Thursday, April 17, 2014

mother


I just disappeared an hour of my studio day in a bookstore looking over, mother, the new book by Elinor Carucci.  Documenting the first 9 years of her motherhood. I forgot all about her work though I have seen her work many times in the past. She turns her lens onto herself and the intimacy and relationships in her life. The book is beautiful the images lovely and often searing.

As a devout Sally Mann fan I do wish for something else - these images lack something compared to Mann's immediate family. They have a little more grandiosity and the lighting is often dramatic, which is Carucci's style. Her works often feel like paintings in their composition color and light which I am sure many love...



For me though I loved the book and project but I also left it wanting something more. I must say it was utterly compelling to watch the growth and personality of her twins children develop via the photographs- you can tell so much about them via their eyes.

I am so glad to be reminded of her work as I myself am regularly picking up my camera again and also have been looking a lot of Mann's work. 

The book just came out so look for it in bookstores and take some time with it or if you are in nyc you have a few short weeks to see the prints in person here.

from an earlier series

Normally I would feel terribly bad about wasting an hour in a bookstore instead of being in my studio but it felt marvelously wonderful and decadent and I left feeling invigorated and inspired and confirmed in the direction my work and practice is taking. Sometime you just have to let yourself let go of all your own rules and discipline.

See my praise and writing on sally mann here

and an article on Carucci's book here.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

wow. love

 
 
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.

@Charles Bukowski

get lost in


I really want to be getting lost in my studio today. I got it for about an hour and then I remembered I needed to make a PowerPoint for my class and ideally grade but that is not going to happen, eeck.

I think about everything I use to manage; as in writing here EVERYDAY, writing for other blogs, journals, showing constantly and managing to curate and I am in awe. I cannot believe what I managed to do. Now I barely have the energy or words to write weekly---I am doing nothing extra though I have 2 really wonderful ideas for show (just have not gotten to the spot where I actually get some proposals out the door) and have some work I am loving though it is slow to get out the door too.

Such a weird thing but I always really wanted to write about and share art but now if I am authentic I am just revisiting artists that I already connect with and kind of want a total break from new artists and work- my mind and eyes feel full. So this little blog starts to ask what am I?  Of course I am always asking what am I?

anyway what I am is busy with life stuff, exhausted from a never ending lack of sleep, desperately in love with all of it and making some stuff that I hope someone will someday see and love.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

back in nyc soon, come join me.

I am so excited to be doing a guest workshop at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn next month. It is a weekend long workshop and should be oh so much fun. Please come out and join me, share, create, laugh and learn.

Autobiographical Embroidery with Joetta Maue - Weekend Intensive

Autobiographical Embroidery with Joetta Maue - Weekend Intensive
Saturday, Sunday, 11AM-5PM, May 10 - May 11
In this weekend intensive taught by fibert artist Joetta Maue, students will create a one of a kind portrait by creating a "sampler" of embroidery stitches. We will discuss the creative use of diaristic writing and daily life documentation to create your own art while looking at examples of contemporary fiber artists and learning traditional stitches and embroidery basics. Students will learn 5-10 basic embroidery stitches, how to combine stitches, add applique elements, work with imagery and found linens and finish embroidered work. 


from the new roles... this one is my favorite.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

silently making...


  

bare with me as I find my voice again... thankfully my hands are working...