Bill Callahan knows how to shut up the B-more crowd!

 

 
--> I have to talk about this miraculous occurrence that happened last Friday night. The miracle was: A man was able to sing with his guitar to a crowded outdoor crowd, and not one person talked while he sang! That’s right, not one person talked while he was performing! The man: Bill Callahan. The place: The area behind the Current Gallery. The event: Maryland Film Festival presents APOCALYPSE: A BILL CALLAHAN TOUR FILM with special guests Bill Callahan and director Hanly Banks! If you are not aware of Bill Callahan, you should acquaint yourself with this powerful songwriter with majestic low auto voice, who can make a large crowd stop and listen! Perhaps you are more aware of his band, SMOG. The night was beautiful with yummy bison tacos by the Golden West and beers by the Union Brewery! Catch a sweet performance here.

 

Sondheim Artscape Prize: 2010 Finalists

I took my drawing portfolio students to the BMA yesterday and we spent a long time in the Sondheim Artscape Finalist show. I asked them to pick who they wanted to win. I was happy to see such interest in contemporary art with these high school kids. It probably helped that everyday we viewed a new contemporary artist through the Art 21 series. Anyway, I recommend that everyone go see this amazing show. You will notice more video, interactive and sculptural pieces than paintings. And for a painter, who's always jokes about my favorite painting teacher, Joyce Stillman Myers' definition of a sculpture being something you back into when you're looking at a painting, I have become more of a sculptor, installation artist and appreciator.
I loved Nate Larson's twitter geo-scape quotation photographs. But got was absolutely blown away by Matt Janson's sculptures. Their beautiful three dimensional paintings that oozed of cake icing appeal and reminded me of my favorite 40's aesthetic.

Many of the pieces that Janson creates express a tension between lightheartedness and danger. His work frequently incorporates mirror fragments, which have a sparkly quality that appeals to viewers, while the mirrors' sharp edges warn them to keep away.

Other artworks have a thick, gooey texture that simultaneously brings to mind frosting and viscera.

Tonight they announce the winner at a special reception at 7 tonight. The show will be up until August 1...and its FREE!! with great air conditioning. So, no excuses! Oh yeah, my students pick a variety of these superior artists, but Janson got the most votes.

photo from BMA Flicker page

Hooping Rain , Shine or Snow!

Last Saturday, Feb. 13, we were all still pretty snowed in and a little stir crazy. My man, Spilly, was out in the snow, on one of the highest snow piles, introducing his new spring line of hula hoops. What's not to love about this spirit of dedication and revolutionary love! Every Saturday morning he is out there on his medium stoop selling his hoops and his message of building community through the idea of shared moments of fun ! The Baltimore Messenger caught him in action and capture this great photo of him. Join Spilly on Saturdays in front of the Waverly market or for family free hoop sessions at Studio thirty 4 at 623 W. 34th St. Suite 105 Baltimore, MD 21211, every Sunday from 10:30 AM to noon! Also look for his new spring line of speciality hoops in his new etsy shop here.

Snow-a-cain 2010...finding the big divide

WOW, what a fun storm this has been! I decided to put down my shovel yesterday and go for a long adventuresome walk. I was told, and I truly believe this, that I live very close to the greatest divide in the U.S. today. The greatest contrast between wealth and poverty is here in Baltimore. The divide is Greenmount Ave. and the area of greatest divide is right up the street form me, where Pen Lucy and Guilford meet. So I ventured down Argonne Drive to where it turns into 39th. street with my camera in hand and Love Peace Project pumping through my head phones.I found that the people on my side (the poor east side of 39th.) were all out helping each other, being quite friendly, responding to my hellos. I had a full conversation with one guy as we walked up the street together. I noticed the side streets were no where close to being passable and 39th. was barely a one plowed ice cover lane. As I crossed Greenmount in to Guilford I noticed a big difference even on 39th. street. Two lanes, almost 4 lanes were plowed. The neighbors were out watching one guy with his snow blower clearing Juniper Street. They were all out laughing and gathering walking their dogs. Most of their sidewalks had already been cleared. I noticed a sign on one door exclaiming "No Shoveling". Heavens if anyone on this neighborhood would support anyone trying to make a buck here or there, especially in this economy! No responses to my hello's except the three guys coming through yelling "The Good Guys are here"! I'm sure they were from my side of the street. And I think the snow blower guy said hello too. But that was it. The rest gave me the paranoid stare. I ended up at my friend Spilly's house in Oakenshawe where we continued the day of adventure of hula hooping in the streets, sled riding down Wyman Park hills and a well deserve afternoon nap. My walk home was greeted by the sun set, more friendly hello's on the east side and welcoming of the crows that lined the trees of my street. Today, I guess I have to begin the dig out of my car. I really wished we would all just chill and go out for long walks and adventures and leave our cars under the snow for a while.

Tigerlily Patch at ACC

I am a bit tardy of my ACC posts....only 3 days away. Opens this friday to the general public....two of our BEST members are selling their wares as new exhibitors this year at the ACC craft shows. Alison of Tigerlily Patch will also be there. Her beautful jewery is the talk of BEST at all ofour shows. So go look for her! I'll be there with my two day $20 pass!

ACC coming to Charm City

I'm very excited to go to the ACC craft show next weekend. My first experience of the ACC show was in during my undergrad years, being a booth sitter in the early 80's. I remember glass was big as well as shimmering colors of silk and woven vine furniture. Stain glass and pearl jewelry. When I went about 5 years ago, I saw a lot of the same items and styles of fine art crafts. I wasn't very impressed. But now the diy, hand made world has emerged and the ACC has gotten on board. Two of our BEST members will have booths there and another will demonstrate. I thought I would feature them as well as other favorites that will be there. Here is the important info

LOCATION
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

DATES AND SHOW HOURS
Friday, February 27 (10 am - 9 pm)
Saturday, February 28 (10 am - 6 pm)
Sunday, March 1(10 am - 5 pm)

ADMISSION
Buy Tickets Online
$14 per person
$20 for a two-day pass
$25 introductory new membership at the Show only
Children 12 and under free
American Craft Council members admitted free.
JOIN NOW

Thanks Baltimore Magazine!

I love the BEST support

Finding New Fella's to Sew

Our BEST team has been challenged to be part of Etsy's shop local section of the Storque. We have to post pictures of our favorite spots around town. So I thought it fitting to go to Cylburn Arboretum. If you haven;t been there it is a must go to...but maybe wait until the renovations are finished ad go int he spring. They have this wonderful museum full of taxidermy birds in their habitate..a must if you are a diorama fan. So, on this freezing day, Pat and I set off to take many pictures of me for this article. This was my favorite. I'll keep upi updated and wehen it will post.

Merry Mart This Sunday!

ok..ok...ok .. i know..i know...i've been posting about more and more craft shows that I am in...good news that is.. I applied to all of these shows not thinking I would get in! Boy how things change in just one year! Here is yet another great show for your shopping pleasure. The Creative Alliance is a great place for holiday shopping with its holiday cheer and cash bar! Lots of awesome crafters..including many BEST members. So stop in this Sunday in Highlandtown hon!


Artists:
Dina Alexander Art Jewelry, The Broken Plate Pendant Co., SPAGHETTI KISS, Daedalus Books & Music, Sweet Pepita, Megin Diamond Designs, this chickadee, danamarie hosler & greenstarstudio, Dandelion Blu Jewelry, Bowerbox Press, Devin Mack, MackWire, Jennyjen42, Nancy Ziegenfus-McIntosh, The Littlest Bean, Linda Moul, Rebecca Patterson Baked at 275*, PINK KISS POTTERY, Jill Popowich Designs in Metal, Tu Vida Jewelry & Design, heidiroland - daring earrings!, Elisa Shere Jewelry, Baltimore Glass Works, City Neighbors Charter School , Sugar Paperie, Mark Supik & Co., Stephney Wallace, Yummy & Company.

For more information, visit the Creative Alliance. See you there!

Have You Seen It?..b-more magazine strikes again

I know I've been slacking on the posting...even with such great news and events happening. Check out December's Baltimore Magazine ....There's a cool owl pattern you can download......For those of you who'd like a sneak preview of the Made in Baltimore issue, it's now online! (It's much better in print, though!) Check out my BEST friends..pictured below... in their featured posts too!

back to school....remember those great days of summer

i've just spent my third day of the first day back to school. it's teacher meeting week and get your classroom in order and get ready for the kiddies week! Today was a great professional development day with other art teachers....and you try, real hard, not to make a smart ass remark to every stupid question posed . it scares me, sometimes, how disconnected some teachers are in this country. they give us teachers a bad rap and they need to get out and find another career. yes , it isn't right when smoke is screaming out of your kiln.....no the mouse cord does not connect to the Ethernet connection in the wall....this is not how you get the internet to work....your phone will not get a dial tone if you plug it into the Ethernet plug. ugh;( i really wish i could use the f-word professionally. anywho, tomorrow we build more studio walls for my increasing AP class.I am very excited about my Advance Placement kids this year!
i am off my intention for this blog entry ..i wanted to find a good last day of summer pic....i love this one. we use to go play at the German orphanage in Catonsville as kids and there was this amazing swing that could swing a ton of kids at one time. It had a center pole as its axis and a round bench that we all sat on with a pole you held on to and it would swing around as well as side to side! I loved this playground ride that I'm sure has been destroyed and knighted dangerous! Along with many a merry-go-round and sea saw! Today's playground's may be safe...but not quite as fun! I'm the one in the pink dress!

Baltimore Etsy Giveaway!

The biggest giveaway BEST has had yet! In honor of our BOB( Best of Baltimore nod from Baltimore Magazine) , BEST's next giveaway will be August 29th, so if you haven't signed up for the BEST mailing list, sign up now!

Work by BlockPartyPress, BowerboxPress, GreenStarStudio, JenMenkhaus, JennyJen42, JillPopowichDesigns, Miscelena, SpaTherapy, TheBrokenPlate, TigerLillyShop, VWStudios.

so this is in Baltimore?

i love design*sponge's sneak peak and nothing gets me more excited then getting to see how artists live and arrange their everyday living. I have noticed presto bingo way back on etsy and loved the fact that they are from Baltimore! This sneal peak comes from husband and wife team joyce hesselberth and dave plunkert of spur design. both talented illustrators, chances are you’ve seen their work in any number of national publications or around the web with presto bingo, their new line of kid-friendly modern art. today they’re opening the doors of their custom designed baltimore home (for all you with kids in the baltimore area, be sure to check out their blog). you can click here for more full-sized images of their home. (design*sponge, June 2,2008)


now i have one question...where is this beautiful house?