White Oak Studio

Yesterday I was talking about my new Goddess "Diana: Protector of the Animals" box.

I took a risk and e-mail the artists, Paul and Brenda Bonnes, of West Virginia and Brenda kindly replied. Our on-going dialog over the past few days was most enlightening. Brenda shared her method of working, how the box came about and her work in general.  What a value added opportunity to be able to ask my questions of the artist and have them answered.

Brenda wrote;

Hi Donna,
  So good to here from you. It is so hard for me to part from our
pieces. Your letter is so welcome because I could feel that you
understood where it was all coming from.
  First, I want to say that Paul's work comes from a  need to create
and
to work with his hands. Mine is a mystery. I worked for many years as a
commercial artist. It was satisfying because I love to design and I
love
to work on tight deadlines. However, it doesn't quench the need to
express what's inside trying to get out.
  I became interested in working with Paul because I wanted to make
altars. He thinks it's a little strange but we began. He makes boxes
that can be used for many purposes and I stick somewhat to matters of
the spirit because that's what I want to create.
  "Diana began when I saw a photograph of a deer behind some saplings.
That stayed in my mind until I read that Diana was a protector of the
hunted and the hunter. I had always seen her with a bow and arrow. I
was
raised as a National Park Service brat so I have always been a
protector
in my heart. Then last year I took in two orphaned lambs and I have
been
their protector for the last year. So I knew that Diana was my next
subject and the deer and the saplings were great design elements. The
crows almost always show themselves in my work. The saplings became
birch because I liked the white, black and blue design.
  As for doing more Goddesses, yes I'm sure there will be more. 
Actually, another piece we did that is at Tamerark, "Secrets of the
Sea", is based on a goddess, Amphitrite. I had planned the box with a
Thunderbird. The design was all worked out but when I started to draw
it
was a sea goddess, nothing like I had been planning. I walked into
Paul's shop and he said I hope you are doing something with a sea theme
because my hinges want to look like seashells! So that just goes to
show
that more is going on here than we understand.
   Enjoy "Diana", I know she's in good hands!
    Brenda

P.S.
The box is made of sassafras. We love the greenish tint of sassafras
with the red of the cherry wood of the hinges. I believe the inside
boxed are walnut but  I will double-check with Paul.

Such a smart artist to take a few minutes to speak with me. They have made a lifetime collector out of me.

If only I lived in West Virginia!

There is a fabulous state sponsored "tourist attraction" called Tamarack http://www.tamarackwv.com/ that supports working artists, sells their wares, sponsors working artists studios and is a general overall tourist attraction. What a jewel!

Text from its website....

Tamarack is the nation's first statewide collection of handmade craft, art and cuisine showcasing The Best of West Virginia.

Each time we head to North Carolina to visit our adult kids who live there, we plan at least two hours at Tamarack to take in the great art, eat a fabulous lunch and enjoy the artistic creativity found there. My husband Gene (the blacksmith) always enjoys talking to the smithy who works there.

This trip we found a fabulous new team of artists, Paul and Brenda Bonnes, of West Virginia, who colloborate to make great art combing wood, wood burning and painting. This trip I discovered their one of kind handpainted wooden box with the theme Diana: Goddess Protector of the Animals. The Sasafras wood box front is handpainted with a scene of the goddess Diana, crows, deer and the birchwoods and handcarved hinges and a handle made of handcarved cherry wood. Inside the door is a woodburning describing the boxes theme. There are two pull out drawers dovetailed in walnut and cherry (with two secret compartments underneath!) and a single shelf.

When I touched this box, I felt an immediate and intense electrical charge, like this box called out to me. I was so attracted to it, it was uncanny. I looked at the price and jumped back and walked away, knowing that the price was out of my budget. My husband said, "whoa what's going on. I've never seen you like this." He urged me to not walk away from this piece as he feared I would regret it. (I'm sure I would have.) We talked it over and decided that this would be my Valentine's Day, birthday, anniversary and Christmas present for the next two years. I believe I will store my sage and incense in this "mystical" box.

It was as if this box had been made for me and was waiting there for me until I found it.  And like my friend, Marcia Perry says, "You have to risk buying others artwork in order for others to buy your work."

I think I will hang this box in entry way of my newly rennovated laundry room (between the laundry and the kitchen) where I will see it's beauty and mystery everytime I walk through my kitchen. 

After a 6 year hiatus I find I want to again write for art publications. I have missed both the writing and the stimulation that comes from writing from art and art making. This is a source of income, a rewarding winter time activity for me and the national publicity helps my visibility as an artist.

One of the best parts of this type of writing work is designing new types of art to accompany the articles I write. This stretches me in new directons and beyond. That and, quite frankly, the thrill of seeing my name in print.

Six years ago I had an "in" with Sherilyn Miller, the then editor of Somerset Studio magazine www.stampington.com and although the she has moved on to a career as a jeweler and teacher. I am hoping can can once again open that same Somerset Studio door with the current editor.

I created a flat binder with plastic sleeves as a sort of mailed "portfolio" and am sending that with my professional cover letter and as soon as I can get the package together I will ship it off to Somerset Studio magazine. I will send three 5" X 5" mini-canvas as examples of my work. At the least, I may get an assignment and the best, I may end up featured in the magazine someday.

Wish me luck!

Today I researched and submitted four works to Fiberplay 2007.

This is a showing of artwork held at the Creative Spirit Center http://www.creative spiritcenter. org/ in Midland, Mi (on the east side of the state near the thumb). There is not very much in the way of prize money (only $500.00 total,  but this is interesting to me as this could end up in a solo show or teaching opportunity at best and at least, give me a chance to meet new fiber atists.

Here is the actual "Call for Artists."

__._,_.___  

I have been busy this week with researching possible gallery outlets for my artwork. I am looking in the MI/Indiana boarder area of Lakeside and Harlbert, MI just south of the Indiana boarder. I have chosen this area because it is a summer enclave of the Chicago markets, one of the target markets I am seeking to attract.

My packet includes a cover letter, my resume', a artist statement, samples of my work and a photocopy of the photograph of "Whisper in the Woods" that was pictured in the KIA Area Show program.

Three letters have been sent and now I wait.

All artists who count on state grants to survive have had a huge shock here in Michigan. As of Saturday, March 31, 2007, an executive order from Lansing has put all state art grant monies in jeapordy. This came in a bulletin from Gov. Jennifer Granholm who announced "For the remainder of 2007, a moratorium is imposed on the expenditure of funds in the form of grants to persons or entities."

This translates to individual artists grants and to arts councils who count on the funds to survive. ArtServe Michigan is organizing a rally at the state capitol (see details below).

What is the most ironic, is that I had just two days previously research the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo with a plan to re-join and again seek grant funds to mount a show of my artwork. Since I have been a former member and know how the group works, I almost sent in my money that same day!

There are a lot of grant seeking artists out there who have disappointing days ahead.

I drove into Kalamazoo on Friday, 4/23/07 for the KIA Area Show opening reception, 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo.

Gene and I met old friends for dinner at the Food Dance Cafe and then made our way to the art center for the 6:30 p.m. ceremony. By the time we got there, the conference room was packed! I was so pleased at the turn out of the arts community. The awards were given, our photographs taken and many congratulations were received.

Afterwards I toured the show for the first time and saw work that was vibrant, edgy, stark and bold. Themes of isolation, desolation, depravity and pain were mixed in with pieces about beauty and humor. The show feaured works by artists from 14 counties. About 787 submissions were whittled down to 144 pieces by the show juror Louis Marinaro.

Of note was the fact that the KIA www.kiarts.org is one of the show with a high number of awards, both in number and in cash value. The area show awards thirteen prizes totally $4,000 in prizes - quite outstanding among shows in this region.  Kalamazoo artists should consider themselves lucky! The work is on exhibit until May 6. 

I was proud to have my work included!