Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Parting is SUCH Sweet Sorrow, aka MIXED MEDIA CLASS SIX


As with most things in life, the BACKSTORY is often what makes something come "alive" for us. Our resident former-set-designer walked us through a piece of her past with this as the visual guide ... wow. I can't even describe the impact it had on me.

So on my drive to University Heights on Monday morning, I'm listening to the 101.5 {FM} on the radio, and they're talking about Shakespeare. They kept getting it backwards -- the whole Juliet-fakes-her-death scene -- they kept saying Romeo faked HIS death, and upon finding him, SHE killed herself {first} ... when we all clearly know that SHE faked HER death, he found her and, not knowing, killed HIMSELF; upon awakening, she finds HIM well & truly dead, and then - plunges that dagger into her own belly. YIKES.

But the general mood at the end of our Mixed Media with Paper & Cloth, a la Jane LaFazio class that same day ... was SUCH a "parting is such sweet sorrow" snapshot.

We had all thoroughly enjoyed the lessons, the instructor, and each other {that was the SWEET part}. Yet it was now over, and there was a real sadness {that would be the SORROW part} to the morning.

come on ... do tell ... can YOUR art teacher do this?! Bravo, Jane!


In keeping with today's Shakespeare theme {I just love the serendipity of it all}, I give you Marti's Rose - her "folk art rose" -

"What's in a name?
that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title." {Juliet speaks again)

Everybody loves a clown ...
especially Noel's creative "circles project" clown series !!!


One of our classmates, Althea Brimm, has an upcoming exhibition at the "home" of our beloved La Jolla Athenauem, which is the entity we took THIS class through:

LA JOLLA ATHENAEUM, at 1008 Wall St (between Girard Ave & Herschel Ave) in La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-5872
www.ljathenaeum.org

Rotunda Gallery: Althea Brimm: Keep This Coupon
April 3-May 9
Reception THURSDAY, April 2 6:30-8:30 PM

Althea Brimm's recent collages are made up of ephemera, “exquisitely rusted and stained by time.” Ephemera, by definition, is something that lasts only one day. So, Althea tells us, she is proud to say this work has lasted more than one day—and counting. Althea lives in La Jolla, and her work has appeared in The Athenaeum Biennial Artists' Books Exhibitions. She has also exhibited at the Santa Ysabel Art Gallery. Her work has spanned many mediums. She graduated from the University of Rochester in New York and moved to La Jolla in 1961.


Althea, left; and Liz, explaining what this class has meant to her
And classmate YVONNE has invited all of us to participate in the local ATC group that meets the first Friday of each month down at Liberty Station ... what is an ATC, you might ask? ATC = Artist's Trading Card. It's a miniature "original" {usually, although not always} in 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" format -- that one TRADES with other artists.

Yvonne, always sharing good information with us

SAN DIEGO ATC GROUP meets First Friday of the month, 6-8 pm at the Expressive Arts Institute, 2820 Roosevelt Road, Suite 204 {upstairs}, in the D'Arrigo ARTS Building, San Diego CA 92106.
So what else did we do on our last class date this week? We laughed, and we shared, and we were inspired & encouraged by all the work done by our roomful of fellow artists / artisans.
Howard & Lauren chat at the art class version of an office water cooler;
the collage scrap box !!!


Kenneth & His Harem - Photoshop 101 :-)
{spot those socks - I think he borrowed 'em from Jane, maybe?!}

Reggie sharing one of her fabulous collage pieces ...

Jean's FRUIT series -- done with actual apples, oranges, etc ... I was so intrigued with these ...

And Nancy just "knew" there was a BUNNY on this collage backround ...

Sure enough, there's her LOP ...

So until we meet again in another class, another workshop, on the street, in a cafe -- my artistic friends, I bid you adieu ...
-- Princess Magpie
P.S. and PLEASE consider signing up for Jane's next 6-week session, Mixed Media with Paper & Cloth - again, through the La Jolla Athanaeum ... I did !!!

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