Call for Entry - 65th Annual Art of the Northeast

The call for entry has been released for Silvermine Arts Center's 65th annual Art of the Northeast exhibition.

This year's co-curators are Michelle Grabner and Brad Killam. Together they founded and oversee two artist project spaces in the Midwest: The Suburban (est. 1999) in Oak Park, IL and the Poor Farm (est. 2009) in rural northeast Wisconsin. Killam is an Associate Professor of Art  at College of DuPage and Grabner is a Professor in the Painting and Drawing Department at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Michelle Grabner also co-curated the 2014 Whitney Biennial.

Art of the Northeast is a competition/exhibition highlighting the diversity of work that is currently being made in the Northeast by emerging and established artists. This year the exhibition will be a tightly curated show, comprised of approximately 25 artists, depending on scale. The juror will have at his discretion the ability to select a suite of three to five works by an individual artist. The Best in Show Prize is a solo exhibition at Silvermine Arts Center with a $3,000 stipend for show related expenses. To be considered for the Best in Show Prize, artists are required to enter a minimum of three works. Eligibility: Open to all artists, 17 years of age and older, residing in CT, DE, MA, MD (D.C.), ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI & VT. Original artwork in any media will be accepted. Giclée reproductions of original works will not be accepted. Eligible artwork must have been completed after January 1, 2013, and fall within the restrictions.*

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As a juried artist member of Silvermine Arts Center, one might think that I am a tad partial to this exhibition. And you would be right. That's because the quality of work in this exhibit is always amazing as are the artists who create it. Being as it's nearby, I get to visit and peruse the art...several times usually.

I'll be applying. Will you? Click here to be taken to the prospectus. The deadline for submissions is April 24. Good luck! 

How was your week?

For some reason, I always seem to have a difficult time settling into the new year. The first weeks find me drifting along, unable to focus for long on much of anything. Lists are made and promptly lost in the clutter of the studio - so more lists are made, ideas jotted down on whatever is at hand and promptly lost or inadvertently discarded, etc, etc. It's a vicious cycle that can only be broken by one thing - a good decluttering of the studio. That done, I was finally able to be productive this week.

Much stitching took place while listening to several recorded books - Sarah Addison Allen's Lost Lake and First Frost. Next up is Alan Bradley's latest Flavia DeLuce novel, As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust.

While working on my piece for Silvermine Arts Center's Signed, Sealed and Delivered fundraiser,

the abstract left on the newsprint when ironing the excess bees wax out of the piece caused many new what ifs to spring to life.

We had a skiff of snow earlier in the week

which graced the rusty gears with just enough to be charming.

I played with photographing shadows

and yesterday morning's pre-dawn snow

which was heavy, wet

and perfect for making snowballs and snowpeople...or so I've been told.

You see, while the family ventured to the ski mountain yesterday (my little urchins are on the ski team's development squad this year), I trekked upstairs to the studio

where cutting, cropping, repositioning, stitching and bees waxing took place. 

It's time to heat up the iron and see what emerges.

How was your week?

The big 3-0-0 [post that is] celebration give away

It's been a busy week here - filled with all sorts of summer activities and outings with my little urchins. While they watch tv or color, I sneak upstairs to the studio for a few stolen moments

 to position tea bags and rusty bits on paper

 and check on their progress.

 My book of tea

 and rust

 has been added to

and then added to again.

A cover has been chosen

 and artsy photos of it have been taken.

Space has been left...for words, marks, pictures,

or as quiet moments on a page.

Now...time for the fun part...the celebration part of this 300th post. As a thank you to you for finding my blog and coming back to visit...well, basically for making the 300th post possible, I'm giving away my book of tea.

If you'd like to have a chance to win it, just leave a comment on this post by 5 am (USA New York city time) on Thursday, August 9 letting me know to add your name to the hat. Include a way for me to contact you. If you'd care to share a few thoughts on tea and/or rust, that would be wonderful. When the little urchins wake next Thursday, I'll have them draw a name and will post the lucky winner by noon. 

Oh! I have a bit of exciting news. If you happen to find yourself in my neck of the woods this Sunday, stop by Silvermine Arts Center for the opening reception of Collective Vision. 

One of my large rust beauties, Echoes of Stillness, is in the Impermanent Markings portion of the show. I snapped this shot quickly on Wednesday while retrieving the piece that wasn't accepted. Hopefully, I'll get a better shot on Sunday.

Enjoy!

Red

Marilyn Richeda, 80 Unusual Stories

I recently saw Marilyn Richeda's exhibit, Whispered Warnings at Silvermine Arts Center and totally fell in love with the simplicity and boldness of her installation of red ceramic houses. Seemed to be an excellent example of my mantras of keep it simple and focus.

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

Silvermine Arts Center will be holding its annual fundraiser, Signed, Sealed & Delivered,  at the end October. The pieces above (4" x 6") are my donations. I really like the little dudes. May have to do a few more to keep.