It is hard to believe that 2008 is over...but here we are on the first day of 2009. I have had a busy year and I am gearing up for several art adventures that will arrive before I am ready. I could put "procrastination" high on my list of resolutions, but I have decided to accept it instead. Wouldn't that be a better way to address our shortcomings...embrace them.
I have determined that I work much more effectively under pressure. I wake early in the morning and start to think about some looming deadline...my pulse quickens, my brain starts to fire off ideas and new possibilities. I leap from my bed in a bit of a panic, and spring into action...after a good strong cup of coffee.
One of the projects just completed is
Tweeterville. My son Tom and I created an "Animal Home" for the
Brevard Zoo. We decided on a bird nesting community we call
Tweeterville. It was a big project and the deadline was a few days before Christmas...but we are proud of our efforts. The primary audience is school-aged children who visit the zoo during their Christmas break. We were encouraged to plan the project through the eyes of a child...not too hard for me. We created nests including the Early Bird Cafe featuring the cuisine of Chef Bobby Fly, Birdbrain "U" with Professor Whoooo-ver (the cute owl that Tom made) and Flyover Park with a working bird merry go round. We made birds from packing tape and red birds from foam and crepe paper. For more Tweeterville pictures, go to my
Facebook Album .
Tweeterville will be on display with several other animal homes at the
Brevard Zoo only till January 5th.and is located in the area of the wading birds, near the food pavilion.
The other exciting art event is
Hopes and Dreams, opening
February 6th, 2009 at the
Fifth Avenue Art Gallery here in Melbourne. This is an exhibit that I am chairing to benefit a local organization called
Genesis House. Thirty-five artists were invited to participate and were asked to create an artwork with
Hopes and Dreams as their inspiration. They were also provided a blank book to design also using the Hopes and Dreams theme. The books and artwork will be for sale during the month of February and a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit
Genesis House, an organization that assists women who are pregnant or who have children and are struggling, in renewing their hopes and dreams.
It is my personal goal to use my gifts to share the love and hope of God. Most artists I know love what they do and are generous with their time and talents when it comes to helping those less fortunate. Part of the exhibit will be a display of hope and dreams banners that our artists and patrons will be invited to write their hopes or dreams on. These will be strung in the gallery above the exhibit and our visitors throughout the month can participate, as well. I am looking forward to seeing the artwork and books for the show. Don't miss this wonderful exhibit which runs from
February 6 till February 28, 2009.Hopes and Dreams Artists
Renee Decator, Bill McCoy, Beth -Anne Fairchild, Marlis Newman, Witha Lacuesta, Lois Mittleman, Mark Mittleman, Ellen Pavlakos, Pat Catsimanes, Carmen Beecher, Cindy Maronde, Tom Powers, Marg Kuhl, Jini James, Bridgette Guerzon Mills, Linda Graham, Jody Carter, Cindy Michaud, Nina Katz, Elizabeth Kaufmann, Linda Graham, Kaye Shannon, Marti Meyer, Dave Kaufmann, Nancy Mann, Susan Kessler, Suzanne Peiffer, Rudy Pacarro, Dij Pacarro, Lou Belcher, Lori Knerick, Stephanie Gibbs, Arian Armstrong, Lori Jenkins, Clare Zipperly, Julian Bennett and Betsy Heath
Happy New Year to all, best wishes for a exciting and exceptional 2009!
