Blog
Hemp as Material and Muse
I was thrilled to be contacted by Nadine Avillar, the art director at Hemptique, a hemp and natural fiber craft supply company based in San Diego. Hemptique manufactures a large variety of hemp cords, ropes, twine, paper, fabrics, as well as bamboo and cotton products. They are the creator of organic apparel, accessories, with a focus on hemp products and supplies.
I use a great deal of hemp cord in my works, often listing it as a primary material.
Nadine contacted me in regards to my piece , “Before the Fall“. Hemptique was going to be an exhibitor at NAMTA, (Art and Creative Craft Materials, an organization for the creative industry) 2023 and she wanted to use a photo of my work on one of their promotional banners. NAMTA is the publisher of ART MATERIALS magazine and hold a trade show every year.
She said Hemptique has many contributors that work with their products who are more or less “crafters.” She wanted to show how I have used hemp cord in my mixed-media works. Eventually, the owners of Hemptique decided they wanted to use an image of another of my pieces, “Red Notebook” on the banner,
and an image of “Before the Fall” on their promotional postcard.
I was honored to be represented in this way, and also so happy to received boxes of marvelous Hemptique products/supplies/materials, to use not only in my works, but in projects, classes, programs and workshops that I conduct across LA Country. This was truly a win-win situation and I hope to continue the relationship with Hemptique, Nadine and the owners and staff with more collaborations and new ways of presenting, sharing about and promoting their wares.
Long Live HEMP!
Earth Poetry Bookmaking at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!
I was thrilled to lead a bookmaking workshop, (called a “program” in Library parlance!) on April 13, 2023, celebrating the Poetry Month of April through the lens of Earth Day/Nature/The Environment.
This offering was part of my Artist Residency in Bookmaking, “We Write the Book” at the West Valley Regional Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library, through the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs.
The Residency is comprised of a series of bookmaking workshops presented at the Library, planned in close coordination with Library Staff.
For our EARTH POETRY BOOKAMKING program, participants of all ages learned to create a bound book that can be hung on the wall as well as about the 17 syllable technique of creating HAIKU poetry.
Once each maker had bound their book together, they were free to fill it with poetry, stories, illustrations, stickers, drawings and collage! The results were moving and inspiring, as testified to by Branch Manager, Kevin Hasely in this short video! Watch VIDEO.
Exploring the inner and outer POET!
We were thrilled to welcome a group of 8-12 year-olds from a program of the nearby police cadet academy!
Playing with materials.
Mother and son work together!
20-somethings explored their creativity!
Participants worked together and on their own.
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Employing stickers and origami papers to great effect.
Storywriting!
Utilizing the Haiku poems from the information packet passed out.
Learning about HAIKU poetry.
Classic…
The import of kindness.
Cooperation.
Discovery.
Material abundance!
Sharing.
Friend fun!
PURE JOY!!!
ArtShare LA Shares A Common Thread
I am honored be a part of ArtShare LA’s exhibition, “A COMMON THREAD“, a 13-woman exhibition featuring fiber-based and textile works of art exploring autobiography and social critique, connection and displacement interlinked through themes of history and memory.
The show was curated by ArtShare LA Executive Director Beth Stryker and Visual Arts manager Baha H Danesh.
Each artist’s works are exhibited together, creating specific artistic spaces for visitors to peruse.
I am thrilled to have four works in the show.
ArtShare LA Executive Director Beth Stryker chats with exhibition designer extraordinaire, Stacie B. London.
Exhibiting artist Doris Bittar and friend.
Enjoying the exhibition.
Baha and I celebrating!
Please view a fabulous film of the show by Eric Minh Swenson HERE
The exhibition runs April 1 – May 13…so come on by and enjoy the show!
DISMAN-tling “I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do” at ReflectSpace Gallery!
It was with tenderness mixed with pride and appreciation that I DISMAN-tled my solo show, “I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do ” which ran from late January to late March 2023, in the ReflectSpace Gallery in the Glendale Central Library, curated by the inimitable duo, Anahid and Ara Oshagan.
Thank you Tony, for your assistance, climbing those ladders, and using those tools!
A bit of fun with Tina Demirdjian of Poetry Consults.
Thank you Tina for the support on all fronts!
It takes a village…the completion of a job well done! With the incomparable Anahid Oshagan, co-curator of ReflectSpace, and Tina Demirdjian of Poetry Consults.
Posing with the Glendale Gals: Tina and Anahid…
and with the marvelous Maryl Fleisher, Marketing Program Supervisor at Glendale Library, Arts & Culture.