Artolution

The I-75 Project

tomcaprood — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:58:15 +0000

I just came across this project while browsing through some of the blogs I like on Tumblr (thanks to adailyriot.tumblr.com for posting it). The I-75 Project, created by Norm Magnusson, is thought-provoking and in your face without being in your face (check the project out and see what I mean). Made to look like standard historical markers, the I-75 markers are commentary on political and social issues in America and are placed at rest stops on I-75 along the U.S. – Canadian border. They take on everything from gay marriage to the war in Iraq to regular citizens’ inability to pay for prescription drugs. They stop you in your tracks and make you think “Who put these here?”, “Are they for ‘real’ (State-created)?”, and “Do we really live in a society where the average teen has witnessed 30,000 murders on television by age 18?” This is public art at its finest– questioning, eye-catching, intriguing, and thought-provoking.

To submit or not to submit?

tomcaprood — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:35:54 +0000

As more and more cities join in Occupy Wall Street, the different groups involved are looking for ways to get the word out. One of the ways that is happening is with good ol’ fashioned posters, like these available as free downloads at Occupy Together’s website. Feeling inspired and moved by the protests (which are happening locally, too– check out Occupy Albany for more info)? Then submit your own design to Occupy Together’s call for posters.

Submission details (for posters, not to the tyranny of corporate America, that is):

Poster must be at print resolution (300 dpi)
Poster must be submitted as a PDF document
It is suggested that you use minimal color/black in order to save on ink
Also, it has been suggested that posters be at 8.5″ x 11″ for easy printing on a home printer
Please tell them if you would like them to use your full name, a pseudonym, or just your first and last initial

Check out their website for more.

Call for Entries: 2nd Annual Day2Day Print Exchange

tomcaprood — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:15:48 +0000

Are you a printmaker and would love to get new art but don’t have the budget for it? Then participate in the 2nd Annual Print Exchange that Danielle Godbout has organized! All you have to do is send 11 prints, and you will get 10 different prints sent back to you. That’s a lot of new art! Specifics of the exchange as posted by Danielle are below, so be sure to read carefully and RSVP by November 1st.

Call For Entries:

You are invited to participate in the second annual Day2Day Print Exchange. Last year we received prints nation wide making our first year a big success.

All prints must conform to the following guidelines. Any prints that do not fit the guidelines will be returned to the artist at the artist’s expense.

Deadline: November 30, 2011

Paper Size: 6 “ x 9 ”

Theme: Storytelling (This is set to help individuals, artists are not restricted to the theme)

Medium: Intaglio. Relief, Lithography, Serigraphy, Collograph, Monotypes, Monoprints, or any combination of these methods is acceptable. Digital prints or photographs with the addition of any hand printed methods will also be accepted.

Edition Requirements: 11 prints, Signed and numbered (1/11, 2/11, 3/11…etc.)

Name tags: Include your name, the title, and the medium used. (This can be included on a separate piece of paper for each print, or on the back of each print)

Postage: You need a preaddressed return envelope with adequate postage

RSVP: Danielle Godbout at danielle_godbout@yahoo.com by November 1, 2011

Mail Submissions: 4 Denkers Drive
Ballston Lake, NY 12019

(Unfortunately we are not responsible for prints lost)
A portfolio of 10 random prints will be mailed to each participant early Spring 2012.

Prints may be held in a show sometime next year. Details to follow.

Local Beginner Monoprinters!

tomcaprood — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:18:37 +0000

Spotlight on: local beginner printmakers, specifically monoprinters! All art was made in a Printmaking & Fabric class taught at Ragged Edge Print Studio in Cohoes. Students ranged in age from 11 to full-size adult.

Students sketched their design (in this case a bird of their choosing), used watercolors and watercolor crayons to draw on plexiglass, then transferred the image to fabric to create a one-of-a-kind monoprint. Once dry, monoprints were turned into sachets or stuffed pillows.

Some students drew very realistically like the baby chicken drawing, while others made more stylized birds like those below.

Equality-tees

tomcaprood — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:05:07 +0000

Summer is winding down, and it feels like it was no ordinary summer. Not only did we have heat waves and hurricanes, but we had the winds of change come blowing in when NYS became the sixth state to pass marriage equality. I was in the Capitol during the protests leading up to the vote and it was amazing to see so many people there cheering for marriage equality. There were people of all ages and races and backgrounds, including local artist Kristin Gallo (of Revel). Kristin was so inspired by the energy of change and equality she created a beautiful line of tees and tanks for men and women to commemorate this historic summer.

She says, “In the week leading up to the Marriage Equality vote, I spent a lot of time at the Capital, where the energy was overwhelming. I admired the t-shirts people were wearing that challenged the status quo, and when it passed, I wanted one that celebrated this victory. We still have a long way to go, but it’s a great time to be a New Yorker, it’s the Queer Summer of Love!” Kristin created the design and had the tees and tanks printed locally. They are available online at her website – www.RevelinArt.com

10% of profits will go to the Pride Center of the Capital Region.

Here’s the specs on the tees & tanks, too, for those who like to know such things.

Tees:
-100% combed ringsupun cotton jersey
-supremely soft, superior quality
-modern, slightly fitted shape
-Athletic Heather is 90% cotton, 10% polyester

Women’s Tank:
-97% cotton, 3% spandex
-slim fit
-2×1 rib

Men’s Tank:
-60% cotton, 40% polyester
-mini thermal knit
-slightly fitted

Free Swatch!

tomcaprood — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:08:46 +0000

From noon today (EST) through noon tomorrow, Spoonflower is doing a free fabric swatch promotion. Spoonflower, for those who don’t know, is a print-your-own fabric company based in North Carolina. I am in love with Spoonflower and adore designing my own fabrics and having them printed. I live for these free promotions, so today is a jolly good day for me.

You have two options: either order a free swatch of a fabric you design and upload or choose from the thousands of options other indie designers have created. It is a great way to try out a new fabric and/or new designer. (Shameless plug: check out my fabric while you are there! Feathered Nest Studio)

Plus this time around, Spoonflower is also collecting donations for Heifer International, a very cool organization whose mission is “To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.” When you go through the check out process (free! Even the shipping is free), you have the option to add a donation to Heifer.org to your cart, too. So you can get some nifty fabric, support indie designers (or be creative yourself), and help others all at the same time.

It’s Always Time for Good Cheer

tomcaprood — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:30:10 +0000

In a previous post, I talked about Craft Hope, a group that combines the creative effort of crafters around the globe in order to help people in need. Craft Hope has a new call out, this time for handmade Christmas stockings for the 12,000 families who lost their homes due to the tornadoes in the southern United States. Called “Christmas in Dixie,” Craft Hope says “In addition to having nothing, these families will face new needs that this season will bring, such as winter clothing, funds for heating, and gifts for their family members or in addition to the everyday needs they now face. There are groups helping supply toys for tots, churches help with clothing and food, even the Government will help somewhat. But no one will be concerned with these items that help form the traditions, and memories that we all remember as we grow up. We can only imagine how worry will begin to creep into the back of many moms’ minds, realizing Christmas is just around the corner and once again they will be reminded of those items that mean so much, like ornaments handmade through the years, pictures with Santa, and their own personal stocking being lost and gone for ever.”

Their website lists the specifics for the stockings, but there is lots of room for creativity and you can use any fabrics, patterns, decorative elements you want. Mail your completed stocking by September 23, 2011 to

Christmas in Dixie for Tornado Survivors Project

c/o Brenda Belcher

1581 Balmoral Drive

Hoover, Alabama 35244

Christmas in Dixie also has a Facebook page, so be sure to “like” it!

Need some inspiration for a stocking to make? Here are a few I love:

A funky paisley felt stocking from Sew, Mama, Sew!, Turning an old quilt into a Stocking (also Sew, Mama, Sew!), and this felt snowflake stocking from Purlbee.

Open Studio Event in Cohoes This Weekend

tomcaprood — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:23:36 +0000

Choose Cohoes for Arts: Open Studios 2011

This weekend (Friday August 5 and Saturday August 6), Choose Cohoes is hosting an Open Studio event that spotlights all forms of visual art. The event starts with an opening reception Friday evening from 4 to 10pm at the old Woolworth’s building at 109 Remsen Street. One piece of work from each of the approximately 35 artists participating in the event will be displayed at 109 Remsen for the Opening Reception. All artists either live, work, take classes in, or were born in Cohoes. This event is Cohoes’ attempt to show Remsen Street and Cohoes in general is a thriving arts community. Considering the diversity and range of artists who will be on display, it seems they can make a good case for it!

From 10am to 4pm on Saturday, the Woolworth’s will be open as the central location for the event, with information and art on display, but artists’ studios throughout Cohoes will also be open for the public to visit. Additionally, work will be on display at 130 Remsen , Ragged Edge Print Studio at 137 Remsen (whose co-owner Kathy Klompas is one of the artists and Cohoes business women organizing the event), and BeauKnits* at 182 Remsen St. All mediums of art, from fiber to printmaking to photography to sculpture will be on display.

Juan Ramos will be showcasing his artisan copper wire work at Ragged Edge Print Studio (137 Remsen Street) Friday August 5, 4-9. Also be sure to check out the Cohoes Farmer’s Market with live music Friday night while you are downtown.

*BeauKnits is doing one of my favorite things: making fiber arts in public. Last weekend they yarn bombed Cohoes (not sure what that is? Click here.). So if you are a knitter, crocheter, quilter, spinner, etc, stop by BeauKnits and join them for an Open Knitting/Fiber Arts Session Friday night. If the weather is nice, they will be outside on the street, so bring your lawn chair.

Artist Spotlight: Jessica Ross

tomcaprood — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:00:55 +0000

Jessica Ross, owner and creator of Livvy Lou’s Boutique, says her business is all about family. Her boutique began as a way to bring in money while staying home with her daughters, and includes several members of her family, from her Mom who attends craft fairs with her, to her husband who helps her with her bottle cap pieces, to her little girls who model everything she makes. Jessica creates affordable hair accessories for little girls because she thinks every little girl should have something lovely to shine in. Also be sure to check out Jessica’s new line called Chic Charlotte, named for her second daughter, which has hair goodies for kids and adults.

Studio/Business Name: Livvy Lou’s Boutique

Artist/Owner’s Name: Jessica Ross

Where is your studio based? In my living room in Niskayuna, NY.

How long have you been creating? I have been an artistic and creative person forever, but specifically I have been creating children’s items since 2009.

Briefly describe what you make & your process. I make hair accessories for children mainly, but am branching out into other products and accessories for adults. I use all different fabrics, ribbon, and embellishments, including antique jewelry. Most pieces are sewn, tied, and glued together to make sure they last for as long as possible.

Why do you create? It’s fun! I love the appreciation I get from customers when they see what I have made for them.

What inspires you? Everything. Right now I am particularly into fabrics and can’t get enough. I have an idea for just about every medium I see.

What are your long-term art goals? The ultimate goal is to be able to financially support my family comfortably with my business. I want my girls to be able to participate in all the fun sports activities and extra curricular programs at school that they want to. I want to be a household name.

Do you sell your work, and if so, where?

I have a website livvylousboutique.etsy.com. I also sell my wipes cases wholesale to jaminga.com. In stores I have wipes cases at a consignment store in Massachusettes, Bear-ly used consignments. I have bows at the Katbird Shop in Schenectady NY, custom hair pieces at Lark Vegas Piercing/ Red Garter Gallery in Albany, NY, and am working on a custom line for La Moda Lisa vintage shop in Schenectady NY.

Advice for other beginning artists/artisans? Do what you love!

Favorite thing about being an artist? I love that I am able to be at home with my girls to watch them grow. I love the satisfaction I get from working all night on something and then waking up in the morning still in love with what I made.

All photos are the property of Livvy Lou’s Boutique and its photographer(s).

Jessica also has a line of bow ties for little guys!

Summertime! A crafty summer round-up

tomcaprood — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:11:30 +0000

It’s summer, as the steamy weather this week has made evident. So I thought I would check out some local Etsy shops and see what summer themed offerings they have. I wasn’t disappointed with my findings, and I don’t think you will be either!

Take this bracelet by Albany based Jems by JB and Company called “She Sells Sea Shells.” Made of Freshwater Coin and Biwa Pearls with Sterling Silver, this piece screams summer afternoons at the beach and elegant evening parties wearing frilly sundresses and sipping lemonade. I love the different shades of white and the textures of the pearls.

One of my favorite local artists Ali Herrmann has a “Colors of Summer” original encaustic painting that uses both collage and oil painting in its creation. I am a big fan of encaustic work (it’s in my blood, my Mom is a gifted encaustic artist). Encaustic, in simple terms, means encasing or layering artwork with beeswax. It gives it a warm yellowish or creamy color, a great smell, and an ethereal quality. This piece by Ali Herrmann is like a dream of summer, due to the wax, colors, and shapes she uses.

What about a summery print for your walls? I love this print of a painting by David Hinchen Design called “Summer Afternoon, Provincetown.” Nothing says a Northeast summer like Cape Cod.

These sweet little silver flower and quartz earrings by Jewels by Jaime Lynn are so delicate and lovely. They would be equally nice with shorts and a tee or a dress.

This scarf or sarong by Polkadot786 makes me think of late August with its mustard yellows and rich warm tones. It would look great wrapped around one’s waist, hanging out poolside while the kids jump and splash.

There are lots of other great summery finds, so take a few minutes and browse the local shops on Etsy, or head over to Lark Street Albany, Jay Street Schenectady, or River Street Troy and pick yourself up a beautiful handmade piece to make your summer really sizzle.