Peek-a-boo!

Carnal-val

You never know where art will take you.

Just getting back from an amazing 2 weeks touring the Midwest - that's right I called it "amazing" and NO we don't have family there, we went because we wanted to. It doesn't really matter WHERE you go as long as you GO! Just get the Hell out of dodge every now and then and see someplace new. Gain a different perspective on things, it's good for the senses, even if it is Indiana. I always feel richer after a road trip (despite the credit card bill!). I'm fortunate that my husband and son are good sports about all the museums I want to visit and we visit A LOT! This trip took us to:

The Art Institute of Chicago,  

The Field Museum, 

Intuit: Center for Outsider Art,  

The National Museum for Mexican Art,  

The Indianapolis Speedway Hall of Fame (The art of speed),  

The City Museum (The art of FUN) 

and

The Saint Louis Art Museum.   

We saw Cave paintings, Outsider assemblages, American Folk Art, Mexican Art, a Goldsworthy installation, Impressionism, Expressionism and Contemporary Masterpieces! I was utterly knocked out by the Street Art I saw on Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago! It seems IMPOSSIBLE to pinpoint what  inspired me the most. I'm still absorbing it all. I can feel it percolating through my veins, trickling into my subconscious recesses. Not sure how this will all play out (in my own art) but I hope I can make something of it.

It's never cut and dry. Art rarely follows a well organized path.

As soon as I got home I was eager to get back to work again. Just had a few days to make the deadline for The Carnival Show at People's Gallery. Couldn't miss this one! I set out to make a fun, twisted, risque folky piece. I wanted to be a little bolder with this one, take it some place new.

I cut out some long sexy legs for a cool relief effect.

Then I smoothed out some contours with a new knife I bought. 

Carving out new ground.

I like my new tool!

The initail idea was to create a Tunnel of Love.

But then she took me to Rio instead!

 

So I chose to aim for the Brazilian themed 'Carnaval' Show 

at the Mark Woolley Galley next door instead.

Sometime around 3am the night before the deadline, I decided the legs needed to be able to OPEN and that it would be much more fun if the piece could be interactive! But HOW to do that? Hmmmmmm. I called the best resource I could think of and Stephanie Brockway showed me the way. I backed the legs with black felt for smooth, gliding action and Viola, she came to life!

YES it's supposed to be stylized and symbolic.

YES I hope it's like nothing you've ever seen before.

and

YES it's supposed to make you a little uncomfortable

in a good way!

Bold IS Beautiful.

 

I can't help but giggle when I make art like this. 

I have the most fun when I can push the boundaries, 

I don't see the point in making it unless I do.

I get excited when my art takes me some place new 

and part of it is not knowing what to expect or how people will react.

It is a powerful feeling to exercise my right to make whatever the Hell I want!

This piece took me someplace I needed to go.

I don't really care if it wouldn't look good above your sofa.

I also made a headdress to wear to the opening

Here is a little Samba for you!

We KNOW it is now Post Lent, but as a companion show to PEOPLES' ART OF PORTLAND Summer "CARNIVAL" show celebrating American "carny" culture, right next door, the MARK WOOLLEY GALLERY decided to tweak the concept and present "CARNAVAL", a celebration of the scores of Latin-inspired events (think RIO). So please join us, dress brightly, and join in the fun on
SATURDAY, JULY 20 from 5-9 and forward this to art and fun loving friends!