A year of correspondence

Remember pen pals? I use to love writing letters to friends when I was  younger and had many pen pals too. It was fun to wait for the mail to come to see if I had gotten a letter. A few months ago, an art friend  sent me one of her prints, out of the blue, for no other reason, but to be kind. It started me thinking about asking her if she wanted to be pen pals. We've known each other for a few years on the art circuit and we are facebook friends as well, but we don't know each other beyond our art.

So I talked to her and she was very excited by the idea. So once a month we will write each other a letter and include a small piece of art. So by the time December rolls around, we will have 12 pieces to hang in our studios. I'm looking foward to it. I've mailed off her first letter.I think for now my pen pal will remain a secret and then next December, I will reveal who it is. 

this is the first piece of art she will receive. 

and Happy New Year, by the way!

xoxo,

kecia

p.s. i'll be posting a new visiting artist  soon,  for a class I'm hosting with her this summer. 

Soul Houses with guest artist, Lorraine Reynolds

 

Lorraine Reynolds will be here in July to teach an assemblage class. I took a class with Lorraine this past Oct. and I had the best time. She brings a whole different spin into story telling through found objects.  Lorraine is right in the middle of grad school and working full time. We are lucky to get her here to teach. I am happy to show my  support by havig her here and this class will give her needed credits as well. I look forward to hosting her July 13 and 14, 2013.

 Soul Houses

 The symbolism linked to birds goes back to the ancient world, where birds were considered to be a supernatural connection between the gods and men. In many Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, birds can represent immortality. In East Indian and Christian mythologies birds represent the soul. These soul houses are a safe haven for your hopes and dreams. This class will introduce you to the art of assemblage as you learn to construct basic house forms that have relevance and meaning in your own world. By tapping into your true creative spirit we will transform ordinary bird houses into vessels that whisper of remembrance. You will explore your own imagination to find the ghost in old things and tell their tales in a 3 dimensional form, without fear or self-doubt. Learn to be creatively brave in this process orientated approach to creating altered art. You will learn the basics of assemblage construction as well as plot a creative journey through storytelling, personal myth and metaphor. You will take away power new ideas about process and art making.

date: July 13 and 14, 2103

cost: $220

location: Lemoncholy's Studio (jersey shore)

 

 a little bit about Lorraine:

Artist Lorraine Reynolds’ mixed media assemblages are a collection of “glimmering prizes”. Assembled in old boxes, frames and books, found objects find unity and a common voice in her hands. Her assemblages not only speak to the sadness of lost and forgotten things but through Lorraine’s creative touch find life again. Lorraine’s gift is in sifting through these disparate objects, finding the compatible bits and pieces of others’ lives and weaving their faint and ancient energies together until they sing in one voice. Her assemblages not only speak to the sadness of these lost and forgotten things, but they remind us that their owners have been lost and forgotten as well.

Over the past several years, Lorraine Reynolds has displayed her work in various group shows throughout the state of Vermont. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Lorraine Reynolds is a costume and technical designer by day and mixed media artist by night. A Vermont transplant for over 20 years she lives in Williston, VT with her husband, her two sons and her enormously affectionate German Shorthair Pointer. Lorraine is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Visual Arts at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is the recipient of the 2011 Art Hop People’s Choice Award. For more information visit her website: www.lorrainereynoldsvt.com

no experience is necessary. this is a learning process that unfolds into a story. Supply list and other pertinent information will be given out after you have registered. seating is limited and reserved via pay pal (below). feel free to email me with any questions you have to keeshagirl4@aol.com:

 

Art is You 2013!

"Come. Join the Art is...You family in 2013 for a retreat that is all about Community through Creativity. Artists across the country are waking up to the power of each other, coming together.
Now in three venues: Nashville, Petaluma or Stamford, Art is...You is an ALL INCLUSIVE joyous week of art workshops, all lunches, panel sessions, heart starter mornings, and suppers each night."
You will be amazed at all that is offered when you attend one of these fabulous retreats that Sal & Ellen put together. This will be my 5th year of teaching for Sal and Ellen. They events are always amazing, full of spirit and friendship and much needed girl time. (although we have fun with the guys there too ;)

Workshops will be going up real  soon. We are busy finalizing all our wonderful workshops so be prepared for some awesome classes!

What to expect: FUN!, laughter, meeting new friends, running into old friends,  friendly faces, abandoned art, comfy sheets, creating amazing art and sharing in an Art Adventure. Don't be shy and don't be nervous. Adventure is out there. See you soon!

 ****Give yourself permission to play and REGISTER your intention to attend by paying a refundable deposit of $100.00.  This deposit will secure your spot and ensure you will get first opportunity to register for any or all retreats*** 

feel free to email me at: keeshagirl4@aol.com with any questions about attending an art retreat. especially if it is your first time and you are feeling "nervous". 

 

Alot has been going on since I last really posted. Mid Fall I left to head to Florida to visit Dillon and was doing some teaching along the way. I taught in North Carolina at Random Arts, a two day jewelry class and stayed with my friend, Phyllis. We had so much fun and she was a wonderful hostess. Right after I left Phyllis and made my to Georgia to stay the night, I got a text from Jeff that Tucker was quite ill and had been taken to the hospital via ambulance. This was 2 days after hurricane Sandy hit. Everyone had lost power and the coast was a mess. The ER was equally a mess. Utter chaos (according to Jeff since i wasn't there).

I made the immediate decision to cancel the rest of my classes and turn around. It took me 3 days to get back as I had to sort of criss cross around avoiding hard hurricane hit areas, etc. I picked up a generator in Georgia before leaving (as ours was not working well). I also loaded up on fire logs, D batteries and gas cans.  When I got about 2 hours from home, I filled up the gas cans and had to drive with the windows down for the rest of the way. 

The hospital staff (infectious disease) hit Tucker hard with an course of hard hitting antibiotics to battle this unknown bacteria he was fighting. (i say unknown as nothing ever grew in a culture). He continued to  get much better and got to come home the day after we regained power. A few days later, we thought he was acting ill again, so took he back to the ER and they admitted him overnight for observation. By the next day, he was fine again. So i don't know if we were paranoid or what was with that 2nd trip.

Since then I have been battling anxiety attacks. mostly at night, waking me up with a pounding heart and grim thoughts running through my mind. I have this feeling of not being safe for me and Tucker. I'm having horrible dreams about him and the worry is affecting my appetite. Add into the mix, my friend, Michele, being so ill. Since I last posted about Michele, she's been diagnosed with breast cancer (in addition to lymphoma) and is undergoing chemotherapy. In a few months, once chemo is over and the tumor has been reduced, she will undergo a double mastectomy. A lot for me to be worrying about.

I know that I am going through post traumatic stress disorder. It's happened before, only not this harshly. Today, I am going to be doctor to talk about it with him and figure out ways to get a handle on it. 

thanks for listening.   

Hurricane Sandy fundraiser

Join Art is...You, Adorn Me! An Artful Journey, Artful Gathering and Vivi Magoo presents
 - as we raise much needed funds for essential personal and household items for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.


Working with Family to Family and local relief agencies we will have your donation delivered directly to where it is needed - into the hands of those who have lost everything.  Let them see how we can unite and Live in Generosity.  Let them feel our love.


Just click on the DONATE NOW Button and you will have the opportunity to make a cash donation or purchase actual items including groceries or gas cards.  Once you have donated, please share on Facebook, tell your friends - get the word out that this village of artists, their family and friends are united in rebuilding the lives of those around them.

I have personally donated this painting to the cause:

 

 I painted her  the other night as I sat in my powerless house and used a light powered by my generator. The little girl in the painting is afraid and clings to her bunny as life around her is in tatters. The flower represents HOPE as the storm begins to calm.