SDA Conference 2013 Gallery Hop: Part 2

The next 2 galleries that we visited while at the SDA Conference was the Parchman Stremmel Gallery and AnArte Gallery.

At the Parchman Stremmel Gallery, Janet A. Lasher exhibit called "Conscription" was the featured at this gallery. Each sculpture took the artist 1 week to finish. They were cast using a positive mold with abaca paper pulp and stitched using sinew.

This exhibit was a very powerful in the presentation due to the number of pieces and excellent execution of each sculpture.

Janet A. Lasher "Conscription" artwork

front close up - Janet A. Lasher "Conscription"

back close up - Janet A. Lasher "Conscription"

Janet A. Lasher explaining her process for making each piece.

Then on to the AnArte Gallery with the "Looking Through" exhibit featuring the artwork of Elise Deringer and Kelsey Viola Wiskirchen. This exhibit explores the internal self, the external world and the space between simultaneously. (Forgive me, I didn't note the titles of the artwork.)

Elise Deringer and Kelsey Viola Wiskirchen

Elise Deringer's artwork

Kelsey Viola Wiskirchen's artwork
 

close up of Kelsey Viola Wiskirchen's artwork

SDA Conference 2013 Gallery Hop: Part 1

I'm still in the process of organizing all the photos I took at the SDA Conference in San Antonio, TX.  I finished up the photos from the 6 galleries that we visited on the first day. I'm going to start with some of those photos first in a series of blog posts this week. Some of the artwork are missing their titles. All of the artists and gallery owners allowed us to photograph the artwork, which was a rare treat.

The first gallery stop was at Gallery Nord featuring the artwork of Eun-Kyung Suh , Kathryn Clark, Maria Shell and Nathalie Miebach. 

Eun-Kyung Suh created what she calls a series of sculptural vessels as a metaphor for individual, family or social memory and history. These vessels are inspired by Bojagi, a traditional Korean art form.

artwork by Eun-Kyung Suh

close up of the stitching
artwork by Eun-Kyung Suh

artwork by Eun-Kyung Suh

close up
artwork by Eun-Kyung Suh

Nathalie Miebach looks at the interaction of meteorological and oceanic systems in the Gulf of Maine for her "Changing Waters" series.

Nathalie Miebach "Changing Waters" artwork

close up of Nathalie Miebach "Changing Waters" artwork

close up of Nathalie Miebach "Changing Waters" artwork

Maria Shell's series "Color Grids" is her exploration of simple grid pattern. In my opinion, her pieces are far from simple.

Maria Shell "Color Grids"

artwork from Maria Shell "Color Grid"

Kathryn Clark's foreclosure quilts were a very emotional part of this exhibit. She started this series in early 2000's.

Kathryn Clark - Foreclosure Quilts

Kathryn Clark - Foreclosure Quilt



Kathryn Clark - Foreclosure Quilt

Stay tuned. More photos to come in the next few days.

Photo Friday

I noticed this artwork as I was leaving the San Antonio Museum of Art. This quote is from Theodore Dreiser and the artwork was made by Gary Sweeney, a local San Antonio artist.

More photos from my trip to San Antonio, TX for the SDA Conference to follow.

SDA Conference 2013 - San Antonio, TX

Last night (early this morning,1am), I arrived home from the SDA Conference in San Antonio, TX. I'm in the process of weeding through all my photos and notes. In the meantime, I want to show a photo of the wooden block stamps that I bought from my friend, Chetna Mehta, who lives in India. She was one of the vendors who was there selling their wares. Along with the wooden stamps, she sells beautiful scarfs and fabric. She doesn't have a website. If you're interested in seeing her work, let me know and put you in contact with her.

I can't wait to use these stamps in my art.

New Project: Used Coffee Filters

Yes, you read correctly. I'm taking a slight detour from using teabag paper in my art. I wanted to find a slightly heavier material...coffee filters. 

The prep is about the same. I let the filters dry with the coffee grounds on top to stain the filters. After the filters dried, I brush off the coffee grounds and put a light coat of soft matte medium on one side.

Once the medium dried, I trimmed each filter to a 5 1/2" square. I, also, used soft matte medium to attach the filters to each other. The size of the "fabric" is 15 3/4" x 36 1/4". I'm planning entering this piece in a group show that has a size limitation of 15"x34" so at some point I will need to trim it.

used coffee filter "fabric"

My plan is to weave strips of dyed fabric into this "fabric". I wanted to try different colors than I normally use so, I ordered 9 Procion dye from Dharma Trading. I'm still deciding on which colored fabric I will use on this piece.

The color names from left to right:
Amber Waves, Terracotta, Chocolate Brown, Rust Brown, Dutch Chocolate, Tea Leaves, Wasabi, Celadon and Garibaldi.

To be continued...

Update From My Studio

This weekend I finished the fourth piece for my "Peel Away The Layers" series. I decided to call it "Renewal". The color palette reminds me of Spring, hence the title. The total size is 20"x20" with the main mosaic area is approximately16"x16". I blogged about the work in progress here.


Renewal by Mia Bloom


The other pieces in the series are "Peel Away The Layers II" (which was purchased), "Peel Away The Layers" and "Torn".

Photo Friday

Most mornings when I drive to my day job I'm on autopilot. Recently, I noticed this "Teach Art" billboard on top of a vacant building. It's at the corner of Magnolia Blvd. and Hollywood Way in Burbank, CA. I couldn't find any information regarding it. So, my guess it's an example of Art Bombing.

"Delphinium Field" Exhibit

Last year, I started a piece for Artistic Expressions' "Delphinium Fields" exhibit. I blogged about it here. This exhibit will be on displayed at all 7 of the Mancuso Shows starting in May 2013 in Denver, CO. To see all of the pieces in this exhibit, please visit the Artistic Expressions blog.



"Aged Beauty" by Mia Bloom


My piece was inspired by the natural aging that every living things goes through. I made this piece using raw edge applique so, it will age and wear as it travels the 7 Mancuso shows.

"Definitions" Exhibit

I'm excited to announce that "Peel Away The Layers" and "Torn" will be part of the San Fernando Valley Arts Council and Valley Arts Alliance exhibit called "Definitions: An Artist's Relationship to Techniques + Medium".

"Peel Away The Layers" by Mia Bloom

"Torn" by Mia Bloom

The call for entry wanted artwork that showed the techniques and mediums that have made a lasting impact on the artist and their art.

I thought about my "Peel Away The Layers" series that incorporated used tea bag papers. I've been so inspired by using this material. This technique is being used as a metaphor for growth/aging.  As we get older or grow, the layers are peeled away to reveal the person we have become.

The exhibit is being shown at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center, 7222 Remmet Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91303. It runs from Monday, March 4th to Saturday, March 16th. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 9th 6pm-9pm. I will be at the opening reception and hope to see some friendly faces.

Face Value

It's time for another trade for Serendipity Art Group. The theme is "Face Value". I decided to stretch the definition to fit my style. My piece is called "What Do You See?"

Definition of Face Value: To accept something exactly the way it appears to be.

My artist statement: Abstract art can be left to the viewer to interpret. This piece should be viewed at face value. It's a black and white piece with a red cross.