San Diego Community Art Events at the Women's History Museum

Some great art events coming to the Hillcrest area of San Diego, CA to the wonderful

Women's History Museum and Educational Center. Check it out!

Ladies Who Paint

at the museum thru January 31

In the tradition of Grandma Moses, these 3 artists discovered their artistic talents later in life and have made creative expression part of their daily lives.

Please join us to view "VENTURES IN ART", a representational collection on exhibit through January 31, 2010

Mollie Solorzano, Linda Kennedy and Dr. Georgianna Galas have painted together for several years and share a love of artistic expression.

Closing Reception
Sunday, January 31, 1 to 4pm

And in February

Bronze Sculpture © Jean Cornwell

"Up From the Ashes"

a new body of work from Sculptor, Jean Cornwell"

Opening Reception: Friday, February 5,

NOTE: This exhibit has been postponed due to illness in the artist's family. Will keep you updated.

6 to 9pm

Women's History Museum

Jean's work speaks for itself... but just as loud, are the words of the artist herself:

Artist Statement

My first one-woman art show was exhibited on the underside of my grandmother's kitchen table. I had not yet developed my own particular style nor could I reveal my source of inspiration but I was, nevertheless, expressing my artistic self. In years to come these childish dabblings would lead me to a never-ending experimentation with a variety of styles, media and methods which, to this day, are still in the process of creative evolution.

Born in the Black Capital of the world, Harlem, I was bombarded with sights and sounds that only this unique neighborhood could offer. I felt I had it all and was quite aware that I was living in a very live art gallery. From behind the windows of my basement apartment, I viewed the colorful parade of Black ladies with their sugar brown legs; red-eyed winos, drooling in drunken contentment in the curb; the white-tipped cane of the nameless blind man announcing this approach. I listened to the local crooners, using the stoops as their public stages. I watched the flamboyantly-dressed numbers runner make his twice-daily rounds dispensing either joy or sorrow. When I can on the street itself, I danced to the hop-scotch rhythms of the double-dutch, played with the neighborhood girls. I watched with envy the scrabby-kneed boys playing their game of loadies with old bottle caps. I enjoyed the summer evening games of stoop-ball watching the soft pink ball bravely bouncing against the gray-brown cement steps. It was a time for running, laughing, jumping-a fun time. A lifetime of images, waiting to be born, were formed on these streets by these alive Black people.

I hope you can check out these shows. I am going to do my best to head down to this wonderful museum.

Happy show attending! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Helen Redman's art show "Tensions in the Journey: From Child to Crone" at the Women's History Museum in San Diego

Another great event coming to the San Diego area this weekend on November 6, 2009: Founding Mother of the San Diego Women's Caucus for Art (SDWCA) Helen Redman's one woman show "Tensions in the Journey: From Child to Crone" at the Women's History Museum and Educational Center (WHMEC). Check out the press release below from the WHMEC for more information.

Tensions in the Journey:
From Child to Crone
Helen Redman

Exhibition: Nov. 6 - Dec. 5, 2009
Opening reception: November 6, 6-9 PM
Lecture/discussion: November 21, 2-4 PM

For nearly a half century, Helen Redman has been making art. Her stunning portraits and evocative mixed media works track events, both momentous and ordinary, in women’s life cycle. Much more than a visual account of one woman’s perspective on life, her works illuminate something transcendent: they compose a visual memoir of the flux and flow of embodiment and identity across a woman’s life cycle, a memory-laden landscape of time’s passing in a life lived through a certain era and in a particular body.

To celebrate the nearly fifty-year career of the artist Helen Redman, the Women's History Museum and Education Center is hosting Tensions in the Journey: From Child to Crone, an exhibition of selected works from the 1960s-2000s. The exhibition runs from Nov 6 - December 5, 2009, and opens with a reception on November 6th, 6-9 PM at 2323 Broadway, Suite 107, San Diego, California 92102. The exhibition is also part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of women's studies at San Diego State University.

http://www.birthingthecrone.com

I love Helen Redman's work and think this show is going to be amazing. I look forward to seeing more of her work and meeting this powerfully moving artist. I hope you can join me!

Happy art making! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Women's History Museum Suffrage Day Parade and Ball

Another great community event to put on your calendars!

Please check out the message below from the Women's History Museum Director Ashley Gardner.

The 2nd annual Suffrage Day Parade and Ball will be held on Saturday, August 29th in Balboa Park. The Suffragist's Parade starts at 4pm at the Kate Sessions Statue and is FREE!

Suffragist's costumes, banners, flags and placards are all welcome and encouraged. We march across the Laurel Street Bridge through the Park to the Balboa Park Club. (about 20 minutes). Lemonade on the lawn follows.

The Ball starts at 6pm on the BEST dance floor in San Diego - the Big Ballroom at the Balboa Park Club. A beautiful, elegant room perfect for "A Journey to the 1930's" our theme for the ball. Vintage cars, costumes, and cuisine will be part of the festivities. And of course, dance music by the Sue Palmer Orchestra as led by Jimmy Woodard. A Dance Marathon, Costume Contests and historical reenactments involving a 1934 Police Paddy wagon. (Rumor has it that Bonnie and Clyde will be there).

This event is part of the Educational Programming of the Women's History Museum.

Tickets and more information are available on line at www.whmec.org/ or by calling the Women's Museum at 619 233-7963. Email at info@whmec.org

Happy event attending! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Encaustic, Beeswax, and Mixed Media Paintings - In Progress

Finally, I have some more pictures of my current projects! Woohoo!

Here are the two series of encaustic, beeswax and mixed media sculptural paintings that I have been working on.

I am struggling with the identities and material choices on these two series. I would love to hear what you fabulous artists and art-lovers have to think about these.

The first series, tentatively called "Stories" includes the piece "Weaving my Story" which was selected for the Women's Caucus for Art juried show "Herstory" earlier this year.

"Stories" series, encaustic and mixed media on 12x12 in panel
(c) Jaime Lyerly

I finished the two other pieces after "Weaving my Story" was selected for the show and hung at the Women's History Museum, and then was moved to 8Teen Art and Cultural Center for "Herstory Exposed". Similar materials were used, but I am not sure if they still go together since "Weaving my Story" has lived so long away from her sisters. I finally got her back from the 8Teen last week.

Here are some details of the series:

"Stories" series, March 2009 - Untitled - detail 1
(c) Jaime Lyerly

"Stories" series - March 2009, "Weaving my Story"- detail
(c) Jaime Lyerly

"Stories" series, March 2009 - Untitled - detail 2
(c) Jaime Lyerly

The second series has no title and the pieces are more in progress exploration than finished pieces. Still working on where I want them to go. Any suggestions?

Untitled, Two pieces, April 2009, encaustic, beeswax and mixed media on 12x12 in panel
(c) Jaime Lyerly

All I know about these ones is that I want to hang them together like this. I embedded color in the bottom one and may carve into it to excavate the colors. The bottom one may have more string on it too.

Untitled, 1, April 2009, (c) Jaime Lyerly

Untitled, 1, April 2009 - Detail 1, (c) Jaime Lyerly

Untitled, 2, April 2009 (c) Jaime Lyerly

Untitled, 2, April 2009, detail (c) Jaime Lyerly

Your Turn: Are any of these pieces working for you? What can be changed? Do you work with mixed media? How do you struggle with the endless choices available and how to make the transition from one material to another? I would love to hear what you think!

Jaime Lyerly Spotlight in SDSU's Daily Aztec

Today, I am featured in SDSU's Daily Aztec! It is exciting to have a half page article with my picture, even if it is a college student run paper. And if you notice, I am wearing the little circle necklace from Linda Richichi. Artists have to support each other, so I share this with you.

Thanks to everyone who has been reading and responding to my blogs, Tweets, and Facebook notes. You helped get this Spotlight by your interaction. Without you I am making art in a vacuum. With you, I am sharing my art process and learning. Thanks to you!

Here is the article below. It can be found at this link.

The Daily Aztec > Features > Spotlight

SPOTLIGHT: Honor and pride attained by artwork

Kari Luu, Contributor

Published: Thursday, March 26, 2009

Updated: Thursday, March 26, 2009

Lauren Swann / Staff Photographer

Being a woman doesn’t come easy.

Most women agree, including studio art senior, Jaime Lyerly, who has learned this as an active feminist, a young mother and blooming artist, who never painted until she was 21 years old. With a refreshing point of view, Lyerly is a sculptor who explores her artwork through many mixed media; however, she has learned to take her artwork to the next level with an objective approach as she studies the psychological aspects of motherhood and the female body.

Unlike most artists with a previous art background in their youth, Lyerly never practiced art because her dad was in the military and her father did not consider art to have value. Eventually, Lyerly began painting when her boyfriend inspired her to try it just for fun.

“When I painted for the first time with him, I really enjoyed it.” Lyerly said. “We were working in acrylic paints on canvas. I liked the immediacy of paint from tube to canvas, the textures and the colors. I used every tube of paint that we had, applying the colors with my brush, fingers and palette knives.”

Lyerly volunteers at the Women’s History Museum and Educational Center and recently found encouragement in her art when her piece “Weaving My Story” was selected to be in the San Diego Women’s Caucus for Art and juried in a show called “Herstory.”

“I am so excited to have one of my pieces picked for the show,” Lyerly said. “It is my first show ever and it feels good that it was through an organization that I am a part of and held in a place that I have volunteered with for years.”

Lyerly builds most of her artwork and she finds that the pieces develop their own meaning as they progress. “Weaving My Story” is composed of an odd assortment of encaustic, beeswax, dressmaker patterns, nails, wood and yarn. The piece meant to imply that everyone makes life out of what surrounds them.

“I hope people can relate to it,” Lyerly said. “No matter how life started off, you can always make something beautiful out of it and they provide a structure for a story.”

Before Lyerly knew she was going to become an artist, she struggled as a mother.

“Each day was a chore, especially without much support,” Lyerly said. “My son needed my total devotion and I grew up very quickly to accommodate his needs. The burden of taking care of a child is hard on the body, mind and spirit; and I grew as a person because of these heavy responsibilities.”

Lyerly has previously studied psychology and English and each piece of art she has produced is loaded with meaning. With her different level of maturity from younger artists, Lyerly hopes to pursue expressive art therapy, which requires a master’s degree.

“Now I can look back in my time as a mother and explore motherhood more objectively,” she said. “When your art is too close to home, it becomes too sentimental and too cliché. It hurts when your art is critiqued and feels like a personal stab.”

Now at 31 years old, Lyerly feels more secure about herself and her artwork. She hopes people will connect their life to her art.

“My partner and son fully support my artistic pursuits, however, my father still believes it is a waste of time,” Lyerly said. “Luckily, I am able to produce work without parental support. That is one of the joys of being a self-supporting adult. I make my work not too personal and I like my artwork enough now, that I am willing to show people and have them connect their life to it.”

Lyerly’s piece is on display at the Women’s History Museum and Educational Center until Sunday.

Happy Art Making! ~ Jaime

WCA/WHM - "Herstory" Juried Show - My First Show!

San Diego Women's Caucus for Art (WCA/SD) Juried show called "Herstory" opened last night and is showing until March 29, 2009 at the Women's History Museum and Educational Center (WHM) (2323 Broadway Ave, San Diego, CA).


I am so excited to have one of my pieces picked for the show! It is my first show ever and it feels good that it was through an organization that I am a part of and held in a place that I have volunteered for years.

"Weaving My Story" by Jaime Lyerly
Encaustic, beeswax, dressmaker patterns, nails, wood, and yarn on 12 X 12 in birch panel.

There was a great band called Kontious and the Ko-op which rocked outside for the first hour of the show.Here are some pictures of the people and art all crammed into the intimate space of the Women's History Museum

WCA/SD President Laura Jean Thompson (on right)

WHM Director Ashley Gardner in a flurry of activity

Wonder Woman even made it! Okay, maybe not - it is a fashion design piece

A disturblingly beautiful video piece on the wall with the WHM exhibit called "All Our Grandmothers"

My partner Chris and I together before my piece. Rare photo of us together; only a dozen over the last 8 years!

Me and my piece - "Weaving My Story"

There are many other pieces that were wonderful in the show. However I would need to take some pictures when it is less crowded. More pictures to come!

I am so glad to share these pictures with you. Until next time...

Happy Art Making and Show Entering! ~ Jaime

Call for Artists - Women's Caucus for Art Show - "Herstory" at the Women's History Museum and Educational Center

Call for Artists - Open to all women artists

Due: March 7, 2009
Art drop off at 9-10 am
Juried Exhibition - "Herstory"

Theme - "Herstory":

"Create revolutionary art which breaks the boundaries by forcing us to open our eyes and look at our true herstory through the ages... not just what the boys wrote down. No longer the damsel in distress or the dour domestic drudge...we are divas and divine dames of the art world exposing our herstorical and hysterical diverse creations"


Opening Reception at 7:30 pm
Women's History Museum
San Diego
2323 Broadway #107
San Diego
ALL ARTISTS ENTERING WILL RECEIVE A "HERSTORY" T-SHIRT, AND ALL ACCEPTED ARTISTS WILL GET A CATALOG AT THE AWARDS PRESENTATION

Find the full prospectus and details at http://www.sdwca.org/index.html

Happy Art Making!

Jaime