The Joy of Framing

An art show in the making.

I helped hang my show at Silver Circle Gallery today. I'm tired but feeling good. Another artist wandered in as we were working out the arrangement, offering appreciative and thoughtful feedback. He kept referring to my work as "delicious." That's a new one for me, and a nice one.

But especially, I like seeing the work transformed. A piece in progress amidst the clutter of my studio comes alive when given a frame, and breathing room on a wall. Suddenly it has a voice, and, if it's good, something to say, and I am reminded that I'm making something that has meaning.

I'm also reminded that sharing my work with the world is the best way to get inspired to make more.

More images, and inside scoopery, on my other blog.

Ganesha: Lord of Success

Ganesha, the elephantine Hindu god, the one to pray to when you have your heart set on something, is the muse for this montage. Actually, there are three elephants in this piece, two resin, one porcelain. I like that. Three wishes seems about right.

Life is Now

6.5 x 6.5 x 2"

As a young adult, and certainly before then, it seemed that life was something I was preparing for, something that would begin once I finished school, once I established my career, once I fell in love. I had high hopes for my eventual life. But these hopes came bundled with an equal measure of worry and apprehension – maybe things wouldn't work out! Even my most optimistic moments were in themselves a double-edged sword. The present always paled in comparison.

In the midst of my angst, I came across Ram Daas' Remember, Be Here Now in a friend's apartment, which made me laugh. Though I only thumbed through it briefly, I found myself thinking about the book for weeks. The message sank in gradually. Life – my present-time, right-now life – improved.

It occurred to me today that I'm ready for a refresher of this idea. I'm working on that.

In the meantime, a few creative inspirations:

Kate Bingaman-Burt's Obsessive Compulsion blog: charming drawings of what she bought today. (She's been keeping track for years.)

Check out innovative packaging from a designer/environmentalist's perspective at: the Dieline.

Colorful organic forms in collage with paper, ink, colored pencil, like none other - by Emily Ann Pothast.

Meticulous abstractions in drawing, collage, and 3d by Sam Messenger.

All of the above found via Share Some Candy - so much more to see there. Check it out.

Ups and Downs

It's not really a rollercoaster – I'm feeling pretty even about all this prep for my show – but it is quite a ride. Lots to keep track of. Lots yet to do... Here are a few landmarks:

UP: Local folk heroes The Electric Trains have offered to play a fully-unplugged acoustic set at my art show opening. The gallery director approves - it's a go!

DOWN: The gallery (WindhamARTS) has the wrong date (April 2 - should be April 3) on their web site for my show, and a funky off-center cropping of my postcard - and probably won't fix it until next week. Oh well.

UP: I just designed, built, and launched another web site - MaryCoburn.com. Another satisfied client – feels good.

DOWN: The remodeling that was supposed to be done two months ago in the gallery didn't happen, so the venue isn't as awesome-looking as I had hoped.

UP: Lots of people are telling me they are not only planning, but are EXCITED to come to the show. This may shape up to be something of a party!

DOWN: I'm thinking about trying to arrange for an after-party at the pub down the block (The Main Street Cafe), since the opening festivities are only two hours, and then it's only seven pm. At least I should reserve a big ol' table, don't you think? More to add to my perpetually blossoming to-do list!

UP: Apparently I've found the key to getting help: ask for it! My mom is going to help label and stamp postcards, and make food. (Come to think of it, she offered before I asked) And an art-smart friend is coming to the gallery with me to help sort out the artwork and how I'd like it to hang.

DOWN: Oh, oi vey, taxes. It's not just the paying of them that hurts, it's the doing. Lots of paperwork, lots of convoluted instructions.

UP: I did a great job tracking expenses, so that's a plus. And next year it will be easier. I've got a strategy now.

DOWN: Speaking of money, I've got to do some hard thinking and number-crunching about prices for my work. And then I have to replace all the outdated price info on this blog. Once framing and the gallery's cut are taken into consideration, prices must, unfortunately, rise.

UP: My neighbor, a local reporter, called the other day to ask for info about the show. She plans to pitch it to her paper to see if she can do a story on me.

DOWN: the show will only hang for twenty days. Twenty days goes by quick.

UP: Whatever doesn't sell will be framed and ready for the next show.

Recipe For the Beach

Eventually I will upload the last three collages in the Daily Collage series - sixty in all. (Next, I plan to make bigger collages, and also a 60-day series of drawings.)

For now, I want to share with you a little from another series I began shortly after the collage series got underway. I'm a bit addicted to making these found-object assemblage pieces. I compulsively collect junk and chastised myself for it. Now I know why. I've made about fifteen of these so far. Here are three. The first two are 6.5 x 6.5 x 2", the third is 10 x 10 x 2", approximately.



~ New Milford, Conn




~ Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels




~ Recipe for the Beach