Showing posts with label Asheville Area Arts Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asheville Area Arts Council. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

February 2012 Mary's Update


Twilight Serves Her Country

My painting, Twilight, has been chosen by U.S. Ambassador William Moser and Mrs. Moser to hang in our embassy in the Republic of Moldova. The painting will remain in service for two years.

I consider cultural exchange to be most valuable and I am honored to participate in the Art in Embassies Program.
Here’s a bit more information about the Art in Embassies program from their mission statement:
Established in 1963, the U.S. Department of State’s office of ART in Embassies (AIE) plays a vital role in our nation’s public diplomacy through a culturally expansive mission, creating temporary exhibitions and permanent collections, artist and cultural exchange programming, and publications.
AIE’s exhibitions allow foreign citizens, many of whom might never travel to the United States, to personally experience the depth and breadth of our artistic heritage and values, making what has been called a: ''footprint that can be left where people have no opportunity to see American art.''
Our Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, writes: “To create more friends and fewer enemies, we can’t just win wars. We must find common ground and common purpose with other peoples and nations so that together we can overcome hatred, violence, lawlessness, and despair.
Through its temporary exhibitions and permanent collections, ART in Embassies intrigues, educates and connects—playing an ambassadorial role as important as that served by traditional diplomacy. Connecting people to people through the visual arts advances freedom of expression and invites an exchange of ideas.
ART in Embassies reveals the rich history and cultural heritage of the United States and the experiences that we share with peoples of different countries, backgrounds and faiths. Every exhibition reminds us of the diversity of mankind and the values that bind us together.”

Cast Iron Cook-Off
The Cast Iron Cook-Off showcases West Virginia’s culinary talent and attractions, it is populated by West Virginia restaurant owners whose teams compete.

My team, Team Cimino, of CafĂ© Cimino in Sutton, West Virginia, won for “Best Use of West Virginia Value-Added Products”. As the purpose of this oh-so-fun event is best be described as West Virginia’s culinary trade-fair we are pretty darn proud of this award.

Plus, I’m excited to add “award winning chef to my resume”. For those of you who remember me when, “ Yes, I CAN cook.” Granted I came late to the party and, therefore, am making up for lost time. You can come by to check out my cast iron award any time.

Asheville Area Arts Council names Kitty Love Executive Director

Kitty is a big vision woman and she can get things done; I think this a great combination for AAAC. Expect to see amazing things from our rejuvenated Arts Council.

Kitty is the force behind the now two-day Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival (LAAFF) and she was instrumental in establishing the Artists Resource Center.

We are so very lucky to have Kitty Love working as an advocate for the arts in Western North Carolina. She is dedicated, thoughtful, approachable and full of community building energy. I predict a great future for our artists and our arts community.

You may reach Kitty at kitty@ashevillearts.com . She will welcome your input–just be ready to roll up your sleeves and pitch in.

Oh! Yes, I’ve been making art!

Don’t worry all this exciting and fun stuff has only fired me up. I have been very busy in the studio and am pleased with the outcome.

I’ll have 20+ pieces featured at New York Art Expo, the world’s largest fine art trade show now in its 33rd year.

My work is included in the “Wax Foundations: Encaustic Work in the Southeast” show at Meredith College in September of this year, and in the Sixth International Encaustic Conference show at A Gallery, Provincetown, ME this June.

Anytime you feel like checking up on me just give a call (828.712.3786) to come see the work and/or to see me in action making the work.

Class Schedule
For 2012, I’ll be teaching at Constance Williams Gallery in the River Arts District. Dates are: March 5-7 or June 18-20 or Sept 10-12. To receive information about my classes please contact Tina at the gallery.

This is a fast paced from zero to intermediate class. You will make a ton of work and have a whole bunch of fun. Meanwhile, you will have learned up to intermediate technique in encaustic painting. All this in three days! Come join the fun.



What the heck is a Pecha Kucha ?

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Savannah, Atlanta and Asheville - Worth a look

Savannah
Teaming with SCAD influences the opening of contemporary art spaces in Savannah is quite refreshing. It's such a lovely place to walk about and stumble into things like to gardens, quaint shops and yummy eateries. It's an unexpected pleasure to find interesting and compelling contemporary art in history steeped Savannah.

2carGarage

During my visit in early Feb, an excellent show of Chris Kienke's work was up. His work covers a lot of territory, figures, animals, abstraction, fish, water and yet is all recognizable as Chris Kienke. I liked the variety in the scale of work as well,this variation provided unexpected delight from large diptychs to more personal, small work.

Color abounds, Kienke's visual language is evolving over each piece you see the strokes change, the palette changes, and the content. In his own words, "...I recognized the value in the unintended". Thanks for this show.

Up next at 2carGARAGE is Betsy Cain's strong and decisive mental landscape work. Stop by, you'll be glad you did.

Atlanta
Meeting fellow artists and reacquainting is sheer delight. I love how artist's minds work and how we look at the world. It was my great pleasure to me John Folsom.

John Folsom
Folsom has just received confirmation of a show at the Gibbes Museum in Charleston; well deserved I might add.

John's photo based work lends a dreamy quality to the bucolic settings he photographs; his work is visually arresting and expertly crafted. Folsom reminds us why our landscape is important. This is especially significant to me as I've just seen some of George Masa's, the Ansel Adams of Appalachia, remaining photos of the Blue Ridge (c. 1922-1933). Much of this landscape has been preserved in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Where it could have gone so terribly wrong, this beauty has been preserved.

We depend upon George Masa and John Folsom to help us remember what was.

Asheville
Asheville has more galleries than Charlotte, hmm. What does that say for this jewel of a town?

Gallery Minerva
Anna Parker-Barnett and Heidi Gruner--this is the gallery staff with whom I'd love to work. They do not hide behind computer screens and desks, they get up and greet you when you visit Gallery Minerva. Anna and Heidi speak with great authority about each artist in their gallery, I'm not talking art-speak either. It is so refreshing. Thank you both.

I'm happy to report the expansion of Gallery Minerva into a second space on Biltmore Ave. Anna is a great resource for starting or expanding your collection. If you are a first time art buyer and feel a bit intimidated, ask Anna, she will deftly guide you through the art purchase process. I urge you to support this downtown expansion and spend time and money in Asheville. This is a courageous move for Gallery Minerva and I applaud their grit and hope for their continued success.

Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts
Another Asheville treasure is Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts. I'm not sure how many artist work in this fine space, but let me say, it's a beehive of activity.

I attended a recent opening, "Ceramic Artists Members Show" and was thrilled to see the large crowd there. The show runs through March 6. Good food, great music and best of all excellent clay work. The show is beautifully curated by the resident artists. They are all versed in the complexities of ceramic art and willing to share this information with you.

Odyssey is one of those unique places that fosters artistic achievement; you'll find studio space with all the necessary equipment, classes, seminars, lectures and workshops.

Here I'll share the work of two Odyssey artists, Jillian Wolf and Kat McIver. Stop by Odyssey, see the show, be dazzled by the quality work made right here in Asheville.






Monday, December 22, 2008

Winter Is Here

Brrrr, it's all I can muster, it is bloody cold in Asheville, NC this morning. No way I'm out tromping around looking at art and I cannot make art as my studio is currently the staging ground for the new heat/air system we are having installed.

New Work
In between holiday preparations, parties and completing work for my first show in Asheville, I’ve finished some new pieces in the Changing Coasts series. The first 3 are here. The remaining 8 or so will be ready soon.

Also, keep reading as I've got a few movie suggestions and information about my Jan/Feb show.


In This Moment I Am Free
40 x 40 x 2
Encaustic on Panel






This Light Took My Breath Away
40 x 40 x 2
Encaustic on Panel










Making Hay #2

48 x 40 x 2
Encaustic on Panel










Show Info
Asheville Area Arts Council presents: Changing Coasts, new work by Mary Farmer

Changing Coasts is made up of encaustic work by new to Asheville artist, Mary Farmer, she captures her impression of Western North Carolina. Says Farmer, "Working in wax, encaustic painting, is a very physical endeavor. You'll find heat guns, hot plates, large wooden panels, and gas torches in my studio. This physicality is very appealing to me as I layer and scrape, gouge and fill, heat and distress each work. When paired with my own visual vocabulary it, encaustic painting, is the perfect combination of process, abstraction, color, movement and composition."

Paintings rendered in encaustic have given collectors a new medium to contemplate and has attracted its very own following. The work is lush, luminous and presents great depth.

A reception for Asheville artist Mary Farmer will be held in the Boardroom Gallery on Friday, January 9, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Asheville Area Arts Council,11 Biltmore Avenue. “Changing Coasts”, the exhibit remains on display through Feb 28.


Movie Suggestions
See these: Slumdog Millionaire, MILK, and Rachel Getting Married