KVIE Art Auction

This past weekend was the annual KVIE Arrt Auction.     Artists donate their art for the auction and the sales go to the public television channel.  It's a good cause.    Lodi Art Center had about 20 minutes to present the works of 6 of our artists whose works had been accepted for the auction.   My friend Jean was one of them.     We had a little get together at her house to watch.   Here is Jean next to her Yupo watercolor of koi.     


She received a phone call from them in the evening.  They told her it sold for well over her estimated price.    Win, win.       Made everyone happy.      

Jean is my sitting partner at the gallery now.     She is 84 and very active.     Teaches one community class Thursday afternoons. plus one class for the University senior program once a week. as well as showing her art in most local shows.      she is one of the people that just blossomed in her senior years when she had more time to devote to her loves of painting and teaching.      

Mixed Media group show reception

I took some pics last Friday evening when we had the joint reception for Frances Scott and the Mixed Media Group.   Here are some pics.

You can see we were having some fun.     

Altered books, an exhibit

I have been following a blog, and one of the places she has taken us recently is to an exhibit of altered books.   Here is the link to her blog.    There are four different posts, so grab a cuppa something and sit back and admire them.   Some are totally awesome. http://jennifercoynequdeen.blogspot.com/2015/02/odd-volumes-part-4-lastmaybe.html

Holliday is over, let's get back to art.

My decorations are all tucked away  and artwork is spread around now.     I am entering three pieces in the Exhibit that will take place at the Mexican Heritage Center .  The theme is Art Against Violence.      I met one of the directors at a meeting a couple weeks ago and asked whether she thought drunk driving was an applicable subject.   She gave me a wholehearted YES, so I decided to enter the White Crosses book.   

After later discussion it didn't seem to work out that the actual book be exhibited due to the size and fragility.     It just would not work.   This just presented another challenge.    How can it be entered?   Hmmm.....

  I went through a lengthy thought process and checked in with a few friends and brother for input.   I had first thought it would be good as a video or even a slide project, but that would mean someone would need to be there for the equipment and to start and stop and troubleshoot.      Not practical.      So, I decided to break the book content down into the two parts.  The first being the section where I used the found words technique to paint out all the words except those that contained the narrative I selected.      I scanned it, and am having it printed on heavy paper to construct a separate book that can be handled.      Here are the pages. 

the highway

claimed another victim

you noticed that single cross.    Who ---or what ---marked the spot

open road
driving that hill and that curve
highway
dangerous
drunk
dead

tears

the accident site

he looked back

he didn't see the tree
fatality









Each page is cut along the highway so the next pages show partially.    I'll do this with the new version as well.







The next section of the book contained my poem "Shrines by the Side of the Road" which I wrote in 2009.     Instead of using it in the book form, I decided to use an old canvas, draw on a road and then print the poem, cut out the words and glue them along the roadway.    This measures 24 x 48 inches and hangs horizontally.   Right now it is still in progress.  Here is how it looks at the moment with the words just scattered along in two different fonts.   It's still very much in the making decisions mode.    Masking tape is roughly where the road will be.

In order to make it fit, I had to edit the poem down, leaving out a number of stanzas and lines.     Here is how it reads now.   

The Shrine at the Side of the Road

Driving along a country road
on a sunny afternoon
without a care in the world.

I know this road,

I've passed this way before.

I am startled to see

by the side of the road
a white cross nailed to a tree.
A shrine for a youth
whose path ended here.

In his old pickup truck
with a six pack of beer
he lost control rounding the bend.

The impact! the crash!
the truck is now trash.
Broken glass, broken head,
 pronounced DEAD!

How many lives were shattered that night?
How many people mourn?
How many tears were shed
for the brother, the friend, the son?

Nothing can be said,
nothing can be done.
That's the hardest part.
Nothing is slower to heal
than the hole in his mother's heart.

I say a little prayer
for the soul of the one who died
and the lives

that were wrenched by the tragedy
as I zip past the sad little shrine

that could have been mine.

I've passed this way before
I'll pass this way again.

How to keep busy - even when you have other things in your life

I've spent several days laying out and getting approvals for the new post cards for the Lodi Annual Small Works Show at the Lodi Community Art Center.     I'll try to post the pic here.    I had to copy it from the Vista Print site and then figure out how to use the new scanner to scan and send to this computer.   In the midst of my muddling attempts, I get a phone call from India's HP (I guess) service center telling me they know I'm having a problem and he can help me.  Then he rattle d on so fast, I could not tell if he was speaking English or even any recognizable language - so I told him I don't hear well, and could not understand, and hung up.   I can usually muddle through these things on my own.     I got really agitated that  someone out there is following my computer use (without my invitation).    Remind me to cover up the little camera at the top of my screen.      I don't want them watching me!   Seriously, this is way to invasive for my comfort level.      Poor guy that has to watch my activities.  Must be a pretty boring job.    hope he is paid well.       if they call again after I post this, I'll really be weirded out!

This is the scan I made of the front, back and invoice together to send for approval from Pres and Chairwoman.         I got approval so it's a done deal and I can get back to other things.     Like bathing the dogs.       LOL   

June

The gallery in Lodi is ready to open, so I took in some art to show this month.   Here  is the latest news on the gallery opening. http://lodiartcenter.blogspot.com/          I am showing one of the art ournals which I'm now calling a scrap journal that I made in January.   

Also the altered book "Illusions"
and two collage/paint mixed media wall art pieces.  

   I may take the Alice meets the internet piece in as well, as it will have a new audience in this location.    I'd like to see where they place it and how well it shows there.  

  If you are anywhere near Lodi, make it a point to check out the new gallery.    We'll be open for business on Friday.   

Out and about

Sally, Nancy and Eddie, and I went to lunch yesterday and then to our local art museum - the Haggin for a Salvador Dali exhibit. If you have a chance to see it, GO. It was an awesome experience to see his work up close and have time to digest each piece. I could get nose to the glass to look at little details. Where else could I do that?
The paintings were so varied. I loved the ones with multiple images emerging from the background. I was totally tickled with the long masterful skinny legs on a figure, where the watercolors changed hues. Some of the images were disgusting or hideous, but given what he was illustrating, they fit the text. All in all, it was so good, I'll probably go back again. I think they are having a lecture in a week or so. I'd like to get to that. Here is the brochure for the exhibit, and also one for the museum.

Naming Art

One of the online groups I follow is having a discussion on naming art. I have talked about this some before, but since it is on my mind this a.m., I'll post what I wrote in response to their question.

I show my art in a gallery so the pieces need titles. I usually incorporate some scraps from
poetry books into the backgrounds of my collages/paintings - and quite often they are the inspiration for the piece. So, I may use a few of those words in the title. I've noticed that the
more interesting the words in the title, the more interest the works get. Hmmmm.... So, I look for something provocative that will make the viewer ponder the work longer to find the answer to the question, "what does the title have to do with the piece?". It helps engage them. Because my collage builds on layers and layers, it takes a viewer awhile to really appreciate the nuances and bits that make up the whole. The title is another layer.

Nothing is more boring to me than titles like Green tree. Koi. Red circle. Man and woman. Seaside. Blue bottle. Okay, we get that without looking at the art. Nothing leads us into the work with a title like that. My titles may be a little obscure, but that adds to the mystery.

Art shows - or not.

Last year after being urged by friends and art colleagues, I entered a lot of juried art shows. This was a pretty bold step for me and turned out to be a phenomenal experience. I'll share with you a little secret. I almost wish I had not won first place in all the shows (except one). If I had won thirds, seconds, or honorable mentions, then I would feel more inspired to try a little harder and hope to work my way up to firsts. I'm not telling you this to blow my own horn - which I don't mind doing - but this could happen to you too, and it is an odd thing to have happen - maybe it's more unusual because here I am in my 70s having this new experience. I have a stack of blue ribbons now. That's as far as it goes. I never took best of show, I guess that could be a goal. I've changed my focus though and want to spend more time on other things - my family, house, pets, garden, place in the country and my altered books. I don't want to be bothered with paperwork and framing and meeting deadlines.

Instead of being in the art shows, I want to experience the behind the scenes part of exhibiting, so have volunteered for some committees. Yesterday I spent the day with my friends Jean and Francis, checking in art for a juried exhibit. It was lots of fun and the whole day was a great experience. I did this years ago for the Haggin Museum annual art league show - but it's been more than a decade or possibly two. The fun of being in the midst of the activity and the actual handling of all the works of art coming in is exhilarating and being face to face with dozens of artists and photographers is awesome. Now I can put faces with a lot of names I've been familiar with, and also met many new people. Tomorrow is judging day and I'll be there again, with the committees including friends and my grandsons who will be carrying art for the judges. This should be another good experience.

Lodi Book Arts Talk

Welcome to those of you who came to the Book Arts talk at the Art Center last evening. What a great group. I had so many things I wanted to say, and forgot them entirely, so awoke at 3 a.m. wishing I had talked about things like using copyrighted material and many other things. Well, that's what the blog is for.

If you are new to Altered Books and want to start one, I advise you to go to the oldest post first, and work your way forward through time. I also encourage you to think of altering a book as a great adventure, one that can quickly consume your mind and time. Don't take it too seriously. And, when you get to the part of the blog about practice books - that might be a good place to start.

Thanks for making us feel so welcome last night. Hope to see you at the mixed media play group on Thursday morning. I'm going out to my studio this afternoon to find things to bring for show and tell, and also things that can move along to other artists.

Book Arts Jam - mission accomplished.

Welcome book jammers!!! It was nice meeting all of you at the book art jam. What a fabulous experience!!! So many interesting and engaged people to share ideas with. Awesome. Much to my surprise I was given two round tall tables instead of a 5 foot rectangle at dining height. Panic ensued! How will this work? Well, we artists can adapt. Right? Right. Actually the height worked well for altered books, it put them right at a good reading level. Only the short visitors had problems looking at them.

I had on display the books, What's Love Got to Do With It, Pleasure of Ruins, White Crosses, My Fair Lady, The Bookmakers (otherwise known as Doors and Windows), Headaches, and Surviving. Some of these were made a couple years ago, but I have never shown my books there before, so I wanted to show a variety - even though I had to leave just as many books home. I also tossed in a couple fabric books at the last minute and was pleasantly surprised how many people held and caressed them. Photos of these works can be found on my picture trail site www.picturetrail.com/artsngardens. The photo of me shows some of the books on the table. I made new little keepsake business cards for the show and I know they will now be living in studios around the area, like little muses to remind you how much fun you can have with your art.

Here are some photos of the day. This is only one room - I never got around to meet everyone or see the other tables or the other rooms. You will note in the photos how interactive a day it was. Everyone shared a common passion in one form or another, and having a venue where we could be together was brilliant. I didn't get to the presentations, I was kept pretty busy chatting and enjoying meeting other book artists who stopped by. If you were there as a visitor, you probably saw a lot more than I did. A photographer was documenting the event and took pictures all over the room. I am not sure what will become of them - but perhaps it will be on their website later. I hope so, because I missed a lot of what was going on. The colorful young man here is Eli from Monterey who was there taking a class that day. I just alter books, he has altered himself! Sorry the lighting and focus were so bad for this Eli!

The book rests worked perfectly. Many thanks to my friend Rosemary who sewed 5 of them using ribbons to tie the ends. Very nice!!! My friends Nancy and Sally were there too, their first time selling some of their new products. Some of our friends from California Art Girls were there and some from Mixed Media Artists of California came down from Sacramento for the day. It was a good day all around. Now, about next year....... hmmmmm.......

Book Supports - for exhibiting books

These are the book supports I made to cradle the books so they can be displayed open without putting much stress on the bindings. These are soft enough to bend - yet firm enough to be supportive. Anything much higher would let the books slide off. I found the dog toys at the Dollar Store and covered them. For some, I stenciled the words Book Art on strips of the fabric, for others I just freehand printed the word Altered on them in silver glitter. I left the handles exposed on those that came with them. If you have other ways of displaying your books, I'd like to hear about them. Please post a comment.

Book Arts Jam - update

I just found out the tables are only 5 feet long. Wow! So, I am editing back even more. I've got my books laid out on a table at home and am playing with the space to see what looks good next to what. I think it will be important to show different types of alterations to books - so that will be the determining factor. My good friend Jackie suggested switching the books during the day so more can be seen. I'll probably do that. But a couple big books will be shown all day because they are so unique. I'm really looking forward to that day.

In case it doesn't show on your screen, please read Diane's comment to this post. She has some great ideas!

Book Arts Jam

It's time to get ready to show my books and to see all the other amazing book arts at the Book Art Jam at Foothill College (Los Altos, California) on the 17th of October. You can follow the link for more information. If you are within driving distance I urge you to attend. It's free except for a minimal parking charge. A whole day of browsing and talking with book artists and printers. There are a few vendors there too, so you can pick up some amazing things - like special papers and supplies.

I will have an 8 foot table there to show my books (which are not for sale). My problem now is editing!!! I have so many I'd like to show - yet I don't want a crowded table. I like people to have time to sit and enjoy them page by page - if they are interested. I will have white cotton gloves for those shy about handling them - although I encourage people to pick them up and handle them - even if they fall apart. I can fix them again.

I want to show the Ruins book because it is very unique in the world of altering books. And Food Poisoning, Headaches, City of Bones, and The Economy because they are quirky and fun. My Fair Lady is such a beautiful book, it should be shown. White Crosses, What's Love Got To Do With It?, and Surviving are my deeper books, more thought provoking. They need to be shown. I wanted to show some fabric books and the Mushrooms, Kitchen Chairs, etc - but dont' want to give up the room. My plan is to show the books open, resting on a little pillow/cradle - to invite turning pages. Two rows - smaller books in front - and the larger ones behind them. I've been making Captions to print and place with each book, explaining a little about the technique or the inspiration. I am also commited to printing handouts with information including a link to this blog. Hmmmm....... I've got a lot to do. The black tablecloth is washed and ironed. I've yet to make the book pillows. I'll post pics later - I think they are very clever and handy.

Anyway, if you are nearby, come say hello and enjoy the day. You'll see so many awesome and different types of books you'll be dazed! You'll meet a lot of fascinating people and be able to talk to them about their work and their methods. It's a unique opportunity. Hope to see you there.

Altered Books - Exhibiting them

What do you do with an altered book? Many of us keep them or give them as presents. I keep most of mine to show/exhibit. One book is currently being shown in a local art gallery, a juried show. I mentioned before that it was put into the 3D category (sculpture) for lack of an appropriate category. They chose not to put it into Mixed Media. I thought I'd show you some of the other pieces my book was up against in the judging.

If you choose to show an altered book in an art exhibit or enter a juried show - this is something you will need to face up to, and be prepared for. Most galleries and shows do not have a category where altered books fit in comfortably. Yours will probably be the only entry of the type. It may be the first one they have ever shown or seen, for that matter. It will be a curiosity. Other things in the 3 dimensional category were sculptures of wood, stone, and metals. Weaving, jewelry, wood turning, furniture, assemblages, and pottery are also in that category. It's a free-for-all! Can you imagine yourself having to judge this category? Not as simple as judging a watercolor painting against 20 other watercolor paintings. I would not want to do it.

If you decide to enter an altered book in a show, think about how the gallery will show it. Put it on a table? Pedestal? Hang it on a wall? You will need to think these things through and it is important to make it easy for the gallery. If you want it to hang, put on strong hangers and place them so the book holds together and the weight of the pages does not pull them out of the binding.

If the book is to be placed on a pedestal, will it be handled? Will it be standing up, and open? On an easel, either closed or open? I make my books to be handled, but out of courtesy, most people visiting a gallery will not touch anything without an express invitation to do so. In person, I invite people to touch and turn pages. You will note this gallery elected to show my book on a pedestal. It is not effective, in my estimation. It can not be handled easily and you can not see, let alone focus on the smaller details of the interior.

My preference is either a table top, or pedestal large enough to lay the book out flat and still have room for a little sign. If the book is laid flat so only a spread is shown - make sure it is opened to your favorite spread. A soft cushion under the book can raise it into a better position for viewing and turning pages. I like to set it so the book is on an angle - cradled by the cushion. I recently bought some soft stuffed dog toys shaped like a cylinder about 8 inches long (at the Dollar Tree). They make excellent book cushions, pack easily and are neat and tidy looking. I'm going to cover them with black fabric, or unprimed artist canvas with words "altered book"stenciled on them. They'll look more professional against a black table covering.

I think it's important for us to get our books out into the "legitimate" traditional art world whenever we can. It raises their acceptance level and also is a good "green" art form that should be taught and explored. I'd like to hear from others who have shown their books and hear their experiences. You are welcome to email me at momzart101@yahoo.com. or to share your experiences in a comment here anytime.