Open Call

Here it is, the Open Call to Artists is posted and it only took me 35 minutes! Soon to follow will be the Prospectus and Application. I am becoming a computer whiz despite my misgivings. Time marches on and I will not be left behind in the dust. Well, maybe I'll still be in the dust, but I'll definitely be in the middle of the pack. At least I'm learning as I go.

Summer has finally arrived at the Jersey Shore, and I am eternally grateful that we actually had 3 days of warm sunshine. For a while, I thought we would have rain every day all summer long. Miserable weather, but the blueberries are fabulous this year, and we've already staked out a secret location. Yumm! We went out tonight for 30 minutes, and came home with about a half gallon, and that was after The Granddaughter ate a third of them! So now the hard part will be deciding what to do with them. Husband warned me to decide fast, or she'll eat them all before we make a pie or muffins or whatever. Nothing better than fresh blueberries, and these are absolutely delicious.

Hmmmmmm. This is art blog, after all, so let's talk art. I've been playing with the idea of doing something wacky, abstract, edgy, off the cuff, not my usual style at all. I got a great book on the images taken by the Hubble Telescope, and it really got my creative juices flowing. So I want to experiment with some different materials, and play a little. I'll let you know what transpires.

Mad Rantings

Okay, new equation: permanent damage in right arm and shoulder + days upon days of rain and roller-coaster barometers = constant pain accompanied by a lethargic, non-creative, anti-productive state-of-mind, multiplied by a self-imposed guilt trip for not creating, and divided by not enough time for work, house, family, and me. Result? I'm not painting. And I'm resenting it, but there is no-one to blame. It's just life. And right now, it's not fun.

And to make it all just that much better, I recently had a birthday which was a not-too-subtle reminder that this is now a way of life, and not likely to get easier or better in the future. Or ever. So what are my choices? Can't order a day with more hours in it, or change my physicality, or stop being a wife and mom,or quit my job, so the choice comes down to what? Not sleep? Not likely. Okay, maybe sleep less? Fine line here between tired and zombie. And seeing as how I work with sharp bladed instruments all day at work, not a good idea to be dead on my feet all day. Arrggggh. Why does my life have to be so.......normal? Just wanna paint. That's all. But I don't really want to give up everything we've worked so hard for, either. Okay, I admit it, I am a spoiled rotten example of the baby boomer American woman with all of the attributes of a whiny princess on Valium. So, now what? Somebody kick me in the assets, and point me to the Studio door, cause this is Life and and you don't get a Mulligan.

Well, thanks for that little pep talk. I do believe it helped, and I'm feeling oh-so-relieved that my disease is not life-threatening, and is most likely attributable to some form of mental deficiency. :)

My Muse

The Shore Institute of Contemporary Art (SICA) has a great exhibit on now through July. For more info, go to http://www.sica.org/

MAY 29- JULY 2
EXHIBITION
FRESH MEAT / YOUNG BLOOD
This exhibition will again feature the best "new blood" that New Jersey has to offer. Reception: Sunday, 5/31, 3-6 pm.

I spent the entire day playing with my granddaughter. What fun!! She is the light of my life, and I never get tired of being a part of her life. She is bright, funny, imaginative, and theatrical. I think all artists, and most people, would be far better off spending time with a 4-year-old, instead of wasting time working and making money. Not that I make money while I'm working, but you get the idea! She is so free and creative, and it rubs off on me when I'm with her. She is truly my muse and inspiration, and she sees it as playing. How cool is that? Nothing better, I'm telling you!

Studio Messes and Upcoming Events

Okay, the long holiday weekend is over, and its back to reality. I did manage to continue working on a painting I started some time ago, and I came home from work today to find that the almost 4 year old granddaughter had gotten into my studio and "experimented". Sigh. Now the door is locked if I'm not home, and I have the keys with me. Thank goodness she "painted" on her own stuff and not mine, but in order to keep her safe and me sane, the lock is on. I thought those days were over, LOL!

I have been very lax in scoping out new exhibits, but 'tis the season for outdoor shows and festivals, so there should be no excuses for not going to see all the wonderful talent in our area.

Art in the Park, Bay Head Saturday June 13 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Bay Head Business Association Over 45 professional artists selling original paintings, drawings and high quality limited edition prints in an outdoor show in Centennial Park, Bay Head (off of Bridge Avenue behind the municipal parking lot). Musical entertainment, within walking distance to the shops, restaurants and galleries. Three blocks from the beach. Rain date: Sunday, June 14th.Location: Centennial Park, Bridge Avenue, Bay Head Cost: Free to the public Phone: (732) 892-7776Website: http://bayhead.biz/activities/artpark.htm Accessibility: handicap parking, bathrooms, etc

LBI Artist Open Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday, June 27 & 28 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. LBI Foundation of the Arts & Sciences support the growing arts community on LBI, where many accomplished visual artists live and work. On this self-directed tour see the artists and their aspiring artwork in their local studios. View artwork in all media. Pick-up a guide book at the LBIF or online at www.lbiartists.com. Location: 120 Long Beach Blvd., Loveladies Cost: Free and Open to the Public Phone: (609) 494-1241Website: www.lbifoundation.org

Just two of a myriad of local art venues that you can visit and the cost for these two are FREE!

Exhibits and Shows

The motion for the Art Show was passed last night. Now the hard work begins. I am a little afraid that once more I have bitten off more than I can chew, but I have the support of my wonderful husband and two grown daughters, and I'm sure I can persuade the already very busy and involved people of the Council to chip in and make this work. My dilemma is a moral one at this point. Do I, as the chief organizer of this art show, allow myself to exhibit? I am having mixed feelings about it, part of me feels that I should exclude myself, but the other part of me wants to exhibit. As an artist, I feel that that every opportunity to show and sell should be embraced, and I would certainly pay for my space like everyone else. Does anyone have an opinion on this?? Let me know.

The TRACx81 general meeting was held tonight. Pitifully, only 4 members showed up for the meeting. Our president is stepping down after 2 years for personal reasons, and we need a new leader. We also discussed the necessity of rethinking our future goals and purpose. So a lot of heavy serious discussion was bounced back and forth, but with only four members and one impartial non-member present, not too much was accomplished. I am afraid that if we go in the direction of our original vision, there will be a core group of perhaps 8 people who make all the decisions and do all the work. Pretty much what we have now. So, it looks like we in a state of flux.

now, the good news! Yvonne is having a solo show at the Ocean County Artist's Guild during the month of June. Her show is titled "Playing with Fire" and I can't wait to go! If you don't know Yvonne, she is an amazing glass artist with tremendous insight and creativity. The Artist's Guild is located on the corner of Ocean and Chestnut Streets in Island Heights. Make sure you get to see her work. Awesome stuff.
Playing With Fire - Solo Exhibit - Yvonne Yaar, Glass ArtistSunday, June 7 through Tuesday, June 301:00pm - 4:00pm; opening reception June 7, 1:00pmOcean County Artists' GuildGlass artist Yvonne Yaar creates both wall art/sculpture and glass jewelry. Yvonne feels her art incorporates themes of motherhood, love of nature, humor, politics and addiction. She is also president and founder of the local art co-operative TRACx81.Location: Ocean and Chestnut Avenues, Island HeightsCost: FreePhone: (732) 270-3111Website: www.ocartistsguild.org

As soon as I get a date nailed down for the Artist's Show and Sale at St. Paul's in Beachwood, I will post it and also start accepting applications for artists. Also look for a list of upcoming art events for the summer, all posted here as I receive them.

Proposals and Dry Spells

Tonight I will hand in my proposal for a Fine Art Show to be held next Spring. I'm pretty confident it will be accepted; it's a win-win situation for them: I do the work, they get the benefit. This is the second time I've organized a show like this, the last one being in the early eighties, so it's been a while since I actually did one. I wonder if there was a reason I didn't organize a show for over 20 years? Lucky for me I have MMF (menopausal memory failure) so I am going into this endeavor absolutely free of any bad past experiences. And I'm sure there are some.

I have entered a no-create zone. Something like the twilight zone, without Rod Serling. Last night I was all ready to go into the studio and start throwing paint on canvas, but life threw another curve ball, this one being in the form of a 3-year-old granddaughter who needed outside playtime and then a bath. I don't know about you, but my ability to say "no" to a 3-year-old ended when my own kids grew up. Now the grandkid says pleeeeeeeeeease and I follow blindly, unwilling and unable to refuse her requests. Maybe it has something to do with time flying by, going faster and faster the older I get. I give up. So anyway, the gist of it is, still no new work in the studio, although even I have to admit, it's been quite a long dry spell. So my goal for this week is to create one small study. Not even going to say a real painting. Because I can feel myself sliding into a complacent state of mind, and that spells doom for me. I have to be in a state of agitation, of chaos, of just-this-side-of-panic to produce in volume. Because easy and relaxed kills my Muse. Nothing inspires me more than to be under pressure, and even self-induced pressure can work. The hardest stroke of the brush is the first one, and I have 2 or 3 paintings that are begging to be finished, as well. One is a very loose portrait of my daughter and granddaughter at the beach. Remember how I said I don't do portraits? Well, this is not a portrait, per se, sort of an impressionistic rendering. But it's not finished. So maybe instead of starting a new one, I should work on that. The hard part is done on that one, already blocked in and everything. Okay, I've talked myself into it. After work, after proposal giving, I'm going to go take another look at the beach portrait and maybe even mix some paint. Pray for me, that nothing else gets in line in front of the studio tonight!

Success! and Thanks!

Well, the much-touted, highly anticipated Toms River Art and Music Fest is over. Well, the Art part, anyway. Music goes until 9 p.m. tonight. It turned out to be a fabulous day. Bright sunny with a breeze (gusty at times) but overall, it was great. Kudos to Rich Kushinsky, who garnered a prize and woo-hoos to every participant who had faith that it would not rain.

Many heartfelt thanks to my buddy Mike Brennan, who showed up bright and early to help unload, set up, babysat while I had to go to work, and then helped break down everything and load up. Without you, Mike, I wouldn't have been able to participate. So, thankyouthankyouthankyou and let's set up another night for dinner.

Many many thanks to Yvonne Yaar for her undying dedication and tireless work to make this event happen. You're the best, Eve, and I love ya! I still need that coffee date.

Also need to thank all the behind-the-scenes people for their parts, but this is sounding like the Academy Awards, so let it suffice to say, The First Annual Toms River Art and Music Fest was an awesome day! If you missed it, you can always catch us next year.