Fallow time

The last few months have been a bit of a dry time for me in the studio. A mixture of happy and not-so-happy life events have combined to create an emotional roller coaster that’s left me feeling rather overwhelmed and unproductive. On the positive side, Dan and I got legally married and escaped to the Caribbean for a week of warmth with friends. That happiness stood in sharp juxtaposition to other events, such as the death of a friend, work stress, and the seasonal malaise that seems to be epidemic this winter. Given my temperament, unproductive and overwhelmed live just around the corner from guilt, obsession, and worry. Not pretty, but I’m working on that. Like most everyone this year, I’m eagerly awaiting the permanent arrival of spring—not this 70’s-one-day-and-snow-the-next stuff. Spring is about renewal and rebirth, and yet I’m trying to look at this not-so-great studio time as fallow time. Good stewardship of the land requires that a field not be planted every season or always with the same crop. Periodically, cropland needs to be allowed to regenerate, often through planting with a fallow crop that promotes soil enrichment. We too need time to regenerate. I feel that I’ve harvested a lot of good things from the my field—my studio—over the past few years, and yet it's so easy to fall prey to the expectation of continuous growth and continuous harvest.

So for now, I’ve got a commission piece is process, and I’m experimenting with ideas for a new series—and, I’m trying to be patient with myself. That’s easier said than done, but I’m trying.

Art Cloth Network accepting membership applications

I've been a member of the Art Cloth Network for several years. It's been a great experience. I've met some extremely talented artists who've helped me grow as and artist and as a person. We're currently accepting membership applications. If you're interested, please read the notice below and consider applying. The application deadline is March 15, 2014.

Art Cloth Network is open for new members! If you'd like information about the group, see our website at http://artclothnetwork.com.

Members of the Art Cloth Network find that the opportunities for community, conversation, sharing of techniques, inspiration and resources benefit our art and creativity. We have recently increased our membership limits to 30 members in good standing, including those on formal leave. When the number falls below 30, we accept new member applications. We currently have openings for up to eight new members.

The current deadline for membership applications is March 15, 2014, and you may send in your application materials at any time prior to the deadline. You will be notified by April 15, 2014 whether your application has been approved.

Send a request to jeanne@jeannesisson.com in order to receive detailed information and application instructions.

See ACN Interpretations online

The Art Cloth Network "Interpretations" show just finished what I've heard was a very successful run in the FiberSpace at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. Now you can see the pieces from the Exhibit online by visiting the ACN portfolio on Behance at http://www.behance.net/gallery/Interpretations/10621347.

Festival was a big success

Although we loaded in while it was raining, closed an hour early on Sunday, and loaded out with sleet bouncing off our heads, last week's Festival of Lights was a big success. Many thanks to all of you who came out to shop and support the event. If you missed the event and are still looking for that special gift for yourself our someone else, please stop by my online store at shop.russlittlefiberartist.net.

Art+Craft Fair this weekend (Dec 7-8)

You absolutely must put this event at the top of your "to do" list for this weekend. See great work, meet the artists, and purchase original, meaningful gifts for yourself and others. This will be my 3rd year having a booth at this show, and it get's better every year!

Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Click here for a map to the Greenbelt Community Center.

Can't make it to the show? Check out the online shopping opportunities at shop.russlittlefiberartist.net

Successful "Small Business Saturday"

Yesterday I hosted the first open studio event in my new studio to kick off the holiday sales season and mark "Small Business Saturday." I'm happy to report that it was a big success. It was great to welcome a few folks into the new space. It was also just the right kick in the pants that I needed to get me to clean up and put a few things on the walls!

New art cloth added to my portfolio

Illumination- Shockwave FULL

I've just added three recently completed art cloth pieces to my online portfolio. Click the images below to visit the individual pages in the portfolio, where you'll find more images and details about each piece.

Illumination- Stripped DETAIL 1

Illumination- Counting FULL

Buy my wearable art at the Festival of Lights

I'll be exhibiting at the Greenbelt Festival of Lights Art & Craft Fair, Dec 7-8 at the Greenbelt Community Center in Greenbelt, MD. This will be my 3rd year participating. It's a juried show with outstanding vendors, a great local event, and an excellent way to buy local and support small business. Hope to see you there. Click here for a map to the location.

"Counting" accepted into ACN "Illumination" show

I learned last week that my art cloth composition titled, "Counting" (shown below; additional images and info in my portfolio) was accepted into the new Art Cloth Network show, "Illumination." Bruce Hoffman juried the show. I'm thrilled to have had an opportunity for him to see my work, and delighted to have been selected. We're currently seeking a venue for the first exhibition of this new show, but I expect that an online gallery will be available soon as well.

"Interpretations" traveling to San Jose

The Art Cloth Network exhibit, "Interpretations," just finished a successful showing at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston, IL and is now on it's way to the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles in San Jose, CA. I saw it in Evanston and was just blown away. I count myself fortunate to be a member of this group, and I've got some super-talented friends.

The show includes my piece titled, "van Gogh Bubbles #1," which was inspired by the colors and brush stroke quality of some of van Gogh's paintings of cyprus trees (http://russlittlefiberartist.net/portfolio/van-gogh-bubbles-1). If you find yourself in the San Jose area between Nov 6 and Jan 19 check it out.

I made the Washington Post Going Out Guide!

How cool is this? I was checking actiity on my website last night and noticed that I was getting referral traffic from the Washington Post, which made no sense until I followed the link and discovered that there's an item about the "Moving in Circles" exhibit in the "Going Out Guide". Thanks to ardent Tweeting by Kelly Wargo, Arts Education Specialist in the Greenbelt Recreation & Parks Department, I've become something to do!

A photo of one of my pieces (left) was the lead image for the column on Tues, 10/8.

The actual notice about the show appears on page 2. The show closes this Friday, so if you're planning on "going out" do it soon.

Gallery reception this Sunday (10/6)

The closing reception for "Moving in Circles" will be this Sunday (10/6), 1:30 - 3:00 PM at the Greenbelt Community Center Gallery. I hope you can stop by. If you miss the reception and still want to see the show, it will be on display through next Friday, the 11th.

Moving in Circles opened today

Nicole DeWald and I hung my show today in the gallery at the Greenbelt Community Center. Check out the photos below, and stop by if you're in the area. It runs through October 11. I've been anticipating this show and working toward it for so long. Now that the day has finally arrived, it's taking a little while for the reality of it to sink in. At the risk of sounding like I've snatched the mic from the presenter at an awards show, this might be a good time to thank a few people. I'm tremendously grateful to Nicole for believing in my work, offering years of support and encouragement, and trusting that I could fill a gallery. My studiomates and fellow artists in residence in Greenbelt gave me wonderful feedback, encouragement, and validation during my tenure as an Artist in Residence--particularly Sherill. And finally, without the support of my mentors, friends and family--most especially Dan--I just wouldn't be here today. I take none of this for granted, and I'm deeply grateful.

Photos of the gallery appear below. Plus, watch the video overview of the "Restructured Circles" series at http://russlittlefiberartist.net/restructured-circles-series-overview/

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="1418,1424,1425,1427,1426,1428,1429,1430,1431"]

Poster for "Moving in Circles"

I just saw the poster for my show for the first time. This is so cool. We'll be hanging it this Friday. This is really starting to feel real.

New items added to the portfolio

I've just added three recent pieces to the portfolio section. Take a look. [gallery ids="1355,1359,1378"]

First review of work for "Moving in Circles"

Yesterday afternoon Nicole DeWald, the art director at the Greenbelt Community Center, and I sorted through the work for my upcoming show to see what how things might fit into the gallery. It was an afternoon of firsts:

• I've never hung a show before,
• I've never seen all of this work laid out together in a big, open space, and
• I've never had anyone look at the work and talk about how the pieces fit together.

It was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot and I got some tangible confirmation that I've got what I need for this show. The actual hanging won't happen until late August. While there's still preparation work to be done between now and then, I still feel like I've just past a huge milestone.

Open studio sale Sun, June 2

I'll be in the studio this weekend for my final Artful Afternoon open studio. My artist residency concludes at the end of June. Stop by Noon - 4 PM this Sunday (June 2) and help me celebrate 5 great years as an Artist in Residence with a real sale. Most scarves will be 10% off this Sunday only. Hope to see you there.

New work added to my portfolio

I've been working hard the past couple of weeks to finish quilting several pieces that have been in the queue and get them photographed in time to include them in an exhibit proposal. I dropped the proposal at the post office yesterday, and now I've just finished adding the new work to my online portfolio. Check out the new items in the "Restructured Circles" section of the portfolio page.

Restructured Circles #11

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="1231,1232,1234,1233"]

[get_portfolio_text 2013-0003]

 

Big studio changes coming

After 5 wonderful years as an Artist in Residence at the Greenbelt Community Center, I've decided not to apply for another year of residency. At the end of June I'll be moving out of my studio. It was a hard decision to make. In the end it came down to some soul searching about how best to manage my time and create a little more balance in my life. (Let's check back in a year and see how THAT works out!). As it stands now, I divide my time between my home studio--where all of the quilting and sewing for wearable stuff talkes place--and my Greenbelt studio, which is where I do almost all of my dyeing, printing, and piecing. Add to that a full time job and a marriage and you'll start to get the picture. I'm trying to be in too many places at once. My residency comes with a commitment to spend at least 30 hours per month in the studio. Some months I come close, but more often not.

So, I'm moving into new quarters located conveniently about 8 feet below my kitchen and dining room. We're currently in the process of building a bright, clean, well lit, and soon-to-be well equipped studio in our basement.

The renovation project began on April 8th and we're hoping to be done by the end of next week--about 4 weeks start to finish. Insulation, drywall, recessed lights, track lighting for the design wall, new windows, and laminate floors: It's going to be great. There's also a full bath and walk-in closet, and the utility room, though a bit more sparten than the main room, will soon be sporting a beautiful new commercial stainless steel mop sink with a drain board. Funny how excited you can get about a sink!

The new studio will open a number of possibilities including more short work sessions on week nights, better organization from having everything in one place, and the potential for some small group and one-on-one teaching.