Head Games

I don't know why this happened, but it did. It started with an abstraction. I turned a large piece of unstretched canvas upside down, saw a head, and a series was born. The 'Heads' number 10, so far. Many will be premiered at Hollingsworth Gallery, 160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Suite 210B, Palm Coast, FL on the evening of Feb 12th. Join us for music, art and some nibbles. And check out a preview of a 'head' inspired by my husband, which I've entitled Zee, below.

My art is also featured at the Artists' Workshop of New Smyrna Beach's 53rd Annual Member's Show. Robert Sindelir was the judge. This jurist hails from Miami-Dade and is the former Director of Miami-Dade's renowned Art In Public Places program. The luncheon was held yesterday at Sugar Mill Country Club, New Smyrna Beach. I earned Best of Show. Stop by Atlantic Center for the Arts' gallery at Harris House, located at 214 South Riverside Dr., New Smyrna Beach, FL (386.423.1743) to see a really cool show. Sara Higgins, the Community Arts Manager for ACA, curated the gallery for this show and did a stellar job. My winning piece, Imminent Threat I, is depicted here.

This piece was influenced by the events of September 11, 2011, an event that led to the demise of eight friends, my husband (a now-retired Jersey City police officer) rummaging through the remains of the Twin Towers in Manhattan for evidence and survivors as a first responder, the scare of a lifetime; and that influenced (in my humble opinion as a political scientist) a shift in American politics. Although it wasn't intended to be a political statement, it has been construed that way. I'm curious to hear your interpretation. Here are a few more photos from the awards luncheon and opening at Harris House Gallery:

And if you're in Volusia County next weekend, stop by the Harris Gallery - Art League of Daytona Beach on February 13th at 1 p.m. for the opening of Nexus, a collaborative show into which I've been juried. The Art League is located at 433 S. Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114.

First Paintings

I'm finally off the road for a little bit and moved myself into the studio. It is better than I could have imagined. Karlene McConnell (http://www.karlenemcconnell.com) and Melissa Mason (http://www.melissamason.org) have started painting, too. We're cranking it out.

I wanted to share my first two paintings from this space. These are being premiered in a show that I have coming up in Orlando, at the Gallery of Avalon Island, 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, (407) 312-0708, between January and February. Four poets have been teamed up with eight artists. Each is creating visual or written art in response to the other's work.

I am been paired with Susan Lilley, an extraordinary poet. A wonderful central Florida photographer, Rafael Torres, is also working with Susan.

The first painting, Bees In Mourning (above), speaks to Susan's poem by the same title.

The second, Nirvana (below), responds to Susan's poem, Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard.

The latter poem evokes a legendary Manhattan jazz club that opened in '30's and is still going strong. It has attracted the likes of such jazz greats as Evans, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Mann, Diana Krall and countless others. Nirvana focuses on the imagery and lushness captured in Susan's poem: that song was a recording made by Mann with the Bill Evans Trio.

We haven't decided which paintings will be exhibited in this Orlando show, but I'll keep you posted.

A New Studio!

I have a dear pal, who is a great painter. Her name is Melissa Mason. With the help of contractors like Austin Ross (pictured below with Melissa and me), Melissa has rehabbed a stable, converting it into a 900+ square foot studio. Construction on the space was patterned after a studio at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, where we both study a few times per year. Melissa's studio will be creative home to Melissa, Karlene McConnell,

and (of course) me. Check out Melissa's work at http://www.melissamason.org/ (just scroll over the blank to the left and her site will become visible & click - Melissa's site is under rehab, too);

and Karlene's

art at http://www.karlenemcconnell.com/.

The studio overlooks pastoral acres and horses. It is filled with natural light, lit by special artificial lights mimicking daylight, and the painting surface on the walls are a special, super-durable material.

Another dear friend of ours, Audrey Phillips (http://www.audreyphillips.com/), snapped the photos that appear above. I took the following shots while construction was underway:

According to Austin, the studio is now completed. All that is needed is to screw in the light bulbs and install ceiling fans.

Melissa has requested our help in naming this beautiful studio space. Kindly submit your suggested names for the space in the "comments" section, below, or by sending along a message on Facebook to me. The name that Melissa adopts for her new studio will be treated to a nice gift!

October News

On October 1, my art is featured in a solo show at Art Charlotte Gallery, 205 W. Worthington Ave., Charlotte, NC, between 6 and 9 p.m. If you are in the neighborhood, I hope that you can join me there! Carnivale, pictured here, is included in this exhibit.

On October 9th, the Museum of Florida Art, 600 N. Woodland Ave., DeLand, FL (386.734.4371), hosts Art Attack: Florida Artists Give Back, between 5 and 7 p.m., an auction to benefit the Museum. Some Florida artists (including me!) have donated their art for this benefit. You can bid on-line now and prior to Oct. 9th or bid live at the Museum on that Saturday evening. Here's a link to MFA's website and this particular event:http://www.museumoffloridaart.org/auction/. While we're on the subject, I'll be teaching a workshop at MFA from 11/13-/14, 2010, Loosening Up With Mixed Media. The weekend workshop is for beginner, intermediate or experienced realistic artists who want to freshen up their art. Please follow this link for more information: http://museumoffloridaart.org/pdfs/education/zalisko.pdf, or call Pam Coffman, Curator of Education, at (386) 734-4371.

On October 8th, the Crealde School of Art, 600 St. Andrews Blvd., Winter Park, FL is hosting The Art of Hope, featuring about 45 pieces of art that interpret and reflect the historic, social and global significance of the election of Barack Obama as the first African American U.S. President. Artists were encouraged to broadly interpret or confront the significance of this historic election and the idea and impact of hope as a spiritual, social, political and environmental force. Pieces were chosen by juror Bobby Scroggins to be on view at two Crealdé School of Art venues: The Jenkins Gallery on the main campus and the Visiting Exhibition Gallery at the Heritage Center, from Friday, October 8 to Monday, January 17. Best of Show, Second Place and Third Place awards will be given for professional and emerging adult artists, and six awards will be given to children and teens, as well as one purchase award for permanent installation at the Heritage Center.

The juror and curator for The Art of Hope is Bobby Scroggins, sculptor and Associate Professor of Art at the University of Kentucky and visiting instructor at Crealdé School of Art.

One of the three paintings juried into this exhibit is pictured here: Imminent Threat IV. This piece reflects upon the environmental and political implications of the Deepwater oil spill and this catastrophe.

Five Years Later

The disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is still fresh in our minds, five years after that deluge. People died, a legendary American city was vanquished, and Gulf coast natives lost their homes, property, jobs and loved ones. We are still recovering from this devastating event.

I have not forgotten it. I recently challenged myself to paint a series based on present-day disasters. One of those paintings sprang from Katrina. While painting, I remembered riding through Gulf states a few months after the hurricane, flying over the region when I left, and witnessing a ravaged New Orleans. I returned a few months ago and was pleased to see NOLA recovering, slowly but surely. Imminent Threat 3 perhaps represents my modest tribute to the families affected by Katrina.

Back From A Workshop

This past week I attended a Directed Individual Study workshop with my art coach, Steve Aimone, and 10 other artists at central Florida's beautiful art refuge, Atlantic Center for the Arts.

We had the opportunity to paint and work 24/7. It was intense, great fun, and we all found new colleagues or deepened old friendships. I've included a few of my photos from this wonderful retreat.

If you are looking for a fun event, think about attending the opening of 100 % Pure Florida in Melbourne, FL. On September 3rd, this popular annual show opens at Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, located at 1470 Highland Ave., Melbourne, in the Eau Gallie Arts District. The gallery and the district come alive with music, refreshments, entertainment and, of course, this juried opening. This year, the competition was fierce: of more than 260 pieces of art, only 64 works were selected for this show. The opening reception will run between 5:30 and 9 p.m. My art is once again featured.

Witness to Creativity

From July 15th through the 23rd, 2010, I've been assisting my friend, mixed media fiber artist Fran Gardner, at the Florida Museum for Women Artists. The Museum is located at 100 N. Woodlawn Avenue in De Land. The Museum has invited 7 artists to create 6 installation pieces for this show. The artists have been hard at work during this time, creating their art andinteracting with visitors to the Museum.

Fran's installation focuses on the endangered bird species affected by the Deepwater oil spill. Her art, entitled "Habitat: Witness to the Gulf oil spill," concentrates on 8 different bird species. Under her direction, I have painted the fabric panels that she has pieced. Fran then stitches into each panel with silky, luminous threads and incorporates the image and name of the bird and visitor comments. Dialog between visitors and the artists is encouraged. They too witness the progression of each panel and their installation. The finished panels are then suspended from the Museum's Margaret Lee Gallery ceiling by silver wire.

A birdbath is prepared and will ultimately hold a bird's nest and replicas of bird eggs.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by, interact with Fran and me, and provide their input.

They may even find their words concerning this project or the Deepwater oil spill documented in this art!

All work by each of the six artists must be completed by July 23, 2010. The exhibit will run through August 29th. On August 21st at 2 p.m., the Museum will host a meet-the-artist event. The 6 artists will be discussing their respective installations with those who attend.