The un-exhibition reception

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in awhile.  I was on vacation and making jewelry was on my mind, but somehow other things got in the way....... like golfing, shopping, swimming, shopping, boating, eating, eating and eating.  (Pretty sad when the place I visited the most in Florida was "Heavenly Pizza" in the Merchant's Crossing Plaza.  It's the first time I've had a waitress say, "The usual?"....... time to get back to Weight Watchers.)

Anyway, I'm home (and in my yearly funk for a few weeks.  Don't know why that happens.  Maybe the sudden lack of warm air and sunshine?)

I finally made it back to the studio this past Saturday for our monthly Second Saturday Open Studios.  I did have a few visitors (and even made a sale..... YAY!)  But, most of my time was spent cleaning and restocking the studio.  (I always take way too much "stuff" to Florida.)

Usually, the Graffiti Gallery has an opening that coincides with Open Studios but this time there were not enough entries to have a show.  (It was decided that we should still have the reception ...... any reason for a party!)

The reception was really nice ..... and we had an exhibit of empty canvases and frames.  (It was probably one of the easiest shows to hang.  Oh..... there's a nail, another one hung.)  

The piece in the corner may look like a work, but it's actually pieces of styrofoam which is the base media for JoannWheeler's work.  

Of course a Gallery reception isn't complete without wine and food.  

  

And the winner is......

Last night was the annual Friends of the Transit Event.  (That's why I was working my butt off all last week..... oh if only that really worked.)

Turn out was good (but could have been better) for the festivities.  A new local Reggae Band played for the event.  They were really good (but loud in such a small space.)   With that rhythm and beat we all couldn't help but dance as we walked.  They will be playing in Pittsburgh soon.

The 12 minute paintings done to some lively music added to the festivities and were auctioned off at the end of the evening.

Joann Wheeler, Abby Bunnell and Carol McDonald all completed paintings in their individual styles.

The winner of this year's Friend of the Transit Award went to Marilyn Karns.  Marilyn is a retired kindergarten teacher who for the past ten years has run the National Transit Gallery and set up all the classes that went on for the Oil City Arts Association.  It was an award well deserved and we are all indebted to Marilyn for all she does.

John Manders again donated his time to do caricatures (which is always so popular.)  One of these days I'll bite the bullet and have mine done.

I demonstrated (basically talked about) one of the processes used to create designs for metal clay (particularly the Photo Polymer Plate technique.)  Then I did a brief demo with bronze clay and talked about the differences between silver and the base metal clays.  

The evening ended with the announcement of the winners of the 12 minute paintings.   The winners of the silent auction will be notified in a few days.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was having a scavenger hunt and giving away a piece from the National Transit Series.  Earlier in the day a co-worker I hadn't seen in years stopped in the studio and it was great to see her.  In fact it was so great that her name was drawn for the necklace.  Way to go Vickie Conn.

All in all the yearly fund raiser was a success.  First count estimates that we raised $600 for the Gallery.  Thanks to all who helped.  

Get a jump on it.

The National Transit Building was built in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller and housed the financial, commercial and transportation dealings of the Standard Oil Co.  It is a four story building with an annex building built six years later.  The buildings are connected by a bridge  on the second floor that passes over the alleyway between the buildings.

Invariably when people visit the building, the one thing they all say is "How beautiful a building it is."  The architecture of the building is amazing even though it is old and in need of some TLC.  Everyone notices and comments on it.

So..... as I've been saying for quite awhile, I've designed some jewelry based on the architecture of the Transit Building.  (Finally got off my butt and got it moving.)  So far I've created four designs that are pretty much literally based on a piece of architecture somewhere in the two buildings.  I do plan on doing more but this is just a start.

On Saturday, at the Friends of the Transit Event in the Graffiti Gallery I will be demonstrating how to make a PPP plate and how to work with bronze clay.  After the demo I'll be giving away a piece of jewelry from my Transit Series.

In order to be eligible for the drawing, the designs need to be identified as to where they are located in the buildings.  (It should be easy, since the first designs are pretty literal.)  Be specific as to where the designs are located.  There will be forms in my studio for the scavenger hunt and some at the event which starts at five.

If you are coming to the event, or are going to be in the area this is your chance to get a jump (and more time to look) on the game.  Winner need not be present.

Here are the designs, but the official forms must be picked up at my studio or at Saturday night's event.
Good Luck!

All jewelry will be available on my Etsy site (once I get decent photos.)

(I plan on doing other jewelry series and conducting more games.  These will be online search games.)  Stay tuned....... although it may be awhile. 

A Showing of Friends

Saturday, October 13th was the opening of the exhibit  "Shared Experiences" by Margaret Brostrom and her friends from California.  A very nice show!

The exhibit can be seen in the Graffiti Gallery and  lasts until Nov. 3.  The Gallery is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00-7:00.  If you are in the Oil City area stop in and visit.

This coming Friday at 5:30, Margaret and her friends are holding an artist's talk in the Gallery.  Everyone is invited.

That time of the year

For over 30 some years Oil City has hosted the Oil Heritage Festival on the third weekend in July.    Well, it is that time of year again.

Two years ago, I bought a tent and set up in the street.  My goal was to get my feet wet at outdoor exhibiting and to create a gallery setting within the tent.  As was mentioned in a post on that show, I succeeded at both my goals and made some money too.

Last year, I moved inside the Graffiti Gallery and exhibited with Swan Daashuur (the other jeweler in the Transit.)  We were positioned behind the tents and sales were pretty dismal.  Swan sold more than I did but still not as much as she expected.

This year I had planned on going back out on the street but Swan persuaded me to try the Gallery one more year.  This year the Festival Committee left the space in front of the Gallery open so it was more visible.  We still did not have the number of visitors the street vendors did but it was so much better than last year.  Sales were pretty good today (hoping that tomorrow is even better.)   And, we will be leaving the show up for the entire month of August.

Work by John Mander, Corinne Carbaugh, Abby Bunnell and Swan Daashuur

Part of my display.

 The outside vendors set up  today and it was a good thing it wasn't yesterday.  We had severe storms yesterday and the fire sirens kept going off to warn us of possible tornadoes.  (The Transit Building is built like a you - know- what.  So, if I have to be somewhere during a storm the Transit is my choice.)

Today the wind came up again and it rained for about an hour.  Some of the tents were toppled and people were looking pretty wet.  So..... I'm thankful I was inside.  Linda Lineman who paints porcelain decided that she was tired fighting the weather every year and will join us inside next year.

Hidden Pictures

As a kid, I loved the "Highlights" magazine.  One of my favorite pages in the magazine was the Hidden Pictures page.  So..... here is my version of hidden pictures.

Can you spot the two charms that are different?

I bet you can figure out why they are different.

The copper and bronze charms are in the making (if I can get them done in time........ retirement is really busy!)

"Turn Around"

My second entry to the Junk Art Show is titled "Turn Around."  The theme of this piece is grandchildren.  Now, I'll just mention right from the start that I don't consider this piece finished.

My method of working seems to be.... get an idea, begin working, change my mind, work some more, decide that "it's" not working, set aside and live with it for awhile until the piece tells me what's missing.  Sometimes this "tell me what you need stage" lasts a few days or occasionally it's been a few years.  When I started this piece I had three days.  (There's that procrastinator in me again!)

I suspect the idea began forming on the day that I attended my Granddaughter's kindergarten program, followed by rushing home to attend my Grandson's preschool program.  During both of these programs there was a slide presentation showing all the little ones through the previous year.  Of course the slide shows were accompanied by music that reminded us to enjoy them now because they grow so fast.

For this piece, I went in search of junk to use.  (Unlike the previous piece which just jumped out at me.)  Since I did a major cleaning out earlier in the year, there wasn't much for me to choose from.  In looking around the grandchildren's game room I noticed all the puzzle pieces which they'd outgrown.  (Sniff, sniff.)  So, that was my starting point.

At first I was going to use the puzzle pieces as is, but decided instead to paint them.   (Although there are a couple that are the original color.)  Pink for the granddaughter and blue for the grandsons.  I put in quite a few hours, arranging and rearranging the pieces (stressing about it as I knew time was running out.)  There are painted-on puzzle shapes that bend around the canvas to the edges and actual pieces glued on to the edges.

Besides the puzzle pieces is a handless clock face (trying to stop the clock..... to no avail) and puzzle shapes cut out of sheet music.  Here is where only "oldies" like me might get the title "Turn around."
The song was written by Malvina Reynolds, Allen Greene and Harry Belfonte and was a hit for the Kingston Trio in 1964.  (I'm including the lyrics for anyone not familiar with it.)

"Turn Around"  Puzzle pieces, acrylic paint, sheet music, watch face

"6 x 6"

I liked the idea, but didn't really feel the piece was successful.  So..... after the show, I will live with it and see if I can figure out the direction it wants to go.

"Turn Around" as written by Malvina Reynolds.

Where are you going, my little one, little one, Where are you going, my baby, my own? Turn around and you're two, Turn around and you're four, Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door. Turn around, turn around, Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door. Where are you going, my little one, little one, Little dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone?2 Turn around and you're tiny, Turn around and you're grown, Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own. Turn around, turn around, Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own.

Junk Art Show

Last Saturday was the opening of the "Junk Art Show" in the Graffiti Gallery.   I mentioned that I was making a couple of pieces to enter into the show. (I was out of my comfort zone but Swan is very forceful!)

This past Friday I did one of my stints at Gallery sitting.  We had a few people in but the second shift saw a bigger crowd because of the Indie Fest going on out in the street.  Since I didn't get a chance to take photos of the show during the opening, I used my down time to take a few yesterday.  (Along with sanding my silver charms for the conference..... and a little reading of a romance novel.  Luckily no one came in to see me blushing!)

So..... here are some pictures of the exhibit.  Pictures do not do justice to the works, so stop down on a Friday or Saturday between 11:00-7:00 to see the exhibit.  I believe it's on until July 7th?

"Wrench Bench" by Bill Kapp

"Pure Piano Keys" by Susette Jolley

"Wind Chime" by Bill Kapp

"Prohibiting Bridge" by Swantje-Elke

I'll share my pieces in the next post (which is almost as uncomfortable as sharing them in the exhibit.)

Friends of the Transit

Last Saturday night the artists of the Transit Building held their first annual Friends of the Transit Award Event in the Graffiti Gallery.  As a newly created subdivision of the Civic Center, the artists Maureen James, John Manders and myself created the Friends of the Transit Program.

The purpose of the program is to bring the community into the Transit Buildings and with a membership become a part of what is going on there.  Not everyone feels they have artistic ability but they may have an interest in the arts and the program will allow them to help develop the arts in Oil City.  They can do this by helping out with promoting the art events, volunteering to work in the Graffiti Gallery as a sales associate, helping artists in their studios, giving tours of the building, etc.   Any money generated through a membership in the Friends program will be passed onto the Civic Center and will be used to preserve, restore and upgrade the buildings.  

So, Saturday night was our kick off event.  It was a fun filled and busy evening.  (I do apologize for the photos.  Took them with my phone and wasn't very diligent about checking what I was doing.)

Festivities began at 5:00 (after our usual Second Saturday Open Studios) with a social time for people to look at the artwork in the Gallery, have a little something to eat and drink.  From 5-6:00 Mitch Littler, a young man from the area (oh Oil City has so much talent) played his guitar and sang.  He shared his music with us again from 7:00-8:00.  

Mitch Littler

At 5:30, four of the building's artists took part in what was called the "12 1/2 Minute Painting."  Abby Bunnell, George Cooley, Shon Gaworski and Carol McDonald each shared their unique styles and vision by beginning and completing a painting in the time it took to play a rousing song.  At the end of the evening the works were given away to some of the participants.  

Shon Gaworski

Abby Bunnell

George Cooley

Carol McDonald

At 6:00 I gave a basic demo on metal clay, complete with a torch firing demo.  

The award presentation to Dr. Robert DeShong was given at 6:30.  Dr. DeShong has put in many hours doing physical work at the buildings as well as donating funds to help with various projects.  He gave a very nice speech following the presentation (which I can't remember but I remember thinking how nice it was.  I was cleaning up my area so John could do his caricatures there and I was listening but not totally catching everything that was going on then.  Didn't even get a picture of it.... darn!)

6:45 to 7:45 John Manders, our resident book illustrator did caricatures of many of the attendees.  (Sorry, didn't catch a picture of that either as I was upstairs at the Forestwood Performing Arts Academy learning how to do the cha cha.)

At 7:00 Darin Paden, owner of  the Forestwood  Performing Arts Academy on the fourth floor of the Transit Annex, gave a mini-class in the cha cha and a demo on the 4 step swing.  I gave the cha cha a try and it really was pretty easy.  Darin did a great job of breaking it down and taking it slowly.  I was doing okay until he added a turn and twist (which right now is not too good for my bum knee.)

The evening was full of good people, good art, music, dance and food.  (All donated by the Transit Artists.)  What a party!

Anissa Gage's center piece made from vegetables and dried plants

Oil Heritage Festival

Every year at this time Oil City celebrates their heritage with a festival.  This year's festival begins on Thursday and runs through Sunday.

Activities for all ages are planned for the next few days, including an adult and a young peoples art show at the National Transit building (where my studio is located.)   Tomorrow is a children's olympic competition and tomorrow evening is a children's pet show.  Friday and Saturday is the annual craft show.  Also on Saturday is a run and a parade Saturday evening.  At some point there is a car show, plus many other activities.  The culminating event on Sunday night is the fireworks.  (Since I'm too lazy to go find my paper with the information of all the activities for the festival, I'm missing lots of the details.)  If you are interested just google it.

Last year I tried my hand at a booth during the Art and Craft show.  I was planning on doing it again this year and then just got too stressed out thinking about all that work (that sounds pretty simple but I'd just been in some kind of funk.)   Last year was successful and I felt good about it.  But this year it just wasn't appealing to me.

Instead, I am setting up my work in the Graffiti Gallery.  There are eight of us that are offering our art for sale.  Assemblage artists, a stained glass artist, painter and book illustrator, along with Swan (another jeweler in the studios) and myself.  My work and hers are so different from each other that we feel we can exhibit and sell together.  Hopefully people will come in off the street to visit.  (It's supposed to be hotter than you know what, so maybe they'll come in just to cool down.)

If the weather is anything like last year (hot, stormy and windy) I'll be glad I'm not out on the street.
If you're in town, stop by and say hello.

Tomorrow I'll share a photo of a new piece I just finished today.  (Another one of those things that have been sitting around for a year or more.  It finally talked to me and I love what it said!)