Art of the Carolinas 2009

The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild will be out in full force at Jerry's Artarama's Art of the Carolinas (AoC).  Scheduled to take place in Raleigh between Friday, November 13 and Sunday, November 15, it promises to be a fantastic event!  Here's a preview:

• Guild members will assist with classroom preparation, maintenance and breakdown, supporting the outstanding staff at Jerry's (including Guild members Christina and Sharon shown here)

• Our members will host a "Make and Take" event, encouraging everyone attending AoC to create Artist Trading Cards (ATC) to keep or trade.  Kudos and tremendous thanks go to Strathmore, Ampersand, Winsor & Newton, and Jerry's, for donating supplies for our Make and Take activities, including papers of various kinds; stampboards and clayboards; paints; pastels and glues.  Some of the ATC created during AoC 2008 are shown below. 
• Members' work in the World of Art Challenge will be exhibited in a boardroom in the workshop area. We encourage you to visit to see where it all began, with a canvas showing all the components of the kit, then to explore the vision of 25 artists confronted with the challenge of design with those components.  You'll be amazed at the innovation, diversity and creativity! 
• Guild members will also be demonstrating various art techniques throughout the weekend.  Check the schedule when you arrive to see who will be doing which demos including painting, stamping, clay and much more.
• And of course, there's the trade show area on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, where we'll shop till we drop! 

So, plan to join us for all the fun, art-filled activities...it'll be a great time!  For more information, visit the AoC site here.  See you there!

World of Art Challenge

In August, CMMAG accepted a kit challenge from our favorite art supply store, Jerry's Artarama, entitled "The World of Art". Our challenge was to create a piece of 2-D art on a supplied 16"x20" canvas, using at least a part of every item in a Jerry's Art Stuff bag, which included: a wine cork, a small piece of torn canvas, liquid graphite, playing cards, clayboard tiles, a piece of twine, foreign language magazine pages, origami paper, several pieces of balsa wood, a rubber band, and a very limited choice of paint colors. According to the rules of the challenge, two items may be added to the piece, which must somehow convey the "World of Art' theme. Twenty five members received their kits at our August meeting, and the completed canvases were due at our October meeting.

Here, thanks to Lucy, our official Guild photographer, is a photo collage of some of the completed World of Art canvases. All twenty five will be displayed, along with biographical information about the artists at Jerry's Artarama's Art of the Carolinas next month. Details about Art of the Carolinas are in the sidebar at right. Come see what we've done...they're all incredibly creative and as always, as different as the members who created them, which is amazing, considering that each was designed with the same items.

CMMAG 2nd Annual Charm Swap

CMMAG members met in early October for a jam-packed business meeting, and the 2nd Annual Charm Swap. Forty four members (including the elusive yet prolific 'Johnny Jumpup') made charms of all descriptions, and Roberta (also known as the Charm Queen--who wore the crown to show it) led us all in the distribution of charms into bags for each of us, which by the end of the swap, were filled to overflowing with arty wonderfulness. Charms were colorful, fanciful, thoughtful, creative and as different as the artists who created them. Thanks to our official photographer, Lucy, we have these photos which give just a hint of the Charm Swap fun. We can't wait to see what everyone will create with their charms; we have visions of necklaces, bracelets and just maybe, and charm-filled vest? Watch this space for photos of our charm-ing creations!

Special Event: Kelly Borsheim Presentation

Come and be whisked away for an evening in Italy without even leaving Raleigh!

The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild is pleased to host sculptor and street painter Kelly Borsheim, who splits her time between Florence, Italy and central Texas, for her presentation

"My Life as One of the 'Madonnari' (Italian street painters)" at Artspace, 201 E Davie St, Raleigh. on October 15 at 7:00 pm.

Kelly will share, "images and stories of my experiences recreating art masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance and other periods of time and place. I will tell you some of the more humorous experiences with tourists, journalists, cops, and the Italian government. And, I will show you the work of many other street painters from my first competition in southern Italy."

General Admission: $7

$5 for members of CMMAG, Artspace, or Visual Art Exchange.

Bring a friend and enjoy!

For more information, email jrhea@nc.rr.com.

August Member Interview: Amy Kane Smith

Amy Kane Smith

Mixed Media Store: http://amyma.etsy.com/
Lampwork Bead store: http://amysmithglass.etsy.com/
Blog: http://amymasart.blogspot.com/


1. What inspires you to create?
My creativity is born of a hunger for and response to the beauty of creation. When I see the beauty in nature it stirs something in me to respond to it. I believe God put it there as a means to communicate with me. He stirs my spirit with His beauty, and I respond in worship by creating something beautiful. Art is worship for me.

2. When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?
Art has always pursued me. I don't remember a time when I didn't feel a pull to create. When I was in grade school I kept a a stack of typing paper and a big pack of magic markers on the top shelf of my closet. I would climb up there and sit and doodle for hours. No one knew about my little studio. It was my secret, and the place where I felt the most at peace.

3. If you weren't an artist, what would you be? "Artist" is not my primary title. I am first and foremost a Mom to two amazing kids, ages 6 and 8. I home school them, so I get to be creative every day in the way we approach the subjects we are learning. Sowing good seed into their lives, nurturing those seeds and watching them grow and bloom is the greatest creative work of my life. My art is a side gig really. I hope that in ten or so years, I will be able to devote myself more full time to art, but if that opportunity never comes I won't regret keeping my focus on the creative pursuit of growing beautiful, joyful, strong, healthy, productive, dependable, amazing kids. If I ever take on any other profession, it will likely be real estate. I am a bit of a real estate junkie. I look at the local listings a couple of times a week just to see what is out there. I get giddy when friends are house shopping.

4. What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?
I worked as a technical assistant to the director of research and development for a software company. The company produced a statistical network modeling software. In laymans' terms, the software discovered patterns within numerical data. It could be used to predict trends in markets, and even to analyze image pixels. I learned in that job the relationships between math and art. I became fascinated with patterns. I am very interested in the "golden mean," and its constant recurrence in nature. http://www.world-mysteries.com/sci_17.htm

5. At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?
Paint first, but I tend to explore every area and look for things I can use in unusual ways. I like to push boundaries.

6. What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?
Right now, I don't want to learn anything that is too far removed from what I am already doing. I don't have time in my schedule to have any new addictions. Therefore, I am sticking with acrylics and seeing how far I can stretch and manipulate them. I am interested in possibly taking a class with Patti Brady at "Art of the Carolinas." Her layering of acrylics and mediums is wonderful. I have also recently set up my hot glass studio and am once again making glass beads. I have been a bead maker for 10 years, and am enjoying getting back into it after a couple of years off. I find that making a bead meets my need for instant gratification as I can have an hour torch session and produce multiple small artworks. Painting is a longer process, but I enjoy the layering and building. Both feed my soul in different ways.


7. If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?
That is a big question. Failure is not really a fearful thing for me. I have "failed" at a lot, and am sure I will continue to do so. There is instruction in failure. I am going to do what I fell drawn to do whether I feel there is a chance of failure or not. So I can't think of anything artistically that I could answer this question with. I have to go for the fantasy and say if I knew I could fly like a bird and not crash to the ground, I would do that.


Notes:
Amy will be one of the Featured Artists in the month of September at Artist Alley in Southern Pines, NC
And, her work can be found at the Mylestone Gallery in Farmville, NC, the Pea Island Gallery in Salvo, NC and at Urban Sampler in Pittsboro, NC

She'll also be teaching a class in January, at Jerry's Artarama, entitled: Visual Art Journaling--No Limits

Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, Amy; we're looking forward to seeing in which direction your art will fly next!

CMMAG Potluck Planning Picnic

Our first Potluck Planning Picnic (Px3) was held on Sunday, July 26th, at the Chavis Community Center in Raleigh. With the goal of establishing plans for the newly formed CMMAG committees, 14 members participated in an afternoon of fun activities geared toward getting to know each other, team-building and brainstorming.

"More Can Be Achieved in Less Time When People Work Together" --Zack Canfield

The theme of 'Building a Strong Foundation for Our Future' was expertly and artfully carried out in all the printed materials, supplies and decorations provided by our intrepid President Penny. Each member received a personalized workbook and toolkit, and every committee table was festooned with all the color coordinated equipment we'd need for the day.

After some icebreaker activities, including one where each team used the word "possibilities" in slogans to describe the Guild, and another involving a beach ball where we learned that: a member (who shall remain nameless) had some recently purchased 1922 sex pamphlets on her bedside table (!), another member "used to" have a green thumb, and yet another's least favorite color is putty, we settled down at our committee tables eager to enjoy the potluck goodies and to brainstorm ideas.

"Teamwork Divides the Task and Doubles the Success" --unknown

Currently, each committee is chaired by a member of the Executive Board: Art of the Carolinas/Penny; Community Outreach/Jeanne; Hospitality/Debbie; Membership/Michelle; and Programs/Roberta. Each committee answered the question: "What if We..." by writing one idea on the outside of an envelope. Then, each envelope was passed around to every table, so that all members could comment on or embellish the idea on the front. In this way, everyone had input and each committee could benefit from the collective insights of others. When the envelopes arrived back at their originators' tables, they were filled with kudos, suggestions and new ideas which the committee Chairs incorporated into their original thoughts about "What if We...". At the end of the exercise, each Chair spoke about her committee's original idea and what they'd learned from the suggestions of others. Everyone agreed it was an outstanding way to go about brainstorming, and better yet, it was fun!

Coming Together is a Beginning. Keeping Together is Progress. Working Together is Success--Henry Ford

To wrap up the afternoon, Penny presented us all with hard hats, and graduation envelopes, along with her thanks for our participation. And, in our final activity, upon each member's bright yellow hard hat we wrote a one word description of her, (well, some were one word, some were phrases) based upon what we'd learned or observed. Here we are, posing with our hats.

Thanks to Lucy, our 'Official Guild Photographer' for the shots shown here. And, thanks to everyone who participated; we've taken a great first step toward building that strong foundation, and we couldn't have done it without your enthusiasm, humor, great ideas (and of course, scrumptious food)!

If you couldn't attend the Planning Picnic but have signed up for a committee, your Chair will be in touch with you via email between now and our next meeting. If you haven't signed up for a committee yet, but you're now eager to work on one, you may sign up at our next meeting.

Our August meeting is set for Thursday, August 6, at 6:30, at Jerry's Artarama. Roberta will present a demo on creating charms (our 2nd annual CMMAG Charm Swap is October 8th), Committee Chairs will present an overview of Px3, and we'll learn more about the exciting events on tap for us through the end of the year.

See you there!

July Member Interview: Patti O'Day

Patti O'Day

Website: One Foot Up

1. What inspires you to create?
I love fabrics, color and textures. This craft allows me to design a pattern, and use my skills to combine two or more contrasting or coordinating fabrics from a flat piece to a 3-dimensional, functional object. Then, I get to embellish it with stuff that I've collected from thrift stores, flea markets and other sources.

2. When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?
It started out as a monetary necessity when my son was young. Then after working in "real" jobs, I knew I would need to supplement our savings in retirement, so I came back to it. It helps to make me happy!

3. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
Probably in the fashion field.

4. What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?
Department store sales, advertising agency (learned a lot about computer graphics)

5. At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?
Beads

6. What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?
Painting. I have been dabbling in it, but it's kind of an extra thing which people are not always willing to pay for.

7. If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?
Dance!

Special Event: Chroma Paint Party

As a result of seeing our table and display at Art of the Carolinas last November, an Atelier Paint representative contacted us about offering a paint party to our members, and of course, we agreed. So, on Saturday, June 14, CMMAG members got the chance to spend the afternoon at Artful Endeavors, Liz Miller's lovely studio, playing with paint!

Kim Maselli of Chroma presented the Atelier Interactive Artists' Acrylic line, along with the various fixes and media which make it possible to work more slowly or more quickly, depending upon your technique and desired final effect. After showing us what the paint could do with a demonstration sheet, she let us loose to experiment, play and just "mess around" with everything she'd brought. We were amazed by the Unlocking Formula, which reactivates dried paint (unheard of with "regular" acrylics!), impressed by the Slow Medium, which increases the open time and makes color blending easier, and wowed by the Binder Medium which acts like glue, but is much thinner and easier to manage with collage applications.


We had a great time, as you'll see in these photos of members and their work. To see even more, visit our Yahoo Group and our Carolina Mixed Media Facebook fan page photo album.

Special Event: Indie Business Breakfast

On Saturday, June 6, the Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild sponsored the first Indie Business Breakfast in Raleigh. The assembled CMMAG members and guests were treated to a delicious breakfast catered by 9 Lyvz, at the John P. "Top" Green Neighborhood Center, and had time to meet and greet each other before the program began. Several CMMAG members displayed recent work, including jewelry, paintings, collages, sculpture, prints, masks, textiles, shadow boxes and mosaics.

The Indie Business Breakfast was hosted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson, who is the founder and president of the Indie Beauty Network and Indie Business Media. Known as the Chief Executive Indie and the Original Lifestyle CEO, Donna Maria is passionate about empowering people to maximize their potential through small business ownership. From the first moments of her presentation, Donna's passion about the subject of "How to Use Social Media to Leverage Your Brand and Attract More Paying Customers For Your Business" was evident: she swept everyone up in her enthusiasm for social networking media, and helped us to understand the sometimes confusing world of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr, and blogging. As the attendees introduced themselves, it became evident there was a great deal of talent, creativity, drive and curiosity in the room, and we were all anxious to hear the guest speaker: our own Lisa Stewart, the Creative Goddess of ECStewartDesigns.

Lisa led us through the various forms of social media, highlighting those of particular importance to creative entrepreneurs. She let us in on the secrets of blogging, tweeting, and becoming linked in, and told us stories from her own experience in marketing her work. Copious notes were taken, many hands were raised, and there were lots of questions, especially from people who wanted to know how to start from scratch. Lisa's advice: begin with a Flickr account, get your creations "out there," then create a blog.

We all came away with new ideas, new terms, a free Calligraphy Pets print courtesy of Lisa, and a clearer understanding of what's possible in the new world of social media.

Thanks to Donna Maria and Lisa; it was a great event!

And, thanks to Lucy Shupe for these fantastic photos.

June Member Interview: Toni Jarvis

Toni Jarvis

Blog: 3am designs

Flickr: tj4heels' photostream
Webshots: teeejay50

1. What inspires you to create?
Everything! I see ideas in everything around me - in nature: flowers, trees, birds; in the patterns on peoples' clothing, on wallpaper. Everywhere I look, I see an idea. Once, I was in a scrapbooking store in Hillsborough when a woman came in wearing a beautifully embroidered sweater. I blurted out, "Oh, I'd love to quill that." Looking around. she asked me what I wanted to quill, and I replied that I wanted to quill her sweater. She went into the restroom, and a minute later her hand appeared with her sweater! Laughing, the shop owner took it and scanned it for me! It’s true!

2. When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?
I really didn’t think I was creative. I started quilling because my son was getting ready to graduate from high school, and I decided that I needed a "hobby". After following a couple of the patterns, I started creating my own designs. When I look back, I realize that I've always done some sort of art - I just didn't realize I was doing it. I was always making something, or drawing, when I was a kid. As a teen, I learned to crochet and embroider. My first "paid" art jobs were embroidering bell-bottom jeans for friends in college!

3. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
I've always wanted to be a writer, and I hope to take a creative writing class one day. Then, who knows...

4. What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?
I worked as a respiratory therapist for 22 years - I was a clinical instructor, department director, convention planner, and most importantly, a clinician. I left the hospital to become a project manager for a medical computer company. These jobs taught me how to be self-motivated, self-directed, and organized - important when one is working for herself. My clinical skills taught me to be aware of everything around me, which I think is what helps me to see everything as potential art. I loved teaching and learning new things, and I'm still eager to learn new skills and to pass on anything I can. One area in which my background has hampered me is that it has made me somewhat rigid, and it has been difficult for me to "color outside the lines." But recently I've started venturing outside of my box!
5. At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first?
If you had asked me this a few months ago, I would have answered, "paper" or "beads". But the answer now is clay tools. I am so in love with PMC (Precious Metal Clay), that I'm constantly looking for new toys for working with it. I once swore that I would not get into rubber stamps, but they make such nice textures in the PMC, that I'm now buying them like crazy!

6. What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?
I'd love to learn to quilt, but to be honest it scares me to death! The only bad grade I ever made was in Home Ec because I couldn't get that damn zipper in my skirt!! I've been scared to sew ever since! I'd also love to learn more about resin and alcohol inks. Oh! and I want to make books! Like my studio isn’t filled with enough stuff already! Can I really get into all these other areas? But, of course! We can never have too much stuff!!

7. If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?
As I said in #3, I want to write. I've written poetry all my life and I've been journaling since I was a teen. But my greatest desire is to write a book. If I thought I could not fail, I would sit right down and start that book today!

And we'd love to read it, Toni! Thanks for doing the interview.