Please check out STUDIO 414 if you plan to attend Final Friday this week. My partners have re-painted the space and we are having a “hanging party” tomorrow to get the work in place. It is looking good and promises to unveil lots of exciting new work. Allison has lots of new glass and tiles as well as paintings in acrylic. Nancy has some mixed media tiles in the 4th floor hall that you have to see as well as lots of new work in her old space. Korki is bringing in some of her paintings with text as well as some other paintings that have only been shown in Columbus. All of them have so much talent; I am thrilled to exhibit with them. I have mixed some familiar images with some new work combining oil and mixed media. We have planned a group wall that is chocolate brown where we will meld all four styles. As we saw on the Evite that Nancy designed, our work really compliments each other. Come see for yourself from 6-10 Friday night and 11-3 on Saturday. See you then.

If you are coming to Final Friday this week, be sure to check out the 510 Gallery across the way to see the Encore! Show. It is a music-themed exhibit and promises to be special. One of my new Mixed Media pieces, “Color Me In” is in this exhibit…you’ll have to see it to get the music connection. (Trust me, it isn’t deep.)

Ok, the shows are down and time to try something new. Beginning July 25th I will be participating in Pendleton Final Fridays in Studio 414. Along with my three partners: Allison Sanders, Nancy Hopkins, and Korki Bowen, we are re-vamping the space. Look for ceramics by Allison and Nancy. You can see their work at Indigenous. Korki and I will provide the paintings and 2-D mixed media pieces. It is a great opportunity to set up shop in this large space that has great windows and location. We should have plenty in place for the July Final Friday, and plan a grand re-opening event in August or September.

It has been a wonderful year for me. I have been pleased to show in some of the best juried shows in town. “Beauty Matters” provided great exposure for me not only with some great contacts but an opportunity to meet some of the impressive artists also in the show. The Pendleton Rising Sun show also gave me the opportunity to meet some great fellow artists and future neighbors in Pendleton on the third floor. I also really appreciated the award of merit from this show. Of course, I was honored to be chosen to exhibit at the Women’s Art Club opening show in the new barn in Mariemont. I appreciated the chance to be part of this exhibit.

I am not exhibiting this year at Hyde Park…didn’t apply. Last year’s scorcher heat made me re-think showing in outdoor venues. (that and the fact that my display collapsed after the show!) With that in mind, I am more interested in pursuing Pendleton with energy and enthusiasm. We begin set up July 11 and that will keep all four of us busy for a while. Watch for new signage and fresh paint in 414! Hope to see you there.

“Spring Fever,” pictured above, is included in the annual show sponsored by the Women’s Art Club of Cincinnati. The show opens May 4th with the opening scheduled for 1-4 . This show is the first to be held in their “new” home in Mariemont. The building is affectionately dubbed “the Barn” and is undergoing serious renovation. It is a spectacular building. Dates of the show are: May 8-11 and May 15-18 from 1-4 on those dates. 58 pieces were selected from a huge number of entries by jurors Arnelle Dow and Cole Carothers. I am humbled by my inclusion in such an important show. Come on you Mariemonters…. come and see this one! The address is: 6980 Cambridge in Mariemont. Walk on over after school on one of those Thursdays! Let me know what you think!

Friday, May 2nd is the annual fundraiser for The Cincinnati Nature Center. A silent auction will generate proceeds to fund many of the center’s worthwhile programs. Two of my mixed media pieces and one print will be included in the auction. One of the mixed media pieces is entitled “Birds on a Wire-Ode to Charley”. This piece follows this year’s theme, “For the Birds!” Buy your tickets soon for this worthwhile and FUN event.

It was a fun night in Rising Sun.Lots of people turned out to see the “Great Escapes” show. The downpour kept everyone in the Pendleton instead of roaming the streets and the riverbank. Maureen Bloomfield was there to present the awards and meet the artists. It is a long drive to Rising Sun, but worth it to see this exhibit. Many Pendleton Cincinnati artists were represented. I was pleased to be awarded a Judge’s Merit award. “Get out!” was well received and looked really unique among the more traditional paintings. The food was the most imaginative spread to date at an opening we have attended. Vera Curnow did a wonderful job getting this show together. The show will be up until the end of May if you are in the area. Thanks to those who worked so hard on this exhibit.

Thursday, March 27th was the opening night for “Beauty Matters.” The event was filled with truly beautiful paintings, drawings and prints by local artists chosen by Daniel Brown. There was a large crowd in attendance even though the hometown XU game was about to begin. Mr. Brown introduced the artists and said a few words about the importance of beauty in our world. “People matter, beauty matters, and beauty matters to people.” That was the theme of the evening…bringing the world of artists together with service organizations. The United Way of Greater Cincinnati does great work for the people of Cincinnati. It is worthwhile to see this show and know that purchasing a work of art from the large selection will help this organization and its recipients. Great job by all who worked so hard to put it together.

These two paintings have just been accepted for: “GREAT ESCAPES”- a juried art exhibition at the Pendleton in Rising Sun, Indiana. They are called “Get Out!” and “Daylight Savings.” The judge of this exhibit is: Maureen Bloomfield; Editor-in-Chief, Artists Magazine. I am so excited to be a part of this show! The awards and opening are from 6-9 on April 4th. Music, refreshments and wine in a wonderful location. Sounds like a party to me! Everyone come! The show is up April 4- May 30. The subject of this show is great escapes, or, where do you go in your heart – in your mind – for your spirit when you want to escape? Come and see for yourself where the best escapes are.

Location
Rising Sun Pendleton Art Center
201 Main Street
Rising Sun IN 47040

To quote the “Beauty Matters” invitation, “Beauty Matters features the work of 21 celebrated artists from throughout the Greater Cincinnati region and is made possible by generous grants from the Dr. Stanley and Mickey Kaplan Foundation and Whitney and Phillip Long. The show’s curator is Mr. Daniel Brown, who has assembled many shows for diverse venues throughout the region…” Eight of my painting/collages are in this show.
The opening reception for this show is Thursday March 27, 5:30-7:30
The show will be on display March 27- April 25
United Way of Greater Cincinnati
2400 Reading Road

Congratulations all around for a wonderful night at The Carnegie. Food and wine, art and friends; how can you beat that for a gloomy February evening? Thanks to all who came. The Celebration Table was very popular and diverse. It is fun to see artists at work with a theme. The Birthday Room was a pleasant surprise. Such great stories on the wall. Everyone should have a birthday story. Ok, so, the highlight may have been seeing my name on a museum wall… but that was also a surprise. Who wouldn’t be a little happy about that?
Details coming about “Beauty Matters”.