Showing posts with label tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tea. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Home again for a bit

My pieces from the Alchemy of Tea exhibit at the Cornelius Arts Center arrived home safely over the weekend. I finally had time yesterday to open the tubes and hang the larger pieces in the studio. It's nice to have them home for a few months before they go adventuring in the spring.


Alchemy of Tea
May 20–June 24, 2015 
Reception/Artist Talk: Thu, May 21, 12pm

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Alchemy of Tea - part 1

ALCHEMY OF TEA

Barbara Bartlett's Mobilitea

"Alchemy of Tea brings together a group of national artists inspired by tea.

Mari Omori, Barbara Bartlett, Jennifer Coyne Qudeen, Elizabeth Alexander (pedestal)

This unique and stunning collection of work provokes viewers to ponder the transformation of tea from its consumable and degradable form into art.

Bridget Conn, Barbara Bartlett (pedestal), Mari Omori

Tea has been part of sacred rituals across the globe for centuries. The fragility and golden hues found in this collection project the historical and spiritual roots of tea, while each artist's subjects juxtapose a contemporary take on tea as a medium and muse.

Rodney Thompson, Elizabeth Alexander (pedestal), Mari Omori

From installation to photography and porcelain to encaustic - this exhibition has something to inspire everyone.*

 Barbara Bartlett, Mari Omori, Jennifer Coyne Qudeen, Elizabeth Alexander (pedestal)

Last weekend Pam and I met in Charlotte, North Carolina for the opening of Alchemy of Tea at the Cornelius Arts Center, curated by Jen Crickenberger. The six artists whose work comprise the show are Barbara Bartlett, Bridget Conn, Elizabeth Alexander, Mari Omori, Rodney Thompson and myself.

I am so honored to have been included in Alchemy of Tea. Many thanks to Jen for her in creating such a high quality exhibition.

Part 2 of this post will show the work in more detail than these gallery shots.

*text from Cornelius Arts Center

Friday, June 13, 2014

A celebration

Today is my friend Katy's birthday.


 An artist in her own right, she doesn't see herself as such.


Always putting family and friends first, 


she dreams of joining Pam and I on our artist retreats.


And that is what it is...a dream,


for she will never do it, will never take time for herself.


Katy told me once - when I was angry at the world, at moving, at leaving family, friends and home behind -


that she was not going to let me not be her friend. 


 Something kept me from walking away from her...from her audacity at telling me that that day. 


8 years later, I'm treating her to lunch in celebration of her birthday and our friendship...and giving her this book, newly finished just this morning as she so admired the journals made at Pam's. Shhh....Katy doesn't know I've made her one. Thankfully, she doesn't read the blog!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

My Morning Tea

There's been little time this week for the studio or the computer as my little urchins were home most of the week with strep. They're recovering now and are up and raring to go play.

In the quiet times, I will admit to visiting the internet and favorite blogs. One that I've gone back to many times is Alice Fox's posts Gifts from the Pavement 1 & 2. If you haven't stopped by yet, just click on the links to meander over and be amazed at what Alice has done with rust, thread and a tad of paint for her sketchbook for the 2013 Sketchbook Project.

Midst salivating over Alice's sketchbook, I realized that I'd yet to post final photos of my sketchbook, My Morning Tea, which is a tribute of sorts to my grandmother who introduced me to the joys of making and drinking tea.

The spreads alternate between pages rusted using that morning's tea bag and layered tea bags which tell the story:

 
One of my fondest memories from childhood 


is of my grandmother making tea. 


She’d put a pot of water on to boil,


get out a large metal mixing bowl,


throw in freshly picked mint leaves,


add slices of orange, sugar and Lipton tea bags. 


When the water was ready, she’d pour it into the bowl


and let everything steep for a bit.


The scent of mint and orange 


would waft through the house, 


filling every corner and crack 


with the most delicious aroma. 


To me, it is the memory of a grandmother’s love.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

In the studio...soon

I am eagerly awaiting August 29. Care to hazard a guess as to why?


As you can tell from the picture of my work table, not too much art making has been happening in the studio this month. August has been filled with little girls and little girl stuff. By the end of the day, my brain has been too frazzled to do much more than stare at the tv or pretend to read a book or play mindless games on my iPad. If anything - emails, art, phone calls, etc. - has required more than sound bite time, well...it just hasn't gotten done.  My apologies to those to whom communications are due...they will come soon.

So...have you figured out what happens on Wednesday? I'll give you a hint.

August 29th = more studio time

Got it now? August 29 is the first day of school in our town. The little urchins are 5 and that means...a drum roll, please....KINDERGARTEN!!!! ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Can you tell I'm the least bit excited by this? Horrible mother, right? 

Back to sound bites - it's not entirely true to say that no art type activities have taken place in the studio this month. Rather nothing requiring a lot of focused time. The second book of tea has been started. Care for a sneak peak?







The wrapped white stones are not part of the book. Sorry to disappoint. They are a gift from Fiona and are wrapped with threads from Habu. Their placement on the tea and rust dyed pages seemed natural this morning and have produced a few what if's. Fitting. Thank you Fiona for such a lovely gift!

Remember, if you think you hear either far off maniacal laughter or one huge sigh of contentment around 7:30 am NYC time Wednesday, it's likely to be me after the little urchins have boarded the school bus as I stroll back into the studio for a bit of quality time. 

Thursday, August 9, 2012

The big 3-0-0 celebration winner

You know the saying the early bird gets the worm
The version used at our house was this morning was

the first twin up gets to pick the winner

I'm thrilled to announce that Ellie drew 
Judy Martin of Judy's Journal. 

I want to say a most heartfelt Thank You to all who were interested in winning my book of tea. The number of you who threw your name into the hat...glass bowl in this case made by Ruth Gowell...represented 7 countries - France joined the list Tuesday afternoon - and has me considering another give away in January to celebrate 3 years of blogging. Anyone interested?


A quick reminder that the search for Roy G Biv continues next Thursday with green.


Just couldn't resist taking a shot of this ampersand while out with the girls yesterday. It brought to mind Fiona's post about and.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The big 3-0-0 celebration give away reminder

Just a quick reminder that the deadline for submitting your name for a chance at winning my book of tea is right around the corner...5 am New York City time Thursday morning in fact.


Your response and messages have been overwhelming. And it's so wonderful to hear from followers who normally are silent watchers. Please feel free to comment more often!


Another treat has been keeping track of the countries represented...Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom as well the United States. I wonder where the book's journey will take it.


If my book of tea is calling to you and you've yet to throw your name in the hat, just leave a message on this post or on the original post [click here to go there]. Good luck!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Sketchbook Project 2013 - August 5

Just had to share the second spread with you.

This morning's tea was Lipton decaf with fresh mint.

The tea bag was moved after 30 minutes or so, hence the wider coverage. 

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Sketchbook Project 2013

Art House Co-op sponsors some wonderfully imaginative projects. The best known is probably The Sketchbook Project. I participated in the 2011 version and even signed up for 2012. Sadly, that sketchbook is languishing away somewhere in the studio. I really should unearth it one of these days, don't you think?

Last week, while putting the finishing touches on my book of tea, the proverbial light bulb came on over my head. An idea for the 2013 Sketchbook Project had flashed into being. Listening to my muse, I quickly signed up.

 When I opened the mailbox yesterday, there it was.
  Memoir is my chosen theme.

My Morning Tea will be the title.

Thank you to all who have left a comment about my book of tea! I'm honored beyond words that you would want to own it. 

*If you just read those two lines and have no idea what I'm talking about, wander over to yesterday's offering celebrating my 300th blog post.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

A book of tea - cont'd

Still drinking tea


and


putting the wet tea bag


and a rusty bit or two...or three...


in my book of tea. 


This is my 299th post. And you know what that means...the next is one of those magical numbered posts. One that comes with a gift to celebrate the big 3-0-0.

Can you guess what the gift will be? What better than a book of tea? It seems only fitting since three of my loves - paper, rust and tea - are combined within. If you're interested, that is...

Details to come with the next post.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

A book of tea

After seeing the Damien Hirst exhibit at the Tate in London, a mental palate cleanser of sorts was needed and I could think of no better...or more immediate...way to do so than to peruse the gift shop for treasures. 

I came away with what has become my book of tea. 
Well, tea and rust really although I think of it as my book of tea.

My tea bag stash has been featured on the blog so admitting that 
I keep my used tea bags when traveling should come as no surprise.  


And being the rust junkie that I am, no one should be shocked to learn 
 that I travel with a rusted washer or two...


because you just never know when one will come in handy.



What do you do with your used tea bags?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...