Meet special guest Andrea Chilcote, author of Erik’s Hope: The Leash that Led Me to Freedom, from 11 am– 2 pm. Andrea will introduce her book at 11:30 am. Proceeds from book sales benefit the DOVES® program for victims of elder abuse.

Artist Lynda Fullerton offers her latest handcrafted jewelry incorporating gemstones, beads, pearls and crystals with forged metal and wire.

In the studio, new creations~sculptures, calendars, steel tiles, cards, garden totems, unique functional and gift items. Hybrid metal/painting series from the Chandler solo show in the front rooms.

Plus, tasty sips and bites. Free and open to the public, wheelchair accessible.

Dec10 Open Studio invitation and map

Installation views of new sculptures and paintings at Chandler Center for the Arts. Twelve of the pieces are new “hybrids” which combine an acrylic painting with a welded, patinaed metal panel. The exhibition opens with a reception this Friday, October 7th, from 7-9 pm, and continues through November 19th. Hours are Monday-Friday 10 am-5 pm, and Saturday noon-4 pm.

Ironwork Today 3, to be released November 2011

Schiffer Publishing will release Ironwork Today 3, Inside & Out this fall. I just received word that my work will be included in this edition by Jeffrey B. Snyder. A wide range of iron artwork, created by 82 of today’s artist-blacksmiths, will be highlighted. Over 450 color photos, 256 pp.

My work was also published in the first Ironwork Today, and Ironwork Today: Dynamic Details, both by Dona Z. Meilach.

I am challenged by the ambiguity of metal—turning flat, hard, industrial material into organic forms that seem to shift and move as they reflect light. Layers of colored patinas bring the aesthetics of painting to sculpture. The layers of shifting dark and light shapes, texture and color evoke a sense of mystery, inviting the viewer to explore the work.

The process of developing a piece of art is analogous to the process of ritual scarification, and the process of life itself—in spite of our original plans, all require sacrifice, pain and loss in order to create something more beautiful, with a more intensely developed character. For me, part of the appeal of the process is the extreme amount of deconstruction—cutting up and taking apart—that is necessary before the work can be re-ordered as a unified organic presence. The tension between the sense of exuberance and growth, and death and decay creates a sense of mystery that invites the viewer to explore these works in depth.

www.JoanWaters.com

©Joan Waters  All rights reserved

Scarification Series: Amber, Rose, Indigo

(From the press release) The exhibition, curated by Robrt Pela, features 14 well-known, much-admired visual artists, many of them debuting new work. The artists are Annie Lopez, Shari Bombeck, Janet De Berge Lange, Linda Ingraham, Jenny Ignakowski, Mollie Kellogg, Arlene Meyer, Irma Sanchez, Patricia Sahertian, Diane Sanborn, Cindy Schnackel, Kathy Taylor, Joan Waters, and Katherine Zsolt. Exciting new paintings, sculpture, photography, mixed-media pieces, and installations.

Please join us First Friday, Sept. 2 and Third Friday, Sept. 16,
from 6 – 11 pm. (and by appointment)

“Dogs Days of Summer” Open Studio
Friday, July 22 from 11am–6pm and Saturday, July 23 from 8am–4pm

2141 E. Cedar St., #1, Tempe, AZ 85281

Preview new works–large and small, with special pricing, refreshments, and air conditioning (for dogs!)

I’ll be writing about charitable events where artwork is donated by artists, and sold in live and silent auctions. What elements make these events successful or disappointing? How can the artist and the charity maximize the benefits? How can artists contribute, without feeling they are being taken advantage of? I invite artists to contribute their ideas of what makes a successful auction, and what are the Best Practices we can educate and encourage charities to follow, if they want to host a successful auction.