The Conversation Series
The Conversation is finally on display! You can view in person at Angle Gallery at the TK Lofts in Pioneer Square–312 S. Washington Street, Seattle, WA. (On view through November 26th–Hours Wednesday through Saturdays, Noon to 5:00pm & by appointment).
Conversation #3
Mike’s answer to my last painting in the conversation series was this amazing photo of local cabaret performer and dancer Waxie Moon. As it happens, I took a Michael Jackson dance class at the Century Ballroom last year that was taught by Waxie. He makes dancing look so easy and effortless. It is not (though I highly recommend the class).
The movement of the feathers brought to mind wind, and the image of Waxie the figurehead of a ship. (acrylic, fabric, and copper on canvas)
Noise for the Needy 2011
Noise for the Needy has maintai
ned a variety of satellite-themed logos over the years, and as I sat down to design my 2011 poster I thought I’d keep with the space theme and create an homage to my favorite space craft, the space shuttle. Having grown up in Florida, I got to see a lot of shuttle launches (sadly including the Challenger launch). The most amazing launch I ever saw was on a clear, moonless night. We walked down to the beach, looked south into the darkness until the sky was filled with an amazing glow lighting up the sky. Wow. According to NASA’s website, the final launch of the Shuttle program is scheduled for June 28. I promise it’s worth a trip to Florida, even in June. (This photo was taken on the beach just down the street from my Mom’s house).
Noise for the Needy, a Seattle-based nonprofit that raises money for charitable causes through the production of live music shows. This year’s proceed will benefit Real Change, a reader-supported social enterprise that combines quality news, fearless social justice advocacy and non-judgemental, low-barrier employment opportunities for Seattle’s low-income and homeless people.
The Conversation: Part 2
Based on the Conversation: Part 1, Mike had the idea of creating a photo that had a three-dimensional/flowing/textural feel. He used a co-worker with some beautiful tattoos, great legs, and a ton of energy and emerged with an amazing, dynamic photo. The image made me think of a bird flying, metamorphosis, energy, dynamic change.
For my Conversation: Part 2 (official name TBD) I painted the environment of the photo. Hardwood floor, white wall. The wall changes to a cloudy sky, and the girl becomes a bird flying with wings of ribbons. I used the very same cat mask, but painted over its face with an owl’s face. (acrylic, fabric, ribbon, and feathers on canvas)
Petrified Orange
About a year ago I brought an orange to work, put it on my desk, and on my desk it stayed.
Since then, it’s been the subject of much ridicule from my co-worker Erin, who thinks it’s is fairly disgusting (which I suppose it is).
This week I’ve had to pack up my desk to move into a new office (which my new office-mate Sean refers to as “the veal pen”). So what does one do? Pack and move the orange? Throw it away?
Neither of these options seemed appropriate… So naturally I decided to make some art!
Sadly, Erin is both moving desks and teams. So for a going-away present, I made this little orange nest to remember me by.
(acrylic, paper, copper wire, raffia, ancient orange)
The Conversation: Part 1
My good friend Mike Hipple, who also happens to be an amazing photographer, approached me with an idea a few months ago. His husband Sam was organizing a big arts festival, Arts Crush, in Seattle during the month of October with weeks of visual art, books and music, theatre, and dance.
Mike suggested that we collaborate on a project for the visual arts portion of the month, which we decided to call “The Conversation.” The concept starts with a photo by Mike, which I use as inspiration for a painting, which Mike uses as inspiration for a photo, and so on.
Mike had an idea for the first photo, and he wanted to use me as the model and my bedroom as the set.
As it happens, the past few years I’ve been suffering with chronic insomnia and this photo makes me think of that in-between state that insomnia produces. Not awake, but not asleep. Dream state overlapping with reality. So that is what I painted. (acrylic, spray paint, fabric)
We didn’t quite pull it together for the 2010 Arts Crush, but we have a goal of creating at least 12 sets (and hopefully more) by October 2011 for the next Arts Crush!
Halloween 2010
This year I was invited to spend Halloween in New Orleans with one of my favorite people (Remy), who takes costumes very seriously. Last year before she abandoned Seattle for the east coast, she organized several theme days at work; stewardess day, Mad Men day, and dress like Rob Rosen day (think east coast business casual-khakis, blue shirt, sensible shoes). Costumes were definitely required for Halloween in NOLA and I wanted to keep up my bird theme from the previous few years, but was at a loss for ideas. The best idea I’d been given was Larry Bird (thanks Colin), and I was seriously considering blonde mullet wigs and tube socks…
Then I went to Art Walk.
My friend Connor was showing some photos at his co-worker’s studio in the 619 Western Building. The co-worker, Tammy, makes amazing leather masks and had one that was made with gas mask goggles and looked like an owl. This sparked my interest and when talking to her about her masks, she mentioned she teaches a mask-making class. Which, obviously, I immediately signed up for.
For anyone who lives in Seattle, I highly recommend this class (I’ll be taking the Steampunk Goggles Workshop sometime in the near future if anyone is interested). Tammy is a great teacher and very giving with the knowledge she has mostly learned through trial and error. I spent an afternoon in her Pioneer Square studio and left with a new skill to add to the “I can make that” list.
Thanks to Tammy’s guidance, my mask turned out great. It is very crow-like and I ended up dressing as a Flapper (love a double entendre). I completed the outfit with a feather boa I got at the Mardi Gras Market on Dauphine which I purchased for $4.95. It was better than bread crumbs as it left a trail of feathers from our house in Bywater through the French Quarter and back.
Vegas Ceiling
I know this is totally cheesy, but I’ve always loved the cloud ceilings in the casinos in Vegas. They are mostly located in themed shopping areas, and often have lighting effects that simulate sunrise and sunsets (in the Venitian, there’s even a “real” thunderstorm!). When I moved into my townhouse a couple years ago, I painted the vaulted ceiling of my bedroom blue with the intention of painting clouds. We all know about good intentions…
Fast forward three years, add a total bedroom makeover, and finally, done!
Now on all of the dark and dreary Seattle days when I come and go from work in the dark, I can come home and luxuriate beneath a happy cloudy sky. I also got a round Nelson bubble lamp which resembles the sun.
Now I say, winter? Bring it on!
