Bad Week for the Flu, but the Show Must Go On!

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Hello, my friends. The past few days I have been too sick to type about it. I'm still not sure what exactly happened, but let's suffice to say that something attacked my body without mercy and I could do nothing but lay on the couch and wave my little white flag in surrender. Ugh!

As you know, I have a show opening on Saturday night and that's just 4 days away!!! Of course, my previous, optimistic schedule went out the window about 48 hours ago but fortunately, almost all of the work was done: The prints are finished, the photographs taken, the frames and mats purchased and waiting to be filled. But there is still a long to-do list that is being divided into "must" and "would be nice" as the hours tick by.

Here are a few peeks at the prints-on-paper! Hand-carved linoleum blocks of chairs, songbirds, and a human heart; cyanotypes or "sun-prints" created with found household objects; image transfers of vintage photos; a few circles and stars from origami paper; and text from friends who posted their response to "domesticity" and "home" on my Facebook page. There are five prints total, one bigger than I've ever worked before at 16x20 inches, the others are 11x14".

I'm also showing several photographs from a recent fashion-esque shoot alongside these prints. I had hopes to finish one last piece-- 500 collected tea tags in a sewn pattern, to be hung from the ceiling-- but this one might just have to wait. I'm still working on my artist statement, reflecting on how all these parts come together to show my own "DomestiCity". Please keep your fingers crossed that I'm healthy by Saturday night... xoxo, k.

A Break from the Studio: Grays, Greens, and Raindrops

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Dear friends,

At this point, I'm spending nearly every free moment in the studio in preparation of my upcoming two-lady show opening on January 30 (details below). I finished three large prints this weekend but I want to wait until next week to show you a few more peeks. By that point, I should be nearly done! But, I wanted to duck into this little world for a moment to report on the most beautiful grays and greens.

It's been raining for the past few days but I secretly adore it--especially since I need to be inside close to my linoleum blocks and sewing machine and scissors! I also adore it because it turned our little apartment into a quiet refuge of afghans, favorite sweaters, homemade chili, and the most amazing fresh-baked scones. I think the dreary weather inspired my mister to turn to the kitchen for an added bit of warmth.

I managed to prowl around our block for just a few minutes between rainfalls: I investigated life in our winter garden, marveled at my favorite leafless peach tree, and encountered our sweet neighbor's cat also taking a stroll between storms. The grays and greens were absolutely gorgeous, perfectly contrasting from sky to earth. After a brief stroll, the sprinkles started to fall, and I obediently headed back to the studio for another round of cutting, sewing, and printing.

I'm equal parts nerves and excitement about this upcoming show, if only the next 2 weeks had 35 hour days.

xoxo,
k.

DomestiCity: Photos, Prints, & Works on Paper

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Hello, my friends. I have a bit of fun news to share... I'll be showing new work at an upcoming exhibition with the lovely Jenifer Lake of Sprout Studio. We'll be sharing her home-gallery space in the first exhibition of Project Sprout Gallery. Our show, "DomestiCity" will open on Saturday, January 30 from 6-9pm in San Francisco. (If you're in town, come join us!) For the next three weeks my studio time will be spent on new prints, photos, and works on paper.

I'm taking my inspiration from mid-century modern furniture, a few primary hues, and a recent photo shoot with friends. I'm intrigued by the word "domesticity" and how it changes when the emphasis is shifted to "city". How do we balance our modern, urban, and domestic lives? Where's the intersection of my own art and craft in domestic and urban spaces? How does "domesticity" conjure the 1950s American housewife and mid-century modern design? How have we reclaimed or rejected our domesticity? I'm interested in examining the juxtaposition between the mid-century housewife and the life of a few modern urban gals.

I'm making prints with linoleum blocks, thread, text, and watercolor on paper. I'm using deep reds, golden yellows, and royal blues balanced by soft grays, whites, and neutral beiges. I'm interested to see how I can stretch these themes, colors, and questions across different mediums-- how I might create complimentary and contrasting worlds. More peeks at this show soon. For now, the first few prints in-progress. xoxo, k.

Holga Photos & My New Year's Resolution

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Happy 2010! I hope the New Year is filling you with inspiration, rejuvenation, and a few select resolutions, if you so choose. My holiday break was lovely and full of hikes, museums, movies, small social gatherings, sewing, knitting, and dreaming. Today, I'm slipping back into my Monday studio groove by editing poems, finishing up a short story, and sifting through a few rolls of film I just developed. (The above images are medium format film shot on a Holga camera in Oct/Nov 2009.)

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Regardless of my resolutions, this time of year always finds me reflective on the past year's ups and downs while trying to see my upcoming goals and intentions with greater clarity. This year, I have a resolution and it's quite finite: To get my creative work out into the world. I aim to send timid poems to publishers, approach design blogs without fear, contact curators, and add new work to my Etsy shop at a quickened pace. In general, I want to keep the art-cycle flowing from inspiration to creation to public viewing, without much hesitating.

I find comfort in my shyness, my squirreling away, my tendency to nest. I like the quiet hours at work with my poems, my prints, my photographs or stitches, but I find that I have to keep stretching my comfort zone to reach for my artistic goals. So this year, that stretching means sending my work out into the world even if it makes me queasy. It's amazing how emotional the creative process is for so many of us. How it adds another level of self-criticism and/or self-reflection that needs to be met with patience, compassion, and continued dedication. So, when I get nervous along the way, give me a loving nudge, will you? Happy 2010!