Lotus Position

This is the closest I will get to that yoga posture. Seen at the Montreal Botanical garden, at the Chinese Garden, with loads and loads of these all over. And a fabulous color (that pink and green.)

Attitude Adjustment

Question. What would you wear as your slogan? Love this one from my friend Steve.

Mom as Artist

Got the family to the exhibition today (at last). Lots of discussion on the titles from my editors and wordsmiths. Made notes for future works.

Form over Function

Great planters! I saw them at the Montreal Botanical Garden this week in the children's garden. But I do think that the forms, colors and scale overshadowed the plants which is, I guess, what a botanical garden is all about.

Mind Reading Part 2

Now, this head is spouting wisdom, er, well, at least sprouting. On my side porch.

Reading Your Mind

Phrenology -- in Dutch, no less. The science of reading strength and weakness or, as wikipedia states "so that a person's capacity for a given personality trait could be determined simply by measuring the area of the skull that overlies the corresponding area of the brain." If only it was that easy. But this is not the 19th century.

No Drugs to Chew

When you figure out what this all means, clue me in. Seen in Waterloo, New York. They consider this one of the latest new finds. It was buried years ago when a building went up next to it. Now the building is gone, and viola, old timey marketing!

Working the Crowd

I am second on the left, Jeanne Simpson far right, working the crowd to introduce SAQA to newcomers. We are the Studio Art Quilts Associates reps for upstate New York. SAQA offers a wealth of information and great connections for art quilters. Here we are at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Gallery this last Thursday for one of their talks on surface design.

Sum of the Parts

Just a piece of one of the works I have up at the Arts Center Gallery. Where the sum of the parts make the whole work. That is the fun of working in contemporary quilts. Each time you break apart the textile, you rebuild the work. It is non-linear (unlike weaving), additive and subtractive (like sculpture), and has surface design and patterning (like painting.) I can't think to work any other way.

Influencing Artists

Donna Lamb, here in the middle, does her job well. She influences, directs, encourages, plans, makes artists commit and provides a platform for things to happen. Good to have someone like that nearby. Because it is a great benefit to all artists. Talking to me last night at a lecture/event at the Schweinfurth, where Donna is the big cheese.

Frank's Bridge

Seneca Falls has a lovely bridge over the Seneca River. One that Frank Capra knew well and most likely used as the inspriation for his scene in "It's a Wonderful Life" where Jimmy Stewart flirts with suicide. And I visited this today. (In 101 degrees.)

Duality

While you think about how to keep cool, and water will do that, consider two and two. Ducklings and leaves. I like the juxtaposition of shapes.

Map of the World

If you could not see the surrounding building, you would think this was an image of islands of green surrounded by ocean. That trickster scale. Taken outside of the art museum in Groningen, The Netherlands. And in the building below waterline are the collections on view. Figure that.

Welcome Home

Nice to see that girl back around the familiar streets. Hey -- look out for that bike lane.

Larger than Life

For something so small, this Vermeer painting detail is so larger than life. Sometimes it is taking that very small detail, or part of life, and enlarging it beyond normal to get to see clearly. Or maybe you just have to hit me in the face with it. From the outside of Amsterdam's art museum.

Hot, Like Arizona Hot

Not in Arizona, just upstate New York, that is where this yucca is planted. And blooming. And escaping the deer because it smells like dead fish (because I sprayed it with Neptune's Harvest to keep the deer away.) Which is why it is alive and blooming.

If You Don't Like Melon

...then make it into art. This was seen (and had) at the dedication of the Don Lowry garden at the Museum and Science Center this weekend. I am not a melon fan, but this was delightful. A melon garden!

Printing En Plein Air

What a perfect day for printing outside. Beautiful breeze, great space, low humidity, lots of ideas. Now to get these fabrics to the design wall. Color concentrate and extender make the ink to pull through the screen.

Pattern Making

I love wallpaper. I love pattern. I love to repeat things over and over. I am getting ready to do some print making. On fabric. On Friday. On full speed ahead.

Color and Field

"Color and Field" paintings of the 20th century seemed a mystery to me until I looked at just that -- a field of color. Then it all made sense. Just like this image from Brugges earlier this year. Color in a field. How simple. For more: http://arthistory.about.com/od/modernarthistory/a/color_field_10one.htm

Living Large

Loiuse Slaughter is pretty great in every way. Here she looks like a kid, just enjoying herself at a quilt show. I have a tremendous amount of respect and awe for what she does. Marcia DeCamp is on the right, with admirer (and acting like a kid as well) Nancy Hicks. What a wonderful person, the "house" is nothing without her.

Life is a Beach

Sand, and lots of it. The Adirondacks are known for having pine, forest, rocks and boulders. Here is a view from Stillwater Lake from one of the wonderful beaches on a typical cloudy (but  brilliant) day yesterday.

No, It's Not That Hot

Taken back in 2007 in Arizona. Love the fact that someone would press in those letters one by one. No digital nothing. And when you are there, you are not even feeling hot. New York humid is hot. Even at their (Arizona) low.

Red is the New Orange

So, how can that beautiful orange become red? This year's color, I suppose. Now what change need I look for?

Being Decisive

Try making a free form shape, then try it really big. These are a portion from Matisse's work seen in Gronigen, The Netherlands at their funky art museum. We would have a hard time just finding these large pieces of paper and harder still to do what he could do so well.

Little Legs

I love the red wall, all at angles, behind these fan people. Seen in Groningen, The Netherlands, at (where else) the art gallery. It's the legs that get me.

Independence

This has nothing to do with freedom, or the fourth of July, but just a fine way to indulge. Mary and Michelle know how to make it both beautiful and tastey. With Nancy's treats in the mix. Happy Fourth. Now summer can begin.

Friends

Most of the work I make is abstract, but it does not mean it is devoid of life. I am grateful to many friends who remain admirers, and I could not do without them. So, if you look closely at my images, you can see the life and energy that is there -- certainly not work done in a vacuum.

Opening Night

 

If I didn't set a record for attendence, I came pretty close. Opening night was as perfect as the day outside. Wonderful to share my work with so many friends. Quite a love fest, it was. And I think we drank all the champagne.

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.

Its difficult to explain how awkward it feels to be put on view. But the process of being an artist involves showing it to the world. The making art part is a singular thing. But not the reveal. Could you stand a close-up view? Well, tonight is the night, and I hope my friends will be kind to this exhibit. At the Art Center Gallery, Nazareth College, Rochester. Party starts at 6. Be there.