May 2008 - Silicon Valley Open Studios

Silicon Valley Open Studios
Richter Art Studio
430 Sherman, Suite 300
Palo Alto 94306


Another quarter and it's the same old song....I've been busy!

Activities you will hear about as they happen are the 2nd annual Encaustic Conference at Montserrat College in Beverly, Massachusetts in June, a planned adventure to Tanzania 2009 to paint and lecture, upcoming exhibits and of course any art news that I know you would to hear about!

This month is the beginning of the Silicon Valley Open Studios event. Hundreds of artists are opening their doors and showing their process and works to the public for free. Stop by, browse and maybe purchase something that catches your eye. It is never to late to start your collection! There is a generous article by Rebecca Wallace in the Palo Alto Weekly about the event. I will have my studio open for visits at 430 Sherman, Suite 300 in Palo Alto during the second weekend of May on the 10th and 11th between 11 am and 5 pm.

What's new....I am working on museum shows that will be posted here once the dates are confirmed. All this month...Watch our local cable TV, channel 27 for an interview about my art on Talk Art with Susan Kraft hosting. We had fun taping this episode. Once I get the DVD, I will post it on my blog for those out of the area.


The piece that I have been asked about that was shown on the show is at your left, "Diaspora" which appeared on the show.

Until next time......

Happy Holidays

Annual Portfolio Exhibit - End of year Sale!


It's been three months since my last post! WOW! ....where does the time go?!

Happy holidays already!

In September, I started.... to blog while I was visiting Portland but didn't finish. It would have been entitled "Rocket Science" as I went to see the independent movie of the same title. I would have recommended it at the time because it was a humorous account of adolescence which reminded me somewhat of my youth! Of course, the words "rocket science" became significant toward the end of the movie...but you have to see it to know what I mean!

Another good thing that happened to me in Portland was a cool happening artsy time with my friend Joyce and fellow artist, Linda Womack, who uses the encaustic process as well. Linda and I met at the first Encaustic conference. Check out her fine works at http://www.spottedantelope.com/linda/events/index.html. We hope to meet each other again in 2008 in June at the Second Annual Encaustic Conference at Montserrat College. For more info on the June workshop, check http://www.montserratencausticconference.blogspot.com/ Linda and I taking on a task...posing for the camera!

During the month of October, I started working my first political exhibit and installation....Ain't Gonna Study War No More! After two rounds of proposal writing, my idea for an encaustic mobile was accepted. I worked at it all day and well into nights and some. But...I didn't blog about it although I had notes, stories, and the best practices/lesson learned from what what worked and didn't. After hours of "what was I thinking"......here it is!


November, the 14 foot-80 pound mobile was installed at the Pacific Art League and it was a success for me. The special exhibition and juried group show was focused on politics and art in Silicon Valley. There were two entries in the newspapers San Jose Mercury. See www.mercurynews.com/pattyfisher/ci_73744160?nclick_check=1 and the Palo Alto Weekly at www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/story.php?story_id-6966 controversy abounds......

This month of December, I am completing a year of exhibits by inviting all to the Annual Member Portfolio Show and Sale at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto. There are 24 artists showing their works in the Main Gallery December 7, 2007 - January 2, 2008.

Join the reception Friday, December 7th, 6- 9 PM in the Main Gallery at 668 Ramona Street in Palo Alto, California!

Until then.....enjoy some of the portfolio exhibit pieces for sale! They are different sizes from 6X8 to 16X16 unframed.

Happy holidays!

Ally

Fruits of Labor - Celebration of Fall

I thought I would be able to blog at least twice a week. Well, it didn't happen last week! There were so many other important challenges that kept me away from the studio for several days and away from the computer!

I am in the middle of a kitchen remodel! It moves slowly. Last week, my trusty old familiar kitchen of tweny years was torn away and the empty shell of a construction site left! What a mess! Then you began to feel the small details. We eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have our favorite places and are trying new ones! You can't bring takeouts back.....although the refrigerator is still operable. It has been suggested to plug in the microwave.....we have already removed the old one and don't want to invest in a temporary one since we have a new one in a box! Some friends pity us and invite over for a meal....others understand the change and us....much too well having gone through this and give us exactly what we need....suggestions of new eateries. I should blog just on those....maybe.....once I get through this one! Thank you!

Speaking of boxes.....my garage is full with new appliances and ooh...ooh...ooh...my new birdseye maple cabinets that I designed! One of the challeneges was that they had to be cut to fit down my narrow hallways to get to my kitchen! Who knew this would be an issue?! Why don't men ask women about their needs when designing things that we will actually use?!!!! I do use my kitchen...love to cook specialty dishes but don't like to crawl under spaces to get to my specialty pans! I bet half of my kitchen space was ill used and inefficient. I got a few bells and whistles that are practical for me....even the carpenter was amazed because "he never thought about that" ! Is the GEEK in me rising again? Well, he will be incorporating some of my features in his new designs.....shouldn't I ask for a commission?!

My art....this week beginning September 7-26....I have a piece on exhibit in the Fruits of Labor - Celebration of Fall exhibit at the Pacific Art Center in Palo Alto. You are looking at a very textured encaustic 30X15 Autumn Along the Natchez Trace.

One of my great grandmothers, Susan Fluker called Miss Sookie, was a full blooded Choctaw native American "princess" (I added "princess" because she endured much during her lifetime and I remebered her to be beautiful like a princess....another story...another day) from Carroll County, Mississippi. She told my brother and me occassional stories about the Natchez Trace when we were small. I remember bits and pieces but I actually drove the Trace during the fall and it was beautiful! The color of the leaves of the trees were red....what a magnificent sight! If you looked between the tree line onto the other side of the highway....it appeared as if there was a horizon. Okay....so much for looking through the eyes of an artist! So there it is as I remembered it....my rendition for you to see.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444 mile scenic highway along an ancient trail that connected the southern portions of Mississippi, through Alabama to Tennessee. It starts in Natchez, Mississippi and ends in Nashville, Tennessee......or vice versus depending on where you are! It was the main thoroughfare for the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, slaves, soldiers, settlers and famous men...John Audubon, Jim Bowie and Sam Houston.... even Meriweather Lewis whose grave is at mile 385.9 at the Ranger Station near Grinder's Inn.

Living the Life of An Artist

I am living the life of an artist and loving it!

To your left is my 40X40 Fancy Dancer in beeswax and pigments. This exciting piece won a second place prize at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto, California this month August 2007.

How many times I have heard the phrase....if only I could live the life of an artist! Well, I am trying to do just that. Two years ago, I went for it....meaning it became my lifestyle. This is my NEW venture...all day, every day and then some!

I paint. I love abstracts but occasionally I get a commission to create something special. My most favorite creations are encaustic....molten beeswax and pigments. I do other media including printmaking and acrylics. Encaustics seem to "suit" me and I take to it!

Last week, I had dinner with old friends and one of them suggested that I start blogging about my travels....my art....my projects....my life! I found it shocking since my friends all know.....I prefer to keep my personal life private. Oprah gave us a life lesson on sharing and it wasn't my cup of tea.

Lessons aside....here I am.

Oh...wax, wax, and more wax...that's what I did most of the day yesterday in my new studio! How appropriate....I am in the middle of a kitchen remodel, bought a new SUV type vehicle yesterday to haul my art, trying to open a small gallery and have an amazing agenda of travel coming up. Did I mention I was working with an oral history project and finishing a book?! So....you see....I'm crazy busy but I wouldn't have any other way.

So...stay tune to wax, wax, and more wax!It is the title of my first solo show at the Richter Art Studios in Silicon Valley!