Meeting Notes from 02.12.08

Natalie called to say that there was an artist's reception at the DeKalb Area Womens Center. So, I contacted everyone I could to say that we were meeting there. The show was primarily photos and showcased five fiber pieces. (See article from the Daily Chronicle below.) We each had our own opinions of the work and discussed them over Hawiian Punch, raspberry filled cookies and sweets. The conversation carried over to Rosita's... it was a tasty food night. If you want, write your opinions of the show in the comments section and we will continue the discussion.

NIU student shows winter art at DAWC
Northern Illinois University doctoral student Mary Baker Turner will present her view of the beauty and harshness of an Illinois winter in an exhibit entitled “Fiber & Ice” on display at the DeKalb Area Women's Center throughout February. Many of the photographs, taken on the NIU campus where Turner is pursuing a doctoral degree in instructional technology, feature images of ice-coated vegetation. Turner, originally from Louisiana, also presents fiber artworks, which entail a heavy amount of stitching, crocheting and wrapping techniques. Her fiber works reference organisms and patterns from nature. All of the works in the exhibit are recent, dating from June 2007 to the present.

Egyptian Theatre Reception (KVAL)

Everyone is invited to attend a reception of artwork hung by the Kishwaukee Valley Art League at the Egyptian Theatre, 1-4pm. Refreshments will be served. Pejnolan has two paintings hanging in the show. Hope to see you there.

Meeting Notes: Feb. 7, 2008

First, our deepest sympathies go out to Onnanoyume and her family at this painful time.

Information:

• Check out this artists software Artworks Pro. It catalogs your work, maintains contact information, tracks location and timing of each piece, details you work with photographs and a slide show presentation for prospects, captures sales details including commission and taxes and can be purchased in Mac or PC format.
• Try Digimarc if you are worried about your copyrighted images being stolen off the internet. It is more than a watermark, this is code that is encrypted within the image file which tracks where the image is being used. Check it out.
• The Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon, Illinois has listed several calls for entry to various shows. Check out entry information here. Shows include: 61st Annual Phidian Art Show, Sculpture, Clay & Fiber Show , and many more!
• Natalie started off the meeting with her silver birds (below) and pendant. We discussed the techniques used, the materials and the time it takes to complete them.
• Robyn brought mixed media mandalas and talked about the process used to create them, about how she is focusing on the process and worrying less about the result.(although the results are fantastic!) She also brought in a skein of her home dyed, hand spun yarn to show us.
• I (pejnolan) spoke about how even though some of the stories I'll be illustrating in this series might bring up bad memories and it might be easy to rail against the bad, I am focusing on the good areas so that the energy incorporated into the paintings will be positive.
• We debated some politics including the local school referendum
• We discussed right and left brain theory as it relates to handedness, learning disorders, and a way of thinking called "rumination."
• Lastly, we noted that the Nehring Gallery will be showing "Predictions and Premonitions: Stage III" January 31-Feb 22,2008 with a lecture by Michael Barnes on Tuesday, February 19 at 4:00 with a reception to follow from 4:30 - 6:30pm.
• If I forgot anything, just edit this post... I don't mind.
  

Natalie Calhoun,
Silver birds and pendant with pearl and saphires using forming, lost wax casting & reticulation

Robyn Wells
Collage mandalas, mixed media

Pejnolan
Pendant in copper, polymerclay, seashells(left) & Acrylic painting work in progress(right)