Lillstreet Member Show

I have two encaustic paintings that were juried into The 6th Annual Lillstreet Student and Member Show that is taking place this weekend.

Lillstreet Art Center
4401 N. Ravenswood
Chicago, IL 60640
773769.4226
www.lillstreet.com

Since our move to Chicago I have taken 3 classes at Lillstreet Art Center- Intuitive Painting, Handbuilding(ceramics), and Intro to Sewing. Actually tomorrow is my last sewing class. I have really enjoyed it! I really want a new sewing machine now. Since I like to take classes here I became a member earlier this year and one of the perks of this is the invitation to submit work to show in their annual member and student show. My two encaustic paintings that I submitted were accepted (the bird painting in the postcard is mine) and I am looking forward to attending the show this weekend.

Back ten years ago when I was working in the chicago public school system and rapidly losing my mind I decided to take a ceramics class at Lillstreet- a form of therapy for me. This was at their old location and I just loved it the minute I walked in. I've always felt comforted by the earthy smell of clay. I remember wandering their art space and thinking how wonderful it would be to be an artist and have work on display. Thinking that it must be a good feeling to make something with one's hands and mind that speaks to other people, that makes that want to take it home with them. It seemed like a totally foreign idea/life at the time.

That seems like eons ago...

Thank you to everyone who has left me comments and emails about last announcement. I really appreciate it and have been working on emailing back. I am feeling a bit better this week, but have not been on the computer much. But I wanted to thank everyone here. The congratulations and blessings mean so much to me. Thank you.

a bird told me

Sometime back in June a robin decided to make the top ledge of our front door a home for its nest. I watched it build its nest grass by grass, twig by twig for two days. It was really amazing. The patience, the skill. The robin would bring the grass to the forming nest, lay it down and then squish its butt around to shape the bowl of the nest. We all watched fascintated by this ancient ritual.

But I was also concerned. I thought, hmmm, birds are pretty protective of their eggs and their babies. Being right above our front door is not good for us or anyone who attempts to ring our doorbell. I didn't want to take the nest down, especially after watching her build the nest. But at the same time I didn't want to get attacked every time I left my house!

I called my mom and she said emphatically, "Oh! Whatever you do, do not disturb the nest! It's bad luck. Besides the bird will just keep coming back. Just leave it until the babies are born and then move the nest."

Then she put on her friend, who is Greek, on the phone to tell me about bird nests and their omens. She gets on the phone, with as equal of a thick accent as my mother, but with a greek twist to it instead of spanish, and she says very emphatically, "Oh honey, whatever you do, do not disturb the nest!!! It's bad luck. It actually means good luck is coming your way when a bird chooses to build a nest above your door. In fact it could mean a pregnancy....so don't touch it!"

I was like, oh. Ok. I'll leave it! If two women from different parts of the globe tell me it's good luck, then it's staying. Then the bird left for a couple of days and I felt a little sad by its absence. But she same back and stayed put on her nest.

That day she returned, I took a pregnancy test.......and it was positive!



untitled
encaustic and mixed media
6x6 inches

I created this painting above, inspired by the bird and her message to me and my family. This was one of the last encaustic paintings I made before I hung up my encaustic brushes. I am sure it's fine to paint with encaustics while pregnant as long as you have good ventilation and take the right precautions. But I already have a high-risk pregnancy and I would rather be safe than sorry.

So no oils for now either. I am back to acrylics and making books. That is, when I can muster up the energy to work. This pregnancy has been very different than my first in that I have been really nauseated, extremely tired, and overall feel really crappy! But I am now entering my second trimester and I'm hoping for a turnaround. My little bean is growing well and that's all that matters!

So, that's my excuse for being a little absent around here lately. Resting up when I can. It takes a lot of energy to create a little life. We are so excited and I feel so blessed.

Art and Meaning

Have you vistied the blog of artist Katherine Treffinger? If you haven't, you should! Not only does she post her fantastic artwork but she also includes posts of different artists answering the same question:

What meaning does doing art have for you?

She was so kind to share my answer to this very important question on her blog. Go check it out and see other artists' answers too. It is really interesting to read all the different thoughts on the same question.

Barbie Redux

This show will be up for the month of August

Remember my encaustic barbie I created a few months ago? Well her debut is this weekend! Unfortunately I won't be able to attend the opening reception. But if you are in the L.A. area,check it out! It looks like it will be a fun opening.

I am excited to be in this show for several reasons. First, it is curated by a dear friend Patricia Anders. I have never met her in real life, but she has inspired me with her artwork and her spirit online for several years now. She pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and attempt an altered encaustic barbie. And I had so much fun with it!

The other reason I am excited to be in this is that there are several other of my online artists friends that will also be in this show, some who I have met and some that I have not, yet. It's kind of fun to be in a show with my online buds. We all have been communicating with each for years now, brought together by our art, and then by the friendships that followed. Cynjon Noah will have several pieces in this show, as will Jen Worden. Actually the mysterious and beautiful figure on the postcard above is her creation. The inimitable Theresa Hall will have an altered barbie in the show as well.

I've known Cynjon, Jen and Theresa for several years as well, but have only met Cynjon. Actually I did a happy dance with Cynjon back in 2006 at Artfest because he was the first person I ran into after I saw my first red dot ever at the Artfest Magical Creatures Show! That seems like eons ago.

Looking back on my art journey so far, I have to say that I owe so much to the people I have connected with online. I remember being so nervous the first time I posted one of my mixed media panels online. How I felt foolish and exposed and scared and just kind of weird about it. But then these wonderful people, people who didn't know me, people from differnt walks of life, popped in to leave a few kind words. To say, congratulations, or you can do it, or nice job, or I like that blue line there.

And still this blog now, many years later, brings me in touch with the same kind of generousity of spirit. The same "rah, rah, you can do it!" spirit. I hope that I am able to return the gifts that people have given me through the years.

Wow, I really didn't intend to write all that, but I guess it just needed to come out. Anyway, thank you to everyone who comes and visits me in this little space online that is my blog.
xoxo

ten

ten
encaustic and mixed media
6x8 blank handbound journal
@ amanobooks.com

I created this panel, oh, let's see, maybe last year? But instead of binding it into a book as it had been intended, I framed it for a show I was in, in Seattle. It was one of those instances where I just needed one more painting to fill up the space. It happens. Anyway, it looked lovely in a frame, but because I had always intended it to be a journal, it just didn't seem right to me. So I finally decided that it needed to be what it was meant to be and bound it up the other day.

And now I am content.

***********************

Thank you for all the well wishes for the show and for those of you that came! I think the best part of it all for me, besides seeing my paintings on the wall, was meeting other Chicago artists and community activists. Who often were, one and the same. Why is it that people who care about their community and work to make changes are often artists or at least creative types? Is there something about the personalities or the outlook on life? hmmmm. I'm not saying that is always the case, but there does seem to be an overlap. Or at least it seems that way.


me and Noah in front of my paintings
{My husband and Noah came to the opening and Noah ran throughout the whole space looking at the art, and then he came to mine at the end and stopped and said, "Mama!" I couldn't believe that at 2 years old he could already recognize my work! That brought a huge smile on my face.}

The exhibit was held in an alternative space, in that it's not typically a gallery space. It is actually used for programs for at risk youth. I met the couple who run the space and they were just wonderful. I really admire people who do work like this. The husband does work with Cease Fire-which is a program that helps gang-affiliated youth leave the gangs or stay out of gangs. He teaches them how to film and they have been working on creating their own documentaries. His wife does theatrical productions with another group of teens. They were very inspiring. The organization is called Voice of the City.

I am meeting some really wonderful people here in Chicago. Artists who care about their communities. Care about making a difference. Are passionate about their work and their city. I feel fortunate to be meeting them. Chicago needs people like that.

Anyway, lots of thoughts from this weekend. If we end up staying in Chicago longterm (in the city) and I can figure out how to balance art career and family, I would really love to get involved again in the community as I was in my early twenties. I want Noah to learn too about the value of giving back to community, especially when it is so badly needed. That is really important to me.

And I sold a painting! Hooray!