Happy New Year! There were so many things to be grateful for and I’m looking forward to what is in store in 2016. Here’s a short recap of what I was up to last year.
1.New Studio- moved from my former studio (the attic of my in-laws house) to a space around the corner from my kid’s school. I always thought about my identity as an artist as being completely separate from being a mother. Perhaps subconsciously I situate my art making so that I can be near my children. My first studio space was ideal since my mother in law lived across the street and would keep the children for me. As my both my kids got older and began going to school full-time the new studio location is within walking distance.
2. Broken Eggs! I was invited to be apart of a wonderful fundraising project speared by lawyer and art collector Charles Bluestone. Over 20 Ohio based artists were charged with the task of making art out of an ostrich egg in order to raise funds for the Ohio Art League’s permanent gallery space. My egg smashed into pieces and I just ran with it. Check out my egg along with some other titanic talent at http://www.arthatchingacrossohio.com/artist-eggs/
3. Florida- I hopped a plane with my partner in crime Stephanie Rond and poet extraordinaire Anisa Gandevivala to participate in “Breaking Tradition: A Women’s Art Symposium.” We each presented our work in a 30 minute presentation and facilitated art making workshops all day. In my workshop I had students and adults each create a 4 x 4 canvas and attached it to a 8 ft x 4ft surface. It hangs in the Winter Springs High School library. I must also sing the praises of the incomparable Sherry Peters who meticulously and wonderfully organized this event. Every single school in America should covet an educator as dedicated and as wonderful as Sherry!!! Oh, yeah we also got up close and personal with alligators!
4. Stretching, Growing, Learning- this year I started some work that challenged me. “Make Your Peace” began as a part of me working through some hard questions about my faith to becoming a commentary on the unjust and untimely deaths of young black men. Bullets, blessing gestures, liquor bottle shrines, and broken mirrors were the result.
4. Shows, Shows, Shows- This year I exhibited my work in big venues, small spaces and everything in between. I finally applied and got accepted into my first nationally juried show at the National Afro American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce, OH. I also took a chance and had a wildly successful exhibit at a friends apartment.
5. Girl Scouts- this has nothing to do with art but I became a Girl Scouts leader for my daughters Daisy troop.
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