Onoclea

Playing catch-up

2010-08-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

So, I've taken yet another hiatus from blogging. And now I have TONS to catch up on!! I've done some traveling this summer.... I spent ten days driving around Ireland taking almost 1000 photos! (no exaggeration) I've also been in a few shows since the last post. Most noteworthy, the Steampunk Bizarre at ArtSpace Hartford last month. Here are a few photos of the work I did for that. A little bit of a departure from what I've done previously, all sculptural jewelry pieces...semi-wearable. They're sterling silver for the most part, going back to my college days of silversmithing. I think teaching jewelry and metalsmithing the past five years is starting to influence my work too! I can't seem to escape the influence of what I do at school. First the glass, now jewelry..... maybe soapstone carving will be next......Not likely though.
Getting back to the jewelry......There are found watch parts and brass filigrees included in the necklace but other than that, each piece is handmade from sterling silver wire and sheet metal. The fork and spoon rings are obviously made from a silver spoon and fork set and they have cast pieces incorporated in my attempt to balance the mechanical and the organic. What looks like water or glass in the photos is a polyester resin and these also have found watch parts. Since I've never made a belt buckle before, I said, why not try it for the steampunk show! So, here are my first two belt buckles! I'm very proud that I was able to make a functional belt buckle. It was touch and go for a while, I've found they're not as forgiving as a ring or a necklace. The one with the three glass viles is the "Alchemists Belt Buckle." Each vile is filled with resin and a collection of pieces that can be swapped out for the alchemist to have on hand whatever he/she may need for a particular situation. The belt buckle with the hoses is called the "Chemists Secret Weapon" and the sprayer in the center would be activated by the person wearing the buckle to mix the two "chemicals" to disable an unsuspecting attacker! (Can you tell I dorked out a little with the Steampunk aspect of these?) Being belt buckles I decided on nickel silver instead of sterling. There are brass and copper pieces on the Chemists buckle and both incorporate resin, glass viles and found watch parts. These are just a few of the pieces I did for the show, I added a few detail shots into the slide show at the bottom of the blog. If you want to see more of my work, or more of any of the other work in the show, check out the online gallery for the Steampunk Bizarre 2010. There's some great work by a few of the artists whose work I admire and whose blogs I follow....and you should too.
I'm also working on setting up an etsy account to sell some of the stuff I've made, so look for more about that and check back soon for some photos from my travels. It's taken me a while to whittle them down to a few favorites but I'm getting closer!

Addams Family Gathering Opens

2009-10-07T04:51:00.000-07:00

So the opening of the Addams Family Gathering was this past weekend. This is a group shot of all of the artists showing work. We had a really great turn out and there was a story in the Middletown Press about the show. My installation ended up coming together well. I included a detail shot because it's difficult to see the detail in the full shot. The resin, though it was the bane of my existence for a while, really added to the piece so I'm glad I stuck with it. I did end up finishing a few new pendants before the opening so if you check out the exhibit, don't forget about the display case in the back. It's up through Saturday October 24th and gallery hours are 11-3 on the weekends only. There's a lot of amazing work, this is a really strong show and there's a little something for everyone, from fine art painting and sculpture to functional guitars, illustrations and comic books. Stop by and check it out. I've pasted part of the article from the Middletown Press below but you can check out the rest of the article and the photos that went with it (I believe) on their website.
A continuous reel of old Addams Family television clips projected on a large screen played in the window of the MAC 650 Gallery welcoming guests to the opening night of “The Addams Family Gathering” Friday night.
Guests and featured artists, many dressed in funeral attire, admired an eclectic assortment of work based on one of television’s beloved families inside the gallery.
(Joeseph) Dinunzio and (Joseph) Galluccio sought out members of the local art community to contribute to the show. According to Dinunzio, they were looking for artists whose art had “darkness,” or artists who “could bring something to the genre.” Because of the specific theme of the show, they did not expect artists to already have art in their collections that would fit the show’s theme, so artists asked to show work in the exhibit created new art.
“The Addams Family Gathering” features the work of Dinunzio, Shannon M. Gagne, Galluccio, Joey Marsocci, Jason May, John McCormack, Katie Osowiecki, Shelley Osowiecki and Carrie Swider. The MAC 650 Gallery is located at 650 Main St. in Middletown. Go to the Mac 650 blog for more info.

Addams Family Gathering Preview

2009-09-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a little sneak peak of the piece I've been working on for the Addams Family Gathering show opening Oct. 2nd at the Mac 650 Gallery in Middletown. As you can see, my work table is kind of a mess but the new studio is working fabulously. This is another mixed media piece. It will end up being an installation of Morticia's Garden. It's still in pieces but it's coming along nicely. Come check out the opening, it should be a blast. Nine artists are showing, including myself and our styles are very different so it should be an eclectic show even though everything will be tied into the Addams Family in some way. This is a Joe Dinunzio & Joe Gallucio production so as always there will be fun stuff happening along with the free food and wine. Here is the flyer for the opening. Joey Marsocci designed the poster and will have a few pieces in the show also. If you can't make it, the show is up for the month of October and gallery hours are on the weekends. Also, check back here for photos of my finished piece and some of the other work in the exhibit.

Wandering Uterus Pieces

2009-09-08T11:32:00.001-07:00

So, finally, here are the photos from the Wandering Uterus in Jan/Feb of this year. The show was an amazing success. We had some great feedback, an awesome turn out for our opening and the Middletown Press came by to interview me, do a photo shoot and they printed a story in the weekend edition. We even made the cover! woo woo, props to us.
The photo above is of one of my pieces titled Onoclea Opening #1. It's fused, slumped and blown glass with resin in a bed of sand. There's another angle to the right, you can see the form better. Again, there I go working with those ferns. In the background of the photo to the left you can see my painting From Within on the left and H.L. Groen's paintings on the right. I love her use of color!!!
With this entire series, I continued my exploration of the connection between the sensitive fern (onoclea sensibilus) and the human form. These are, in a way, self-portraits. I see the strength and simultaneous fragility of the sensitive fern as being similar to my own, a metaphor for humanity as well as my experiences. I chose the materials and forms of these pieces to echo those characteristics. Each piece is a representation of the sensitive fern with its fragility and ever present potential for rebirth while also being representations of myself.
I know I normally don't get serious on my blog but I figured I'd throw in a bit of an artist statement since I'm showing so much of my work this month.
Above is a closer look at From Within, the only painting I did for the show. It's Acrylic on Canvas and the photo doesn't really do the color justice but what can you do.
To the right is Onoclea Opening #2. This one is ceramic, glaze, resin and blown glass. And it's the only piece in the show that was licked. Thanks Jen! Apparently she thought it looked yummy. In the background are illustrations by Katie and Shelley Osowiecki. I love their work! Here are some closer shots....
The squid piece is Katie's and the Ipod piece is Shelley's. Yeah, their styles are similar but they're twins so what did you expect?!
The piece below and to the right is the biggest piece I did for the show, Onoclea Dying. The top part is ceramic and glaze. It's filled with water and glass. The base is made of steel rod that's been welded and I used a plasma cutter to get some texture and it's also sitting on a bed of sand. This is the piece I posted photos of last year as I was working on it. Check out the Wandering Uterus in Progress post.
The other pieces were a set of glass masks I made from a casting of my face. They are also fused and slumped glass.
For Overgrown (to the left) I also incorporated copper wire and Acrylic Coated Polymer Clay. Sensibilus Immortal has a bold orange piece where the fern was placed that I was told made it look like a samurai. I don't see it but to each their own interpretation. And last but not least Blinded has a slightly different format. It's difficlut to see in the images but all of the masks have conte drawings embedded in the glass along with the skeletons of ferns that I picked from my yard last year. I explained that process in my last post about the jewelry. I hope you like them and if you actually read all of that you deserve a prize! I have more photos of the other artists work from the show that I'll post later. *carrie

Uterus Opening!

2009-09-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

So, the Wandering Uterus was a smashing success! We had a great turnout for the opening. The work was amazing! I realize it's been a while since the show but a lot has happened since then! I moved! (probably the biggest thing) Fabulous new studio! That required a little work to get going but it's up and running. I hope to share some photos of that soon. And I promise my next post will include photos from the Uterus show. But, for now, check out the glass jewelry pieces I made special for it.
They're fused glass pendants with sensitive ferns and their seed pods fused between the layers. When the organic material burns off it leaves a skeleton image behind on the glass. Those of you that know my work....yes, this series continues my obsession with the fern and the seed pods. Encasing their skeletons in glass feels like a preservation process to me, I made one for myself and I always feel like I'm wearing a sort of amulet when I have it on. I'm sold out at the moment but I will probably be making more. Let me know if you're interested. They're all one of a kind, and the image depends on the reaction of the fern in the kiln so there's a little bit of chance involved which makes them exciting.

Wandering Uterus Flyer

2008-12-10T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hope to see you all at the opening!! If you can't make it, stop by to check it out any Sat or Sun. 11-3 through Feb. 28th. Visit MAC650.blogspot.com for more info.

Wandering Uterus in Progress!!

2008-12-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted. But I've been VERY busy making artwork for my show coming up in January, the Wandering Uterus!!! So, I figured it was about time to let you have a look at what I've been up to....
So, I've been doing some glass work, which requires molds for shaping the glass. I'm making a few masks related to the fern series I've been doing.
I had a co-worker cover my face in plaster gauze so I could make these plaster casts. Don't they look like me!!! Later they'll be covered in glass and you won't even recognize them.
I also made a mold of my hands. I pushed them into a block of clay one at a time, formed the clay around them and poured plaster in after I pulled them out. Creepy huh? I'm skeptical about this experiment but if it works, this will be part of another glass and mixed media sculpture.
I've also been working on a large scale sculpture. Again, mixed media. I've bribed a couple of my students into helping me. Here I am directing them where to heat as I bend the form in the welding shop at my school. The steel rods have been welded together at the center and bent by heating with an oxy-acetylene torch.
I just started creating the texture today. The photo at the bottom left is of the first section I did as an experiment. It's being done with a plasma cutter on a low setting. I'm making an organic seed pod form out of clay and glass that will sit on top of the steel form. I'll post more pictures as it develops. There's lots more but I think that's enough for now. :)

Are you Serious!?

2008-11-03T14:14:00.000-08:00

So, Hostess came out with their 100 calorie snack cake packs today. Seriously? What's the point? Really. So people can feel better about eating junk food? Isn't this almost the same as a regular twinkie anyway? I think this is getting a little ridiculous..... And what's with the apple in the upper right hand corner? Are they implying that the twinkie 100 calorie pack is part of a healthy diet, like the apple!? That's just crazy talk!!!!

This photo has been borrowed from the Hostess website..... Thanks!

Twinkies and Robots opens Friday!!

2008-11-03T13:52:00.001-08:00

I was at the Mac650 Gallery on Sunday when a few people I know were hanging their work for the Twinkies and Robots show opening this friday. It looks amazing and you should check it out! That's an order! Joe Dinunzio did a series of sculptures and paintings that absolutely rock! Check out Joe's blog for a small taste of what he put in the show. What I want to know is where he came up with the idea for those snazzy sculpture stands. Ingenious! Jay May has an entire grid of 50 or so robot head paintings on display along with others AND a couple guitars he made. I think he went a little robot crazy a while back. Joe Galluccio has the painting he did for the postcard on display along with several other amazing pieces. I could go on but why bore you. It would be much more interesting to just come to see the show. If you can't make it Friday there's gallery hours on the weekends, but you'll miss the aztec twinkies and robot grease!

Goodbye Darkness

2008-10-24T15:02:00.001-07:00

So here's the photo of the sculpture Joe and I did together for the Halloween show. Joe sculpted it out of sculpey. I painted it with Acrylics and found the book to set him into. He'll be at the Mac650 gallery until Oct. 31st. Come check out the show, there's a lot of great work.

Haunted Gallery Opening

2008-10-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Last week was pretty stressful getting ready for the Halloween opening at Mac650. People almost died. The opening was fun though! Friday night about 100 people showed up to see the artwork, listen to music and have a good time. The Middletown Press/New Britain Herald and Metromix photographers were there. This is the story the Herald ran on Sunday. I left out the image on the cover but we did get the cover story and all the images were in color. Woo hoo! They even put a picture of the sculpture I did with Joe! Double woo hoo. I'll post my own photo later. The show is up through the 31st. Come check it out. Gallery hours are Sat. and Sun. 12-5. Go to the Mac650 blog for more info.

Halloween Party/Art Show this Friday!

2008-10-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

I've been helping the coop with a new show opening at MAC650. Come down and check it out. The opening is this friday. Come in costume!!!

My Little Bro at Boston Center for the Arts

2008-09-15T17:42:00.000-07:00

I went up to Boston this weekend to see my little brother Joe at the Boston Tattoo Convention at the Boston Center for the Arts. Here he is inflicting pain on some poor trusting sap that likes his work enough to permanently embed it in his skin. Isn't he cute! Anyway, it was pretty cool. You could hear the guns buzzing when you walked in the building there were so many people getting tattoos. Saw a few artists whose work I really liked. Jess Guercia, a lover of robots. Her illustrations were awesome. Dan Henk does some pretty crazy horror stuff. Canman from Visions Tattoo had some stuff that really reminded me of Alex Grey's work, which I love! And, as a side note, he was my sculpture anatomy teacher in college. Alex Grey, not the Canman. This guy Jason Ackerman from Exceptional Tattoo is amazingly talented as well. If you're looking to get a tattoo I highly recommend checking out their work. I think there were a few others but I can't remember their names off the top of my head. Besides, too much of my memory of the event has been filled with images of the Boston Babydolls. It's a burlesque group, which sounds cool, but the performer that we saw reminded me of my mother. And the last thing I think anyone wants to see is their mom stripping on stage. I took some photos with my film camera so I'll try to remember to post them when I get them developed. For now, I got this video off their website. I'm not so sure it does our experience justice but I'm putting it in anyway because.... how could I not. Just watch with caution....

Greg Simkins Opening was Amazing!!!

2008-09-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

So I went to Greg Simkins "It Wanders, East" opening on Saturday at the Joshua Liner Gallery in Chelsea. Me, Joe, Melissa and James jumped in the car and drove down to NYC in the middle of the torrential downpour. But it was so worth it!! This guys stuff is incredible! He works with acrylics but the effects he gets are just like oils. The images don't do it justice, you have to see these in person if you can. He's a real nice guy too, got to talk to him for a bit, took his picture with Joe, very exciting. (I'm sure that photo will show up on the salty slug) Definitely check out Simkins stuff though....

Some Old Work at MAC650

2008-09-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a bad blogger..... What can I say, I'm new at this and haven't really felt the need to blog about what I'm doing since I talk to the two people that actually read this on a regular basis. But here I am anyway, dutifully blogging again....
I am showing work at the North End Artists Coop again at 648 Main St in Middletown. Who'd have thought I'd ever step foot in there again! Anyway, the new gallery is called MAC650 and is run by the ridiculously talented Joseph Dinunzio. Paul Gobel, another Coop member, organized a group show for September. I put a few old pieces in. My chair, "Booty Call,"always a hit, a new-ish photograph and a monotype. I know, I still can't decide which direction to go in. Stop by the gallery sometime this month and check out some of the other work. It's a great space and awesome things are going to start happening there. Oh, and check out the gallery blogpot... it's over there... to your right.

I Don't Eat Clams!

2008-08-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

I added a slideshow at the bottom of my blog. It's a small sampling of my work at the moment but I'm working on adding more work to it.
I just added a photo of this piece today. It's a tiny little 4"x6" mixed media painting I did for the New Britain Art League's annual fundraiser. My most recent "finished" painting. It's a continuation of my obsession with the sensitive fern. I used celuclay to create a relief on the canvas before painting it with acrylics. The seed pods are made from sculpey mounted on copper wire. The sculpey is painted with acrylics too.
I have no idea where this piece is now. I didn't go to the event because the Art League sucks! Even though I donated artwork they wanted to charge me to attend, something like $40. And it was a clam bake! I don't even eat fish so what would I be paying for? Watching other people eat and bid on artwork is not worth $40.
So I think my little seed pods were auctioned off or there was an art grab type thing. I hope it has a good home.

Kicking and Screaming

2008-07-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

So I've joined the ranks of the bloggers. Since I've been dragged into this kicking and screaming I have to thank Joe for pushing me to share my work. I know it's good for me, even if I hate it. For the three people that are actually going to read this, I thought I'd tell you a little story about the title I chose for my blog.
I took a natural history of autumn class last fall and one of the plants that I saw a lot of was the fern in the picture to the left, the Sensitive Fern (Onoclea Sensibilis). It's called the sensitive fern because even though it's invasive, reproducing rapidly and covering large areas, it dies instantly when the first frost hits. Only the stiff brown stems holding the seed pods are left, standing like little soldiers, a memorial to the dead ferns laying at their feet. The cycle and the way the ferns grow, starting with the seed pods opening and in the spring the red fiddleheads uncurling, opening into the fern, reminds me so much of our own growth and the human form.
So, my artwork has taken a turn, exploring that connection. Since I've been so obsessed with it lately I thought Onoclea was appropriate for my blog for obvious reasons but also because it almost sounds like it could be a mysterious part of my own body that I haven't figured out yet. You never know!
I hope that wasn't too cheesy for all of you. I promise not all of my posts will be this serious. BLAH!! Oh yeah, I got these photos on Wikipedia but the one from my header is mine.