We've Moved!!!

Hi there--I just fell in love with Wordpress!

Wordpress suits my needs much better than the Blogger platform, so I've imported this blog over there, and I believe it will be a much more enjoyable experience!

If you have this blog bookmarked as www.eclipsegalleryblog.com it will still work.
If not, please update your bookmarks and RSS feed. Thank you so much!

This blog will still be available for viewing, but I will not be updating it anymore.
Visit the new blog for new posts!

I am looking forward to bringing you a more delightful blog from now on!

Jennifer Marsh

Jennifer Marsh: Lawnmower


I am very excited to announce that Jennifer Marsh will be representing Alabama and Community-Based Medium for the 50 Artists, 50 States, 50 Mediums exhibition!

Jennifer is the founder of the International Fiber Collective, an organization that creates community-based, large-scale fiber projects. You may have heard of her Gas Station Wrapping project, which received a lot of press--including a feature in FiberArts Magazine.

Jennifer's current project is Interdependence. Participants will create a full-sized tree for display in April 2009 in Huntsville, Alabama. The concept is, "much like a live tree is interdependent on its leaves and roots for survival, societies are interdependent on the greater whole, family units, communities, and countries."

Participants from around the world are invited to create leaves to contribute to the creation of the tree. In total, up to 30,000 leaves may be used. For more information on how to participate, click here. This is open to all age groups and levels of artistic ability.

Jennifer's next, highly ambitious project after the tree is wrapping a NASA rocket! But she needs help raising the money to rent the expensive crane required to install the artwork. Click here to see how you can help and become involved. She needs your help!

We are also planning a solo show for Jennifer's sculpture in the future--stay tuned!

Stephen Day Design

Large wood-framed sconce

[VG Fir / stained glass / acrylic / aluminum / incandescent lamps]

'milieu' accent lamp
[concrete / copper / halogen lamps]

'Found Object' sconce
[Radiology film / Walnut / fluorescent lamps]



I'm in love with Stephen Day's lighting design--and he will be representing California for the 50/50/50 show

I am still accepting submissions for the show, and am looking for unique mediums especially. The following states and mediums are already taken:
CA, NY, NJ, VA, PA, WI, MI, AL
Lighting Design, Mixed Media, Pastel, Ceramics, Paper, Silkscreen

Click here for more info on how to submit your work or e-mail me.

Latest from Matt Shlian

Limited Edition book by Matthew Shlian!

64 pages, A5 size (5.75 in x 8.25 in), perfect bound, full color, signed, limited edition (of 100) with extra die cut pages for you to fold up!!!

Showcases work from 2002-2008

Fits perfectly well into any stocking and will be shipped to you
on December 15th.

Matt Shlian

Thesis
paper, motor, string 24in x 15in x 13ft
2006 see the video

One
paper 15 x 15 (closed) 2004

Inhale Exhale Flip Book
cut paper 2 x 7 .5 inches 2005 see the video


I love Matt Shillian's paper work. Make sure to visit his great website
and also his blog.

He will be representing Michigan for the 50/50/50 Show,
and will also be involved with an upcoming paper-medium show!

Matt from Collective Revolution

falou monster

television rules the nation

bk stripes


So excited that I will be carrying these hand silk screened shirts in The Eclipse Gallery. I just bought the TV one. Matt will also be a participant in the 50/50/50 show representing New Jersey!

I'm still looking for artists, craftspeople, and designers so make sure to submit your work!

See more here

Local Events: Vacant

An opportunity to support the growing contemporary art community in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Vacant will be hosting a temporary art exhibition this Friday night. Be there to support these artists! Go to S. Brodway Street in Green Bay, next to Kavarna, Friday night between 6-10 PM.

I'll be there for sure! Hopefully this show will be sucessful so that more projects such as this can develop in the area. I'm excited!

Sandra Freeman

Seedpods

Lilies

White Lily

Just a sneak peek of some of the artwork you will see at The Eclipse Gallery in June.

Sandra Freeman is a photographer from Texas. She has a great website--check it out!

Liz Gresey

Emily

Mik

Laura Jane


I have been working with Chicago artist Liz Gresey with The Emergence Project, and I am happy that she will be involved in the upcoming Personality exhibition at The Eclipse Gallery.

One of her current projects is "I am ready to change"--you can see all of the images from this series here.
Also make sure to visit her blog here.

Her work will definitely add an interesting dimension to our grand opening exhibition! I can't wait!

Updated Website

Just a quick note to let you know I've updated the website once again (I'm a little OCD) but I think you will find this design to be much better.

I've also revised some of my statements on the About page, and if you haven't seen the online store yet make sure to visit.

Check it out!

Another blurred intersection...

Curating. Just as I am interested in the intersections between the art, craft, and design worlds, so too am I interested in breaking the stereotypes of what it means to be a curator. Labels and stereotypes run rampant in the art world, and I feel compelled to dismiss, ignore, and criticize all of them. What does it mean to be an artist and a curator? I don't feel my position makes my art or my curating any less valid. After all, people are capable of more than one role in life. I'm a mother too--does my work as an artist and a curator make my parenting any less important?
Of course not.

There has been a lot of talk and criticism of the concept of curating as art. There are contemporary curators like Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ydessa Hendeles that create unique exhibitions that some people consider art (or at least creative). I don't see anything wrong with this. After all, curators are now coming from various backgrounds--no longer simply art historians--curators like me have something to actually contribute, not just intellectualize, organize, and install.

The group show is most conductive to this type of curating. My exhibitions will be based on curatorial premises or concepts. When I think of an idea for a show, it is very similar to when I think of an idea for artwork. That is not to say that there isn't a distinction between curating and art. One artist working somewhat within the scope that I am talking about is Julieta Aranda who created projects such as Pawnshop and E-flux video rentals.

Visit the E-flux website for more interesting info & projects

For more that I've written on this subject, visit Visual Influence.

I've only scratched the surface here--if you are interested in this subject I would recommend the current issue of Art Lies, which includes several in-depth articles on Death of the Curator.

As always, I would be interested in your thoughts--feel free to comment or e-mail me.

Sher Christopher

Bathers #2

Pied Piper

Pox, the ship's cook

Sher Christopher creates unique and detailed paper sculptures, exploring characters that she invents.

Visit her website for more information, and look for her work in The Eclipse Gallery this summer!

Personality Exhibition and Justin Madson

Our grand opening exhibition is going to be

Personality: Exploring Real People & Imaginary Characters

I would like to show three regional artists and am hoping the artists I have in mind will be available. The one artist I have confirmed is Justin Madson, who is an illustrator and cartoonist exploring contemporary characters. He is from Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Below are a few examples of his work.


Whimsy

Freckles

The Cold Creeps In
(appropriate for today, since there were a few snow flurries here!)

Find out more about Justin on his website, Just Mad Books.
And buy his work on Etsy.

I will be exhibiting his original illustrations, prints, artist books, and comics.

The exhibition will run May 29, 2009 - September 27, 2009
Work will also be available for sale via our online shop at that time.

New Website Feature: My Writing

I've added a few articles, essays, and exhibition critiques that I've written over the past couple years to the website. I have four articles up right now and will add more later. I'm an avid writer and thought I would share. Topics include Craftivism, Kyoung Ae Cho, Messages & Magic, and Art World Norms Have to Change.

Here's the link

Enjoy!

Sign up for our Mailings!

Sign up for our snail mail list to receive exhibition invitations & announcements (colorful, interesting, and free postcards to brighten up your mailbox!), discounts for use in-store or via web, and more. You will also receive our quarterly e-newsletter with updates about The Eclipse Gallery, and my other projects: Visual Influence and The Emergence Project.

Don't worry--we never sell or rent your information, because that's just not nice!

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Banner & Website Updates

Don't you love the new banner? It was made by kieutiepie on Etsy. She does great work, inexpensive and fast!!!

I updated the website with the new look as well!
And guess what? I now have e-commerce functionality, so shortly you will be able to actually buy some of the things I've been talking so madly about. I discovered eCrater.com, a build-it-yourself FREE store that uses Google checkout. And if you use AdWords, they process your transactions for free too! The best thing is that I've ended up with an online store that has a decent design! It's perfect until I can afford a spiffy new website design someday.

Click here to check out my shop. There's not much in it yet though!

Our Logo!

It was really hard to find the right company to design my logo. I would have loved to pay a bigger sum of money for a logo by an independent designer, but with all the costs of renovations for the building, and the fact that I just had to install a new furnace, I had to go with a cheaper option.

Luckily, I found Logocare. I can't tell you how happy I am with their service, the design choices, and the unlimited revisions! It was a fast process and great results. I would definitely recommend their services to anybody.

the Kohler Arts Center

215 Points of View by Jonathan Schipper

I drove a little over an hour this morning down to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI. Interestingly enough, it's one of the only major art centers in Wisconsin that I haven't ever visited. I was more than impressed with the level of professionalism and importance of works displayed. This is definitely my new favorite place to be.

Their main exhibition right now is Messages & Magic: 100 Years of Collage and Assemblage in American Art. Quite the criteria, I thought, especially as I read from the newsletter that the show "is an unprecedented exhibition that traces American popular culture through a century of collage and assemblage." But I was pleasantly surprised to see works by the likes of:

Peter Sarkisian and this mixed media/video work on a car door
Ray Yoshida, an icon of the Chicago art scene
Lenore Tawney, a very influential textile/collage artist & sculptor
Henry Darger
and many more amazing artists...

There was even a display of Ray Johnson works and an explanation of Mail Art, something near and dear to my heart since I am also involved in this movement.

That was only one of about five exhibits at the Kohler. Another notable exhibition is Wisconsin artist kathryn e martin's installation Flotant. It is a breathtaking experience that you have to witness. The few pictures available don't cut it.

The amount of activities available to participate in here are enormous. Classes, performance art, films, residencies, and a myriad of projects. By the time I was ready to leave, I was also ready to write out a check and support this unique art center so close to my home! But even if you don't have much money, it's great, because admission is free.

All in all a great experience and I would highly recommend visiting! The collage show runs until January 25, 2009.

Renovations: a little progress

The first thing we are doing is tearing the nasty hung ceiling down to reveal to old tin ceiling. It is in pretty rough shape, but we wanted to salvage all the tin and create a Lousie Nevelson-esque ceiling. In other words, put as much tin as we can back up, leave the copper pipes and such that would be really hard to move, and insert some sculptural elements. Then we will paint the whole thing matte black.

Of course the artists in us saved all the scrap metal for use in future projects. Good thing we have a huge basement!

Here you can see the tin ceiling as it is now.

I just had to show this fake tile and lace stapled to the wall--how funny!

Brandon hard at work--I don't know what I would do without him! I did attempt to use a couple power tools today, but it's really not my thing :)

Concerning the Arts in Wisconsin

I just found an easy, FREE, way to support the arts in Wisconsin.
Click here to support the New Economy Funding Initiative. Just by signing up, even if you do not donate any money, you will help the Wisconsin Arts Board, who are actively:

• Investing in regional economic development through the arts
• Creating new and exciting partnerships and job opportunities based on creativity and innovation
• Attracting and retaining innovative companies and entrepreneurs
• Educating the 21st century workforce, through arts integration and involvement for all Wisconsin students
• Strengthening Wisconsin's artistic and cultural infrastructure, for vibrant and livable communities in every corner of the state.

Make sure to visit the Arts Wisconsin website and have fun exploring all the links!

They also have a Business and Arts Handbook, which has some of the most informative content I have seen in a long time, aimed at convincing everyone of the importance of arts in the community!

Living in a different state? Click here for a list of state and regional arts agencies.