Sketchbook Project 2013

Printmaker, Courtney Coriell, told me about this project. You order and create a sketchbook which is included in the Brooklyn Art Library -a small storefront in Brooklyn entirely made up of these sketchbooks from around the world. My sketchbook and Coriell's sketchbook will be on the Right/Write When You Get There tour of the mid-west this year. Visit The Sketchbook Project website for more info or participation.

New Albany Farmer's Market Booth Pics

 

I'm really enjoying working the Farmer's Market every Sat 8am-1pm. I love the people I meet and talking about craft and basketry.

 

Eisenhower Elementary Legacy Project, January 2013

 

In the fall of 2012 I met with the Art Teacher at Eisenhower Elementary and a representative from The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, the organization overseeing the project, to plan a residency at the school for their four 4th grade classes. The teacher requested we do something related to Appalachian Arts and she wanted the students to have both an individual project to take home, and work on a collaborative legacy project for the school.

 

For the individual project the students did small Appalachian inspired baskets made from raffia, reed, and found stick handles. For the collaborative legacy project I constructed an adapted loom for the students to weave into with various materials I brought from my studio and the education department at The Kentucky Museum of Ar and Craft.

 



 

Detail of Legacy Weaving

 

Detail of Legacy Weaving

 

Detail of Legacy Weaving

 

Legacy Weaving Project

 

Working with a Student

Student basket

Student Basket

Student Basket

 

Students working on baskets

VSA Art Installation in Bowling Green

Yesterday afternoon I drove to Bowling Green, KY with artist Brenda Wirth and her husband, musician, Greg Acker to install a group show at the VSA of Kentucky's Arts Access Gallery. VSA is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting arts, education and creative expression for all, with an emphasis on persons with disabilities. VSA Executive Director, Delaire Rowe, worked with Wirth to put the show together to showcase some of VSA's teaching artists on their roster. I've collaborated with Wirth and Acker individually and as a couple over the years on several projects. This project was different in that it is the first time the three of us were doing a formal show of just our work. Even though our choosen mediums are completely different, walking through the show you get a glimpse of our commonalities and a key into probably why we are good collaborators, friends, and inspiration for one another's work.

The above picture is Wirth standing behind one of her vinyl pieces with one of Acker's homemade instruments, Imbira Harp, behind her. Wirth's vinyl pieces were done in pairs for a show we did together on symmetry. One in each of the pairs is vinyl on vinyl with it's counterpart paint on vinyl.

Because so much of my other work is in progress, and I need to reference my new pieces, I brought six pieces from my older doll series (2008). The blue and red dolls are approximately 7.5 feet in height where the other two dolls are approximately 4.5 feet and 4 feet. Although it looks from these picture the dolls are hung in isolation from Wirth and Acker's work, that is not the case. All of our work is actually intermingled throughout the show.

Here Acker is tuning one of his drift wood instruments, Driftwood Koto. The chime instruments, Homemade Gamala, in the corner are all tuned to the black keys of the piano so that a pleasing sound is made no matter how you play them or how skilled you are at music. Acker is brilliant in his adaptations to instruments. He uses many techniques to make music making accessible and comfortable. In addition his calm, open, and welcoming demeanor draw even the least gifted at music into his world of exploration and playfulness.

Here you see the work of all three of us together. One of Wirth's pieces from a series of paintings she did looking up to the sky through trees. I believe this piece is called River Dweller. Next to it is a pair of my dolls titled Convulused Reunion for Michelle and Convulused Reunion for Melissa. Below is one of Acker's driftwood instruments with a gourd attached. It is hard to see from this picture but the diftwood is stung in two places, along the entire length of the piece and then a small section toward the right hand top.

The reception for this show is in conjunction with The Bowling Green Gallery Hop, Friday, October 15, 2010 from 5-8pm at VSA's Arts Access Gallery, 515 East 10th Street Bowling Green, KY 42101. Gallery hrs are Monday - Friday8:30AM - 4:30PM and the phone number for the gallery is 270-781-0872.

Leaving KMAC

Moved out of the studio at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft in August. Here are a few pictures of the installation coming down.

Part of the experiment with this installation was to hang the strips of cotton muslin while they were still wet with dye to see what kind of effect I would get with the dye dripping down the walls and onto the floor. The concept was an abstraction of the muddy Ohio River flowing over the walls of the studio. The above picture shows what was left of the dye on the walls and floor, which of course I cleaned up when I de-installed.

One load waiting to go with my trusty coffee cup that mostly held water to drink while I worked.

The final load waiting next to the elevator.

End of July Stuff in KMAC Studio

Still slowly plugging away at the installation in my studio at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft. I've sorta run out of room in the space I've denicated to the exploration of installation on this body of work. I leave the Museum this month and I'm feeling the pressure of wanting to finish a few more pieces/ideas before I leave. I know once I leave and get settled in my home studio again I'll be very distracted with placement for awhile before I get back to making art. I'm looking forward to doing a show at Zephyr in April, 2011 which will give me tons more space to see my ideas in full form.

New Stuff at KMAC studio