Worth the Trip! Art and Inspiration!

Spring has sprung and the forecast this weekend is "set" to be mild and sunny..a perfect time to seek inspiration and view some incredible art. I visited three friends and fellow artists this week. Pure sunshine amid the rain! If you get a chance ,visit these guys and be sure to say Jude sent you.

1. Ellarslie Trenton City Museum: Hurry in and see the tail end of the current exhibit:Made You Look: The Art of Deception
Deborah Raven, Eric Schultz and Natalie Featherston
February 28, 2009 - April 19, 2009. It really is a "must see." I especially liked Eric's monumental sculptures, constructed from recycled metal and other materials. His use of discarded auto parts,light fixtures,aluminum,steel,hardware and wire have been perfectly married to form interesting high tech figures that strangely seem "life like.". These found object masterpieces are silver,shiny and highly intriguing!

While visiting,say hello to Brian O. Hill, the director of The Trenton City Museum, who prides himself on sharing this NJ artistic gem and whose efforts during his 10 years as director , have resulted in an incredible increase in attendance and renewed interest in the museum!(You can't miss him...he greatly resembles Santa!) Soon to open is the annual juried exhibition," the Ellarslie Open, which highlights the abundance of regional artistic talent. This exhibit provides visitors with an opportunity to view the finest regional work from the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, as well as work from as far away as California." To read more about Ellarslie visit: http://www.ellarslie.org

"The museum is located in Ellarslie Mansion, an Italianate villa built in 1848. The mansion is the centerpiece of Cadwalader Park, which was designed by the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, whose most famous work is New York City's Central Park."

2. Today I met with Joel Monesson, artist and director of the Mattison Gallery in Asbury Park. I was fortunate to have my first solo exhibit at the Mattison Gallery in February.Join Joel and artist Melissa Bronwen Pyle on Friday evening, April 17, 2009 , 7-10 pm for the opening of Pyle's show "Heaven Over Earth." Her resin pieces and large scale round landscapes are spectacular!Live music and refreshments are a plus! Joel is busy working on several very provocative contemporary plaster sculptures for his own upcoming exhibit in May. If you can't find him to talk about art,music or building restoration or preservation, check out the band! Joel can be found playing harmonica or a host of other instruments with the very talented Colie Brice and Friends.And Joel would much rather be sculpting and playing music, than talking anyway:)
http://www.mattisongallery.com/

3. To make the day absolutely awesome, I visited Jim Inzero,Jersey Shore based encaustic painter. Jim and I successfully exhibited together last November. Both of us have been very fortunate with recent sales and commissions but Jim, especially,despite the recent economic down turn,has been selling at a consistent pace to very saavy and appreciative customers ! We discussed our shared enthusiasm and the ever increasing momentum of our careers and ideas! We both agree, the best is yet to come. Visit Jim's site http://shoreartist.blogspot.com/ to view his colorful wax creations or stop by and visit Jim and his wife Lauren in Pt. Pleasant Beach at their trendy yet tasteful,gift and clothing boutique, Stella e Luna.http://stellaeluna.blogspot.com/

And now I am off to prepare for my highly anticipated trip to beautiful Minneapolis for the National Art Educator's Association's annual conference.http://www.naea-reston.org This event is the largest of it's kind in the WORLD. I am more than excited:) I am confident that I will bring back a wealth of ideas and information that will influence my work and the work of my students. I also happen to be traveling with a very esteemed group of Art educators/artists. These people are seriously like the "rock stars" of the Art education world.In New Orleans, I swear people wanted their autographs! Very cool! I am more like a starry eyed groupie just tagging along:)

Prints of my work can be purchased at the Mattison Gallery and at the Trenton City Museum gift shop.