice!

Let me say that I don't know a whole lot about the Meg Perry Center -- or any of the various groups --  but I do know that my friend William Hessian is mightily involved there and was a part of the collaboration(s), so the fundraiser intrigued me...and hey...a chance at acquiring a new piece of art.

From the Meg Perry Center's website:
For 6 years, the Meg Perry Center has been a hub of activity: it has been the home of Peace Action Maine, the Fur Cultural Revival, ASERELA, the Green Party, the Southern Maine Workers Center and many more. The Portland Food Coop, Centro Latino, and Local Sprouts Cooperative all began at the MPC before moving to larger spaces.

The MPC is:

• an all ages space
• has a free radical lending library
• allows social movement building
• has monthly art exhibits
• weekly music and NEW movie nights & discussion
• meeting space and affordable rental space

Perhaps, most importantly, the Meg Perry Center celebrates the life and work of Meg Perry, a Portland activist who died tragically in an accident while doing hurricane relief work after Hurricane Katrina.  The people's history of our city should be valued and celebrated and that is our shared responsibility. We feel that it is crucial that laughter, creative resistance, and grassroots organizing and humanitarian aid work continue in Portland to create the world we want to live in, and having Meg Perry at the center of our work deeply matters.

So -- here are some other photos taken during the fundraiser, which ran yesterday from 7am - 7pm.  A collaborative painting was made during each hour of the fundraiser.  You can find videos and more photos and info at the Meg Perry Center Facebook page.   

Here are a few photos I swiped (with permission from William...I am not sure who gets credited for them).

"My" collaborative panel in process

This one would have been my second choice (in process).

My second choice completed -- wow!

The Lock-In fundraiser looks like it was so much fun and art and music and sharing and colors and enthusiasm and FUN.  

You can still make a donation to the Meg Perry Center on their website...check the link at the top of this blog post.

My panel will be on display for the rest of the month -- I can't wait to get it!

365/2013 - Day 147

the last of my new artwork arrives

Oooh -- today Kate Paul and husband Gordon Paul delivered Kate's incredible painting "Pulling My Weight".  Gordy made the wonderful frames for the two pieces I have acquired from Kate...they are gorgeous works of art on their own.

Kate and Gordy stayed and chatted for about 45 minutes.  It was lovely.  I am SO happy with my new painting!

Kate and Gordy Paul -- and "Pulling My Weight"

frame by Gordy Paul -- "Pulling My Weight"

frame by Gordy Paul -- "Earning My Stripes"

closer view of "Pulling My Weight"

detail -- "Pulling My Weight"

ahhhhhhhhhh

365/2013 - Day 145

new art arrived!!!

YAY -- My new artwork by Kill Taupe arrived today!  He was pre-selling some of the pieces for his recent exhibit "Backyard Animals".  The show was at Rogue's Gallery in Milwaukee and (naturally) I had to wait until after the show to receive my painting.  

I. LOVE. IT.  

It is called "Exchanging of Souls (Wolf)".

You can find more of Kill Taupe's fabulous/"more awesome than pizza" artwork at his online shop.

receipt, note, two stickers, biz card & button

postcard from the show -- I'm keeping in the back of the painting

"Exchanging of Souls (Wolf)" by Kill Taupe

in place on my wall

2012/365 - Day 326

new car -- new artwork

Today I took delivery on my new lease vehicle.  It is a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan.  I love it.  It is a dream to drive and my sales associate Clarence Carpenter is just a delight.  From the first moment that Sue and I walked into the dealership until today when I picked up the car, Clarence was so knowledgeable, so patient, so easy going and yet totally in charge of all aspects of the entire process.  I must say that this was the single most enjoyable car experience I have had during my entire adult driving lifetime...and I'm old.  

I did a lot of "homework" and research and narrowed my choices down to three or four.  I wanted to buy an American car but honestly, on paper the Volkswagen was the clear frontrunner.  It fit all of my needs to a tee.  I planned on test driving all of my choices yesterday but as soon as I got behind the wheel of the Tiguan it was love at first drive.  This car is an absolute dream!  Power, ease of handling, styling, cargo area and options for configuring the interior spaces, the "fit" and comfort...it has it ALL.  I highly recommend the Tiguan -- silly name and all -- (and Clarence).

I know I sound like a commercial, but if you ever even consider a new Volkswagen, you really must go to Suburban Volkswagen in Farmington Hills, MI and make sure you ask for Clarence Carpenter.  I even get a referral reward!

Also today -- some new art arrived!

I have admired the artwork of Diana Sudyka and her blog The Tiny Aviary for some time.  I finally had a small stash of cash set aside and Diana recently posted some new prints....now was my chance!

Lucky for me too, Diana was packing up and sending out other orders and she got my order from her online shop just in time to be included with the others before the holiday...very fast delivery of really well packaged prints.  I am SO happy with my new art.  It will take me a while before I can get them all framed, but they are high up on the waiting list. 

These packages were waiting for me on my front porch when I got home from the dealership.  

And you know me...I am almost equally thrilled to have the rigid mailing tube for making a plaster cloth snake!  (No, it doesn't take much to entertain me!)

This is the limited edition six color screen print that was mailed separately in its own tube.

Wow.  "Ghost Bear" -- 18x24 limited edition screen print with six colors.

And this is what I found when I opened the flat package.

The artwork came with a (much appreciated) card that explained how to care for the prints while awaiting framing. 

"Harvest" -- 10x10 limited edition giclee (archival inkjet) print made from the original gouache painting.

"Madrones and Ravens" -- 10x10 limited edition archival inkjet print from the original gouache painting.

"Stately Grace" -- 11x14 limited edition archival inkjet print from the original gouache painting.










I am going to be spending a lot of time over the next few days reading Diana's blog and learning more about her and her fabulous work.  Her blog is one that I subscribe to on my reading list and even though I get notices of new posts from blogs, I don't always read each one in depth each day...I subscribe to a lot of art blogs.  I am in such awe of Diana's style and world of creatures.

What a great day this has been!