February 2013 - Athens State University

Poster Design: Guy McClure
Athens State University / Feb 2013

Heritage Hall Museum Exhibition: More Than "Just A Craft"

Needlepoint             "fire flies"      © Debra Eubanks Riffe

Last week was ca-ra-zy!
The past five days have been tornadic.

I, generally, like to have a little more control over my calendar: who I need to meet, where I have to be at any given moment. It's important for me to pause every once in a while and assess whether or not I'm making progress. It was virtually impossible to pause, at the end of each day last week, and feel a sense of accomplishment. Staying on top of email messages, driving to appointments, carving blocks. All of it collided and by day three I had a real moment of clarity. Creating and selling my art is now a full blown business.

Today I'm back in my happy place. I'm in my studio working on new linoleum cuts and drinking caffeine (my ONLY vice). The phone is turned OFF!  The television is turned OFF!  I'm listening to Radio Classics on SiriusXM Radio and lovin' it. I'm in Debbe's World.

Moving forward . . . I've been invited to exhibit at the Heritage Hall Museum in Talladega, AL located at 200 South Street, East. Titled: MORE THAN "JUST A CRAFT": Needlepoint and Printmaking Art of Debra Eubanks Riffe - the artist reception will be Sunday, February 10th from 2:00 - 3:30PM.  You're invited. Attached is the front of the invitation/card that was mailed to patrons.

If you're not on my mailing list and you'd like to be notified about future exhibits contact me at: debra.riffe@gmail.com. See you next Sunday.

Birmingham Public Library: Local Author's Expo

The Birmingham Public Library -Central Branch- will host a Local Author's Expo Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 10am until 3:00pm. I'll have copies of my publication "HOLDING THE LINE" - a book of 32 linoleum block relief print portraits honoring the civil rights activists and foot soldiers of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Campaign. 

You can read about the "Holding the Line" print series at WELD for Birmingham.

The Central Branch of the Birmingham Pubic Library is located at 2100 Park Place in downtown Birmingham.

Here's a schedule of events and a list of participants.

Stop by and say hello! 

Fare Thee Well, Amos

Most of you Amos Kennedy, Jr. fans are aware that Amos is packing up his letterpress shop in Gordo and moving his 13 presses to Detroit to set up his new shop: The Detroit Printing Plant. My heart is breaking. This state (Alabama) doesn't realize it yet but they're letting an icon slip thru their fingers. Oh, how I wish that his patrons and members of the art community –that we– had fought and begged him to stay. What's the saying? You don't know what you have until it's gone.

Yesterday, my daughter, son-in-law and I drove to Gordo to "hug his neck" (don't you love those old southern sayings?), one last time. He's been my hero and safety net for five years; he'll be my friend for life. Change is necessary. I get that. Usually, I can adjust with the best of them. But, this time, I'm having a VERY difficult time accepting Amos' move 726 miles away. It ain't next door. 

Oh, well. There's nothing more to say?  It's a sad day. Fare-thee-well my friend. 

Pic: The "humble negro printer" gazing, adoringly, at his friend one last time.

Bluff Park Permanent Collection Purchase Award

"the birds of gideon roam the sky"

"Holding the Line" coming together

                                                       Geez.
Every time I step away from blogging or sending a tweet or two the dang interface changes!! Why can't things just remain as they are? I don't care that much for blogging or tweeting. It's time consuming and I'd much rather cut blocks. However, I've learned that I have to (at least) have a working knowledge of both. If not, I'm going to be left behind. Hey, that's the name of a movie, isn't it? Left behind. Anyway, here I sit looking at the new (to me) BLOGGER Post page. Mumble. Mumble.

Today I've just completed the last of 31 images; portraits of civil rights activists and foot soldiers of 1963 Birmingham. I began cutting the blocks in October 2011. I'd planned to cut fifty blocks to commemorate the 50th year anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement. But it turned out to be a pipe dream. I work everyday . . . 9 to 5 . . . and by the time I make it home, I'm simply exhausted. Mentally exhausted. And just plain pissed off that the best part of my day has been spent sitting in front of a computer creating mundane (dare I say it?) boring design assignments. medical. dental. medical. dental. This is why I report to work everyday. medical. dental. medical. dental. medical. dental. medical. dental.

Anyway, I've assembled a few of the cut linoleum blocks on the floor and I've taken photos. Do you recognize any of the civil rights activists? If I count the 16th Street Baptist Church marquee I have a total of 32 blocks. Here it is -the iconic 16th Street Baptist Church sign. The newsprint proof is positioned on top of the lino block.

The entire body of work is entitled HOLDING THE LINE.  www.holding-the-line.com

I AM AN ARTIST !