In Streets of Paris

I had the fabulous opportunity to travel to Paris in November of 2011 with a fabulous friend of mine. We walked the streets of the city non-stop - sketchbook/journal in hand.

The Promise of Collaboration

I was thrilled to meet cartoonist and animator Leila Kabib at a Back to School Nite in Montgomery County in Maryland. We talked about the possibility of teaching a collage and animation class together. Leila said my cut paper collages lend themselves well to animation.

Last of Summer Exhibit

A mixed media cut-paper collage work I exhibited in Highland Beach. It was sold to a woman visting from California.

Open Studio

Had a great turnout at the Beach Artists Open Studio event over the Labor Day weekend.

White Oak and Parachutes

Learned a lot about painting on parachute cloth this summer while serving as lead artist for an art skills training program for youth. One of the commissions I project managed was a 90' painted and mosaic tile mural at the White Oak Community Center in Montgomery County. The painted portions were painted on parachute cloth which really isn't parachute cloth at all, but a non-woven white light weight synthetic fabric.

Open Studio

Gearing up for my first open studio at my new locale on the beach, Septembe 3 and 4. Lots of work to do.

Twins Seven Seven

My heart is saddened at the passing of international sensation, visionary artist Twins Seven Seven at aged 67 in Ibadan. I had the amazing blessing of meeting him and experiencing his works in Oshogbo in 1977. International printmaking innovator Bruce Onobrakpeya drove me to Oshogbo to meet him. Twins Seven Seven took me to a club he owned for refreshments (he was also a musician) and then to the art village collective where teams of African women dyed batiks in the open air. It was so vibrant. The air was thick with creative energy. I traveled alone to Nigeria and to three other African countries that year through a fellowship from Howard. My study tour was designed by African Art historian Dr. Kojo Fosu Baiden. Dr Baiden had curated an exhibition of contemporary African art at Howard that year that opened my eyes to contemporary African artists across the continent, including a sculptor from Zaire, a solar engraver from Sudan, and a textile designer from Ghana.

Between Sand and Shadow

Some work I submitted to the A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn for a postcard series exhibit "Wish You Were Here."  My acrylic mixed media abstracts deal with Black Highland Beach in Maryland, in the shadow of history.

Last Days of Member Exhibition at Pyramid

 

I'll be taking my artwork home today from the Member Exhibition at Pyramid Atlantic Art enter in Silver Spring, Md.

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center Members Show

One of my collages was juried into the members show on exhibit through the end of April. This pictue is from the opening. April 9.

The Black Exhibition

The group show organized by BADC (Black Artists of DC) will open with a reception Thursday, February 10 at the Charles Sumner School, Museum and Archive in Washington DC. from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. My art and the artwork of 18 other artists will be on display. The exhibition runs through March 31

Memory Mosaics

Worked on sketches for my first mosaic tile art. Decided to use imagery of my father combined with clear glass tiles. I am very excited! What stories will this art tell?

The Beat Goes On...

Dropped off my collage at my favorite wholesale framers in Alexandria yesterday. The artwork will be ready Wednesday to take to the Sumner School gallery and archive for the Black exhibit to open February 10 in DC. Because of the depth and layering of the art, I had to have a shadow box frame made.

Collage Happiness

I finished my first collage of the New Year. I worked with a variety of media including paste paper, cotton thread, metal washers, copper wire etc. I love to start my work on flat surfaces and build layers. The paste papers I used were painted with acrylic and texture was achieved by working through the pigment with tools that look like combs. After working recently on a huge applique quilt with a local artist, I decided to incorporate hand stitching on my papers. I will be exploring more of this in future pieces.

Resolution

I am determined to start 12 new artworks this month from papers I painted last year and last. I made my first collage of the New Year today. With this one I sewed on the paper and used metal washers from the hardware store and copper wire. I'm excited.

Something New in Glass...

My first fused glass artwork was fired tonite in a kiln of over 1600 degress. Whoa! The workshop was led by South African artist Carien Quiroga. I loved the way the glass tiles melted on top of other tiles and created a new color, yet maintaining translucency. The small frit pieces of glass added an interesting dimension as well.

So Outta Here

I resolve that these papers I painted during my residency at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center will be transformed into mixed media collages this year. By March I should have at least a dozen. Mark my words.