CONTINUUM and Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary...and more

This time of year in South Florida is always kinda a blur.  See...it's ART FAIR time and that means I am off covering fairs for the magazine.  It gets crazy.  Keep in mind I am still teaching full-time so this is taking place 'in my free time'. It gets SUPER busy.  I am tired but I love every minute of it.

So let's start off with CONTINUUM.  This week I was able to attend the VIP opening reception and I took a ton of pics and posted to the Art Hive Magazine blog.  I am actually going to use my brain for once and just put that link instead of posting all the pics here and writing everything again.  Plus, that will encourage folks to check out the magazine! 

​Here is the link;

Harnessing my inner peace by twirling among these recycled frocks, aka 'my happy place'

...you'll see more of these soon...and I can't wait!

CONTINUUM OPENING PICS VIA THE ART HIVE BLOG

When I was getting my outfit together for this year's CONTINUUM I also started thinking about past years, so I looked up pics to post.  I have participated in their opening silent auction, and one year I even made jewelry for a fashion show that they had.  It's always a good time, whatever they do.  Here are some pics from previous years (sandwiched between info about THIS year!);

This year, Trina asked me if I would be a part of a panel for a 'brunch and lecture', so I did that this morning and it was so much fun!  I wasn't sure what the topic would be, but I knew it would be art related and I can always talk about art.  All the seats were full and the time flew by.  We discussed the role of local communities in promoting the arts, representation in the arts and creating a network of support for artists...that's just some of the discussion.  It was an honor and a privilege to be on this panel, not only representing myself as a artist but also providing a voice as an art educator.  

Oh, and the brunch food from Hullabaloo was good too.  (Trina- anytime they are involved- please ASK ME!!)
​

Just for fun, here is a detail of my jewelry for the CONTINUUM panel...I wore the pieces pieces I made for my five-year retrospective (each piece is a pic of one of my works from each month during that five year period) with my DIY colored pencil necklace. The bag is actually a kids bag but I made it more 'grown' by turning it into a wristlet!

Next up on the agenda, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary.  Basically this is like Art Basel but here in Palm Beach. In fact, many of the same galleries that I saw at Basel were there.  It still amazes me to walk around and look at the work, it's all super fancy (and expensive!).  The first time I went I felt like the country mouse visiting the city mouse but now I just enjoy it- but I better make sure I don't break anything 'causes Lord knows I can't afford it!

Again, I took the time to post pics and list artist sites on the Art Hive Blog...so I am gonna be smart and post that below ('work smarter not harder');

Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary
via the Art Hive Blog

I did save something to post here, though.  Two things actually, both involve meeting artists;

First up, let me mention that I always use these art events as a time to just go 'full Jenny'.  Meaning...cray.  Meaning...super sparkly.  If John doesn't give me side eye when he sees me- then I didn't take it far enough.  John didn't go with me to the PBM+C so I could really go all out.  I created a series a while back that was all shrink art.  It was fun, I enjoyed creating the work but when it was all said and done...what to do with it?  The pieces didn't really make for a good 'display'...in fact, when I did my five year retrospective show I had to actually place the piece I selected in a shadow box, which ended up working fine.  In hindsight, I wish I would have punched holes in each piece just to have the option for jewelry...but I didn't.

I did have a few pieces that were a little thinner, so I selected one of those, a Mondrian-inspired piece that I made. I punched a hole in it, did some fanangling, got it on a wire, threw two beaded necklaces and a t-shirt necklace I made all together and I had my 'primary colors' ensemble- complete with toilet paper roll and paint sample cuffs!  

The reason that I just went into all that background info is that it was my jewelry choice that made the interaction with the artist possible.  I was walking through the fair, spotted the sparkle a mile away, my eyes lit up...and when I got over to the Gallery BIBA booth he actually asked for a pic of me with his work, as I was going over there to take a pic of  his work- ha!  The artist?  Jonathan Stein- king of bling and super sweet soul.  I hope I didn't take up too much of his time, but I had so much fun talking with him!  Turns out he has a background in art education and shares not only my passion for shiny objects but also for art education.  Seriously, he was so interesting!  He was telling me about how he creates his work and what a labor of love it is, and the way he works is VERY in depth.  I hope our paths cross again- he is just as amazing as his art!

(Left) The craziness that is ME (Middle) What my crow-eye spotted from a mile away- SPARKLE!! (Right) Me with the artist himself!

​I talked to many people and artists that day but the second one that I wanted to mention was an artist from Zurich- Daniel Orson Ybarra.  I was drawn to his booth by the large piece on the wall- from a distance I couldn't tell if it was fabric... looked like some kind of indigo print so my fiber-alert turned on and I headed over.  He saw me looking at his work, introduced himself as the artist and told me it was POTATO PRINTING!!

That's right art teachers...
POTATO PRINTING!

I gotta tell you, this ain't your momma's potato printing... unless of course she is doing a bajillion layers on a larger than life scale! He was super sweet and had such joy in his voice talking about his art.  

And I dig that.

 

Seriously...a POTATO. He used a POTATO.

...and I also met Zachary M. Knudson. His work is SO well thought out and executed...genius! And he was so nice!

I am loving these layers, ya'll!

​And that's the thing- I used to feel kind of out of place at these fancy art fairs-I'm just being real.  Here I am, a girl from Cameron, NC (literally, a country mouse) with my DIY jewelry in this fancy venue with these fancy people...but they are just artists and folks that love art, just like me. 

So if you are ever at one of these events, no matter how big or small- go and talk to the artists if you can. Hearing them speak on their work with such passion is so inspiring...and I hope that I sound like that when I am rambling on about what I love...my art...fashion...and my students.

Oh yeah...and my daily art...

I used my jewelry choice for the day as my inspiration for my daily art, a Mondrian-inspired fashion illustration!