YOU ARE INVITED ! Jude and fellow artists exhibit in NYC!

As many of you know, I have been participating in an artist's residency program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City this summer. The culminating event is an exhibit of all of the work created during a one month period by myself and my fellow artists. It is certain to be amazing!
Please join me for this very magical event!
"Open Studios 2009: Summer Residency Program Exhibition" on
Thursday, August 6 at 6:00pm.
Event: Open Studios 2009: Summer Residency Program Exhibition
What: Opening
Host: School of Visual ARTS Summer Residency Programs
Start Time: Thursday, August 6 at 6:00pm
End Time: Thursday, August 6 at 9:00pm
Where: 141 West 21 Street

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=121075974400&mid=d7ca44G58702800G9cd0f4G7

http://media.schoolofvisualarts.edu/sva/media/16817/small/EVITE.html

Miss Judy Makes Magic in Manhattan

As a Geraldine Dodge Fellow, I was awarded funding as part of a visual arts initiative to use toward furthering my career as an emerging artist and educator. I chose to study painting and mixed media in an art residency program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. One way in which I decided to share my experience with the foundation and with my students,was to create posts for my blog which will include images of my works in process and places,people and other sources of inspiration that the city will undoubtedly provide.

That sounds easy! However, having been here for only a day, I realize the abundance of visual inspiration, has me reeling and has already exhausted my mind and my camera battery and memory:) So in order to begin I decided simply to post a few simple images that reinforced why I chose New York as the location of what I believe will be a life and career altering experience. I walked from my 23rd Street residence to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, passing landmark structures and monuments like the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. As appealing and significant as they are, that is not what inspired and attracted my attention today.

The city spoke to my heart and mind on this spectacular summer Sunday. I recently created a painting entitled, Dandelion Dreams and there before me emerged what I "saw" as the most beautiful and monumental dandelions of all:two fountains located at 6th Avenue & 54th/55th Streets.They were radiant and ethereal,lightly emitting feathery sprays of moisture on passers by. They were christening them with wishes. I love dandelions and associate them with whispered wishes and dreams. I feel as though NY is where my dreams will begin to take shape and become real. I wished in wonder as I photographed those fountains. I always feel as though I tend to see beauty and promise, where others may only see "weeds".
Excited , I made my way through Central Park, Tisch's Children's Zoo and several of the playgrounds.I paint children and was distracted by the abundance of kids at play...all beautiful of diverse ages and nationalities. What struck me were the public sculptures and banners bearing text and art. In the James Michael Levin playground, an incredible stone sculpture of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland characters, was inscribed with his words: "In the depths of Despair, May You Never Lose Hope." Earlier, I read a banner draped from the eaves of an outdoor arbor in the zoo that read: "Let the Beauty We Love, Be What We Do." (J. Rumi, Afghanistan 1207-1273). I was mesmerized, wondering if others were as moved my the depth of meaning that these words expressed.At every turn, I felt inspired by the richness of the city.
Heading back toward Gramercy Park, I passed the storefront windows of Bergdorf Goodman's 5th Avenue store and stopped in awe. The displays, created by artists from the Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore , Md. are a marriage of masterpiece and social,political and spiritual mindfulness. And once again, paired with the physical works, were words that incited and inspired: "Astonish Me" (Sergei Diaghilev)and Johnathan Swift's, "Vision is the art of seeing things invisible." It is as though I have awakened and am prepared to see clearly what has always been present.
And so, I am confident that NYC is where I belong this summer.I hope that you join me on my journey as I make magic in Manhattan:) Tonight I most definitely will begin to paint. Enjoy!
PS. I am only 2 blocks from a Home Depot which means lots of lovely hardware( i.e. cotter pins, screws, hexnuts,wire screen...........love this place)!

Summer Study in NYC 2009

Late Thursday afternoon, as the last of the students were dismissed for spring break,my Principal's voice was heard over the sound system in a voice much like that of the "lottery announcer"..."If Judy Harzer is still in the building, I am proud to announce that you are a recipient of the Geraldine Dodge Fellowship and will be studying as an artist in residence at the School of Visual Arts in NYC this summer!" This was how I was made aware of the award. As I ran and "wa-hooed" directly to the main office, I was greeted by hugs,kisses, high fives and genuinely heartfelt congratulations from staff and friends. I was elated and am excited by what this means for me! I dreamed of this moment in December but already know that the experience will be "better" than I had originally imagined.

In December, as I was completing my application, I asked my daughter to proof read my essays. She handed them back and simply said that all she read was "blah, blah,blah!" and explained that it sounded formal and impersonal which translates to uninteresting. My heart sank because I knew that she was right but I was exhausted and dreaded the time that it would take to revise and rewrite. She further commented that I have spent my life, teaching her and her brother to embrace and celebrate what is unique about them as individuals and to focus on their strengths. I raised them to know "my story" and to understand how it influenced who and what I am...but how it will never fully define who and what I will become. Christina seemed disappointed and implored me to share what is real and unique about myself and just start the process over. Cripes!... And so I did... and once again,this beautiful and brutally honest child of mine, provided the support and guidance that no one else could.She knows my heart and what it has taken for me to arrive at this place.

I cannot express at this time how much I need and want this opportunity. I am confident it will alter my work and dramatically influence my life. I had to choose between Rome and NYC as my preferred place to study. My objective is to work my butt off in my usual addictive and incessant way. NY will provide inspiration and so much more. It is the perfect place to get lost amid canvas,paint ,metal and wax. Rome, at this point in time, would have simply been a beautiful distraction.

I sealed the application with a kiss (really!!!) before sending it on it's way and I told my daughter that I would be living in NY and it is there that we would celebrate her 19th birthday...and so it will be. I'm chasing my dreams and there is so much more to come. So maybe next summer when I am living in Florence, Tia can blow out her candles near the Duomo or in the hills of Fiesole. That dream hasn't been clearly defined as of yet:)Thank you Christina Autumn!Dream huge!

Dreaming In NYC

I am off to NY to see the "Dreams" show at the Pen and Brush. It really will be a day of seeking inspiration...seeing old friends,perhaps making new.

I love the abundance of everything in the city...sights,smells,sounds and am considering relocating there this summer. I will check out the neighborhood where I will be living. I believe it will be the perfect place to work on my series of paintings entitled ,"Absence" and "Tell Me A Story." And the "Dream" series...well that is ongoing.

My objective is to paint bigger,better and to incorporate more materials into my work.I just purchased canvas that is 18 ft. in length and am working on acquiring old doors upon which to paint! Aluminum,galavanized steel and silver leaf make my heart sing at this moment in my creative development:)This is an aside but I think power tools,sheets of metal and recycled wood make the best gifts:) Actually those that know me well, give me just that and it is all so greatly appreciated. The yards of Belgian linen from an encaustic painter friend of mine, was a pretty awesome donation as well!
Dream big!

Jude in NYC: You Are Invited!

In Your Dreams,Reveries, Fantasies, and Impossible Wishes
Curated by Edward J. Sullivan
Opening Reception, Saturday, April 4th, 3-5 PM
April 2nd - 26th
Gallery Hours: Thursday - Friday 4-7 PM, Saturday - Sunday 1-5 PM

The Pen & Brush proudly presents In Your Dreams: Reveries, Fantasies, and Impossible Wishes, an international multi-media group exhibition curated by Edward J. Sullivan. In Your Dreams was conceived to showcase the work of artists in tune with their inner lives and fantasies. It responds to a widespread taste for surrealist-related, fantastical art that seems to have developed recently in a surprisingly strong way in a wide variety of art worlds across the country and across the world.
We thought of the theme for this show some eighteen months ago, at a time of relative social and economic stability. Given the universal crisis in the areas of the economy and world social morale, a retreat into the unknown, the little-explored, or the worlds of fantasy on the part of artists expresses a more poignant and urgent sensibility. These works manifest a sense of unease or a desire to create alternate realities. The results are thought-provoking and intriguing for the community of artists and the public in general.

Edward J. Sullivan is professor of art history at New York University (Institute of Fine Arts and Department of Art History). He also serves as Dean for the Humanities. Sullivan received his PhD from NYU and is the author of over twenty-five books and exhibition catalogues. His research interests center around the Iberian world in its largest extension Spain, Latin America and the Philippines. He has also curated many exhibitions for such institutions as The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum (New York and Bilbao) and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Monterrey, Mexico. The world history of the Surrealist movement is of particular interest to him and when asked by The Pen and Brush to formulate a theme for an exhibition, In Your Dreams came to him, as he says, "in an almost unconscious way!"

Founded over 115 years ago, The Pen & Brush, Inc., is an international non-profit organization open to women in the visual, literary and performing arts. Our rich history is a chronicle of persistence, passion, dedication, and a commitment to equal opportunity. Some of the countless inspirational women in our number include Eleanor Roosevelt, Pearl S. Buck, Ida M. Tarbell and Jessie Tarbox Beals. While honoring the ideals and contributions of the women from our vibrant past, The Pen and Brush serves as an open, diverse, global forum, and cultural resource for its members, non-member participants, the professional arts community, and the general public. Our exhibitions, competitions and programs are open to women artists internationally. www.penandbrush.org

In Your Dreams: Jude in NYC

My painting, "Dreams:Haunted" ,will be displayed in NYC at the Pen and Brush. This juried exhibition,In Your Dreams,Reveries, Fantasies, and Impossible Wishes is curated by Edward J. Sullivan, Professor of Art History and Dean for the Humanities at New York University.

The opening reception is:
Saturday, April 4th
3:00pm - 5:00pm
at
16 East 10th Street in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Please join me for the opening reception!

Much thanks to fellow artist, D.J. Haslett who recommended that I check out this exhibition opportunity. He thought the venue and theme were ideal for my work and he was right!I paint my dreams and now I get to share them:)
If you are interested in seeing D.J.'s sculptures, click on the link below and type in his name to access his impressive portfolio. D.J. thanks again for your thoughtfulness and generosity.
Dream huge...and never abandon them. Trust me ...it works!

http://www.sculpture.org/portfolio/