Jen October 1st, 2008
Then you have the opportunity to check out the Gorey deTales collection being shown at The Stamp Act from now until Halloween. ooo! Scary goodness! To jog your memory our collaboration was featured in the September/October ‘07 issue of Stampington’s Somerset Studio coordinated by the lovely Sylvia Luna and featuring the work of 26 other artists including myself.
The poem reads:
Under the gravestone
Urban did rise
Eagerly anticipating
His evening’s prize.
You can read all about the Gorey deTales Project here.
Jen August 14th, 2008
When it rains, it pours … always. Not that I’m complaining of course, I just wish for a bit more …erm… BALANCE (Universe are you listening?!?) So three things…
1. Patricia Anders (aka Tricia to me) graciously invited me to include a doll in her Raining Art Dolls show being held for the month of September at the Ten Women Gallery in Venice CA. Here’s mine - being sent out "Get there NOW" post as we speak - I hope it doesn’t freak out the clientele!
2. The always amazing Seth Apter is creating another edition of The Pulse that will start on Monday, August 18 first with the participants (me! me! me!) and then our answers to his 7 questions. His questions are always thought provoking and provide a wonderful insight to how we as artists think, create and live. Be sure to check it out!
3. And finally, as I’m quickly running out of "month" to do an August challenge, I thought I’d throw the ball into YOUR court. What would you like to see from this fall’s challenges? Techniques? Projects? Guest Challengers? Does it matter if there’s a prize at the end or are you content just to participate? Do you like it when I participate too? I want to hear your thoughts. All of them. And just in case that isn’t incentive enough, I’m giving away some of the projects that I made in June’s Challenge … 6 of them to be exact, so there’s opportunity for lotsa winners. To whet your appetite here’s what you’re playing for …
So, same deal as a regular challenge, you have until August 31, 2008 to post in the comments below. You can post as many times as you want. I’ll be choosing my favourite responses and hopefully, some great ideas for challenges to come.
Okay. Let the games begin!
Jen March 27th, 2008
Apologies for the delay in announcing the winner of the last Challenge AND not posting a challenge this week. Alas, time constraints and deadlines have been foisted on me (how rude!) and I just haven’t done HALF the things I’d hoped to before I fly west to ArtFest. More about that in a mo’. First, the random draw winning number goes to Lee. Yay! Send me an email Lee and I’ll send you off a goodie or two.
It might take a couple of weeks as on Monday, March 31, I fly to Seattle for a week to take part in my very first get-away workshop - the Bahuna Kahuna - ArtFest. In its 8th year, put on by Teesha Moore, it is an art camp for grownups - figuratively and literally as we bunk down in old military barracks, eat in the dining hall and take all manner of classes by the best of the best in mixed media/altered artists.
I’ve been wanting to go to one of these - there are others and more springing up each and every day - for many years now. Both for the instruction but just as importantly to connect with like-minded artists that don’t cringe when faced with bones or rusty bits of metal or odd techniques. Y’know, *my* people. When the class line up was published last fall, I noted a class put on by Michael deMeng titled "Morpheus Box". I’ve always had this thing about spinning boxes with drawers ever since seeing Monty Hall marching into the audience of Let’s Make A Deal with his box of wonders. And yes, I realize I am SO dating myself with that memory. heh. Anyway. I knew I had to go - 2008 was the year. And now, I’m days away from boarding the plane and meeting face to face, many of my online friends for the very first time, hanging out with 500 like-minded crazy artists and am totally excited. And totally not ready.
Which leads me to this week’s challenge … and next week’s challenge … and the week after that too. Suffice it to say I will be on a short hiatus until Friday, April 11, 2008 wherein we’ll resume the fun. In the meantime, keep on making art, keep stretching yourself and let me know what you’re up to and working on.
I’ll leave you with another announcement AND the first in a new series using "mower teeth" called "Home". This one is titled, "Home = Love".
My work is now available at the wonderful Flying Pig Gallery in Algoma, Wisconsin. One day I WILL visit and sit with coffee chatting to Robyn and Susan along with my good friend Sue. Thanks so much ladies. You’ve made this whole growth thang a warm and fuzzy experience. And if any of you visit The Flying Pig, take a photo of my work insitu and I’ll send you a treat! 
Jen February 16th, 2008
Ack! I COMPLETELY forgot about this show - FOOTSTEPS - running until the 27th of February. If you are in Victoria, BC please go and support this worthwhile fundraiser. You can read more about The Global Shoe Project here. Thanks to my friend Dale Roberts who sent me, not only the poster, but a photo of his loveliness alongside The Shoechild (notice the red dot - it SOLD!) I’m thrilled to see it in context and glad it helped a bit toward the plight of children affected by war.
Besides being an absolutely phenomenal sculptor - his crocheted installations are so nostalgic to me of the fishing weirs of Southwestern Nova Scotia - Dale’s alter ego Dame Mailarta is a whirling Capital "D" Dirvish of artistic endeavors including Mailarta 3 and this new project Dame’s Portrait Gallery. I will definitely be sending my signed self-portrait. Why don’t you?!?
Jen February 4th, 2008
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Just a reminder that the opening of "What’s Inside - 100 Artists Show" at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in Salem, OR starts tomorrow, Tuesday February 5th.
The public will be able to bid on their favorite artwork. Beginning bids are $50.00 with increments of $5.00 with a maximum of $200. The entire show will be posted online at www.zeekgallery.com. Calls can be made to the gallery to place bids: 503-581-3229. The bidding ends February 29th, 2008 at 6:00pm.
You can read about my piece, the process as well as interior shots here.
