Twirly Girl

"Twirly Girl" 

to celebrate the Rose City's First Topless Bar 

for the Love of Portland Show

My first painting on black velvet!

+

it's INTERACTIVE!

A Portland Original!

Drunk Love

A new series of Mexican Folk-art inspired Valentines for your wall.
Made with Vintage beer cans.

These will be FOR SALE at The Buckman Art Show & Sell 2013!
Feb. 1st and 2nd

Each heart is unique! Hand cut with a jigsaw from 3/4" plywood, sanded and painted. Each tin flame is drawn freehand and carefully cut with snips and sanded. Each can is hand cut, sanded and nailed to the front. Ready to hang.
It's a labor of LOVE.

View the whole collection at Bonewerx on Facebook

       Friday, Feb 1st          5pm – 9pm   $5 admission
(kids 4 and under free)    

Saturday, Feb 2nd    10am – 5pm  $2 donation

All tickets sales go to support teachers.

Buckman Elementary

320 SE 16th Avenue 

(SE Pine and SE Stark)

Thirty percent of art sales proceeds benefits the Buckman PTA
and helps to support our innovative, award-winning arts-integrated academic programs at Buckman.

(Tip: Get there early on Friday to get your pick of the very best pieces!)

www.buckmanelementary.org/artsale

For up to the minute regular updates Go to:

Bonewerx on Facebook. 

Feel free to become a 'Fan' 

by 'Liking' my page if you like what you see.

It's that easy.

Thanx!

Here's a little collection of my 'Best' of 2012

Dream catcher

Well I don't have any new art to post for the new year so I'm sharing an old photo of me from a land far, far away Tassajara, I think. My Gramma Lulu practiced art and Buddhism there and I have fond memories of taking road trips in the VW bus into the mountains to visit her. I just had another birthday (46!) which always leaves me very sentimental. It seems the older I get the more I long for the simplicity of youth, when my only responsibilities consisted of dreaming, playing, listening and loving. This year (and forever after) I resolve to honor those same responsibilities with a renewed passion! It's easy to forget to dream and play when there are so many other people and things I am responsible for now, but I will try to lighten up and not be so darn serious all the time! I'm sure I've said that before.

I have a vision in my head of the kind of art I want to make. I can only see what it feels like. It feels brave and spontaneous. Experimental and fluid and maybe even frenzied. This art lives inside me like a trapped dream, pounding on my chest to get out. But the control freak that I have become won't let it, too afraid it won't be cool enough, terrified that it will suck, people won't like it, no one will want it. So I work slow and carefully and over-think everything. I need to take more chances! I need to pick up the pace! I have 2 upcoming shows to prepare for, a whole new body of work must be created! Sheesh that's daunting.

But before I go forward, I need to look back over the year so I can wrap it up and be done with it. The best way to sum up 2012 is to say "IT ROCKED!"  It began with a commitment to scale back my volunteer involvement at school -which allowed me to focus ALL of my energy on my art. It was a big step to start saying "No" but then, something really cool started happening  . . . things started coming together to the point where I can now gleefully say I am living the dream of what I always wanted to be. Art is my job, (for now). I have what I asked for -except for the $ -we still need that part!

I have to say that the biggest bonus to choosing the life of an artist is all the amazing people I have met. I'm pretty sure I doubled my social circle in the last year alone. The art community in Portland is so supportive and awesome, it feels really good to be a part of it! Yay for new meaningful connections!!


2012 Exhibitions:


December 2012, 'Big 300'  People’s Art of Portland,  PDX - BIG Group Show

December 2012, 'New Brow',  Portland Center for Performing Arts,  PDX - Group Show

November 2012, 'Dia de los Muertos',  Guardino Gallery,  PDX - Group Show

November 2012, Siren Nation Craft Fair

November 2012, ' I think, therefore I am',  Goodfoot,  PDX - Group Show

November 2012, 'Send in the Clowns'  Good: a Gallery,  PDX - Group Show

October 2012, 'Skull Party',  Arleta Library Cafe,  PDX - Duo Show  w/Adam Charles Ross

October 2012, 'Freak Show', First Cup Coffee House,  PDX - Trio Show

October 2012, '88 Strong',  Goodfoot,  PDX - Group Show

September 2012, 'Food cArt Show',  Screaming Sky Gallery,  PDX - Small Group Show

August 2012, 'Sci-Fi Show',  People’s Art of Portland,  PDX - Group Show

July 2012, 'BEER Show',  Amnesia Brewing,  PDX - Duo Show  w/Chris Haberman

July 2012, 'Edge Show',  Launchpad Gallery,  PDX - Group Show

June 2012, 'Quadrality Show',  Bar Carlo,  PDX - Quad Show

May 2012, 'Out of the Box II',  People’s Art of Portland,   PDX - Group Show

May 2012, 'May Day Show',  Space Monkey,  PDX - Group Show

April 2012, 'Simply Red II',  Mark Woolley Gallery,  PDX - Group Show

April 2012, 'Year of The Dragon Show',  Lunar Boy Gallery,  Astoria, OR - Group Show

April 2012, 'Diva Show',  Limelight,  PDX - Solo Show

March 2012, '4-click Bic Show',  Bar Carlo,  PDX - Group Show

March 2012, 'Skateboard Show',  Space Monkey,  PDX - Group Show

February 2012, 'For The Love of PDX'  People’s Art of Portland,   PDX - Group Show

February 2012, 'Double A II',  Space Monkey,  PDX - Duo Show  w/Aaron Goodrich

January 2012, 'Surreal Salon',  Baton Rouge Center for Contemporary Art, Baton Rouge, LA - Group 

I'm not sure where I'm headed in 2013, but I hope to keep the momentum going!

Do or Die!

Peace, Health and Hoppiness

Cheers to Peace, 

Health 

and 

Hoppiness!

Ho Ho Ho.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

Inspired by  March Fourth Marching Band, 

created as an auction piece for 

Joy Now Arts Program

"Art makes a difference; Do what you love. Share it with others. Brighten the world.

Joy Now!"

http://youtu.be/uB-hYYVvyqw

The Beer Panty Series

Vintage beer-can panties nailed onto an acrylic painting on denim.

A few months ago, a friend tipped me off to the Estate Sale of an avid Breweriana collector. Still hung up on this whole beer art thing, I couldn't get there fast enough, and boy did I hit the Jackpot! This guy's basement was a treasure trove of vintage beer collectibles. The walls were lined from floor to ceiling with the most amazing can collection I've ever seen! They were being sold for a dollar a piece. I didn't know where to begin, I started to hyperventilate a little bit and actually had to excuse myself. The girl working the cash register saw my distress and whispered for me to come back at the end of the day when everything would be 75% off and they would make me a deal. I wanted to kiss her hand. I went back that afternoon with the biggest bag I could find and left with nearly 100 rusty vintage beer cans (for $15!). I was a happy camper!  Needless to say, it was a little difficult to explain to my husband how important this score was to me and why I NEEDED them so badly. Thankfully, he went along with it and now The Bone Cave has the very distinct odor of an Old Man Bar -but it's worth it!

I'm excited to have found a new medium and am having fun exploring new ways to make art with it. I'm not sure if anyone's ever made beer panties before, I hope you like them.

How about some Beer Panties for the Holidays. . .

Merry Crotchmas!

You can find my 8" x 8" beer-can-collages at The Big 300 Opening This Saturday 12/8.

Hope to see you there!

Mama's got a New Brow

'In Heaven There is No Beer'

Beer-can collage on wood with Damask, cranberry cowhide and bottle caps

Inspired by Modigliani and the existential pleasures of beer drinking.

In heaven there is no beer.

That's why we drink it here (Right Here!)

When we're gone from here,

all our friends will be drinking all our beer!

This 'painting' will hang at the Portland Center for Performing Arts until the end of the year.

"NEW BROW is a defining term (from Europe of course) to redefine art of the "outsider" or "low brow" nature, for the next generation.  These terms, outsider and low brow, have been terms to define art that is “outside the norm” or made by artists that were “uneducated” in the art world.  In Portland, we feel that these “new brow” artists are the best juxtaposition to the gallery world, as much a part of it as they are separate. This "fine art" made in these areas today by both self-taught and trained artists in many genres (comic realms, poster art, tattooing, paintings, and fine art) is  very much a skilled effort, and the idea of NEW BROW is a celebration of fine art and outsider art as a union.  It’s not entirely defined by the art style, but rather by the community at large and the artist’s individual life balanced within their art making.  To us, this defines Portland. From age 20 to 70, these artists are united in our town.  Still within the realm of "edgy", these fine artists rest on the edge of the pop and fine art that defines our world and these are some of Portland's best, and definitely some of our favorites in the city."  

--- Chris Haberman and Jason Brown, curators, 

Peoples Art of Portland Gallery

Me and my girl

A Soulful Day

My Tribute to a HonkyTonk Angel and Bluegrass Boy

In keeping with my love of music and efforts to keep things Light and Bright, I have crafted a piece to honor Kitty Wells and Earl Scruggs, two souls who passed on this year.

Day of the Dead is celebrated over 2 days. In most regions of Mexico, November 1 (All Saints Day) is to honor children and infants and is generally referred to as Día de los Inocentes ("Day of the Innocents") or as Día de los Angelitos ("Day of the Little Angels"). November 2 (All Souls Day) as Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos: the commemoration of all the faithfully departed.

Dia de los Muertos is a major influence behind the work that I do. It took a series of events to get me here, but I am finally finding my way to my art through a process of healing and personal transformation.

My path as an artist has taken many twists and turns, including long periods of denial, avoidance, rebellion and pent-up blockage (eww gross!). It's taken me a long time to get to a place where I can openly call myself an 'Artist' and feel it in my bones without too much fear or doubt. By the time I finally made it to Art School, I was already in my 30s! It was fun while it lasted, but then after I graduated, I stopped. I didn't paint or draw for 10 years! I got married, bought a house and had a baby. By the time my son started Kindergarten, I was feeling the pull to be creative again in a painfully powerful way. Our school was holding a Holiday Craft Bazaar and I brazenly signed up for it. The Bazaar was being organized by Local Crafty Maven Jen Neitzel (a Holy Craft Goddess in my eyes) and when she asked me what I made I could only answer "I don't know yet". It was on my bike ride home that day, only a few minutes after signing up that it hit me like gang busters! The Bazaar was scheduled for the first Saturday in November; Day of the Dead. I would make Sugar Skulls! My own mixed-media, recycled interpretations of them.  -It felt like Divine Inspiration exploding in my gut.

It had been almost exactly one year since the horrific tragedy that took 3 of our friends, a mother, father and daughter. We had been mourning their loss and silently suffering the aftermath. All of the sudden I saw a way to process all the hurt and transform my loss through a creative art form. I would make sweet, colorful, whimsical, wonderful sugar skulls and smite death with a smile!

I sold them at the Bazaar and they were a big hit! The kids especially loved them -which made me happy :-)

But even more special, I was given the amazing opportunity to create an altar in the window of Fantasma on Alberta. It was an incredible honor and gift to be able to create a very meaningful homage to our dear sweet friend Ruby. It was a healing experience for my entire family.

That year (2009) we celebrated Day of the Dead like never before. There was a beautifully haunting procession on Alberta that night as we made our way up the street to the Guardino Gallery to see their annual Muertos Show. We left a message for Ruby on their altar.

It has been a secret dream of mine since then to someday be in the Day of the Dead Show at Guardino Gallery and guess what . . .

This year, I am!

I hope you will visit this very special show, up until November 18th.

Celebrate the Ones you Love,
Past, Present, Here and Gone.

Send in The Clowns

Bozo Fett

12 x 12 acrylic painting with mixed-metal collage on wood

 See it at Good:a Gallery   4325 N. Mississippi Ave.

My son wears a Boba Fett watch and has never heard of Bozo the clown.
What does the Bounty Hunter from Star Wars have to do with Bozo the clown? Absolutely nothing

- except in my own twisted mind.

Do you remember Bozo?

-or am I just living in the past man!

http://youtu.be/esJl7MZoVww

     Happy Halloween!

Keep on Truckin'

'Buy American!'

I enjoy art the most when it cracks me up the whole time I'm making it. I don't even care if no one else gets it. It's my own joke and that's good enough for me. I was invited back to the Goodfoot for their next show: I am, therefore I think: a Social Commentary Show. I think I was supposed to make 3 to 5 paintings for this one, but sheesh, they're lucky they got this one outta me. At first, I took the matter very seriously and thought about all the worthy causes that deserve an impassioned artistic response, but that started to feel too forced and with all the drama and stress surrounding the impending election, I decided to lighten things up a bit!  

I've been on this bottle cap and beer can kick lately and the image of this mudflap guy popped into my head and I knew I had to do it. None of my fancy micro-brew caps would be appropriate for this piece, this time I needed good ole fashioned 'crap-beer' caps and I was surprised how hard pressed I was to find any in my collection. I get caps from lots of friends (Thank You!) and local pubs, so I was a little surprised when I could only rummage a handful of Bud/Coors/Miller caps from the pile. There's some 'Social Commentary' for you right there.

There's a couple that lives a few doors down from us who work at the bars on the corner, each at one. They are young and hip -in that Portlandia sort of way and wear large plastic rimmed glasses -so we call them The Buggles (my boy actually sings this song when they walk by) -which is several times a day to and from work. I've never had an interaction with them before, but the other day, I jumped out the front door to ask them if they could score me some bottle caps. I'm pretty sure I frightened them a little, but a few hours later there was a plastic bag on my front porch full of caps! I tell this story because this is how I work, it is all part of my 'artistic process'. I'm a goofball and I have no shame and I think it's important to know that the caps used in the piece came from the Lutz and the Delta, thanks to a couple of hipsters who have never before given me the time of day. Funny.

So there's also this guy, this grumpy old man who lives in the hood, we call him 'Buy American'. We've lived in our house for 10 years and for TEN YEARS we've put up with him ranting and raving to "buy American" as he walks by our 'foreign' cars on his daily excursions to BiMart. He is clearly in a world of his own, perhaps he even has a condition, but he's not getting any sympathy from us. It was startling at first, to hear someone yelling over the fence to us as he passed by, then it became a joke, now it's just plain verbal abuse and we're not gonna take it anymore! We've even seen him on the Boulevard shouting out to others to "buy American" -this kind of hostile bullying cannot be tolerated, so now we yell back at him "Shut up old man!" and "Buy Peanut-butter!" Yes, it's a beautiful day in this neighborhood. 

It's so silly how misguided some people are. Here this guy is harassing us over our Japanese and German cars- which contain parts made right here in the good ole USA, while his beloved 'American' cars are made up of parts made over seas!  Reminds me of the time El Hueso and I stopped into a pub in the Po-dunk foothills of the Sierra and tried to order a beer: "what kind do you have?" we asked, "ALL kinds" the waitress replied, "Bud, Bud Lite, Coors, Coors Lite, Miller, Miller Lite. . ." and then we asked how about St. Stans? (a local microbrewery just down the hill) and she said "Oh Nooo! We don't carry any of that foreign stuff!"  Ha!

"Buy American!"

This guy is FOR SALE through The Goodfoot Gallery

click this link to buy online: 

 http://thegoodfoot.com/gallery/exhibit/92/piece/8798/

Back on the Beer-Wagon!

8x8 panels for 88 Strong

Gettin' on the Goodfoot -ah!

Doors are opening and I'm stepping into worlds that only a few years ago I pined to be a part of. Lots of baby steps are leading me towards new connections that I am hungry to explore. I'm excited about new opportunities for making art, sharing art, showing art. I'm meeting new peeps and making new pals and I'm terrified and questioning my place in the Big Scheme of it all and wondering where I fit in and if I even belong. Can I hold my weight with the Big Boys (of PDX)? I don't feel ready yet. I'm still finding myself, testing waters, learning to crawl. Yet I find myself inching closer to things I've wanted for a very long time and it feels good . . . in fact I think I might throw up.

So this month, I have found my way into a show at The Goodfoot! It's BIG, 88 Artists big. We were given 8  8" x 8" panels to complete. There will be nearly 700 works of art on the walls! My art will be mixed in with the work of some of my heroes -a few of which I have been fortunate enough to meet recently! I am such an Art-Groupie! -These are my Rock Stars! So Psyched to be a part of this show. And don't feel worthy, especially since I only submitted 4 finished pieces!

There are 88 themes in this show and luckily one of them was 'Hops' 

-do you think they threw that in just for me?

Opens this Thurs Sept 27th from 5-12

The Goodfoot
2845 SE Stark 

All Art is $50 cash and carry
everything is framed

Pop Fly

'Pop Fly'

I'm always looking for something different and ideally a bit challenging to do, so when I saw the 'Bowling with Heart' Call for Art pop up on the Crafty Wonderland page, I jumped at the chance to nab a pin to decorate. I knew immediately that I wanted to cover it in bottle caps, all soda-pop caps this time since it's for a Children's Hospital. -Something to do with all the caps I've been sorting out from my BEER cap collection. I also had a neat stash of perfectly distressed vintage pop caps given to me by a friend earlier this Summer just waiting to be put to use.

 I just wasn't sure exactly how I was going to go about it or even if it was going to work, but that's where my job get's interesting and that's when hopefully the magic happens (it doesn't always). My mom was here visiting at the time and brainstormed with me on how exactly to go about hammering the caps to conform to the contours of the pin. It was kind of fun involving her since most of my art up to this point hasn't really appealed to her particular sensibilities (you know all those skulls and such!). It seemed somehow appropriate to get her input on this project since it would be donated to a Children's Hospital and she is due to retire this year from 35 years as a nurse in ICU at Oakland Children's Hospital. We decided that a ball pein hammer pounded into my soft thick rug would give the caps just the curve they needed.

As I was finishing it up, I wrote the friend who had given me those cool vintage pop caps to tell her that I was finally getting around to using them. She wrote me back that she was glad! She had gotten them from her very creative sister-in-law Connie who had lost her battle with Leukemia about a year and a half ago. She said "I'm sure she would very pleased to have a fellow artist make use of them! She would have loved your stuff. In some cosmic way you are helping me keep her memory alive."  Needless to say, I got all goosebumpy and emotional and knew that I was on the right track and that something special had just happened for I believe that we are all connected and everything happens for a reason, though we may not always know why or what it is at the time. 

It's just a bowling pin covered in bottle caps, but it feels very meaningful to me and I hope Connie likes it.

Stay on the lookout for more info coming next month about the 

Doernbecher Bowling with Heart Fundraiser: 

Bowl-a-thon and Pin Auction.

El Gallo!

I was gone for most of August, but before I left I was invited to be a part of a fun little Food cArt Show at Screaming Sky Gallery. It seemed like the right time to bring a little focus down to our neck of the woods here in Woodstock, so I chose El Gallo -who truly deserves the luv. I believe they were one of the first carts to move into our hood and they've hung on (and thrived) while others have pulled out. I chose to honor them in appreciation for that and for their damn good tacos!

I had fun painting this guy and all the bottle caps I used were 'Up-cycled' from
El Gallo patrons. 

The show is still up for another week and this pretty boy is still

 FOR SALE  

If you're ever in Woodstock, be sure to check out El Gallo and tell them
Alea sent you!

SE 48th and Woodstock (in the parking lot of The Joinery)

Here I am at the Opening

Just one last thing . . .

Big Mama can sing it!

For the Love of Beer

It's here. . . the moment I've been anticipating for months! The Beer show is up at Amnesia Brewing and our Opening Reception is this Friday the 13th from 7pm until 10pm. I'm so excited to be showing with Chris, such a huge thrill for him to give me this opportunity! I admire the folky feel of his work so much and think our stuff really jives well. I feel like I'm on a roll now, inspired by my favorite beverage, and plan to continue with the BEER theme as I still have lots of ideas brewing.

Our show will be up thru the first week in August. If you love beer as much as we do, help us celebrate Craft Beer month with a locally brewed pint and some locally made ART! 

-Cheers!

Amnesia Bewing is at 832 North Beech St in the North Mississippi District

Here is some art from the show:

On the Edge. . . of balance.

Setu Bandhasana

The bridge between chaos and calm.

Last weekend, I took a much needed break and escaped into Eastern Oregon with my family for our First Road Trip of Summer. It seems lately that it is never the right time for anything and that I am always supposed to be doing (working on) something else, but we split anyway in search of a bit of Bone-bonding. We headed out to explore the 3 units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument -which was rugged, remote and wildly scenic in unexpected ways. The weather was ominous with thunderstorms and driving rain at times -which only added to our adventure, seemed to keep other tourists away and intensified the colors of the landscape. We fell in love with Oregon in a whole new way and had way more fun than any of us were planning on. 

The experience of the weekend restored a sense of calm in my heart and I started to get that balanced feeling that I only really feel when I am in the raw, peaceful presence of nature. I wish I could keep it with me but it always seems to fade when the other reality sets back in.

Back home, I started work on a new piece for the Last Group Show at Launchpad Gallery. The theme of the show is about being on the Edge or cusp of something and daring to venture beyond. I felt a pull to be a part of this show and took a break from 'Beer art' to make something for it. I thought it would be fun to try to get a little abstract - and attempt to let the color, shapes and textures do the talking. I'm not sure if anyone else will pick up on what I am trying to express, or even like it, but I feel good about pushing myself into a looser, less defined realm.

'Setu Bandhasana' is the Sanskrit name for bridge pose which opens the chest and promotes relaxation while reducing stress. Though not depicted accurately, this was my inspiration.

The Edge opens on First Friday, 7/5 at 6pm. I am excited to have several other Rad friends in this show as well, including the ever inspiring Jenssens:

 View all the art in the show here: http://launchpadgallery.org/on-the-edge/

Obey the Hop God

Though I enjoy a good fru-fru drink to mix things up and wine has its moments, BEER is my old stand by. I'm just that kind of gal. I think it runs in my family, I remember going to visit my grandma years ago and finding her refrigerator empty save for a few cans of beer! And my mom made beer, waaay before it became trendy (early 80s) and we used the spent grain from Anchor brewing as compost in our garden when I was growing up. Back in the early 90s, my boyfriend (now husband) made beer in his Yosemite dorm room with fresh Sierra snow melt! I even brewed a batch all by myself to celebrate his return from his ride across the country on the TransAmerica.  We've had hops growing in our yard for almost 10 years and I have always been attracted to the chartreuse flowering vine. I've been wanting to make Beer art for a long time but could never really peak anyone's interest with my grainy ideas, until . . . C. Haberman told me that he curates the space at Amnesia Brewing and had an open slot in July. "July is Craft Beer Month", I said, "Let's do a Beer Show!" and here we are.

Stay tuned for more details about the show coming soon!

Meanwhile, today was a GOOD day. Moved the studio into the backyard, the boy got a quality stretch of time with his best bud and I made some art. I am thanking the universe for working with me for a change.  Hallelujah!

Out of the Bone Cave - into the sweet open air!

“Beer is the reason I get up every afternoon.” — Anonymous