UPCOMING EVENTS - August and September!

August is usually a pretty quiet month in the artworld.  But, for some reason, it seems to be cranking up a little early this year.   After spending some time getting my studio in order, I was ready to get back in there and work.

First up - IT'S ABOUT TIME, which is a fundraiser for Jane Fonda's pet project G-CAPP.  Ikea sponsors this and artists are given a clock to decorate which will be auctioned off to raise money.  I was lucky to get involved with this this year, and my clock will be hung at The Alan Avery Gallery, as part of the Sun up to Sun Down event on Saturday 8/21.  Below - check out my clock!

Also, my work is being exhibited at the Sun Dial restaurant beginning today, August 18 through the month of September.   This is part of the Scenic Elevators at the Sun Dial Event, which benefits the Atlanta Food Bank.  This is being curated by Denise Jackson , of Emerging Arts Scene, which is located in Castleberry Hills!  (below is an image of a piece that will be there, Grant Field, which began with copying the shapes from an old picture of Grant Field at Georgia Tech and painting over it).

Also, I will be going to Highlands, NC next week to study with Mira Lehr at The Bascom.  This is very exciting, I'm excited to just Mira Lehr, much less take a class from  her!

I will also be participating in the new shop in downtown Decatur, Home Grown Decatur located on Church Street.  The opening date is still a moveable object, working with permits, workmen etc.  Hopefully it will open in August, and will be up and running during the Decatur Book Festival over Labor Day weekends.

The festival season begins in September, but I'm really cutting back on them this year.  The only confirmed festival I have at this point is the East Atlanta Strut on September 18.   More on the decision to cut back on festivals in another blog!

Let me know what else is going on in the artworld of Atlanta!

AN EPIPHANY IN THE DARK

Many artists say they had a life-changing moment. This is such a story. Joel Conison saw something in the blink of an eye that changed the direction of his life.

What if you were brought up in a traditional household and never thought of yourself as an artist. You had the advantage of a mother being an award winning sculptor in both stone and marble. Your father is a CPA. A career in art never crosses your mind because you are too busy being a kid.

Going to Ohio State, he did what any normal college boy would do, and trust me, he didn't write home about it.

He will admit he had an interest in photography. BUT - when taking a photography class, the teacher had a lesson called "art in the dark" - showing famous photographs on a screen. It was here he saw the famous photograph, Pepper 30 by Edward Weston. At that exact moment he knew he was meant to be a still life photographer. Truly an epiphany in the dark (that is the photograph above).

After seeing that photograph, he moved to Chicago and apprenticed for five years with several still photographers (and yes, one worked for Playboy).

Joel became a successful commercial photographer in the Cincinnati area, photographing prestigious clients like the Cincinnati Symphony and the Cincinnati Ballet, But, after 20 years, he found himself a little bored and he knew the advertising business was changing. He had been teaching adults in the evening and realized he liked it. So, he sold everything and moved to Brooklyn and pursued his MFA at Pratt. (This is the highest you can go as a studio artist)

Fast forward to today, he has come full circle. After practicing commercial photography, getting an MFA, teaching on the college level, he went back to what originally made his heart beat - still life art photography.

At this moment he is photographing taxidermied birds. (see them and read his artist statement here) Yes, I didn't understand taxidermy either, but trust me - animal lovers out there - they are the biggest animal lovers in the world.

So - compare Pepper 30 to what Joel is doing now (see below Empire on the left, Raven on the right)

I'd love to hear other stories of a moment that changed your life!

THE HIGH PROJECT

THE HIGH PROJECT was an experimental collaboration between one dancer and two local abstract artists while creating a three-dimensional canvas. I was one of the painters, along with my friend Lance Carlson. This was organized by Heather Harper, the Artistic Managing Director of the Harper Continuum Dance Theatre with Stacey Perkinson dancing.

The artwork was painted live while the dancer moved between the two canvases. The canvases were made of spandex, which allowed the dancer the freedom to move within the actual material. This was a fun project, but because it was at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, we were restricted by the materials we used. In the end, we used primarily washable tempura paint. After alot of experimentation, we found watered down food coloring in spray bottles, as well as food coloring in shaving cream worked well too. We were also allowed to use charcoal. The piece featured abaove is my finished piece. When I started seeing a figure developing I concentrated on channelling DeKoonings large women paintings!

Because the canvases were so porous, we applied gesso to the canvases prior to the event. We didn't want to cover the entire canvases, as we didn't want to restrict the Stacey's movements. We wrote words we felt had meanings in both the visual arts and the dance. We used the words Rhythm, Movement, Composition and Fusion. CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO ON THE PERFORMANCE

We hope to repeat this at a future date - Heather has been contacted from as far away as Idaho with interest in the event!

For those of you not familiar with the High Museum of Art, it was founded as the Atlanta Art Association in 1906. Two decades later, the High family donated their family home on Peachtree Street , thus the name The High Museum! It now houses over 11,000 works of art in its permanent collection.

MY EXPERIENCE FROM SHOWING MY WORK AT THE ALLIANCE THEATRE

Maybe I should title this piece - "What I Would Have Done Differently" because I learn something every time I show my artwork.

To start with, the Alliance Theatre was presented several artists by Digital Arts Studios - 12 artists were chosen, and 2 will be showing their work one hour prior to the performance opening weekend. I was fortunate enough to be chosen for the season opener which is the world premiere of "Come Fly With Me", featuring the voice of Sinatra with the choreopgraphy and direction of Twyla Tharpe. This is definitely Broadway Bound!

So, Ian Greathead and I were there an hour before every performance, and stayed until the performance was opening during opening week. The Alliance Theatre got such positive feedback they asked if we wanted to come back. We came back the following weekend, and I will return alone for the closing Friday and Saturday nights.

Let me say upfront, it was great exposure, and I didn't really expect record sales. After all, people are cominng to the theater, they are not coming to buy art. AND, the Alliance Theatre shares the lobby with the Atlanta Symphony. Where else could you get a better audience of people that might actually BUY art. The feedback has been very good, and I learned people are starting to recognize my work. While I sold some small things (prints and cards), I feel the interest was genuine and people will eventually seek me out again!

What I would have done differently?
1. Have a professional nametag. I've been thinking about this for awhile, and I don't know why I haven't had one made. When people come to look at the work, you want to be available, but you don't want to hover too closely. I can't tell you how many times I was asked if I was the actual artist, and seen the surprise and delight in their face when they realized they were talking to an "actual artist"!
2. When you don't have control over the lighting, chose dramatic pieces - they will show up better. My artwork has ALOT of detail, so I think those that are interested in my artwork will be very pleased when they see it in proper lighting.
3. Show affordable artwork. You might put up a couple of large expensive pieces to get attention, but I doubt they would sell at a venue where people are going to the theater. However, they will remember them. They are more apt to purchase a piece they can fit in their purse to take home with them.
4. I broke my own rule of showing a complete body of work, and for good reason. I have a series of dresses, and this is what impresseed the Alliance Theatre, so I felt I should include them. Because the production is "Fly Me to the Moon", I brought my series of moons. Because the symphony was also playing, I put some of my musical pieces facing the symphony, which garnered alot of attention. So, if you have work that fits into the theme of the show, use it. If you have time to create work that is specific to that show, then go for it! Ian did a painting using Sinatra;s hat, his cigar, a bottle of Jack Daniel's, sitting on top of the music for "Come Fly With Me". That was perfect and got alot of conversations going for him.
5. Digital Arts Studio supplied the gridwalls and the hangers, and there was a shelf to put our information. Space was limited, so I didn't bring anything to collect names and addresses. BIG MISTAKE! People that actually asked for my card would probably have given me their email address.

Would I do it again? You betcha!!! This was the inauguration of a new tradition. As theatergoers get more and more used to seeing artwork for sale in the lobby - they might start coming prepared to purchase something!

ART EVENTS

I had a goal to get my artwork out and noticed. Now that I look at this list I can honestly say I have am pretty sure I have achieved that goal
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WHERE MY ART IS CURRENTLY:

Emerging Art Scene, located in the Stacks in Cabbagetown in Atlanta. Sign up to be part of the group on Facebook, because there is always something going on.
Michael Joseph Gallery, located in Ft. Lauderedate, through 8/31 - The show is celebrating 100 artists.
Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, the Canvas Project with the Arthouse Coop

COMING UP

Artlanta Art Festival, September 12-13. I will be demonstrating the art of collage in Piedmont Park, details to follow. I'm very excited about this opportunity and I hope some of my collage friends will stop by and help me demonstrate.

East Atlanta Strut on September 19th, This is one of the funkier parts of Atlanta, so come and enjoy the day!

Alliance Theatre - September 23-27. The 2009-2010 season's opener is "Come Fly Me To The Moon", with vocals by Frank Sinatra and dance by Twyla Tharp. I have been given the opportunity of setting up my work prior to the performances the opening week of the show. I will be in the lobby an hour prior to the show and during the intermission.

October - the Atlanta Collage Society is having a group show at the Georgia Perimeter College. Details to follow. However, it is important to note the National Collage Society will be held at Mason Murer Gallery in the month of Novembert, so look for alot of collage events around town in October and November.

Chastain Park Art Festival - October 17 and 18th
Because I know the promoters of this event, I expect this to be a high quality professional art festival.

December - The Atlanta Collage Society will be having a group show at Quinlan Art Center in Gainesville. I am excited about being part of a show in such a prestigious venue.

December - Winter Solstice, group show of the Shadowline Artist Group at the Limelight Gallery in Binders in Atlanta. We began as a critique group and have been together since 2004. This is our first group show in a couple of years!

THINGS NOT CONFIRMED:

Oakhurst Art Festival October 10th
Cabbagetown Chomp and Stomp - November 7th
Terrific Thursdays in Decatur in November and December.

Atlanta 1970 - how to organize a page

I was looking for a way to organize a page and chose to take a picture of the skyline of Atlanta in 1970. I took the shapes it created and collaged the background. The collage included my airplane tickets to various places and Atlanta memoriabilia, such as coke labels, CNN and such. Oh - and I also used failed mono-prints I had (don't throw anything away, you will use them someday!).
After I had my interpretation of the skyline of Atlanta, I began painting over it. Many people living here in 1970 will not recognize it. The Polaris at the Regency was the highest point, at least to me. If I could find it in the sky, I could get to Peachtree and get home. So - notice the building with the circles that is painted blue, it is the Polaris with the color inverted.

Not only do I paint, but I have given historical tours of Atlanta, (i.e. Fox Theater and Druid Hills) so sometimes the city pops up in a work!

BLOGGING ABOUT ART

I am taking a four week blogging class. Today's assignment was coming up with 20 topics to blog about in the future. So - here goes:
Gallery Happenings in Atlanta;
How My Rhythm of the Series is evolving right now
The Importance of Learning Art History
Who are my ancestors in Art?
The importance of having an organized studio
Are we ever going to install the flat files in the studio? Or are they going to stay in the dining room?
Spring Cleaning is late, Atlanta skipped Spring this year
Festival Happenings in Atlanta
Are Salons making a comeback
Everything in my kitchen is fair game to be used as art materials
Should I stop collecting junk mail for collage materials, and jar lids for circles?
Review of a movie about art - maybe Who The *&%* is Jackson Pollack
Why I love my Critique Group - Shadowline Artists
the National Collage Society national show is in Atlanta this year
I know How important it is to do blind contours, so why don't I do them?
My dress series is evolving into men's clothing

I have a google alert for Atlanta Artists, and Atlanta Collage Artists, and my recent posts are popping up in there!!!

THE UNIVERSE WE KNOW

This consists of 4 canvases, each measuring 20x24. I started with the sun on the left, and moved to Mercury, then Venus, Earth and Mars, complete with the moons each one has. All of the planets, and the sun contain collage material that pertains to them. For example, the sun has a tarot card with a sun on it. Earth has a picture of my house from google earth. I used a lot of layers to create a very tactile environment. This was done with collage, as well as modeling paste and paint. I did this as part of my TRANSFORMATION show at Georgia Perimeter College in October. Maybe someday I will go back and finish the entire universe as we know it - but I have to admit, I quit when I got to Jupiter, it is just SO BIG!!!!

PASSION OF THE DANCE - ABSTRACT DRESS

Because Valentine's Days is coming up, I thought I should post a painting that I believe shows the romance and passion of the holiday. This is a large piece - 24x36". I built the texture with paint, and added paper. All of the paper has references to the dance of the tango, either how to dance it with the footsteps, or narrative in both English and Spanish.

Enjoy - and feel free to leave a post!

REPRESENTATION WITH MICHAEL JOSEPH GALLERY IN FT. LAUDERDALE

Below is the press release that was sent out by Michael Joseph gallery. I will be sending 6-8 pieces down there this week to be exhibited in a group show, with an opening on 11/14. Read about the gallery by clicking on the following link. All of my pieces are available as prints too.


http://michaeljosephgallery.com/





VICKIE MARTIN
Award winning abstract Atlanta artist Vickie Martin uses a variety of material to create her mixed media work. Among them are acrylic paint, ink, pastels, charcoal and collage. She is inspired by different themes including music, geometric shapes and architecture.

Vickie’s art has been described as a dance of shapes, textures and rhythms. Being the daughter and grand-daughter of piano tuners, using rhythm is natural for her.

Textures are created using several things, many of which are found around the house. Collage is one of things used to create texture. Some of the things she regularly uses are old maps, dress patterns, insides of envelopes, old books (in any language), newspaper, stamps, tissue paper, produce bags, or anything that may attract her attention.

Some of the things she uses to create a tactile tecture are sand, coffee, tea and salt (from table salt to rock salt). Not afraid of experimenting, she has also used baby oil, alcohol, even miracle grow, and has been known to set canvases outside during a rainstorm. The layering of all of this creates a depth and the more one looks at the work, the more unexpected things being appearing.

Abstract view of Atlanta in 1980

Here is a fairly new piece of work. Once again I used collage to organize the page and was inspired by a photograph of the skyline of Atlanta in 1980. Of course, I took some artistic license and moved some of the shapes around to suit my composition. I painted on top of the collage with acrylics. This measures 20x24" and is on paper.