"No Representation" at the Warehouse

This piece, titled "Clot" will be on display in the show "No representation", which opens at the Warehouse Cafe/Theater/Gallery complex this weekend. -update- this piece has sold! The show is scheduled as a (friendly) counterpoint to the first DC International Art Fair, which will be held directly across the street at the DC Convention Center and as an educational opportunity for the art world visitors to the fair.The phrase "no representation" has multiple meanings. In the language of art, "no representation" means that the work does not literally represent real scenes or people - it is abstract. In the language of politics, it means that DC residents have no voting representation in our national Congress. We hope to bring in the visitors to the art fair with our art and ask them to support our vote. We want to remind all who come that DC is a vibrant city full of creative people whose votes deserve to be counted. This show, curated by Molly Ruppert, Sondra Arkin, Ellyn Weiss and Phillipa Hughes, includes all media and has two rules only: all artists are from the Capital area and there is no representation. The show will kick off with the Freeform Bash, an unConventional party on Saturday night, April 28 from 6 pm on. There will be music during the party, which coincides with the annual Visions in Feminism weekend. Revelry is strongly encouraged.

The Warehouse Gallery’s hours are:
Mon - Fri: 5pm - 11pm
Sat: Noon - Midnight
Sun: Noon - 6pm

The artists showing include:
Sondra N. Arkin
J. Belmar
Mark Cameron Boyd
Renee Butler
Tory Cowles
Laurel Farrin
Michael Gessner
Janis Goodman
Pat Goslee
Tom Green
Eve Hennessa
Kristin Holder
Brece Honeycutt
Becky Jones
Joanne Kent
Adrian Loving + Ayodamola Okunseinde (Dissident Display)
Aubrie Mema
Elizabeth Morisette
Emily Piccirillo
Lynn Putney
Marina Reiter
Nooni Reatig
Chris Tousimis
Dan Treado
Andres Tremos
CC Vess
Gail Vollrath
Anita Walsh
Rex Weil
Ellyn Weiss

Sacramento Airport Installation

This installation greets travelers at the baggage claim area at the Sacramento Airport. It is the best! They are real suitcases, piled to the ceiling! At this point, many of the suitcases are antiques. This piece sure was a lovely thing to behold when I landed in Sacremento after many hours on a plane!
With a little research, I found out the piece was created in 1998 by Brian Goggin. It is called "Sampson" and includes 700 pieces of luggage!! Cool stuff!

Recycled Nest from Hawk Flight

We had a great day at Hawk Flight 2007! I had many kids helping me work on the nest for our eggs. The first photo is the beginning of the day. The structure is some sticks I gathered at my hosts yard and pipe cleaners. This structure measured about 4"x3"x5". Then...the fun began. The kids used recycled yarn, plastic bags, cotton webbing,etc and wrapped it into a nest. Some parents even got into the action! These pictures tell the whole story, we had fun. The final part of the project was placingthe eggs into the nest,they fit perfectly. What a nice sculpture for the people of Yuba City BY the people of Yuba City. Thanks to the Woodleaf Foundation and YSDI for funding my residency, I had a great time!!!

Hawk Flight is ON!!!!!!

Great news! The guy that was making everyone in Yuba City worried sick turned himself in late last night to the Yuba City Police department. That means that Hawk Flight is on! The local paper has a nice story on the event at this link: www.appeal-democrat.com/onset?id=47309&template=article.html

Tomorrow we will be making a large nest for the 200+ "Earth Eggs"we have made thus far for this project. Participants will be able to make more eggs if they like, or help us with the collaborative nest. We are expecting 8000+ people at the event. Tomorrow will be exhausting, but worth it. I am so proud to be a vital part of this lovely community event!

Stress in the City

The Earth Egg project was postponed today. Unfortunately, some local guy threatened to shoot up a school, responding to the Virginia Tech tragedy. So, all the schools in the Yuba City Area were on"Lock-down" today. That means, no visitors in the school...that includes strange Art teachers. So, I essentially had the day off. Too bad really, the fallout from such a awful crime. I don't think NBC showing the killers rants helped anything at all. Did we really need to see that? We avoided watching it as best we could by flipping constantly. Did this publicity make this guy in Yuba City decide, "hey, I'd like some attention, that seems like it worked." I don't know. What I do know is my hosts, who are very involved with the schools, will be absolutely exhausted tonight after dealing with this "lock down"and its fallout.

Anyway, I am posting some pictures from yesterday's sessions. The best part of this project is when the kids finish an egg and move on to a new sculpture. I had a kid who made a dumbbell and a group of girls who made hats and belts out of newspaper. Essentially the project entails taking newspaper and folding it into long strips, then, coiling it into two egg halfs. Then they write a wish and put it into the egg and seal it shut. These eggs will be displayed in a nest that will be created using recycled materials at the "Hawk Flight 2007 Earth Day Festival" 10am-4pm April 21 at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds in Yuba City. Admission Cost is one (Clean) aluminum can. Along with the Nest making activity there will be music, food, and lots of informative booths. If you are in the area, come on out!

Earth Eggs Project

Here are some photos of the project I am working on in Yuba City. The local paper did a nice story describing the project and the culminating event this Saturday at the Yuba City, CA fairgrounds. You can find that link at: www.appeal-democrat.com/onset?id=47220&template=article.htm

Greetings From Sunny California

I am doing a residency in sunny Yuba City, California. The local school district in partnership with Woodleaf School and the Kiwanis Club have brought me here to do a series of workshops culminating in a community art project at "Hawk Flight" a Earth Day themed festival at the Yuba City fairgrounds on April 21st.

The pictures I have posted are the garden at the school I visited today, Barry School. (which was the school my best friend went to as a child) This garden is used as a teaching school by Mr.D. Mr.D teaches math, science, art and many other subjects out in his beautiful garden. When I toured the garden,the students were particularly interested in showing me their chickens they raised from chicks, including "Blackbeard", the first to lay an egg. we also went through the gardens eating edible flowers and sugar snap peas. yum!

Mr. D also got a grant for a free solar panel from PG&E that powers all of the electricity down at the garden area. he said most of the time the panel is running the meter backward, making money for the school. What an inspiration he is! What lucky kids the students at Barry are to have him.

Thanks Barry School! I had a great day. I will post some pictures and further decribe my project in tomorrow's post.

Tammy Vitale and Her Wonderful Artomatic reporting

I am not just saying this because she featured my Artomatic installation on her website. (tammyvitale.typepad.com/) She has been covering Artomatic the way it should be covered....FROM THE HEART!!!!! Artomatic is about experiencing art or exhibiting your art in a free and safe place. She understands the beauty of seeing and trying new things. Thanks Tammy!!

Yet, more Artomatic

Last bit, I promise.

I have a shot of Raina Hassan's knitted portraits. these are small and intimate, like sitting at the kitchen table with your Grandmother. She also has the honor of being the City Paper's "Craftiest Bastard of the Week" this week. She collaborated with her roomates to create a great setting for their Art.

The next photo is of Michael Stebbins piece with pink bowling ball, shoes and bowling pin atop a lovely fur. I love this for its "HON-ness". Bringin' Baltimore down to Northern Virginia, lord knows they need it!

Next up is Chuck Baxter and his amazing glowing tower of chewed gum! I can only ask if he chewed it all himself, or did he have help?

And,yes, the lovely tic-tac cacti byKatie McKelveie. These appeal to me in so many ways, I cannot even begin to tell you. Thank you, Katie for having FUN with your art!!! I bet your breath isn't bad,either!

Finally, Sean Hennessey. His work is cool on a kind of working class way. Like, my husband's cousin, who works construction could look at these pieces and really get into this kind of Art. Not that he isn't artistic, he is very good at what he does, and I believe construction is a form of art itself, but these pieces use materials he is familiar with in an unfamiliar way. I like that.

whew! Thats it for tonight folks! Thanks for a great show!

More Artomatic Finds

More images from Artomatic Opening night.....first What Artomatic photo montage would be complete without a shout out to Mr. Tim Tate. What can I say? The man is unstopable. Shows, a successful Glass School, and besides that, he is really nice. I really liked this piece this for its #4077 look.

Next, Sondra Arkins copper and wire boxes. VERY different from the wildly vivid pieces on the opposite wall. Her and Ellen Weiss' work go so well together, I just want to move into their space.

Don't miss the monster adoption room. This guy is up for adoption along with a dozen other characters made by Sara Cronan using old socks and other recycled textiles. I bet they all find good homes by the shows end.

I also liked this piece by Jeanne Garant. The orbs in the middle of this painting are really great, organic and similar in shape and almost floating above the painting. Terriffic.

Artomatic Finds

Went to the Artomatic opening tonight, what a turnout!!!! Not sure what the final numbers will be, but tons of people were there. What a great event! I took a few shots of some work that inspired me my first time through.

The first shot is of Laurel Lukaszewski's work. her work is wonderful! It looks soft,textural, even,but it is made from clay! Really awesome stuff. I missed her show at Project 4, I am glad she participated in Artomatic so I could see it in person. Bravo!

The second shot is of Tapestry artist "Nina". Her large tapestries are woven on a simple frame loom using Jute. They remind me of the Abakans that Magdalena Abakanowicz did in the 60's, only on a much smaller scale. I also noticed she has all of her supplies on hand so she can do weaving on site. Nice.

Next is Daniel Lobo's "Back to Work Series. I love it for its concept, I love it for its presence, I love it because it takes regular people and their every day drudge and makes it interesting. My favorite was an elderly woman and her friend/caregiver. I could have looked at this piece all night.

Artomatic Opens Tonight!

ARTOMATIC 2007 - Opening Night - FRI APRIL 13th
ARTOMATIC 2007
April 13–May 20, 2007
2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Va.
Metro stop: Crystal City
Free admission. Donations accepted

HOURS
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Noon–10 p.m.
Thursday: Noon–11 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: Noon–1 a.m.
Closed Mondays

Artomatic, the Washington, D.C., area’s eclectic, engaging — and occasionally even eye-popping — arts extravaganza is back this spring and promises to be more of a draw than ever before.

Held regularly since 1999, Artomatic is the region’s one-of-a-kind multimedia art featuring more than 600 regional artists and performers. The free five-week event, to be held April 13–May 20, will feature nearly 90,000 square feet of paintings, sculptures, photography and other creative work. Click on the map to find specific artists spaces, or visit www.artomatic.org for an artists catalog. I am in room 6R01. See you there!

Artomatic 2007 Installation photos

Here are some photos of the DIGEST series in their latest incarnation; Artomatic 2007. The work is attached to a large pillar, about 20" wide on each side. There are about 50 pieces in this installation. The elements are made of textbook pages and beeswax and they are painted and covered with babypowder. Yes, that is the Capitol Building, Washington Monument and National Airport that you can see in the distance.

Tonight is the last chance for folks to get their stuff up at Artomatic and there was a great buzz in the air!

Unfortunately, at the last minute the Inspector said no to the use of timers and I had to dash to Best Buy (ugh) to get myself a surge protector. I don't know how folks' lights will get plugged in, I guess that will get worked out somehow. Great minds.....

Anyway, Artomatic opens on Friday. If you are anywhere near DC get yourself over and check out some great art and some great community spirit as well. You can check out my work in room 6R01.

EGG's and stuff

Hi all.

I hope you have a great Easter. Here are a couple of pieces created using the Easter perennial classic, vivid plastic Easter Eggs. They are called, "Easter Parade" and "All of my Eggs in One Basket". Enjoy.

JCC Omer Counter

As part of my Americorps residency last year at the Baltimore Jewish Community Center, I collaborated with several JCC community groups to make an Omer counter. The Omer is the 49 days on the Jewish Calendar between the Jewish Holidays of Passover and the Giving of the Torah (Shavout). We created two Omer Counters, one for the Owings Mills JCC and another for the Park Heights JCC. Each project started by collecting keys from JCC members. We then decorated the keys with paint, glitter, etc. Each key was then fastened to a ribbon. The ribbon is tied up on a bar. Each day that is counted a ribbon is released. These counters hang is public spaces in the JCC so the community can count the Omer together. The pictures posted are of the Omer counter rolled up, ready to be counted. I will post a picture of the Omer fully unrolled as we get closer to Shavout.