I’ve got lots of new paper cuttings in the works in preparation for the Plaza Art Fair which is just right around the corner. Hopefully I can get them all cut, colored (where necessary) mounted, and framed in time… I’m ambitious enough — I think I can do it. And as promised previously, I’ve been ignoring my blog as I’ve been running full steam with intermittent crashes. Short reading breaks and morning jogs through town are helping to keep me in check… (segue) and also helping me get ready for the Head for the Cure 5k run in Lawrence, KS, on Oct. 2. My cousin and I will be running in memory of longtime family friend Vern Ostdiek who died from brain cancer in 2008.
Back to art: last weekends art fairs in Lenexa and Lawrence went great — better than expected, actually, despite the Lenexa show getting cut short due to the threat of lightning. Those marked the beginning of my fall “season” of shows, and it’s such a good feeling to be off to a good start. Thank you so much to you all who came out. I received so many kind words about my work that are really encouraging and so meaningful to me.. It isn’t always easy to stay enthusiastic and motivated working alone and managing myself all the time, but the folks that take the time to come out and show their appreciation for what I do — I very much appreciate you.
Hello Internet world. I’ve been absent from my blog for the last week because I’ve been relocating muhself. I’ve got every room set up except for my workroom which is currently in shambles, and I keep finding ‘better’ things to do so as to avoid it, I suppose. Tomorrow morning is THE morning because I can’t put off the work that I have to get done for commissions and art fairs any longer. Random information: I’m accessing the internet through my cell phone signal right now.. still haven’t gotten the ol’ interweb access hooked up. That comes Friday.
In the meantime, the exhibit I’m in titled “Scratch, Sprinkle, Cut: Conversations in Black and White” opened last friday at the Carnegie Cultural Center in Ottawa, KS. I have 10 black and white paper cuttings and they’re hanging along with the works of artists Lora Jost and Azyz Sharafy. I’ll post more images of my work included as soon as I get some real internet access. Until then…
I’ve got 10 new works ready for the Scratch, Sprinkle, Cut: Conversations in Black & White exhibit and I’m off to deliver them today. I decided that for this exhibit, I wanted to draw inspiration from more traditional folk art from eastern Europe, and that’s what I did, which may or may not be evident.. Anyway, busy few days ahead as I also make my big move into a roomier place an hour away from where I’m currently at, and try to get setup asap so I don’t lose too big of a chunk of time out of my work schedule. Several commissions and prep for the Plaza Art Fair coming up next. I’ll also be updating my Etsy shop with lots of new prints and cards and a few other things, so stay tuned.
I’m spending my last day in Colorado regrouping and relaxing before a long drive home and major work to get done after that. I’ve had a great time here, first at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, then at the Greenhorn Valley Art & Music Fest in Colorado City, and finally at the OpenArts Fest in Boulder. Each show went really well. And I was so happy to get to see some friends from past shows (as well as make some new friends that I’ll surely see again).
Some cool news derived from my travels: the gallery director from Art & Soul Gallery in Boulder saw my work at the Cherry Creek Arts Fest and contacted me regarding artist representation. Sooo, I drove into Boulder early last Friday before the OpenArts Fest to meet with her, and I’m honored to say that my work is now in the gallery which has been recognized as “Boulder’s Best Gallery” by the Boulder Weekly Readers Poll for 6 years. It really is a beautiful gallery with so much really great work inside, and I’m totally honored to have my work in there.
My major faux-pas of the trip: before I went to visit with the gallery director mentioned above, I was looking for parking and resorted to a parking garage after an unsuccessful search on the streets… Only I forgot that on top of my taller-than-average vehicle is a rooftop clamshell carrier. And it didn’t exactly fall within the height limits in the parking garage, so I found myself hitting signs and scraping the ceiling and having a small panic attack after thinking I was going to be stuck in there forever. I eventually made it out alive, and have only felt better about my mistake by admitting it to the world.
When I get home tomorrow night, I’ll start in on fulfilling three weeks of Etsy orders plus five commissioned paper cuttings, as well as tearing into finishing up 12 new works for my upcoming exhibit at the Carnegie Cultural Center in Ottawa, KS. Summers have become the busiest season in my world, it seems. And I guess that’s alright by me.
Tomasz Stasiuk stopped by for a chat about my artwork. I’m trying to get over being self-conscious on camera, and the preview frame couldn’t be any more flattering.
Side note: I just finished the Greenhorn Valley Arts & Music Festival in Colorado City, CO. It went great. Heading to Boulder, CO, for the 1st ever OpenArts Festival.
I was briefly on Denver Fox 31 news over the weekend in promotion of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Thanks to Angel Andres & Hendrik Sybrandy for stopping by for a quick interview and for putting my artwork on the airwaves. Check it out here (beginning around 1:11):
Come to the release party for Faction Magazine in Kansas City! Volume 9 includes a photoshoot that features of bunch of my cut paper art projected on the wall as the background – as seen on the flyer. I’ll also be exhibiting my paper cuttings at the release party. Click this link for more details: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=223898194302913
Today I wrapped up my end of a project that will be part of a local fashion magazine spread. I’ll be sure to put more details and photos here when I get them. It feels good to get things behind me. I’ve got a million things on my to-do list and another million on my want-to-do list, and figuring out where to start is usually the hardest part.
