Setting up the Precollege Show, Day 9:

Today I was to help Michele and Allie set up a show at Uarts that was to display artwork of potential Uarts students.

Because of some squabbling over pedestals my duties were first to assist students who needed help hanging  up their work and hanging up their artist statements.

The most physically demanding task after that was to set up the light fixtures in the catwalk so each light shines each designated section. Sometimes the fixtures didn't light up, and sometimes I couldn't clip them back onto the track. By the time I got them all set up my fingers were raw. It was worth it seeing the lighting all neat and organized.

My final task for the next two hours was to spackle and paint the walls of the catwalk. As for the pedestals mentioned earlier, Allie and I convinced Lewis from the Sculpture department to borrow five of them, which we carried up to the lobby.

A nice relaxing process that results in a clean organized wall for potential students to display their work. 

Due to a family emergency I was unfortunately unable to accompany Michele on her trip to a gallery in Connecticut. I hope I can work in this program for again next summer (or work for Michele in a for-credit internship) to gain more direct experience in my field as fine artist. 

So far this past summer I have gained enough experience to know what goes on when setting up a show. What I have yet to learn to though is how to professionally submit my own work to a gallery, which is a goal I have set for later.

Last Day with Kay Healy!! (pictures speak a bunch of words)

So I finished up my last day with Kay last week, and to tell you the truth, I was really excited! Not to be done of course, but it was the first time I had really thought about what I had got out of my experience with her this summer. There was so much going on that I had forgotten to just take the time and appreciate all the different opportunities that came up.

 I was excited because working with Kay gave me the opportunity to work alongside two local artists, and to get a vision of how they approach their own work, and how they are able to focus on what they do whilst spending time together in the studio that they share! 

A finished piece, Tracy's chair! To be included in Kay's 60ft installation in the Free Library next year!

Some Studio Pix!

Kay shares a studio with her (newlywed!) husband Greg Pizzoli. It was really interesting getting to see a couple who work as artists, and are able to spend so much time together! 

Welcome

Welcome couch

View from the welcome couch.

They had the left window installed this year, there was only one when I first saw the studio. It looks so much better with two. 

Printing room!

Drying Rack

SPRAY BOOTH. Just a walk down the hall, this is where I would reclaim screens by spraying them with chemicals and cleaning them out with a power washer.  

Taping brand new screens! This way water doesn't get underneath/inbetween the aluminum and the screen when you clean it.  

No water here...

Making 2 layer prints of Tomatoes!! 

Green linework...

Lay down the acetate with Red already printed to make sure the fabric is in the right spot...

Good!

Lift it up and PRINT.

yum.

Printing!

Lining it up...

Carefully...

CAREFULLY

It's important to put all of your muscle into the pull. 

 It's good to pull it several times to make sure enough ink goes through. Especially on fabric!

The ink prints a bit darker on the fabric than on the acetate, if you compare the linework on these finished bottles to that of the picture above. 

Overall, I'm excited about the time I got to spend this summer with Kay, and I look forward to how she has influenced me to come forth in my own work. I'm already thinking about different ways to incorporate my newly honed sewing skills, plus I can't wait to get my hands on my own screen so that I can start screen printing designs and drawings of my own!!

There was also a point during the summer, I remember washing out a screen that was flooded with purple ink, and I remember vividly that color of purple, just a hint of compliment and enough white to make it a very soft and summery lilac, and how much I enjoyed the palette that Kay used. I hope to incorporate that homely, soft, and welcoming palette in my own work too.

So when I say I'm excited, I am! The summer's almost over, and it's time to learn new things at school, meet more new people, and start using all the awesome things I was able to learn with and from Kay. I can't wait incorporate what I've learned and experienced into my own work!

The last week at NewCourtland

This week was our final week at NewCourtland. On our last few days we continued to have the residents screen print, cut fabric, stuff and sew. At the end of the final class, each resident and student were able to take a print home with them. My time at NewCourtland was really valuable. Not only was it fun and rewarding to help the seniors, but it gave me some insight on what a job as an art therapist may be like. 

And for studio work, I was able to help Kay print a huge rocking chair. She also trusted me to print a Victrola on my own, which was a really rewarding experience! It was a two layer print, large in size. It took a lot of work to get them all printed nicely and in alignment (without making a mess everywhere!)