JafaFUN: Hanging Around Artists is Inspiring

We've been busy this week visiting Village Artisans Artist Ann Bain and a recent newcomer to our village in Yellow Springs, Brian Mollar.  Anne will be the next artist featured on our POWA blog and what a fun visit, along the way I also got to see a 2 futuro houses (how cool is that) near Ann's house.  Brian Millar is finishing up a 16 foot painting that he donated to the Presbyterian Church on Xenia Avenue. 

We also helped Beth Holyoke find just the right spot for her beautiful ceramic art in the Yellow Springs Permanent Collection currently showcased at Antioch University Midwest. Here piece is titled

"Family of Refugees"

ceramic, gold paint

The broken image of a small family represents so many, they, like hundreds of thousands more are on their way, to an uncertain road to a new life. Their old world is gone.

Beth and her friend Kaethi spent a month working in a refugee camp in Greece.

So many wonderful and inspiring artists to meet in our wee Village.

Lost Bear and Breast Cancer Exhibit

Lost Bear is my muse, my little scruffy found bear that somehow get's his own place in a show about Cancer. Nancy and I worked HOURS getting this up. Looks simple enough but there was a lot of groaning, and replacing, and arranging, gluing and nailing. By the time we were finished the first day getting the show up we both crawled home with that "don't even go there or ask me or anything" kind of a LOOK. Anyway back to why circles.

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last year all I saw was circles and boobs, kind of like pareidolia but with boobs lol.

Lost Bear's Boobtastic cuddlefest with Yarnbombing Boobs and Knit A Tits

I would like to say I originated the term Knit a Tit but after checking the almighty oracle, google, well there is a GREAT group called Knitted Knockers already knitting them, NOT for yarnbombing though. Check and you will see why I need a boobie tree.

Thanks for the great news articles

Yellow Springs News and Dayton City Paper 

♥

More about the show next time

Bosom Buddies Website 

You Are Never Too Old to Play and Identity

Nancy calls me with a tone of urgency and drama and says she has this idea but will share when I go to her house. I go to her house and there on the living room floor is a pile of clothes and hats, and glasses and she is telling me "let's play dress up" and take pics. Errr! okay Nancy lol! I am always game.

Grandma's can be invisible to the world but they never are to their Grandkids
Can you tell your grandmother loves lace?

These are two of my fave shots and have been incorporated into an art piece called "What is GrandMa Doing" for the Yellow Springs Arts Council "breaking the rules" members show.  Nancy will tell you that some of the poses she was breaking out of self imposed rules, as well as creating an art piece that confronts identity and ageism.

cheers from the Jafagirls who aren't actually girls, but women, or theirs, or whatever the  terminology is au courant at the mo.

Hum! jafatheirs just doesn't' quite cut it.

Bosom Buddies Exhibit and Breast Cancer Support

Breast Cancer Exhibit

I have been working on a new website (link above) specifically for our upcoming exhibit Bosom Buddies at the Yellow Springs Arts Council at 111 Corry Street in April 2017. 

Opening Reception will be April 21st 6-9pm

Gallery hours are Wed - Sun 1-4pm

The theme of the exhibit is two friends and invited guests sharing how a diagnosis of breast cancer (including other cancers) affects patients, friends and family. This is an exploration of the creative ways they have dealt with the roller coaster of emotions: of fear, anger, grief, bewilderment, and joy. 

In the gallery we will have a sharing wall in which guests are invited during the month long exhibit to share their artwork, poems,notes and photographs.