Cups & Meta

Wrapping up unfinished art projects here, including this colored pencil and watercolor piece called “Cups” shown above (cell phone photo snapped before glass was added to the re-claimed frame).  It is 8×16 inches or roughly 9×17 framed, if you are in need of long skinny artwork.  Available for view or sale at Metamorphosis in Struthers, Ohio.

This mosaic tile is also at Metamorphosis now.  Did you see it on display at the YSU Festival of the Arts?  Tiles for the public art project were laid out like quilt squares near the rock.  Here is a photo snapped when I was there. 

I was surprised by the lack of entries this year, not as many as in years before.  I hope more people participate next year as it is fun and I always like to see what others do with the object provided.  Maybe some people shy away as they think they have to be an “Artist” with a capital A to play.  I happen to be an artist of the camp of the little a, who laughs at, snoody attitudes.  Anyone can make art. 

Yes, the copper/steel floral piece called “Art Grows in Youngstown” was in the back row (the only 3D scupture/assemblage there) but I accidentally snapped the photo too low, cut the height off.  That piece is also at Metamorphosis, look for it in the window if you happen to drive by.  Or better yet, stop and wander in during open studio hours.

Metamorphosis is an artist co-op with shared studio space located in a store front in downtown Struthers, but it is not like your average art gallery type place.  It is pretty laid back.  Anyone can wander in during open studio hours on Thursday and Saturday nights to check out the art on display, watch artists at work, or kick back and enjoy coffee and conversation.  Feel free to bring your own art supplies and play in a creative environment, check place out and talk to Becky, if interested in becoming a member.  Meta needs more artist members (and/or art sales) to be self-sufficient.  I plug Meta because I am a member and I want to see it keep going.  This is Becky’s dream, Meta has a purpose, but I will let Becky tell you about that… I believe in her dream.

Monday nights at Meta are “open mic” poetry nights, which is fun and also open to the public.  The crowd is friendly and not too big, so it is a great practice place if you want to get comfy reading your poetry out loud.  I read my first poem there last Monday.  It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be.

Oh well… thanks for viewing my art.  If you are local to the Mahoning Valley, I hope you come to Meta and see it in person.

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Art Prep

I think I need a “just art” blog or website or something without all my ramblings, just post images with bare basic details.

That kind of sounds like how BeesATC started out, but it needs to be wider in scope, include all sizes and mediums, maybe even some crafty handmade things.

Why?

I need a URL to write on the “website” fill-in-the-blank line on entry forms. Perhaps checking out websites is now part of the selection process. I don’t want to send art show juriers or participant selectors here where art posts get buried under rambles.

Besides… now this is going to sound odd considering that this is a public blog: I don’t want to write down the URL to this blog on such forms because that would make me feel a bit exposed.

Eh, it is like dressing for the occassion. This blog is like kicked back casual, putter in the yard, a conversation on the porch in your bare feet.

It’s like prepping art. Art made on paper needs framed, or at least matted to show it off right.

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“BYO FRAME” ART

I’ve started prepping smaller colored pencil drawings in standard size mat kits to sell locally as BYO FRAME art. I think it makes a nice “non-show” presentation, protects the art from fingerprints, and allows the buyer to choose their own frame.

People have odd ideas about frames, what is acceptable and not acceptable on their walls, like my daughter wants everything framed in black and my mother prefers natural wood. Some people are happy with a three buck molded plastic frame from Walmart, other may take it to a frame shop and lay down some serious cash.

Yes, it keeps my costs low as framing art can be quite costly. I laid down $24 for just the GLASS on “Chasing Yellow” as it needed to look professionally framed for a show. Costs can add up quick, even when you hit Hobby Lobby on a 50% off frame sale.

Thing is, I don’t have the money to tie up framing everything so it might be best to frame things that fit larger frames or require something special and let small art go as BYO FRAME art.

This photo was snapped on a work table down at the Metamorphosis Gallery. I was there hanging out during the “Art, Coffee, & Conversation” open studio hours on Saturday night. It’s a cool place.

SD & Art Walk

My SD memory card is now completely dead. I knew time was limited. Sure enough, the error messages returned before I could drag out the ol’ computer to transfer my downloads. A reformat bought me just enough time to go back online, re-snag and print an art event application form, and then poof, it was dead.

Oh well… no photos or saving anything until I go buy a new SD card. No rush. Buses do not run here until Tuesday and it is not worth dropping more than the card will cost on cab fare.

So, now I’m looking at this art event application form and wondering how to participate with my limitations on transportation. It is not like I can just load up a car and go.

The application is for “MILL CREEK METROPARKS – LIVE! AT THE MORLEY ART WALK, a new addition to our already successful and well attended summer concert series” with a dozen dates to choose from.

From what I gather, accepted artists can set up a display within an assigned 10×10 foot space along a designated path in the park on Wednesday concert nights. Set up fee is $10 per date checked and artists must provide their own tents, tables, chairs, etc. All art is subject to review and approval (no nudity, hateful, or disturbing images) and other rules apply. If anyone is interested, the information is on the Mill Creek Park website, easy find with a quick google.

Unless I find a friend to also apply, odds are that I will NOT be able to do this because I seriously don’t think they would welcome an artist showing up like a homeless woman with her art and display stuff packed into one of those old lady shopping carts.

Yes, I can see myself doing that… my sisters gave me a rather large old lady cart, almost too large to take on the bus. I could pack everything in there, including a folding chair and tray table so I can sit there and draw, create on site. As for the cart itself, it is in new condition, looks nice. I could retrofit a bin topper to secure on, have the cart become part of the display during set-up, make it turn into an art bin holding the smaller “matted, BYO frame” drawings at a comfy height. Framed or larger pieces could be laid out or stood leaning on a foldable thing. Think it out, plan it right, oh yeah, totally do-able, make it look nice and everything.

But… is that too bohemian street for Mill Creek Park?

Eh, best find a friend with a vehicle… suppose they want white tents and all that costly “pro” display jazz, too. Artists doing the better craft show routes have all that stuff. I don’t.

Maybe I should go check it out first, figure out what it would cost to put together an acceptable display. If not too much, apply for dates later in the season or wait until next year. I don’t know.

I’m still looking at that cart… so do-able, perhaps for a different venue? Odds are that it would require too much walking to roll it into Mill Creek Park from the nearest bus stop anyway.

Oh well… so it goes… just thinking out loud on virtual paper, posting too much and rambling too long.