10 Year Anniversary Celebration

It's hard to believe that 2012 will be my ten-year anniversary as a practicing artist since my graduation from Webster University! I am planning a year-long celebration and have even devoted a blog to this (just follow the link below).

Please feel free to check it out and to check back frequently for more updates and cool stuff. I will be posting raffles for free artworks on the first of every month, linking to eBay auctions and hosting other fun things as well. The party will officially get rolling on Jan. 1 with a raffle, so make sure to drop by then to enter.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/

Art of the Week, Continued: More GaGa

Here are some photos of the Lady GaGa performance itself, in which I lip-synched "Poker Face" for Jim Horne's Wednesday country and western dance night. Thank you to Jim for sharing these.

Art of the Week: Lady GaGa

Friend and fellow artist Jim Horne asked me to impersonate Lady GaGa for one of his deejay events, so I'm posting a photo of my outfit as art of the week. Happy holidays!

Art of the Week: Dala Horses

My friend gave me these two charming little wooden horses in a paint-a-horse kit so I customized them to resemble frolicking Swedish Dala Horses. I'm happy with how they turned out so I thought I'd post them as Art of the Week.

Please keep in mind that I'll be at the Winter Craft Festival on Sunday with my jewelry and related fiber goods (gift bags & purses). Pere Marquette Lodge is always fun and a wonderful getaway destination, and I hope you'll consider dropping by. It will be a great holiday shopping opportunity to buy handmade gifts in support of local artists and artisans.

Winter Craft Festival
Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center
13653 Lodge Blvd.
Grafton, IL
Dec. 11, 2011, 11 AM - 3 PM

The Winter Craft Festival will be the last big event that I'm involved in until 2012, although I may have some artworks included in the upcoming Northern Arts Council rotations at Cork Wine Bar & Ferguson Brewing Company and the St. Louis Women's Caucus for Art rotation at Spirits Lounge.

And keep an eye out for some exciting things happening come January - I have some big things in the works including a year-long celebration. More details will be forthcoming later this month.

This Week

I am participating in one more art market for the holidays, this Sunday at Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center. If you have never been to Pere Marquette Lodge before, be sure to check it out sometime - it's a wonderful getaway destination.

Winter Craft Festival
Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center
13653 Lodge Blvd.
Grafton, IL
Dec. 11, 2011, 11 AM - 3 PM

Also, don't forget about the holiday parties happening over the course of the week. They should be a lot of fun.

Holiday Show
St. Charles County Arts Council
Lillian Yahn Gallery
7443 Village Center Dr.
O' Fallon, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Holiday Party: Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 - 8 PM

$100 Show
holiday boutique
Soulard Art Market
2028 S. 12th St.
St. Louis, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Holiday Party: Friday, Dec. 9, 7 - 10 PM

And please feel free to check out some of my past posts and my Current & Upcoming Events sidebar on this blog to see what else I'm involved in for the holidays.

Art of the Week: Shoes...

I am creating new works incorporating designer shoes for an upcoming show at the St. Charles County Arts Council in 2012 and wanted to share a preview. This piece, which has yet to be titled, is a treehouse of sorts and was made in response to this boot, which I felt made a good trunk.

This Week

This week I will have more necklaces and some teeny tiny paintings in the show opening at Framations in St. Charles. I am also a resident artist there with my jewelry, so I have lots of lovely gift ideas to offer, as do the other artists involved in the show and as residents. Please support local artists and artisans this holiday season.

Keeping It Simple
Framations
218 North Main St.
St. Charles, MO
Dec. 2011
Reception: Friday, Dec. 2, 6 - 8
Framations is collecting non-perishable food and toiletry items for local food pantries, so please bring something to donate.

Also, keep an eye out for more art shows and markets for the holidays: I am very busy right now and am working to get as much of my more giftable work out there as possible, continuing into December. Lots of holiday parties are coming up and I hope you'll consider coming - it will be great fun.

Holiday Show
St. Charles County Arts Council
Lillian Yahn Gallery
7443 Village Center Dr.
O' Fallon, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Holiday Party: Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 - 8 PM

$100 Show
holiday boutique
Soulard Art Market
2028 S. 12th St.
St. Louis, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Holiday Party: Friday, Dec. 9, 7 - 10 PM

A Few of My Favorite Things...
Gallery 501 at Art Glass Array
501 N. Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011

Give a Gift of Art
Columbia Art League
207 S. Ninth St.
Columbia, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011

And remember you can always find more of my work at these galleries:
Jewelry:
Art Saint Louis, 555 Washington Ave. Ste. 150, St. Louis, MO
By Design, 136 Front St., Alton, IL
Columbia Art League Members' Shop, 207 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO
Framations, resident artist, 218 North Main St., St. Charles, MO
St. Charles County Arts Council, Lillian Yahn Gallery, 7443 Village Center Dr., O' Fallon, MO
Steelville Arts Council, Yakdin Creek Mercantile, 115 E. Main St., Steelville, MO
Painting:
Artfully Alton, The Second Reading Book Shop, 16 E. Broadway, Alton, IL

Claude's photo day

Claude made some more friends during his photo day and enjoyed all of the wonderful snacks; he hopes that everyone loved the Claude cupcakes as much as he did. He is excited about the holiday party coming up in December.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am so very fortunate to be able to do what I love and to take chances in my art. I want to extend a hearty thank you to all of my friends and family for your untiring support, and especially to my husband Chuck for always being there for me. I am truly blessed to have you in my life.

Claude also wants to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving! He is most grateful to have been involved in my art and for his shows with Cranky Yellow and the St. Charles County Arts Council. Please don't forget to swing by the arts council tomorrow for his big photo shoot from noon - 4 PM if you want to have a picture taken with him for the holidays. He has even been baking up some sweet snacks for the event, including these adorable monster cupcakes.

This Week

Claude wants to remind everyone to stop by the St. Charles County Arts Council on Black Friday, Nov. 25 from noon - 4 PM if they want to participate in the Claude photo day. He is even planning some fun snacks, and you all know how Claude loves his sweets.

I will be gearing up for a couple of events over this Thanksgiving weekend. First, I will be helping Claude with his photo opportunity day as noted above. And I will be participating in the Northern Arts Council's holiday boutique with my jewelry on Sunday during Ferguson's Northern Lights Festival.

Holiday Show
St. Charles County Arts Council
Lillian Yahn Gallery
7443 Village Center Dr.
O' Fallon, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Reception: Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 - 8 PM
Claude's photo day: Friday, Nov. 25, noon - 4 PM
Holiday Party: Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 - 8 PM

NAC at the Corner
Northern Arts Council
Corner Coffee House
100 N. Florissant St.
Ferguson, MO
Nov. 27, noon - 6 PM
during Ferguson's Northern Lights Festival

This Week

This week I will have some of my smaller plein air paintings on display at Art Glass Array's Gallery 501. Perfectly sized and affordably priced for holiday gift giving.

A Few of My Favorite Things...
Gallery 501 at Art Glass Array
501 N. Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Reception: Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 - 9 PM

Also, keep an eye out for more art shows and markets for the holidays: I am very busy right now and am working to get as much of my more giftable work out there as possible, starting with several shows opening this past week and continuing into December.

Holiday Show
St. Charles County Arts Council
Lillian Yahn Gallery
7443 Village Center Dr.
O' Fallon, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Reception: Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 - 8 PM
Holiday Party: Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 - 8 PM

$100 Show
holiday boutique
Soulard Art Market
2028 S. 12th St.
St. Louis, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Reception: Friday, Nov. 11, 7 - 10 PM
Holiday Party: Friday, Dec. 9, 7 - 10 PM

Give a Gift of Art
Columbia Art League
207 S. Ninth St.
Columbia, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011

And remember you can always find more of my work at these galleries:
Jewelry:
Art Saint Louis, 555 Washington Ave. Ste. 150, St. Louis, MO
By Design, 136 Front St., Alton, IL
Columbia Art League Members' Shop, 207 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO
Framations, resident artist, 218 North Main St., St. Charles, MO
St. Charles County Arts Council, Lillian Yahn Gallery, 7443 Village Center Dr., O' Fallon, MO
Steelville Arts Council, Yakdin Creek Mercantile, 115 E. Main St., Steelville, MO
Painting:
Artfully Alton, The Second Reading Book Shop, 16 E. Broadway, Alton, IL

Claude Makes More Friends

Here are some more of the many people Claude met tonight at the reception.

Claude Goes to the Lillian Yahn Gallery

Claude had a blast at the reception for the holiday show at the St. Charles County Arts Council's Lillian Yahn Gallery. He made a ton of new friends and is looking forward to meeting more people. He is hoping others will stop by to have their pictures taken and is making a point to invite everyone out for photo opportunities on Friday, Nov. 25 and for the holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 8.

Holiday Show
St. Charles County Arts Council
Lillian Yahn Gallery
7443 Village Center Dr.
O' Fallon, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Reception: Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 - 8 PM
Claude Photo Day: Friday, Nov. 25, noon - 4 PM
Holiday Party: Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 - 8 PM

This Week; Claude Returns

Claude is excited to celebrate the holidays at the St. Charles County Arts Council Lillian Yahn Gallery! Claude, everyone’s favorite lovable 7 foot tall plush Bigfoot (most notably seen here on my blog), will be on vacation from his home with Jennifer Weigel & Charles Wilbur for the holiday show at the Lillian Yahn Gallery. He would love for you to join him for the reception this Thursday and will even be available for photos during the upcoming holiday party.

I am also participating in three other shows opening this week, including two exhibitions at Art Saint Louis. I will also have a selection of paintings available for holiday shopping at Soulard Art Market. Please stop by and check it out.

Holiday Show
St. Charles County Arts Council
Lillian Yahn Gallery
7443 Village Center Dr.
O' Fallon, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Reception: Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 - 8 PM
Holiday Party: Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 - 8 PM

$100 Show
holiday boutique
Soulard Art Market
2028 S. 12th St.
St. Louis, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Reception: Friday, Nov. 11, 7 - 10 PM

Art St. Louis XXVII
and
Artist's Day at Circus Flora
Art Saint Louis
555 Washington Ave. Ste. 150
St. Louis, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011
Reception: Saturday, Nov. 12, 6 - 9 PM

I have a painting in the holiday show at the Columbia Art League, opening this week as well.

Give a Gift of Art
Columbia Art League
207 S. Ninth St.
Columbia, MO
Nov. - Dec. 2011

This Week

I am honored to be participating in the Women's Caucus for Art's groundbreaking Man As Object: Reversing the Gaze exhibition at SOMArts in San Francisco for which I created my Manhood piece. Please check it out - this is probably the biggest show I've been in to date and features works by numerous women artists whose works I studied in college.

Man As Object: Reversing the Gaze
Women's Caucus for Art
SOMArts
934 Brannan St.
San Francisco, CA
Nov. 2011
Reception: Nov. 4, 6 - 9 PM
Other events include a Peep Show Drawing Circle & Performance on Nov. 13 and a closing reception on Nov. 30.

Inspirational Words & Personal Goals

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom.
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.
They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same.
~ by Flavia Weedn ~

Although I've been kind of down lately on and off, I've been slowly emerging from it and am starting to reassess my life and what I want from it. I strive to be one of those people that lingers and inspires. I am becoming more and more determined to live my live following two basic principles. I am posting them here as a reminder to myself.

- I try as best I can to follow The Golden Rule of treating others as you wish to be treated yourself.

- I also seek to fearlessly pursue my art without compromising my integrity, idea or vision, without apology, and to encourage others to think & see things in a new light, spawn conversations, and promote creativity.

I realize that these are lofty sentiments, but they are core principles that I hold very dear. I only hope that I can live up to them and shall do my best to do so.

On Nurturing & Supporting Each Other

I am very passionate about art and want to connect with artists from diverse walks of life and artistic explorations because I simply love it. It is my life. In doing so, I try really hard to be supportive of other artists because I am genuinely interested in their well-being so that they can continue to make art, even despite (or perhaps because of) adverse circumstances.

That said, I find that a lot of people, not artists but in general, take advantage. I don't think that all of them intend to; a vast majority aren't even aware of their doing so and are just too self-focused to see their impacts on others for whatever reason. But it is sorrowing to me nonetheless. This was sort of summed up in a recent discussion I had with my husband in which he pointed out that I have to choose whether to let other people walk all over me or to be another asshole myself. But that is not a choice I want to have to make, because I find it disheartening that every option accepts "asshole-ness" as a given.

It is just my nature to want to help, but I find it unfortunate that being cast in a "nurturing" role isn't more appreciated or valued. A lot of people seem to treat me as though I am myself unimportant, like my existence is always tied to a supporting role in the shadows and that I am personally not important enough to get my own chance at the spotlight or to even deserve to be so supported or nurtured myself. But I cannot change my empathy, and to me it reflects upon the Golden Rule of treating others as you wish to be treated. Overall I would like to see more people supporting each other so I strive to live my life by example.

Perhaps I'm too much of an idealist, but I would rather live in a world where we look out for one another and support one another and leave the "asshole-ness" behind us. So work with me on this. Go out of your way to notice or do something outside of your routine. Say something nice to a stranger. Open a door for someone. Call or visit a friend or family member to let them know you care... Engage in making a difference!

Even a simple act of kindness can be a ray of sunshine in another person's life. If it seems like you can't make a difference just remind yourself that every action counts, for better or for worse and no matter how insignificant it may at first seem. Most everyone is familiar with the starfish parable in some way, though few are aware that it was adapted from a book by Loren Eiseley, but please feel free to check out one version here.
The Starfish Story: http://muttcats.com/starfish.htm

This Week

My Midwest folding screen will be included in the upcoming Tenor of Textiles show at Soulard Art Market, opening this Friday, so please feel free to drop by and check it out.

Tenor of Textiles
Soulard Art Market
2028 S. 12th St.
St. Louis, MO
Oct. 2011
Reception: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 - 10 PM
Includes textile-inspired artworks by:
Kacey Cowdery, Carla Duncan, Addoley Dzegede, Robyn Ferraro, Sharon Kilfoyle, Jacqueline Pruitt, Lynn Robey, Perla Segovia, Jennifer Weigel, Elizabeth Wilcox

Expired Reception

Thank you to Alexis Weigel for taking these great photos at the Expired reception tonight at Gallery Visio. It was a blast dressing up for the show opening while also getting to go to The Addams Family at the Fabulous Fox Theater in costume!

This Week

I have works in a couple of Halloween-themed shows opening this week. I am looking forward to the Expired zombie-themed show at Gallery Visio - please feel free to drop by and check it out. I will be showing my fashion Barbies for the first time. I am also honored to have work in another show at Altered Esthetics; Insomnia will be on display there.

Expired
Gallery Visio
University of Missouri - St. Louis
170 MSC (Millenium Student Center)
One University Blvd.
St. Louis, MO
Oct. 2011
Reception: Thursday, Oct. 6, 4 - 7 PM

Fear Itself
Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy St. NE
Minnesota, MN
Oct. 2011

Interview

I was recently featured in Bizarre Magazine in a piece about bodily fluids and art. It is a genuine honor to be interviewed and included among so many highly esteemed and controversial contemporary artists. Please feel free to check it out here.
http://www.bizarremag.com/weird-news/bizarre-life/11299/body_fluid_artists.html

Claude Makes a New Friend

Claude is enjoying his retirement hanging out with his friends in the Rock Band den. He is happy to welcome his new friend, Pat, from The Rabbit Project by Imogen Toner, in which hundreds of precious tiny clay rabbits have been sent from England via mail all over the world to be photographed in special places in honor of a very special toy rabbit. (Pat can be seen sitting atop Feral Pig's head.) Also included in this picture are Cactus Jake, a crocheted donkey in sombrero found at a garage sale; Feral Pig by Christina Ward; Itchy by Jane Wang; and Sock Monkey, made by my mother.

Regarding Size

A lot of artists are prodded to work larger and I have been questioned in this regard on numerous occasions. I've even written about the bias here on my blog before. But a fellow artist voiced something to me at an art fair this weekend that caught me off guard because I'd never perceived of it that way before: that she felt a need to work larger in order to legitimize her work.

I really didn't know how to respond to this. I still don't. I just can't relate. I've never bought into the "bigger is better" argument that so many artists seem to. All too often it seems that size can become a way of compensating for or hiding from shortcomings, as if some artists think to themselves that they can make up for what they lack in vision or technical ability by working bigger or hide from it by working smaller.

I suppose I understand the uncertainty and desire to legitimize one's work, but I just don't correlate that with size. I see legitimacy more as coming from response and/or pushing boundaries: winning an award, showing in more prestigious or varied settings, selling an artwork, receiving a grant or residency, developing a strong & cohesive body of work, developing a new technique, taking or teaching a workshop or class, experimenting & growing as an artist... In my mind all of those things serve to legitimize and assert oneself as an artist more than working larger simply for its own sake.

I find it personally better not to question legitimacy in the first place. I guess maybe I'm just more confident in my art than some. I try not to question the integrity of what I do; I just seek to create is all. Sometimes the results are better than others but all of it is a learning experience, good or bad.

Taking Responsibility for Your Own "Crazy"

It is highly impeccable that you recognize that not everyone else perceives of things the exact same way that you do. Your individuality and uniqueness will come across in your art, whether you embrace it or not and for better or for worse. What may seem perfectly normal to you may seem totally alien to another and visa versa. So, you have to come to realize that not everyone else will understand your art as you do, and this plays an important role in showing your work.

My husband and were recently discussing how so many artists are quick to assume that those hanging their work will graciously display it perfectly, just as they designed it to be seen. Even despite the following: alternative presentations that don't abide by prospectus guidelines, poor instructions on how it goes together, components missing or flawed... And that said gallery personnel will hang said artwork happily and not feel put upon or bothered by any extra demands on their time and skills to do so at all. However, this is not the case. What may seem like an elaborate but elegant and beautiful installation to you as the artist will likely appear as a chaotic jumble of parts to whomever unpacks or has to hang it. So I call upon you to make every effort to ensure that your artwork is installed properly as you would like it to be shown. We called this "taking responsibility for your own 'crazy'" because of that disconnect and the artist's need to work to ensure their own artwork is shown as they would like.

Ideally you should plan to install anything that deviates from a standard plop-it-on-a-pedestal or well-balanced wired wall-hung piece yourself. If you cannot install your own work make sure you converse with the gallery assistant and exhibitions staff beforehand. Include explicit instructions for installation that incorporate pictures (preferably photos and not sketches). Make absolutely certain that all of the proper parts are there and even include spare parts if possible, but make sure to label them as such to avoid confusion. Above all, as I've said time after time, communication is key so make sure that you keep the lines of communication open and professional.

This Week

With all of the focus on fiber arts during Innovations in Textiles, I have been very busy and am involved in several shows opening this week.

Fiber Arts Members' Exhibition
St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
Spirits Lounge
300 State St.
Alton, IL
Sept. - Oct. 2011
WCA girls' night out: Thursday, Sept. 15, 6:30 - 9 PM

Rogue to Vogue 2: Fashion Reinvented
Chesterfield Arts
444 Chesterfield Center
Chesterfield, MO
Sept. - Oct. 2011
Reception: Friday, Sept. 16, 6 - 8 PM
My Au Naturel ensemble is featured in this show.

Fiber Focus 2011
Art Saint Louis
555 Washington #150
St. Louis, MO
Sept. - Oct. 2011
Reception: Friday, Sept. 16, 6 - 10 PM
I have two pieces in this highly competitive juried exhibition: Going Digital and Summer Camp: Intro to Weaving. The juror Lia Cook will be at the reception from 8:30 - 10 PM after her show opens at Duane Reed Gallery. I also won't arrive until later on as I hope to attend the Chesterfield Arts reception awhile first.

Also, the 4th annual Alton plein air paintout is happening Saturday, Sept. 17. I am looking forward to participating again. The riverfront Mississippi Earthtones Festival is always a joy. Please feel free to drop by and check it out.

Artfully Alton & Alton Marketplace
Mississippi Earthtones Festival Plein Air Event
Alton Riverfront Amphitheater
Alton, IL
Sept. 17, 2011

This Week

It's time for the big Innovations in Textiles biennial focus on fiber arts in St. Louis, throughout the months of September and October. I have work in several shows in conjunction with the event including Fiber Content opening this week at Framations.

Fiber Content
Framations
218 North Main St.
St. Charles, MO
Sept. - Oct. 2011
reception: Friday, Sept. 9, 6 - 8 PM

Art of the Week: More Cake

Remember my Art Is Everywhere cake from the first open forum cake decorating? Well, this past Thursday we went to the second such event and decorated cupcakes. I decorated this chocolate cupcake dragon, and Chuck joked later that I should post its size and lifespan here on my blog. He decorated these two bavarian cream filled chocolate cupcakes with flowers. We indulged in our treats at the park near the grocery store after creating them. Oh, how I love buttercream frosting...

Cupcake Dragon
Genus: Chocolate Cake
Length: approximately 8"
Lifespan: 10 minutes

This Week

I have been trying do less in August in anticipation of all of the big fiber events coming up in September and October, but I will be participating in an art fair this weekend. The weather is supposed to be wonderful and it will be nice to visit with my stepmother, who will be bringing some of her own creations to vend as well. I have been to the winery before for a friend's wedding, and it is quite lovely.

Wine & Art Festival
Hidden Lake Winery
10580 Wellen Rd.
Aviston, IL
Aug. 27 & 28, 2011

I also have some new work in the upcoming Hint Fiction show at Columbia Art League. For this unique exhibition, artists were invited to create two works in response to stories in Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer. Artists had to register what stories they intended to create works from to ensure that a diverse range of interpretations and stories could be included. (Each story was limited to a maximum of three interpretations.) Some excerpts from the book can be found on the art league's site here.

Hint Fiction
Columbia Art League
207 S. Ninth St.
Columbia, MO
Aug. - Sept. 2011

Weight Loss

I have struggled with my weight all of my life and have worked really hard in the past year to drop it. I find it saddening how many people who lose weight joke that "I used to live to eat, now I eat to live." I find this holding true for myself as well, and it depresses me that something that once brought me pleasure does not anymore. I cannot eat anything or indulge in anything without thinking about the potential consequences and whether or not it will make me gain weight, which makes me not want to bother to eat at all as very few things seem worth it.

I started dieting because I grew weary of having to hear every doctor I ever went to tell me that I needed to lose weight, even when I wasn't clinically obese, and I was in a situation where I wound up seeing a lot of doctors in a short time in response to a medical diagnosis in the fall and so it kept coming up. My body was always happiest at 150 but that still is overweight as far as the medical community is concerned. The final push was twofold. First, I acquired a Wii Fit, which is programmed with a double standard by making you choose a response from a checklist in response to gaining more than a pound over a day's time when you're either trying to lose or maintain, whereas it doesn't do this the other way around when you lose an equivalent amount of weight, even if you're underweight and are trying to gain. (I know because I have now been on both sides of what it considers to be ideal.) But the daily check-in just made me really self-conscious about everything I ate and did and made me feel too accountable.

I will admit that I did need to lose some weight though - I'd drifted up over the course of time. I was feeling pretty good about myself after I had lost over 40 pounds and gotten to around 150. But then I went to a specialist about a recurring medical issue and, in response to telling her I was trying to lose weight, was told that losing weight is hard and that I should keep working at it because if I did so my symptoms would likely disappear on their own. Both things combined to further fuel a cycle of self-hatred and I am now at the lowest weight I have ever been since middle school. It depresses me that I can count every rib and every vertebrae in my spine and yet by weight and height alone am considered to be "healthy" according to the medical charts.

I know I shouldn't let others' opinions of me affect me so, but when I'm down I struggle with feeling as though I'm being judged and so it tends to feed into itself. I have a horrible self-image, especially regarding my body. I hated what I looked like when I was larger and I still hate what I look like now that I'm not. I feel like a deflated balloon and see only see my flaws. But the attitude shift regarding food deeply saddens me because I cannot indulge in one of the only things I found comfort in. It's not like food was a constant overindulgence, but now it seems more of an enemy than a friend and I really don't want to eat out or be in social situations at all. I guess I just need to keep reminding myself to try not to buy into all of the body image BS but I feel as though I'm bombarded with it constantly.

Why do we live in a culture that encourages overindulgence while embracing self-denial? I realize that unhappy people make better consumers because they are trying to fill a void. And while it's true that money doesn't buy happiness, a lot of people spend an awful lot of it trying. I know that those trying to sell me something don't care about my emotional well-being, they just want to make money off whatever it is that they're peddling, whether it be an idea like what is perceived of as attractive or a physical thing like a soda.

But I just don't have the energy left to fight it anymore, I'm too drained. I have always incorporated this in my art, which has been my primary means of coping with it, and now am doing a little better as I am working on more art again. But where does it end? I wish I didn't need art as a catharsis, that I didn't even need an outlet for my pent up frustrations because I could just ignore all of it. Or, better yet, that the double standards and mixed messages weren't there in the first place and we could all just be allowed to be at peace with ourselves rather than being constantly bombarded by someone trying to sell us something or chastise us for deviating from what is considered "normal".

Volunteering

I know I've ranted about artists constantly being hit up for donations of their money, art & time and have spoken about the generosity of artists before, but today I'm going to take an opportunity to encourage artists to volunteer.

There are many benefits of volunteering for art organizations that you are involved with. So many artists just see memberships in art organizations as lines for the resume, support systems for emerging artists, or opportunities to exhibit, but they can offer so much more than that. I have spoken before about becoming actively involved, and I strongly encourage art organization members to do so.

Active members' voices are heard more than those who just pay their dues. (Note: some members are more active by contributing more monetarily, this is not solely based upon time involvement.) It is the active members who will be sought first to offer insights into how organizations are managed and what they want to see happen. So by becoming involved you can help determine focus and direction and shape the organization.

Volunteering can help you network with those running the organization and other members and artists who are involved. Helping out with drop off and pick up of art, working receptions, sitting a table during an art fair and other similar tasks can offer great opportunities to meet others and to get to know those involved in the organization better.

Uncrating shipped works enables you to see how other artists pack their works for shipment and what works and doesn't work for them and why. You can then refer to this knowledge later when preparing your own artworks to ship.

Helping to hang shows is a huge benefit because you can see the end effects of curating and how artworks are positioned in the space in addition to examining how other artists prepare their works for hanging. You get a better feel for the flow of the show and for how different galleries and spaces do things differently. This can help when considering curating an exhibition yourself or when hanging or preparing your own work for display.

By being actively involved, you gain invaluable knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes and get to know more people in the organization. You can put that information to use to make it easier on those working with you and to better understand their processes, thus making a better professional impression while establishing contacts. And, the more you do so, the more you'll find that others are willing to work with you towards larger scale projects or with alternative presentations because they know and respect you.

This Week

I know it's short notice, but I hadn't totally formulated my schedule until yesterday. There are a couple of things going on this week so I thought I'd mention them.

My cats, Sam & Ginger, will have artwork on display in the Fur Elise show at White Flag Projects on Saturday (tomorrow). The show is comprised of "objects made from collected fur brushings." Sam and Ginger worked with me to create a series of Hairballs for the event, although they've been overzealous and have still been creating more hairballs even since I dropped their artwork off. I guess that's what I get for encouraging them...

Fur Elise
White Flag Projects
4568 Manchester, St. Louis, MO
Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011, 1 - 3 PM

I am also going to be plein air painting during the 18th Century Home & Garden Tour at the Government House. Columbia Art League members were invited to paint and display some of their paintings at the event. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous and I'm really looking forward to it; plein air painting and home tours go very well together and I miss the Lafayette Square plein air event greatly.

18th Century Home & Garden Tour
Government House
Ste. Genevieve, MO
Saturday, Aug. 13 - Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011
I will only be participating on Sunday. Tickets to the homes tour will be required and cost $20 each.

Revisiting Some Past Blog Posts

I used to blog a lot more in response to my life and in general, and often posted advice and insights to help other artists on their own journeys. I try to revisit these themes on occasion and to bring up past posts, but please feel free to follow this link to see some of my past advice posts.

http://chaoticblacksheep.blogspot.com/search/label/advice

Determining Quality

I was recently invited to a discussion of art in St. Louis and the idea of quality kept recurring. This got me thinking about the role of the artist in determining quality, and so I am hoping to better formulate my views on this on my blog here.

Frankly, I don't think that the determination of quality is genuinely the role of the artist. Now I know that notion likely seems very idealistic and is probably a turnoff to many, but I strongly believe that the artist's role is primarily to create. I know that all of us censor ourselves in regards to what we do and don't show. Many artists are their own worst critics and can get wrapped up in ideas of quality all too easily. But I am personally striving to do so less and to move towards creating without questioning.

Many people have branded me one of the most creative people they know, and I firmly believe this to result from my desire not to self-censor. I have cautioned against stifling one's own creativity on my blog before. The more we question what we're doing, the more likely we are to kill our muse, to shoot down ideas before we can even fully explore and formulate them. I have even tried to start discussions about how we censor ourselves to get a better feeling for what other artists do, since I find that I don't do so near as often as most. But it is imperative that we allow ourselves to play and explore, not just as children but into adulthood, and this is not just specific to artists. When we give ourselves that freedom we come up with ideas we may have otherwise thought unfathomable.

So who do I think plays the role of determining quality, if not the artist? I believe that the art historian, buyer or critic can and will do so. The art historian determines what is acknowledged and remembered for the future, what is written about and studied. Though the artist must be able to put a price on his/her work, it is essentially the buyer who determines whether or not that price is justified by choosing whether or not to pay it. And the critic examines artworks and evaluates shows as good or bad, drawing the public to either agree or not. Why force these roles upon those making the art? And don't get me wrong, artists can also be strong art historians, buyers and critics, but I believe that it behooves them not to do so when examining their own artwork to avoid the potentially paralyzing effects of overanalysis.

Trying to Chill Out

I know I can be a bit of a control freak, which causes me a lot of stress in the art community at times since I often find myself working with people who are simply not as neurotic or organizationally-obsessed as I am. But I am really trying to chill out more and let things slide. It is still very awkward and part of me really wants to step in and take control, but I think I'm doing better at it.

It has helped being less involved in various groups to focus on myself because I don't have to rely on others to uphold things that reflect back on me. Hopefully someday I'll be able to become more involved again but be less stressed out by it. Ideally I need to learn not to let others' judgments of me affect me so much. When I do have to rely on other people, I shouldn't worry so much about how I am seen as a result of their actions and thus let it affect how I perceive of myself.

It's kind of funny because I've been able to let go in my art for a long while now, since I really started doing more conceptual work to foster conversation. I've had to distance myself in that to avoid being confrontational and to open myself up to more possibilities. But that hasn't been true of my life at all. I often take it too personally when people don't get back to me, lose things or simply forget. But that just comes around to my ego trying to make everything about me even when it isn't, and it doesn't serve me well.

I think when I learn to chill out regarding my own life that I will better be able to integrate my art into it and explore some of the more personal issues I've been struggling with. It will help me to overcome the disparity between the two. Art has always been my life and I've never separated the two in my mind, I just need to chill out more and let things go so that I can live my art.

Fun Opportunity to Celebrate Diversity

I had heard about this art and writing opportunity in years past but hadn't realized that it has been ongoing, so I thought I'd promote it here. The Embracing Our Differences billboard show in Island Park in Sarasota, Florida is continuing and offers a wonderful opportunity for young and old alike to submit art and quotations about celebrating diversity. I love the idea and submitted a quote myself. Please feel free to check it out here.

http://www.embracingourdifferences.org/index.html

More Artist Pet Peeves

I try not to complain or to do so in as constructive a manner as I can, but I have to put this out there because it really rubbed me the wrong way. There are a lot of stereotypes and assumptions made about artists that I find bothersome, and though I have written about several of them before I will revisit the topic here.

I was just asked to donate my time and materials to a children's workshop-based event and it annoyed me for several reasons. First, there had been no thought given to compensating artists for their time and materials (the idea was that whatever exposure the artists got from participating would be compensation enough, and where materials would come from wasn't fully considered). Secondly, children would be charged admission to raise money for the organization, which is good as it will help minimize the craziness often associated with these types of events, but I think it shows a lack of awareness that the artists were not going to be offered something of that towards supplies and their time.

One thing that really irks me about this is the unspoken assumption that artists will freely offer their time, talent, expertise, artworks and even art supplies and do so gladly even in exchange for poor exposure or for nothing at all. This is perpetuated when artists do just that, or when they belittle their own art as a hobby, which undermines all artists because it fosters the notion that art is little more than a hobby and feeds into the idea that we don't deserve compensation because we're doing something we enjoy.

Another thing that bothers me about this is that it is assumed that artists love children and would be happy to work with large groups of them in their free time and in what are typically messy and chaotic circumstances. This is simply not true and is an unfair assumption to make of anyone, artist or not. Some artists love children and would love to engage in these types of activities but others simply don't, not necessarily because they don't like children but because they don't want to be placed into that camp counselor role. Some are very clean and tidy and don't handle messes well while others don't know how to respond to large numbers of children all at once and get stressed out by it.

A third thing that deeply bothers me about this is that more women than men are asked to do this sort of thing, which reflects other stereotypes and assumptions based in sexism. Just because I'm female doesn't mean I want to play teacher for a day in my off time or that I want to babysit other peoples' kids. These circumstances befall men as well, as is evidenced by the fact that, at a plein air event, a male friend of mine essentially found himself babysitting a young girl her parents left for several hours after exclaiming that she loved to paint. But this more often befalls women.

I offered some food for thought to those who approached me regarding this. However I felt like I was being judged as if I were selfish for not wanting to participate and should feel guilty. I know some of that lies in my own insecurities, but I shouldn't feel that way at all. It is a lot to ask, whether those asking realize this or not, and I strongly feel that those asking should be more appreciative and recognize just how much they are asking for. It doesn't behoove anyone to guilt trip another for something that they hadn't considered in reverse. So if you find yourself in the position of asking an artist to donate their time, artwork and/or materials, try the idea on for size yourself first and see how it fits - if you are taken aback by it then you probably need to reassess what you're offering in exchange and sweeten the deal.

Enough of my complaining though. To contrast my ranting I'm going to post something about a wonderful project and art & writing opportunity celebrating diversity that involves kids and adults and that I feel doesn't undermine the contributors. It is highly competitive but well-worth checking out and considering applying to - the more responses the better.

Roving Artist's Studio online

While I was touring other artists' studios and catching up with some friends in the alternative space at Mad Art Gallery, I met Robert Crowe who runs the St. Louis Daily Photo blog. I was among the artists whose portraits he took during the studio tours and the first to be posted to the blog, which is a real honor. Feel free to check it out here.

http://saintlouismodailyphoto.blogspot.com/2011/07/artists-open-studio-and-car-weekend.html

Roving Artist's Studio update

I am enjoying going from place to place in my car with my Roving Artist's Studio installation. While traveling I am distributing buttons that say "Jennifer Was Here to those artists whose studios I've managed to visit. It has been fun and apparently people are wearing and/or displaying them because, by the end of the day today, several people I'd run into have talked about them after noting me as the source.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to make it out to near so many things as I would like but I did manage to see about half of what was listed. I predominantly went to Soulard and Cherokee Street, although there were a few studios there that I didn't manage to make it by or find and I visited a couple of other parts of town as well. I even ran into the bus tour, which was nice. I have developed a plan of action for tomorrow in the hopes of making it out to see more, although many of the studios on the tour tomorrow are even more widespread so that may prove challenging.

I don't know how many other people have happened upon my piece but several artists have ducked out of their studios to check it out while I'm there. And I am hoping to park close to the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis for the BBQ tomorrow evening so that others who didn't see it can check it out if they like. Please keep an eye out for me tomorrow as I tour other parts of the city and at the BBQ.

Art of the Week: Roving Artist's Studio

Here's a preview of my artwork for the 2011 City Wide Open Studios event. Today I worked on a drawing for my car installation, which will travel throughout the city during open studios.

This Week

I just wanted to remind everyone that I will be participating in open studios this weekend, with a traveling installation in my car. The preview party last night went well and my artwork there at the Contemporary Art Museum offers more details about my project, so feel free to drop by and check it out. Otherwise, I'll hope to see you around.

City-Wide Open Studios
sponsored by Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
3750 Washington Blvd.
St. Louis, MO
July 30 - 31, 2011

Art of the Week: Au Naturel

This week I'm going to feature a new wearable piece I created from a thrift store find and faux flowers. This piece is called Au Naturel as tongue-in-cheek commentary on both man & nature and the fashion industry.

Next Week

I am also gearing up for the big City Wide Open Studios event again this year. In the past two years I have utilized the event to embark on various institutional critique projects, including my He Said, She Said art fair buttons in 2010 and the debut of my Art Is Everywhere sign project at Keith Buchholz Fluxus St. Louis' Art Farm in 2011.

In keeping with that trend, I am participating with a new institutional critique work called Roving Artist's Studio. Please feel free to come to the preview party to learn more about this weekend-long project.

City-Wide Open Studios
sponsored by Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
3750 Washington Blvd.
St. Louis, MO
July 30 - 31, 2011
Preview Party: Tuesday, July 26, 6 - 9 PM

This Week

This weekend is the national Women's Caucus for Art summer board meeting, held here in St. Louis where current president Janice Nesser resides. So there are a lot of WCA events and activities, including two that I will be directly involved with as follows.

Art & Social Justice Conference
workshop presenter with a hands-on artist trading card table
St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
Regional Arts Commission
6128 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO
Friday, July 22, 2011
Conference cost is $45 + fees & includes box lunch.
Registration: 8 - 9 AM; Conference: 9 AM - 4 PM
Tickets available at eventbrite here through July 20. I believe that a very limited number of tickets will also be available at the door, first come first served, but I'm not entirely certain and it will depend on availability so I'd recommend registering today through eventbrite if you want to attend.

Our Voices, Our Views
St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
Jeane Vogel Studios
ArtSpace
Crestwood Court
Crestwood, MO
July 2011
Reception: Saturday, July 23, 3 - 5 PM

Although I do not have art in the next two exhibitions listed, here are some more festivities happening for the WCA summer board meeting. Please feel free to check them out and support the group.

Themis
St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
St. Louis University
Museum of Art
3663 Lindell
St. Louis, MO
July 2011
Reception: Friday, July 22, 7 - 9 PM

Traveling Journal Project
Young Women's Caucus of the Women's Caucus for Art
St. Louis Community College, Florissant-Valley
3400 Pershall Rd.
Ferguson, MO
June - July 2011
Reception: Saturday, July 23, noon - 2 PM

Art of the Week: Let There Be Cake!

Chuck & I went to an open forum cake decorating at Schnuck's tonight where we each got to decorate and take home our own single-layer 8-inch cakes. I decorated this Art Is Everywhere cake wreck of a marble cake, complete with paint spatters and sprinkles... Yum! :)

This Week

I will be in the Summer Members' Show at the St. Charles County Arts Council's Lillian Yahn Gallery with several yet unshown institutional critique works, so please feel free to drop by and check it out.

Summer Members' Show: Artist Showcase
St. Charles County Arts Council
Lillian Yahn Gallery
7443 Village Center Dr.
O' Fallon, MO
July 2011
Reception: Thursday, July 7, 4 - 7 PM

This Week

It's turning out to be a busy summer for me, and I have artworks in two out-of-town shows opening this week. I am participating in Feminine Perspective at the Black Door Gallery with my Catharsis custom dolls and am looking forward to attending the reception Friday. I am also the featured artist with my Party Animals drawings in Hope of the Union at Altered Esthetics, which is a real honor. Please keep checking back to see what else I'm involved in - I have a lot of events coming up.

Feminine Perspective
Black Door Gallery
124 S. Spanish
Cape Girardeau, MO
July 2011
Reception: Friday, July 1, 5 - 9 PM

Hope of the Union
featured artist
Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy St. NE
Minneapolis, MN
July 2011
Reception: Friday, July 1, 7 - 10 PM

One of my Augusta 2011 plein air paintings is also included in the Columbia Art League summer members' show which opened last Thursday.

Members' Summer Open
Columbia Art League
207 S. Ninth St.
Columbia, MO
June - Aug. 2011

This Week

I have a piece in the upcoming Drift exhibition, which is happening concurrently between Art Saint Louis and the St. Louis Artist's Guild. (My piece is included in the Artist's Guild show.) The show opens this weekend with a reception Saturday evening at Art Saint Louis and another Sunday afternoon at the Artist's Guild. Please feel free to drop in and check it out.

Drift
St. Louis Artist's Guild & Galleries
Two Oak Knoll Park
Clayton, MO
June - Aug. 2011
Reception: Sunday, June 26, 1 - 3 PM

Art of the Week: Circus Flora

Here is a sketch I created at the Art Saint Louis artist's day at Circus Flora on June 18. It was great fun, although drawing there proved challenging with all of the action. Keep an eye out for an upcoming show through Art Saint Louis.

Insect Bite

I first noticed this nasty insect bite when I woke up Tuesday. It puffed up like a mosquito bite and itched like mad. But it worsened after that, changing color and getting more irritated, and the symptoms matched those of a spider bite more than a mosquito bite, especially with the fang marks.

It is doing better now (for all that it doesn't look it from the pictures) and it doesn't itch nearly as bad. And I went to the doctor yesterday because it is really scary with it being so close to my eye, and they seem to think it's clearing up and isn't infected, so that's good. Has anyone else had a similar experience and, if so, how long did it take to clear?

Art of the Week: Haunting

I'd meant to post this at the start of the month but time got away from me. Better late than never. Here is a photo from my Hauntings series, created during a trip out to Jefferson City for the 175th Anniversary Celebration Photography & Art Competition of the Missouri State Penitentiary through Capital Arts.

Paul Reiter Benefit Auction

There is going to be a benefit auction of artworks by local artists from Paul Reiter's estate, whose tragic and untimely death I wrote about here. The auction will be at Mad Art Gallery on this Sunday, June 12, 3 - 6 PM. I have pasted some details below.

Art Sale for Paul Reiter at Mad Art on June 12
Good Samaritan was murdered while breaking up robbery of neighbor

The family and friends of the late Paul Reiter have planned a silent auction of his large collection of local art in an effort to distribute his work by St. Louis artists and to raise money for the son who survives him.
Paul was a veteran progressive activist and unpretentious arts patron who was active with KDHX in its earliest days, supported almost every cultural institution in town, and served The St. Louis American for 22 years as circulation manager. He was murdered on May 9 when he attempted to chase away a thief breaking into his neighbor's home. He was 58 and is survived by a 20-year-old son who is studying at Saint Louis University.
An exhibit and sale of the Paul Reiter Collection of St. Louis Art will be held 3-6 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at Mad Art Gallery, 2727 S. 12th St. in Soulard.
There is no admission price. Mad Art will operate a cash bar. Award-winning barbecue master Roland Frank will offer cheaply priced Q in the courtyard.
Opening bids for the work will be priced affordably, with the intention of selling everything. All work will come off the walls and go home with buyers that night at the conclusion of the silent auction. Organizers will begin closing the bidding process at 5 p.m. and be finished with all sales by 6 p.m.
Paul's collection included work by Paul LaFlam, Craig Downs, Cindy Royal, Michael Hoffman, Carmelita Nunez, Jeremy Hendry and many other St. Louis artists. It includes paintings, prints, drawings, assemblages and sculptures that range in size from very small to very large. Almost all of the work is professionally framed and ready to be displayed.
"When he was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Navy in the seventies he brought back several souvenirs – tea sets, kimonos, carved wooden doors; and he shipped us wooden clocks from Europe," Paul's sister, Joyce Fraser, said. "He had an interest in the arts and spirituality early on. That began his journey. And it progressed to helping local artists in the St. Louis area."
Fraser said his family was surprised to learn how supportive of the St. Louis arts scene their brother had been. In addition to more than 100 works of local art displayed in his home and office, he collected hundreds of postcards and dozens of posters from the many art shows he had attended all over the metropolitan area.
"St. Louis artists lost a great friend and supporter in Paul," she said.
Fraser said the primary goal of the event is to show Paul's art as a complete collection one more time and then see that that the art gets into the hands of Paul's friends and fellow supporters of St. Louis' lively but under-appreciated art scene. The family also hopes to generate funds to further Paul's son's education. Fraser said anyone who wishes to contribute to Paul's son without bidding on art will have the opportunity to do so at the event.
All proceeds from the art auction and all donations will go to Christopher Paul Reiter, Paul's son.

This Week: Gallery Closing

The Northern Arts Council will be closing at the end of this month and will be having a final reception this Friday, June 10. The reception will be your last chance to purchase my jewelry at this venue, where I have several necklaces on display. Please drop by and check it out before it's gone.

Northern Arts Council
27 S. Florissant Rd.
Ferguson, MO

Next Week

I am going to be displaying my Forbidden Fruits series at Shameless Grounds, a new coffeehouse and restaurant that is devoted to providing "a non-judgmental, sex- positive gathering space that could host group meetings, classes, presentations and general merriment." People from all walks of life and sexual orientations & preferences are welcome.

Shameless Grounds
2650 Sidney St.
St. Louis, MO
June 2011
Reception: Wednesday, June 1, 7 - 9 PM

In Memory of Paul Reiter

I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Paul Reiter today from a mutual friend. Paul was an amazing person, and perhaps the most noble and humble individual I have ever met. He always gave of himself without question to everything he did and was a strong supporter of & advocate for the arts. He extensively collected works by local artists and attended numerous exhibitions, always bringing a smile & keeping an open mind and encouraging others to do the same.

I first met Paul through the Life Blood Exhibit preview party, where he purchased one of the auctioned artworks to benefit the show. He continued to support the Life Blood Exhibit after that, following both that show and my own personal endeavors, like the Art Is Everywhere sign project, of which he was one of the first to register for a sign and kept that sign in the back window of his van where it could be seen by people all over town. He was always very giving & generous and his continuous presence & support strengthened the art community

Please read this article in the St. Louis American to learn more of Paul's unending support and passion for art, along with his loyalty to his family, the St. Louis American, and the St. Louis community as a whole. He will be sorely missed.

http://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/article_c49d4b8e-7c24-11e0-9586-001cc4c03286.html

This Week

I participated in the Paint Webster Webster Groves plein air event yesterday and experimented some with some new works. The event culminates in a show at the Old Orchard Gallery - this week only!

Paint Webster 2011 exhibition
Old Orchard Gallery
37 S. Old Orchard
Webster Groves, MO
May 9 - 17, 2011

I am also the Featured Artist for Art? at Altered Esthetics with my $1 Store Oil Painting. (This piece is being offered by silent auction over the course of the exhibition so viewers can actively participate in answering some of the questions it raises.) I sent one of my Art Is Everywhere signs to the gallery as well - feel free to check it out here.

Art?
Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy St. NE
Minneapolis, MN
May 2011

Art of the Week: Rain Rain Go Away

I had a lovely time in Augusta for the plein air event despite the weather. I created some more conceptual paintings this year and began exploring the use of monochromatic blue to convey rain and am pleased with the result. This diptych is called Rain Rain Go Away and features both Rain and Shine versions of the same scene.