ArtOMatic 2012, "Waiting for Her Prince" by Ed Palaszynski

I attended opening night with 4 artist friends.  I discovered that it is good to have others with you as it slows you down and also helps you to discover work you might overlook.  Ed Palaszynski is one of those discoveries.

I’ll admit I pretty much breeze by photography exhibits – my personal prejudice, I guess.  One of my GalPals is a photographer and graphic artist, however, and pays attention to such exhibits.  Because of her I stopped and was enchanted by Ed’s portrait photo, Waiting for Her Prince.”  The captured nuances of this photo are wonderful (you’ll just have to go see it in person so you can see for yourself), a piece that could tell me many stories and probably different ones each time I come to it.  For me that is great art.  So of course I wanted to interview Ed and he graciously complied.

This is Ed’s first ArtoMatic.  Like Terry Sitz, Ed was encouraged to show his work this year by his book and comic illustrator daughter, Sarah Palaszynski (3rd floor) who is showing her 4th time at ArtOMatic.  Ed sees his participation as a kind of a “coming out party,” noting that the whole activity of putting yourself “out there” can be pretty anxiety provoking.  [So yet more kudos to all you artists who are taking time to interview!]

Of course my first question to Ed was about Waiting for Her Prince.  Here’s the story behind the picture:

This particular photograph was taken at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD, in March of this year [2012].  There were a few of us doing some “street shooting” and I saw her simply sitting there.  The tiara first caught my attention and I then receded out of her view to see what she was doing or what might happen next.  I kept shooting in the vicinity and when she turned to her right and I saw the facial gesture, I simply shot at high speed in the hope of capturing what I thought I did.  I was using a medium telephoto lens so as not to interfere with anything unknown to me and just keep a “safe” distance.

I do not think she saw me and I had hoped not to disturb anything that she was involved in.  This is difficult to do sometimes on the street and you can get some fascinating results if done discreetly.  I do love to photograph people and am doing more of this kind of shooting.  I hope to do some of this photography at ArtOMatic itself because, as we all know, artists themselves are fascinating subjects!!

Ed thinks that “current day photography and its related techniques are probably at their most powerful in history right now given the power of the digital files and their

ArtOMatic 2012, "Twin Towers" by Ed Palaszynski

ability to go anywhere on this planet in an instant. ”  He continues, “Everyone has access to this technology and can be a chronicler of any event at any time.  So one can make a case for being responsible as well – a whole other discussion.”

Ed chose the photos for his exhibit to depict a range of the work that he does.  He says, “As a photographer, I like beauty, the unique, and the unseen.  One learns/tries to see differently and maybe come up with an insight to something that most people miss as we carry on with our lives.” You can find his wall at ArtOMatic 2012 on the third floor, location 255.

In addition to Waiting for Her Prince, Ed shares here two of his other ArtOMatic photos.

Reflections on the Twin Towers at Ground Zero in NYC was shot while waiting to visit the recently opened Ground Zero Memorial last fall – October 2011.  ”The light was pretty good and I caught one tower in total reflection of the other.  Not only was it a good exercise in figure/ground relationship, but it also does cause one to pause and reflect on the events that occurred there over ten years ago.

Descending Obliques was taken at Great Falls, MD. ” The major components of this picture are the color, texture and the simple shapes.  Even though we think that photographs of nature are pretty complex, they actually can be simplified into basic shapes.  In this case, the results are multiple triangles with some unique coloration.  If you look really close and stare at the lower right hand quadrant of this picture, you can see the head of a dolphin!  Kind of like imagining animals in clouds – a very human trait BTW!”

When asked why folks should come by his space, Ed replied:   “I hope to have people come by and really see what I have captured.  From my photo of the new Twin Towers being reflected onto each other at Ground Zero to the picture of an eroded rock formation from Great Falls, I want people to stop and stare and put themselves into the picture and imagine what it was like when that picture was taken.”  In fact, when he hits a slump, Ed takes his own advice and takes time to stare at things.  He says, “There is so much right in front of us that it’s hard to separate it from everyday things.  I think that sometimes we get too comfortable with everything and we fail to appreciate the little things that make life great and interesting.”

Ed made the digital photography transition “finally” about three years ago after a hiatus while his kids were in school.  Before that he shot a lot of Kodachrome and Tri-X which he is now beginning to digitize.  He has about 25 years of shooting non-digitally to choose from!

ArtOMatic 2012, "Descending Obliques" by Ed Palaszynski

Galen Rowell, is one of Ed’s favorite photographers.  ”He was a terrific landscape photographer, and certainly saw things tha most folks missed.”  Another favorite is Jay Maisel, “who is still producing fantastic work.”  Ed draws inspiration not only from their body of work but also from their personalities:  ”It’s like an attitude and/or perspective.  I think that is  important and can be used to try as a technique or method when shooting.”

While he has not had time to systematically go through all that ArtOMatic 2012 has to offer yet, he says that the Batala All Women Percussion Band was an instant favorite [opening night].

Ed has no present plans to show his work elsewhere, but you can visit his currently under-construction website at www.edpalphotography.com to see what he’s up to.

To read more interviews and see more photographs from ArtOMatic 2012 and earlier ArtOMatics, go here.

Technorati Tags: ArtOMatic 2012 Crystal City VA, Ed Palaszynski, photography, Sarah Palaszynski, visual artists

photo by Heather Bartlett

Heather Bartlett and I have collaborated on the creation of the Body Politics installation for ArtOMatic 3 times (counting this year).  This year, however, Heather must take ALL of the credit for the installation and she has done her usual outstanding job.  Body Politics is located on the 11th floor this year.  Situated on its own column, the exhibit is smaller than past years but is still backed with chalk board for writing and drawing and index cards for commenting and pinning to the netting on the column as in past years.  Skinny jeans were not included this year

1.  How many Artomatics have you been in and why do you keep coming back?

This is my third.  I keep coming back because it is a wonderful cause to support and because it is easier to exhibit my work in such an open-minded space.

2.  What do you hope to convey with your installation piece?

That we should all try to love our bodies.  We should question the beauty standards and advertising that makes us feel bad about how we look.  I want to help open eyes to the torment we put ourselves through in order to meet a standard that few people could ever meet.  You can decide what beauty is for yourself, but you cannot decide it for others.

I was at opening night last night ([May 18] and a young girl, maybe nine years old, was with who I assume was her father.  He was reading the model statements about their bodies and explaining to her what it all meant.  That moment was worth every bit of effort and time it took to do the exhibit.

Also, this year I am doing something I’ve never done before.  On Saturday June 9th from 10pm to midnight, several models of varying ages and sizes and I will be shedding

ArtOMatic 2012, 11th Floor, Interacting with Body Politics. Torsos by Tammy Vitale are also interactive

most of our clothes and allowing visitors to the exhibit to write and paint directly on us.  It takes the exhibit to brave new dimensions in my mind and I hope that it calls attention to beauty and judgement.  Even though my self esteem has evolved, I can feel vulnerable.  I am not the beauty standard.  In fact, I am quite fat and I am curious about what it will feel like to be so close to naked in a room full of people who are dressed and judging me.  I was thinking about it last night as fellow artists, hipsters and well-heeled professionals padded by my exhibit and wondered what it will feel like when we start taking off our clothes and offering our bodies up as art exhibits.

5.  Anything else you’d like to tell me?

I appreciate Artomatic and the models and all of the creative souls who have changed my life.

I am also working on a DIY wedding book with cool themes such as vintage carnival/circus and enchanted forest with my friend and crafting pal Linda Dudley.  Watch for it next year!  I will be sure to update you.

Also, it’s a pain when you change your last name.

“]

ArtOMatic 08, Body Politics interactive torso [sculpture by Tammy Vitale

My websites are:http://www.heatherhardyart.com
http://heatherbartlettart.wordpress.com
http://bodypoliticsart.wordpress.com

Technorati Tags: 11th floor, ArtOMatic 2012 Crystal City VA, Body Politics, Heather Bartlett, tammy vitale, visual arts

ArtOMatic 2012, 9th Floor Terry Sitz

Not only is this my first Artomatic, but this is the first time I have ever shown my art publicly. I have been creating art for decades and have long wanted to throw my hat in the ring, but it took my 24 year old daughter [Lindsey Sitz]registering to give me the extra kick to do it myself.  Somehow it became a no brainer…although I felt  sheer terror initially,  exhilaration soon set in.  What has been a very pleasant surprise is the very strong sense of community of artists that exists around Artomatic.  I have met some wonderful creative spirits.  While this is my first, this will not be my last.

In the past year, I have been creating pieces of art that are of handmade paper on clayboard.  At first glance they appear to be painted, but they are “cut outs”… a la Matisse cut outs–he actually coined the phase, “painting with scissors.”  My exhibit is entitled “Mantras” and it is a collection of artworks and accompanying mantras in the art that are words that spur me on, push me through tough times and inspire me.  Right after I decided to do Artomatic, I created a piece I call “Grow A Pair.”  It is a nude woman, front and center–a metaphor for the journey I was about to undertake in revealing the intimacies of my artwork.

Artomatic 2012, 9th floor, Terry Sitz

              Where can one find you this year?

I am on the 9th Floor (Peeps floor), space 120–right near the dance floor.

Where else can we see your work?

ArtOMatic 2012 9th floor, Terry Sitz

I would love to have some doors open for me via Artomatic, but if they don’t, I will probably open them myself…so we will see. My Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/TerrySitzArtist and I will continue to post my newest creations there.  I would love people to share their mantras with me on my Facebook page…always up for new inspirations and muses.

For ArtOMatic 2009 and ArtOMatic 2008 interviews, click here.

Technorati Tags: 9th floor artists, ArtoMatic 2012, Crystal City VA, Terry Sitz

ArtOMatic 2012 Crystal City Opening Night line at 9:30 pm (in other words it was still really early)

Sharing a ton of pictures from ArtOMatic 2012 (and believe me when I say I will be adding many, many more as I haven’t even begun to make it through all the fllors) over on my FaceBook album page. Also some from previous ArtOMatics for the curious.

And here are some of the news clips that are already out:

Huffington Post

Daily Koz

I anticipate more shortly, as there was a lot of press last night at opening, so stay tuned!

Detail of my 2nd floor wall space (in the open area on the backside of the building)

ArtOMatic has really taken on a cult following!  It is THE place to see and be seen.  I hear the numbers before 10pm (when the party really gets going) were around 3000.  Not too shabby for an all volunteer art venue!

My space is on the 2nd floor….you don’t have to fight with the elevators but can take a leisurely stroll up the steps.  In fact if you use the steps one floor at a time, by the time you are exhausted all you have to do is walk down.  Avoid the elevators if possible.  Why not make it easy on yourself?!

Here are some of my offerings for this ArtOMatic.

"Seasons" 4' tall sculptural assemblages $350 each or all 4 for $1k. One of a kind of course!

Enjoy

Technorati Tags: ArtoMatic 2012, Crystal City, tammy vitale

Thought it would be fun to share with you some of the new things I’ve added to the Garden Goddess’s space. It is a good example of process vs project and may be the one thing keeping me sane at the moment!  Enjoy!

Pictures from April 2012.

Here is a picture from last fall (2011).

And an album of the beginning of the space.

Guardian Angels over Seasons on my ArtOMatic 2012 wall

ArtOMatic opens this Friday, May 18 at 6pm. Vornado/Charles E. Smith’s Building  | 1851 S. Bell Street in Crystal City, VA.  Come join the mayhem!  Opening night is always wall to wall people so take my advice and skip the elevator, starting with a walk-up to the 2nd floor (where you’ll find my work in the open space on the back side of the building).  Go up while you’re fresh and then you can mosey on down after the night is over.

Do not think you will see all of it the first night or in just one day (unless you plan on opening and closing….and, take my advice, about half way through you are going to be on overload and unable to appreciate everything you see).  Plan several trips – why not come back Saturdays when ArtOMatic is hosting artists’ nights and you have more chances to meet the artists whose work you are going to buy!

Here’s a quick preview of some of the work to be shown:  ArtOMatic, Floor by Floor.

And here are photos from past ArtOMatics, too.

Hope you’ll look for me and say “hi!”

Springfest Ocean City MD 2012

You know the show.

You roll in with art – in my case I’m probably art AND craft which is what this show was supposed to be about.  Still it’s all one of a kind and hand made by ME.  You’ve done your research:  top ten in SunShine Artist magazine , rave reviews, reports of “some buy/sell”.  (Buy/sell = bought from China or Mexico, “enhanced” and sold as “handmade.”)

It’s a four-day show, the first 3 days 12 hours long.  They don’t offer booth sitters but expect you to be present all open hours.  Doing the math, either you have help or don’t drink anything beginning to end to forego mad dashes to the lovely portapotties.

Day one, very early on, it becomes obvious that this crowd is definitely not my demographic, and the energy is more carnival than art show.  Across from me is a booth where attendees gather, pat and (I can’t hear but it’s a good guess) “oooooh” and “aahhhh” over a picture with vanilla cream background and pale blue shells with a short saying on it.  Neither the picture nor the saying belong to the booth owner (as reported to my saviour of help on Saturday who asked,  ”did you write this”?  Of course she had on a vendor badge.  The booth owner replied, startled, “no!”  Followed directly by a potential customer walking up asking, “Did you make this?” answered, “yes!”)  The object in question is a publisher’s picture pasted onto paperboard, unframed, and covered in sand and glitter.  I personally counted at least 25 of them being sold over the course of the show.  Which is to say, I felt like banging my head against the wall because I had to watch it over and over and over again.

Yes, I did research and I trusted Sunshine Artist magazine, but I have learned that I did not delve deep enough.  ArtGalPal and fellow boothe sitter, Mary Ida, suggested going to past years’ photos and researching what the artists/vendors are actually showing, noting that if they don’t have a website that, too, is telling.  I learned NOT to trust Sunshine Artist’s take as it is influenced by all those buy/sell vendors who are delirious with their sales.  I have nothing against buy/sell, really, unless I am competing with it – I can’t.  There’s no way I can beat oversea’s prices, nor do I want to compete in that arena.

Anyways, I began to fret over the show I had applied to (and paid the booth fee in advance) in Georgia.  Sunshine Artist’s top show in the country.  $650 out of pocket.  If I were accepted and decided not to go (which I decided quickly that first day at Springfest), I would lose the fee.  Joyfully, a letter came in while I was away and I asked husband to open:  I was not juried in because (wait for it) my work is average.  When I came home I looked them up.  Their top artist last year was doing journal page art and guess what else?  According to pictures there was a lot of buy/sell there.  Whew!  Check’s in the mail!  I was so relieved I did some retail theraphy at the outlets on the way home.

The weather didn’t help.  It was cold and misty rainy when it had been forecast to be in the 80s – a front stalled off the coast and we got north-easterly winds off the ocean.

Fog

Saturday we were in a fog bank all day – so thick you could barely see to drive (all day long!).  None of that helped and all of that is the gamble of doing outdoors shows (though this was in big tents which helped bring people in out of the weather – those that bothered to come).  A while back I read something that equated artists doing shows with gamblesr and Las Vegas.  Did I mention I learned of several venues that are supposed to be good for artists from other artists at Springfest?

I credit Mary Ida for my sanity and for laughing a lot and for developing a collaborative line of work which we will create that captures the replication aspect while using our own art so that it is in fact art (each one individually hand made, along with lots of glitter).We will title it, Homage to Springfest.  That’s called pushing the negative  through to the positive.

And there was positive:  I learned that Sunshine Artist is more show oriented than artist oriented (and, thus, definitely not worth their $80+ yearly fee for their premier show ranking magazine).  This is good information.  I learned to dig deeper when I’m checking out a show.  We (Mary Ida and I) decided that if the buying public has to pay to get into a show, they have made a commitment and you are not getting casual passers-by, you are getting people interested in buying art.  And probably not too many kids (Let’s face it.  Any show billed for families and kids does not pull in serious art aficiandos.  It is family entertainment and they are not necessarily there to spend money in your booth so much as to find a way to entertain the kids for an afternoon).

Also, I again experienced traveling with my art and being able to rely on my very thorough and very complete show list to help me not forget one thing that I will need.

Anyone out there got any leads on good art shows?  Please share!

Technorati Tags: art show rankings, buy/sell "art" shows, pushing negative to positive, Springfest Ocean City MD 2012, Sunshine Artist magazine

Kiss the Frog So It Can Fly (36" x 36" Tammy Vitale)

This isn’t a romance post, unless you’re romancing yourself (which we all should absolutely do more of!).

This is me trying to figure out how to dwell in love when I would rather pout and be angry and point fingers at someone/thing over which I have no power, and that one/thing is not doing what I want.

Because my first reaction is anger.  And if I’ve learned anything, anger is *very* often an overlay of fear:  fear that I’ll never have whatever it is I’m trying to get to.  (I won’t fill in the details here because the details change and the reaction feels the same.  So use your imagination).

I guess, then, that the first thing that love looks like is taking a breath so that you can get to the second thing which is:  stop thinking in all or nothing:  ”never” “always.”  As someone who taught me a lot about a lot used to say:  ”Tammy, the world is not black and white.  It is shades of gray.”  I’ve never been a pastel type.  Sigh.

Take another breath (breathing always and everywhere helps whatever it is you are doing as hubby always points out when I’m lifting heavy stuff with him and holding my breath).

Ask:  What is it that is “never” or “always” going to happen and why does it upset me so?

Ask:  Am I just reacting from fear and there is indeed a path there that I’m not seeing?  Or am I starting a transition phase (kicking and screaming because I want THIS !).

Path?  go ahead and follow – put on your special glasses so you can see it.  Meander, pause, take your time.  No hurry – there it is for the walk.  Is there a map?  What do you think?

Transition?  15 minutes of screaming into the pillow and then you might as well get down to the work of going with it because it’s going to happen anyways at some point.

So maybe what love looks like is compassion for yourself:  where you are, whatever it is you are dealing with, the little girl who thinks she must be nice to everyone, the woman who knows she must honor herself first, take care of herself first before she can really give of herself to anyone else.

If this were easy, we’d all be doing it.  So that other one(s)/thing(s) that is blocking me – have compassion for them to as they are on the same path (this is where it gets hard). Speak your truth – you will know you are in the spot of it because you’ll be able to say it succinctly, clearly and without emotion – just a statement of fact/truth.  No anger because you love yourself enough to speak up and love the other (one/thing) enough to understand it isn’t *really* about them, it is about you.

Just thinking out loud.  If you’ve had experience with this – please share with me!

Wings and a Prayer, Tammy Vitale, piece for 2012 ArtOMatic

Chatting with other artists as I did some of my gallery sits over the weekend, I realized I am having a 10 year anniversary with ArtOMatic.  My first was in 2002, followed by 2004, 2006,  (2007?) 2008, 2009 and now 2012 (that covers all that were had; Artomatic isn’t a regularly scheduled event which is part of its charm).

Of course I am not the only returning artist, so I thought you might enjoy seeing who’s returning (this is a very short list made up of folks whose art I  actually made a good record of in the past.  My best record keeping was 2009, the last ArtOMatic).

An always favorite is Krissy Downing who’s surrealistic work never fails to make me stop and look. Here are 2009 and 2007 posts on her and her work, including interviews, and here is her catalog page for this year.

John Grunwell was next door to my space in my very first ArtOMatic and has participated in every once since. Like me, 2002 was his first ArOMaticHe had a great cat canvass that I really wanted.  Here’s his artist’s page for this year.  I interviewed him in 2009 here, where you can see some of his work from 3 years ago.

I last saw Annie Lunsford at the Frederick Md ArtOMatic this last fall, and keep one of her cards at my desk ( “Three out of four voices in my head say GO FOR IT!” – that’s too true not to keep).  Her AOM page here.

Body Politics  (on the 11th floor htis year) has been a collaborative installation between me and Heather Bartlett for the last 2 AOMs.  This year, Heather is taking on this installation on her own, but has kept my name on the work because she will be using a few of my torsos.   Here: from 2009  Writing on the Wall; 2008 Photo; 2008 news article from Southern Maryland On-Line.

Angela Raincatcher interviewed me last go round here.  I love her ritual based work – it definitely draws me in and asks me to stay a spell.  Here is her AOM 2012 catalog page.

Michael Auger (see my interview with Michael here - hmmm dated 2007…we had a show in 2007?  then not in 2006?  Now I have my dates confused!)  and Sherill Anne Gross (AOM 2012 catalog page here) are covered here along with a few others from a Volunteer night get together in 2009.

Here’s my blog on  a lot of other AOM 2008 blogs – a real roundup if you like wandering in the stacks.

A process piece on my gallery installation in 2009 with lots of pictures is here.

There was a spin off ArtOMatic in Frederick Md this past fall, where many of the regular AOM folks showed their work.  You can find artists and their work here and here in a two part blog on favorites.

I need to point out that “favorites” don’t mean better than everything else – these are folks whose work caught my eye.  And I’ll be the first to admit that the mood you’re in makes a difference in what you wind up seeing which is why you should plan several days to work your way through any ArtOMatic, but especially the 11 floors and 1000 (plus or minus – they’re still registering) artists at ArtOMatic 2012.

That should hold you a while!  Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Angela Raincatcher, Annie Lunsford, AOM Frederick MD, ArtOMatic (AOM) 2012, Body Politics, Heather Bartlett and Tammy Vitale, John Grunwell, Krissy Downing, Michael Auger, Sherill Anne Gross

Just over a year ago I blogged about the difference between project and process.  I thought I’d do a small followup here so that you can see the process of my developing Goddess Garden.

Shown here is one of the five panels made by artgalpals when I started the process of building this garden.  This panel is by Joan Humpries and I sited it on a hump of dirt that has been a hump of dirt for the over 15 years I’ve lived in this house.  Lots of clay – little grew, even with years and yars of oak leaves left to make soil over the years.

This is also my try out for playing with Magic Garden-type walls (I got the one piece done:  the blue bottles with center goddess.  Then was pretty much stymied).  The forms around the panel are meant for mosaic-ing.  Best intentions were squelched by the early and unrelenting heat of last year’s summer.  Once it arrived I was done for the year, and this project part of the whole process came to a screeching halt.

Except for the last two days, this spring has had beautiful weather and that weather is supposed to resume again tomorrow – I have plans to use it!

Last week, while the weather was mild and clear, I took advantage and began work on the process again – It may have looked as if I had given up totally, but:  NO!

Here are pictures side by side so you can see how the transformation is going:

I’ve made progress on other areas of the Lane – which is the area where the garden goddess is located.  I have added perennials that are coming up right now making things look very green, and  transplanted and repotted hostas which love the shade found in this area.  That’s another post.  Hope you enjoy this one!

Wylde Women’s Wisdom

If you could have anything at all, what would it be?  What is the most enjoyable dream you have ever had?  Where do your beliefs reflect your dreams?  What can you do to expand your dreams?  What is your greatest advantage in life?  If you knew for certain that you could have all you desire, what is the first thing you would do?  What would your ideal life look like?  What would you need to really believe in to live for the life of your dreams ow?  What has to happen for you to expand yourself  beyond what you think is currently possible?  If the range of possiblities for you is limitless, then what is attainable for you in your lifetime?  When you believe that you can’t have what you want, what do you know about yourself and how do you feel about yourself?  What would it take for you to use your mind, imagination and emotions to create heaven on earth?  We are the opening verse of the opening page of the chapter of endless possibilities.  Ken D. Foster