Zoom! From Haystack, to school to one retreat after another

Quick note to fill in the blanks while I work on the "real" posts for these events.

Got back on Friday night, August 27 from the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (in Deer Isle, Maine) where I was the Technical Assistant to Cynthia Winika for the Hot Wax: Encaustic Painting Comprehensive Workshop.

The Haystack experience was amazing! I cannot say enough good things about it. I am doing a write up in more detail about this event.

Then school started for me on Tuesday, August 30th before I could even catch my breathe or really unpack my stuff (and life) from two weeks away at Haystack.

As I rush, rush hurry to class to work to class to home to blah blah blah... I am trying to get a solid hold of my schedule and make time for contemplation and writing about my events. But everything on my to do list marked priority! What is a girl to do?

So on that note, I am packing my bags to go teach Encaustic Collage at the San Diego Women's Caucus for Art Retreat, in Julian, CA. It will be the first time I am teaching just collage - which I think is the easiest way to begin to understand working in wax. I am excited to teach, and am looking forward to the event.

But another part of me is just looking forward to having a couple of days where someone cooks my meals again (thanks, Haystack for spoiling me for two weeks) and let's me have quiet time or social time at my own choosing.

I hope to have a great write up about both events within in next week. Then it is rush, rush off to the International Encaustic Artist Annual Advance (Retreat) in San Francisco, the week after that! I think I will need a retreat from all the retreats I am going to.

Until then! Happy art making (even in a rush!) ~ Jaime Lyerly

Jaime's going to Haystack!

Haystack's photo of the week for this week. A view of Haystack of Haystack from Jericho Bay, August 2010.
See more photos at this link: http://www.haystack-mtn.org/gallery.php 

I flipped through the pages of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Summer workshop catalog in January 2010, and my breath caught as I see the words “Encaustic Painting.” (If you haven't heard yet, encaustic is pigmented beeswax and damar resin that is applied hot to a surface. Encaustic means to burn in).

At San Diego State University (SDSU), where I am finishing my BA in Art: emphasis sculpture, minor in Psychology, there is one scholarship awarded to a student from the Applied Design program to attend Haystack for a summer session.

While the scholarship was awarded to a graduate student, the idea to attend this outstanding school was firmly planted in my brain. I gathered images, updated my resume, made a list of my technical abilities, and sent emails to my amazing and overworked professors to request letters of recommendation.

Having two years of experience working in encaustic and a few encaustic-teaching gigs under my belt, I told myself “I can do this!”

So I applied for the Technical Assistant Scholarship to the “Hot Wax: Encaustic Painting Comprehensive” taught by R & F Instructor Cynthia Winika – and, you guessed it, I won!

Now it is the second week of August, and the time has finally come!

I am leaving this Saturday, August 14, 2010 on an overnight flight for two weeks of intensive study of encaustic painting on the coast of Maine!

Some of the artists who have attended Haystack tell me that it was a momentous time of growth.

SDSU MFA ceramics graduate Kelly Schnorr told me that during her time as a Technical Assistant at Haystack that everyday she woke up thinking she was in heaven.

I know I am in for a life-changing experience.

 

 Haystack sums it up:

The unique experience to be found at Haystack is owed to the combination of internationally-renowned instructors, intensive and focused studio time, the exploration of other art forms including music, poetry and dance, a diverse student body, and an award-winning campus. Students live, eat and work at the school, and studios remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Are you jealous, yet? I would be too!
 
The workshop description for Cynthia Winika’s Hot Wax: Encaustic Painting Comprehensive gives you a clue to what is in store:

Encaustic (beeswax) painting, derived from the legendary painting of the ancient Greeks, is one of the most versatile, durable, and beautiful painting media. After being out of use for 2000 years, it has made a recent resurgence. This workshop will provide a basic understanding of sound technique, safe studio practice, and show the many ways of using the paint and medium. Preparation of supports, thermal properties of encaustic paint, fusing, and demonstration of a wide variety of painting, layering, collage, solvent free image transfer, and mixed media techniques will be incorporated. Slide presentations will include information about the history of encaustics, 20th century revivals, and contemporary artists working with encaustic. All levels welcome.

 
As the technical assistant for this workshop, I have a unique position in that I am able to attend the workshop, help the instructor, do a presentation about my work, exhibit two pieces in their show, and work on my own art during the free time. All this and meals included!

I am more than looking forward to enjoying all this experience has to offer. I have never had two weeks away from my partner and thirteen-year-old son to be able to focus on my art, so this gift of time is especially moving.

Yet the excitement of having two weeks to work in wax has me all aflutter as I pack my supplies that I want to bring it all!

I just found out that the encaustic supplies are included in the studio fee, but I still need to pack my own panels, papers, and tools. It is a few days before I leave and still packing up and pairing down what I need to bring.


Bottom Line - Two weeks in Maine with studio time devoted to encaustic painting? Heavenly.


Want to hear more about it? Great! I don't expect to have much computer time while I am there, but I will write up an “After Haystack” post including experiential pictures and studio shots that I know you want to see.


Until then, you can pop over to my Facebook page or Twitter and send me a “Good luck at Haystack” message or share some “I heart Haystack” stories and tips!

Looking forward to sharing my experience with you! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Luminous Layers: Exploring Contemporary Encaustic - Video by Linda Womack

Finally! A great video which shows the shows the versatility of encaustic (hot beeswax) painting and sculpture by contemporary artists.

The video below is by Embracing Encaustic author Linda Womack who was also the curator of the Luminous Layers: Exploring Contemporary Encaustic at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts in Oregon.

The show is now closed, but you can get a peek at the work in the video below.

I personally love the sculptural encaustic works, and I am dying to find out the name of the artists. Since 3-D encaustic is where I am working, it is great to find more artists who have "mastered" the techniques and are showing them out. When I get the name of the artists, I will be sure to share them!


So how about you? What is your favorite work in this video? Share in the comments below.

Luminous Layers: Exploring Contemporary Encaustic Video


You can read more about the Luminous Layers show on Linda Womack's Embracing Encaustic blog.

I love encaustic! ~  Jaime Lyerly

It's time to Register for the 13th Annual San Diego Women's Caucus for Art Retreat! Mark your calendars for September 10-12, 2010 in Julian, CA

 Jaime Lyerly showing how to scrape back encaustic wax © 2009 Jaime Lyerly

IT’S TIME TO REGISTER for the 13th ANNUAL 2010 WCA/SD RETREAT

The retreat offers a special time to make art, make new friends and reconnect with old friends.

Note: This event is for women, only. Sorry guys! Most of our events are co-ed, but this is for women only because of the sleeping arrangements.

WORKSHOPS INCLUDE

PLEIN AIR PAINTING with Jen Bottoms

JOURNALING, BLIND DRAWING & MAKING YOUR OWN JOY

with Suzana Norberg

YOGA FOR BEGINNERS with Midge Hyde

ENCAUSTIC COLLAGE with Jaime Lyerly

(more details about the workshops below)

_______________________________________

WHEN

September 10th, 11th and 12th, 2010

WHERE

Camp Stevens, Julian, 1108 Highway 78,

Julian, California 92036 (760) 765-0028

We will be staying in the Wolterstorff Lodge

FEE

$150 Retreat only WCA SD members

$175 Retreat & 1 year basic 2011 membership for WCA

members

$190 Retreat & 1 year basic 2011 WCA Membership for

non-members.

All include 3 days, 2 nights and 5 meals (organically grown

and prepared by Camp Stevens ), and all workshop fees

DIRECTIONS

From San Diego : Take Highway 67 to Ramona, then

Highway 78 east to Julian. Camp Stevens is located 2

miles east of Julian on State Highway 78. There is a

“ Camp Stevens ” entrance sign on the left side of the

highway exactly 2 miles from Julian.

REGISTER EARLY

Your $50 Non-refundable deposit due by August 1, 2010

(check or PayPal) secures your reservation. Balance

due by September 1st, by check or PayPal. Upon final

payment you will receive a detailed map, packing list,

materials list, materials to bring and schedule, via

e-mail.


NOTE: There is limited cell phone service.


Women’s Caucus for Art, San Diego

13th Annual Retreat

at Camp Stevens

Julian, California

September 10th, 11th and 12th, 2010

QUESTIONS AND INFO:

Jen Bottoms, (619) 892-3429

9500 Harritt Road, #75

Lakeside, CA 92040

jenniebottoms@gmail.com



WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

JOURNALING, BLIND DRAWING and MAKING YOUR OWN JOY with Suzana Norberg

As an advertising copywriter, Sue discovered the joy of art late in life. Inspired by “Harriett The Spy,” her favorite book as a child, Sue always kept a notebook of observations and snippets of overheard conversations.

But it wasn’t until the accidental discovery of three fabulous and freeing books that Sue began incorporating drawing into her work. See the three books that changed Sue’s creative life, page through her journals, and be prepared to draw with your eyes closed. Then apply it all to recording your weekend in a sketchbook that will be provided.


PLEIN AIR PAINTING with Jen Bottoms

Plein Air Painting is painting outdoors. Using oils, acrylics or watercolors whatever is your medium of choice, you will learn simple pallet color and placement while exploring the great outdoors and your personal emotions with the intent of taking out the intimidation factor. Realistic and non-realistic painters alike will love this enabling workshop that will set your spirit free and help you create
flowing, eye appealing works of art. Just let yourself go!


YOGA FOR BEGINNERS with Midge Hyde

Midge has done yoga for over 10 years. She plans to do light yoga exercises, first a warm up, practicing shallow and deep breathing. She reccomends everyone who has a yoga mat to bring it along. We will do mostly standing poses in case there are not enough mats for seated poses. The poses she likes are good stretches and parts of sun salutations, nothing too strenuous, just good stretching and deep breathing....a good way to end or start a day.


ENCAUSTIC COLLAGE with Jaime Lyerly

Encaustic is beeswax, damar resin and pigment applied to a surface hot and fused using heat. We will not be using pigment but instead, be learning the basic techniques of of encaustic collage in this workshop. We will explore layering, collage, incising, embedding and transfers. There will be plenty of time for hands on experimentation. Bring your own collage elements and get ready to try this “hot” way of painting.

ABOUT CAMP STEVENS and WCA/SD RETREAT

We will stay in the Wolterstorff Lodge, which was built from the ashes of the Bishop’s Lodge, destroyed in the “Angel Fire” of September 2007. The lodge has 24 beds; 4 six person rooms with 2 shared baths, and a meeting room with a fireplace. The OUTDOOR FACILITIES include tree house, outdoor chapel and other outdoor meeting and gathering spaces. Visitors can also enjoy a swim in the pool (seasonal), a stroll in the botanical garden, games on the lawns, basketball and volleyball, or an evening campfire.
  
I hope you can join us! You can check out pictures from last year's retreat on my Facebook page ~ Jaime Lyerly 

Movements of my soul -- Introduction to Family Constellations workshop - Sunday 6/27/2010 in Vista, CA.

First family constellation final healing, Oil pastel drawing, © 2009 Jaime Lyerly

I have been changing....

Changing what I am,
what I want,
how I live,
what I do,
what I need,
and how I deal with it all.

During my time of major flux (my partner moving to Berkeley, my son graduating from middle school, my job not being what it used it be, my high stress life taking a toll, researching graduate schools and more) , I usually turn to art-making as a way to cope.

However, it has been a desert of non-productiveness in my life recently.

A lull in creative expression for a week to "unwind" from classes ending has turned into month of no art making.

A few nights of just watching tv has turned into a sleepless nights playing video games.

A break from class work has turned into a break from living.

How does this happen? I am not sure.

But during this time of low productivity has come a huge blessing - a time for "soul work."

Through artist and healer Ellen "Ellie" Benfatti, I learned of Family Constellation work, which is based on social psychology, family dynamics and energy healing.

She calls the changes that occur because of this healing, "Movements of the Soul."

I won't go into too much detail about the constellations here, but I can say that they have changed my life.

Every aspect of it from how I make art, who I think I am, what do I want, how do I get it, and how do I deal with this thing called life.

And it is a lot to process! Which is why I my blog has been neglected and you see me less on the social networking sites. I'm still here.... just thinking, feeling and trying to understand it.

So please bear with me as I morph into this new person that is greater than the sum of her parts.

Want to know more about Family Constellation work?

Great! Check out the links above and the book called The Healing Power of the Past.

Live in San Diego area? Even better!


Ellie is having a three hour workshop this Sunday, June 27, 2010 from 10 am to 2 pm which is an Introduction to Family Constellations. 


Here is the info from the Facebook event: 


This is an introductory 3 hour workshop. If you've wanted to join Ellie to experience the transformational work of Family Constellations but haven't had the funds or the time now is your opportunity. Ellie asks that all participants contribute a donation of $25.00 to cover the expense of the conference room. Ellie will do 1 constellation chosen by lottery and 1 constellation as a group. Great opportunity for those of you who are wanting to experience more success in your personal finances, life's passion and or career. Ellie will be focusing on Money and the Heart. You must RSVP to attend. Please RSVP by email to: eangel11@gmail.com. If you don't RSVP you will not be admitted to the event. Sorry no exceptions space is limited. When you RSVP please provide name, phone number, and names of guests who are attending with you. 


Note: I will be attending this event!

It really is an awesome experience, and I felt compelled to share it with my friends and readers.

To your health and wellness and deep soul movements.. ~ Jaime Lyerly

Watch me tonight LIVE on Community Artist Connection Public Access TV show

Haven't gotten enough of me "talking" on my blog? Watch me on TV!

Tonight at 8 pm, I will be interviewed by artist Laura Jean Thompson for her Community Artist Connection Public Access TV Show.

We will be talking about my encaustic art, future career goals and whatever else she throws my way.

I am surprisingly less nervous than I would expect at the moment. However, I am not sure what is going to happen when I actually get there!

You can watch the broadcast LIVE via the internet at the link below. It should be on 8 pm, PST.
Live Broadcast!

There is supposed to be a "Chat" function that you can ask questions which we can see. This is all new to me so I am not sure how that all works. But feel free to check it out!

I am even letting my 13-year-old son watch via the internet at home. He may be the only kid in the world who would want to "chat" with his mom during her interview.

The show will air later on Public Access TV. I will let you know exactly when it will be on.

Okay - time to shove down some dinner and get moving!

Thanks for the support! ~Jaime Lyerly

Wordless Wedneday - Introspection

Self portrait © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

San Diego area volunteers needed! The Tag Project at Kiku Gardens this Saturday June 5, 2010

Image from the Tag Project Facebook page

In San Diego area and have nothing to do this Saturday morning?

Want to help with an amazing project?

Great! Come join us at the Kiku Gardens as we help Artist Wendy Maruyama "age" tags for her Tag Project: E.O. 9066. See this invite below from Wendy:

The Tag Project will be at Kiku Gardens Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 10 AM - noon. We are now at a point where we need help taking the tags through an aging process (dunking in coffee and krinkling and setting out to dry).

If you would like to help, please bring rubber gloves, old newspapers, and if you have one, a plastic dishpan or some similar plastic container for dunking tags.

Roll up your sleeves, and join the fun!!

Location:

Kiku Gardens
1260 Third Ave.
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Time: 10 AM til 12 pm

Here is more about the Tag Project from the Facebook page:

This project was begun as part of my research on Executive Order 9066: it is the first time I made the personal decision to really look at this sorry chapter in history as a Japanese American artist. I plan to focus on this direction in my work for the next few years.

One project, "The Tag Project", was started in New York - I replicated 1011 tags from internees from my hometown (San Diego/Chula Vista). I was inspired by the thousands of folded origami cranes I saw at the Hiroshima Peace memorial and this group of tags was called "Cascade". I was also deeply moved by the photos of Dorothea Lange, one is shown above: it was her photos that initially provided the physical and emotional weight of the internment, and how it so profoundly affected the Japanese American citizens during and for years to come. All Japanese Americans were rounded up in 1942 and each were issued a tag and an ID number designating their destination: one of several internment camps, all in desolate deserted areas of the United States. The most haunting and striking photos were of the families wearing tags at the various assembly centers before being shipped off by train to these remote areas.

I was taken by the weight of these tags when they were completed and hung, despite appearing to be light and airy. This struck me as being very relevant to the way the internment was perceived by the general American Public. To this day it shocks me to still run into fellow Americans who had no clue that this had happened. I am going to commit to making all 120,000 tags, for all the Japanese Americans who were sent to all the camps. I feel that the sheer numbers and the scale of these tags will convey to all who view this that the internment was a massive project that was to affect an entire culture of people and their future generations.

Find out more on the The TAG Project: E.O. 9066 Blog.

Interview with Wendy in American Craft Magazine - "The Tag Project: In Search of Cultural Memory"

Tag Project Video

The Tag Project | Poston from xavier vasquez on Vimeo.

About Wendy Maruyama -

Wendy Maruyama is Head of the San Diego State Furniture Design /Woodworking program and has taught at SDSU since 1989. Prior to that she has headed programs at California College of Arts and Crafts and at the Appalachian Center for Crafts. She received her BA from San Diego State and MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has been the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to England, foreign travel grants to France and Japan, and four NEA Craftsmen's Fellowships. She also serves on several non-profit boards, including the Furniture Society and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. She is a frequent workshop leader and lecturer and her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. It is documented in numerous publications and included in public collections, among them the Mint Museum of Craft and Design, American Craft Museum, Oakland Museum, Mingei International Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Arizona State University Museum in Tempe.

I know it is late notice, but you really want to come to this event! I would love to see you there.

Happy volunteering! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Image of the Week - Cildo Meireles

© Cildo Meireles Missão/Missões (How to Build Cathedrals)

(detail) 1987, Daros-Latinamerica Collection, Zurich , Photo: Tate Photography

Image from the Tate Modern

~ Jaime Lyerly

Wordless Wednesday - Yasaka Shrine with Fortunes

Yasaka Shrine photograph © 2009 Jaime Lyerly

~ Jaime Lyerly

SDSU Art Council - 8th Annual Scholarship Exhibition at the La Jolla Athenaeum on May 21, 2010

Detail from Fibrous Waximus, which will be on display at the event
© 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Missed those other chances to see my encaustic art? Then come to this one.

San Diego State University Art Council 8th Annual Scholarship Exhibition

Dates/Times: May 22 - June 19, 2010
Opening: May 21, 2010, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Location: La Jolla Athenaeum Music and Arts Library
1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA

More Information: The Athenaeum presents for the eighth consecutive year an exhibition of artwork by scholarship winners of the San Diego State University's Department of Art, Design, and Art History. Students from the upper division of the undergraduate or the graduate programs will be selected, based on scholarship applications, by the SDSU Art Council. Each of the five receives a monetary award and the opportunity to present their artwork in this exhibition.

What's in it for you:

* Support local and emerging artists
* Meet the five of SDSU's undergraduate and graduate artists who, including myself, have been awarded a scholarship based on an essay and portfolio review.
* Check out the Artist Book Collection.
* FREE ADMISSION!
* Three in One! See the other two exhibitions running and opening at the same time in different galleries at the Athenaeum, Including: Selections from the Athenaeum's Erika and Fred Torri Artists' Books Collection: Fischli/Weiss and Ellen Salk: Shaker Loops

Hope to see you there! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Free e-Book "Exersighs" - Self-esteem Workbook for Artists by Artella

Shared by Sally Evan's Embracing Creativity newsletter. Check it out!

Artella's free giveaway!

Free copy of Exersighs Exersighs is a 10-page ebook of guided exercises and inspiration, with 16 exer-sighs-es to boost your self-esteem effectively and immediately, triggering momentum for your next creative project, and breaking down blocks FOR GOOD.

Artella Freebies Page

~ Jaime Lyerly

Opening Reception for SDSU's "Comatose in the Sculptorium"

Reminder!

Tonight from 6-9 pm is the San Diego State University's Intermediate and Advanced Sculpture class anonymously juried show called "Comatose in the Sculptorium"

Exhibition: Comatose in the Sculptorium: SDSU's Intermediate and Advanced Sculpture student show

Dates/Times: May 15 - 20, 2010. Hours variable. Opening: May 15, 2010 from 7 pm - 9 pm

Location: San Diego State University, Flor Y Canto Gallery on the fifth floor of the Art Department.

More Information: Facebook event

What's in it for you:

• Support local and emerging artists!
  
• See the experimental and conceptual sculpture that is being produced by the SDSU sculpture students. The variety is amazing.
  
• See my untitled 3-D encaustic sculptures from 2009 in a whole new setting and installation.
• Meet the infamous instructor and local artist, Richard Keely.
  
• FREE ADMISSION!

Hope to see you there!

~ Jaime Lyerly

"Repeat. Sum. Repeat." Installation Experience - part one

Just wanted to let you all know that I am still working hard on my installation in room Art 418C at San Diego State University with Experimental Musician Chris Miner called "Repeat. Sum. Repeat."

Last Saturday was supposed to be the informal opening, but we were still installing all day and night, so there was not much to see.

This Tuesday, 5/11/2010, all the installation will be complete and the room should be open from 12 pm until 3 pm, and more hours as requested.

Thanks to Joyce and Will for stopping by on Saturday. They got to see all the pieces spread about, but not installed. However, they were very understanding!

Thanks to Gwyneth Mapes for coming by on Sunday, and giving me such an honest opinion of the installation as a whole.

Huge thanks to Starry Wright, Chris Miner and my son, Xen, for helping me install.

A few lessons from this installation experience, so far.

1. SDSU parking enforcement will still give you a $40 parking ticket, even if you are quickly unloading your car, and they haven't printed the ticket.
   
2. Expect to move boxes in and out of the room all day for a couple of days.
3. Bring other people to talk to! On Friday, I kept leaving the room to seek out interaction with people.
   
4. Prepare your artist statement and tags before hand.
   
5. Don't expect that the room will be set up with lights and power needed.
6. Sound installation needs more preparation than expected and should be laid out visually before any art is installed.
   
7. Pedestals are pretentious, but needed to differentiate the works, unless prepared before hand.
   
8. Purchase all hardware, extension cords and food before installation day.
   
9. It is much harder to install older pieces and make new work at the same time. Don't pressure yourself into doing more than you can handle.
   
10. Installation is exhausting!

I will have lots of pictures coming soon, video of the pieces including the sound collage by Chris Miner. Stay tuned for more!

Thanks for joining me on this journey! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Wordless Wednesday - Toyko Panda

~ Jaime Lyerly

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions (and what's in it for you...)

I have been a busy bee recently and have a few events that you may be interested in, especially if you are in San Diego, CA.

If you are not in the San Diego area, you can join me on the journey through my blog posts (although those always come later than the event).

I would love you to come and experience these, but I know you are all busy.

So, rather than just tooting my own horn about the awesomeness of me to get you to come to these events, I am going to tell you what's in it for you!

These events are in chronological order.

Current/Upcoming events:


Exhibition: A World of Art - San Diego Women's Caucus for Art Member Show

Dates/Times: May 1 - May 15, 2010, call to arrange for viewing times

Location: East Village Company, # 29
906 10th Ave, San Diego (corner of 10th & E-downtown)

More Information: See the Facebook event

What's in it for you:

• See the diversity of work from the San Diego Women's Caucus for Art members.
  
• Also to my encaustic covered hand-carved Jelutong wood sculpture "Reliquary" and untitled encaustic painting.
  
• Check out the East Village Company's space, hosted by the elegant and gracious, Coco Cabuquit-Jarboe. Coco opens her artist loft home to host art events. The relaxed ambiance makes viewing the art and meeting the artists a rewarding and intimate experience. One of San Diego's best kept secrets.
• FREE ADMISSION!
  

________________________________________

Exhibition: Repeat. Sum. Repeat. Art installation by Jaime Lyerly and sound installation by Experimental Musician Chris Miner

Date/Times: May 11, 2010, from 12 pm to 3 pm.

Location: San Diego State University, Art Building Installation Room Art 418C (on the fourth floor.) If you are not a student, park in the "W" lot, which you can buy an hourly permit. Call me at 619-750-2404 to get directions from there.

More Information: My first attempt at installing my body of work, including most of my current encaustic paintings and sculpture, and my newest fiber related works. See the Facebook Event.

What's in it for you:

• Supporting local and emerging artists!
  
• Check out my body of work, and help me figure out what needs tweaking as I get ready to apply for graduate school.
  
• Experience Chris Miner's sound installation which is based on the patterns and songs of whales. This is the initial stage of this sound collage, and will be expanded for inclusion in the Atomino 2010: Experimental Art Festival in Germany in August 2010.
• FREE ADMISSION (obviously - and I will entertain you too!)
  

__________________________________

Exhibition: Comatose in the Sculptorium: SDSU's Intermediate and Advanced Sculpture student show

Dates/Times: May 15 - 20, 2010. Hours variable. Opening: May 15, 2010 from 7 pm - 9 pm

Location: San Diego State University, Flor Y Canto Gallery on the fifth floor of the Art Department.

More Information: Coming soon!

What's in it for you:

• Support local and emerging artists!
  
• See the experimental and conceptual sculpture that is being produced by the SDSU sculpture students. The variety is amazing.
  
• See my untitled 3-D encaustic sculptures from 2009 in a whole new setting and installation.
• Meet the infamous instructor and local artist, Richard Keely.
  
• FREE ADMISSION!
  

_________________________________

Exhibition: San Diego State University Art Council 8th Annual Scholarship Exhibition

Dates/Times: May 22 - June 19, 2010 Opening: May 21, 2010, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Location: La Jolla Athenaeum Music and Arts Library

More Information: The Athenaeum presents for the eighth consecutive year an exhibition of artwork by scholarship winners of the San Diego State University's Department of Art, Design, and Art History. Students from the upper division of the undergraduate or the graduate programs will be selected, based on scholarship applications, by the SDSU Art Council. Each of the five receives a monetary award and the opportunity to present their artwork in this exhibition.


What's in it for you:

• Support local and emerging artists (see a trend here?)
  
• Meet the five of SDSU's undergraduate and graduate artists who, including myself, have been awarded a scholarship based on an essay and portfolio review. I will get the names of the other four artists soon.
  
• Check out the Artist Book Collection.
  
• FREE ADMISSION!
  
• Three in One! See the other two exhibitions running and opening at the same time in different galleries at the Athenaeum, Including: Selections from the Athenaeum's Erika and Fred Torri Artists' Books Collection: Fischli/Weiss and Ellen Salk: Shaker Loops

Whew! Lots to do in the next few weeks, right?

Even though I would rather avoid these art openings, (yep, that is me - the introvert in me wants to stay home and watch movies instead) , I will be attending all these events.

I would love for you to join me! ~ Jaime Lyerly

"Dialectic" exhibition at the Encaustic Art Institute, New Mexico

New exhibition from one of my latest affiliations, Encaustic Art Institute. If you are in New Mexico, go check it out!

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Harriette Tsosie, President, Encaustic Art Institute
575/779-7941

"DIALECTIC”

Artists who work in encaustic (pigmented wax) are partnering with artists who work with other media in a new exhibition--”Dialectic” -- opening Saturday, May 22, 2010 at the Encaustic Art Institute.

The Institute will host an opening reception from 1:00 - 6:00 PM.

Participating artists and their collaborative team include:
Fionna Buck and Cathleen Higgins;
Andrea Cermanski and Tanya Story;
Diane de Fremery, Susan Varon and Judy Van Heyst;
Linda Fillhardt and Maryellen Stewart;
Stephanie Huerta and Thea Witt;
Douglas Mehrens, Adam Eisman, Linda Leslie, and Lee Manning;
Barbara Michener and Jane Belew;
Cherry Whitener Rohe and Jamie Rohe;
Russell Thurston and Joel Nakamua;
Harriette Tsosie, Donna Caulton and Belinda Edwards;
Paula Verona and Nicki Marx; and
Carol Ware and Vahid Mojarrab.

Located just north of the historic village of Cerrillos and about 18 mles south of Santa Fe on the Turquoise Trail, the Encaustic Art Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and exhibiting encaustic art.

Its distinctive Pyramid Gallery is open weekends from 1:00 - 6:00 from March through October. Take Highway 14 south of Santa Fe or north from Albuquerque. Turn East on County Road 55A (General Goodwin Road). The Institute is at 18 County Road 55A.

“Dialectic” continues through June 2010.

Check out the Encaustic Art Institute's blog for upcoming events.
~Jaime Lyerly

Image of the Week - Petah Coyne

Since one of my jobs is to share information, I am going to start an Image of the Week which will include less of my words and more art.

These images will be from artists I have come across during my web searches, readings, classes, artistic research and more.

All of the images have moved me, but I will let them stand on their own without my WHY. I will include the source so that you can check out more.

First Image of the Week - Petah Coyne

Petah Coyne, Untitled #875S-96/7 (Atlanta Gal), 1996–97, mixed media, 67 1/2×55 x 38”.
Courtesy of Galerie Lelong, New York.

More about Petah Coyne's work can be found in this interview by Lynne Tillman from Bomb Magazine.

Moved to share? Please do! I would love to hear your comments.
~Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches - Process and Elaboration

In my post, Thread Sketches - Exploration of Universal Symbols through Machine Embroidery, I gave you a peek at some of my newest non-encaustic / fiber related work.

Now, I want to show you a little of the process and the elaboration that has occurred with these pieces. First, the process.

I was inspired by drawing/carvings on leaves done by Ana Mendieta whom I wrote a research paper on recently.

To give you a taste of this work, here are some of the leaves scanned from the book Ana Mendieta: Earth Body by Olga M. Viso.

Leaves by Ana Mendieta, from Ana Mendieta: Earth Body by Olga Viso

I started my exploration with machine embroidery on fresh magnolia leaves.

Fresh Magnolia Leaves

Here is me working on the leaves (with my freshly dyed purple hair and purple finger tips).

In progress, Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

In progress, Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

In progress, Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

In progress, Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

In progress, Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Here are the finished projects two days after they were completed. They have already began to lose their coloring around the stitches.

Machine Embroidery

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

I then started hand embroidering and pricking designs on the leaves at home. These took much longer than the machine embroidery, but were easier to control.

I could embroider through thicker and bigger leaves with this technique.

Hand Embroidery

This leaf was scanned in about a week after it was done. The white slowly covered the entire area that had been pricked or manipulated.

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

The back side of the leaves look different than the front.

Thread Sketches, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

I continued this exploration of hand embroidery about a week later, shaping them into forms with the thread.

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

I used a variety of techniques on these leaves.

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

We began needle felting in my fiber class, which is using wool roving and a barbed needle to puncture the roving through felt.

Here is a short video on needle felting by artist and author Rice Freeman-Zachery called Needle Felting 101




To learn more about needle felting, you can check out Outback Fibers which is where we get the roving.

After a few tests on felt, I knew that this technique would work on my magnolia leaves.

Needle Felted

Thread Sketches, felt, first day © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, felt, first day, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Here is how this Thread Sketch changed over a week.

Thread Sketches, felt, 1 week later © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, felt, back, 1 week later © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

I liked how the felt looked like it was growing out of the leaves, so I enhanced that by punching the felt on the "wrong" side.

Thread Sketches, felt © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, felt, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, felt © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

Thread Sketches, felt, back © 2010 Jaime Lyerly

So what did we learn?

1. You can embroider or needle felt through anything that you can get the needle in
2. Natural materials change over time in interesting ways
3. Anyone can do embroidery or needle felting!
4. Experimentation is GOOOOD!
   

That last one is the reason I write this blog - to support other artists by showing them my experiments in hopes that they will be inspired to create.

Your Turn:
Experimented with any new media or techniques recently? Ever tried embroidery or needle felting on something other than cloth? I would love to hear about it! Leave your comments here and share it with us.

Happy experimenting! ~ Jaime Lyerly