Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Triple Art-Show Extravaganza, Cover Art for AATA, and SILA Award

In the first post of 2013, I'm going to barrage all of you with exciting news and shows galore!

First, I would like to thank The Journal of the American Art Therapy Association for featuring my painting, "Left," as the cover art in their latest issue.
Journal of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), featuring my work "Left"
Original art 36" x 48", oil on canvas

The piece focuses on the ambivalent implications of an empty hospital room (healing and returning home versus passing away), and was made during my time working at a children's hospital as an art therapy student intern.  The issue itself focuses on Art Therapy Education.

Additionally, my work "Pull" was selected for a certificate of merit in the Gallery category of the Illustration West 51 competition, through the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles.

Pull, 30" x 40", Oil on canvas

 As always, I feel honored to be selected alongside other talented artists chosen by SILA.

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In the following weeks, I will be taking part in two group shows and one solo show/artist talk.  Here is information all all three of them, in order that the openings will occur:


The Art Jamboree: "The Aura of Art"

Where:  Hilton Garden Inn, 611 N. Broadway, Milwaukee WI 
When: Friday, January 25th, 7pm- 11pm
Features: Juried group art Exhibition, live dance/music performances, poetry readings, cash bar, art raffles
Exhibiting Visual Artists:
Kate Pfeiffer, Jack Long, Michael Kautzer, Amy Cannesta, K.E. Schaffer, Josh Hintz, John Kowalczyk, Kim Loper, Timothy Westbrook
For More Information:
http://www.artmilwaukee.com/art-jamboree.html
http://www.facebook.com/events/348963228544498/permalink/348963231877831/

The first show I'm involved in is a group showing through a Milwaukee event called The Art Jamboree: "The Aura of Art", which takes place at The Loyalty Building at Hilton Garden Inn on Friday, January 25th.  My work and the work of 6 other artists was selected from among 95 submissions to be included in the show.  Additionally, two artists featured from the Coalition of Photographic Arts and Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, respectively, will show work as well.

I am excited about all of my shows, but I must say that it has been a while since I have been this excited for an art opening.  In addition to the the visual art, The Art Jamboree will feature live painting, acoustic performances from members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, spoken word performances, a costume design display from the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and live dance performances from Danceworks and The Milwaukee Ballet.

Please check out the incredibly exciting schedule at the Art Milwaukee Website or view the Facebook Event page for the show.  The event is FREE to the public, with a cash bar, art raffles, and other various prizes.  You are literally going to be bombarded with visual, performance, and musical art all night long.  And finally, it is important to note that the opening takes place on my birthday, so I'm going to be pretending that the entire event was carefully crafted by creative minds in Milwaukee to celebrate the anniversary of my birth.

Solo Show Opening and Artist Talk at Indiana Wesleyan University

Where:
Beard Arts Center (Gallery East)
4200 John Wesley Court
Marion, IN 46953
When: Saturday, February 2nd, 4pm-6pm

I am thrilled to have been invited to exhibit and speak as a guest artist at Indiana Wesleyan University.  The show, which will be up through February, will feature my most recent work, some of which is still in progress.  Additionally, during the opening I will be giving an artist talk about my work and influences and doing a Q&A.  

These paintings are so new they don't even EXIST yet!  Here is a sneak peek of some of the works in progress:





Future Perfect: How do you get from here to there (Pius Alumni Show)

Where
Pius XI High School
135 N. 76th St., Milwaukee, WI 53213
When: January 21st- March1st (Opening Reception February 15th, time TBD)

I will be showing 5 paintings made between 2008-2011 in a group alumni exhibition at Pius XI High School, which has a nationally recognized and exceptional visual arts program.  More details will be made available in coming weeks.


That is all I have (for now).  Be sure to check in for updates on the upcoming shows and I sincerely hope to see you at any or all of them!










Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Exhibition Opening, Hospital Artist-in-Residence Program

I will be showing 2 pieces of work at the Pfister Artist in Residence Finalists Exhibit: The Collection, with an exhibition opening this Friday, September 14th.


Pfister Artist-In-Residence: The Finalists Collection
Exhibition Opening
Friday, September 14th, 2012
5:30-8:30pm
Sharon Lynn Wilson Center for the Arts
19805 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield, WI

This exhibition features a plethora of amazing artwork from 16 Milwaukee-area and national artists. You can find out more about the Pfister Artist-in-Residence program here

In addition, the opening will feature live music by the Pfister Pianist, Dr. Jeffrey Hollander, as well as hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.  It is sure to be an exciting and fancy occasion, as you can see from the the way I used the phrase "hors d'oeuvres" instead of "snacks".

I will be in attendance for the opening, so be sure to come say hello!

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In other news, in March I posted about a grant available from the LIVESTRONG foundation for a hospital Artist-in-Residence program.  Thanks to votes from supporters, the Oncology department at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, received funding to support this program.

In the wake of this funding, I have been hired as the Artist-in-Residence for Advocate Lutheran General Hospital/Children's Hospital for one year.  I am thrilled to be involved in such an amazing and unique program.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who participated in the voting.  Supporting the arts in hospital settings can provide patients with comfort, entertainment, distraction, and an outlet for exploration and expression of their emotions. 


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In other-other news, I am embarking on a series of new paintings for a solo exhibition in February of 2013.  Be sure to check in for sneak peaks and photos of work in-progress.

See you Friday! (Come to the opening!)


Thursday, May 31, 2012

New Work

A new painting:
Close
oil and charcoal on canvas
36" x 36"


Close (detail)



After a few crazy weeks during which I finished my thesis,  finished my masters program, and searched for jobs, I am finally regaining some semblance of a normal life.  This post was long overdue and I'm looking forward to getting back in the studio.  Also sleep. I am looking forward to more sleep.

Be sure to go outside and enjoy all of this glorious summery weather!


Friday, March 30, 2012

50th Annual Illustration West Exhibition & Opening Reception

My piece, "Stripey Socks," was selected for a certificate of merit in the 50th Annual Illustration West Competition by the Society of Illustrators, Los Angeles.  For those of you who may be in Los Angeles, there is an opening reception for the 50th Annual Illustration West Exhibition TONIGHT from 7-10pm at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, CA.  My piece and dozens of others chosen for the competition are on display.

OPENING RECEPTION
50th Annual Illustration West Exhibition
7:00-10:00pm at Gallery Nucleus
210 East Main St, Alhambra CA 91801
 
For more info, visit
http://www.gallerynucleus.com/gallery/exhibition/345

If you can't stop by today, the show will be up from March 30th through April 4th. You can also check out some of the winning work at www.illustrationwest.org/50. You can browse by category or by artist. My piece is can be found in the student category.



As always, I am honored to be chosen for inclusion in the show alongside so many extremely talented illustrators and artists. I will not be able to attend the show but would love to hear from anyone who is able to make it!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

New Work & LIVESTRONG Community Impact Program

Here is a painting I completed recently. It was difficult to photograph, as it is quite possibly my shiniest painting to date. 


Skip
oil on canvas
30" x 40"














In other news,  in my secret life as an art therapy intern, I have been working at Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. This hospital is currently in the running to receive a LIVESTRONG Community Impact Project Grant to fund an artist-in-residence program for the adult and child oncology programs.

In order to receive the grant, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital must receive community support in the form of online votes. If you can, please take a moment to read about the The Oncology Program at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital/Lutheran General Children’s Hospital and cast your vote!

*(My enthusiasm is misleading: You only get one vote, not three).


As an art therapy intern working in the pediatric unit of this hospital, I have seen first-hand how art can serve as a way to help people take charge of their illness and treatment, and can provide an outlet for patients to work through difficulties, tell stories, and express hopes and fears during their journey with illness and  recovery.  My work as an intern at Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital ends in May of this year, and I believe patients at this hospital would benefit tremendously from this LIVESTRONG grant by receiving continued access to art during their hospitalization and treatment.

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Finally, to conclude this post, a painting/collage of Zooey Deschanel that I created out of whatever the opposite of adoration is. Subsequently my roommate, not picking up on the disapproving tone, hung it in our living room, out of sincere adoration. Enjoy!

Quirky vacuous female > Vacuous female
oil and fabric on canvas
24" x 36"

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

New Art!

Here are two paintings I completed recently:

Pull
oil on canvas
30" x40"

Untitled
oil on canvas
24" x 36"


As a reminder, I have another new painting on display at Sullivan Galleries, which you can see at one of two "Art of Connection" show openings this Thursday or Friday.  The show will be up through mid-February, 2012.

Art of Connection Opening 

Thursday, December 8th, 7-9pm and
Friday, December 9th, 5:30-7pm

Sullivan Galleries
33 South State Street, 7th Floor
Chicago, IL

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Student Artwork & Show Opening

Early in 2010, I was contacted by Lance Taylor, a teacher from a high school located in an outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia. He had seen my artwork in Empty magazine and asked if I would be willing to be interviewed as a contemporary working artist by his senior art class as part of their research. Of course, I was excited to help.

As a result of the project, some of the students chose to create artwork inspired by my Clutter series, in which they portrayed themselves in their own environment, surrounded by their personal possessions. Below is one of those pieces, created by then-senior, Fraser Nightingale:

Artwork by Fraser Nightingale
Charcoal and color washes on paper

It is clear that a great deal of work was put into this beautifully-rendered art piece, and I thank Fraser for agreeing to let me post it.  I especially love the shoe, helmet, and the striped bedsheets. And I'm always a sucker for electronics cords.

I am honored to have been interviewed by the class and ecstatic to have been inspiration for the students' art practice!

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In other news, one of my new paintings will be in an art exhibition, "Art of Connection".  All are welcome to attend the opening on Friday, December 9th, from 4:30-7pm.

 The exhibition features the work of  students graduating from the Masters of Art in Art Therapy program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), and/or the people they work with at their internship sites. 

Friday, December 9th
4:30- 7:00pm 

Sullivan Galleries
33 South State Street, 7th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603 
As additional incentive, there will be several other SAIC student shows going on simultaneously in the same (very large) gallery space, and also delicious, delicious food.  I would love to see you there!
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In MORE other news, I have several new paintings that I've completed, and several other paintings in progress.  High-quality images of some of my new work will be posted just after Thanksgiving. For  now, however, I will provide an extremely low-quality preview taken from my seat on the floor, with the needle-sized camera on my computer:

 One of my recently-completed paintings and part of my bookshelf.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, or a happy Thursday if you don't live in America!