Friday in New York

Last Friday morning found me boarding the train to venture into New York to spend the day with the amazing Lotta Helleberg. After grabbing a cup of coffee, we began strolling through Chelsea.

Kwang Young Chun at Kim Foster Gallery

Our first stop was Kim Foster Gallery. As you walk through the door, Kwang Young Chun's work of wrapped and bound mulberry paper offers a quiet greeting.

Kwang Young Chun at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

To me, the triangular pieces wrapped in mulberry paper are basic units of information, the basic cells of a life that only exists in art, as well as in individual social events or historical facts. By attaching these pieces one by one to a two-dimensional surface, I wanted to express how basic units of information can both create harmony and conflict. This became an important milestone in my long artistic journey to express the troubles of a modern man who is driven to a devastated life by materialism, endless competition, conflict, and destruction. After almost twenty years, I was now able to communicate with my own gestures and words. Kwang Young Chun artist statement via website

Kwang Young Chun at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery

A spot of color around the corner caught my eye and provided a surprise when I stepped 

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

closer for a good look at Christian Faur's work with crayons.

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

My earliest memories of making art involve the use of wax crayons. I can still remember the pleasure of opening a new box of crayons: the distinct smell of the wax, the beautifully colored tips, everything still perfect and unused. Using the first crayon from a new box always gave me a slight pain. Through a novel technique that I have developed, I again find myself working with the familiar form of the crayon.

Because of the three-dimensional nature of the crayons, the individual surface images appear to change form as one moves about the gallery space. The images completely disappear when viewed from close up, allowing one to read the horizontally sequenced crayon text and to take in the beautifully colored crayon tips -- all the while being reminded of that first box of crayons. Christian Faur via website

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

Ambling on down the street, a flash of red in the back of a gallery catch our attention. One look at each other as if to ask "Do you want to go in?" was all it took

John McCracken at David Zwirner

for us to enter David Zwirner gallery in order to get a closer look at John McCracken's simple, yet exquisite sculptures.

My works are minimal and reduced, but also maximal. I try to make them concise, clear statements in three-dimensional form, and also to take them to a breathtaking level of beauty. –John McCracken via David Zwirner website

Minds and imaginations reeling, we made one more gallery stop (which requires a post of its own) before

enjoying a leisurely lunch at Cookshop. It was the first that either of us had eaten there, but certainly won't be the last.

If you follow Lotta on Instagram, you've seen shots of her mark making journal. Well, this is it! Not only was I lucky enough to see it, but to get to meander through its pages as well. It is a work of art in itself.

And so are Lotta's mended jeans. She was working on these when we met in DC back in December so it fun was to see them being worn. Makes me consider mending my over-worn jeans rather than cutting them up to become my journal covers.

Our last stop was the wonderland that is ABC Home. These handmade paper wrapped bundles are just one of the examples of the treasures this store holds.

All too soon, it was time for Lotta and I to go our separate ways. The return train ride provided a bit of time to reflect on the day's art; to consider why it was the more seemingly simple pieces that held me spellbound. There's an idea beginning to form. It needs time to percolate first, but it's there. And that's good.

Tactile Notebooks and the Written Word - After

Each day of Sandra Brownlee's Tactile Notebooks and the Written Word workshop was comprised of one or two exercises - usually mark making followed by writing about the experience. On Wednesday, Sandra asked us to bring out our objects of inspiration.

When packing for the trip, I'd considered 2 things that are very dear to me and finally decided on three wrapped stones that were a gift from Fiona of Paper Ponderings.

Per Sandra's instructions, we were to examine the object carefully, record it, describe it in detail, tell its history/story and tell the personal significance it holds. I did just that using antique Japanese receipt book paper, sumi ink and marker.

When all were done, we gathered upstairs to share our objects and their stories. Soon enough, it was my turn. And oh! What a turn it was.

 
As I told the story of discovering a kindred spirit in Fiona and of being gifted the stones, the enormity of what they represent for me swept in. Sitting there, midst 12 incredible women, with Christine Mauersberger and Sandra to my right, Mary across the table to my left and India Flint directly in front of me on the couch...sitting in Big Cat Textiles...in Newburgh, Scotland, I choked up.

Unsuccessfully fighting back tears and struggling to speak, all the while wanting desperately to disappear, with tissues in hand, I finally managed to squeak out my thoughts.

This little blog of mine was started as a way to get myself back in the studio after an extended time away from it. An art blog needs art, right? That was my thought. What I hadn't even considered were the connections that would be made as a result or how my world would be opened and expanded. 

Fiona's stones = the world, quite literally, opening up to me. I was sitting midst the best possible example of it.

Once we'd all shared our stories, I was desperate to escape outside for a bit of fresh air, to feel the sun and compose myself. Couldn't be crying all afternoon, could I? A few steps had been taken when Pauline - who'd seemed the quietest of our group - walked up to me and said that she reads my blog and was happy when she read that I'd be in the workshop. (cue more tears)

That short exchange with Pauline meant everything to me. Even now, I still get all weepy eyed remembering. We've a love of tea bags and rust in common. What more is needed to begin a friendship? Before leaving on Friday, I gave Pauline a piece of my tea rusted cotton.

She mentioned that she'd send along one of her books and not long after the workshop, residue arrived.

Decaying flowers that I see as dancers - leaping and twirling through space with total abandon, 

trusting that they will be caught, will alight safely, however briefly before stepping into the air again.

residue's other side is the ethereal world of the dancers' dreams. A world filled with creativity and artistry, music and dance, landscapes/seascapes/airscapes, kinship and understanding.

While this edition of residue now belongs to me and the photos above are mine, I ask that they not be pinned, tumblr-ed or shared without Pauline's permission. Thank you for honoring my request.

The name of Sandra's workshop may be Tactile Notebooks and the Written Word, but it is far more than that. It is about connections, journeys, discoveries and possibilities. By the way, I hear that she'll will be teaching the workshop next June at Committed to Cloth in Betchworth, UK in case you're interested.

3rd Annual Artist Retreat - Saturday

This time last week, I was still in Oz. The last day of our artist retreat had arrived. Pieces were hung in preparation for a Skype show 'n tell with our friend Julie back in Virginia. The studio was neatened, no more rust laying around on the floor. Packing had begun Friday night.

Before the Skype session, I had a bit of time in the annex. Just me, my camera and Pam's wonderful water.

Honestly, I could have made a day of it in the annex just taking photos. The length [16 feet] combined with the body of the spun polyester is perfect for replicating the undulations of waves. Add those that Pam created and I swear that waves crashing on the shore could be heard in the distance.

Pam - Envision an installation of sorts where you walk into a room to be greeted by wave after wave of water moving across the floor.  Just a thought...

With Esmerelda and Cecil looking on, we'd arranged our work in a way that we hoped would give Julie a good idea of what we'd been up to all week.

Pam and I found ourselves standing back and being amazed at how her water and my rust compliment and, pardon the pun, flow together.  Our previous work didn't.  Could have been my very bright color palette. Now...well...now we can see the joint exhibition taking shape.

Then the computer rang and the show 'n tell began. Lap tops do come in handy.

It was great fun to stand back and watch Julie's reactions, listen to her questions, answer a few myself, etc. All too soon, it was time to stop. Pam and I were off to town to shop for my little urchins.

That night, I went back down for one last look, one last visit. Standing alone in the studio, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and offered thanks to the studio, the muses, the house and all in it for the week, the magic, the friendship, the haven, the heaven that was our 3rd Annual Artist Retreat.

Green tea vs red tea

Friday morning began as my usual garden variety Friday morning. Get up, fix tea, head to the studio to blog surf and answer emails, hit the shower, get the girls ready for preschool, go to Starbucks for a chai, come back home to Skype with Pam.

Along the way...just minutes before our Skype session was due to begin...I had my usual springtime sobbing breakdown to my husband about the changing light, the closed in feeling in the house and yard, the girls driving me batty, being homesick for the Washington, DC area, not being able to go outside with the girls without the resulting skull splitting headaches from whatever is still blooming, blah, blah, blah... It all came out in a torrent that was unstoppable and, unfortunately, totally predictable. All the gloomy feelings had finally built up inside and were demanding to be set free.

Now in our 6th year living here, my husband is accustomed to my springtime behavior. He handled it admirably. Even had a few suggestions - like go to the doctor about what's blooming and the headaches. Well...duh...why hadn't I thought of that? Seriously. Why hadn't I thought of it?

Anyway...that's how my morning began and then it was time to Skype with Pam. So there I sat, all splotchy from crying and still sort of leaking from my eyes, admitting the whole episode to my dear friend. We discussed moving next year's artist retreat to April in hopes that it will help alleviate my ennui, et al. I showed her the boxes of my rusty fabrics packed and ready to go.

As we talked about what we'd each like to do next week when we're together, Pam inquired about the red tea and how it was doing. I reached to the table behind me for the bundle and unwrapped it.

 red tea #1, 30" x 72"

It turned out nice. The white cotton dyed a bit more amber-ish than those where black tea was used. Still, it looks a lot like the black tea pieces.

Pam showed what she'd experimented with during the week. Oh! Just wait til I get there. Hopefully, she'll let me take photos and post them. She has been having the most exquisite fun!

As we continued chatting, the sound of Pam's doorbell ringing could be heard via cyberspace. She stepped away to answer the door and I reached behind me again. This time to heft green tea #2 onto the work table. 

 My curiosity was just too strong

so I began to unwrap it while waiting for Pam's return.

She soon rejoined me and the sounds of her oohs and aahs were music to my ears.

No one else has ever been present during the unwrapping and unbundling process.

In fact, it usually takes place in the early morning while everyone else is sleeping.

green tea #2, 60" x 72"

And is case you're wondering how green tea compares with red tea...

red tea #1    -     green tea #2    -    green tea #1

Green tea #2 was still damp in the photo, but even dry it is still a good bit darker than green tea #1. More tea bags were used and it rusted longer. 

Somewhere toward the end of our Skype session, Pam commented that we really need to get our husbands to move so we can be closer to each other or we need to find studio space that we can share. Somewhere that we can travel to easily, that can be padlocked when neither of us are there, by water preferably, with high ceilings and huge open space so we can work large. I suggested a loft space with a kitchen and bedroom area so we can live in it also when there rather than having to stay in a hotel. 

We need an affordable time share studio space. Yes. That's it. Somewhere between Kansas and Connecticut [Sorry Fiona. Australia is just a tad too far.] where we can meet to work together and explore new ideas. So...it's out there now...in the universe and cyberspace. If you know of anything, please, please, please let me know.

Speaking of Fiona of Paper Ponderings...Barry, her husband and author of Rustnstuff, was in the hospital for a few days. If you have time, send some healing thoughts in his direction.

Oh! Almost forgot...my post on Searching for Roy G Biv - Red turned into a bit of contest to see who could identify the objects in my photos. Three were pretty obvious, but 2 weren't. Julie got a 4th right - the metal tags - while Fiona got the last one - the Picasso quote stamped on wrapping paper. Each will be sent a rusty fabric...once I'm reunited with them next week at Pam's.

Lots to do before this week before boarding the airplane that will whisk me off to Oz bright and early next Sunday morning. Stay tuned!