November News- HAVEN Art Exhibit, Welding Class and Studio Sale

Happy fall! Hope you are enjoying the last bits of brilliant color.  

I'm working hard preparing for my upcoming show, HAVEN, at Western New England University.  I'll be showing a variety of recent sculptural work, including a brand new 30 ft. wall piece made especially for this particular gallery's curved wall.  This piece explores a really different avenue for me- in form, material, and color- and I'm excited to see what you think! Here's a sneak peak of the work in progress.

What is HAVEN?

Donna Beck, Beryl Salinger-Schmitt, and Katie Richardson, working across very diverse mediums, have found a commonality at the heart of their work in themes that often express concepts of haven, however simple or complex, vulnerable or strong, solitary or communal. This exhibition explores the idea of HAVEN, with the suggestion that place-making and space-making are rooted in a primal instinct to provide shelter and sanctuary in order to nurture.

On Black Friday, I'm hosting a studio sale so that you can get great handmade gifts for the holidays and I can clean out my inventory!  From small glass treasures to large steel wall sculpture, everything will be on sale.  Stop by to enjoy a snack and a drink, check out my flameworking and welding studios, and shop for beautiful handmade gifts at your leisure.  

 

Oh yeah- did you notice the new logo?! It's been a long time coming. I'll still be using my name and website at katierayart.com for my sculpture and installation work, but Blue Barn Studios is the home of my fine craft work. There's a new website BlueBarnArtStudios.com and etsy store in the works. The website isn't completely finished yet, but you can take a look anyway. Thanks to Scout Cuomo for all her awesome work on the website. 

Want to make your own art and housewares out of steel? Join my upcoming welding class! If you're interested, but this doesn't work for your schedule, let me know and we can organize a future class at a time that works for you. 

As always, you can find my work in various local shops and galleries this season. Check my website listing here.  I'll also be featured in this year's Hilltown Christmas Place at Paul's Sugarhouse and Snowfarm Seconds Sale- both great venues in Williamsburg for shopping handmade.

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.