Friday, December 28, 2012

Art of the Week: Reaching for the Sky



I finally downloaded the photos from my phone and have entitled this new piece Reaching for the Sky.  I love how these trees looked like outstretched arms when gazing up at them from the ground.  These pictures were shot at a park in Hutchinson, Kansas while visiting a friend for Thanksgiving.  The two trees split at the trunk but continued to grow vertically in parallel (you can see the pattern of growth in the latter picture).

Friday, December 21, 2012

This Week: Beyond the Lens VII



I'm sorry I didn't manage to post anything ahead of time about this, but it was kind of short notice between finding out that I was accepted and celebrating the holidays with my family.  Tonight, I attended the reception for Beyond the Lens VII at Framations.  I Dressed for the Occasion as seen here, channeling my inner Charles Dickens to reflect on all of the fun St. Charles Christmas Traditions festivities.  And I was deeply honored to win First Place in the show for Swing.  It is a wonderful exhibition, please drop by and check it out.

Beyond the Lens VII
Framations
218 North Main St.
St. Charles, MO
Dec. 2012 - Jan. 2013

Sunday, December 16, 2012

LAST CHANCE documentation

Happy holidays!

I invite you to check out some documentation from my big LAST CHANCE! One Night Only! event last Saturday.  The event featured my 10-year art anniversary retrospective exhibition and culminated in a speech & physically-intense performance in which over 150 artworks were destroyed.  Information about the show, photographs and videos can be found on my website and blog here.

LAST CHANCE! One Night Only! web page
10-Year Art Anniversary web page
10-Year Art Anniversary blog

Thank you so much and I'll look forward to seeing you around in 2013.  Here's to the next 10 years of art-making!

- Jennifer

Friday, December 14, 2012

Art of the Week: Art Merchandise


I uploaded a bunch of new designs to Cafe Press, including a lot of snarky, sarcastic and inappropriate gear utilizing various artworks.  Just in time for the holidays!

Just follow this link to see what fun goodies await you...
My Cafe Press Store - http://www.cafepress.com/jenniferweigel

All of my products have met with my approval and are up to my standards.  I always order one of everything I post, just to be sure, and now I have an awesome new wallet (design shown here) and a bunch more fun stuff to show for it.  :)

Sunday, December 9, 2012

LAST CHANCE Aftermath

I am still recuperating from my big event yesterday and have a lot to think about.  I will continue to post that process to the anniversary blog so feel free to follow it there as it develops.

10-Year Art Anniversary Blog

Friday, December 7, 2012

LAST CHANCE! preview 2



LAST CHANCE! One Night Only! is fully installed.  Only a few tweaks left to go, and a party to get together...  :)

LAST CHANCE! One Night Only!
solo 10-year art anniversary retrospective one-night art exhibit & performance event
Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts
3151 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO
Dec. 8, 2012
6 - 10 PM

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

LAST CHANCE! preview 1


My LAST CHANCE! One Night Only! 10-year art anniversary retrospective show is coming together.  Here is a preview of some of the impending doom.  Gold Rush Popcorn, an older assemblage, post-sledgehammer...  I will post some preview photographs of the exhibition display after I finish setting it up tomorrow.

LAST CHANCE! One Night Only!
solo 10-year art anniversary retrospective one-night art exhibit & performance event
Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts
3151 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO
Dec. 8, 2012
6 - 10 PM

Sunday, December 2, 2012

This Week: LAST CHANCE! One Night Only!

It's that magical time!!!  My one-night only 10-year art anniversary celebration is coming up fast... it's less than a week away this coming Saturday!  Please come and join in the party.

LAST CHANCE! One Night Only!
solo 10-year art anniversary retrospective one-night art exhibit & performance event
Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts
3151 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO
Dec. 8, 2012
6 - 10 PM

ALL ARTWORKS WILL BE DESTROYED... but you can save them!
Performance begins promptly at 8 PM.  All unsold artworks will be destroyed.  One night only!  Cash and carry, no credit cards.

Question legacy...

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

This Week & Into Next

December is panning out to be a crazy month for me!  In addition to my BIG retrospective art show and performance event, I will be vending selected small paintings and jewelry at the Foundry Art Centre's Big Red Box holiday event and will have a painting in Light, a Next Dor show at C.A.M.P.

Big Red Box
holiday marketplace
Foundry Art Centre
520 N. Main Center
St. Charles, MO
Nov. 30 & Dec. 1, 2012

Light
Next Dor
C.A.M.P.
3022A Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO
Dec. 2012 - Jan. 2013

Though I am excited about these two shows and honored to be included, the main event for me is still my BIG retrospective art show and performance event next week.  Please come and join in the party!

LAST CHANCE! One Night Only!
solo 10-year art anniversary retrospective one-night art exhibit & performance event
Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts
3151 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO
Dec. 8, 2012


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving! art anniversary thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so very blessed to be celebrating my 10-year art anniversary.  The celebration is still going strong, with more assorted assemblages posted to eBay this month and the upcoming big performance and event at Fort Gondo in December.

Please check out my eBay auctions at my eBay store here.

The big retrospective event is well underway.  I have been posting flyers all over town and am gathering what I need for the upcoming event and ensuing destruction.  I only get one 10-year art anniversary, please share in my celebration by joining in the party!

LAST CHANCE! One Night Only!
solo 10-year art anniversary retrospective
Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts
3151 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO
Dec. 8, 2012
6 - 10 PM, performance starts promptly at 8 PM

Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful holiday.  I'm posting a special bonus Thanksgiving behind-the-scenes reflection on the last ten years to my art anniversary blog: follow this link to learn more.

10 Year Art Anniversary Blog

Friday, November 2, 2012

November Art Anniversary Raffle for Dia de los Muertos


In honor of Dia de los Muertos, I am raffling off one of my major Forgotten artworks in conjunction with my art anniversary in November, as shown above.  Please be sure to check it out - this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of my larger pieces, of which there aren't many.  If you enter but your comment doesn't appear within a day, be certain to email me at "jennifer at jenniferweigelart.com" to make sure it was received, since I have been having difficulties with blogger.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/11/november-raffle-enter-to-win-this.html

Also, I am gearing up for the culmination of my yearlong 10-year art anniversary celebration, a one-night retrospective show and performance on Saturday, Dec. 8 at Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts.  The night will culminate in a big performance about legacy, support, patronage and longevity in which I will be destroying numerous artworks, so please mark your calendar in advance.  I will be publicizing the event more closer to then, but here's a sneak peek at the poster.



Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Moon Goddess Reception



I forgot to post this at the time (being out of town and then coming home to yet more craziness), so I'm backdating it now, based on the reception.  Sorry for the discrepancy.  Here I am dressing for the occasion at the reception of Moon Goddess Exhibit in San Francisco on Saturday, Oct. 27.  It was an awesome exhibition and I'm honored to have been included with a new menstrual artwork.  A hearty thank you to Aunia Kahn and Russell Moon, and to Modern Eden Gallery - great show!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

This Week and on EBay

That magical time is drawing closer... Moon Goddess Exhibit opens this Saturday!  I am super excited about the show and am honored to be included with my menstruation art.  Please check out my work for the show by following these gallery links.

The Goddess Within
Prints
Bracelets

Also, be sure to check out my eBay store this month for some spooky October anniversary auctions, including my zombie Barbies, eyeballs and more.  More information can be found on my anniversary blog here as well.

10-Year Art Anniversary Blog
EBay Store

Friday, October 19, 2012

Moon Goddess Exhibit


Channeling My Inner Goddess
Portrait of myself, artist Jennifer Weigel, in my Moon Goddess attire with Relic from The Goddess Within, photograph by Aunia Kahn.

I am very excited to participate in Moon Goddess Exhibit with The Goddess Within, celebrating the Goddess that resides within each and every woman while further exploring my advocacy-based works themed around demystifying menstruation.

Moon Goddess Exhibit
curated by Aunia Kahn & Russell Moon
Modern Eden Gallery
403 Francisco St.
San Francisco, CA
Oct. 2012
Reception: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

This Week & BONUS Anniversary Coupon

It's a fall festival weekend!  I'm gearing up for two art fairs where I'll be vending jewelry and paintings, and am even offering a BONUS coupon on my anniversary blog!

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/10/wedding-anniversary-bonus.html

Art on the Town
Old Orchard Shopping Center
Webster Groves, MO, Oct. 13 2012, noon - 4 PM

Old Town Fall Festival
Florissant City Hall, Oct. 14, 2012, noon - 5 PM

Hopefully the rain will hold off...  And if you haven't yet done so, be sure to check out my October anniversary raffle for a chance to win my spooky Insomnia artwork, just in time for Halloween!  More spooky artworks will be coming up in my eBay listings later this month, so stay tuned for more fun creepies...

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-raffle-enter-to-win-this-artwork.html

And last but certainly not least, I am excited to be participating in the Moon Goddess Exhibit, curated by Aunia Kahn & Russell Moon, at Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA, opening later this month.  I am honored to be among such an amazing, talented lineup of artists, and for the opportunity to create a new menstruation artwork for the theme, celebrating the goddess within each and every woman.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Imposing Restrictions on Creativity

I know I've written on numerous occasions about creativity & inspiration, questioning oneself, self-censorship and killing one's Muse, but I want to explore another means of limiting creativity that I haven't previously written about, and that is placing restrictions on the very idea of what it means to be creative and what is perceived of as creativity.

Some people may presume that artists are flighty and emotional because they see artists as creative and they perceive of creativity as wild and untamed, spontaneous and free, used for capturing and conveying innermost feelings, emotions, thoughts and desires.  But not all artists fit this mold, and creativity itself doesn't always do so either.  Though that can be true and both artists & creativity can fall into such patterns, both also exist outside of them.  Creativity is also an integral part of problem solving, ingenuity and invention and can spring forth from logical assessment as well, developing in response to a perceived need, desire to streamline, improve how things work to make them more smooth & seamless and/or out of a strong desire to see how things work & fit together.  This kind of creativity is just as valid and may develop in very different ways than the capturing of raw emotion & spontaneity that comes from expressing & revealing one's inner feelings.  An artist and an engineer are both creative, perhaps in different ways, perhaps in similar ones, and perhaps some of both.

I personally find that I prefer not to question creativity and try not to define it, place restrictions on it, or make presumptions & judgments about what form it takes or where it leads me.  Questioning who is more creative or what it means to be creative just isn't helpful for me and tends to hinder my creativity while I get bogged down in over-analysis.  So I prefer to follow it where it leads: expressing my feelings, solving problems, just being goofy... but that's me.  All of us are different and I realize that some people need more guidance and find that, if they impose restrictions on themselves, they can better hone their creativity to find inspiration in what otherwise seems to them to be a chaotic mire of premature and not fully formed ideas.  So imposing restrictions on creativity and defining it can prove helpful in bringing focus; but I think the key is to be aware of doing so so that the limitation doesn't later cause one to miss out on opportunities to be creative or explore different ideas.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
- Albert Einstein

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

October Creepies...


Be sure to check out my October anniversary raffle for a chance to win my spooky Insomnia artwork, just in time for Halloween!  More spooky artworks will be coming up in my eBay listings later this month, so stay tuned for more fun creepies...

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-raffle-enter-to-win-this-artwork.html

I am also gearing up for a bountiful fall smorgasbord of events this month, including a couple of local art fairs and several national shows.  Here are some highlights, please check out my blogreel events list to learn more:


Local Art Fairs:

Art on the Town
Old Orchard Shopping Center
Webster Groves, MO, Oct. 13 2012, noon - 4 PM

Old Town Fall Festival
Florissant City Hall, Oct. 14, 2012, noon - 5 PM


National Shows:

Moon Goddess Exhibit
curated by Aunia Kahn & Russell Moon
Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Que Te Vaya Bien!
Avenue 50 Studio, Highland Park, CA

Horizon: Contemporary Landscape
Community Arts Center, Danville, KY

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Show Hung




I finished hanging my artworks at Third Degree Glass today.  I am including some older pieces along with several new ones that have never been shown.  I am very excited and cannot wait for Friday...

Monday, September 17, 2012

More Plein Air Daydreaming


Sunset at Horizon's Edge
altered corset with pattern painting, with matching finger-knited scarf (and hat, not pictured)

I thought I'd hype up my big plein air painting show some more, and am excited include a preview of my newest Dressing for the Occasion piece...  Enjoy!  I can't wait for Friday...  :)

Plein Air Daydreams
Third Degree Glass Factory
5200 Delmar, St. Louis, MO
Sept. - Oct. 2012
Reception: Friday, Sept. 21, 6 - 10 PM

Friday, September 14, 2012

Monday, September 10, 2012

Plein Air Daydreaming


My big show at Third Degree Glass is coming up quick.  There will be surprises in store, including a new Dressing for the Occasion outfit, so check back soon for more juicy details...  :)

Plein Air Daydreams
Third Degree Glass Factory
5200 Delmar, St. Louis, MO
Sept. - Oct. 2012
Reception: Friday, Sept. 21, 6 - 10 PM

Speaking of plein air painting, I will be participating in the Mississippi Earthtones plein air event again this year, so please feel free to drop by - it's always a fun festival celebrating the river confluence and sustainability, with wonderful performances, food and vendors.

Mississippi Earthtones Plein Air Competition
Alton Marketplace
Riverfront Amphitheater, Alton, IL
Sept. 15, 2012

And don't forget that my 10-year art anniversary September raffle ends on Friday, so be sure to drop by the anniversary blog and enter for a chance to win.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-raffle-enter-to-win-this.html

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Feeling Fruity? September Raffle & Events This Week




September brings some fantabulous faux fruit fun!!!
Please be sure to drop by the anniversary blog to register for a chance to win!
http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-raffle-enter-to-win-this.html

And opening this week:
House of Cards II
Columbia Art League
207 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO
Sept. - Oct. 2012
I'll be Dressing for the Occasion for the reception this Thursday, Sept. 6 as depicted here in 5 of Spades, a process preview from In Spades, a collaboration with Virginia Dragschutz for the show!



Thursday, August 23, 2012

Memories Manifest


Memories Manifest sash
photo negatives, packing tape

I'm looking forward to the reception tomorrow.  I even made this sash out of film negatives to relate to my Memories lamp.  :)

Contemporary Women Artists XVI: Longevity
St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
St. Louis University
Museum of Art
3663 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Aug. - Oct. 2012
Reception: Friday, Aug. 24, 7 - 9 PM

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Success and Failure

As I'd mentioned before, I struggle with perfectionism.  So I in turn also struggle with failure, especially feeling like I'm not doing enough or pushing myself or getting anywhere.  Although that can create momentum to try harder, it can also easily become paralyzing and debilitating, and I try not to live in fear of it or let it rule me.  It has been especially hard for me celebrating my 10-year art anniversary because I had hoped that I would have achieved more.  But I am coming to accept where I am and learning to use that as fuel to try for bigger things while recognizing other accomplishments.  Here are some observations I would like to share that help me.

Success is varied and comes in many forms.
Give yourself credit where credit is due.  Even the little things count, and they add up to a lot more than you think.  Just because you're not relentlessly pursuing your goals doesn't mean that you're failing.  You may be succeeding in other ways or in other aspects of your life, and in the process you may actually be moving closer to your goals in ways that you aren't even aware of.


Success and failure are not the only ends.
Accomplishment is not strictly black vs. white, win or lose.  There are many shades of gray between the two and it's often an ebb and flow.  Too sharp a focus can limit your vision and overdirect your attention so that you can't see the whole picture.  Hyperfocusing on success can cause failings in other ways, and can limit your responses so that you don't take opportunities that could lead to future successes. 


Revel in what you have achieved rather than focusing your attention on what you haven't.
It is good to want and strive for more, but try not to exclusively focus on that.  Let yourself reap the rewards of what you have accomplished to get you to where you are.  Revel in the here and now rather than worrying about where you are going or what you haven't yet done .  If you keep looking forward you'll find your path, but don't do so at the expense of the present.

Don't measure yourself by others' successes.
If someone else is achieving, then be glad for them and celebrate in their joy, but don't interpret that to mean that you aren't doing enough, raise the bar on your own success, or deem yourself a failure for not being where they are.  Success often comes at a price and you don't know the behind-the-scenes costs that were weighed and paid beforehand.  You don't know about the sleepless nights, the isolation, the failed attempts, the trials and tribulations, putting loved ones and one's own needs on hold...  You haven't walked that mile in their shoes so don't hold yourself accountable for not being where those shoes led them.

Don't hold yourself to a strict timeline.
Goals are good because they can be great motivation, but they can also be a harsh slap in the face.  Circumstances don't always make ends meet in the time desired, but that doesn't mean you should give up on your dreams.  Keep pursuing your goals, revel in the journey, and give it due time.  It's not always about the outcome; the process of getting there is often equally as important, if not more so.

Don't put yourself down or put off your dreams for fear of failure or rejection.
If you don't reach for the stars you'll never realize what you're capable of.  Failures are good opportunities for growth & learning and can inform later success.  Don't allow yourself to be ruled by fear of failing or rejection because that is a self-fulfilling prophesy - if you never try then you're guaranteed never to get what you want.  You deserve to give yourself that chance.

Allow your goals to adapt and change.
As you come closer to realizing your goals you may come to understand that they aren't everything they were cracked up to be.  The costs may start outweighing the benefits.  Be flexible and allow yourself to pursue other dreams and reformulate your goals to better suit where you have been, are going, and want to be.  We are all constantly evolving, so try to be fluid and adapt.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

August EBay Listings & Upcoming Shows


Although I haven't posted much about it here recently, my 10-year art anniversary is still going strong, and August brings some unique eBay listings: my cheesecloth bundles from my People I Have Known, People I Have Been installation.

This piece has been included in several of my Forgotten series shows in various formats and is pictured here at the Second Reading Book Shop in conjunction with the Artfully Alton beautification project.  These bundles are like mystery grab bags and each contain various found objects representing myself or someone I have known at various points throughout my life.

You can learn more at my anniversary blog or eBay store here:
10-year anniversary blog
EBay store

I am also participating in the upcoming WCA-STL Contemporary Women Artists show with my Memories lamp.

Contemporary Women Artists XVI: Longevity
St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
St. Louis University
Museum of Art
3663 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Aug. - Oct. 2012
Reception: Friday, Aug. 24, 7 - 9 PM

And be sure to note my two big solo shows coming up.  These shows will each celebrate different aspects of my work in conjunction with my 10-year art anniversary.

Plein Air Daydreaming
Third Degree Glass Factory
5200 Delmar, St. Louis, MO
Sept. - Oct. 2012
This show features a large assortment of plein air paintings including several that have never before been shown and will open with a reception in conjunction with the Third Friday festivities at Third Degree Glass on September 21.  A fun time for all!

LAST CHANCE! One Night Only!
solo 10-year art anniversary retrospective
Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts
3151 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO
Dec. 7, 2012
This one-night event is the culmination of my 10-year art anniversary celebration and will feature a retrospective show of excerpts from the last ten years of my art career in a one-time only performance art piece questioning legacy.  All kinds of surprises are in store during this truly one-night-only, last chance event, so you'll want to be sure not to miss it.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Perfectionism

This is more a reminder to myself than anything.  Yesterday I saw a sign at my auto service department that read, "Anything less than excellent is a zero."  It acted as a reminder of how perfectionism can be so excrutiatingly limiting and harmful.  How, despite having a tiered system, only a perfect score is valued and all else is considered and treated as a failure.  It's all or nothing, win or lose... without exploring the realities in-between it becomes so much harder to just be, to just experience the moment.

I am guilty of being hypercritical of myself and tend to be overly harsh on myself for things I wouldn't judge other people for.  It's an unfortunate self-imposed cycle of double-standards that is very difficult to challenge as it has become so ingrained and manifests in every aspect of my life.  I get bent out of shape when my own artwork doesn't turn out as I would like, and over the course of my life I have destroyed much of it for deviating from my vision.

But truly it is our imperfections, differences, and deviations that make us interesting, that make us unique as individuals and not just automatons.  If the world were really 100% "perfect" it would be a pretty boring place.  I recognize this and am willing to accept it in others and am drawn to artworks in which the artist has made some sort of mistake or error, typically something that they aren't happy with.  Partly because I like to see that element of the human touch in things, it makes them more real to me.  I just need to learn to accept it in myself as well.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Claude Incognito Close Up


Claude insisted I take his photo going incognito.  He was even mistaken for Mr. Potato Head, and Feral Pig didn't recognize him at first after he got home from the art studio tour.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Claude Goes Incognito


Claude even came out of hiding to join me this weekend.  He figured that if I was Going Rogue, I could need backup in the getaway car...  So be forewarned, you may not recognize him as he's going Incognito.

Since Claude has joined me, I have posted some bonus Claude eBay listings to eBay for my 10-year art anniversary.  Please feel free to check them out at my eBay store here.

Jennifer Weigel's eBay store

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Art of the Week: Going Rogue


It's that magical time again - the Contemporary Art Museum's Open Studios event where artists all over town open their doors to the public.  I always love this event and have been really working to push the envelope in recent years with my art fair buttons, Art Is Everywhere signs and roving studio-in-my-car projects.

This year continues that trend with an unofficial, unregistered artwork called Going Rogue in which I will wear a trench coat throughout the event and flash people with framed artworks from Claude & my Monsterpieces.  Claude is even planning to come out of hiding to station himself in the getaway car.

Please be sure to also check out my 10-year art anniversary eBay auctions for July.  And as yet another 10-year anniversary bonus, I will be posting some more Claude artworks to eBay starting this weekend, so keep an eye out.


Jennifer Weigel's EBay Auctions

Friday, July 13, 2012

Exciting News

I have some exciting news to share.  Though I typically don't do a lot of RPG role-playing game art except as a hobby, I entered Jeff Rients' "Lamentations of the Flame Princess Art Fiasco Contest" with a couple of new pieces, one of which won the blue ribbon prize in the Pro-Am category.  I am truly honored as I know my gaming art in unconventional at best (no surprise there to those who know me, I'm sure).  You can check it out on his blog here.

I have also posted some fun bonus videos to my anniversary blog.  There's even some incriminating behind-the-scenes outtake footage.
http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/

And don't forget to enter the July raffle - there's only one day left!!!
http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-raffle-enter-to-win-this-artwork.html

In other news, Chuck and I are gearing up for a big performance piece for the upcoming "Man Up! No Balls About It" show organized through the Michigan Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art.  We will be doing an audience-participatory interactive performance based upon my huMAN up works during the Friday, July 20 reception at the University of Michigan's Gallery in the Duderstadt Center.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

July Anniversary Raffle

It's that time again - I have listed my July raffle prize in conjunction with my ten-year art anniversary.  This month, I am raffling off one of my institutional critique pieces: entitled The Gallery Scene.  This work doubles as a fully-functional frame, and whoever wins could use it to display their own work instead of leaving it empty to focus on what goes on behind-the-scenes.

Anyway, please feel free to check it out here:
http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-raffle-enter-to-win-this-artwork.html

And remember, the raffle ends on July 14 at midnight, so be sure to get your entry in if you want a chance to win.  The drawing will be held and winner announced on July 15.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Better Left Unsaid

I am by nature a very open person, sometimes to a fault.  I don't often conceal or hide as much as I should.  But there are just certain things of a highly personal nature that, if you have to ask, you probably don't have any business knowing.

I won't claim not to be guilty of this myself at times, and I understand the desire to connect, to make small talk, to develop an understanding & open the lines of communication...  But if a relationship is truly blossoming, then those answers will be divulged on their own in due time.  And, if not, or if used to pass judgment or to confirm an assumption, then those questions are probably better left unsaid.

Some examples include:
Where are you from?
Where did you go to school?
Where do you go to church?
What do you do for a living?  Does it pay well?  How much do you make?
Is that your spouse / husband / wife / boyfriend / girlfriend / significant other...?
Are you married?
Do you have kids?  Are you going to have kids?
When is the baby due?  When are you due?

And though I'm all for reassessing and breaking taboos, I don't personally find that small talk is necessarily the best vehicle for doing so, especially among strangers.  Some things are by nature very personal, private and loaded with other implications.  Thus many taboo topics, including politics, religion and sex, are generally best often left untouched unless you're open-minded, non-judgmental, willing to debate and are able to accept whatever response you elicit.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

June EBay Listings

I just posted my June eBay listings in conjunction with my 10-year art anniversary celebration, including several pieces of my fantasy art and featuring some never-before-seen works.  I know many of you aren't familiar with my fantasy artworks so please feel free to follow the link here to drop by and check them out.
Jennifer Weigel's eBay store


You can learn more about my 10-year art anniversary on the blog here.

Jennifer Weigel's 10-year art anniversary blog

I am also excited to say the 10-year art anniversary is still going strong and that it will even be culminating in a one-night celebration and retrospective of sorts on Dec. 7 at Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts.  More information will be forthcoming closer to then, but it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see so many of my works together, quite possibly for the last time ever.  So you may want to make sure to note it on your calendar now.  :)

Thank you again for your continued support and have a wonderful summer, and stay cool.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

June Anniversary Raffle

In conjunction with my 10 year art anniversary and to celebrate one of the biggest wedding months of the year, I am raffling off In Sheep's Clothing as my June raffle. This piece is a 37" x 19" wall-hung artwork and has been featured in several identity themed shows.

This has always been one of my favorite pieces of my own making; the faux flowers make a lovely, almost religiously iconic backdrop and contrast the genuine coyote face hidden beneath the bridal veil, with the bride taking on the role of the trickster and begging the viewer to question preconceptions about fiance, bride, wife, and so on.  So I am honored and excited to offer this artwork as my June raffle prize and invite you to follow the link below to learn more.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/06/june-raffle-enter-to-win-this-artwork.html

Saturday, May 19, 2012

May Anniversary EBay Auctions


Please feel free to check out my art anniversary eBay auctions for May! I am listing more of my assemblages and sculptural works, including my Trophy series and several more mixed media plaques from my Relics & Reliquaries show. You can learn more about these listings on the blog or at my eBay store:

10-Year Anniversary Blog
EBay Store

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

May Anniversary Raffle

In conjunction with my 10 year art anniversary, I am raffling off my Narcissistic Egomaniac trophy during May. This piece is a 28" tall pedestal or table sculpture and was featured in Art Saint Louis Exhibition XXI juried by Christian Rattemeyer in 2005. Please follow the link below to learn more and to enter.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-raffle-enter-to-win-this-artwork.html

Friday, April 6, 2012

Personal Professional Promotion

Although I would like to think that we as artists can let our art speak for itself and that it will be draw enough, there is so much content out there anymore that everyone has to engage in some kind of promotion in order to draw attention to what they are doing. Without it, no one will know that there is any such thing going on. And any typical Friday evening has a half dozen or more events going on simultaneously, so people must pick and choose what to see and most art viewers just aren't going to go out of their way to hunt for anything with other more accessible options.

I'm not very good at it though, as is evidenced by how little feedback I get even when I do put myself out there. So I am trying to determine what I can do to better this, to draw more attention to what I'm doing without bombarding people with too much information. I recently got in a couple of conversations regarding promotion, and it got me thinking about the need for both a personal touch and professional detachment and what that entails. So I am going to articulate some of those thoughts here.

A personal touch can be good, especially early in one's career, because it offers a connection and bespeaks an interest and commitment on behalf of the promoter that encourages people to go more out of their way to listen and look. Early on, an artist is drawing friends and family out to see their work, and so showing is of a very personal nature.

But being too personal, especially over the development of one's career, can come across as pathetic, desperate and needy, like a starved plea for attention. It can create an unhealthy accessibility that allows for too much connection, opening up for others to feel too friendly or close, take advantage, become creepily obsessed... And it can even be a turn off, especially in professional practice with reputable galleries & institutions, patrons, interviewers, and so on, and so can hinder further advancement.

Detachment is necessary, especially among the more well-known, out of a need to become less accessible. But too much detachment can be interpreted as evidencing an inflated sense of personal importance, and thus can be a turn off because it can seem condescending, aloof and self-righteous. This is especially true early on in one's career when trying to assert and develop a name for oneself because there just aren't as many connections to be had. People will question, "Who does he/she think he/she is?!" because they don't already know the answer. Almost no one will go out of their way to connect with someone who is virtually unknown but seemingly expects the world to follow what they do without more enticement than just the artist's name.

Artists just aren't come upon haphazardly, but like fossils embedded in rock there is a lot of digging and hard work that goes into any such "discovery". It's best to do as much as you can to draw attention to yourself in life rather than waiting to be found, as that typically only happens in death when it happens at all. So promotion is necessary for any artist to succeed at getting their work out there where it can be seen, start conversations, be bought and sold, etc., and a lot of people want to know the person behind the art at least to some extent, especially early on.

It's challenging to find balance: personal vs. detachment; too much vs. too little information; how much lead time is needed to promote and how many times one can promote the same event before people start tuning out... That balance is as individual to each artist as his/her artwork is unique, and is constantly evolving with career. What works for one artist likely won't work for another due to different working styles, fan bases, connections, approaches, demographics, location, timing, etc. Each has to find his/her own path and even after ten years, I'm still struggling to determine a course of action that works for me.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

April Anniversary Raffle

In conjunction with my 10 year art anniversary, I am raffling off my Sex Objects drawing during April. This piece is framed under glass to 11" x 14" and was featured in a midwest region Women's Caucus for Art show in Chicago at ARC Gallery in June 2006. The drawing comments upon the objectification of women across cultures and the sisterhood that results. Please follow the link below to learn more and to enter.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-raffle-enter-to-win-this-artwork.html

Saturday, March 24, 2012

March Anniversary EBay Auctions


Please feel free to check out my art anniversary eBay auctions for March ! I am listing more of my assemblages and sculptural works, including some pieces from my Forgotten series. You can learn more about these listings on the blog or at my eBay store:

10-Year Anniversary Blog
EBay Store

Losing Reality

Ellen Jantzen's Losing Reality, currently on display at C-Train Gallery, touches on themes of memory and forgetting, conveys the passage of time and the transitory nature of our human existence, and gives presence and voice to those who have been lost to death and/or dementia.

Jantzen's digitally manipulated photographs convey a sense of lingering being, like a spirit suspended in time or a will o' the wisp or a memory becoming lost. Auras and halos define spots where people have been or have walked. Often their eyes and gazes penetrate through their fading presence to confront the viewer. They convey a sense of loss, a yearning for a connection that has passed, a bereavement and mourning for what was once but is now gone. A feeling of hope and transcendence is also evoked in some of the artworks, as if of an otherwordly entity in the process of moving on or having moved on but now hearkening back to connect with those left behind.

According to her artist's statement, Jantzen chooses the environments for her photographs based upon locations in which some loss has recently occurred, creating a tension that reverberates between real-life experience and an alternate reality. Many of these scenes reflect upon personal losses she has faced, though some are sites of a more universal nature. All bespeak the act of grieving, and in this process many convey a strong sense of catharsis, both for the artist letting go and the viewer invited on the journey to acceptance.

Ellen Jantzen
Losing Reality
C-Train Gallery
4320 Forest Park Ave., Ste. 101

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Monday, March 5, 2012

This Week


Please be sure to check out my March 10-year anniversary raffle for She's Moving Up (or the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe Owns a Tenement House), offered in celebration of the show at the St. Charles County Arts Council.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-raffle-enter-to-win-this-artwork.html

I am participating in two shows opening this week, including Shoe In, the theme of which the raffle honors.

Shoe In
St. Charles County Arts Council
Lillian Yahn Gallery
7443 Village Center Dr.
O' Fallon, MO
March - April 2012
Reception: Thursday, March 8, 6 - 8 PM
My new If the Shoe Fits series will be featured in Shoe In.

Weave a Vision
Capital Arts
1203 Missouri Blvd.
Jefferson City, MO
March - April 2012
Reception: Sunday, March 11, 1 - 4 PM
A selection of my fiber artworks, including several window assemblages and the Midwest folding screen, will be included in this show in Jefferson City.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

This Week

I am participating in two poignant shows opening this week that raise awareness of very important social issues: female reproductive health and domestic violence. Life Blood Exhibit, the show I curated about menstruation that focuses on female reproductive health, is traveling to Black Door Gallery in Cape Girardeau, MO. And my Domestic Violence audience participatory project will be included in Domestic Violence: Cultural Perspectives at Urban Art Retreat in Chicago, IL.

Life Blood Exhibit
Black Door Gallery
125 S. Spanish
Cape Girardeau, MO
March 2012
Reception: Friday, March 2, 5 - 9 PM
in conjunction with the Cape Girardeau First Friday Art Walk
Gallery hours by appointment.

Domestic Violence: Cultural Perspectives

Urban Art Retreat
1957 S. Spaulding St.
Chicago, IL
March 3 - April 13, 2012
Reception: Saturday, March 3, 1 - 4 PM
Gallery hours Saturdays 11 - 4 or by appointment.
Although I cannot attend the opening reception for this show, please stop by and check out this important exhibition if you can do so.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

What Is Art?

What is Art?
This question comes up a lot. I'm not going to answer it. I don't personally believe that it is my role to do so.

Artists are often asked what their personal interpretations of art are. Interviewers may be intrigued by artists' responses to the art scene and where they see themselves in it. Or they may wonder what cutting edge or avant garde artists perceive of as art to see where their boundaries lie, to get a feel for how open-minded those artists actually are. Or they may just not know what else to ask.

But in the grand scheme of things, is it really the artist's role to define what art is? In the long run it isn't necessarily the artists themselves who make that determination so much as the critics, historians, collectors, patrons, curators, agents, museums, writers... So it always strikes me as somewhat odd that the question is so often posed to artists when their primary role should one of production and not necessarily assessment.

I personally feel that it is the artist's duty to create, ideally without questioning his/her place in the grand scheme of things. Contemplating what is and isn't art encourages one to make a judgment call. If then overthought, this can lead to self-censorship because it can seemingly invalidate or belittle what is perceived of as non-art to one who desires to create true art. It can also promote elitism about what is real art and what isn't and why. My hope is for artists as producers to learn to question and censor themselves less so that they may see where their creativity leads them without worrying about the validity of what they are doing.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

February Anniversary EBay Auctions


Please feel free to check out my art anniversary eBay auctions for February! I am listing some of my Forbidden Fruits pieces in honor of Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras. You can learn more about these listings on the blog or at my eBay store:

10-Year Anniversary Blog
EBay Store

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Art of the Week: Empathy


I had a blast at FLUXFEST Chicago 2012 this past weekend. It was wonderful to meet so many talented creative people from so many walks of life and there were so many great readings and performances and shows. I am honored to have been able to participate. It was a remarkable and memorable experience and Keith Buchholz did a great job organizing and curating it. Thank you and way to go Keith, it was truly amazing and you really outdid yourself!

I performed this piece, Please Have Empathy, in conjunction with the Long Form Flux performances and installations at the Chicago Cultural Center on Saturday to raise awareness of homelessness. My hope is that those who bore witness to the performance will see one another differently later on when they encounter each other on the street. I am posting it here as Art of the Week; in this photo I am sitting in the stairwell at the second floor, though I had also stationed myself in the second floor doorway until it was requested I move because I posed a fire hazard in that location.

The sign reads:
PLEASE HAVE EMPATHY. I am a person too, with basic needs and feelings, and I should not be ignored. Homelessness affects all of us, poverty is everywhere.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Valentine's Day eBay auctions

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am listing some bonus eBay auctions for Valentine's Day as part of my 10-year anniversary celebration. You can read more about them on that blog or check them out at my eBay store.

10 Year Anniversary Valentine's Day listing information


Jennifer Weigel's eBay store

Monday, February 6, 2012

This Week

I am excited to participate in FLUXFEST in Chicago this week. There will be all kinds of performances, interactive art stations, mail art shows and other happenings. It will be great fun!

FLUXFEST Chicago 2012
organized and curated by Keith Buchholz
Chicago, IL
Feb. 9 - 12, 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012

February Raffle


In honor of Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras, and to welcome the Naughti Gras show at Koken Art Factory, I am offering my Nice Melons piece as the prize for my February raffle, as pictured here. Please feel free to drop by, check it out and enter, just follow the link below.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-raffle-enter-to-win-this.html

Monday, January 30, 2012

Art of the Week: Foot Fetish



This week's Art of the Week, entitled Foot Fetish, is dedicated to all of those shoes seen tied together and hanging from telephone poles, lines, trees and so on.

Friday, January 27, 2012

New Website

Chuck and I totally revamped my website; there are all kinds of hidden fun things to interact with and a lot more projects have been posted, including some that are still in progress. Please feel free to check out the changes here.
http://jenniferweigelart.com/


And don't forget about the trunk show at Framations and the 10-year anniversary January eBay auctions tomorrow.

Valentine Trunk Show
Framations
218 North Main St.
St. Charles, MO
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, 10 - 3

Jennifer Weigel's eBay store

Thursday, January 26, 2012

This Week

This week, I will be at Framations for the Valentine Trunk Show this Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 - 3 during the Fete de Glace ice carving competition! A great opportunity to splurge on something special for your cherished loved one (or yourself), just in time for Valentine's Day!

Valentine Trunk Show
Framations
218 North Main St.
St. Charles, MO
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, 10 - 3

Please check out my 10-year anniversary blog for an exclusive coupon redeemable at the event.

Monday, January 23, 2012

EBay Auctions

Here's a 10-year anniversary update: I have listed my first set of eBay auctions. I posted some highlights to the blog, or you can check them out at my eBay store. Just follow the links below.

10-year anniversary blog

eBay store

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

This Week

My Manhood piece, which was included in the Women's Caucus for Art Reversing the Gaze, Man As Object show at SOMArts in San Francisco late last year, will be featured in the upcoming February show at Shameless Grounds. I've even reworked it for Mardi Gras, so it's a new experience. Please stop by and check it out, just in time for the popular & provocative Koken Art Factory Naughti Gras show!

February Show
Shameless Grounds
2650 Sidney St.
St. Louis, MO
Feb. 2012
Reception: Saturday, Jan. 21, 7 - 9 PM

Monday, January 16, 2012

Weighing In on the "Pay to Play" Game

This is a continuation of my last blog post, a rant about rising fees which can be found here.

With rising costs and commitments, a lot of artists have had to cut back on the number of things that they can be involved with. It is imperative when determining what to support and what to cut to weigh the pros and cons of involvement, whether that be a gallery, exhibition, membership, organization... So here are some considerations and questions to ask yourself when thinking about the benefits. Feel free to respond with your own thoughts and other considerations that I may have overlooked.

Some Considerations & Questions for Artists

- Artwork Sales
Does art sell? In what volume?
What sort of commission is taken?
How are sales handled? Are artists responsible for their own sales?

- Attendance
Are their shows, events and other happenings well-attended?
Who attends? Those involved? The public at large? What is the demographic?

- Community
What community do they serve?
Do you feel included as part of it? Do you feel you belong and/or fit in?
Can they extend your influence outside of your status quo?
For the social advocates:
Do they work with otherwise underserved communities?
What sort of community social advocacy programs do they offer?

- Exposure: exhibitions, interviews, member databases, web presence...
How much exposure do they generate?
What sort of press and publicity do they garner?
How well do they promote members? Exhibitions? Events?...

- Monetary Commitments: dues, fees, other expenses...
What costs are involved?
How does the fee schedule work? Are membership fees due at a certain time or on a revolving basis?
Are show fees for jurying, acceptance or both? Do you have to pay even if your artwork isn't accepted?
Are there any hidden or additional fees? Handling artworks for show? Rent?...

- Opportunities to Show Art
What sort of opportunities are there to show art?
Juried, non-juried or both?
Solo, group or both? How large of a region are group shows curated from?
Member-only sales opportunities, like sales galleries and boutiques?
Off-site venues?
Other show opportunities?
How long do show rotations last?
How many people are represented? At what stages of their careers?

- Social Connections & Networking
Do you feel you are an important part of a larger group?
What sorts of people are involved? Who do you meet?
How can you promote yourself and connect with others within the group?
Is there a psychological connection? Do you feel a sense of personal emotional, mental, physical and/or spiritual benefits?

- Time & Volunteer Commitments
Are you expected to volunteer?
What sort of volunteer opportunities are available?
Is your time valued? How do they track volunteer commitments?

- Travel Distance
Can you physically get there? If not, how can you be involved?
How long does it take to get there?
How much wear and tear on your personal transportation is required for involvement?
Is the distance potentially problematic? Does it make active involvement difficult?

- Workshops, Classes and Learning / Teaching Opportunities
What opportunities are offered for learning and honing skills?
How are those opportunities handled? Demo? Lecture? Hands-on?
What kinds of sessions are there? Ongoing classes? Day- or weekend-long conferences? Shorter meetings?
If opportunities are offered, what topics are touched upon?
Technique? What media and methods are explored?
Promoting yourself? What means of promotion are discussed? Press? Media? Online presence?
Career advancement? What directions of career advancement are considered? How is advancement determined? What about different stages of careers? Is there one-on-one assessment?
Managing yourself (legal, bookkeeping, shooting images of artworks, applying for shows...)?
What is the process by which artists are considered to teach or lead?


Other Considerations and Questions for Institutions:

Are your fees comparable to similar institutions? Consider the demographics of those you serve and your size.

Do you have anything in place for those who cannot otherwise afford to be involved?
For those who can't afford the time commitment, are there volunteer buy-out options so they can donate money in lieu of time?
Are there student / hardship memberships or rates available for those who don't have the money? What else do those rates entail? More volunteer hours? Other commitments?

Do you have different levels of membership and are the benefits of each clearly defined?
What is your highest level? Lowest?
Do you offer a general Patron / Sponsor level above Professional / Practicing Artist to help fund scholarships for Hardship / Student memberships?

Does your fee schedule conflict with the community you serve?
Can those you want to work with afford to be involved?

On the "Pay to Play" Game

With finances still being tight and a lot of funding cut, a lot of art organizations have been forced to rely financially more and more heavily on the artists and art community to keep their doors open. Entry fees, member dues and other expenses are on the rise everywhere, with many organizations charging more for Professional Artist level memberships than ever before.

The whole situation unfortunately reverberates with a "pay-to-play" mentality where those who can afford to be involved are while those who can't are bystanders that aren't always included, which is really quite saddening. It can all be rather dissuading and depressing, since many artists don't have a lot of funds and are trying to make ends meet themselves, and so it seems rather akin to trying to squeeze blood from a stone.

I have even personally struggled with feeling like I am not genuinely appreciated for myself or my art by those groups I have been involved with, and that I am just being taken advantage of monetarily or regarding volunteer time. But I'm not going to rant about that since I don't that feel complaining in and of itself is the most productive course of action, and because I feel that it really just evidences the fact that I've been far too overextended for far too long.

So now that I'm looking at having to cut back, I thought I'd write about weighing the benefits and costs to be more selective about involvement, since I know this affects a lot of artists beyond just myself. I'm going to organize these thoughts in a new post so that they are easy to navigate (outside of this rant) and can act as some advice to those in similar situations and circumstances, so look out for that coming up in my next blog post.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Only Two Days Left

There are only two days left to enter the January raffle on my 10-year anniversary blog, so be sure to drop by soon if you want to enter. Entries must be placed by midnight on Jan. 14. The drawing will be held Jan. 15.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-raffle-enter-to-win-this.html

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Showcase365

Friend and fellow artist Sam Davis recently featured me on Showcase365 exploring local St. Louis talent on his blog. I am honored to be included; the blog showcase has featured several remarkably talented individuals from all walks of life. Please feel free to check it out here.

http://samdavisstudios.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/jennifer-weigel/

Monday, January 2, 2012

Art of the Week: January Raffle


I am posting my January raffle prize as Art of the Week this week! Here is Deserted, a mixed media assemblage from my Forgotten series.

This piece will be my first raffle prize for my 10 year anniversary celebration. Please check it out by following the link below. Just follow the instructions on the 10-year anniversary party blog to enter. Since this is my first raffle, I may have some kinks to work out, but hopefully it will all make sense.

http://10yearsofjenniferweigelart.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-raffle-enter-to-win-this.html