Galleribba

I was recently invited to join galleribba, an online gallery for small and unique artwork by international artists.  All art will fit standard size frames, some pieces are ready to hang. Works are either framed, attached to canvas or have a hanging sleeve on the back.  This gallery was created and is run by Dutch mixed media artist, Meta Heemskerk.  Galleribba currently has 40 members, with new artists joining on a regular basis.



I now invite you to have a look around the gallery.  You can find each artist’s contact information at the bottom of the gallery pages.

Have fun browsing our beautiful gallery!

Art and Tea, Part 2

 

 What a delightful afternoon for my first Artist Showcase & Afternoon Tea on May 5th.  My sister, Karen McClune, graciously hosted this event in her home in the San Diego area, with about a dozen attending.  I made new friends and talked with old friends among a diverse group of remarkable women.  There were great conversations, new ideas and  intriguing questions.  It is wonderful to share about the creative journey.  The experience provided an opportunity for me to view my own work in a fresh way through another person's eyes.  Possibilities are born that were previously not seen.  It is gratifying to show the work and have it spark such interest. I can say it was fun day of art, food and discussion for all of us.

Here is how the day went...  with turning the living room into an art showcase.

Bhavana Project flags and fabric balls...

Displaying smaller items...

Thread bowls and cards

Mini quilt basket

Let us not forget the food.  Karen loves to bake, so we were treated to some of  her amazing creations... Friends also contributed home baked items and glorious flowers.

Karen's delicious scones!

Tea is served.

Talking about quilts and process...

Explaining options for hanging quilts...

Some of the goodies enjoyed.

Winding down...

I am so grateful for Karen's support, for the day would not have happened without her.  She is a warm hearted and generous hostess.  I am blessed with such a sister.  The day exceeded my expectations and surpassed my goals.  Learned much in preparing for future events, including how to better organize. A very good start, I would say.

My energy has been renewed.  Now catching up and unpacking.  Grateful to have the systems to organize my inventory, mailing list and more.  Thanks to the Art Marketing Bootcamp!

Art and Tea

Thread Bowls © 2013 Linda A. Miller

A full week with final preparations for the artist showcase and tea event this Sunday, May 5th.  This idea grew out of the recent marketing workshop while reflecting on appropriate venues for my artwork.  In my eyes, smaller intimate gatherings in homes, for meeting new people and sharing, seems to suit the contemplative feel of my art work.  I am excited to see what develops!  Quilts, bowls, balls and cards are ready.  May it be a viable avenue for new discoveries.  Stay tuned, I will share it with you next week...

Fabric Balls

Considering the viability issue as an artist, here are some thoughts about the realities from others:  Ariane Mariane , Constance Rose   These links are well worth following and reading.

I am linking to Off the Wall Friday.  See what the others are up to.


 

Persistence

"Never give up on your work. Give your work an opportunity to exist through your tenacity and perseverance."
- David Limrite

No posts this week until now... I have been steadily working to finish a piece for an exhibit with the entry deadline looming on 4/30.  Once the work was completed and ready for hanging, it then needed to be photographed and the statement written.  Down to the wire, you say?  Yes!  Normally I like to have a little more leeway...so it goes when I delayed my start.  What a relief to be done!  It is out of my hands now and into the juror's.  Whatever the exhibit results are, I am well pleased with the quilt, and that I persevered, through all stages of  liking and not liking it, to meet the entry deadline with artwork that I am eager to share.  Sometimes deadlines can be a helpful motivation.  Would you agree?

This photo is mini sneak peek.  The full reveal will have to wait until after May 20th.

Thanks to David Limrite for the encouraging words about what it takes to be an artist...you can read more on his blog and subscribe to his newsletter.


Now on to the next project, organizing my work for the May 5th private showcase and tea event in North County San Diego.  (More on that in another post.)  I will also be doing a demo at the next regional SAQA meeting on May 18th.  Looking forward to a busy month.

Sacred Threads 2013

I am happy to report that "Linear Moves" and "Heart's Vision" have been accepted into Sacred Threads 2013.  This is one of my favorite biennial exhibitions,  providing a venue for quilters who see their work as a connection to the sacred and/or an expression of their spiritual journey.  The exhibit explores themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace/brotherhood, grief and healing.  The venue is: Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Park Road, Herndon, VA 20171 from July 10 - 28, 2013.  Accepted artist list is here.  Congratulations everyone!

Linear Moves  -  54" x 30" © 2012 Linda A. Miller

Heart's Vision -  24" x 32.5"
© 2011 Linda A. Miller

Linking to Off the Wall Friday.  See what others are up to there.

Rumi's Words

Energy - 28" x 24"
© 2010 Linda A. Miller

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened.  Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading.  Take down a musical instrument.

Let the beauty we love be what we do. 

There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

-Rumi

This week needed some uplifting energy...

Thank you to Margaret Blank for the reminder about the beginning of this poem.   The last verses have long inspired me...in fact, they reside on this website.

Sitting with Sadness

"When inspiration becomes hidden, when we feel ready to give up, this is the time when healing can be found in the tenderness of pain itself... In the midst of loneliness, in the midst of fear, in the middle of feeling misunderstood and rejected is the heartbeat of all things, the genuine heart of sadness."

-Pema Chodron, from When Things Fall Apart