Update on Revision International fundraiser

I just heard from Tonia Bonnell that the fundraiser for Revision International was a big success.  They sold twenty seven t-shirts of the various designs, and were printing like mad during the evening.

My design was the hand  in the circle holding up a bunch of beets

The printing session during the fundraiser

I'm glad I was able to contribute to the event, even though I wasn't able to attend since I was in Portland

Open Studios is coming this weekend!

It's that time of year again when artists clean up their studios and let the public in to see where they create art work for Open Studios.  It's always the first two weekends in October from 12 - 6 pm. Stop by my studio at 2810 Wilderness Place #C Boulder to see my new work.  I will be doing last minute preparations all week to get ready. (PS that's my image above, second from the left) 

Back from Portland, Demos this Saturday

Last week I went with my husband to Portland to check out the city before he had a meeting.  I bought too many books at Powell's, and got sore shoulders from lugging my heavy bags to the airport.  

Now that I've been back, it's full Open Studios preparation madness in the studio. My post cards just got mailed, and I sent the 2011 calendar to the printer. Yeah! 

Tomorrow I will be doing some free demos; For the Art Students League to promote my fall class at Whole Foods in Denver, at 11th and Emerson in Capitol Hill from 1-3pm, and then run over to Niza Knoll Gallery 915 Santa Fe Avenue, Denver to do another demo from 3-5 pm.  Stop by either venue to say hello!

Reception for Exhibition Patterns, Textures and Layers X 5 Thursday night

I am participating in a beautiful printmaking show with four other printmakers, and the reception is this Thursday! I will be showing a new version of the Butterfly piece, and some woodcut monoprints of the hands from that piece as well. I hope you can stop by the reception!

www.nizaknollgallery.com

Woodcut T-shirt design for Revision International

A month or so ago I was asked by Denver printmaker Tonia Bonnell to design a woodcut for a project she was doing as a fundraiser for  Taking Root - Third Annual Silent Auction for Revision International, a Denver-based non-profit  whose mission is to "empower local actions that lead to global sustainability."One of their programs, Refarm Denver, implements backyard gardens in low-income, urban neighborhoods, creating community among neighbors while providing residents with local, fresh, organic produce. (Learn more at www.revisioninternational.org or find them on Facebook.)


Tonia explained the project in a recent email;

This summer I approached my friend Joseph Teipel (cofounder of Revision International) and Eric Kornacki (cofounder and Executive Director) with the idea to use my printmaking skills to promote their organization and message. They were excited and encouraged me to run with the idea. For this project, I am working with 4 artists who are creating designs that relate to Revision's mission. The designs will be carved into wood blocks, and I will be printing them onto t-shirts - live at the silent auction. I'm very excited to combine my skills, knowledge, and many passions to raise funds for an organization that works toward creating a sustainable and just world. I'm also very excited that the following artists are creating images for this project: Jill Hadley Hooper (artist and illustrator), Theresa Haberkorn (woodcut artist), Kenna Norton (graphic designer and painter), and Todd Fleming (graphic designer and wonderful husband.)

The silent auction is taking place at Green Spaces - 2590 Walnut St, Denver 80205, on Saturday, Sept, 18 from 6-9 pm.
If you are interested in attending the silent auction, information and registration can be found at the following address (and FYI - tickets are cheaper if you order before Sept. 10.)


For the t shirt fundraising project, I designed a propaganda style illustration of a hand holding up a bunch of beets.

The mock up of the design

The carved wood block

A print from the wood block

If you would like a t-shirt with my woodcut design on it, be sure to go to the silent auction, Taking Root this Saturday, 6-9 pm. 

Japanese Book Store in New York, Kinokuniya

Last week and over Labor Day weekend I was in New York with my husband's family outside the city.  One day we went in to see the Matisse show at MOMA, and walked around a bit.  We came across an amazing Japanese bookstore, Kinokuniya.  Some of the books were in English, but the majority were not. There were three floors of amazing books on all kinds of topics.  Besides the fact that they were in Japanese, another frustrating thing about this store was that most of the books were also wrapped in plastic so you couldn't look through them. I looked through some books that were open on woodblock printmaking, art and design, and crafts. I saw a Japanese version of the woodblock printmaking book I found in a thrift store. It was fun to look around downstairs through pens, little notebooks, washi papers, art and school supplies.  I found some very nice sets of woodcarving tools, which I did not buy since I have lots of tools.

I did buy some wood wrapped entirely in Japanese packaging so I have no idea what kind it is.  My guess is that it might be Shina. It looked like it would be fun to try to carve it.  I wanted to spend more time poking around, but my husband was ready to leave.  Besides New York, Kinokuniya stores are in San francisco, LA, San Jose, Costa Mesa, Seattle, and Portland.  The website is limited in English, so if you are in one these cities, be sure to stop by this very interesting store.

Drive by Press Tonight at the Print Event

If you haven't  seen Drive by Press in action before, stop by Space Gallery, and Illiterate Gallery to see live, mobile woodcut printmaking.  Who knew printmaking could be so entertaining?

The Print Event in Denver, Tonight, Friday and Saturday

I am participating in the inaugural print Event in Denver this weekend, an exhibition of printmaking around the city of Denver in selected galleries. Unfortunately, I am in new York, and cannot attend, but this event is still not to be missed.

My Work will be shown at Abecedarian Gallery at 910 Santa Fe Avenue.  Stop by the Print Event, 

Thursday 6-9 pm

Friday 6-9 pm

Saturday 12-5 pm

and let me know how it was, I'm sorry I will miss it.