More Than Enough Re-Defining Excess – SF Jewish Community Library March 1 – August 5 2012

My piece for this year’s annual art exhibit at the San Francisco Jewish Community Library is already on display.

Depicting the “excess” of materials needed to create a fiber work of art.

 

Art Tag- Censorship UPDATE

The yarn bombing that I put up in September on 8th and Dwight St in Berkeley is STILL up.

Censorship Yarn Bombing 2011

THAT’S AMAZING!!

I Have Several Pieces In This Exhibit

The Pointless Sisters invite you to an opening reception for a gallery exhibit at the Occidental Center for the Arts on Saturday, January 14th from 3:30-5 p.m.           The Occidental Center for the Arts is located at Bohemian Hwy at Graton Road.  The exhibit featuring the quilts “Along the Russian River” and the “Water Quilt” will be up from January 11-March 2, 2012.  The gallery is open Thursday and Friday from 12 to 4 p.m., by appointment and during events.   For more information see:  http://occidentalcenterforthearts.com/quilt-gallery-2012.html    A part of the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild, The Pointless Sisters group shares their work, discusses new trends and art quilt techniques, provides education programs and sponsors challenges.  The Pointless Sisters art quilt group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Avenue in Santa Rosa.

In Memory

Our cat passed away a few days ago.  Nagi was only 12, not a young cat but not old either.  This was a cat that had only brief periods of calm and security.

Born in the litter of a cat owned by a young person who knew nothing of the care and feeding of felines, she was kept with her brothers & sisters in a box in the top of the closet and their feeding schedule was iffy at best.  And although my daughter had committed to taking this kitten after it had spent the appropriate time with the mother cat, the owner chose to take her away from her mother early.  Nagi was packed in a box and traveled first on a bus and then the full length of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system and finally on the San Francisco Municipal rail system.  She arrived at our home terrified, lonely and hunger.  Like many creatures that go thru long periods of hunger, Nagi was always looking for food.  She never ate human food but she always had to be there when you cooked it or served it.  And though she hid whenever strangers were in the house she would still show up to remind you that it was her feeding time.

Nagi was never what could be called affectionate.  She was too terrified of everything to get close to people. Supposed to be my daughter’s cat she lost her one attachment when my daughter went off to college on the East Coast. She came into our home only to find that there was a bigger more attentive cat already in residence and the two never really made peace with each other.  Nagi would always remain in basement level of the house out of Bella Donna’s way.  Soon after Bella passed of old age, we threw Nagi’s life into turmoil once again.  First there were the renovations on the house with noise and strange workmen and then we moved her out of the house into the confines of the basement family room of a friend.  There she stayed for more that 7 months with our friend trying to make her an affectionate lap cat.  When she was returned to us it was in the new environment of the home in the country.  Nagi, lost and frightened, took to hiding under the covers of our bed.  Only coming out to eat. One month later she developed a cough, a cortisone shot and  two more months and it was found that she had a growth on her chest and had lost function in one lung.  Several weeks later, she past away.

I’m sorry, Nagi that we were not able to provide you with the secure, calm and loving home that you probably needed and most certainly deserved.

 

Art Tag – Censorship

The most recently completed Art Tag was on the subject of “Censorship.”  I chose to focus on the censorship of women’s art, particularly fiber art.

Since my studio and all my equipment and supplies were packed away in storage while we made our move, I could only work with knitting and crochet.  I started the 3 piece series knitting a pair of fingerless gloves linked together with a crochet chain.

Tie My Hands crocheted, knit and beaded

When I received a painting of the back of a woman in a black cape with the indication that it had been part of a series called “woman in Black Mask” which had been censored out of a New York City gallery show in the 1990’s, I crocheted a doll.  I dressed the doll in a crochet hooded coat and a mask.  The doll itself was embellished with beads and crystals in all the appropriate places but the view would not see that unless the doll was undressed.

When I received my final piece from my co-artist which was a large painting of a erect nude male covered with strips of black tape covering all essential viewing, I know I had to make something big and bold.  But I only had knitting needles, crochet hooks and yarn.  What could I possibly make to react to what I had received. I had been reading a great deal about yarn bombing and though that would be a great finale for this series.  I bought the bulkiest yarn I could find and knit a canvas and framing pieces.  After stitching those together I crocheted flowers, leaves and stems and stitched that to the canvas area.  I stitched the words “Women’s Art to the top of the frame and then knit several strips of black yarn which were placed over the canvas impairing the viewing of the flowers.

On the day of the Art Tag reveal brunch, I arrived early at the art studios at the Sawtooth Building on 8^th Street and Dwight in Berkeley and stitched the piece around a utility pole.  It was like lacing up a corset high above my 5’3” head.

Censorship Yarn Bombing 2011

This piece defiantly made an impact on the group having been mention in one participating artist’s blog  And having another participant make a video of the piece.

And as of Nov 4, 2011 this piece was still up and could still be viewed.

WOW, IMPRESSIVE ARTICLES

Fantastic articles on the Man As Object: Reversing The Gaze exhibit http://www.rolereboot.org/culture-and-politics/details/2011-11-we-may-be-hotter-than-we-know

and

http://broadrecognition.com/arts/returning-the-favor-man-as-art-object-sex-object/

So proud to have been a part of this amazing feminist project http://manasobject.weebly.com/

and Kinsey Institute Gallery in 2012!

LIFE IN THE COUNTRY

Been a long time since I actually wrote about our life adventure to move out of San Francisco.

In July while we made plans to rent a cottage, we found a house in Sebastopol that seemed to meet all our criteria.  Built in the 1970’s the house was purchased and renovated two years ago. With 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, an open living/kitchen/family room/dining area and a large backyard filled with trees, this is more house than this city gal ever expected to live in.

Since there was this open living space, I took the official “living room,” and set up my studio.  And what a studio it makes, with 4 tables, two sewing machines, a floor to ceiling cubbyhole bookcase, moveable metal storage shelves and a east facing picture window.  Its light without any glare and it is so spacious.  The bonus is that there is a 10 X 10 cottage in the back yard for my extra supplies and a table and deck so I can do wet works without destroying the house.  Really looking forward to doing more rust dying.

Since we moved in mid August I have been busy putting the house together and setting up studio space.  After so many months living out of suitcases I was desperate to have everything in its place as soon as possible.  I find myself very confused without some organization around me.

While we were camping out I began participating in the most recent NCWCA ArtTag and was able to have my studio to spread out and complete my third and final piece on the theme of Censorship.  This was most helpful as I produced what turned out to be a large a yarn bombing piece.  For anyone who is unaware, a yarn bombing is street graffiti using yarn and knitting.  More about this artwork, including a video viewing of the piece, when I again write about the ArtTag collaboration. But I am amazed that this piece is still up on the street.

After completing the ArtTag, I have completed two new wall hangings, one small one larger, on the topic of food.  I submitted one to the local art quilt group, Pointless Sisters and the other was submitted to JWAN, a subcommittee of the WCA to be juror into their annual exhibit.  In addition I submitted an older piece of mine for the WCA’s annual exhibit

I am presently working on a 3 dimensional piece for the 2012 SF Jewish Library exhibit with the topic of Excess and will be working on the next round of ArtTag themed Patterns.

Guess I have been keeping myself busy and have to remind myself to focus on writing blog entries.

Man As Object Reversing The Gaze

I love this promo for

 Man As Object Reversing The Gaze

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f98DHxOnfWI

If your in San Francisco on November 11

come on down to the SomArts Cultural Center  at 6PM

for the Opening Reception.

Having trouble viewing this? Click here Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze Opening at SOMArts Main Gallery Friday, November 4th: 6-9:00 p.m. San Francisco, CA WOMEN ARTISTS LOOK AT MEN AND MASCULINITY ART EXHIBITION RE-ENVISIONS GENDER, SOCIETY AND THE POLITICS OF EXPOSURE PLEASE JOIN US… for our ART OPENING! Friday, November 4th 6-9:00 p.m. SOMArts Cultural Center Main Gallery 934 Brannan Street San Francisco. CA www.somarts.org Exhibition Dates: 11/4 – 11/30/2011  Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze is an exhibition that re-envisions gender, society and the politics of exposure. With a gallery filled with men stripped naked, this body of work exposes women’s cheeky, provocative and sometimes shocking commentaries on the opposite sex. The exhibition’s contemporary scope encompasses all the ways that women view Man-as-Object, reversing the traditional view of male artists objectifying women. Its diverse perspectives on masculinity come from straight, transsexual, transgender, lesbian and multi-cultural artists through a spectrum of media, from paintings to sculpture, installations to performance, video to social media. The show’s extensive collection of male adoration, male impersonation and male appendages may make the viewer squirm a little. But that is precisely the point. The more than 100 women artists in the exhibition unapologetically reveal how they really see men. Through this public display at SOMArts Cultural Center, the show’s organizers aim to equalize the gaze between the sexes.Featured Artists:  Juana Alicia, Nancy Buchanan, The Guerrilla Girls on Tour!, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Jill O’Brian, ORLAN, Carolee Schneeman, Silvia Sleigh,  Annie Sprinkle, Beth Stephens,  May Wilson and Melissa P. Wolf. AND Selected Artists for the Gallery and Catalog! Leslie Aguillard, Mel Ahlborn, Roberta Ahrens, Olga Alexander, Sharon Allicotti, Zina Al-Shukri, Carolyn Applegate, Juliane Backmann, Hazel Bartram-Birchenough, Joanne Beaule Ruggles, Jasmine Begeske, Erica Bendickson, Susan Bennett, A Binghamfreeman, Erika Brooks, Tracy Brown, Reena Burton, Della Calfee, Brie Castell, Claudia Chapline, Yuling Chuang, Christine Cianci, Janie Cohen, Katie Commodore, Nicole Craine, Tristan Crane, Tristan Crane, Arabella Decker, Deena des Rioux, Rosemary Giusti Dillon, Liz Dodson, Eileen Downes, Betsyann Duval, Merrilyn Duzy, Fran Eber, Roya Farassat, Sheila Finnigan, Lin Fischer, Eileen Fitz-Faulkner, Julie Fournier, Sandy Frank, Lynn Friedman, Linda Friedman Schmidt, Margaret ‘Margo’ Garces, Michal Gavish, Judy Gelles, Ingeborg Gerdes, Christine Giancola, Lisolette Gilcrest, Sarah Beth Goncarova, Pallavi Govindnathan, Chanel Matsunami Govreau, Corinne Greenberg, Gail Gurman, Karen Gutfreund, Tania Hammidi, Valerie Hallier, Sharon Hart, Laura Hartford, Trudi Chamoff Hauptman, Lidia Hasenauer, Marlene Hawthrone Thomas, Deena Haynes, Karen Henninger, Katty Ryan Hoover, Hedda Hope, Aisjah Hopkins, Sara Hopkins, Cynthia Horn, Tedda Hughes, Birgit Huttemann-Holz, Annette Isham, Patricia Izzo, Lahib Jaddo, Ellen Jantzen, Annelise Jarvis-Hansen, Elaine Jason, Tammy Kinsey & Jean Kusina, Judy Johnson-Williams, Tamarra Kaida, Ashley Kauschinger, Christy Kelly-Bentgen, Elizabeth Kendall, Ellen Kieffer, Karen Lance Klaber, Corlia Kock, Susan Kraft, Diana Krevsky, Beth Lakamp, Sarah Lapp, Lark, Allison Leach, Evie Leder, Lee Lee, Sharon Leong, Lynn Elliott Letterman, Amelia Lewis, Lory Lockwood, Kelsey Livingston, Michelle Lopez, Jacalyn Lopez Garcia, So Yoon Lym, Cat Lynch, Sita Mae, Kelsi Mannhalter, China Marks, Louise Maloof, Kristina Martino, Karen Mathews, Jeanette May, Kristine Mays, Shilo McCabe, Alysanne McGaffey, Harrigan McMahon Bowman, Erika Meriaux, Carol Morris, Amy-Elyse Neer, Jill Nonnemacher, Barbara Neri, Janice Nesser, Nancy Netherland, Molly Marie Nuzzo, Brenda Oelbaum, Beth Olds, Colleen O’Donnell, Priscilla Otani, Jacki Orr, Arla Patch, Nancy Peach, Rachael Perisho, Heather Pilapil, Karen Purdy, Xian Mei QIu, Patricia Quilichini, Nora Raggio, Cherie M Redlinger, Lynda A. N. Reyes, Trix Rosen, Judith Roth, Laura Rusnak, Carla Sanders, Loredana Sangiuliano, Clara Saprasa, Elinore Schnurr, Centa Schumacher, Judith Segall, Shizue Seigel, Sal Sidner, Sarah Sipling, Bonnie J. Smith, Priscilla Smith, Madelyn Smoak, Jenny Snyder, Julie Snyder, Elizabeth Sowell-Zak, Susan Spaniol, Colette Standish, Julie Sutherland, Erika Swinson, Yuriko Takata, Lani Tanaka, Patricia Terrell-O’Neal, Deborah Mills Thackrey, RoByn Thompson, Lynne Todaro, Linnea Tober, J Toffic, Mette Tommerup, Cristina Velazquez, Christina Renfer Vogel, Susan von Gries, Alexandra Walker, Theresa Walloga, Ruth Waters, Jennifer Weigel, Susan Weisberg, Rachel Weissberger, Carolyn Weltman, Ellen West, Corinne Whitaker, Tamara White, Melissa Wilkinson, Sheila Winner, Kathryn Wood, Carol Witten, Jan Wurm, Jenny Wrenn, Nanette Wylde, Marian Yap, Kathleen Yorba, Emily Yost,   Karen Zack,   Lucia Znamirowski - Show quoted text - Learn more about WCA! Go to the Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze website for more information!

ROSH HODESH

I don’t know why but I rarely talk about the annual exhibit at the San Francisco Community Jewish Library.  This exhibit always up in March/April and lasts until August but its on my mind right now as I’ve just been notified that this year’s exhibit has been extended an additional 6 weeks.  I’ve been doing this annual show for many years now and it’s exciting as it gives me the one real opportunity to focus my creativity on my spirituality and stretch that aspect of myself.

This would be my last work before I would need to pack up my studio for the “big move.” This year’s exhibit was to be all about the monthly celebration of the new moon, Rosh Hodesh.  This is one of the very few Judaic holy days that singled out for women.  To create this piece I first dug into my files on past Jewish women’s conferences and activities and found “Four Centuries of Jewish Women’s Spirituality: A Sourcebook,” 1992.  There I found the poem “A Rosh Hodesh Cermony,” by Vicki Hollander. Though it was first published in February 1990 it was reprinted in this sourcebook.  I then went “modern” and searched for both the poem and the author online.  I found Vicki, now Rabbi Hollander, and her poem, which she now uses as an opening pray in her Rosh Hodesh ceremonies.  I contacted Rabbi Hollander and received permission to use part of the pray as the centerpiece of a wallhanging.

So my main piece for this exhibit became Opening Ritual, inspired by the original poem. The work begins with the inclusion of a sliver of new moon that marks the beginning of this monthly holiday.  I wanted to combine the pray with the flames of fire.  After hand-cutting flame appliqués, I printed out the pray on organza and layered it over the flame appliqués.  Since this piece portrays Rosh Hodesh Nissan, I added twelve timbrels dancing around these flames to illustrate Exodus 15:20:  “all the women went out with timbrels and danced.”  I think I was successful in getting the artwork to express exactly what I wanted.

Opening Ritual 2010

This year’s show will come down in the middle of September and artists will probably get information on the theme of next year’s show within a few weeks after that.  Since I will be moving into my new home (yes we found one, more information forthcoming) within the next few weeks this annual exhibit will probably display the last artwork completed in my old studio and the first artwork completed in my new studio.  Making this annual show very significant in my creative process.