Welcome to: "Creativity Rocks!"

Creativity Rocks! is the new name for the Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild (CMMAG) blog.  It expresses how we all feel about being creative in our own lives, and seeing what good our creativity can do in the wider world. 

Our new header is a peek into our next series of blog posts which highlight the creations of our members in this year's kit challenge, entitled "Take 25".

A bit of background:  Jean Skipper of Artist Alley has presented the CMMAG Kit Challenge annually for the past three years. Every year, participants receive a list of seemingly random "ingredients," and the challenge is to create a work of art including all of them.  Each participant could choose to eliminate up to two items on the list and could choose to add up to two additional items. Connection devices (glue, wire, thread, etc…) and colorants (paint, markers, pastels, etc…) were considered to be freebies, and they could be used in copious quantities.  The "twist" this year was that each participant contributed one item to the list used by all.  There were 25 participants, and 25 items, hence the "Take 25" title. 

The list of items included:
   1.  The letter "C" (the actual letter)
   2.  Photograph
   3.  Beeswax
   4.  A piece of broken jewelry
   5.  Cardboard
   6.  Fabric
   7.  Beads
   8.  Jigsaw puzzle piece
   9.  A piece of glass
 10.  Glitter
 11.  Toilet paper roll
 12.  Feather
 13.  Velcro
 14.  Shells
 15.  Fringe
 16.  Dictionary page
 17.  Mirror
 18.  Map or part of a map
 19.  Metal
 20.  Polymer clay
 21.  A lock of hair
 22.  Lace
 23.  A nut (metal or organic; artist's choice)
 24. An old paint tube
 25. Hardware (nuts, bolts, screws, hinges, etc.)


Participants were given a little over two months to complete their Take 25 submissions, and the grand unveiling took place at Artist Alley in Southern Pines, NC on Friday, March 25th.

Here are the full-sized photos of the four pieces on the top row of our new blog header, along with brief description by the artists:

 "Ode to Cornell in A Minor"  by Penny Arrowood

Employing the combination of various elements and materials to tell a visual tale, the artist evokes the spirit of Joseph Cornell in the homage to his creative aesthetic while personalizing the tale with select inclusions. 

"Neighborhood Watch"  by Carrie Hannegan

A polymer clay relief of a tree and four little birdhouses.

"The Crossing"  by Ophelia Staton

Mixed media collage 

"Grappes Des Fleurs Artistique"  by Lynn Creech

Stay tuned for more "Take 25" pieces. 

Next up:  the three images on the bottom row of the blog header. 

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.

More M4 Marvels....

Here are the final two M4 creations from our wildly artistic Guild:


Vivianne Voyles's M4 creation made use of an old Barbie horse in a very ingenious way! Click on the image for a closer view of how she's incorporated the kit's elements for the hooves, rider's hat and on the horse's body.

And Ophelia's work on canvas reminiscent of her exuberant, colorfully layered journal pages. As others have done, she's used the word 'create,' but adds the words 'your own destiny,' and 'permission granted' to present a message of encouragement to all who view her M4 creation.

We hope you've enjoyed viewing all of the 2009 M4 Kit Challenge works. We look forward to the possibility of participating in future challenges as a Guild, so stay tuned!

M4: Yes! More!

Here is another M4 figure, "Gina the Gypsy" by Roberta. Using the kit's vintage papers, including the phrases: "That is a good question. And I'd say YES without reservation," Roberta's Gina knows all the answers, and looks very stylish while delivering them, in her map skirt embellished with lace, golden bodice and button hat.

And, as with other pairings, here is a very different way of using all of the M4 Kit Challenge's

elements. Toni has created a bird house complete with lacy curtains at the window, puzzle piece flowers in a glass vase, and a perch on the side. When the roof is removed, you can see the birds have lovely wallpaper, and even some art on the walls! HGTV would be impressed!

Simply M4-velous, Roberta and Toni!

M4, Continued, again!

Yes, there's still more M4 magnificence to show. Here is Patti's creation, a very inventive townscape, complete with storefronts, a fountain, grass, puzzlepeople and a puzzlecritter! We love how she's used the kit's various elements in ingenious ways, which keep you going back and discovering more. Be sure to click on the image for the enlarged version.

Penny's hanging assemblage piece includes a winged figure, gorgeous textures, and luscious colors, including metallic gold. She also uses the word 'create,' and adds a touch of whimsy by directing our attention to the back of her piece, as you can see here. As she says: "The key to accomplishing any task--great or small--is simply to begin. You cannot finish what you never start."

Outstanding work, Patti and Penny!

More of the Marvels of M4

Nanette's M4 creation is shown here, in front and back views. If you click on the image, you'll see both enlarged. Note how she's used the postcard and tickets to create the figure's hat, and she's added the word 'create' in Scrabble tiles as an embellishment on the skirt. And, the skirt is cleverly composed of fibers and folded pieces of the kit's map.

Everyone was amazed by how different each Guild member's work was, despite everyone having the same elements with which to create. Here's another example:

Carolyn used a similar doll theme; her figure's skirt features the letters of the word 'create,' but she's used the tickets, map fragments and puzzle pieces to create the skirt. Carolyn's figure has an old world feel, with lacy elements and leg-of-mutton style sleeves, and a fancy hat.

Outstanding work, Nanette and Carolyn!

M4, Continued

Laurel's M4 creation is shown here both opened and closed. And, she uses the word "possible" on the front door.

Lucy's M4 piece is similar, using open doors to showcase how she incorporated all of the kit's pieces.

Excellent work, Laurel and Lucy; you've produced more M4 marvels!

Even More: M4!

After a brief hiatus, here are more images from our wildly creative members who participated in our M4 challenge.

Jodi's work on canvas and Karen's globe truly illustrate what was so great about the M4 challenge: when confronted with the same assortment of disparate materials, two artists produced pieces which are very different, yet equally creative.
Congratulations to Jodi and Karen--great work!

M4 Creativity, Continued

Here are the next two in the series of artworks created by CMMAG members in response to our first Mixed Media Kit Challenge (M4).

Member Diane created a diorama and used the kit's elements in witty ways to embellish her restaurant scene. Note how she created the clock, spoons on the side of the stove at left, and...are those tankards or bullet casings on the table?!

And, after considering and tossing out many ideas for her theme, member Jeanne created this piece, entitled "Space Junk." The top photo was shot in natural light, and the bottom was taken with black light under the piece. As you can see, the various items of the kit glow, and the whole piece seems to shimmer (it looks even better 'in person'). Great work, Diane and Jeanne!

More M4 Creations

Here are two more of the Guild participants' creations in the M4 Mixed Media Kit Challenge:

The first is from Dawn Meisch, and shows her book's cover and one of its inside spreads.

(Click on all images for enlargements)

This piece is by Debbie Altman, and it includes the Minnie Aumonier quote: "I think of HEAVEN as a GARDEN, where I shall find again those DEAR ONES who have made my world."

Again, two unique creations, using the same elements. Congratulations, Dawn and Debbie--your work is beautiful!

For a look at the elements included, and the first two creations in the M4 Kit Challenge series, click here.

Guild Event: Kit Challenge Code Name M4

Photographs of M4 kit contents and artists' creations courtesy of: Frank Pierce

M4, also known as the "Mixed Media Madness Mission-Art Possible", our first Kit Challenge was a resounding success! In this and the next several posts, we'll highlight the work of our members and you'll see how each responded to the challenge.

The rules: "ALL contents of the Kit must be used in the creation (approx. 30 items)- 'Incidentals' (adhesives, paints, inks, dyes, glitter and wire) can be added without limit(s). Two (2) additional items can be added to the creation beyond the Kit items and the 'allowable' elements. These are completely optional, and will serve as a way to give artistic voice to the Kit Challenge (they can serve as the substrate for your creation, or even a 'container' to house the new treasure)."

As you can see, the items contained within the Kit were diverse to say the least! And, after much thinking, considering, rejecting, dreaming, not sleeping, discussing, sketching, starting, stopping, gluing and deciding, our members produced outstanding results!

Here's Amy's creation, using a box as her substrate. (Click on the photographs to see enlargements).

And, here is Carolyn's doll, using all the same elements. Amazing, isn't it?

Stay tuned for more of the Kit Challenge artists'

creations!