Spring News

Ok, it's not quite spring, but I'm feeling hopeful.  It's been hard to be motivated to get in the studio in the frigid weather, but I think things are looking up. I have some exciting classes and workshops coming up, and some recent sculptural work to share.

On March 28th, Heather Beck Designs, 230am Studio, Lou's Upcycles and I will be hosting Easthampton Creates, an evening of learning and making with local artists.  Make paper, glass beads, a fused plastic wallet or a stamped metal pendant. This will be a great evening out, and to top off the creative fun, you get to taste a local brew from our friends at Abandoned Building Brewery when you're done creating.  Space is limited and we need folks to pre-register, so head over to the website valleycreates.com right now to grab your spot.

I've chosen dates for my spring welding classes.  I'll be running a Welding for Women Workshop on May 16-17, and Welding for Everyone 4 Thursday evenings in June.  

I'll also be teaching glass beadmaking at the Yellow House Community Learning Center in Palmer on March 21, and May 9. 

Donna Beck, Beryl Salinger Schmidt and I have started planning for our show, HAVEN, at Nash Gallery in June.  The opening will happen on June 13th at the same time as Easthampton's big festival, Cultural Chaos.  It should be a great show and a fun event.

Finally, here are a few snapshots of my first semester sculpture installed at the winter residency in Vermont College of Fine Arts. 

Holiday Happenings and New Sculpture

We're in the thick of the holiday season, and I have a few upcoming events to share.

On December 17 from 5-8p, I'll be hosting Winter Warmtimes, a last minute handmade gift and beer event at Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton. This will be a laid back evening where you can taste some of the delicious brews, enjoy some snacks, and shop the wares of 9 local artists for those last minute gift needs including oodwork, ceramics, glass, steel, jewelry, knits, bags and other accessories, handmade paper, and clothing.  Mention this blog post for a 20% discount at my table during Winter Warmtimes. 


Artisans of WMASS has organized the Happy Handmade Holidays sale again this year which runs for three weeks. This week, get free shipping from participating artists, and next week receive a 20% off coupon when you shop. Check out the website or facebook page to find out more.

While you are in Easthampton, dont forget about the Revolve Pop Up Shop in Eastworks, Easthampton. There is a great mix of handmade wares available and it looks fabulous.

There is also a Small Works Show at Hope and Feathers on display from December 4- January 17. 

I delivered a sweet forged tree wall sculpture for the show. 

I hope you will keep in mind your local artists and artisans when you are shopping this season! Head over to my etsy shop to browse for glass jewelry, bottle stoppers,  and critters, as well as steel candle holders and planters.  (When you do, you might notice that my craft business will be taking on a new name next year- Blue Barn Studios- and its beginning to trickle out into the world ;)

Now if you'll take a little trip with me from "craft" land to "fine art" land,  you can peek at some new sculptures in progress. I've been experimenting with latex, wax, paper and other materials in addition to my usual steel and glass.  I've been reading and thinking about concepts of disease, bodies and modern medicine.  I'd love to hear your reactions- what do you see? what do they make you think about? what do they make you wonder?

I'm also excited to share that I received a grant from the Northampton Arts Council for a sculpture show next summer at the Northampton Historical Society. The show will draw on the historical collection, using artifacts related to illness and disease to inspire contemporary sculptural responses and spark conversations.  

Mucky Boots? Spring Treats!

It's been a long winter, and I'm thrilled about all things spring beginning! Beyond enjoying the warm weather for hiking, biking and not freezing in my studio, this means new projects, events, and a spring sale.  Read on...

I'm working with the Royal Frog Ballet crew again to put on a new show called the Muck Boot Banquet on April 17 and 26.  Performers, chefs, musicians, sculptors, dancers and farmers will converge to stage an outdoor performance and eating event at Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton, MA.  Part spring celebration, part dance theater, part kinetic sculpture installation and part feast, the piece is a celebration of season and place. Vibrant, vivid, sharp, comic and tasty, it takes the audience through a walking feast of sensations. Song, scrumptious spring victuals, flowers, extravagant hats, lusty stories, and frolicking nonsense are all on the menu!

My theme is frivolity and I'll be making a maze of sorts, speckled with opportunities to play and enjoy each other's spring energy as the show wraps up. For tickets, visit the fancy shmancy ticket reservation page NOW! Tickets are selling out quickly.

I'm excited to share that I'll be teaching a Women's Welding Workshop on May 17/18 at my home studio. If you've ever wanted to experiment with steel fabrication, here's your chance!

I mentioned Local ARTery: Arts and Crafts Demonstration Day in my last post, but want to make sure you remember because its going to be fabulous!  Artisans of WMASS is putting on Local ARTery at Yankee Candle on May 3, and it promises to be a really fabulous event.  Over 30 artisans will be there demonstrating how they make their work, including jewelry,  glass, ceramics, weaving, knits, painting, tie dye, shoe making and more. Come learn and support the many talented local artists!

Other quick notes:

• "Spawn", the large piece that I built for last month's show at APE Gallery, will now reside at Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton. So... if you didn't get a chance to check it out, go sample a beer from Easthampton's first microbrewery and look it over. 
  
• To share my spring enthusiasm,  I'm offering 20% off my steel spiral mobiles between April 14- 20, and 20% off vegetable earrings and pendants between April 21- 28.  Order through etsy and use the coupon code SPRING20. 
  
• Save the date, May 31, for Hadley Creates, an afternoon of craft workshops with local artisans Heather Beck Designs, Lou's Upcycles, 230am Studio, and Katie Ray Arts. This will be an affordable opportunity to try your hand at various crafts. More info coming soon. 
• I'm painting a mural with my students at SMK Elementary School in Ware over our spring vacation.  I'm so excited to see the childrens' energetic and colorful drawings take over the entrance to our school! Here's a bit of the design in progress. 
  

• An interesting event you might want to check out (I know I will) is the new Alchemy Fair in Holyoke on April 26/27. Craft, Food, Workshops and Entertainment all brought together at by AWM member Malea Rhodes Pottery at Gateway City Arts Complex, Holyoke, MA.