RUST DYEING

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

Last week, I did some rust dyeing at Nina Edelman’s lovely studio.   Sometimes both sides of the rust-dyed cloth were interesting:

Tracy McCabe Stewart, Leah Rosenthal and Cathy Mendola were all part of the rusty day.

Everyone hard at work, and of course, we took time to replentish energy from Miss Nina’s fabulous soup and salad bar.   In the background  of these photos, you can see one of Nina’s quilts and part of her home – because wherever Nina goes there is art!

I thought rust-dyeing would be perfect for my “in progress” graffiti series.  So  I treated some of the rusted cloth with Bubble Jet Set and printed graffiti over it from photos my husband and I have taken.

Thanks for a fun and productive day, Nina!

ONE of a KIND Show, CHICAGO

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

In case you did not get to the the One of a Kind show, Chicago last weekend, here are a few of the artists I really enjoyed.  You may want to check out their websites.

Laura Beth Cartwright, painter.  A bold use of color and texture gives Laura’s work movement that draws the viewer in.  Her work is exciting and serene at the same time.

Anne Tirey, painter.  I like pieces that allow the viewer to read meanings based on their own experiences and backgrounds.  Anne’s abstract work allows the view to do this.  She also has upbeat music on her website, and it’s fun to listen while viewing artwork.

Ruth Walker, feltmaker.  I could not find what I really loved on Ruth’s website – her hand-dyed wool jackets.  She was a sweetheart to talk with and offered to answer questions if I decide to dye wool and need any help.

Jared Davis, glass.  Elegantly shaped and colored glass.  Check out his Swedish Birch series.

Linda Steinworth, jewelry.  Beautiful stones and graceful lines.  I don’t wear much jewelry, but these are pieces I would be happy to put on.

There were, of course, many other fantastic artists so if you missed it this time, mark your calendar for next year!

PROTECT YOUR FIBER ART

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

Finally, there is a new, non-aerosol product available to protect fiber from fading and sun damage.  The former, widely used product contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer while protecting fabric , and I have refused to use it for that reason, preferring fading to ozone depletion.  It is my understanding that, due to federal regulations, aerosols in the US can no longer contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).  However, they still contain hydrocarbons and/or compressed gases which do contribute to global warming and asthma-inducing smog.  This is not exactly good for the air we breathe.

The new product, which I found at JoAnn Fabrics, is called ForceField UV SunBlock.  It comes in a simple spray bottle.  The directions state that it is to be used outdoors or in a very well-ventilated area.

To test for effectiveness, I have cut a piece of hand-dyed fabric in two and sprayed one with ForceField, not the other.  My plan is to place both pieces of fabric in direct sun to see if the protected piece holds its color, and I will post results.   Here is how the “ForceField test fabrics” look today:  Now I just have to wait for the sun!

And here is my newest completed piece.  It can be seen until 12/20 at Simply Chicago Art, Evanston.

Moonlit Forest 49″ x 49″, (c)2009 Shelley Brucar fiber art

NEW WORK

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

Two new pieces that will be in the Holiday Boutique at Simply Chicago Art:

Counting the Stars I, (c)2009 Shelley Brucar

Counting the Stars II, (c)2009 Shelley Brucar

And here’s the story:  I recently reconnected with some childhood/high school friends.  Reminiscing about how we used to lie in the grass at dusk, trying to count the stars as they appeared in the sky was the inspiration for this new series.

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

Evanston gallery, Simply Chicago Art, will be showing 30 artists for the annual Holiday Boutique, November 28 through December 20.

Here is a detail shot of one of my pieces that will be on display:

Moonlit Forest, detail, fiber art by Shelley Brucar

Some of my hand-dyed and screened scarves:

And here’s the information, direct from the Simply Chicago Art website:

Holiday Boutique

November 28th~ December 20th

                                                             Join us for our 2nd annual Holiday Boutique.

Artist reception

Saturday November 28th 1:00~5:00

Find unique gifts for everyone on your list during the

Simply Chicago Art Holiday Boutique, featuring over 30 local area artists!

 

Discover hand crafted works…
jewelry~glass~wood~fiber~etchings~paintings~

photography~sculpture~handmade ornaments~

soap~cards~paper and more…

We will also have live music at various times during this exhibit. 

Admission and parking are free!

Special hours for this exhibit:

   Thursdays                   5:00~9:00

    Fridays                       5:00~9:00

    Saturdays                 11:00~7:30

    Sundays                     1:00~5:00

 
Simply Chicago Art

1318 Oakton

Evanston, IL 60202

847~738~0716

SAQA TRANSFORMATIONS 09

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

Transformations 09: Reflections is now at the Guilford Art Center in Connecticut.  Deborah Bein has posted photos of this traveling SAQA exhibit which includes my piece, “Stormy.”   Here’s the link:

http://quiltstew.blogspot.com/2009/11/transformations-at-guilford-art-center.htm\
l

MESSAGES

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

Social Worker, Sharon Weingarten, has a website that serves as an immensely useful tool for anyone who works with kids, has kids, or is a kid.  What I Wish You Knew allows kids and parents to post messages that are often difficult to express, or difficult to hear, face-to-face.  Every parent and child will be able to relate to some of these messages and perhaps begin to understand their own parent-child relationship a little more clearly.  Communications skills are such an important piece of stress management and finding serenity.

Meeting Sharon just happens to coincide with a related fiber art series I am beginning to conceptualize.  While in Italy, I noticed that there was an abundance of graffiti.  Italy’s graffiti however, was mostly not gang-related or, in any way, angry.  Some of the graffiti I saw exhibited the talent of the graffiti artist.

 

Much of it was about amore. Even with my very limited Italian, I get the gist of this message written on a train window:  “I need you.  Return to me.  I love you.”

I am also fascinated with Hebrew lettering, although I do not read Hebrew.  So my new series of work is going to be about “Ancient Messages” and “Modern Messages”.   Here are the screened fabrics for the first two pieces of the “Messages” series:

 (c) Shelley Brucar 2009

(c) Shelley Brucar 2009

I would love to have a great range of messages, old and new.  If you have a photo of your favorite Hebrew text and/or photos of graffiti that you would like to share, please send them to me (shelley@handmade-memories.com) along with your understanding of the message and – important - your consent for me to use your photos in this series of fiber art.  Feel free to forward this post to anyone you know who may be interested in Sharon’s or my messages.  Thanks.

PHOTOS FROM AN EXHIBITION

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

I believe I took that title from a song by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.   Hope they don’t mind.

Fine Art of Fiber at the Chicago Botanic Garden this past weekend was hugely attended.  There are many visitors who come every year, and this year the incredibly beautiful weather no doubt helped.  Thanks to Cindy Kuo, the photos from Fine Art of Fiber are already up.  So if you missed it, or if you were there and want to revisit this beautiful show, here’s the link:

http://www.fineartoffiber.org/Photos.htm

Awesome Job, Cindy!

FINE ART OF FIBER – THIS WEEKEND

Fine Art of Fiber at the Chicago Botanic Garden is all set up, looks wonderful and opens tonight.  The exhibit is made up of wonderful work, ranging from traditional quilts to very contemporary fiber art.  It is exciting and inspirational.  The boutique down the hall includes hand-crafted art for your walls, functional items and wearable art.  Here are 2 pieces of hand-dyed and screened fabric I will be selling at the boutique:

Water I – 35″ x 60″

Serenity II – 30″ x 34″

I will be working in the boutique Saturday and Sunday until 12:30 and in the exhibit area Sunday afternoon.  The weather promises to be beautiful so you will also have a chance to walk around the beautiful, ever-changing gardens.  Hope to see you there.

SETTING GOALS

It’s a great time to start thinking about your 2010 goals.  So here’s the follow-up to my previous posts about VALUES, VISIONS and GOALS.  My 7/21/09 post was about the importance of goals being Fluid, Action-oriented and Relevant.  My 8/7/09 post listed several questions to help you identify your core values, the first step in formulating Relevant Goals.  Review those two posts now, then sit down to think about and write some goals.

A chart for those of us who are visual thinkers:

 

1.  Think about your VISION.  How and where do you see yourself 6 months from now?  1 year, 5 years, 10 years?  Visualize your future being exactly what you want it to be.  Include as much detail as you want to.

     Example:  My vision is to have my art being sold in 2 more galleries.

2.  Now write the GOALS that will help you realize this vision.  Your written goals can be short-term or long-term, and preferably some of each.

GOALS are realistic; they should be reachable but not too easy – stretch a little outside your comfort level, but don’t set goals so high that you feel defeated before you start. 

GOALS are quantifiable; you want to be able to look at your goals at regular intervals and measure your progress toward achieving each one.

GOALS are action-oriented; you want to look at each goal and visualize exactly what you are going to do to achieve it.

GOALS are relevant; they reflect your core values.

     Example:  1.  Finish a cohesive body of work.     (There would be more than 1 goal, but this is just an example, ok?)

3.  For each Goal, write the specific STEPS TO ACHIEVE the goal.  What exactly will you do to make that goal happen?  These steps should be small increments and very specific.

     Example:  a. Decide on a theme for a body of work.  b. Decide size range for finished pieces.  c. Create designs and screens.  d. Dye and screen fabric. e. Work in studio at 4 hours/day.

4.  Think about potential OBSTACLES to reaching each goal.

     Example:  a. Not feeling creative.  b. Time constraints due to other committments. 

5.  List the PEOPLE and other RESOURCES that can help you complete the steps to achieve each goal.

6.  Every day, do one thing that will help you reach your goals.  As Stephen Covey puts it, “Act in accordance with what matters most.”  

Ask yourself, “If someone had a video of my typical day, what would they see?  Based on your current actions and behaviors, where do I expect to be in 5 years?  Now what changes do you want to make?