The last show my work will be in for 2009!

I was flattered and delighted when Annie Newbold of Gallery 263 in Cambridge, MA wrote and asked me to participate in their holiday show. And when I brought in my pieces, my pleasure was multiplied. What a great set of work to be included amongst!

Each of 15 artists were invited to put together work for a 4' x 6' panel, and somehow this all comes together into a cohesive collection of work. I'm proud to be hung in such company.

Please join us if you can, Saturday, December 5 for the Opening Reception, from 4pm to 6pm.

All the works are for sale and almost all are priced at under $400 (many under $100) to make the show as accessible as possible to new art-buyers or to people shopping for gifts.

Please join me Saturday, August 1 from 2pm to 4pm for the opening reception for the largest show of my work to date, with more of my pieces together in one place than even I've ever seen! A three-person invitational, with interesting connections between our diverse work.

Intuition, Discovery, and Design
Lynn Arts
25 Exchange Street, Lynn, MA
lynnarts.org for directions.

Three distinct artists, all with ties to the urban streets, approach their work with varying degrees of intuition, discovery in the materials, and carefully chosen design choices. The results offer a diverse interpretation of our contemporary life as influenced by urban streets and the automobile.

Daniel Arcand takes his inspiration from graffiti and street-art, creating haunting, ethereal pieces which blur the boundaries between drawing and painting.

Jeff Mann's deep concern about the environmental impact of automobiles has lead him to discover the beauty and complexity in car parts that he scavenges from scrap yards.

Rachel Mello explores the intersections of built and natural environments, composing images which superimpose the two into complex plays of positive and negative space, color and form.

Their combined work creates a captivating breadth of contemporary artistic media with unexpected connections amongst their work.

Show runs from Monday, July 27 to Friday, August 21
Gallery hours, M, Tu, W, F : 10am - 4pm; Th: 10am - 7pm
RECEPTION: Saturday, August 1, 2pm - 4pm

Somerville's fantastic annual arts festival in Davis Square is coming this weekend!

I'll be sharing a booth there with April Clay—the first time I've ever had a booth at ArtBeat. In addition to my paintings and wood-black prints, I'll also have some really fun postcards I've just made up:

If you're in the area, don't miss the festival. And if you're at the festival, do come see us! We'll be near the corner of Chester Street, right in front of the Dunkies, near Diva.

Saturday, July 18 (rain date Sun., July 19)
11am to 6pm
For a full schedule of music, dance, special events, kids activities, and other events, visit:
http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/programs/artbeat/2009/

This fall I am again offering drawing classes out of my studio in Somerville. Students are welcome to return to continue where they left off (or some place else!), or to join the group anew.

Start From Where You Are
(A Drawing Class for Adults at Any Level of Experience)
Maximum 8 students (minimum 5)
October 25, 2009 to December 13, 2009 (8 Sundays), 5-7:30pm

Cost: $180 to $240, sliding scale... feel free to place
yourself wherever you are most comfortable along that scale. Cost includes all
necessary materials for the class, (though students are always welcome
to work in other media than those provided.)

Mad Oyster Studios, Somerville, MA

Each student will start with exactly as much experience in drawing as they walk into the room with—no more, no less. We will work together through exercises, practice and conversation. Beginners will develop a new familiarity and comfort with a variety of sketching media. Students with more experience will push those media in new directions, or expand on existing skills. Friendly, comfortable, supportive space with guidance from an experienced teacher of emerging artists and enthusiasts of all levels.

IMPORTANT: This class is limited in size and is half-full already. If you are interested in joining, use the Contact form to let me know you're interested. I'll be accepting checks in person, or you can paypal me the full tuition to reserve your spot.

It's been more than a few years since I was an undergrad at the Rhode Island School of Design, and I've been wanting to renew my connections. One of my recent diptychs was accepted into their 2009 New England Alumni Biennial, opening on Saturday, January 10, from 1pm to ~4pm. The show features "76 works of art by 55 artists representing 13 different majors and spanning 4 decades." I'm excited to see my pieces in the context of so many other RISD artists.

Dropping off my work for this show, I finally got a chance to look around the Arsenal Center for the Arts. It's quite a place! I'll be at the opening on January 10, so if you would like a chance to see this great venue, and see collected works from scores of RISD artists, I'll look forward to seeing you.

The Biennial runs from January 8 to February 22, 2009 at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA.

Once again, Marc and Meryl at 13FOREST are showing my very newest work. The show, called "Transition of Power," features art by Marc Cote, David Curcio, and my latest series, called "Small Revelations." While the series continues to explore the overlay of natural and urban imagery in cut silhouette paintings and prints, I've made a shift in format to small, square pieces, which has changed the work in ways I had not imagined. Come out to the opening on January 15 from 6 to 8pm and take a look!

I continue to enjoy showing at 13FOREST gallery, and all the artists I know who show there describe the same feeling of support and just plain kindness from everyone out there. If you haven't stopped in, yet, do. And tell them I sent you.

"Transition of Power" will be on exhibit at 13FOREST, located at 167A Mass. Ave. Arlington, MA, from January 15 to February 27, 2009.

Just a quickie note to mention that my work will featured in a new show at 13FOREST Gallery that opens tomorrow, Saturday, November 8, with a reception from 7pm to 9pm. The show features all small works or works under $500, and from what I could see the other day, looks like it will be remarkable! 13FOREST is located at 167A Massachusetts Avenue Arlington, MA 02474 781.641.3333 You can read more and see a preview of some of the work at 13FOREST.com

I won't be able to make it to the Arlington reception, sadly, but only because I'll also be showing my work in Central Square at the same time at Art on the Pews. (Even if I can't be at two places at once, at least my work can be.) Art on the Pews opens TODAY, Friday, Nov. 7 from 4pm to 9pm and continues all day tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 8 from 11am to 8pm. There will be live music throughout both days, along with a Kid's Art corner, a bake sale, art demos and other events. I hope to see you there! Art on the Pews is happening in the St. Peter's Episcopal Church at 838 Mass. Ave., Cambridge- Central Square, a little north of the post office. More info at the Art on the Pews website.

And, also for your art-viewing enjoyment this weekend, don't miss the Vernon Street Open Studios in Somerville. I have many friends there, and there are many more artists who I don't know but whose art I greatly admire. It's definitely a great chance to see some remarkable work. For more details visit vernonstreet.com

If you're like me and are feeling a renewed, refreshed sense of joy and optimism this week, go out into the world and share it by enjoying some art in your community!

have fun!

I'm excited to announce that I was selected to participate in a juried art show and sale next weekend. If you're in the Boston Metro area, add it to your list of many great events going on.

Come by and browse the work of local artists, and stop by my booth and say Hi!

Art on the Pews
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
838 Mass. Ave., Central Sq.
Cambridge, MA

FRIDAY Nov. 7, 4pm - 9pm
and
SATURDAY Nov. 8, 11am - 8pm

Also there will be live music, art demos, a bake sale, and a Kid's Corner, where kids can make their own arts and crafts (for free).

Because this is a show and sale, I've been putting a huge effort into creating small, affordable pieces, that I can offer in the $50 range. I'm sure the other artists participating have been doing the same.

For me this has been an emphasis on print-making. Last year I started thinking about my cut-surface-silhouette paintings in a new light. In addition to exploring the surface and cast shadows, I started looking at the pieces as potential wood-blocks for relief printing, and tried rolling ink on the surface and making a series of prints before coming in and doing a painting on it.

This new approach has been dramatically effecting how I approach the initial composition. The end-product becomes a diptych of a selected print, hung next to the mirror-image block from which it was made, a pairing which, too, gives me a lot to consider. Along with the diptych I then also have a series of additional prints which allows me to explore multiples and varied colors in the printing. I'm beginning to think more about "series" and what that can be artistically.

Right now I'm focusing on a series of small 6" square prints. I've never worked this small, but I'm finding the size, again, makes more experimentation possible. And creates a large body of more affordable pieces. Which brings us back to the show and sale this weekend.

It's not too early to start thinking about gift-giving for winter holidays. Friends and family will appreciate original art, made in your community, and you can avoid last-minute panics and trips to soulless chain stores. If money is tight this year, buying local art is a way to make sure more of your dollars go to things you care about, while still giving you something to take home and enjoy.

The organizers of Art on the Pews have been incredibly friendly, accommodating, and helpful. This looks to be a great show, with 45 artists all hand-picked. Come by and see!

Hope to see you soon!

Visit the show's website.

13FOREST is a great local gallery in Arlington. I had a show there in 2007, and my work continues to be on display. If you're interested in owning one of my pieces, they are also for sale there. Marc and Meryl, the owners, have been fantastic in promoting my work, so if you stop in, tell them hello and thanks for me.

More than 30 people came to the first volunteer meeting for Somerville Open Studios 2009. Thanks for coming out, folks! If you couldn't make it, don't worry, there will be other chances to get involved. Check the SOS website for more details.