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...

My art life is taking off, though I am a bit overwhelmed having to devote so much of my time to teaching art while making it! Be careful what you wish for.  I am still learning that lesson. I put out into the universe that I was ready for a show, ready to get serious with my art.  It comes at a time where after having a job that I thought was secure, and where I am finally making a great salary,  I am facing the possibility of having it yanked right out from under me.   I am not going to dwell upon it, because that would make me crazy, but it is in the back of my mind and I am preparing myself for a "reinvention" of Patti. As a result of my making the decision that I am ready to be A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST, I instantly got a space to show my paintings, SOLD a painting at the show, landed a solo show of my collages in December, and then got accepted into the National Association of Women Artists.    There are two shows that I have to decide what ...

I have known my friend Ed and his wife for 20 years.  Ed is an avid sailor and races in various events. Sailing to him is like painting to me, and I totally get his passion. There is NOTHING like cutting the engine once you get out onto the river, and listening to the sound that the boat makes gliding through the water, the plop of a fish jumping for a bug, or Amtrak racing along the river.  Sometimes there is no noise at all. If there is a stiff wind, the sail is an adventure. If there is little wind, it is a mellow traverse, or  float upon one beautiful river. The river still has a lot of large logs floating upon it from the hurricane. From time to time there was  a slight stench from some of the festering vegetation.  But most of the time I saw or smelled none of that.  I was in heaven. I am living my life in the fast lane... on the AUTOBAHN. I am not adapting well to this new schedule, or the responsibilities that come with the chan...

My daughter's friend posted a joke about tampons today on Facebook.  I chuckled as it gave me a flashback to when I was about 12 or 13 years old, and very innocent, circa 1969. And at that point in time, I did not know what a period was, other than what you put at the end of a sentence (thank you sisters of St. Frances) and yes, I had not gotten mine yet. Scenario: family sitting around in the living room. Father immersed in the NY Times. Mother probably doing a cross word or reading a book. My other three siblings were scattered about in our small house, probably within hearing distance. I am looking at a Reader's Digest, and notice an ad. I ask out loud: "what is this thing that you can ride a horse with, swim with, do sports with....the only thing that it says is TAMPAX"?  I look around and no one answers me.  I don't get the hint, so I ask again.  "I mean, you can do all kinds of things with this, but I don't understand what it is! There are no ...