... ..... .. .... . ... .. . ... ..... .. ... . Sculplady.. .
Sculplady's Sketchbook
Well, due to some job-related issues, and just general uber-busyness, I'm taking a short summer sabbatical from art making. I'm definitely going through withdrawal though. Fortunately, I do have some new ideas for projects to put on my ever-full mental 'back-burner', for future reference when I get back into the studio in a few months.
In the meantime, since I'm not making much art right now, I've been going to more art shows and collecting ideas in general. This weekend is the annual 'Art Fair on the Square' here in Madison, WI. In the past few years, I've been hesitant to go because most of the sculpture they get, is usually incredibly boring, kitschy, or uber-ugly. I am happy to report, that is NOT the case this year. I was ecstatic to find that there were several booths which held some GREAT work. It has renewed my interest now in returning to the AFOTS in the future. I just hope that these artists return as well...and if not, then I hope there are similar artists invited to replace them.
Anyway - as a result of my excitement, I have decided to make a list of 'Sculplady's Top Choices for the 2010 Art Fair on the Square'. So, if you haven't gone yet and want to avoid a lot of the more crafty, not-so-great stuff, and hopefully you like my taste, here's a list for you to use when you go...(I've created links to the artist's websites or photos of their work if they don't have a website)
So - here goes...
Sculpture Category
Mark Winter (no official website, but links to some of his work)
http://www.madart.com/eventsexhibitions/artexhibitions/gabelanzabethbojarskichris.htm
Rick Wyrick My favorite is his piece titled 'Fast Boat' on display in his booth, but I can't find any images online.
This wasn't in his booth, but it reminded me of his pieces titled 'vodoo dog' which he does have on display there.
http://www.desmoinesartsfestival.org/images/artists_gallery/2010/rick_wyrick_lg.jpg
Jason Brammer (if you're into steampunk, you'll love his work)
Andy Rogers - ceramics http://www.andyrogersceramics.com/
Mauro Pozzobonelli - ceramic sculptor http://web.mac.com/pozzobonelli/the_Art_of_Mauro_Pozzobonelli/Home.html
Kina Crow - ceramic sculptor http://www.kinacrow.com/home.php?page=0
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JEWELRY
There are a fair amount of jewelers up there which I didn't check out, mainly because I can't afford gorgeous custom-made jewelry right now, but this artist's work caught my eye...and it turns out her work is extremely affordable.
Hannelore Jundt-Pritchard - no official website, but here's her FaceBook page with a photo of one of her necklaces ***This artist is on the Art Fair Off the Square, in front of Monona Terrace*** booth 126
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=110796152284301&ref=mf
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2 D Artists
Dawn Dark Mountain ***This artist is on the Art Fair Off the Square, in front of Monona Terrace*** http://www.dawndarkmountain.com/
Geri Schrab http://www.artglyphs.com/geri.htm
Michael Bond http://www.michaelbondetchings.com/
Andy Van Schyndle http://www.wagalabagala.com/wagalabagala_002.htm
John Charbonneau http://www.santafesocietyofartists.com/MemberPages/charbonneau.htm
Bruce Holwerda http://www.bruceholwerda.com/
John Whipple http://www.portlandmercury.com/images/blogimages/2010/03/31/1270069755-john_whipple-_workaholic.jpg
His official site is www.whippleart.com, but it seems to be down at the moment...
Lynn Whipple http://www.lynnwhipple.com/
Alla Tsank http://www.allatsankfineart.com/
Keith Grace http://www.grace-design.com/index.php/keith-grace-paintings-mainmenu-2.html
Melvin McGee http://store-b64b7.mybigcommerce.com/
Heather Fortner http://www.heatherfortner.com/index.html
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So, there you have it. Enjoy - you have 2 hours left today and all day tomorrow. Just don't forget the sunscreen. And water. Lots of water...
I've finally finished, had photographed, and edited my last piece from my recent art-making marathon since November. It's the images in the first 2 rows of my 3D art page. The 'Dream Desk Project'. I have 3 other new pieces that have yet to be photographed and uploaded, this one had to come first as I had to give it back to the person who provided the desk.
All in all, I'm really happy with the piece. I think it's probably my favorite piece I've made so far. I'm just glad I was able to get it photographed before I never saw it again. If you haven't been on Facebook, then you haven't seen my rant last week when I was uber-mad when I discovered that some of the pieces had been broken off and it was not displayed as I had requested. For the past couple of weeks, it's been on exhibit at a local coffee shop (E.V.P). I'd been telling everyone to come down and check it out. I hadn't gone to look at it myself until a week ago when I made those shocking discoveries. I contacted the art teacher who organized the project and she apologized profusely and went down to the coffee shop herself to repair the piece. It was the fault of someone who she'd asked to deliver the piece. Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed. I'm planning on attending the fundraiser in a couple weeks, so I hope that it's been repaired to it's former condition...and that I don't ever find out whom the jerk-wad was who just broke it and left it sit.
Anyhoo - in other news, am looking forward to attending one of my art collective's (Secret Ingredient) upcoming shows. I won't have anything in the show this time around, as I'm needing a little break for a bit. The show is titled 'Skin Deep' and focuses on fashion and the body and issues surrounding them. I'm hoping it will be as much of a blast as our first show back in February.
TTFN
...I should FINALLY add an update. The good news is that I haven't updated in a while because I've been INSANELY busy. Been prepping for a show happening this week Friday, plus working on a piece for an auction/fundraiser for a school where I used to teach, plus, applying to show some work at a govt building downtown. I've had basically no social life for about a month now...but, hopefully it will be worth it. Here's the website for the collective 'Secret Ingredient'
All in all, it's good. I've produced/am producing 2 new pieces and re-working an old one, making it into a new one. The bad news? Umm - I've been too busy to update...and, my back-burner project which became my front project, became my back-burner project again. :( Eh well. It'll happen.
...and now...back to my regularly scheduled busy-ness...
don't get me wrong - I really enjoyed my holidays this year, but the 2 months leading up to them were pretty harsh. Being incredibly busy and severely stressed out kept me from working on any art since the end of October. That will change today. I finally have time to work in my studio again, now that life is settling back into a somewhat 'normal' routine. Though, the fact that I belong to 2 art collectives and have 2 major projects going on, will either kill me or make me a kick-ass, uber-productive artist. Let's hope it's the latter. Evolution Arts Collective and the newer collective Secret Ingredient (No website yet, but I will be posting a public Facebook group soon.) are the ones I've joined. I'm pretty psyched, I just hope that I can get better at managing my time. I hate to say it, but I think I need a PDA again. I used to have one long ago, but never really used it that much. I've recently been screwing up my dates, double booking things and/or forgetting dates - not good. I have a pretty good memory in general, but, it only goes so far...and they say it doesn't get better with age... <sigh>
Anyhoo - if you are an artist in Madison, or in the Madison area, and happen to be interested in joining an arts collective, both of these groups are actively looking for more members, so, please feel free to contact me and I can both tell you more about them and get you in touch with the organizers. The Evolution Arts Collective is planning for a show in January and Secret Ingredient is planning for one in mid-February.
Ok. Time for me to get off this computer and make some art. Dammit.
A friend posted this on Facebook the other day and I was really intrigued by this photo series. It's titled 'Fallen Princesses' by artist Dina Goldstein. My favorite one is the princess sitting alone at a table in a dive-bar with a drink in her hand. If I were a photographer, this is totally along the lines of something I would do. I bet it was a lot of fun shooting this series. Some of the images are really striking and intense...especially 'Rapunzel'.
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Am also signing up to participate with the Art House Coop. They promote nationwide art projects, connecting artists from all over. I'm thinking about doing the sketchbook project and/or the scavenger hunt project. We'll see...
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Worked a bit more on my 2nd chicken wire sculpture. Trying to create a curvy form out of something that is very springy is...well...maddening. Especially for the fact that with my beginner's luck, my first one turned out great. Trying to re-create it, however is seeming to be futile. I do remember drinking whiskey when I did it the first time. I think that may be the answer to keep me from losing my patience with it completely and throwing it off my front porch into the middle of E.Washington Ave. and screaming. Will update more later on the progress.
I occasionally enjoy looking at contemporary fashion design. I can appreciate it as art in and of itself, and not something that I could realistically ever seeing myself wear. I came across a video today of Alexander McQueen's recent work. Using Atlantis as the theme. The shoes were originally what drew me to it, but I really liked the Geiger-esque quality of the patterns of the material of some of the dresses. Still though, those are some amazing shoes...
http://alexandermcqueenlive.showstudio.com/
Both shows last week went well. Got exposure in Stoughton and in Madison. So, yay for exposure I guess.
Began working on my fourth figure for the Lady of the Yahara project. Yes, it's another chicken wire form. Yes, I'm annoyed having to work with it again, but, it provides the kind of armature I need in the least amount of time. Besides, I'm just going to wrap or cover it anyway. It's just the sculpting part that's the pain in the butt.
Am tempted to start a second, different project in tandem with this one, but this one is so large and encompassing, I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. I would like to have some newer, simpler pieces I can exhibit this upcoming year though. We'll see how ambitious the Sculplady gets...
...at least this time, it's the good kind...
By some stroke of weird circumstances, it looks like I'm going to have my art in 2(!) exhibits this week! No new work though, as I haven't been very productive this past year...but that is changing, thankfully. Slowly but surely. So, if you're interested at all and haven't seen or aren't sick of seeing my stuff, this week Friday I hope to have a couple of pieces in the exhibit at the Evolution Arts Collective show. It's located on S. Dickinson St - between Baldwin St. and E. Washington Ave. Am really looking forward to it - mainly just to check out what the other artists in the collective are doing. I just joined this week. Good timing, eh?
The other exhibit is in Stoughton on Wed. night, but, I'm not going to advertise that one here. Plus, it's kind of a late notice and it's on a week night.
Anyway - this is good on many levels, but mostly because it's motivating me even more to get my productivity back up. Wish me luck! Hope to see you at the exhibit on Friday. I think they're doing it to coincide with the fall Gallery Night event downtown. 5-9pm. Here's some info on the collective:
http://evolutionarts.blogspot.com/
Anyway. I've also uploaded some photos and possibly a couple of video clips from a sculpture dedication ceremony I went to this past weekend, on Sept. 26th.
It's a sculpture originally carved by HoChunk Nation member Harry Whitehorse, from a tree that had been struck by lightning. It deteriorated over the past 20 years, so several local groups got together to fund raise and have it cast in bronze. It's a tribute/marker/memorial to the burial mounds in the park. The photos are of the bronze and of the dancers at the celebration.
Tried delving back into the 'Lady of the Yahara' project tonight. I swear I can't seem to stick with one plan and go with it. The more I think about this project, the bigger and bigger it seems to get. I need to focus on keeping it small and simple - especially since I've never done anything like this before. I'm now considering scrapping the performance/storytelling aspect and just have the focus be the art on the river, like my original intent.
I also think I need to just take this one step at a time...and finish the 6 remaining torsos for the set of 9. I've also got smaller projects on the side coming up soon, so I've definitely got my work cut out for me.
I think sleep is going to become a distant relative for a while. Only hearing from me on occasional weekends and holidays. :(
Well, at least I have stuff to make. Sometimes it's almost worse having a blank sketchbook staring you in the face.
Quick bullet-point update:
- Went to a meeting last Sunday for the Evolution Arts Collective here in Madison. Am pretty psyched to join, as it looks like it's generating a fair amount of interest with other local artists of a variety of media, and who are also interested in the possibility of collaborating on projects.
- Continuing to work on the slip-casting of the mask of my face. It will be a miracle if it actually turns out. If/when that happens, I will post the finished piece here.
- Have inquired about a cool-sounding project for local artists. An art teacher at a local elementary school has a grant for the 'Dream Desk Project' - bunch of old desks she's giving to artists to design some kind of work around the theme of dreams (using our own materials). The finished pieces will be auctioned off to help raise funds for the school. I used to teach at that school, so I'm even more psyched to help out. Just hope someone will buy my piece...
- Created a Facebook group for this site so folks can get my updates if they're interested, without having to search for it all the time.
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