words + pictures from the studio of Joan Colbert
Brothers Pete and John are certainly a delightful pair! These mixed media portraits were completed this past fall, commissioned as a gift for their parents. Matted and framed to 11 x 14 inches, the paintings are large enough for the wall, but can also be accommodated on a shelf or table.
initial watercolor wash
Tags: portrait
The 2012 exhibition schedule for Summit Artspace Gallery and the BOX gallery is now complete. New shows opened in both galleries on Friday, November 16, and will run through First Night Akron on December 31.
Kaleidoscope, the Alliance for the Visual Arts annual juried exhibition, features 68 pieces selected by jurors, Marina Mangubi and John Smolko. On the building’s third floor, the BOX gallery has two exhibits on view: Change in Common, collage by Shirley Ende-Saxe and painting and sculpture by Katina Pastis Radwanski in the ‘big box’ along with On Pins & Needles, cut paper dimensional work by Kristi Wall in the ‘little box.’
Roma by Miller Horns
Miller Horns, friend and artist, died yesterday at Summa/Akron City Hospital.
“. . . But someday somebody’ll
Stand up and talk about me,
And write about me–
Black and beautiful–
And sing about me,
And put on plays about me!
This 2009 photo is from Miller’s exhibit in the BOX gallery; a few weeks later he won the Akron Area Arts Alliance Arts Alive! award for visual arts.
Miller’s public artwork depicting the Matthews Hotel, constructed last year, was to be a monument to George Mathews [sic], but will forever be a reminder of someone I was fortunate to know. Rest in peace, Miller.
Artist who dreamed of Matthews Hotel monument dies before final view, Akron Beacon Journal.
There have been some incredible night skies this fall. While the city lights make stargazing a bit difficult, the moon has at times been so big and bold that streetlights seem dim in comparison. A recent monotype fast forwards to winter branches sillhouetted by the coming Winter Moon. It is now hanging outside the studio at Summit Artspace with two earlier prints, bringing a little moonlight indoors.
Winter Moon
La Lune
Autumn Moon
The visual used for the facebook event page for the world premier of Dr. Sol Haring’s film, No Time to Get Old, is a familiar one. The lettering was photographed in the hallway outside my studio in 2011 during the interview and filming. The quote, “life is serious, but art is fun,” is from John Irving’s Hotel New Hampshire. The upbeat message comes at a sad turn of events in the novel, reminding the characters and the reader to ‘keep passing the open window.’ For some reason I have never had the inclination to repaint the moulding – and now it seems unlikely to change anytime soon.
Sol, of Graz, Austria, focused on a dozen women artists, from Little Rock, Arkansas and Akron, Ohio, whose ages she described as circling 50. The group included musicians and visual artists. While each story is individual, attitudes and concerns were often similar. Appreciation for the sense of knowledge and freedom that comes with age was expressed by most of the artists. A feeling of gratitude for the ability to follow their passions further into the future was universal.
Interviews were conducted and filmed in Akron a year ago by Sol and her crew, Andrea Wildbein and Isa Hollauf.
photo courtesy of Sol Haring film
Sol returned to the states for the premier, presented in Akron, Ohio, on October 9, 2012. Following the film, screened in the auditorium of the Akron- Summit County Public Library, there was some friendly interaction between the artists and the audience.
photo by Daniela Jauk
No Time to Get Old has not yet been released to the public, but the stories and images are now online at videography – sol haring film. Included in her site are the formative ideas and background for the project and the stories shared by all of the women. Featured artists from Little Rock are Sherrie Shepherd, Shannon Boshears, Marjorie Williams-Smith, V.L. Cox, Delita Martin and Diane Page Harper. Closer to home are Peggy Coyle, Marti Jeffers, Amy Walker, Marilyn Dirrig and Connie Bloom, whose statement about time and aging became the title. Participating in this project was way outside my comfort zone. Meeting Sol and the other incredible, inspiring women was a memorable reward for trying something new.
photo from Sol Haring’s No Time to Get Old
Each day during American Craft Week Don Drumm Studios & Gallery offers an afternoon workshop for anyone who wants to try a new medium or learn new techniques. First up was the Monotype Workshop, held on a very chilly Monday. After a brief intro on relief printing by hand, the enthusiastic participants gave monotype printing a try. Despite the falling temperatures and the temperamental ink everyone enthusiastically embraced the unpredictable nature of the medium and went home with an impressive selection of prints.
photo courtesy of Don Drumm Studios & Gallery
The monotypes below are among new work printed before the workshop.
Windflowers
monotype (Createx ink)
Autumn
monotype (Createx ink)
Other workshops included Feather Earrings with Renee Armstrong, Felted Flowers with Paula Singleton and Creating with Found Objects with Shannon Casey. American Craft Week at Drumm’s ended with the 4th Annual Light-UP Lantern Festival on Saturday evening.
In recent years Child Guidance & Family Solutions, a behavioral healthcare agency in Summit County, chooses work by a local artist for its annual report. Rephrasing that: artwork is chosen for a poster – with the annual report printed on the back. What a super idea! The original artwork, if donated, is auctioned off at their fundraising event, Growing Up Akron. The posters/annual reports are distributed to their many supporters and associates.
For 2012 I created a new mixed media piece in the Imprints series just for CG&FS. In keeping with the agency’s mission and this year’s theme of community, I included a bit of childlike imagery and used a bright palette to keep things upbeat.
Imprints/Out + About
mixed media
2012
Child Guidance & Family Solutions poster (detail)
The first time I saw the gallery dog image was before photographer Robert Dill decided on his choices for last summer’s photo show, Life’s a Beach, at Summit Artspace. Although I thought he captured the feeling of life’s a beach, he went with a more traditional grouping of his photographs. Little did I know that he would print up a 4 x 6 version for The Postcard Show – and I must confess that it was the very first postcard sold. (There are advantages to being gallery coordinator!) I am in love with the gallery pup in the window – art and dogs, what can I say?!
Postcard art can find its way into even the smallest niche: here it is in the company of books, framed to sit in the bookcase.
The Postcard Show, a celebration of the first decade of Summit Artspace, was a success on many levels: artists enjoyed supporting the gallery while trying their hand at some (very) small art; patrons enjoyed the variety of artwork and hoped that their favorites hadn’t already acquired a red dot; Summit Artspace benefited from the generosity of both the artists and the patrons; and, those of us lucky enough to purchase work are now able to enjoy it daily.
I was immediately drawn to Kathleen Harrington’s tiny painting, Akron Bound. Visit Kathleen’s site to see more of her expressive work.
Little did I know that I already owned the perfect frame for this piece. Akron Bound is displayed beneath an untitled photo by Charles Szabla. The two were made to hang around together!
