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Happy Summer!
When the weather turns warm it beckons us to step outside and enjoy the sunshine. I am always torn between spending time in my garden or studio. The garden seems such a luxury until I taste those first few strawberries or handful of peas. Wandering between plants is like going on a scavenger hunt, never knowing what I will find. It always feels like a surprise when the plants emerge even though I have planted the seeds.
I garden the same way that I create art - always experimenting. I plant new varieties each year and then observe what they do. I noticed that this year there's not a straight row to be found.
Besides providing food, my garden provides creative inspiration and a way to recharge after hours of working in the studio. I'm spending a good deal of time in the garden this year, so who knows what might pop up in the studio next winter!
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| Featured Work | Recently completed: "Petoskey Stone: Memories of Michigan"
Hand hooked and stitched rug. Approximate size: 56" x 73"
Hand dyed and recycled wool on linen, silk organza. | |
This design was inspired by my trip to Michigan last summer where I taught a "Designing from Nature" workshop in the northern town of Cross Village. We walked along the shore of Lake Michigan taking photos for design inspiration.
The ocean-like waves on Lake Michigan inspired the border of this rug. The interior section is based on the pattern of the "Petoskey Stone" found along certain beaches.
People walk the beaches near the town of Petoskey with a bucket of water in hand, dunking stones in the water to see which are worth keeping. The patterns on the stones are made by Calcite fossils from coral. My design comes from a beautiful polished stone that I purchased in a local gift shop.  One of the centers in the pattern, towards the top of the rug, was inspired by the black stone in the accompanying photo. Another one, towards the bottom of rug, is cut out and "mended" with a piece of silk organza I dyed orange, to represent the incredible sunsets we witnessed each evening. I liked the idea of intentionally cutting a hole through the sturdy rug and patching it with a totally impractical fabric. The piece still functions as a rug, but makes you think a little about the function a rug serves. |
| Peters Valley Solo Exhibition - "Woodland Wanderings" | | I am very excited about this show and hope you get to experience it! | |
Surrounded by vast open fields, flowing streams, and tranquil ponds, there exists a place where creators come to learn, teach, and share their art. Peter's Valley Craft Center, located in Layton, New Jersey, is currently celebrating its 40th year, and undergoing a rebirth under its new director, celebrated ceramic artist Kristen Muller. The center's 40 acre campus is home to the newly renovated Sally D.Francisco Gallery, a beautiful vintage building, complete with simple white washed walls, dark, hand hewn beams and wide, rustic floor boards.  I feel this is the perfect setting for an exhibit of my most recent work. Scheduled to run from August 14th through September 26, 2010, the solo show entitled "Woodland Wanderings" consists of two series of wall hangings, as well as selected sculpture.
"Woodland Wanderings" explores the parallels between art and nature, and suggests that closer inspection of both is required to fully appreciate the depth of beauty within. It is my hope that this work will spark a new awareness of the world around us and encourage the viewer to consider our natural environment with renewed respect.
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| Upcoming Workshop | Nature Inspired Color Theory for All Media
| There's still space available in a workshop I'm leading in September (4-6) titled "Nature Inspired Color Theory for All Media" at Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton, New Jersey. Students will use both 2D and 3D materials to experiment with color schemes found in nature. Beginning each day with a walk through the center's majestic woodland setting, participants will record their inspirational observations of color and then use them to develop studies in both color and design.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions about the workshop. To register go to www.petersvalley.org.
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| I'm Glad you Asked! | | How much time do you spend working in the studio each day? |  I never have enough time. Life is always a balancing act between family, friends, garden, business, and time spent working in the studio. It's a rare day when I can go into the studio and just create all day. I have to set time aside for those special days so nothing intrudes.
Last summer I set aside a whole month of nothing but studio time. That took a LOT of preparation ahead of time. I put family and friends on notice that I wouldn't take phone calls or other interruptions during the day.
However, most days are a combination of at least 3 things. As I am writing this, today's schedule includes working on this newsletter, working on a new punch needle embroidery/mixed media piece, and mowing the lawn. I intend to work in the studio again this evening. I anticipate it will take two months of intense work to complete this new piece. Look for it to be featured in an upcoming issue of this newsletter. I would love to hear your questions. Please email them to me at liz@lizalpertfay.com. |
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