NORTHWEST CURRENT newspaper features SITEPROJECTS DC

The Northwest Current newspaper reporter Katie Pierce covered Siteprojects DC, complete with a picture of my friend, Duke and the artwork I made for him, "Shoe Tree". You can check out the entire paper at this link.

Community Arts 360

Before it closed, I went by MICA to check out the Masters of Art in Community Arts Americorps Show"Community Arts 360". Last year, I was a member of the inaugural class of this innovative Master's degree. Since graduating, I have focused my attention on working with Seniors in the Washington, DC area. I was curious to see what this year's class had accomplished during their Americorps residencies.
Several projects stood out.
First, was Tracie Pouliot's work with "Kids on the Hill". The goal of her residency was to talk about health and what 'being healthy" means. She dispalyed beautiful block print postcards with health concious messages created by the youth she worked with. Some of the slogans were pretty good. (and, I am also a sucker for the blockprint...a la "Bread and Puppet") She also had a video featuring the participants talking about healthy food choices, etc. What a great way to approach her residency. You can tell she was very passionate about these issues and was able to ignite that passion in the youth she worked with.
Another piece that stood out was the work of Ashley Minnor. She worked with Native American Youth of Baltimore City during her residency. She delved right into stereotypes by featuring photos of participants she worked with holding signs with derogatory sayings or assumptions about Native American people. What captured me the most about these photos, beyond the 'in-your-face" ness, is the beautifully composed shots. The background with lockers painted institutional pinks and mint, certainly far away from any native culture.
Finally is Amanda Smit's installation of books she made during her residency at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Amanda graduated with me during the first MACA class. However, she decided to stay and do another Americrorps residency at the library. Her installation impressed me by the sheer number of books, but also how she clustered them in a way that conveyed a sense of community within the making of these books. Lovely.

Felting Worshop at DCCA

I did a felting workshop today at the DCCA in Wilmington, Delaware. The participants were Alzheimer's patients and their care givers. The workshop went well. We made neckaces and bowls. I had a lovely time and am so thankful to Holly at the DCCA for asking me to participate.

DCist covers Siteprojects DC

DCist wrote a nice bit about Siteprojects DC including a metion about the workshop I will do at Dukes on July 21st. You can read about it at this link.

"I'm Over It" blog uses my work toward a positive thought about color

I'm Over it Mentions my work (Zippa Basket in particular) as a testament to color. Thanks. Always happy to inspire. By the way, your zippers are safe, unless you try to sell them on ebay, then....beware!

"Siteprojects dc" gets a shout out from the Washington Post

Yesterday was the opening for "Siteprojects dc". It was a great turn out, and best of all, Duke came to the opening and let everyone into his shop to see the "Shoe Tree"piece. He is a true gentleman.
The Washington Post did a little blurb about it as well, you can check it out here. Go check it out for yourself 14th street, NW between V and T (U street metro) afterwards, get yourself a drink at Busboys and Poets.

"Art from Detritus" review in Artdaily

More reviews for "Art from Detritus". This time at Artdaily.com. Vernita N'Cognita really worked hard to publicize this show. Thanks again!

Anonymous III Photos

I went by the Flashpoint Gallery today to take a look at the art in Anonymous III. I went to the opening last week, but it was way too crowded to be able to see much. I have included an installation shot and a few shots of my personal favorites (none of these closeups are my piece...you need to go there and guess yourself).

















There is a great article in today's Washington Post about Fred Ognibene's quest for his favorite piece of art. I love the look on his face in the picture, when he found out he got the piece he wanted.

So, hop on down to the Flashpoint and check out the art. Hurry, the pieces are going fast!!!! The show closes on June 23rd.

Dukes "Shoe Tree" is UP!!!!

It took a 20' ladder, and four people, but I think "Shoe Tree" is up to stay. This piece was created for SITEPROJECTS DC, a project of WPA/C Curated by WELMOED LAANSTRA. The opening is this Friday, July 15th from 7-9 at the Black Cat. I specifically created "Shoe Tree" for Irving "Duke" Johnson as an abstract portrait of a man who is a center for the 14th street corridor of Washington, DC. As we installed (as with every time I have visited with Duke) people came in to speak with Duke and lingered and did what so many do in a community, connect.

This is a picture my husband took of the piece, with Duke, myself and Sam, our friendly DC govenment employee who helped us find and transport a ladder tall enough to install the piece. So, go by Dukes, check out some art, and get some shoes repaired. Maybe stay a while and chat, he is a wonderful man.

Gallery & Museum Magazine Reviews "Art From Detritus"

Ed McCormack of the Gallery & Museum Magazine reviewed "Art From Detritus". This is a show in NYC at the Synagogue for the Arts. He mentioned my piece, "Unzipped". Here is what he had to say

" Other artists exploit the formal properties of refuse to create intriguing abstractions such as Elizabeth Morisette's colorfield composition of vertically stacked pink, purple, and green zippers"

Thanks Ed McCormack and Vernita N'Cognita (curator of "Art from Detritus")

Face2Face Felting Residency

I just came back from installing the final pieces from my Felting Residency at Brock Bridge Elementary School. This project was called "Face2Face". During this project I talked to the kids about making art as a community. How when a community makes art, everyone has a hand in its creation and an intrest in it evolution.

The project was structured by class. The first session with all of the classes K-4 was making felted balls. We then cut them in half and the children took half as a necklace and the other half they 'gave' to the fifth grade to create their self portraits. The second and third sessions of K-4 created the rest of the facial elements (Hair, nose, mouth, ears) The 5th graders first session was placing the wool so it could be felted into a flat 'portrait'. Second session they felted the portraits and third session they used the elements created by the rest of the school to create their face. As you can see, the results are charming.

The pieces look fabulous and the kids seem to dig it. The most important part, as in any community art project, is the buy in from the participants, teachers, and staff. I think they were a little unsure about the project, but now everyone, I think, is pleased with the results. I would like to thank the Brockbridge PTA and the Washington Post for supporting this project. I would also like to thank Brockbridge Art teacher, Faith Ward. She does a terriffic job!

I had a good time with this residency, but I am ready for a break. Tomorrow we install "Shoe Tree" at Dukes Shoe repair for the SITEPROJECTSDC show. I am pretty nervous, it is a heavy piece of art. I will breathe better once it is up.

Large Scale Community Arts: Girl Scout Sing-a-long

We went to the Girl Scout Sing-a-Long on the National Mall yesterday. It was amazing!!! There were 100,000 Girl Scout there, many singing their hearts out. Those who were not singing were "swapping". A s.w.a.p.s (Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere) is a term used for little pins Girl Scouts make to trade with one another at large events like this one. A swap has a pin attached and a little piece of paper that has the troops name, location, and event. We got some from as far away as Wyoming! The terrific thing is the originality in some of the swaps. Most are sculptural in nature and they are pretty 'crafty'. However, some of them really push the envelope and make some cool things. Anything that inspires creativity is okay in my book. Thanks girls!!! You are truly, a community of art makers.

Another "The Handmaking" review

Here is a link to a nice review of "The Handmaking" from ARTMATTERS-The Philadelphia Region's Magazine of the Arts. The reviewer, Linda Dormont, has kind things to say about my work. Again, if you are anywhere near Philly, you should see this show. Abington Arts Center is an AMAZING venue.

Artomatic Recap

I had a wonderful Artomatic experience this year. I really enjoyed my roommates, Carlos Rodriguez and Joseph Merchlinksy I also enjoyed installing a site-specific piece. It was challenging (as you can tell by the INCREDIBLE number of holes I had to put in the walls to get the villi to stay up) and very rewarding.

I must say thanks to all of the folks who put me in their top 10 and/or picks list for Artomatic 2007.
Sean Hennessey,Michael O'Sullivan,, Tammy Vitale, Krik Waldroff, Tracey Lee, mp hackmann, Sondra N. Arkin,Beth Baldwin, Roman Gershokovich, Rebecca Gordon(who took the pictures of the holes in the wall once digest was done..uhem), Genevieve Lynn, and Julia Morelli.

Thanks everyone! Can't wait until next Artomatic!

Open Studio This Sunday

This Sunday from 1-5 I will have an open studio at the Greenbelt Community Center. You can see this this piece I recently completed titled "Keep This Coupon". This basket was made from tickets collected by the Greenbelt Elementary School PTA at their annual "Spring Fair". You can also see the piece I am working on for the SITEDC project, a group of works created for specific sites along DC's 14th street corridor. It is titled "Shoe Tree" and is made of shoe laces and cotton webbing. I am also working on the felted tapestry for Brockbridge Elementary School. (See what I mean, busy, busy...but busy is good.)

Along with visiting the Artists in Residence, there will be many other activities going on throughout the Greenbelt Community Center and Greenbelt City for Greenbelt Day weekend. Hope to see you around town!