Friday, November 28, 2008

Opening December 3rd: Childhood Memories in Minature: African American Dollhouses Exhibition

Opening Wednesday, December 3 – Childhood Memories in Miniature: African American Dollhouses Exhibition

Take in the memories of childhood and the spirit of the holidays with this joyful exhibit of miniature dollhouses by Sharon J. Frazier and Linwood M. Smith. This new show at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) features more than a dozen buildings and rooms in 1:12 scale, including a log cabin, stone home, one-room schoolhouse, and church, as well as buildings and rooms inspired by real places in Alexandria. A barbershop and hair dressing salon, a medical building, an attorney's office, and a florist were all influenced by actual businesses in the Parker-Gray community, a historically African-American neighborhood in Alexandria.

The exhibit is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Saturday, January 24, 2009. Suggested admission is $2. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

DC Black Memorabilia, Art Doll Show




"Greater Washington, DC Black Memorabilia, Art & Doll Show"

December 5 & 6, 2008

Friday: 7 pm - 10 pm *** Saturday: 10 am - 7 pm

Washington, DC Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC

Many vendors with Black Memorabilia and Collectibles for sale including historical artifacts, books, autographs, stamps, advertisements, toys, art, kitchen collectibles, jewelry, postcards, coins dolls, political, sports and entertainment memorabilia and more. Doll artists with Black Dolls and Doll related materials for sale.

"An Educational Experience for the Whole Family"

Admission: $8.00, Children 12 and under Free

Directions: Take the metro system green or yello line to the Mt. Vernon Square/Convention center Station.

For more information: (301) 649-1915
www.johnsonshows.com

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Can We Talk Radio Appearance, Thursday, December 4th



Folks I will be a special guest on "Can We Talk Radio" on www.im4radiodc.com on Thursday, December 4th @ 6:00 pm. I will be discussing my other passion, Feng Shui. I will also pull a plug on our Double Visions Exhibition reception. More later...

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Interviewed for "Not Just Rag Dolls" in November/December 2008 issue of Doll Castle News



Debbie Behan Garrett interviewed me for an article that has been published in the latest issue of Doll Castle News entitled "Not Just Rag Dolls". I along with several other African American dollmakers was interviewed regarding my passion for cloth doll making, process and advice for beginning doll makers. Because I am a beginning doll maker myself, I felt honored to be included as one of the doll makers interviewed. The other doll makers interviewed include: Lornal Paris, Brook Scott and Vista Scott. A photo of one of my dolls "Changing Woman" was also included in the article. Pick up a copy and check out the pages 20-21 and 44 for the full article.

Creative Every Day Creations- November 25th



Hey now! Introducing the Sassy Girls collection! These were created within the last 24 hours. I was inspired on Sunday by Francine Haskins Doll Workshop that my creative juices started going. I personally made the pattern and the concept. To see them in person check out the Double Visions Art Exhibit Reception on December 5th 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Choose one or choose all. They will be for sale.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Decking The Halls Exhibit in Baltimore!

T. MILLER GALLERY and ONEEKI DESIGN STUDIO
Present A Holiday Open Studio
DECKING THE HALLS


BALTIMORE - Christmas just can´t be Christmas without the ones you love or the things you admire. Join T. Miller Gallery in collaboration with Oneeki Design Studio in a special Decking the Halls holiday exhibition featuring nationally known African American fine artists and doll artisans in an open studio preview and reception on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30, 2009, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Oneeki Design Studios located at 2103 North Charles Street in Baltimore´s historic Station North Arts District, and three blocks North from Penn Station. The exhibition will be open Saturdays and Sundays throughout the holiday season, including December 6 and 7; 13 and 14; and 19 and 20. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Add to your personal collection of holiday bush favorites and keepsakes with one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments and fine art collectables from many of the country´s most renowned fine artists and doll makers. Among the featured fine artists are works by Al Burts - pen and ink on paper, Shaunté Gates - oil on canvas and Greg Scott - oil and acrylic on canvas.

The doll and ornament artists take a sometimes serious, yet mostly whimsical flair to holiday ornaments in a wide array of artistic expressions in highly stylized, hand-crafted cloth dolls. Featured doll and ornament artists include Francine Haskins, Betty Baines, Adrienne McDonald, Tonia Mitchell, Daisy Carr, Joanna Banks, Carole Brothers, Shirley Taylor, Lynn Bechthold, Elerie Thomas, Tamara Thomas, Karl Graham, Paula Whaley, Gregg Scott, Marcella Welch and Patricia Colman-Cobb among others. In addition to picking their favorite ornament off the tree, patrons can also watch the master doll makers create and hand stitch new dolls and decorations.

In addition to the scheduled weekend hours, Oneeki Design Studio is open by appointment. For additional information on Decking the Halls, contact Anthony Miller at 301-807-6552 or Paula Whaley at 410-962-8592.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

PGAA Holiday Artist's Social, December 9th

Come Mix & Mingle at the Prince George’s Artists Association
Holiday Artists Social
Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 7:00 PM

The Golden Flame Restaurant
8630 Fenton St. (near Colesville Rd.)
Silver Spring, MD


All are welcome to come and enjoy our "The Perfect Gift" exhibit
while relaxing with friends & family.

Cash Food & Bar
See You There!

-----------
www.artistsofpgaa.org

"The Perfect Gift" exhibit coordinated by
Myrtis Bedola of Galarie Myrtis in Baltimore, MD
http://www.galeriemyrtis.com

Ward 7 Arts Collaborative Announces First Ever East of the River Directory!



The Ward 7 Arts Collaborative is proud to announce that the first ever East of the River Artist Directory has been published. Yours Truly is included in this historic publication.

The Ward 7 Arts Collaborative describes the publication:

"Recognized in the community for its collaborative ability to reach out and connect artists with support services, W7AC is pleased to present the first-ever East of the River Artists Directory. This directory highlights the myriad gifts and talents of both established and emerging artists in Ward 7 and 8 by discipline, medium and name. It is our sincere hope that the community will embrace this directory as an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate its own artists."

If you are interested in picking up a copy contact the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative at (202) 399-1997 or e-mail at ward7artscollab@yahoo.com.

Celebrating My 5th Birthday! Thanks to Creative Cause!

On Tuesday of this week, I had the pleasure with three other comrades to take Tambra Stevenson's Creativity Workshop of Creativity Cause in Washington, DC. This was a gift from my husband Howard to take a creativity workshop with three other friends in the arts. I must say it was a wonderful experience and I am thankful for him to give me such a thought provoking gift.

The founder of Creative Cause, Tambra is an Oklahoman native with a creative soul who enjoys organic cultural cooking, painting Chinese and mixed media art, restoring wellness and enlightenment, practicing yoga, and developing web projects, writing on (Chakras) energy, nutrition, health and sustainability, society, and politics. Currently she speaks and leads workshops on creativity and health along with brain education. She is a graduate of Tufts Medical School with a master's in health communication. She received her B.S. in human nutrition/premedical with a Spanish minor from Oklahoma State University prior to studying public health aboard in Dominican Republic. She has worked in federal and District governments along with the media/PR and nonprofit sector. Her latest venture is the health and sustainability impact in the restaurant industry.

When I entered her home a small yet, efficient, comfortable, and quiet condo, I immediately felt relaxed and open.

Though a young woman, Tambra has been studying metaphyisics, yoga and Eastern philosophy quite intensely and this was her first time working with a small group on creativity. Her gentle words and suggestions were quite fitting and I enjoyed her energy.

The workshop was not typical of sitting down and painting something or reading something and writing the first thing that comes to mind. No, it was more physical and mental. It was about exercises and developing relationships with the other participants and working with fear and ego to move past barriers.

The exercises that she had us work through including any blockages dealing with creativity was fantastic. One of those exercises was imagining it is your 5th birthday party. Describe what you are doing and dance around like you are 5 years old again! Also blow out candles and make a wish! This dancing around made me energized and it made me think about my life at the time and how creative I was.

Another thing that Tambra shared in the workshop was to always try something new! Like take a dance class or music class and how that even though it may not be directly related to what I am doing as an art form helps free you to look at art in a new way. This has made me think about taking an African Dance class and perhaps a ceramics class next year. I also want to retrain myself on guitar and perhaps take a poetry class.

I must say to anyone interested in bringing out their creativity Tambra's Creativity Coaching is a must! I truly enjoyed this thought provoking experience and made me look at creativity training in a whole new way. For more information check out Creative Cause at http://www.creativecause.blogspot.com/.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Creative Every Day Creations- November 19th







I know I have been a little behind. But, here are some mixed media dolls I have created as part of the Create Every Day Month. I was away on travel for a few days in early part of the month and now I am catching up. These will be on display at the exhibit that I just posted about.

Double Visions Exhibition: Starts This Week!






If you get a chance, stop by to see the Double Visions Exhibition at Space 7:10: Kefa Cafe in Downtown Silver Spring. Sharon (my twin sister) and I spent the entire Monday putting up the work that is being exhibited. See photos above. Don't forget we have a great opening reception scheduled for Friday, December 5th at 6:30 pm!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Did You Know?

Doll Collecting is ranked among the top three largest hobbies enjoyed worldwide? Or that 99 out of 100 women surveyed conjured up fond memories of childhood dolls, only wishing they had saved their special companions, and could pass them on as a family heirloom?

Source: Doll Castle News

Monday, November 3, 2008

Unite for Change: Light a Candle to pray for clean elections this November 2008 and our votes counted!


Light a candle on cyberspace, click this link (http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng) be still, say a prayer, click on the wick, and sign your initials. May our prayers be heard for a clean election this coming November 4, 2008 and may our preferred candidate, Senator Barack Obama be installed as the 44th US president! Use this link to light a candle. Let us pray that a spiritual cordon of angels guide his administration that his governance be enlightened and guided by the best interests of the common public good!! Let us pray that all our cast votes be counted, register 8 million new voters and more, and work towards a landslide victory!!

November is Art Every Day Month! Can I do it?



Folks, I am participating in a crazy challenge to myself to create art every day. This is through a program by Leah Piken Kolidas an artist in the Boston area who has gained quite a following with this challenge to artists. I admit, I can be lazy and unfocused which this program challenges me to be creative in some way every day.

Kolidas states in her blog the following about the rules of the program:

"I keep the rules for AEDM really simple and very loose. I encourage people to make something every day, but my goal is to foster more creativity, so if you make just one piece of art per week or just one for the whole month, that's fine with me. The idea is to bring more creativity into your life, not to make you feel overwhelmed, pressured or guilt-stricken. Art is also loosely defined here. I mean art in the sense of anything creative, whether that be painting, drawing, knitting, sewing, cooking, decorating, writing, photography, clay, jewelry-making or whatever!"

I love it! Keeps me honest. If you are an artist or an inspiring one check out her blog at http://www.creativeeveryday.com/creativeeveryday/art-every-day-month.html
and participate! Don't worry if you are too late in participating she welcomes participants at all times of the month. Just do it!!!

Art Inspiration in The Movie: "The Secret Life of Bee's"




This weekend a friend and I had the pleasure of taking in the movie "The Secret Life of Bees". This is the hit movie with Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, and Alicia Keys. One of my admired artists, Poncho Brown, told me to pay attention to the labels of the jars of honey shown in the movie.

The honey jar labels featuring a "Black Madonna" and child were created by artist, Charles Bibbs. Sure enough around the middle of the movie the jars were featured.

Sue Bee Honey announced in a press release Friday, October 21st that it is producing limited edition bottles of Black Madonna Honey. In the film, Bibbs rendering of "The Black Madonna" is seen on the labels of honey jars. It will be featured on real bottles of Sue Bee honey. Proceeds will benefit First Book, a nonprofit organization that supplies reading material to low-income families.

"The Black Madonna" is only one prong of Sue Bee's promotion, which includes a movie tie-in cookbook and in-store displays. For more info check out http://www.suebee.com/

This movie has inspired me to do some art around it- perhaps some dolls. Stay tuned...

Sunday, November 2, 2008

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Double Visions!



Folks! I am announcing my next exhibition! More details to follow!