Variety and inspiration at American Craft Show New York -Aynne Applebaum, Frederick Prescott, George Nock, Laura Goddard, Avner Sher

As I said in my last blog post,I had a booth at  The American Craft
Show NYC  held at the Javits Center on Oct. 19-21.  Since Sandy
devastated so much of NYC and NJ only a few days later, it was
sobering to think of all the locations and tunnels I had travelled in
and through that were under water only a few days later.

But New Yorkers as artists are a resilient bunch, so I didn't want
to miss sharing some of the work at the three shows in one at the
Javits. As was true for the last two years, there was wonderful variety
- whimsy, elegance, fun and inspiration.  

In the whimsy as well as amazing category was the work of  Florida
artist  Ayenne Applebaum -the bird sculpture pictured above and
rooster below. She brings a painte,rs eye to her glazing..as well as
a wicked sense of whimsy and incredible skill to her clay sculpting.

 

There wasn't a child (or adult) who didn't enjoy the large kinetic

animals by Frederick C. Prescott.

In the inspiring and elegant category was the work by George Nock.
I especially enjoyed this bronze sculpture entitle "Win, Place or Show".
Be sure to check out George's website to see the amazing range
and superb quality  of his work..and read his biography...it will
help you understand why he is able to capture movement and motion.
It may challenge your perception of  professional athletes.

Laurie Goddard was also exhibiting. I've enjoyed seeing the way Laurie
has pushed forward with her fine art in recent years. Beautiful and strong.

And finally- an artist new to NYC - or at least this was the first time
Avner Sher has brought this body of work to NY from his home in
Israel.   He works with large flat pieces of cork, which he burns and
scratches intricate images into.  He describes his work "as an
expression of hope in the face of chaos". Check out his website to
learn what inspired this intriguing  new direction for his work.   

.

Next year this show will be one week later - good thing it wasn't this
year.  It is an extraordinary event that we hope we can continue to
build and entice larger and larger crowds to attend.

 For now, I'm working on inventory for Craft Boston Holiday,
to be held on Dec.7-9. A new large rearing dragon will be there.
Please drop by if you are in the Boston area.

Adventure on!   Wendy

New Creatures come to New York City Javits show Oct. 19-21.

Last blog you saw the beginnings....here are some of the finished
creatures and items going with me to the NYC show at the Javits
this weekend, October 19-21.  Complete info on this three-in-one
show at: www.americanartmarketingnyc.com

I'm still trying to figure out the total story behind the new species.
Ideas anyone? This figure is 26" tall, wingspread is 32". The beading
ended up taking quite  a few more hours than I expected.
Below is a youngster of the species, 14" tall.

During Roxbury Open Studios, a visitor observed that they
probably live in mountainous areas and love to hop boulder to
boulder...their wings help them glide between. I'd love to bring along
a pair of wings for my next trip to the Rockies or Andes.

I went around in circles  deciding how to finish the figure below.
Finally he told me he really wanted masks...so he ended up with these
three.

This "eye" tree leather book cover seemed to want a little color:

And finally....yes, I'll be going to NYC with a good supply of
other "eye" leather items....covers for I-pads and e-readers,
I-phones and card holders as well as my journal covers.

Above is a  preview of two I-pad covers.

The Javits show is advertising itself as 3 shows in one.
Should be a fascinating mix.  I'll share some of my
discoveries or favorites next post.  Anyone near New York
City - please come on over...I'll be in Booth #233. It would
be great to see you.

Adventure on!   Wendy

New sculptures and books emerging in the studio

October - Open Studios and Fall shows. 

I've been having fun working on new creatures and new book designs,

including the one above who facebook friends have so far identified as

a unicorn, a fire breathing deer, and dragon. We'll see what folks think

during Roxbury Open Studios this weekend. Studios are open 11-6 both

Saturday, Oct. 6 and Sunday, Oct 7.  Map and complete info for 

Roxbury Open Studios at: Discovery Roxbury.org

Besides lots of finished work, people who visit my studio

will see new creatures in various stages of

completion. Including this dragon rearing on its hind legs.  

And these figures....which started as dancing wire armatures...
Next the wire was wrapped with polyester and that covered
with muslin..and beaks added. Leather, beads and wings
will follow.

One last "before" photo for you. This shows what
is beneath the leather of the cover at the top of this
post. Pieces of bark and wood are glued down as I
begin to visualize the final design. But until the leather
is on, I never know exactly what the final  piece will look
like.  I enjoy being surprise.  Who would ever guess it
might be a fire breathing deer!

Hopefully many of the new creatures will be finished for my next show
American Craft Show NYC Oct. 19-21.  Next post I'll share the
final appearance of at least some. Definitely a couple new
species in the works, so I'm hoping they'll tell me their stories.

Happy Fall  - Please drop by my studio or the NYC show if you're
in the area!

Adventure on! Wendy

Movement, Motion and Meaning in Boston Area Exhibits

 

 So if I need a wheelchair someday, I'll have David Lang design one like
this for me. Title: Deadelus on the other Hand.  It's part of his and
 Virginia Fitzgerald's exhibit  "Upon Further consideration: What tells a
Story" at the Carney gallery of Regis College  now until October 27. I've
been aware of both of their work for some time, but this was the first
time I had the fun of seeing so much gathered together and playing of
each other...which they do beautifully.....

As the show title indicates, this is a show filled with story and meaning.

Here's David with his piece: "If shoes could talk":

And talk they do thanks to speakers in the piece.   Most of David's other
pieces tell their stories through motion..activated as you approach the
pieces.Such as this piece, titled: "When the Castinetti Sisters First
Learned to Fly" :

 The materials Virginia makes her pieces from tell a good part of their
 stories, enhanced by form.  Below: "Dress of Etiquette" - made from a
shredded copy of Emily Post which Virginia said she received as a
wedding present and thoroughly enjoying tearing up.

 

The piece below called "Treacherous"  is made of wooden skewers,
wire, masking tape and broken mirrors. -Made from  "the feeling you
are overwhelmed with  responsibilities and are just keeping things
together - a dangerous game":

I recommend trying to get out to experience the exhibit as well as
checking out David and Virginia's website and their  blogs to learn
about them and their journeys.   You can see the movement of David's
pieces on his website, but in person is always better..  Both artisst keep
very busy with exhibits around the area.  There is a collaborative
installation called Birds of Poetry by Virginia flying in the atrium of
the Attleboro public library.

   Finally, I want to lift up one other exhibit - the Os Gemeos exhibit at
Boston's  Institute of Contemporary Art.  I went a few weeks past and
the images from the work are definitely still present for me...awake and
in my dreams.   The exhibit is there until Nov. 25th.  I could go on and
on about the work of the Brazilian urban artists, Otavio and Gustavo
Pandolfo, but will leave you just with this one image and story it
brings forth. Title of this piece is: " No Fundo de Mar E Respirar Mas
Facil" (In the Depth of the Ocean, it's Easier to Breathe")

and encourage you to see the exhibit if you possibly can.

Now back to my studio to work on sculptures for Roxbury 
Open Studios Oct. 6-7 and for the Oct. 19-21 American Craft
Show NYC. 


Adventure on!   Wendy

Creative synergy....American Craft Show NYC - Woodrow Nash,Njee Dorsey and others

 During our recent Italian adventure, I thought a lot about
artistic synergy... about what it must have been like
during Renaissance days in Florence with Michelangelo,
Brunelleschi, Ghiberti and so many others working, competing,
and challenging each other.  The air had to be thick with
creativity. (I love that 27 year old Michelangelo just saw
that large block of "flawed" marble and asked if he could
carve it...and David emerged...and reading that Brunelleschi,
designer of the dome of the Duomo in Florence, was originally
trained as a goldsmith!) I thought about the atmosphere
of the early 1900's in Paris with Picasso, Diego Rivera,
Cocteau, Modigliani and so many others interacting. The
ponderings helped me understand why I still enjoy and find
the energy to do art shows.  We go to sell and present our work,
but we also show up to be a part of that synergy.  Many of us
work in our own studios. We don't hang out together at a cafe
in Montmatre, but we do come together at shows.

For over 40 years now, shows have been an important part of
my artistic life.  They are the gathering places of community
where we connect and meet and are places of challenge,
creative competition and inspiration.

I promised images from our Italian venture and will post them
soon.  But before that - I want to share images and websites
from some of the artists who were present at the American
Craft Show NYC this past weekend who inspired me to
want to work harder than ever to create vision and perfect
techniques.(Check out the show's website to savor all the
exhibitors: www.americancraftshownyc.com)

The image above is of Woodrow Nash with one of his sculptures.
His website: www.theragegallery.com explains the vision of 
this extraordinary artist and is filled with images.  Definitely
check it out - you won't be disappointed!

Another artist I enjoyed meeting was Najee Dorsey:
www.artbynajee.com   Najee hails from Atlanta.
Here is an image of his booth:

I wasn't surprised to hear that he regularly participates in New Orleans
Jazzfest.  He's one of the juror's for the Congo Square art this year.
He incorporates bottle caps in some of his collage paintings.

The show had a wonderful range of work.  Take for instance
Ben Joyce's Abstract Topophilia inspired by aerial maps:

Ben's website: www.benjoyceart.com

And the sculpture of self-proclaimed "outsider" artist: Pierre-Henry Guerard:

Born in France and living both in France and Morocco, Pierre Henry's
studio is now in Brooklyn.  His website: www.pierrehenryguerard.com

And for still more contrast, the intriguing abaca paper illuminated
sculptural lighting of Robert Ostermeyer and Riki Moss:

Their website: www.studio-glow.com Riki,a long time ceramic sculptor,
is  exploring the possibilities of paper sculpture, lighting and even has a
published novel. What did I say about creative energy swirling?

Shows offer a chance to meet new friends, to reconnect with old friends
and often foster thought provoking conversation.  Of course another
fun aspect is seeing  my  creatures  "find" their owners.  This afternoon
I delivered two pieces to a customer who runs a small neighborhood
cafe. He said as soon as he saw the pieces, he knew they were meant to
go home with him. He has done a lot of things in the business world,
but at this point in his life is focused on building community via
running the cafe(bakes brownies every night, and up at 5AM every
morn to get everything ready) and offering reasonable rental housing.
We talked about the importance of being "present" wherever one lives.
His familyroots go back over 100 years in the neighborhood...seems
like a very good new home for those Star Wanderers!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family
and friends...next post, some of the Italian venture images.

Adventure on!   Wendy