Setting the Bar (for myself) a Bit Higher

You've seen this image before.
I created this design as a needlepoint about four years ago and then recreated it as a linoleum block relief print. It's one of the first images that I printed on my press.

A few months ago, a friend of mine (we'll call him S.R.) implied that he was slightly disappointed with my prints that he had seen in the Southern Roots exhibition. He said that he had expected to see something slightly different. I was a bit shocked by his comment but realized that he had a good point. I entered the juried art festival circuit in October 2006. It's now 2008 and although I am not lacking in technical proficiency or new imagery, I haven't pushed myself. I've become a bit comfortable. Maybe too comfortable. My prints are basically all the same: 5 x 7 or 9 x 12, double matted and framed in black.

Okay, so S.R. challenged me. . . and I've accepted the challenge. This print -shown- is one of three blocks that I cut and printed this month. And they're large!! I hand-printed (meaning that I had to use a baren to apply pressure to create the impression) the images. Printing 12 x 18 has taken me out of my comfort zone. But believe it or not I like the larger size. . . a lot! Rubbing the baren over the back of the paper transfers the pigment from the inked block to the paper. I'm acting as a human printing press! The energy to produce the perfect print has to come from me! Imagine that. It's very physical and I've discovered that I really don't mind that the finished prints are not stark, opaque black. I printed on paper with a lot of tooth, initially, and the paper did not take the ink as smoothly, but left some interesting textures.

I'm very pleased with my large prints. I've also stepped outside the box and I've selected a different type of frame. Silver. Lovely.

Southern Roots 2008

On Monday evening, March 31st, the opening reception for SOUTHERN ROOTS 2008 was held.

SOUTHERN ROOTS is a Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Artists with Alabama ties. The exhibition is presented each year by The Academy of Fine Arts, Inc., (AFA). This current show marks the Nineteenth Annual event. This year, the Juror was Gail Andrews, R. Hugh Daniel Director of the Birmingham Museum of Art. I'm pleased to announce that I received a 1st Place Award for my linoleum block relief print "Like a Martin to its' Gourd" (which you can view here).

Unfortunately, the artwork which was selected for the exhibition is not available on the www. I hope that 'yall will take the time to go downtown Birmingham and see the art which will be available for viewing until May 2nd at the Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place North, Birmingham. My BFF Donna Branch of Tara Glass Art Studio and my best bud, Bill Goudy, are exhibiting also.

Don't know why Julian Hazlett didn't submit his art tiles. His work is wonderful!! I meet Julian, albeit briefly, about 3 years ago as I was strolling thru the Loft District in Birmingham at the Sidewalk Art Festival. When I spotted his art tiles my eyes lit up; my soul squealed with delight! I saw striking black and white jewels which, at first glance, appeared to be wood engravings. I asked him a couple of questions about his technique and he didn't hesitate one bit to share information about resources available in the metro area. Okay, (cue the music) here's where I say, ". . .he had me at hello." I love his eyes. They're intense but friendly. You can't tell if he feels imprisoned by his own muse or if he's looking inside of you. Now . . . and here's the best part . . . fast forward to this year. I met my BFF (that's Donna) at a seminar about six weeks ago and guess who was sittin' there with her!?? Yep! Mr. Julian! There they were just a sittin' and a talkin' and a grinning and havin' a good old time. They've known each other for a while. Gosh, is this a small world or what???!!!!! I love how we're all connected to each other. . . Six Degrees of Separation, right? For those of you who don't know, six degrees of separation refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person he or she knows and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people he or she knows, then everyone is an average of six "steps" away from each person on Earth.

We're all connected to accomplish something good.

Batter Bowl: A Thrift Shop Treasure

I love thrift stores and antiques and, okay, just good old junk shops! And, yes, I do believe that one person's trash can be another person's treasure. Case in point. This weekend I found a real treasure. It is to me, anyway.

I have always loved the folk art pottery of Jerry Brown who creates traditional hand-turned pottery. A southern stoneware potter, he makes utilitarian pieces used for food preparation and preservation. He, also, creates whimsical jugs and mugs.

The piece that I found is called a Batter Bowl. It probably isn't the most expensive pottery one can own but I could care less about that. The fact that it was made by his hands and has his signature and a date of 1992 etched on the bottom of it makes my heart leap with pure joy! 1992 is the year he was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts. And, he is Alabama's Folk Artist of the Year for 2001. My Batter Bowl is perfectly crafted. No chips, no cracks. In fact, it feels like glass when you run your fingers over it. I'll have to find a special place for it in my studio. Use it in my kitchen? Never! Also, I found the old quilt (in the pic) that I have the bowl sitting on. Beautiful, isn't it?

This weekend I devoted quite a bit of time completing art festival applications and getting them in the mail. I'll keep you posted on the venues that I'm invited to participate in. My first show of the season will open in two weeks. It is the Academy of Fine Arts SOUTHERN ROOTS (sm) Exhibition. "SOUTHERN ROOTS (sm) CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN THE VISUAL ARTS" is an annual juried art event of the Academy of Fine Arts, Inc. (AFA) designed to promote the artistic endeavors of adult artists with family, academic or other ties to Alabama.

The exhibition will be presented at the Birmingham Public Library Gallery, 2100 Park Place North, Birmingham 35203 and a reception will be held on Monday, March 31st from 6pm until 8pm.