It’s Circus Nerve Day!!! The happiest of all days! \o/

The opening’s today from 3-8, but the show itself runs until June.

Come to the show.  All the cool kids are doing it.

series close-ups

Presenting spindle’s work, Zellandine’s denouement.  Up close and personal.

For y’all’s joy and art-ness.

Okay, I know that I showed y’all an installation image, but meh, wouldn’t y’all like to see them closer?

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement: the moss from Allerleirauh's tree
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
mixed fiber art batt from Hello Purl (spun by me)

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement: first born
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
commercial yarn, plastic-covered electronics wire

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement:
100 years in the tower
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
copper wire, wood sphere, spray paint, carded (by me) fleece, yarn from Interlacements

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement: Midas' beanstalk
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
commercial yarn, spray paint, recycled tin can, wood sphere, carded (by me) fleece

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement: mermaid's garden
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
commercial yarn, yarn from Interlacements, recycled cardboard cones, spray paint, spray glitter

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement: Oyster emotions
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
recycled bottle caps, recycled (and gutted) lightbulbs, carded (by me) fleece, spray paint, spray glitter

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement: from straw to gold
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
spray paint, recycled cardboard yarn cones

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement:
ambulatory mushroom forest (detail)
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
yarn (dyed and spun by me), copper wire, plastic-covered electronics wire, wooden sphere, spray paint, silk/stainless steel yarn from Habu

Here’s the full piece:

spindle's work, Zellandine's denouement:
ambulatory mushroom forest
Katrina ('Trie) Blasingame
2012
yarn (dyed and spun by me), copper wire, plastic-covered electronics wire, wooden sphere, spray paint, silk/stainless steel yarn from Habu

So, yeah, that’s the series so far.  There’s more pieces coming, probably for the next quarter at the ARTgarage.

Oh, also, I build a knitty knotty today out of PVC pipe. <–Melissa from Hellp Purl has one; that’s where I got the idea.

And, if y’all are looking for something to do this Friday:

Come to Circus Nerve.  You know you want to. *wriggles fingers tentacles hypnotically*

Courage.

Tonight is Gallery Nite!

All you lucky, lucky people.  Gallery Nite!  Snacks and booze and trolleys taking y’all to the different Green Bay galleries and little artists like me demo-ing for your perusal.

A magical, magical time.

…

Okay, maybe not magical, but who can argue with the combination of art and booze?

So, come on by and see me.  I’ll be at the ARTgarage demo-ing spinning, yo.  The ARTgarage is having an Artists’ Market, like a mini-Crafting Cartel, and I’ll have books and roving and my drop-spindle, and a theoretically cheery disposition. <–Today’s already been irritating and it’s not even noon.

I’LL GET BETTER I PROMISE!

Ahem.  Where were we?  Oh, right, Gallery Nite.  It’s from 5-8 this evening.  Start at any gallery you chose and hop the trolley to the next.

It’s like a pub crawl but with art!  <–It’s like the least expensive, most interesting date that y’all could ever hope for.

And, while I’m here shilling for The Art Man, have I mentioned I have an opening for a group show coming up?  I have?  It bears repeating, don’t ya think?

It’s vera, vera exciting.

Courage and ART FOR ALL!

slacker=me

Okay, not really.

I’ve been running around with job interviews, tiny plantlings, making a new piece for Circus Nerve, and fighting off weather-induced migraines.

My life, it is full.

So, this week’s post is about half done (mostly because I forgot I have 30 images that I needed to, ya know, process).

To tide y’all over: Live Action Angry Birds movie trailer (not real unfortunately).

Attacked by mechanical ladybugs. At least, it’s better than being rejected by a toaster.

I’m mixing my metaphors again.  Y’all know how that goes.

I’ve been reading Bella Tuscany again; I actually finished it a couple of days ago.  I don’t know why I needed to read this again, but in retrospect, it probably has to do with the way that Frances Mayes talks about the way art is alive and part of the everyday in Italy:  all the local chapels have magnificent icons of Mary and works by Renaissance Masters.

It got me in the mood to create the PowerPoint for Gnome’s Humanities classes and talk about how the definition of art has changed in such drastic ways and how art has inundated the everyday because there are artists that want their art to be part of everyday experience (like the artist consortium poketo) and artists who create monumental works for the everyday like Dr. Evermor (artists who are referred to as “vernacular artists”).  This everyday-ness has become so prevelant that Aestheticians have begun talking about “everyday aesthetics”:  the aesthetics of the hotel, the football game, the places and spaces that we live in every day of our lives.

I have these books that I always return to, that speak certain things to me, that change each time that I read them because, each time I read them, I’m a different person.  They’re battered and torn not because of abuse but because they have been loved shabby like a favorite woobie blanket or a ridiculously ugly acid-green sweater that was bestowed when a dear friend grew too talk for it and given with love because she knew that I would never grow too tall for it and would always love that it was ridiculously ugly ’cause that’s the way I am.

It explains why I have so very many books:  I need them close and physical and accessible.  It’s a physical pain when I desperately need to read something that’s been put away into storage because we don’t have enough book shelves yet or because the dear book-friend I long for has been buried behind so many other books that it can’t be found.

A month or two ago, I had a deep longing to read the first five-ish chapters of Owlsight by Mercedes Lackey because of Keisha.  There’s something about when she abruptly uproots her life with her family to become the town Healer that seemed like the exact thing to celebrate my first year anniversary in Wisconsin, and when Keisha learns to ground-and-shield for the first time, how she talks about never having dreamed of flying but always having dreamed of being an oak tree.  I know how she feels.

I’ve never once dreamed of flying:  I dream of falling, of zombie apocalypses, of far-flung battles, and of a violinist I might have been once-upon-a-time in another life.

But not flying.

Okay, on my Kindle counts as accessible too.  I kinda carry my Kindle with me everywhere because I keep my favorite fanfics on it, ever at the ready:  like A Farm in Iowa.  I think I’ve read this fic (which is like 300-400+ pages long) 5 or 6 times since I moved to Wisconsin—because it always reminds me about finding Home in unlikely places and in unlikely people.

Wisconsin was like that for me.  Wisconsin is my blue-painted bedroom to lay my head down in when I’m cranky and hate the world or my farm after a long life of cranky and being misunderstood.

I like it here, and I like the people that I’ve met here.

So, yeah.  Welcome to the random thinking about books.  There’s thinking coming about The Parasol Protectorate also, but right now, I think that *waves hand* all of the above book-thinking is probably enough.

And, a bit revealing.

*feels exposed*

In a completely unrelated (at least, obviously related) event, I’ve been asked to join a group show at the end of April:  Circus Nerve.

It’s very exciting.  I had met the curator at a show at IQ’s (before it closed), so I know her a little (her name’s Natalie).  Evidently, she had been at the ARTgarage and saw my studio and work and asked me to join the show.

…

…

…

IT’S VERY EXCITING, ISN’T IT?!?

There will be more about this very exciting event as it unfolds.

\o/

Courage and cake!

a love letter to the ARTgarage by gbartlover

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

 

This post was really nice to read, especially since I’m one of the studio artists at the ARTgarage. <–Really.  I make the disturbingly kawaii creatures that look like they might be interested in nom-ing people’s heads off…and other things.

 

Loads of other things.

 

*whistles*

 

So, go read the post, and in the New Year, come by the ARTgarage and see all the shenanigans. –>  Help Make the ARTgarage the Central Place for the Arts in Green Bay!.

 

As 2011 comes to an end, I have been contemplating what my New Year’s resolution will be for 2012.  I thought of the normal things, such as weight loss, exercise, giving up cheese (which will never, ever happen!), etc.  But none of them rang true…and I kept coming back to the same thought that I truly miss being plugged into the arts in Green Bay.  It has been three months since I’ve been unemployed by the non-profit arts world, but I still have this burning passion to help grow the arts in our community.

 

In my 5 past years as an Arts Administrator, I watched with great hope as the ARTgarage started out through grass roots efforts of some very devoted and talented folks.  As their website explains:

 

“Two art majors at the University of  Wisconsin – Green Bay didn’t want to lose the energizing ‘art studio experience’ once graduated. They shared their vision for working studios and a gallery with the owners of The Cannery on Olde Main in October 2005. By March 17, 2006, the ARTgarage was open.”

 

 

 

The ARTgarage is located in a 4,000 square foot space that used to be a cannery loading dock, which makes the space the perfect setting for art display and activities with its brick walls, cement floors and high ceilings!  Today, the ARTgarage is blossoming into the art central, place-to-be in Green Bay.  Their mission is encourage an appreciation for and participation in the visual, performing and literary arts.

 

The ARTgarage has a lot to offer the arts enthusiast!  Seven individual studio spaces feature talented, local artists who are eager to talk with visitors about their creative process.  Over 20 artists display their work in the gallery in all mediums.  The ARTgarage also hosts First Saturday Performances each month offering all performing arts, including music, poetry and vaudeville.  Classes are offered for adults and children, some through its partnership with NWTC and some through the ARTgarage artists themselves.  Art forums and community events are also offered at the ARTgarage as the Cannery offers a large space for gatherings.  Finally, the ARTgarage has a fabulous gift shop where you can find one-of-a-kind pieces for friends, family or even for yourself!

 

 

The ARTgarage is a welcoming neighbor to the diverse populations within our community and proudly displays “Everyone Welcome” on their front door.  Join me in helping make the ARTgarage the central place for the arts in Green Bay!  How can you help?  Go to their website, sign up for their newsletter, go to their weekly events, visit the gallery once a month, sign up for a class, sign up your kids for a Summer Art Workshop, reserve the space in Studio B for your next gathering/seminar/meeting, buy a gift at their gift shop, and tell your friends about this wonderful gem we have right here in the Olde Main Street District of Green Bay! Watch for the upcoming “Art Meets Heart:  Juried Art Exhibit” to open on Thursday, February 2nd at 12 Noon, followed by the opening reception from 6 to 9 pm. Exhibit closes  on Saturday, February 29th at 6 pm.

 

The ARTgarage is located at 1400 Cedar Street in the Cannery Building, Green Bay, WI 54301.  Their phone number is (920) 448-6800 or you can email them at info@theartgarage.org.  Their website is a “gold mine” of information at http://www.theartgarage.org.  Gallery hours:   Tuesdays 12-6, Wednesdays 12-6, Thursdays 12-8, Fridays 12-6, Saturdays 12-4 (Closed Saturday, December 31st for New Year’s Eve).

 

Don’t let me down fellow arts friends!  I am counting on you!  Hope to see you there!

 

P.S.  Photo credits to the talented photographer who took them for the ARTgarage website!  Cheers!

 

Courage.

playing catch-up like I do

So, I have been woefully remiss in posting the last week. I have been sick, sick, sick. <–I still have the cough, actually. But! There's nothing like a mega-dose of antibiotics to set one right.

 

Or a pint of tequila.

 

Your mileage may vary. *shrugs*
 
So, one of the things that was missed in last week's dead, dead, deadski squid was that October 15th had been the 4th Quarter Artists Reception/Demo Night at the ARTgarage.
 
Here are a few pictures.
 

 
This is Heather Peterman working diligently.
 

 
The amazing Jennifer Aldrich contemplating her next step paint-wise.
 

 
Adam Fulwiler. The youngest of the gallery artists.
 

 
And, me! Finishing off a piece. Yes, my name tag is on my back.
 
It was a fairly successful night. It kinda had low attendance, but that had more to do with the 15 other events going on in Green Bay that night.
 
The November 17th Demo Night will be better since it coincides with Gallery Night. <–See what I did there? Letting y'all know when both the next Gallery Night and the next Demo Night are? Clever, clever me.
 
…I think all the coughing is making me a bit sillier than usual, which is totally saying something. *whistles*
 
Okay, I totally owe y'all a Branding conversation, and believe or not, I really do have it ready to go, but I'm also getting tired and coughing and need to go take some more drugs, so I think I shall leave you with the pictures and anticipation in your little hearts.
 
I.e., I'm totally doing a secondary post tomorrow.
 
Don't forget that y'all can get your Art Meets Heart canvases at the ARTgarage or Trade Winds. If I remember correctly, the deadline for the canvases has been moved to the middle of November.
 
And! There’s also a juried competition coming up in conjunction with Art Meets Heart! \o/
 
Okay, calendar time.
 

Artist Books: A Bookmaking Workshop–November 11th-12th $150.00

Bookmaking techniques and artist books! \o/

 

Artists’ Demo-ing Night–November 17th

Same sitch (yes, I did use “sitch”) as the other one.

 

Artist Dolls–November 18th-19th $150.00

Really, this is ‘Lain’s gig; I’m just co-teaching.

 

Black Friday Mixed Media for Kids Class–November 25th

Co-taught with the fabulous Miss Carrie. Bring your kids to be babysat to learn about and make mixed media art while you get some peace and quiet some Yule/Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/Saturnalia/insert-your-holy-day-here shopping done.

 

Artists’ Demo-ing Night (I really hope we come up with a better title soon.)–Decemeber 15th, 5-8 pm

This Demo Night happens during the ARTgarage’s annual Holiday Sale/Show, so it’s a double header.

 

Miss ‘Lain is also teaching a couple of other classes that I’m kinda helping out with (Mostly so that I can take the class without paying for it! Don’t tell!).

Circuit Bending 101–October 28th $60.00

Puppetry–December 2nd and 9th $150

 
Until tomorrow.
 
Courage.

pictures and thoughts and things

…are you trying to steal my unicorn?

 

Okay, I was just watching Bitchin’ Kitchen, so that’s what’s with the stealing the unicorn.  *whistles*

 

I’m still feeling under the weather, so I’m just going to say that IQ’s Fall Art Reception was a load of fun and Mother Nature plotted against us with unseasonably warm weather–which, when you like in a place that has as much winter as we do, no one stays inside when it’s unseasonably warm.

 

Unless, you’re a crazy artist under a deadline.

 

*beat*

 

Anyway, it was fantastic, and I hope that Miss Heather invites me to play again.  Here are the pictures I took.

 

Heather Peterman’s Art: Fantastically bright, almost stained glass-like. A unique aesthetic that has a touch of psychedelic, black light posters in it.

 

Y’all know that you want a piece of her work–whether it’s fiber-based, a print, or an original painting–do yourselves a favor and get yourselves some Heather art. <–And excuse me and my fever-addled cracktasticness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelly Fuchs: A little dark, a little sexy, a whole lot of awesome. And! She has a giant giraffe as part of her display.

 

 

 

 

Sara DeRuyter of Eleven Moon Art: Colorful, geometric, and fun. This was Sara first time out too. We were nervous together.

 

 

 

 

Jacy Petersen (here’s her photography page): Organic, touchable, and visually rich. We totally had an art trade!

 

 

 

 

 

And, me! <–Katrina (‘Trie) Blasingame:

 

 

 

 

There were also a couple of guys that I didn’t get pictures of their stuff. Next time.

 

So, I haven’t forgotten the Branding conversation; I just haven’t been well enough to be completely thinky about it. It has, however, returned to one of my least favorite rants: artists’ pricing of their time and work–or, really, their under-pricing.

 

I haven’t forgotten, I swear.

 

So, here’s the currently updated calendar:

Story Beads: Beading to Heal–September 30th $30.00

The ARTgarage has a class cooperative with St. Vinny’s, and this class is being offered through that program. This class is also totally based upon one that I took with Lisa Kay a couple of years ago. She’s totally as awesome as you’d think she’d be winning a Fulbright. Share the love!

 

So, I had one person signed up for this class, but we had such a good time, I think! Definitely going to see about doing this again in the Spring–maybe as more of a series of “come and learn; come back to hang out and work together!”

 

“Visualizing Your Hopes and Dreams”: An Art Night for Freedom House–October 3rd, 6-8 pm

It’s basically an art class being taught for the families that Freedom House helps out.

 

Kelly and I had about 10 people (though 2 were too small to do more than run around) plus Freedom House’s coordinator-lady Robyn (who is totally awesome). We all had a good time, one student tried drawing for the first time in her life, and I made a new friend.

 

Studio Tour–October 7th, 12-6 at the ARTgarage

It’s really Chris Style’s studio tour, but all the ARTgarage studio artists were invited to join the fun. This tour happens the 8th and 9th also, but I’m only going to be there the 7th and the 9th.

 

Bay Area Watercolor Artists Opening–October 7th, 5-8 at the ARTgarage

Not necessarily my art scene, but ya know, I’m still gonna be supportive!

 

 

IQ’s Fall Art Reception–October 8th

3-8 pm at IQ’s Bar 2105 University Ave., Green Bay

 

Studio Tour–October 9th, 12-5 at the ARTgarage

Same sitch, different day.

 

4th Quarter Artists Opening Reception AND the first Artists’ Demo-ing Night (hip name yet to be chosen)–October 13th

5-8 pm at the ARTgarage. The Artists’ Demo-ing Night is something new that we’re trying, so if you’re an artist in the Green Bay area, come to Demo Night! We all aren’t ARTgarage artists either, and we’re willing to share our windfall awesomeness!

 

Japanese Stab Binding: Books to Heal–October 14th $30.00

Also, a St. Vinny’s class. <–This is looking like it's going to be cancelled. *SAD*

 

Artist Books: A Bookmaking Workshop–November 11th-12th $150.00

Bookmaking techniques and artist books! \o/

 

Artists’ Demo-ing Night–November 17th

Same sitch (yes, I did use “sitch”) as the other one.

 

Artist Dolls–November 18th-19th $150.00

Really, this is ‘Lain’s gig; I’m just co-teaching.

 

Black Friday Mixed Media for Kids Class–November 25th

Co-taught with the fabulous Miss Carrie. Bring your kids to be babysat to learn about and make mixed media art while you get some peace and quiet some Yule/Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/Saturnalia/insert-your-holy-day-here shopping done.

 

Artists’ Demo-ing Night (I really hope we come up with a better title soon.)–Decemeber 15th, 5-8 pm

This Demo Night happens during the ARTgarage’s annual Holiday Sale/Show, so it’s a double header.

 

Miss ‘Lain is also teaching a couple of other classes that I’m kinda helping out with (Mostly so that I can take the class without paying for it! Don’t tell!).

Circuit Bending 101–October 28th $60.00

Puppetry–December 2nd and 9th $150

 

…really, how much do y’all think a class should be?

 

I’m out.

 

Courage.

 

*impotent tentacles of fury*

*insert rant about Apple and their outrageous prices on, oh, just about everything and the irritating-to-enraging AT&T/Verizon 3G option for the iPad rather than it being an ad-hoc-wifi user like everything else on the fricking planet*

 

Okay, that’s maybe a gross over-generalization, but–come on!–all hail the open source revolution!  Either get on the boat or hop on the lifeboat, and stop making all of us completely nuts already. kthxbai

 

/rant <–for now, at any rate

 

So, that actually wasn’t what I was planning on posting about this week (neither was it being Sunday before the real post was written–I mean, seriously folks, how did that happen?–but it’s been a rough last week+ *hands*).

 

I was going to open the floor to a discussion of  the artist persona and societal acceptance thereof as well as tell y’all what classes I’m teaching this Fall at the ARTgarage and how SAW went.

 

Let us begin with SAW.

 

Quite possibly the most awesome concept ever (except for the entire lack of real classroom space and lack of sinks).  I was co-teaching Painting and Mixed Media with Dark Carrie (we have a lot of Carries at the ARTgarage; Sandys too).  We had 12 students who ranged in age from 6 to 9.

 

Handful.  Thy name is kids between 6 and 9.  *is exhausted from the mere thought of them*

 

But, I must admit, they totally made awesome work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We completed (more or less) 6 projects:  Sample Media Books, Mixed Media Assemblages, Mixed Media Sewing Assemblages, Concentric Shape Studies, Art/Music Composition Studies, and an Impromptu Weaving Experiment.  We also introduced several (like loads) of different types of media with an accompanying conversation about how anything can be an art medium, artist introductions (Kandinsky mostly, but also Joseph Cornell, Nick Cave, Mandy Greer, and Joan Miro), a gallery walk (in the ARTgarage), an explanation about how artists price their work, a talk about how art is never really finished, and a talk about working around the unexpected during art-making.

 

Really, any place that says “a talk” insert “repeated at least 7 times”.

 

That’s a lot of stuff to do in 3 hours a day for 5 days.  That was all accomplished in just 15 hours!  It’s very exciting.

 

I totally think I’m going to be doing this again next year.  It’s kinda like giving birth, I think:  it’s horrific to go through, but you kinda forget/romanticize/drugs kick in; then you want to do it again.  Oh, irony.

 

The classes that I’m teaching in the Fall are actually all geared towards more of an older group, but I’ve tried to leave them open as much as possible to a younger audience too (i.e., 12 and up is the age range).

 

I’m going to be teaching

 

Story Beads:  Beading to Heal–September 30th    $30.oo

The ARTgarage has a class cooperative with St. Vinny’s, and this class is being offered through that program.  This class is also totally based upon one that I took with Lisa Kay a couple of years ago.  She’s totally as awesome as you’d think she’d be winning a Fulbright.  Share the love!

 

Japanese Stab Binding:  Books to Heal–October 14th    $30.00

Also, a St. Vinny’s class.

 

Artist Books:  A Bookmaking Workshop–November 11th-12th    $150.00

Bookmaking techniques and artist books! \o/

 

Artist Dolls–November 18th-19th    $150.00

Really, this is ‘Lain’s gig; I’m just co-teaching.

 

Miss ‘Lain is also teaching a couple of other classes that I’m kinda helping out with (Mostly so that I can take the class without paying for it!  Don’t tell!).

 

Circuit Bending 101–October 28th    $60.00

 

Puppetry–December 2nd and 9th    $150

 

So, yeah, I’m going to be a busy little squid.  Dare I say, bee-like?

 

And, I don’t know about the rest of you, but this post is getting into the epic-feeling category.  We’ll leave the artist persona talk until Tuesday.

 

But, a final thought/question:  what do y’all think the artist’s persona has been and is becoming and how has this been fostered/rejected by society?

 

Also, what are some stereotypes of The Artist?

 

Courage.

art at The Attic

So, yes, I know.  Two posts in one week.  There’s something terribly wrong with me–or terribly right.  I wandered into The Attic this morning, and there, upon the wall, was the work of Vicky Helms-Kostka.  We were actually in the Memories Show at the ARTgarage together, though I don’t think I met her.

 

 

I’m like 99% certain this was won of the pieces she had in the Memories Show.

 

But the exhibit at The Attic is a wall-full of her mixed media collages, and while they’re all lovely, the ones that I’m really enjoying the most are “Make Piece with Demons #1″ and “Make Piece with Demons #2″.

 

 

 

They both have these eximious medieval demons (that were probably culled from a calendar–actually, I think I had the same calendar) juxtaposed with these meta-shiny God-via-Monty-Python hands bequeathing botanicals.

 

Kinda trippy.

 

I almost think the best part is that, since these works are on board, the way that she hands some of them. She beads the wire so that the hanging wire isn’t something that is hidden away behind the piece where hopefully no one will see it; it becomes something gilt and jewel-like and almost reminiscent of a reliquary.

 

Very nice.

 

So, if you’re in Green Bay over on Main, head on down to The Attic, have a cuppa, and check out Helms-Kostka’s work. You won’t regret it.

 

Also, if this “in the neighborhood”-ness happens tonight around 6, head over to the ARTgarage for the 3rd Quarter Artists Reception.