Patti Gibbons Art

I am having another show in a space which is part of an alternative health care office,  called  Post Urban Contemporary Art. Though it may be a bit small and get crowded quickly if I have a good turnout, I like supporting local business, especially in the alternative healing world, where you are offered non pharmaceutical/non invasive healing options, whether chiropractor, naturalists, herbalists, etc.  This office happens to be home to the practice of acupuncture. The office offers several halls and a central room to hang "Little Stories", my body of surreal narrative collages/mixed media works.   I still have to lay out the pieces, figure out what works best together, and then frame a few that I have not framed yet.  Framing is NOT my favorite part of the business, and I am hoping that I can farm out some of the work to someone else. Like the mat cutting. Off to the art supply store (the non-Michaels one) to see what frames they have.  I a...

I moved to the Catskills in 1969 at the Lolita ripe age of 12. The next 7 years were some of the worst and best years of my life. Most of my life lessons, disasters, pain and joy came from that period. Tonight Larry and I went to the Peekamoose restaurant in Big Indian, 2 miles from my old home.  The last time I had been there it was Rudy's...a very hip place,  in the mid to late 70's. I think I rode my bike there, 2 miles  *uphill*  to meet a friend for lunch. Now, some 35 years later, Larry and I dined in luxury in the same spot. The red Panasonic bike (which I still have) was left at home -we took "The Silver Bullet".  I am no longer the wood nymph of my youth, instead slowly becoming  a cover girl for a Renoir painting. Since I left my memory card at home, my shots were taken with my Droid. Not great in low light. One of my few Android complaints.  Tonight's photos are of the Nevelson inspired wall, and the other shot...is of my brain......

  Hudson Blues    Reservoir Storm I need to start to get rid of art in my studio so that 1) I have more room 2) I need to raise money to keep my studio's propane tank full all winter, as well as for framing for upcoming shows. It is expensive to be an artist, and I am finding out, very hard work. Still have the day job, but am gearing up to retire from teaching, and then go full time as an artist. I know that artists are not supposed to sale their work out.  But in this economy, artists need to be savvy, inventive, hustling marketers and sales people.  And as long as I get something for my materials and time and love that goes into the work, and it goes towards keeping my creative space heated so that I can keep working, it's all good. And YOU got a great deal. So in celebration of my 54th year on this planet, I will be listing art for 54.00 which by the way, is 50.00 plus 4.00 NYS tax.  If you live far away, I will ship the cheapest ...

I have so neglected my writing, but not neglected my art.  ONE of the most moving things I have done was take a workshop at the John Dugdale School of 19th Century Photography and Aesthetics, on Spirit Photography . (check out the link to understand what that genre of photography is as it is important to the story below) The photographs were done using the wet plate method of photography, and I made three ambrotypes. The school is on a back country road in Stone Ridge NY.  It is a simple two room studio, filled with light and heated with a fireplace in one room, and an iron stove in another. Candles provide the lights in the evening for lectures and movies, though there is electric to run modern conveniences such as a projector and CD player for the classical music that drifted through the studio as we worked. I did not make the wet plates - master Tom did that, and we were assisted by the fabulous Jenn, Helena, and Emma.  I chose to interpret a 19th century pai...