Collaboration Station

In my continuing efforts to slowly update my blog, I have recently added two new static links just below the blog header: a link to my ONLINE SHOP and a link to a page that highlights my COLLABORATIONS with other artists. I attribute much of my growth as an artist to the many collaborations that I have been involved with. You can read some of my thoughts about collaborative projects in this article from the MMCA Marketplace Blog from 2010.

Although I have taken some time off from collaborations in the recent past to focus on other projects, I hope to get back to creating with other artists just as soon as I have a bit more time.

In prepping my collaborations page I realized that I had never posted pictures from my collaboration with Sarah Whitmire. Both Sarah and I created our own handmade and handbound books, which we traded back and forth via mail for the three years of the project. We each worked in both books, sometimes creating our own pages and, even more challenging, sometimes working on every page - on top of the other person's art.

So, by way of introducing my new collaborations page, here are some of our pages from my book...

Go to the Gym

I am all about the collaboration. But for the first time since 2008, I am collaboration-free. Toward the end of last year I completed my last ongoing collaborative project and decided to take time off so that I could focus on my book. My hiatus will be far from permanent however, as I plan to begin several new collaborations later in 2012 - including one that I have been thinking about for many years.

In the mean time, my older collaborations continue to be the gifts that keep on giving. This past September my project with Bridgette Guerzon Mills and Jen Worden was exhibited at the Logan Square Art Center in Chicago. My collaboration with Sarah Whitmire is being featured in the current issue of Somerset Studio. A collaborative project that I completed with Jill Zaheer, and which has never been posted, will also soon be published. More details on that later this year.

And it thrills me to be able to announce that two of my collaborative projects will be featured in Collaborations, an exhibition at the Brooklyn Artists Gym opening on January 28. That show will feature:

Winds of Change, my project with Roxanne Evans Stout...

and Self Contained, my collaboration with Vivian Bonder and Stephanie McAtee.... 

An opening reception for the show will be held on Saturday, January 28 from 6-9pm. The exhibition runs through February 6. Brooklyn Artists Gym is located on 168 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor in Brooklyn NY. Call 718-858-9069 for more information. Hope to see you locals there!

Let Nature Appear

Many moons ago, Sarah Whitmire and I embarked on a collaborative art project based on the theme of nature. We both created our own handmade and handbound books, which we traded back and forth over the course of three years. We each worked in both books and challenged ourselves even more by working on top of each other's work -- a true collaborative effort.  The end result was two books, each filled with artwork and memories.

Happily, our books are being featured in the January/February issue of Somerset Studio.

let nature appear

like no other feeling, like no other sound

the rush of the wind, the pulse of the ground

elixer, intention, a spontaneous space

a sense of adventure, a majestic embrace

light and enchanting, a plumage so warm

dark and encumbered, in shadow and form

by design it will stream, it will soar, it will fly

the power of forests, the freedom of sky

there is rain, there is thunder, it is second to none

adrift and asunder, it can't be undone

transition will follow the edge of a breeze

and times we cannot see the woods for the trees

the call of the wild, the answer so clear

the echo of time, both rich and austere

the story is written, let nature appear

Inbox/Outbox - Part One

The post office has been very good to me during the run of The Pulse. I received several unexpected packages.

First to arrive was a small deco that I had originally made as part of a Yahoo group back in July 2007. I am no longer a member of the group and had not still expected that it would come back to me. It was a nice surprise to find it in my mailbox. The theme was Foreign Text and below are some detail shots of the pages. Thanks to Jessica, Jan, Raquel, Kathleen, and Pat for doing such a great job on their pages.








Next to arrive was a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) sent by Julie from The Land of Lost Luggage. This mail art arrived in my mailbox totally unexpectedly.



Julie sent me these two beautiful pieces to thank me for effort that went into The Pulse. Thanks Julie! Your thoughtfulness is appreciated so very much.




I continue to be focused on a number of ongoing collaborations and am playing "catch-up" now that I have more time. I am working on a Nature Journal with Sarah Whitmire and this has evolved into one of my favorite projects yet. Here are just a few glimpses of pages I have worked on. I will post the completed journals when we are through.

Coming Attractions

Later this month I will begin posting the newest episode of The Pulse - our second artist survey of 2008. As a preview, and to whet your appetite, here is one of the seven questions included in the survey:

Where does the magic happen? Tell us about the studio, room, corner, desk, table, floor, or wall where you make art and show us one photograph which somehow captures your creative space or a work in progress.

Believe me when I tell you that you will be fascinated by the variety of answers and mesmerized by the photographs of the workspace and works in progress of these amazing artists.

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As a preview of things to come, here is one more question and answer post from the first artist survey, originally posted On The Altered Page in January 2008. Click on the link below to find out where 35 artists spend their online time.

MY CURRENT GO-TO WEBSITE IS...

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Finally, here is one more preview of a number of pages I have completed for several collaborations I am working on. I am only showing glimpses until the projects are complete. As always, click to enlarge.

Collaborative glimpses and ations

So far 2008 has been all about collaboration. I have been busy working on a number of collaborative projects that I have recently started and have plans to embark on additional ones later in the year. To me these projects bring about a sense of excitation...there is always anticipation when waiting to receive the most recent work that your partner has completed and to see how the project has evolved...there is constant creation going on as the project changes and evolves with each mailing...there is hesitation when working on someone else's artwork, not always being sure if they will appreciate your addition...there is motivation to do your best work since you are contributing to your partner's vision...there is constant visual stimulation to be had in being able to repeatedly see and touch another artist's creations...and there are always high expectations regarding the outcome of the project and the completed piece.

So now for the presentation. Here are a few glimpses of some of the work I have recently completed in several different collaborative projects. As always, click to enlarge.













Here are some glimpses of the amazing pages started or added to by Sarah in my nature journal:

Nature Journal

Artist and blogger Sarah Whitmire and I have begun a collaborative Nature Journal. We have just started this project and have sent off our journals to each other for the first time. This will no doubt be a lengthy process and chances are I wont be posting complete images until the journals are done. I thought it might be interesting however to post some peeks at the pages I make as they are created. Visit Sarah's blog Caspiana to see some of her wonderful artwork.