I've Moved!

All my blog posts, new artwork, and show info are now at www.lifeneedsart.com . Come join me there!

World Collage Day, May 12, 2018

The first ever World Collage Day will be held Saturday, May 12, 2018. You know that’s right up my alley!

Uncommon ART will have artists doing collage demos and a make-and-take project for visitors. The Learned Owl Book Store will host Gretchen Bierbaum signing copies of her book, Collage in All Dimensions. Gretchen, as you may know, is President and Founder of The National Collage Society.

Activities at Uncommon ART will run from 11am-3pm. The book signing will take place from 11am-1pm.

Come join in the fun!

Kolaj Magazine, an international publication dedicated to the art of contemporary collage, is organizing the event.

For more information about World Collage Day, search for the hashtag #WorldCollageDay or visit:

National Collage Society: www.nationalcollage.com

Kolaj Magazine: www.kolajmagazine.com/worldcollageday/

Learned Owl Bookstore: www.learnedowl.com

Uncommon ART: http://www.artstudioinhudson.com/2018/04/29/celebrate-world-collage-day-on-saturday-may-12th/

Delivering Stories, July 14-August 19, at the BOX Gallery

“Delivering Stories” is a two-person exhibit of artwork by me and Amber McElreath.

The show runs July 14 – August 19 at the BOX Gallery in Akron.

Come join us for the opening reception on Friday, July 14, 5-8pm.

For this exhibit, I have made lots of new artwork that is more textured and dimensional than I've done in the past. The pieces have been exciting and challenging to make..

The piece pictured here is one of the new ones, titled “From a Fond Heart Faithful and True”.

Amber makes assemblages from found objects. She and I have different styles, but they play off each other very well. This show should be really interesting.

The BOX Gallery is open Friday and Saturdays from noon-5pm. It is also open till 9 during the Akron Artwalk on August 5th.

The BOX Gallery
140 E. Market St. Akron, Ohio
3rd Floor of Summit Artspace
Fri – Sat, 12-5pm
artistsofrubbercity.org

Once Upon A Time

This collage titled “Once Upon A Time” is another of the pieces I made for our “Threads of the Past” show at Uncommon Art.

The photo is of my parents drinking a toast on their wedding day. Behind them is sheet music for “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”, which has the lyrics:

There are loved ones in the glory

Whose dear forms you often miss.

When you close your earthly story,

Will you join them in their bliss?

Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, by and by?

Is a better home awaiting

In the sky, in the sky?

For more about this piece, visit: http://www.lifeneedsart.com/gallery/once-upon-a-time/

Evolving Landscapes at Summit Artspace

I am delighted that my “Roots and Roads #1” has been selected to be part of the “Evolving Landscapes” exhibit at Summit Artspace!

The exhibition runs March 3 – April 8, 2017 with an opening reception on Friday, March 3 from 5-8pm.

The 50 works chosen for the exhibition by juror Alexandra Nicholis Coon, executive director of the Massillon Museum, explore landscapes from traditional and contemporary perspectives.

For more information, visit http://summitartspace.org/6233/look-past-the-horizon-to-evolving-lanscapes-juried-exhibition-opens-march-3-with-reception-5-8-pm/

Summit Artspace is located at 140 East Market Street in Akron, Ohio.

from WOMAN X: art created by women, of women, about women

I am honored to have been invited to participate in an exhibit at Lakeland Community College called “from WOMAN X … Created by women, of women and about women”.

To see my entries in the show, visit http://www.lifeneedsart.com/events/from-woman-x-a-celebration-of-womens-history-month/

The exhibit includes artwork in a variety of media from 44 women artists from Northeast and Central Ohio, Arizona and Indiana. Part of a celebration of Women’s History Month, the exhibit has been curated by Mary Urbas, along with a month-long series of other exhibits and events.

The exhibit at Lakeland runs February 26 – March 31, 2017. The closing reception is Sunday, March 26, 2017, 3:30-5 pm along with the Women of Achievement Awards that begin at 2pm.

Lakeland Community College is located at 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, Ohio 44094. Gallery hours are Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm.
For details about the gallery tour, visit http://lakelandcc.edu/gallery or https://www.facebook.com/events/737316676432078/

Holiday Artists’ Market at Lakeland Community College

For my "northern" friends :) check out the Holiday Artists Market at Lakeland Community College on November 28-29.

Two dozen of us artists will have jewelry, clay, wearables, accessories, mixed media, textile design, wall art, and other gifty goodies.

The market is held at Lakeland Community College, 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland, Ohio 44094, in the “A” building Atrium.

HOURS: November 28-29:
10 AM – 3 PM

Proceeds from the market will benefit Lakeland’s Visual Arts Student Exhibition Awards Fund.

Be sure to also visit for more info http://www.lakelandcc.edu/gallery or https://www.facebook.com/events/1684472978529686/

Kickin' It With Kenny

Kenny Crumpton of Fox 8’s Kickin’ It With Kenny came to visit our studios last week. We gave him a quick tour of the place, then we he interviewed us LIVE on air!

It was a really enjoyable experience - he's easy to talk to and is gifted at making us introverts sound good on camera.

He visted 4 places in Hudson: the Fire Museum at Town Hall, Peachtree Southern Kitchen, and Gwendolyn Elizabeth, and us at Uncommon Art.

Watch our interview here:
http://www.artstudioinhudson.com/2016/11/12/kickin-it-with-kenny-comes-to-uncommon-art/

All the videos from his Hudson visit are here:
http://fox8.com/2016/11/10/kickin-it-with-kenny-hudsons-own/

Uncommon Art is an art studio, gallery, and classroom in the heart of historic Hudson Ohio. Visit our website at:
http://www.artstudioinhudson.com/news/

East Shore Art Show

This weekend, I'll have artwork at the East Shore Art Show, hosted by the East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirtland.  About 45 artists are participating, and from what I could see of their artwork, it looks to be a spectacular show.

If you have a chance this weekend, stop by and take a look around. The church’s address is 10848 Chillicothe Road (Rt. 306) in Kirtland.

Hours:

Saturday, Nov. 12, 10am – 5pm
Sunday, Nov. 13, 1 – 5pm

For details, visit their website at http://www.eastshoreartshow.com/

Discover Hudson 2016

Imagine my surprise when I opened my Hudson Hub Times recently and found the Discover Hudson 2016 magazine inside – with my artwork on the cover!

The magazine has a well-written and beautifully designed article titled “Art On The Green” about the artists in town. Check it out on page 26.

The image on the cover is my painting of the Hudson Clock Tower in the style of “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. It’s part of my series that depicts the clock tower in the style of famous artists, a lighthearted take on our beloved icon.

Here's more about my clocktower series:
http://www.lifeneedsart.com/blog/what-if-famous-artists-were-inspired-by-our-clock-tower/

Read the article in Discover Hudson 2016 at https://issuu.com/dixcom/docs/discover_hudson_2016_export

Wine Tasting and Art Show, Nov. 3

For one night only, join us at Viva Bene Gourmet for a wine tasting and art show!

Thursday, November 3rd, from 6-8pm, sample a lovely selection of wines while you browse my art along with Dana Giel-Ray and Mary McKee Distefano.

Be sure to RSVP for the wine tasting, if you want to participate, by TUESDAY, November 1, to 330-653-9800 or erin@vivabenegourmet.com .

The art show has no admission fee.

Viva Bene Gourmet is located at 219 N. Main Street (behind All Brides Beautiful). It’s a wonderful shop with an irresistible selection of wines and gourmet foods.

http://vivabenegourmet.com/

Trees I Have Known, And A Few Shrubs

One of the joys of sharing a studio with other artists is having the opportunity to work together. As we have come to know each other’s styles and inspiration, we discovered that we have a common love of nature, and that inspiration takes many forms in our work.

With that common ground, plus a nod to the 100th anniversary of our national parks, we have collaborated on an exhibit called “Trees I Have Known, And A Few Shrubs”.

Several of my Roots and Roads series will be on display, plus I have made some new tree-themed collage pieces. Dana has been working on tree-inspired jewelry with designs of acorns, leaves, and branches. Shannon’s paintings and drawings of local trees round out the exhibit.

The exhibit runs October 21 - November 12.

The exhibit is on display at Uncommon Art, in Hudson.



Also visit www.uncommonarthudson.com or www.facebook.com/uncommonarthudson.

Kent Art In The Park, Sept. 10-11

New to my show roster this year is Kent's Art In The Park. I've attended the show as a guest many times, but this is the first year I've had a booth there.

Held in Kent’s Fred Fuller Park on Middlebury Rd., the location is beautiful and shaded. The festival has plenty of artists, food, music on 2 stages, plus activities for the entire family. Parking and admission are free. Hours are:

Sept 10, 10a.m. – 6p.m.
Sept 11, 11a.m. – 5p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.kentparksandrec.com/annual-events/art-in-the-park

Art on the Green 2016

This year's Art on the Green was another lovely event. The weather was hot and sunny, and brought out the crowds.

I love this show (it's around the corner from my studio, after all) but it's a bit bittersweet. Because it's held on the last weekend before Labor Day, it's a signal that summer is coming to an end.

This year's show was held:

Saturday, August 27: 10am – 5pm
Sunday, August 28: 11am – 5pm

Art On The Green attracts 150 local and regional artists, showing art, woodcarving, glass, metal, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, enamel, and more. It is consistently one of the nicest shows around.

The show is presented by Hudson Society of Artists. Be sure to visit their page and give them a like: https://www.facebook.com/groups/148018308548353/

Also visit: http://www.lifeneedsart.com/events/art-on-the-green-2016/

Coming Soon To An Art-o-Mat Near You

It’s been a while since my last series of artwork for Art-o-mat, and I’ve missed making them. I really enjoy working on these series, and love seeing these little guys come together.

My larger artwork has been exploring envelopes. They’re a dying art – who sends letters anymore? Envelopes (at the root, “envelop”) are meant to wrap and contain things, and then to be opened and the contents released. I’m interested in the contrast between open and closed, hidden and visible, and the emotions they evoke.

The current Art-o-mat series plays on the theme with a little handmade envelope with an unexpected surprise peeking out, attached to a wooden block covered in vintage map or book page. The surprise might be flowers or pets, people or sayings. They are light and humorous, and hopefully will give patrons a chuckle.

Insufficiently Wrapped, a collage

“Insufficiently Wrapped” plays on the envelope theme with an image that couldn’t be contained.

I liked the idea of a neat and tidy envelope spilling messy contents all over the place.

Envelopes are meant to contain, but sometimes they just can’t hold it in anymore.

The envelope is made from a magazine image that I altered with solvent, then painted with transparent gold paint. The button is not real – it’s a sticker.

http://www.lifeneedsart.com/gallery/insufficiently-wrapped/

Too Much To Contain

“Too Much To Contain” looks at what happens when the envelope is too full and the contents are released.

I love the mix of modern and vintage bits here: graphs from a 1950s physics book, vintage elements from the 1880s, mixed with modern snapshots and maps. It’s a wonderful, complex mix of items.

The envelope is made from a piece of paper that I painted, along with a vintage stamp. An odd view of it from the side is below, taken while I was holding a mat on it to check the progress.

http://www.lifeneedsart.com/gallery/too-much-to-contain/

Remembrance, a collage

“Remembrance” uses a modern envelope paired with a vintage greeting card. I wanted to echo the greeting card with the other elements in the piece, so looked for papers with a similar feel.

As I have tried to do in other recent pieces, I tried to be somewhat spontaneous in my approach and not over analyze the selection and placement of elements. I wanted the overall effect to be loose and energetic, full of life, though the style of the vintage card hints at having been used to remember a life.

http://www.lifeneedsart.com/gallery/remembrance/

Going Forth, a collage

Remember the excitement of finding a real envelope in the mail, one with a card or letter?

Envelopes are more than paper: their purpose lies equally in being able to wrap, contain, and conceal, as well as open and release. They are the messenger, so rarely (never?) are they the reason for the missive.

Yet being wrapped and opened, sent and delivered conjure up all kinds of emotions for us. In the Envelop/e series, I’ll explore those emotions.

http://www.lifeneedsart.com/gallery/going-forth/

Walk In The Woods, a collage

“Walk In The Woods” continues my exploration with a collage process that is more free and intuitive.

No carefully analyzed plan, no agonizing over each piece. Instead, I tried to put pieces together because they felt like they belonged together.

Do vintage buttons, corrugated cardboard, and French knots really belong together? Who knows, but they seemed to belong together.

http://www.lifeneedsart.com/gallery/walk-in-the-woods/