Life with coffee spoon

The inspiration for this came from an old copy of Hints from Heloise. She writes about all the letters she has received from who women not using their really good dishes, linens, etc for the family and only saving them for guests, "who is more important and loved than your family."

From there I started pulling together various items that merge when two people unite. Some that are precious, others that represent dreams, like the car trip to Switzerland, a piece of the good sterling, and the music to a special song. Also included is a sumi ink painting of poppies I did as a study for another painting. Many of these pieces, incomplete, broken, ripped or tattered, but come together to reveal two lives intertwined.

My cousin has a great deal of china and crystal stem wear inherited from various relatives or bought for a song at an estate sale. She uses it every day, drinks diet coke out of very elegant wine goblets, in a very non-pretentious way. It is one of the many things I find endearing about her, why not use it for yourself and your family for heavens sake. She also recently obtained a goat named Sally for the farm.

So further down are a few shots of "Life with Coffee Spoon" actually hanging up over the mantle in a home. Have also done a few of these as commissions for couples about to get married and a few on anniversaries. Enjoyable, I mostly like to hear their stories....

Recent Illustrations

These are two illustrations for a songbook I did recently. I haven't painted in a while and boy was it a struggle. Have a few ideas for a childrens book based on some of this...but really must work out those artistic kinks before hand.

From the Six Women Six Perspectives Opening

Six Women Six Perspectives

Six Women: Six Perspectives Opens at Holy Family University
Running Dates:  10/6/08-10/29/08 Opening:
 Monday October 13, 2008 at 6 p.m.-  Location:
Holy Family University Gallery
Lower Level John M. Perzel Education Technology Center
9801 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 215-637-7700
Six Women:  Six Perspectives features work by six women:  
Jane Craven, Kathy Dobash, Bonnie MacAllister, Meredith McDonald, 
Sonia Sherrod, and Michelle Wilson. 

Jane Craven is a graduate of the sculpture MFA program at the University of the Arts. 
She holds a BFA and teacher certification from Moore College of Art.   Her two and three-dimensional
 work is compelling.  She most recently installed  “Sculptoure”: a site-specific installation in Long
Branch, New Jersey.   Craven will show mixed media, clay, and plaster work at Holy Family. 

Kathy Dobash is a Luzerne County artist and an art educator.  She has been an artist her whole life.
 Kathy is known as the artist-in-residence  in the historic Markle Building. Renovating a century
old ceiling in this building  has inspired Kathy to create a new series of work.  Dobash brings
 mixed media  and oil pastel work to this exhibition. 

Bonnie MacAllister is an artist, author, and educator.  She has most recently  exhibited
at the Utopian Library in Viareggio, Italy and in la Galería del MEC,  Montevideo, Uruguay
 (along with Michelle Wilson).  She is currently exhibiting  with the Women’s Caucus for Art
DC Chapter in Tacoma Park, MD. Her work for this  exhibition explores Catholicism and
identity through a feminist lens. 

Meredith McDonald holds a Master in Teaching Visual Arts from the University of the Arts
and has studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts. She is a 2008 
recipient of the Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grant which funds women in the 
arts in Philadelphia.  An accomplished artist, Meredith brings intriguing new oil 
work to Holy Family University.

Sonia Sherrod  describes her craft, “As an assemblage artist, I try to re-create
 beauty or relativity out of the discarded, broken, and abandoned found objects 
juxtaposed with my own original 2-d art, old photographs, and words. 
These constructions explore the relativeness of color, shadows, and shape as 
well as compartmentalizing thematic associations of still-life, portrait, 
and landscape....empty, full, crowded and sparse, revealing and withholding 
within a narrative context.”  She has exhibited widely including Festival of the Masters
 in Orlando, Florida and the Manchester National Juried Fine 
 Art Exhibition in Richmond VA.  Sherrod will exhibit new assemblages in 
“Six Women:  Six Perspectives.. 

Michelle Wilson is the creator of Rocinante Press and the Migratory Books Project.  
Michelle describes her art forms, “In my work, I seek to reveal the stories of  unseen
connections and unconsidered issues that are connected to the experience  
of the human condition.  Through the use of intersecting narratives that become
 reflective metaphors for each other, I examine political, historical and  ecological links.” 
Her work is widely collected and exhibited in the  United States and abroad.
In this exhibition, Wilson will show lithograph  inclusion in handmade cotton/abaca paper.

Money it's a gas................

Here is a new one I'm finishing off this week....not a small feat in my studio that has no ac in 90 degree weather. Sweat, adhesives and many kinds, saw dust, recycled paper, tacky bling, a silver spoon, purse strings and dirty money........oh and of course gas. Sure is taking a hunk of my stash to fill up the subuey. This image is a little blurry but it is my grandfather standing beside a gas pump....it says pure pep on the pump. Not sure when it was taken. But for my sentiments about money let's turn to FDR's 1st inaugural speech:

The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of the restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit.

Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.

Recognition of the falsity of material wealth as the standard of success goes hand in hand with the abandonment of the false belief that public office and high political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit; and there must be an end to a conduct in banking and in business which too often has given to a sacred trust the likeness of callous and selfish wrongdoing. Small wonder that confidence languishes, for it thrives only on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection, on unselfish performance; without them it cannot live.

Restoration calls, however, not for changes in ethics alone. This Nation asks for action, and action now.

Mermaid singing

This one is almost done, I have not put a wire one the back for hanging so it is a little propped i n this photo. Might call it the "Lady of the Lake," or something like that instead. A few more things to complete and she will be done as well. Her hair needs some work also.

Commissions etc

Usually ignoring my blog means I'm getting a lot done in studio. Two commissions are all but finished and have a prolific week since coming back from vacation. So here they are...."Flappers and Slides with the Kitchen sink" and "Creatures of the Great Wide Open." All things are adhered on Flappers and the 3d objects are adhereing as we speak on Creatures.

Diagrams and Patterns

So here is a altered journal I made using a dress pattern as back ground, included a schematic, instructions from a book shelf assembly pamphlet, a reproduction of a leonardo de vinci notebook page, piece of lace, washer, and some blue decorative paper.  You can see how Leonardo wrote perfectly backwards in this design.  The journal is for any creative who has their own way of doing things, their own method of recording ideas or process.

Flappers, Jesters, and Socket covers on Wainscotting

This a commission I am finishing. Originally I was using old images from Vanity Fair, but found it a bit to cluttered. The local lumber company gladly donated a generous quantity of scrap wainscotting to my cause. The material works so well for the base relief pieces, it is so sturdy....but must be roughed with a file to allow the adhesive to stick properly. The figures, were actually create by the client who commissioned the piece as well as the triangle inserts. They are scraps from wooden bowls they make in their woodshop.

A fellow art amigo often accuses me of throwing everything in but the kitchen sink.... so for this one I decided that the kitchen sink worked! Now the hard part of attaching the hardwire to hang, which means it is finished. Will post the finish product within the next few days.

Postal Art Connection

The National Postal Museum is putting out a call for postcard mail art!

Postcard Art Connection
Saturday, June 28, 2008
1:00 âm 4:00 p.m.

Postcards carry messages of friendship and travel. Design a creative postcard with your message of friendship and mail it to the National Postal Museum before this June program to participate in a “mail art� display. On the day of the workshop, all are welcome to create mail art.

Please mail your postcard art by June 20 to:

Postcard Art Connection
National Postal Museum Education Department
PO Box 37012, MRC 570
Washington, DC 20013-7012

Scenes from opening receptions in Wilmington, DE

This is a collborative piece made by members of the Philadelphia Chapter of the WCA and members of Rubia. The piece as well as works from the WCA are hanging at the Louis Redding Gallery 800 North French Street, Willmington DE.

Two Shows in Wilmington

I am in a solo show at 7 arts Gallery in Wilmington
and a group show with the WCA at the Louis L. Redding City County Building.
You can download the May brochure of Wilmington's Artloop here
www.ci.wilmington.de.us/artloop

Congrats to Mrs Floyd E Cahoon

Mrs. Floyd E Cahoon was awarded Honorable Mention in
the 1212 Gallery Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition 2008!
The juror was Elizabeth Schlatter,
Deputy Director and Curator,
University of Richmond Museums.

Liquid ships with wooden sails

Liquid ships with wooden sails
Floating in a paper sea,
wrapped in hay bales and bamboo
upon a splattered beach
with eyes shut tight by ink
how does she stop to think?
Are they ships or are they sharks
do hay bales bind or protect
and what are all those tiny specks
scattered in the sand...
bits of glass, smallish fish
or 10 million little finger tips
of a million helping hands.

Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition

Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition 2008 at 12 12 Gallery

Mnjfae08 12 12 Gallery's highly successful competition, Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition, is the gallery's first all media show for 2008. Juror and Curator N. Elizabeth Schlatter, Deputy Director and Curator, University of Richmond Museums, selected 53 works from 46 artists from a total of 593 images from 132 artists. Awards presentation and artists' reception on Sunday, April 6th, from 2 - 5 pm. The exhibition runs through Sunday, May 4th.

Richmond artists Judith Anderson, Ann Bradshaw, Lorraine Brevig, Catherine Farmer, Joelle Francht, Edwin Hollaway, and Zach Walker are among the finalists competing for up to $1000 in cash prizes.

Other finalists are Jorge Albertella, Marcia Babler, Beki Borman, Roger Cannon, James Cooper, Rebecca Degenhardt, Sally Dill, Anca Dobrian, William Durrill, Nancy Fairchild, Claire Feng, Ernie Fournet, Morgan Frew, Margaret Gluhman, Wayne Guenther, Bro Halff, Ann Harper, Annie Hogan, Phyllis Hollenbeck, Jordan Kasey, Geraldine Kiefer, Leslie Krane, Mark Lembo, Jennifer Martin, Michael Mastro, Brittain McJunkin, Monika Merva, Marcia Middleton, Karen Phipps, Steve Shanks, Sonia Sherrod, Denis Sivack, Stuart South, Leo Theinert, Cole Thompson, Jessica van Brakle, Chloe Watson, and Pat Wilson.

Two pieces in National Juried Exhibitions

"Mrs. Floyd E Cahoon" has traveled back down south again to Richmond, Va to make an appearence at "12 12 Gallery's Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition 2008"

The show runs March 28 through May 4, 2008
Reception Sunday, April 6th

Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 12-4PM, Saturday, 11AM-6PM, Sunday 12-5PM and by appointment.

12 12 Gallery
12 East 12th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23224
(804) 233-9957


"White House" travels west to Colorado to make it's national debut at the Englewood National Juried Art Show in Englewood, Colorado. Also made the front of the postcard! First time for any of my work. Here is the press release:

"Exhibiting for a sixth year, this event brings the work of visual artists from around the country to Englewood. View a selection of two and three dimensional visual entries. The show is open Thursdays through Saturdays through April 26 and is free of charge. Presented by Englewood Arts with support from the City of Englewood, Englewood Cultural Arts Commission, and Englewood Parks and Recreation."

Date: 4/3/2008 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Hampden Hall at Englewood Civic Center
1000 Englewood Parkway, 2nd Floor
Englewood, Colorado

Those dancing days are gone by carla bruni

Come, let me sing into your ear;
Those dancing days are gone,
All that silk and satin gear;
Crouch upon a stone,
Wrapping that foul body up
In as foul a rag:
I carry the sun in a golden cup.
The moon in a silver bag.

Curse as you may I sing it through;
What matter if the knave
That the most could pleasure you,
The children that he gave,
Are somewhere sleeping like a top
Under a marble flag?
I carry the sun in a golden cup.
The moon in a silver bag.

I thought it out this very day.
Noon upon the clock,
A man may put pretence away
Who leans upon a stick,
May sing, and sing until he drop,
Whether to maid or hag:
I carry the sun in a golden cup,
The moon in a silver bag.

Up for Auction

I donated a painting of titled "John Heinz Nature center" to the Helen Kate Furness Free Library silent auction. This painting looks much better in real life- is very high key and hard to photograph. So click on the title post and go right to their website to purchase tickets. The party is this Friday the 8th starts at 7:30 until 11:00 at the Old Mill in Rose Valley. Music by The Don Jones Band. Good food and cocktails. Always a good time.

Please vote for Me!

One of my assemblage sculptures, The Girl from Ipanema, was chosen as a finalist in the Women's History Month: Relics and Rembrances March '2008 online exhibit. Apparently the pieces for the physical exhibit will be chosen by public vote from the images that are online. So basically anyone can vote for their choice from the images presented at this site. There are some really amazing pieces and I felt really humbled and honor to be included.

Here is the link for the site:http://picasaweb.google.com/reflectarts1/FinalistsWomenSHistoryMonth2008RelicsRemembrances

Basically to vote you simply send an e-mail with the name of the artist, like maybe sonia sherrod, in the subject line to
vote@reflect-arts.com

January 31 is the last day to vote. The Exhibition will take place March 8-30 2008 at the Fountainhead Gallery 32 West 28th New York, NY.

Row

My grandfather use to sing Row, row, row your boat to get us to sleep when we were children. The words were a bit mixed up in my head and I though it went "Life is butterbeans," rather than "Life is but a dream." Have been working on this for a while now and am about 95% finished. Sort sums up my sentiments about my grandfather in a tangential kind of way. He came from a farming family in Hyde county NC, but had to sell when is father died unexpectedly...he managed hotels for many years, but eventually settled in Tarboro and owned a John Deere dealership. There were hours of fun pretending to drive the tractors and combines as a child. Not a big talker, tall, good dresser had a very calm demeanor that you seldom see in men anymore. About a year before he died we went to Greenville to pick up eye glasses for my grandmother and myself. We waited for my grandmother in the car and he talked about growing up on a farm and his grandfather Harris... was a clear fall day under some long leaf pines and I remember looking at the piles of pinestraw on the ground the coppery color and the blue sky...that is the color of eastern NC to me.

While working on this piece two songs played along in my head. One was John Prine's "Grandpa was a Carpenter" ...always reminded me of Papa even though he was not a carpenter.... esp the part about wearing a suit to dinner and driving to church on Sunday. The other song was by The Gourds, "Coppermine" from Stadium Blitzer. The lyrics are as follows:
Coppermine, oh coppermine

My great-great grandfolk on my father's side

used to work,in a coppermine - oh yeah

A penny here, a penny there

won't you drop one in my waterwell

The women lived in Maine* my friend

The men they lived underground

Copperwire oh copperwire

clever clever copperwire

Wrapped in black rubber

never knew it was a miner's manner

I loved so well

A penny here, a penny there

won't you drop one in my waterwell

The women lived in Maine my friend

The men they lived underground

Last winter I went to an exhibit of book arts and there was a piece that had an ipod that you listened, was mostly the artist talking. Would love to create something with both these songs playing interchangeably and some stream of concious thought process intermixed.

Dresses and Houses Series

Here is another of my Dresses and Houses series. This is more embellished, same print of my hometown only a different watercolor wash.  Again I go for the lace and buttons and frilly dress intermingled with the ornate Victorian houses from my hometown, Tarboro, North Carolina.  So this one adds the excitement and preparations of dressing up for a party, or dance.  It is now in a private collection in Belair, Maryland.





Here is a slight poem I wrote about the piece.

Dressin' up on dressin' tables
fool the mirror
wear the labels
of love, and loss and treachery
combing hair and rolling up
with sticky gels and fading luck
lipstick and a pick up truck
seemed so glamourous

Getting through the winter painting plum blossoms

This is a small Japanese brush painting of plum blossoms on thai paper, with lace on the side. I prefer lace in paintings as it typically scratches when worn. It is the chinese flower of flowers for winter so delicate in contrast to starkness of the season. The plum blossom symbolizes purity, strength, courage and perseverance. So I will go to my studio and paint the blossoms and the raggedy jaggedy stems and bark.

From Studio tour set up

Here are some photos of my studio as seen during our open studio show this past weekend. Was really a blast and good to get things spiffied up for company. Also finishing a few in limbo pieces was good as well.

Mrs. Floyd E. Cahoon goes to Knoxville, TN

"Mrs. Floyd E. Cahoon" was selected for the exhibition titled, "Reconfigured," held at The Basement Gallery in Knoxville, Tennessee. The show will run from November 2nd until November 24th with an opening reception on the 2nd from 6pm until 10pm in conjunction with Knoxville's Friday night Arts Walk.

Here is more information about The Basement Gallery from their website:

The Basement Gallery is a small artist run gallery exhibiting contemporary fine art in Knoxville, Tennessee. The gallery was established in June of 2006 and began specializing in emerging, mid career and established artists. The Basement Gallery exhibits national & international artists each month and local/regional artists are on view most months.

We hold new exhibits monthly and have free admission, but are willing to except any and all donations to help keep the arts alive in our neighborhood and help us to bring the best exhibits to Knoxville, TN.

The current Director/Curator is T. Michael Martin who received his MFA in Painting from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005 and his BA in Studio Art from the University of Tennessee in 2002.

Some works in Progress

Here are a few things that I have been working on of late. The one on the lower right is finished. Trying to put the studio back together after Art Festival, and finish more work. Overall had a good show, not so easy to do outdoor shows with this kind of work...they tend to get a bit dirty. Will make more journals for next time and small lower price point items for sure.