Buried Treasure 2011

Buried Treasure - A Call for Collaborative Participants!

So many blogs...so little time. With so many wonderful art blogs to follow, it is difficult to always find the time to keep up with every new post -- let alone have the time to visit the posts that were put up before you discovered each blog.

So...two years ago I started an annual treasure hunt. Buried Treasure is about digging deep to uncover some hidden gems. The premise is simple. On Thursday, July 28th all participating bloggers will re-post one (or more) of their favorite posts that ever appeared on their blog. As you might already know, I don't like too many rules when it comes to art. So anything goes.

Please leave a comment on this post if you would like to participate. On Thursday, July 28th, I will post a list of all participating artists on my blog so that you can be sure to find all the Buried Treasure. Feel free to let your own readers know about this project by spotlighting it on a post on or prior to reveal day. Please (and this is important) email me with a link when your post goes up so I know to add you to the posted list on my blog.

And if you cannot wait until next week, you can click here and here to be taken to the links from over 140 favorite posts from 2009, and here for the posts from 2010. These are also always available on my sidebar.

Happy hunting!

Exquisite

Welcome to the Exquisite Corpse

The Exquisite Corpse Festival officially kicks off with an opening night party on Saturday, July 9th at 7:30 at Space on White in NYC. The collaborative visual creations of over 30 artists, from print to sculpture to fashion design, will be on display. The exquisite corpse is not the work of art itself, but a game played by three artists, who may or may not know each other or even see each other. Each artist secretly creates a piece of the same whole. One takes the head, another the torso, and a third the legs. They collaborate not through negotiation but through trust. Originally executed via a drawing folded in thirds, Exquisite Corpse Festival expands this idea to a vast aray of artistic mediums- from music, to plays to taxidermy.  My partners in exquisite crime were John Borrero and Stephanie Rubiano. Together we created a mixed media sculpture, although we worked on our assigned parts separately. John made the base and legs, Stephanie made the torso and wings, and I made the head.

Without further ado, I introduce you to our very own exquisite corpse...

front

profile

back

She is approximately 2 feet tall. Her head is made from heavy gage wire and vintage book pages with greek text from 1820. Her torso and wings are made from soldered wire, gampi paper, and encaustic medium (beeswax and damar resin). Her base is made from a wooden found object and her skirt was created from several different vintage silks.

The Exquisite Corpse Festival will run from July 9th to August 2nd. Space on White is located on 81 White Street (off Broadway) in Tribeca. The gallery is open 7 days a week from 10:30am to 10:00pm.

An Even Dozen

Issue number 12 of PASTICCIO QUARTZ has arrived. Sarah Fishburn and Angela Cartwright are the writers, artists, and masterminds behind this QUality ART Zine. I have always said that this publication is more than a zine and the current issue is no exception. Between the covers you will find 60-pages packed with artistic inspiration.

This issue features an interview with artist Amanda Marie Ploegsma, an article featuring ceramic artist Laurie Beth Zuckerman, and a workshop project by Suzi Blu. There are book recommendations and reviews, website recommendations, apps for artists, quotes, wordplay, recipes, and of course the Palais d'Art section which highlights the original artwork of more than 15 artists. And there seems to be endless tidbits of cool information sprinkled throughout, including info about eco-friendly products, chalkboard paint, Japanese cloth wrapping, and so much more.

And a big thank you is due to Sarah and Angela for also including a feature about Winds of Change, a collaborative project and self-published book that I completed with Roxanne Evans Stout from River Garden Studio.

You can purchase all 12 issues of Pasticcio here.

Let it Shine

Earlier this month I posted an update regarding my collaboration with Bridgette Guerzon Mills and Jen Wordon. Our project began in early 2009 and is in the process of winding down. We each created a book structure that we would all work in, with the main idea of the collaboration being to challenge ourselves creatively. 

My recent post showed the pages I made for Book of Trees, Bridgette's book of plaster pages. I continue to work on the last sets of pages in Contexture, my own book of paper pages, and I will highlight these on my blog in the near future. Today's post is all about Shine, Jen's metal pages. The three pages, back and front, that I contributed to her project follow...

All three projects from the collaboration will be exhibited at the end of July as part of the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival in Chicago. Specific details about the exhibition will be posted soon.

Collaborative Completion

Anybody who has followed this blog will know that I am usually involved in many collaborative art projects, all at the same time. Well, all good things come to an end and that is about to be the case for my collaboration with artists and friends Bridgette Guerzon Mills and Jen Worden.

Back in 2009 we began this project, where the main idea was to challenge and experiment with our creative skills. I created a handbound, vintage paper book with the theme Contexture. Jen created a series of loose metal pages with the theme Shine. Bridgette created a book with plaster pages with the theme Book of Trees.

We each now have our own projects back and are in the process of finishing them up. I plan to share each of the final projects on the blog and first up is Bridgette's Book of Trees.

Photograph by Bridgette Guerzon Mills

Bridgette's gorgeous cover was an enticing start and a great inspiration for my first attempt at working on plaster pages.

Reflection - Page published in Plaster Studio

Branch

Grow

Head on over to this post on Bridgette's blog, Contemplating the Moon, to see images from every page in her book and to read about her own personal experience with the collaboration.

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I thank Bridgette and Jen for their talent, friendship, patience, and inspiration throughout these 2 1/2 years. And the icing on an already very sweet cake:  we are all very excited that all three projects will be part of an exhibition curated by Jane Michalski in July called Come Together as part of the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival in Chicago. Details to be posted soon.

Plaster Studio

Plaster Studio: Mixed-Media Techniques for Painting, Casting and Carving by artists Judy Wise and Stephanie Lee has just been released by North Light Books and is now available for purchase.

This is a wonderful book that has opened my eyes to a whole new way to create textured art. The book includes a series of well-explained projects on painting, sculpting, casting, carving, and making books -- all using plaster and related materials. Also included throughout the book are gallery pieces created by other artists. I am happy to share that one of my artworks is in the book as well.

Stephanie and Judy have generously shared their personal thoughts for the readers of The Altered Page about the creation of their book and the process of working together as a team. 

Judy Wise...

"We started on this journey over a year ago and it seems like from the very beginning it was inevitable. Back then it was Stephanie the Plaster of Paris queen meets Judy the Joint Compound fanatic. The more we compared notes, the more we realized that we had a lot of experience between the two of us. More than that though was the friendship and desire to work together on a common goal. Whenever artists combine their vision, things get done. It has been nothing short of thrilling for me to team up with someone as talented and rewarding to be with as Stephanie. She could have easily written a plaster book on her own but I can't believe it would have been as much fun as holding the hand of a friend and riding this roller coaster together. Who knew that collaboration could be this much fun? It has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me; a real "bucket list" experience and I am savoring every sweet moment."

Stephanie Lee...

"This book has been a long time coming. More than a couple of years ago, I spoke with Tonia, my editor, about featuring the medium of plaster in a book. She was more than game for the idea knowing that there were few, if any, books that specialized in the medium. When I was exploring the medium myself, I spent countless hours in search of books that would inform me more about how I could use  plaster in my artwork. While I was having no luck finding such a book, I experimented on my own to see what I could figure out in the meantime. At one point I was whining to my husband about not being able to find ANY books on working with plaster. His [typical] response was, 'I guess you need to write it.'

Right away, I knew he was right. I had done so much research and trail with the medium that I had learned a lot about how it worked and how I could work it. I wanted the book I would write about plaster to be the very book I would have wanted to find on the shelves and so it wasn't something I rushed into. Getting the book going was a stop-start process for a long time. I didn't know what was missing until I had the idea to ask Judy if she would consider co-authoring the book with me. I admired her passion for understanding materials and her experience and wisdom with the creative process is second to none. Once she was on board, we hit the ground running and haven't looked back and I'm so glad. With a year or so behind us and the entire process of writing this book to be very recent history, I can honestly say that it has been the most rewarding creative collaboration for me to date.


I have learned so much about observing Judy's process, her approach, and her ways of being that have planted a deep and sincere trust that I can be totally and fully authentic in life. Of course in relation to my artwork, but also (and more importantly) in relation to me as a human being. She has been the best example of art-is-life for me and has reassured my belief that one can be totally and completely immersed in creative exploration and still be a well rounded human being. No one dispels the "troubled artist" persona myth like Judy. I want to be just like her when I grow up. :)


If you find yourself struggling to know how the urge to satiate your creative inklings fits into the day to day routine of life, I only have to say this: You cultivating your creativity in a way that enhances your life and your ability to be your most authentic self is a big deal. I mean that. When you listen to that little nudge that tells you to honor your creativity, even if you're not quite sure what that all means for you, you are giving a message to everyone around you that they can do the same. When we all honor our creative inklings, we honor our essence and therefore are able to be our highest, truest selves to the world and to those around us. And when we are our highest, truest selves, we vibrate with authenticity and THAT is the kind of energy that creatively finds ways to feed the hungry, clothes the naked, comfort the lonely, uplift the weary, and shine light in all the dark corners where dust is gathering. Just remember that if you get frustrated along the way of your creative journey."

Thanks Judy and Stephanie for sharing your thoughts with all of us!

Past, Present, Future

Past: Three items will retire from my Etsy shop over the course of the next 10 days. I am offering free shipping on all three pieces if bought before the retirement party. 

Steps

Moments

Reasons


Present: Thanks to everybody who has responded to the questions in my ongoing survey. You will hear about all the results, some of which are very surprising, in my upcoming 'Your Blog, Your Way' posts on Create Mixed Media. For now, three more questions have been added to my sidebar. Head on over and speak your mind!

Future: Thanks to everybody who has requested information about the newest edition of The Pulse. Over 175 of you have asked for the guidelines! There is still time to join the project. The deadline for submissions is June 12th. Shoot me an email if you are interested in participating.

To those in the US, enjoy the long weekend. To everybody else, enjoy your usual weekend!

What's New?

New survey questions have just been added to the sidebar of my blog. Head on over and have your say - totally anonymously of course!

The Pulse, edition #5, is starting with an open call. I have already had almost 150 artists ask for information. Join the party and email me. I will send you all the specs!

Iaso debuts in my Etsy shop. She is the Greek Goddess of Cures, Remedies, and Healing.

What's new with you?

Pulse V Open Call

It is once again time to take your pulse! The Pulse is an online and print project that has been part of The Altered Page since January 2008. Its purpose is to "tap into the pulse" of the online, mixed-media arts community. With so many talented and creative artists to follow, I thought it would be fun, informative, and inspiring to bring them together through a series of ongoing projects. The aim: to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and to provide a window into the creative hearts and minds of a talented group of individuals.

I would like to put out an open call to all mixed-media artists who would like to participate in the 5th online edition of The Pulse. You can access all prior editions by clicking the links on the sidebar of my blog. You are more than welcome to leave a comment on this post, but if you are interested in participating, please email me and I will forward all the information you need to join in. Go ahead. Email. You know you want to!!

Graffiti Giveaway

Graffiti Wall 2010: a collaboration between Julie, Lynne, and myself.

It started with this...

painted and altered paper

...and this...

stacks of ephemera

...and turned into this...

my contribution: lost and found

...and ended up here...

photo shoot for somerset studio

...and landed here...

Julie's contribution on the cover

...and could now be in your hands...

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GIVEAWAY

Now that the issue has been released, Julie and I find each other with extra copies of the March/April Somerset Studio to give away. To be eligible to win a copy from me, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post by Tuesday 3/15. I will post the winner's name on my Facebook page on Wednesday 3/16. Please make sure I have your email so I can contact you if you win. And don't forget to visit Julie to leave a comment on her post and double your chances of winning.

The Great Wall

In 2009 Julie Prichard, Lynne Hoppe, and I collaborated together on a project we called Graffiti Wall. You can read all about it and see images here. This project was so unique, fun, and inspiring that we decided to collaborate again on Graffiti Wall 2010. We each created our own hand painted papers and mailed these to each other along with assorted ephemera. Using Graffiti Wall as our theme, we were then free to create whatever we wanted, in any format, using the papers. We did not share what we were creating until the pieces were complete.

I am thrilled that this project is currently being featured in the March/April issue of Somerset Studio. And I am even more excited that Julie's part of the project is the cover image.

My project is called Lost and Found and was inspired by the layers and layers of graffiti that were such a large part of NYC in the early 1980s.

(click images to enlarge)

The palette of my piece reflects the darkness that seemed to permeate the city at that time. The triptych represents the three of us in collaboration. And the Lost and Found is reflective of the journey that the graffiti, the city, and I have taken.

Thanks to Julie and Lynne for being the perfect co-collaborators. And a thank you to Christen Olivarez, Director of Publishing at Stampington & Comapny, for allowing us to share this project with so many others!

In Context

Way back in January 2009, I started a collaborative project with Bridgette Guerzon Mills and Jen Worden. We each created our own handmade structures, in any style we wanted, and began exchanging pieces so that we would all would work in all the structures multiple times. Jen created a set of loose metal pages. Bridgette made a plaster book. And I created a handmade book from vintage dictionary pages. Here is the cover of Contexture...

We have now all worked in each others projects two or three times. This is the first spread I created in my own book (click to enlarge)...

And I have just completed my second spread...

My book is now on its way to Bridgette so she can work her magic next.