Earlier on my blog I talked about birthing quardruplets and how I thought they would become a cohesive group of four until they started rebelling and declaring their independent natures.
Sunday morning Stanley Allen, Chairman from the New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus, came by and picked up “Second Sibling” of the quadruplets.
She’s going off on her own to benefit the Chorus at their silent auction next Saturday evening. Here’s her departure photo.
Gosh, I wonder if her siblings are proud of her. Are they’re sad to see her leave? What will it be like for them without her?
Now that she’s left the nest, who’s going to be next? Oh, in fact, I’m thinking Third Sibling may be just about ready to strut her stuff.
If you missed the original family story, here’s a link to Birthing Quadruplets.
It’s going to be a great evening at the Embassy Suites here in Albuquerque.
Imagine a gala fundraising dinner for just $50 per person! You’re invited and welcome to come and enjoy an evening of dining, music, friendship, and the opportunity to purchase exciting auction items such as “Second Sibling”.
For more information and to reserve your place just click here: New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus You need to reserve by Tuesday, October 11 at 5 PM.
Yesterday I was having coffee at Napoli Coffee and saw a sign inviting me to vote for them as Best of the City for coffee. They want to come in first this year. Have they no shame!
After seeing their sign, I was reminded me how much fun it was in December 2007 when I got the call from ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE telling me I was selected Best Local Artist. Pretty cool!
Could I shamelessly ask my friends and “likes” to vote for me this year? Well, it looks like I am shamelessly and blatently asking.
Here goes—if you really, really, really want to, and it’s no trouble for you, and you feel inspired, please go to ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE, scroll down, on the left column look under “People” and simply type in “Patricia Forbes” under Best Local Artist. (There’s an invisible box you can type in.) And the very quick deadline is Sept 1 – that’s day after tomorrow!
While you’re at it, there might be others you want to vote for as well. Check the list and see which other categories you might want to include –best buritto, egg roll, hair salon and any of your other faves.
You don’t have to be in Albuquerque to do this, and, of course, feel free to tell all of your friends!
Hoping you have fun with this!
I appreciate your indulgence!
Shamelessly yours,
Pat
I’ve just added some fun embellishments to a piece I have been living with for maybe a year. I kind of thought it was finished, but wasn’t really liking it all that much. Something just didn’t feel right about it–too bland?
Here’s a photo of this questionable art piece:
I had thought about contrasting these crisp circles with a large, loose, thick, messy, black or white circle made of that Jackson-Pollicky gooey stuff. I tried black and that didn’t work, but hadn’t gotten around to trying white. The piece just languished standing against a wall then moving to another wall when a social event or new project presented itself.
Three days ago, I was shifting gears and cleaning up my work table (it’s never really clean, but I occasionally need to clear the surface). I had a pile of random cut pieces–that’s circles, flowers, stars, medallions, holes punched in circles–from my last cutting marathon. I always cut way more than I need and have these baggies of pre-cut stuff. And they sometimes come in handy!
The way I remember it was these random cut outs fell on this neglected piece that was resting on the floor. That looked really interesting–sort of like an explosion–like I’ve seen in comics.
Hey, those look pretty cool — and much more lively and much more fun than its previous incarnation.
Yesterday I glued them, and here’s a photo of what may be a finished piece.
To see more of my finished contemporary abstract art, go to PatriciaForbesArt.com .
In my last blog I talked about how a couple pieces of one square inch of paper came to inspire me. Last week I worked on the small pieces that came from this inspiration and completed them — well, at least I thought maybe they were complete.
Before Critique Group
Yesterday I showed them at my excellent critique group. And, guess what? They suggested putting one bit of the background color on the black and white. Then someone added that it would work to put that splash of color on the circles. The circles are kind of a unifying element for the four pieces.
I liked those suggestions a lot so I made those changes, and now I think they are absolutely, positively complete!
These are 7 inch squares, and now they’re reminding me of the Matisse Cut-Outs. Those were done late in his life. He cut out colorful graphic shapes and pasted them on paper–some were figures others were plants and abstract shapes. I remember driving past the National Gallery of Art some 15 years ago, feeling called to stop and visit the Matisse section. I felt so inspired and uplifted by this work.
After all these years these Matisse Cut-Outs must still be speaking to me.
And now that these pieces are finished, I like the extra bit of color.
What do you think?
After Critique Group
To see more of my completed work, go to PatriciaForbesArt.com . To purchase, contact me or one of my galleries.
I appreciate your visit!
In case you haven’t experienced WAITING FOR GODOT, it’s a painfully slow play production with two characters waiting for someone named Godot who never shows up. That’s how it felt to me yesterday — like this elusive inspiration was never going to show up,
I noticed how un-inspired I was feeling. My schedule was clear. I had surfaces ready to go — no lack of surfaces. I had art pieces waiting for preparation. I had unfinished work. I had nearly finished work. There was no lack of opporunity here, but I was just feeling flat — lacking motivation and enthusiasm for any of these.
I made a list of possible things to do and used my pendulum for guidance. I got “paint kitchen”. (When there’s really nothing else to do, I’ll paint the kitchen.) I wasn’t even feeling that.
I did some paperwork, then I went to the studio in my non-painting clothes. I started laying out some paper for a project I am demo-ing next week at Patrician Design. I was at least doing something so the day wouldn’t feel like a total waste.
I was cutting some paper–sort of mindlessly–some black paper with a white pattern on it. And suddenly I could see a possibility for some pieces that I’ve been thinking about. What came up is a background of bright colors that pop against black and white graphic images.
I just noticed how my whole attitude shifted with just this idea. Wow! What a difference. I’m now excited about this new idea. I get to get surfaces for these and some other supplies, and I’m feeling movement and inspiration. I like this feeling.
Maybe there’s something in this for me in the future that just moving and doing something — even mindlessly — can open the flow of my energy and allow inspiration to flow.
To see images of my actual, completed, contemporary abstract art, go to: www.PatriciaForbesArt.com/portfolio .
To learn more about WAITING FOR GODOT, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Godot
HERE ARE SOME GREAT WAYS TO DISPLAY SMALL SQUARE WORKS OF ART IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE:
Narrow walls. Small pieces look great on narrow walls—often this can be a delightful surprise.
A few inches above a table or other piece of furniture. Add a plant or other harmonizing objects to unify the art with the piece of furniture. (Let the pieces overlap the art by an inch or two.)
Stack two or three squares vertically on a narrow wall space. Stack more if the room height allows.
Do the opposite of stacking. Make a horizontal row of 3, 4, or 5 art pieces.
Hang a square in a small room such as a, bathroom, or laundry room. (Shouldn’t we all have art in our laundry rooms?)
Make a grouping including small works of art. Groupings work best when there is a thread of a color in the group or perhaps shapes that relate.
Expand the group. Make a square of 4 (2 by 2) closely related squares or 9 (3 by 3) squares. Add other shapes and sizes to your grouping.
Display your square on a table easel. I saw a friend do this with one of my twelve-inch squares, and it looked great! … and decorative easels are just a couple of bucks at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.
And, last, but not least, small works of art make great gifts!
Remember rules are made to be broken so have fun with this!
Here’s my website to see other work that I do: www.PatriciaForbesArt.com.
To join my artist e/mailing list send me an email at Pat@PatriciaForbesArt.com.
Adventure: an undertaking involving uncertainty and risk.
This certainly describes my recent experience in submitting a proposal for Albuquerque’s public art program, “1% For Art”.
The request for proposal was for enhancing the industrial-feeling concrete entrance, ramp and parking garage downtown across from the train station.
It helps to understand that the Albuquerque train station used to be the historic Alvarado Hotel and Harvey House built in 1902 and rebuilt in 2002-06. Plus, it is in the heart of Albuquerque’s central downtown business district with urban renewal all around. http://www.wheelsmuseum.org/alvaradohotel.htm
The request was for something ‘whimsical’ that would contribute to attracting people to the area. Ahhh. A new creative problem I get to work on. Whimsical, yes, that’s what I do!
My process began, as usual, scratching for a broad variety of possibilities. This includes looking over past things I have done, revisiting favorite things others have done, making a long list of possibilities, sketching and doodling — all to see what ideas begin to take shape.
At first, nothing interesting was happening.
Then I got an idea to try some squiggly shapes. This possibility led to a flurry of drawing and cutting out shapes.
What’s the sound of air coming out of a balloon? I think I hear it. Pfffstt. Well, so much for that idea.
So now I am smack in the middle of this creative challenge. I have driven around the site, taken some photos and … still no great concept.
I’ve done some cool things with circles before. I’ll explore that. Work, work, work, cut, cut, cut. Paste, paste, paste. Type, type, type. I’m proposing the circle idea.
Now it’s Monday before the Wednesday 5 PM deadline, and Tom and I are taking a day trip on the Railrunner to Buffalo Thunder. I brought my illustrations and proposal draft to go over on the train. As I pulled them out, I heard myself saying, “But I’m not enthused about this idea either”.
And just on the heels of that thought, a whole other possibility blossomed in my head. I quickly sketched it and, lo, both Tom and I liked it a lot better.
But, mind you, we’re still on the train and tomorrow is Tuesday before the Wednesday 5 PM deadline, and I’ve got a complete revision staring me in the face!
Early Tuesday morning, I started again with more cut, cut, cut, paste, paste, paste, run, run, run.
By Tuesday night, I’m tired and hungry, and ready to give it up. This is not working! It feels like I’m never going to make this deadline. Maybe some food?!
Dinner helps immensely. I feel refreshed. If I cancel a meeting tomorrow morning, I just might be able to deliver this proposal.
I’ve only just got to almost completely re-write the text part, and, oh yes, I didn’t mention … the visual portions have all got to be worked into a PowerPoint presentation they want emailed.
Wednesday. More writing, revising, taking photos, cutting and pasting.
The PowerPoint is looking good; I test drive the slideshow twice, and it looks good. And then the PowerPoint turns out to be too big to email! Quick, burn a CD.
OK! It’s now 4:15 Wednesday afternoon, and I’m driving down to City Hall to deliver my proposal.
It’s 4:45 PM and I’m actually hand delivering the CD! Yeaaaa, I made it! That was exhilarating! And 15 minutes early!
As I’m writing this, it’s two weeks later and I’m waiting, waiting, waiting to see if my proposal makes the cut. But no matter what happens, it continues to be a great, exciting creative ‘adventure’, that was indeed an ‘undertaking involving uncertainty and risk’.
And my fingers are still crossed …
Hey! It’s a Gala, and I’d love to see you here.
Tomorrow night (Friday, February 11) is the Gala Opening of 18 DAYS, A Fine Arts Exhibition & Performing Arts Event in Santa Fe at the CCA/Munoz Waxman Gallery, 1050 Old Pecos Trail. The Gala is from 5:30 PM to 8 PM … and it’s free!
You can view over 100 art pieces created by selected women artists from New Mexico … and … I am one of them with my triptych, “Neutrino Blossoms” below.
This event kicks off six weekends of ongoing exhibition, films & live performances by women artists of New Mexico, and this makes the show really worth going out of your way to see and enjoy.
You can find more information at: 18 DAYS GALA ART OPENING .
Thanks for reading this and please feel free to share with your friends..
Hey, I had almost forgotten that there still exist such things as Non-Rejection-Letters. I just received one yesterday. I had decided not to pay any more good money for entries that seem to just generate another Rejection Letter.
However, I was tempted by a call for entries in the ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL a couple weeks ago. Seems that my Muse was nudging me to do “just this one”. So, this one felt pretty good. And I pulled out my digital debit card and sent in my digital art images.
Turns out it was quite worth listening to that whisper in my ear. I checked email a few days ago, and there’s an email saying “Congratulations!”. I was pretty sure it would say I had won the lottery in Nigeria for umpteen million Nigerian New Naira or whatever, coming by their personal courier service.
But — (BIG “but” here). It was an Acceptance Letter! A real genuine, gold plated Acceptance Letter.
I was accepted into the “18 Days Fine Arts Exhibition” sponsored by the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts and The Center for Contemporary Arts.
What this means is out of 400 New Mexico women artists that applied, they selected 100, and I made the cut. I’m really excited to show my work in Santa Fe. Does this make me a card-carrying, recognized, Santa Fe juried artist?
I’ll be taking my triptych, “Neutrino Blossoms”, to the Munoz Waxman Gallery at Center for Contemporary Arts this weekend. For sure, I’ll be there for the gala opening (free!), February 11. Love to have you stop by and say “Hello”. Otherwise, the show is open for 6 weekends with lots of other attractions. Here’s the link to all of that info: 18 DAYS
And here’s a link to Patricia Forbes Art.
Last fall I received an invitation to try something totally new with my contemporary abstract acrylic art, to “experiment freely” and “stretch into unfamiliar territory”. It was for Lab AD, International Exhibition of New Art + New Design at BECA opening Friday, February 4, 2011. (Details below).
Please come by and let me know what you think of my experimental project … here is a ‘stream-of-consciousness’ description of my approach to this challenge:
I felt compelled to jump in and immediately reserved a two-foot cube of air space at this show not having any idea of what I might do to fill the space.
It’s been my primary artistic focus since then and a delightfully challenging process. (Did I just say that? And what if it’s just not all that successful?)
So here’s what it’s been like going through this process since I took that leap into the air.
Now that I have this air box, what on earth will I do with that? How do I make art for a block of air? Art suspended in the air?
Air. Light. Ahh-h, that says transparency to me. Transparency could be a good thing. OK, I am settling on transparency. This hanging air art cuboid will in some way be transparent.
Truth be told, it seems I’ve been thinking about this for a month. Even with having decided on the quality of transparency, there still seem to be a bazillion possibilities here — shapes, sizes, quantities, textures, pieces, paints, papers–completely abstract, some narrative element, pattern, clean, crisp. Night after night, I go to sleep mulling it over and wake up imagining more ways of approaching this. I have to say I’m enjoying this wide-open feeling of a myriad of possibilities. Is it possible to over think this project?
Not possible.
But it is time to just do it.
Make a list. OK, list at least 30 possible directions for this installation. And do some sketches. I’m certain the surface will be Plexiglas — a totally new material for me as a working surface. Now I’ve got research to do to see how to work with this.
Taking the easy first step, I order some plexi squares locally and start playing with anything that looks like it might come across as translucent — this wonderful gooey drippy Jackson Pollock-y stuff is the best.
I know how papers work on an opaque surface, but how will they behave on plastique? What if they curl up and don’t stick? More research.
Ideas start to bubble up and float in–I love it when that happens. One is like an all over pattern looking like bubble wrap. Yes, bubbles. Circles. Circles in circles. Circles in squares.
A name floats into my consciousness. Clearly BubbOlicious!
Hmm-m. This project is two-sided–that is it has two front sides. Ah, I see a perfect opportunity to mess up one side while working on the other.
While I love the Jackson Pollocky-gooey stuff, other stuff is making a messy surface. More bubbling up — if I add a bunch more goo, I can hide the mess. I’ll just make it messier.
Pieces are starting to fall into place—this is getting to be even more fun now. Love seeing how elements are turning out as the layers and sides dry. The pieces are telling me how they want to unfold — not like a big rush of a concept, but a piece today and tomorrow another piece. Easy — gently. Perhaps this is because I’m working with an air cube. It’s like I have boundaries, but they are wide open, and pieces and ideas can float in easily.
I’m excited to deliver and hang this next week. Pieces have continued to bubble in as I’m putting on the finishing touches. I’m including some detail photos for now. More to come once it is installed.
The exhibition will be held from February 4 — 18, 2011 (Tuesday – Saturday 11 AM to 5 PM) at BECA New Studio A. D. – 312 Rosemont Avenue, NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102.
Opening Reception: Friday, February 4, 2011 from 5PM to 8 PM during Albuquerque’s First Friday Event.
Closing Reception: Friday, February 18, 2001 from 5PM to 8 PM during Albuquerque’s Downtown ArtsCrawl.
Detail of "Clearly BubbOlicious" Installation
Detail of "Clearly BubbOlicious" Installation
See more of my work at Patricia Forbes Art.
