A Successful Show

Yesterday, the Artful Women took down the Grass Valley Show.  We had so much fun on so many levels.  First, we enjoyed organizing the show, making cards, and designing the show.  Next, we had the best Artist Reception with loads of food, music, and friends that visited.  Here, I have to say a Big Thank You for my friends that drove so far just to see the show.  It make for an extra special night.  I know my Mom and Dad would have been besides themselves with pride.  (You never get over trying to please the parents!)  
I was recently asked if the event was successful.  The fact is that two pieces of art were sold, two of my small 12 x 12s were sold and we sold 14 packs of note cards.  I might sounds small, but it was one of the more successful art shows that the Center for the Arts has hosted.  We are more than grateful for the beautiful facility, the perfect lighting, and the helpful volunteers.  But beyond the $$ we all have learned so much about creating an exhibit and had so much fun doing it, that I can truthfully say...                   YES it was successful!

Artful Women Grass Valley Exhibit

Artful Women Exhibit - Nov 13 to Dec 8

Artist Reception Nov 18, 2 - 4 p.m.

This is The Artful Women's first exhibit and we are so excited to be in such a wonderful show space.  The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley - 314 W. Main St is also close to all the activities that the town has for their Cornish Christmas celebration.  

The Reception will be on the Sunday before Thanksgiving - 
Nov 18 - between 2 - 4 p.m.  We will have live music and munchies.
  
The other artists do beautiful and unique work so there will be a variety of pieces for you to enjoy.  Also, we have made note cards of our work for sale.  Two different sets with work from each artist for $20.

For more information --   thecenterforthearts.org 
and artful-women.blogspot.com
I hope you can visit sometime during the show.

(P.S. Don't you think our poster is kool!)

Sometimes I wish time could stand still, but it always seems to go faster and faster!  It has been a great summer full of travel, family visits, visits with friends, and spotty sewing!

These first pictures are from a scrap yard!  The SAQA group in Oregon has a challenge of taking pictures of a scrap yard for inspiration.  At first, I could not imagine what we would find.  One of the members had already taken 150 pictures.... so when my friend and I (plus hubbys) took off, we both thought we might get a few pictures.  Well, we took 140 between us but look what we found.  I highly recommend this activity because there were wonderful shapes, colors, and the light and dark of shadows.

The whole trip to Oregon was a feast for my eyes...... also for my tummy but that is another story.

Here are just two of the many interesting views.  One of our hotels was painted in an Art Deco theme.  All around the room were borders.  Since it was very old, and the piping showed, they had painted the pipe joints with faces.  The old bridge by Gold Beach provided striking shapes.

So I hope your summer was fun and provided many inspiring sights.

Sacramento Fine Arts Center

Swirls & Curls 

I am having so much fun entering work in the local art shows.  Just being accepted into a Gallery is great.  My piece Swirls & Curls is a lively and colorful piece.  I thought about adding more beading etc, but then decided the impact of color and lines was what the art was about.  What do you think?  Please add a comment below or send email.


Information on the show:
 Magnum Opus XXIII 2012 Show of the Sacramento Fine Arts Center.  
Juror was Helen Plenert (hplenert.com).   
5330-B Gibbons Drive, Carmichael.  
Dates for show are Aug 7 - Sept 1, 2012.  Hours Tue - Sat, 11 - 3PM.  
The artist reception is on Aug 11 starting at 5:30 - 8:30.

Honorable Mention for Pam

Silly grin with HM Ribbon

How great is this... I was awarded Honorable Mention for Mixed Media/Fiber Art at the Placer Art League (PAL) show (details below) and you should have seen the first, second, and third.  The first won Best of Show and the other entries were really top notch.  Show ends tomorrow July 6 just in case you haven't gone.  The PAL organizers did a really professional job with the show.  The award/artist reception was under a huge oak tree and included snacks and drinks.  I enjoyed visiting with friends Ron and Elly and other friends for the afternoon.  Just a great day which included a celebration dinner with my hubby.

Soon I will be telling you about the Blue Line Membership Show.  Look for more info and my usual emails.

Swirls & Curls

Things are looking up!

Pumpkin

After having three pieces rejected in the last 6 months, I was feeling a bit low.  I was hoping that it was just a leveling out after getting in so many shows and even selling a couple of pieces.  But then I got the news that two pieces were accepted into the
Placer Artist League Show in Auburn .
The show juror is Anita Wolff (anitawolffstudio.com) an oil and pastel painter.  It is really a compliment for her to have selected my fiber art.
The venue for the show is:

Exhibit Date:  June 19 - July 6, 2012

The Bernhard Winery - 291 Auburn-Folsom Rd

(to the left as you drive into the Auburn Fairground Parking).

Open Tuesday - Sunday from 11 AM to 4PM - Free Admission

Artist Reception - Saturday - June 30 at 1 PM to 3 PM 

Try to drop by and see the show and the museum.  It is a fun place.

Twelve by Twelve

12 by 12
Artful Women Collection

Twelve by Twelve is a collection of 12" square art pieces created by the Artful Women.  There are seven women artist in this new group with the goal of creating a body of work to show at galleries in the area.  It is all very exciting and inspiring.  It is amazing the work it takes to do shows.  We are learning together and encouraging each other on our creative paths.  The above work was developed by each of us doing 4 pieces, using whatever techniques used in our larger art.  They are so different but it is amazing how beautiful  and exciting they look.   The pieces can be arranged in any number of ways and shaped to any space available.
The artists in this group are Jo Hathcock, Lin Schiffner, Sandy Poteet, Gail Sims, Ann Sanderson, Joan Dyer, and me - Pam Berry.
You can see more of our work at Artful-women.blogspot.com
Come and see our first show-----
The 12 by 12 and more art by the Artful Women can be seen on June 8 - 10 at
The Paint Chip - 217 F St. Davis -530-753-5093.  Artist reception is Friday June 8 @ 6 - 8:30PM.  Friday night is also the 2nd Friday Davis Art About so many other venues will be open with many artists on display.  It really is lots of fun.  Hope you can make it.   

Its been a good Month!

It has been a great month!  First when I went to retrieve my Leaves in Costa Rica from Blue Line Gallery I found it had been sold!  How great is that.  It makes me so happy to think of my art in someones home.  I don't know who bought it, but thank you.
Next, I had a super birthday celebration at the FireHouse in Old Sacramento.  So nice and so yummy!  Thanks to my sweety and friends.
Then I took in another piece - the framed Layers - Blue Line Gallery in Roseville.  The show is titled "Shining".  Hope you all have found time to visit Blue Line.  It will be a treat anytime you are in the area.
And more.... my friend TC Haight, a member of the Artery in Davis, was selected to have a two person show in July 2013.  Guess who she asked to be the second person?  It was me.  This is really exciting and my mind is just going a mile a minute.
What a great month!

Blue Bra Revolt and Elsa's Sister will be in the Artery -titled -10 by 10 Do it Again.  This is where members of the Co-op asked their friends to participate.  Look at the link to find out more.

Spring Fly In

Here is my rework of another piece that just didn't seem to work.  The solution was to bring the tree further up (thanks to friends for their comments).  I now call it Spring Fly In.

Please notice a new link to Artful Women.  This is a new Fabric Arts group from mostly Nevada City area.  Their goal is to do shows in galleries and other venues.  The blog is very nicely done and you will enjoy each members gallery, including mine.  artful-women.blogspot.com   You will be hearing more about us because we already have three bookings.

Enjoy the Spring and your own creative journey.

Artful Women Collaboration

This piece was created for a MAQ (Mountain Art Quilters) Challenge called "Four by Four".  Idea is to have four works that complement each other and look well hung together.  The Artful Women decided to collaborate and will each create one to three pieces for the challenge.  Again, I worked with some previous effort that did not go anywhere.  I love how things just develop...first the diamond shapes reminded me of flower petals, then I wanted to make them 3D.... then I found some painted/foiled temtex to work with... but the right angle was the most difficult.  Work, think, let ideas soak, and then comes an idea that can work.  Some people work with lots of planning but I need to just try one thing then anothers.  People think creativity is unique, but don't we all follow the same process when we garden, prepare a meal or decorate our home?  Have a great spring creating your world.
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Where's the Point

 

Where's the Point - detail

Where's the Point

Does this look familiar?  It was Layers II.  While I loved the triangles the look never felt right.  The pink and gold cord helped connect the piece but it was just "clunky".  So when SAQA had a call to artist for the Sense of Scale, I tore old Layers II apart and made it into this.  I like this look and hope that the jury for the show, does too.

 Layers

More news: I am again showing at the Blue Line Gallery of Roseville.(rosevillearts.org)  The show is Shine. This was one my first effort in using layers of shear fabric.  It won third prize at the Lincoln Art Center and Placer Art Association.  (picture by Craig Johnson of JTE Photography  CLJohnson4@gmail.com)  The Blue Line Gallery shows usually have to well known professional artist and then an area to show local artist at various stages of development (professional to entry level) .  Give it a try one of these days.

Lastly, those of you that live in Lincoln CA know that we recently lost our Art Center.  If you are interested in helping rebuilt the center please email Jean Cross jeancrossart@gmail.com.  She said help large and small will get us to our goal.

Blue Bra Revolt

I know, you are wondering what I am talking about... so here it is.
The other day there were news articles that talked about the Egyptian Army's attack on a women protester.  They beat her up, tore off her clothes, manhandled her, and stomped on her.  Terrible.  People viewing the scene noticed that she was wearing a bright blue bra.  Under all that controlled clothing!  Well, it became a rallying point with people sewing blue bras over the official Egyptian flags.  To me, the blue bra represented the protest of so much control, something that couldn't be denied.
Often, I have wanted to do a piece that expressed my feelings on a topic, but it never seemed to work.  My work is bright and I thought that "statement" pieces should be dark.  Well, this time things went right.  The background starts in black but lightens up as the "revolt" gains strength; the bra gets larger and becomes stronger; the chain is strong at the bottom but drops away; the quilting is meant to represent hands and fists but they fall away into blooms of hope.  Your work is supposed to stand and be understood by itself, but this is new and I didn't want you to miss my point.
This piece is dedicated to the brave women protesters and also to Eva Henneberry who did many "statement" pieces and encouraged me to do the same.

Two Shows - and one Sale

There is Berry Art in two different shows.

Hope Out of Despair

Main Street Gallery, in Weaverville, CA.  Title:  Quilt Art
   490 Main Street, Weaverville, Ca 96093  530-623-9259
    Dates: January 2012  Call for times
    Show Pieces:  Birch Tree Sunlight, Nuggets, Hope Out of Despair(SOLD)



Blue Line Gallery, in Roseville, CA.  Title:  Minimal/Colorful
    405 Vernon Street, Roseville, Ca 95678  916-783-4117  www.rosevillearts.org
    Dates:  Jan 12 - Feb 25, 2012  Tu-Sat:  11 am-3 pm
    Artist reception:  Jan 21, 7-9pm  Also on Feb 18, 7-9p
    Show Piece:  Leaves of Costa Rica

So, there you go.  Hope you can come to one of the two Artist Receptions at Blue Line Gallery.  It would be lots of fun to see you and you can see me "hung" with some great Artists.

Elsa and Photography

Elsa

Elsa is finally done and she looks great.... except in my pictures.  Yes it is important to learn to take great photos of your work!

Elsa is a challenge project created by Rachel Clark.  Her newest challenge is "Classic for a Reason" and the goal was to do a piece (wearable art but I got to do flat) that was inspired by a famous couture designer.  I chose Elsa Schiaparelli.  Her time was between the wars and for some time after.  One of her most famous client was the Duchess of Winsor.  I was inspired by two pieces; one was The Cocteau Jacket, second was a pieced long coat.  She liked the unusual and contrasting fabric textures.  Beading was also an important part of her look.  Look her up and you will be amazed. 
The construction was difficult because I used a double layer of netting and a double layer of colored chiffon for her face.  Fabrics are all silk and her hair is a variety of fabric, some from my trip to Houston.

Again, I promise to improve my photos...a new years resolution!

How much I've changed...

Early Days
I did this once at an all night'er and then had to
redo all the shashing because it was so crooked!
Poor Mother in Law got it for Christmas and never complained!

Now is the time for reflections for sure!  Looking over some of my original work and what I do now was a surprise to me.  I'm not sure how it happened but its been fun.  Guess the thing that caused change was my constant effort to make a pattern or technique my own.  Back in the day of ceramics, some of my efforts was greeted with the exclamation of "Why can't you just paint like you are supposed to!"  I have to admit that my efforts did not improve the project.  But now thanks to many friends and mentors my efforts are more "acceptable" and appreciated.  Even my hubby now corrects people when they call my work quilting... he now sees it as Fiber Art.  Now don't think I don't want to be a quilter!  That is the base, the center, and the starting point.  It is only because people immediately think of Grandma that I choose to use the words Fiber Art.  It is all Art as anyone can see by going to any of the quilt shows.  The other truth is that I can't sew with the precision of my friends so Fiber Art gives me more leeway.  They even have a name for my fumbling process.... intuitive work.
Anyway, this is the year to evaluate what I really want to do, to let go of some of the fun things in favor of more art associated things, and to enjoy the process.
Here's wishing you the best New Year and a healthy and productive "growing" path.