Charity Art Auction for Hurricane Sandy Relief

As many of you have heard, the New York 

Tri-state area suffered much damage and destruction as a result of Hurricane Sandy. which has taken the lives of over 106 people in the US to date.  Relief efforts can not be provided soon enough or with as much supplies as necessary. As a result  The Altered Page created an auction where bundles have been created to include combinations of signed art books, original artworks and art classes whose proceeds will go directly to 

The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.  

 I am donating one of my original 6"X6" mixed media collages titled: 

"What to Listen For" 

     To bid on my artwork included in a new bundle, you need to email Seth Apter from The Altered Page at shap97@gmail.com with your bid. He will update the bidding total and post the bids as quickly as he can. The bidding will start at $25.00 for each created  bundle but the hope is that they will go much higher. Bidding ends 11:59PM EST on Sunday November 11. The winning bidder can either make their donation directly to the charity via credit card or though Seth via check or  paypal.  100% of the proceeds will benefit The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City  providing  water, food, and hygiene supplies as well as long term relief and restoration efforts.

Extending my deepest sympathies and prayers to all those who directly or indirectly  have been affected by the storm. 

Sending peace,

 Gratitude 

And best wishes 

To all who can assist in some way. 

xo

Have You Heard of THE CONVERSATION?

It's new, it's different, its debut starts now..... 

     As many of you are aware, Seth Apter from the Altered Page had a call for 5"x 5" artworks as part of an ongoing project to his Pulse of Mixed Media Book.  Somerset Studio  showed tremendous interest in the project and as a result, Seth sent all 110 artworks he received to them for possible publication. What resulted was acceptance of 18 of those submitted. In addition to the terrific excitement for those artists and the works that were chosen, there were lots of great conversations initiated on questions of what it means to have your art published- both personally and professionally.

     As a result, I created  The Conversation, an email listing open to all who have expressed the desire in having informal discussions on a variety of topics. The idea is to have more intimate exploration of thoughts that will NOT be published on the Internet. They will be conversation via old fashioned emails- different from twitter that has a limited number of characters, facebook or Linked-In where membership is required. This email list is easy and spontaneous to use by just hitting "reply all" to the last email written. I hope that  The Conversation (currently composed of 16 members) serves as one more venue of positive expression for all genres of the art community.  There are  just a few parameters to stay within.

1) This is a positive conversation for support, ideas, philosophies and questions on one's artwork for suggestions- but not for oohs and aahs of artwork- that's for Blogland! :)

2) Anyone can follow up individually with one another to pursue more in depth conversations that may not be appropriate for the list serve.

3)Subjects are open and flexible!

4) There is to be no direct criticism of anyone's art or person. Requested constructive advice seems appropriate. 

    

      I can't wait to get my copy of Somerset Studio to see the 18  published artworks from the Pulse Project. Though mine was not included, I believe that's part of "the art of art", the subjective nature of judging an artwork which includes the specifics of what the editors are looking for.  Perhaps there are 25 equally great selections for 10 spots, how does an editor decide? Is it luck of the draw, hit or miss, or are there other criteria in place? I have been blessed to have several works published, but have also had a couple of submissions that I never heard back on.  I always wonder what is the appropriate waiting period to submit this work to another magazine.   Have you had experience with this? Feel like talking about it- feel free to contact me or better yet, join in on The Conversation!

A Crescendoh Spotlight!

I'm so excited to have my TIME post spotlighted in CRESCENDOH today-

Hosted by guest curator  Seth Apter from The Altered Page.  

It's great  to share in the honorable mentions with the talented

 Tracie Lyn Huskamp

 from The Red Door. 

 Hard to believe, but coincidentally, Tracie's current posting of June 20, 2012  is also on Time. I love that she included the following quote in her post!

  

"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived." - Jean Luc Picard

As the expression goes,

Live Like you Mean It!

Hope you will try to capture what's in front of you today-

And Seize the moment.

The Altered Page's Stacks Collaboration!

Seth Apter from The Altered Page is at it again.  He is hosting Paper Stacks, an on line collaboration of all kinds of stacks-  whether they are papers, books, journals, or anything of our liking.  Here are my stacks for the day:

  Books- Books- and...more Books!   

Hop on over to Seth's blog to see all of the imaginative posts on stacks today!

I think no matter what's around you, whether they are books, papers, plates. or even projects to do- if they are colorful and are stacked- they have a mesmerizing look and feel about them!

Revealing Thursdays- An Art Metamorphosis!

     After reading Seth Apter from The Altered Page's article  "Your Blog Your Way" in Create Mixed Media,  I've decided to try his suggestion of selecting a specific day of the week to post a work in progress (even if it's just for this week).  I've decided to change the theme just a drop today- to  Revealing Thursday's - An Art Metamorphosis!
     As those who follow my artwork may know, it's not unusual for me to either take apart works I've completed to create new ones or just rework an artwork I've already "completed".

Here's my "first version" of a mixed media artwork I created in June titled:

The Gift of Life based on the colors within the  color wheel.

Then, what usually happens is I get "this feeling" that my work needs something- I just don't  always know what it is.  So, I begin a new journey of discovering  what I want to convey and how to accomplish it.  I would guess that some artists would just create a new work- but as of now, I've been reworking my original artwork.
Below is a photo of my revised piece-replacing the words  that were on the original work to a dragonfly made with a very old  rusted nail for the spine and mesh for its wings:

And as in many of my works - I  have  included something from my mom. In this piece, it's the embroidered green leaf on the top right  corner.  

In art, as in life, it's always important to take risks, experiment, try new things, explore.  Sometimes I get it right, and at other times, my revised version just doesn't hit the mark that I had intended.  But regardless of the outcome- I'm always glad I tried.  It's the process of moving  from an idea to a work of art that's so important to me,  to learn what works, what doesn't, and hopefully- to feel great with what I've created!

What do you do when you feel an artwork of yours isn't quite how you want it to be?

 

Collections Fest-Come Feast Your Eyes!

Seth Apter of The Altered Page has been running a Sunday series of posts from his Collector's Edition - (the fifth installment) in which artists have shared their favorite collection or obsession.

(picture by Seth Apter)

Seth has put out a second invite to collaborate in his super series. I participated in Seth's first roll call - which can be seen here in his chapter 2 edition on his blog.

This next collection of mine to showcase will be on this post today, with a link to Seth's blog here.

It was difficult to think of a collection that I wanted to spotlight- that has meaning to me and is truly a collection of mine. The dictionary defines the word in the following way:

Col-lec-tion- Noun

1) the act of collecting

2)something that is collected; a group of objects or an amount of material collected in one location

3)the various holdings of an art museum

The following is a poem I wrote in response to the selection of my first collection for Seth's blog.

Collections

Can't get these collections out of my mind.

Are they singular items you just find?

Or are they calculated searches to acquire

The items of your heart's desire.

Can you collect and not have a collection?

Do you need to make a specific selection?

By calculation, is there a specific equation

To feel that amazing "drawn" in sensation?

Do you need a collection for a gratifying affection?

Are collections things you need to hold?

Never to allowing them to ever be sold?

Only for us to keep- sacred and blessed for us to behold.

Are collections always kept within our fold?

Must they be only special unique items- not made in a mold?

To warm the heart so we are never cold?

Collections- on reflection- they're our cherished items

For any purpose

We each define them for ourselves

They are our " priceless gold".

Here are a few of my collections- items that I have gathered to use in my art.

This case that holds these items is a collection now of

"one"- but hopefully, not for too long!!

It is an old Chinese medicine cabinet purchased last year to help organize some of my art books and supplies.

Well, even a cabinet of collections considered "priceless gold"

ironically holds some priceless gold!

While the "hunt" in looking for items for my collections is certainly fun, the greatest joy is in selecting just the right piece to incorporate into my mixed media artwork and seeing it within the context of my art.

Thanks so much for visiting my newest collections post- please go here to see all of the fabulous collections from other artists on Seth's blog!

Take the TIme to Stop and Stare- Be Blissfully AWARE. Be In Awe...

It's one month today since my surgery.  My life is a mosaic filled tapestry of every site, scene, emotion, color, feeling and thought I have.  Filled with such a display of layers and textures, there is resilience, strength, growth, creation and a power so great that anything visioned can be possible.  Since posting about what has happened to me,  I have seen such an outpouring of support, kindness, extravagant giving and  open armed compassion that I've never seen or felt before.  It's a new type of connection that's somehow ethereal.  It's a oneness bond that is           so unique-  a oneness with everything around me. It's a new type of energy that feels limitless-  one that I hope to carry with me forever.

 I received the most beautiful package from the sweetest, most creative and gentle soul  of Alicia Caudle of Altered Bits.  She sent me a beautifully decorated envelop filled with the most gorgeous hand sewn  leaf journal adorned with the most precious Anais Nin quote, a bag of rainbow filled jewels with a special crystal healing pendent  inscribed with the most soulful healing words.

Alicia's hand sewn Leaf designed journal book.

And  to  be gifted again by a wonderful surprise, Alicia just sent me this follow-up  breathtaking  photo from above the clouds!

From my dear Danish "adopted" family I was blessed to be matched with over 30 years ago while studying  Danish design and the Danish health care system  at the University of Copenhagen, I received this beautiful photo from their gorgeous  garden in  their small home  town called Frederiksund.

The talented and most generous soul of Nancy Neva Gagliano of  Openings Connecting just got back from Taos and sent me these magnificent photos below.  

And  from my dear talented friend, Frithioff Johansen, who is the most amazing international  multi media artist,  I received this most magnificent rainbow photo taken in Jutland.

And, then there is Seth Apter,  my dearest cherished  soul mate friend  of  the altered page,  the most  genius mixed media artist, writer, photographer, innovator  and gifted spirit, I must express my  unending thanks for his daily inspiration,  support,  encouragements and hand holding.  Last year, Seth made me this beautiful journal  - hand made and bound- that was called The Voice of JZ.  I kept a folder of my favorite blog postings  which I planned to incorporate into the book.  

It is only now, after this miracle has happened, that I can really hear and feel my inner voice- connected to everything and everyone around me. 

With a new energy and spirit, I am so blessed and in awe to be alive. 

What a  treasure  this  has actually been- my angel wake up call. I  am so appreciative to everyone for their open hearts, their generosity and outpouring of love.

 I aM EternalLy GRATefUL.

With what seems like a TrAgedY, We CaN see Renewel, a RebiRtH of wHat waS--- to New Depths and HeightS GreAteR Than AnYthing we ALone could EvEr Have Imagined.

The decayed beauty transitions itself into  a  another form, like the beautiful cocoon to a ravishing  new born fluttering butterfly and the crying rain that transforms itself into the most stunning  masterfully glowing  crystal light filled mystery  rainbow to shine for all our souls to see.