.....California Fiber Artists @ Arts Visalia

Friend and fabulous artist and teacher Lura Shwartz Smith....
this is the woman who against all odds,
drew enough helpers to put together the Peace Mandala, or thangka, I blogged about several months ago...
Our portion was of the Buddha sitting under the bohdi tree....
I was a leaf maker...there were a lot of leaves
We had one month to put together 36 - 3' x 4' panels, which when joined together was 18' x 25' and the only way we could really view it was to take it to the local telephone company and hang it from their roof.
It was part of a world wide effort to create the life of Buddha in a thangka....
It was an incredible experience.

The other doll artist in our group is janet Coshow....
I love this wonderful figure!

Me and my Walk on the Wild Side Shaman

Me with Maiden and Mother...
Crone didn't get to come...

......cfa member Sherry Kleinman, Kevin Bowman ~ arts visalia curator and a very nice man, CfA member Benita Dodge, Lura and me... Sherry and Benita both traveled for 3 hours to get to the gallery... one from the north and one from the south. We are standing in front of Benita's gorgeous piece. It was so nice to meet California Fiber Artists members...for the most part we only know each other via our yahoo group. The reception was very well attended and the gallery looked fabulous. I have more photos to post later...

....Tarts for the Arts and other fun stuff

Peace Seeds

Here is the 'official' invitation to the opening preview for the kick-off of Sierra Art Trails...I really hope to see you there.
Timberline Gallery will be open too...
we are receiving the, "Keeper of the Flame Award".
The Eva Scow Trio really puts out some good sounds.
And of course there will be 'Tarts for the Arts'.

Stellar Gallery Hosts the Sierra Art Trails Preview Exhibit
Come meet the artists and view their work at a gala opening reception!

The Sierra Art Trails Preview Exhibit
at Stellar Gallery in Oakhurst, CA
is now open to the public.
The exhibit runs for one month prior to the Sierra Art Trails
The opening reception will be held this Saturday
September 12, from 4 to 9 p.m.
Stellar Gallery is located at “Gallery Row,” 40982 Highway 41, Oakhurst, CA.
"Tarts for the Arts" Sierra Art Trails annual fundraiser will take place during the Preview Reception. There will be a silent auction and art raffle and live music by the Eva Scow Trio.
Admission if free!

Sierra Art Trails Open Studio Tour -
October 3 and 4, 2009
Catalogs will be available at the preview exhibit.

......a night at the museum

It's been a good week or so....
I think it was a week ago Friday when my art buddy Vivian and I took a day to go down into Fresno to see our friend joAnn Burgess’s featured artist show at the Margaret Hudson Gallery… (It is a really a whimsical little gallery with wonderful whimsical art)...Neither one of us could resist bringing one of joAnn’s wonderful “pixel paintings” home. I love her angels, they make me happy.(I have another one on my altar)…I haven’t found the exact place for this little wonder yet.
We also did a little art supply shopping, had lunch and just enjoyed a day off.
Wednesday was another good day…went to the Art Marketing Salon that I belong to...It's always energizing to talk to other artist about ways to market our art. The idea of having a show together was suggested…something to ponder…it would be an eclectic show for sure…
Then when I got home I saw my daughter coming out of my gate to greet me! She lives in LA and surprised me with a visit!!…So Wednesday was already really, really good and then I got a call that my piece, Moon Tribe VI was selected to show at the Fresno Art Museums exhibition A Vision Unfolds: 60 Years of Art!!!!! …The exhibition includes artists (me) who have never presented their art at the museum before….Pretty exciting…The opening reception was last night and I had so much fun….it was a little surreal..I love this museum, but never really thought I’d have a piece of art hanging there…..One of the thoughts that floated through my head right before I got there was that “they” had changed their minds and my Little Moon Tribe Guys would be in a back room somewhere. Which actually happened to me about 5 years ago. I arrived at the the reception for the local PBS station’s donated art show to find my Spirit Figure wasn‘t hanging but in a back room somewhere. Now that was humbling!!!!…….it was a definite blow to whatever ego thing I might have had going on that evening....it did sell at auction though and that took a little bit of the sting out.
The business of art can be really hard on the ego…It’s not all that easy putting emotions, skill, vision, thoughts all out there…There is no guarantee what the reception will be…none at all! But last nights reception was good, they did hang my piece! Feeling blessed I tried to stay in the moment and enjoy it with my family and friends. I’ll have a picture of the Tribe after I pick it up…