CanvaSynergy, Revealed!

The Guild’s CanvaSynergy project was inspired by a question:

“What if 25 mixed media artists worked together to create a large-scale collaborative piece?”

Knowing how wildly creative and diverse our talents are, we were sure the result would be a fabulous thing to behold.

Here’s how it all unfolded:

Jerry’s Artarama graciously provided the 12”x12” canvases and the four base paint colors; Soho Urban Acrylics in Mineral Blue, Cadmium Red Hue, Burnt Sienna, and Cadmium Orange Hue, for 25 artists. Each artist was also allowed the use of black and white to round out their palette.
The overall layout was penciled onto the 25 adjoining canvases; a combination of swirling curves and geometric shapes, designed to give each artist an interesting variety of areas in which to create her own, special mixed media magic. None of the artists had seen the comprehensive, overall design--therein was another 'layer' of mystery!
The sky was the limit; artists could use fabric, metal, polymer, buttons, glass, feathers, photography, paint mediums, paper, clay and ephemera to complete their canvases.  The only 'regulation' was that they maintain the lines that connected their canvas to its neighbor.

Once all of the canvases were finished, wooden cross-bracing was constructed to hold them all together; a simple black frame was added, creating the expansive 5 x 5 ft. CanvaSynergy which was revealed at the 11th annual Art of the Carolinas last weekend. 

Our immense thanks, and a big round of applause go to:
Sharon DiGiulio, for presenting our idea to the fine folks at Jerry’s Artarama.
David Goldstein, of Jerry’s Artarama, for his consideration and approval of the required materials.
CMMAG secretary, Christine Candora-Hickey, for suggesting the CanvaSynergy title (because "the Collaborative Canvas Project" is not nearly as appealing!).
Stan Petelinz, for construction and joining together of structure and frame.
 And, to all the artists who contributed to CanvaSynergy, for creating something even more fantastic than we could've imagined!

CMMAG Presents: "The Gift of Art" 2012 Calendar

Calendar measures 9"x 12", and sells for $10, plus flat rate shipping. 
Ready to Purchase?  Click "Buy Now" button at right.

We are excited to announce the creation of "The Gift of Art" 2012 calendar.  A collaboration between CMMAG and Arts for Life, Durham, it features joyful, colorful artwork created by the program's critically ill children at Duke Children's Hospital.

Our collaboration was a natural match; CMMAG's mission is to advance the education of mixed media arts, and Arts for Life is a 501-C non-profit organization, dedicated to providing artistic education and emotional well-being to children across the state of North Carolina. 
By providing educational art programs, they enrich patients' lives, nurture their minds and spirits, and encourage positive healthcare experiences for children and their families.  To learn more about Arts for Life, visit their website.

Every dollar from the sale of "The Gift of Art" calendar will go to support the programming of Arts for Life.  To purchase calendars, click the "Buy Now" button at right, which will take you to PayPal's site.  You don't need a PayPal account to use this feature.
If you are local to the Raleigh, NC area, you may purchase calendars at the 11th annual Jerry's Artarama Art of the Carolinas event, November 10~13, 2011. 

Thanks and a big round of applause to everyone involved in producing "The Gift of Art". 
Printing provided by:  Henry Wurst, Inc.; Layout and Design provided by:  Victory 500 Marketing, and Distribution provided by the members of the Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild.

CMMAG at the 2011 North Carolina State Fair

     Member Madeline Schneider entered two pieces in the professional artists category, and had both pieces chosen by the jury for inclusion in the Fair exhibit.  It was the first time she had ever entered her work.  She was very excited to hear the good news, and to see her art in the exhibit.  Madeline said, "just thinking about how many people were able to see my work displayed among so many other wonderful artists makes me humble. Now I feel inspired to create, my fears are fading away, and this is my greatest achievement!"

Congratulations, Madeline!  We share your excitement, and look forward to seeing your pieces 'in person' at a meeting soon.   

"There is Always a Way"; canvas 18" X 24", acrylic, mixed media, collage

"Portrait of a Lady"; canvas 18" x 24", acrylic, mixed media, collage

June Member Interview: Debbie Turner Altman

Debbie Turner Altman

Blog:  Dreams Delights and Dogma

What inspires you to create?

Color, pattern and texture that I see around me, fondling fabric, and other people’s work always energizes me.

When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?

I never really pursued art, I just don’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawn to it. I can remember putting color combos together for my dresses that my mother made me when I was still small enough to hide under the tables of fabric. I started creating fashion doll clothes at the age of seven when my grandmother would hold me in her lap and treadle her machine for me so I could sew. I had a wild and crazy bedroom as a teen with lime green walls, electric blue bookcase that I built myself, loud multicolor curtains that I made myself, and a shocking yellow bedspread. My mother claimed it put her eyes out. I think she had a paint roller full of beige paint in her hand the day I moved out. She always let me express myself no matter how outlandish the project may be or how late it kept me up at night. As long as my grades were up, that is!

If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
I have never really considered myself an artist, to me creating is just a part of life, but I would probably be a librarian, or what they call a media specialist these days. I love books and being able to do research via all the forms of media almost as much as I love art.

What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path?
I worked in an arts and crafts store doing merchandising, I love doing visual displays and I think I have a good eye for that, naturally. I also gave product demos in the store, and had to learn about the products in order to give the demos.

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

Anything I can use to mark on fabric, stencils, and textured paper. You can sew paper, you know?

What new technique or art form would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?

I really want to learn more ways of doing free motion longarm quilting. I have plans to practice as much as possible and hope to soon be taking in customer quilts. I can do pantograph allover quilting now, but I want to put more of a one-of-a-kind artistic touch to the quilts I quilt.

If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?

Open a fiber artist’s collaborative with a studio for all of my “toys” and “fabric stash” with an environment that enables the flow of inspiration and encouragement.



There are lots of people who'd love to come and be creative with you there, Debbie!  Thanks for the interview.

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.