Studiology

And Then There's This

August began with an email from the McGuffey Art Center with a proposition, do a show, fill two of the main hallway walls with art. What do you say? And of course I said yes and here we are, the week before September and the week before a big show. I am paired with Michael Firkaly and the show is "Whimsy", which was all hung yesterday and today and indeed looks very whimsical. 

To build and paint 15 new pieces would be impossible in 3 weeks, so I did my best and managed to complete 6 new and rework others. Time in my studio has been diligent and lengthily, but what came out of that are some really fun, brave and new works. The reception is this Friday, September 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 and the show hangs for the entire month. There is also an Artist's Walk and Talk, Sunday, September 10th, 2:00 - when I will detail some of the whys and ways the building process came along. 

First Fridays in Charlottsville are epic and I'm excited to be such an integral part of the action. Lots more photographs of this event will be posted as well as a few before and after. There are 4 shows occupying the McGuffey building for September and they are all spectacular!  Not to ignore the concerts, restaurants, and fun shops.

August

I'm having a brave and full summer, a lot of which I will share here. A mix of gardens and art, all good stuff. 

My wet meadow has been spectacular and only planted this spring. Hummingbirds seem to be there 24/7 and there have been numerous monarch caterpillars, as well as lots of other pollinators. The seed will be used to fuel my front yard which we have stopped mowing and has numerous wet spots.

With only a few months of not mowing part of the lawn, I was excited to find a Spiranthes cernua or Nodding Lady Tresses in the mix, a tiny orchid. There are also numerous asters popping up, and I will be adding seed of other native asters this fall.

On Fridays we visit a local farm to pick-up our weekly produce. Part of the package deal is access to their cut flower fields which are incredible, so on a weekly basis I get to put a couple of flower arrangements together.

And today, yes TODAY, I bought a greenhouse. The size is 11 x 16', and to tell you I'm excited is an understatement! Small in comparison to the numerous greenhouses of Windy Hill days, but certainly sufficient for anything I need here. 

Delivery is a few weeks away, giving us time to pour cement and get some things setup.

As if that wasn't enough, the big art gallery had a snafu of sorts with scheduling and offered me space for a show. That was determined the first week of August and the show opens September 1! I will share the space with another wonderful artist - Mike Firkaly and the title is "Whimsy".  We are a perfect pairing, and I can't wait to see this come together. Details and snippets of finished pieces will be forthcoming. 

In the walking mall gallery I have added new Pez dispensers, something I had backed off of and am happy to be making again. There is a bit of an obsession with Sasquatch and similar creatures, all after the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference and a history of conversations with believers (or are they?). 

More to come, lots more!