Thursday, December 31, 2015

Interview with Helen DeRamus

The Wild Wild West by Helen De Ramus


1. Who are you and what do you do, and what is your background?

Atlanta is my hometown. I graduated from Emory at Oxford in the extended program and then from Emory University in history and art history. My art history concentration in Asian art set the tone for my career in art. I taught in Savannah after graduating then moved to Englewood, New Jersey, where I taught and began studio courses. Returning to Atlanta in 1979, my interest in photography (my dad’s influence) took me to the SE Center for the Photographic Arts studying with Buck Miller, Larry White and Neil Chaput de Saintonge. I created a commercial photography business which I ran for the next ten years. When I began critique sessions with Joseph Perrin, he encouraged me to combine paint and photographs, so here I am. I continue to combine photography and paint.

2. What's integral to your art and or art career?

Experimentation is integral to my art and I think of style as eclectic.


The Storm Warning by Helen DeRamus








3. What themes do you pursue and what medium do you use?

I am on a journey and the idea of “moving focus” in Chinese art informs my work with the landscape. For me to be successful means combining three important elements: hand, eye and heart. The odd shapes in nature always call to me, realizing that in nature, there is always the infinite. I use a variety of mediums including encaustic, oil and wax, lith crayon and India ink working on wooden panels, canvas, and paper.

4. What makes you angry, what makes you happy?

Intolerance makes me angry and working in the studio makes me happy...many things make me happy..too many to list.
A Thin Red Line by Helen DeRamus

5. Who and what inspire you in your work and or in your life in general?

The natural world inspires me. I experience intense pleasure through my eyes and sense of touch. There is something new to see everyday.



6. What superpower would you want?

X-ray vision, no doubt.

7. What is your favorite artists and or other person?

I admire and get inspiration from so many artists many of whom I know well. But I can point to Giacometti who inspires me to value process, Annie Dilliard for her capacity to see the whole landscape and appreciate the tiniest creatures. Robert MacFarlane describes the landscape in a way that helps me appreciate the history and “feel” of the landscape and Julie Mehretu whose large complex works inspire me to imagine the possibilities of a new way to see.

8. What advice would you give to other artists?

Value your work. Make connections with artists you trust to keep you honest. Work as much as you can because your inspiration comes from working. Be open to learning from other artists you admire.

9. Contact details 
And Then Into The Sky by Helen DeRamus

http://www.helenderamus.com 
http://deramusstudio.com




Monday, November 30, 2015

Interview with Artist Leisa Rich


Beauty From The Beast by Leisa Rich

2009
garden- 25 ft. by 20 ft.

Materials: Wool, fabrics, vinyl, thread; recycled elements: plastic straws, plant stakes, packing materials, strapping tape, bubble wrap, carpet samples, quilts, cut up art pcs. and more
Techniques: Machine and hand stitched; embroidery; trapunto; quilting; dyed; hand painted; rolled; constructed and more

AS FEATURED IN the book NOPLACENESS

1. Who are you and what do you do, and what is your background?

My name is Leisa Rich. I describe myself as an experimentalist, although I was formally trained in the fiber arts — I began as a weaver in 1975— and continue to incorporate fibers processes and materials in my work, particularly free motion machine stitching, something I began doing in 1971 when my Mom taught me to use a sewing machine to darn and I used it to draw a dog instead. One year ago I purchased a 3D printer and am doing art work incorporating biodegradable plastics, bamboo, coffee and other interesting filaments, and just this week I got my second 3D printer, so I can really up the output and experimentation using this fascinating technology. I was born and raised in Canada, but went to Interlochen Arts Academy (now Interlochen Center for the Arts) for 10th through 12th grade, originally as a pianist and dancer, but switched to art early on. I graduated from there in ’78 as an art major. I was accepted into RISD, Parsons, etc. but due to the higher cost of paying U.S. tuition using Canadian funds at a time of a 40% exchange rate, went back to Canada to continue my art education. However, after attending one semester at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, I opted to return to the states fall of ‘79, ending up at The University of Michigan School of Visual Art, now the Stamps School of Art & Design. I received my BFA from there in ’82 and returned to Canada, where I owned a small art gallery, married an American, became a designer for an international clothing company in Toronto, had one daughter, got a Bachelor of Education in Art in ’93, sold everything and traveled around the world with my husband and daughter for a year, ran a wearable art design company for many years, had another daughter, and taught Drama for four years at a high school in Vancouver, British Columbia, until my husband’s job took us to Kauai, Hawaii in ’98.

Surrounded by Leisa Rich

2015
Materials: Thread, plastic, fabric, recorder, vintage lace, vintage stand
Technique: Free motion machine embroidered- 3,500 ears! sewn, constructed.

 It was there that friend and painter Sally French encouraged me to return to my non-functional art roots. A move to Dallas led me to attend The University of North Texas, graduating with an MFA degree in fibers in ’07. I moved to Atlanta that year. Since I have been in Atlanta I was a Teaching Artist at The High Museum for 2 years, ran the after school art program at The Galloway School for 6 years, have taught classes at Chastain Arts Center and Binders, taught 7 years of Callanwolde summer art camp/adult classes, run private classes and workshops in my studio, was on the roster as a SCAD professor (right when the economy tanked- I was never able to actually teach and they bump you off the list after 3 years! Darn!) and I travel to teach at arts centers around the U.S. My focus for the last year has been on developing my art career after I became an empty-nester! I do conceptual art, and sculptural art-to-wear once in a while. I write occasionally for art magazines and have also written locally for Burnaway and ArtsATL. I recently curated my first art exhibition, Invisible:visAble, featuring 16 international and local artists whose art is informed by their invisible disabilities. That was a project near and dear to my heart, as I am completely deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other. I also recently published my first children’s book, a five year labor of love, that is made up of 26 dioramas and 26 3D type pages, in tongue twister format, for children (but all ages are seeming to love it!) to work on their speech, and it is about traveling and living different places and enjoying doing fun things and having experiences no matter where you are. I also sell my art on clothes at Print All Over Me, and recycled sweater stuffed animals at Atlanta MADE and Vintage ATL and my art at Signature Gallery. I work very hard and am extremely prolific, but am downsizing my diversity as I age and face some physical limitations, exacerbated by recently having a very bad slip and fall and car wreck. Therefore, I am streamlining my career, focusing going forward on my art.

2. What’s integral to your art and or art career?

Materials explorations intrigue me and are often the catalyst for realizing conceptual directions. Lifelong medical challenges I have faced and overcome have led to a fascination with the organic, and growing up in Canada — where I spent much of my childhood alone in, or on, lakes, walking through verdant woods, in thick snow, and summers spent going to camp, communing with the water, land and wind — have inspired me to create a manufactured nature that make up a Utopian world in which to lose oneself. I am still developing “an art career” and am still not quite sure what that is for me. Keeping an open mind, learning, constantly trying new things and growing, is so crucial to me. 

3. What themes do you pursue and what medium do you use?

Creating environments that invite viewers in, and art they can actually interact with, is of huge importance to me, as is creating art or curating exhibitions that encourage human connection.  I enjoy a yin yang approach: a push/pull, entice/repel, positive/negative dichotomy, emulating the complexity of life’s opposing polarities. Nothing is sacred medium-wise…I will use whatever techniques and materials  are suitable to get a concept across. That can mean vintage, recycled anything, plastics, wood, paint, fibers, and more and the techniques of 3D printing, sewing, printmaking, painting, construction, etc. It is all fodder to bring an idea to fruition. I think a use of mixed media was fostered when I went to U of M and disliked the fibers professor, which led me to explore classes in photography, woodworking, sculpture and other mediums instead. My BFA exhibition featured woven strips of colored Xerox explorations. 

4. What makes you angry, what makes you happy?
Knowledge Overcomes Ignorance As Sunlight DarknessArt work by Leisa Rich

2015
Materials: Fosshape, paper, fabric, thread, acrylic
Technique: Free motion machine embroidery, sewn and constructed

Unfortunately, I am hyper sensitive to most things, so I get very angry at bad human behavior. Especially the use and abuse of animals for human consumption, that one is my biggest pet peeve and a cantankerous one to have in this meat-centric world! Social media has brought too much war, intolerance and fear too closely into our lives and damaged our hearts but on the flip side, it has also brought so many good things into my own life: places to stay/new friends when I travel to teach, wonderful, talented individuals who care deeply to be inspired by, new ways of thinking, and alternative ideas that help me expand both as an artist and as an individual.…connection. Regarding art: I get super upset at exclusivity, which I see as the practice of favoring someone(s) for who they are or who they know as opposed to for their abilities and talent and integrity. I get angry when I am taken advantage of. I get angry when people don’t follow through on promises or commitments. I am happiest when I am alone and making art. I am at peace when I am with my kids and grandkids. I adore my husband. He is my best, best friend and has evolved over the years to be my biggest champion and moral and financial supporter. I am happy when I secretly do things for social good. 

5. Who and what inspire you in your work and or in your life in general?

To list who inspires me would fill a room! I have great admiration and art-lust for so many talented people!!!! Art-wise- I have never wavered from my endless admiration for Tara Donovan, adore Do Ho Suh, love Ernesto Neto, am amazed by friend and fellow Canadian Jennifer Angus’s art and the way it has blossomed over the last few years- so happy for her! I worship Iris Van Herpen, whose exhibit is presently up and is a DO-NOT-MISS at The High Museum, and am enamored of many more not- quite-as-famous artists. I love art that uses inconsequential things and turns them into consequential, art that involves viewers, art that envelops, art that creates new realities, art that makes me think deeply, and art that makes a difference. I don’t like pretty pictures that match sofas. I am inspired by the vegan movement, having been a vegetarian of every type for 28 years now, settling on vegan at home and vegetarian out, so I have been following John Robbins for 28 years. Food inspires me, I love trying new ways of cooking. Cooking is a great stress-buster at the end of a long day. I love Obama’s sense of fun and humor he has employed during his presidency and am truly scared for what the next election will bring, adore my home country Canada’s inclusive and positive approach to humanity, but most of all- I admire nature. It endlessly provides me with the joy that humans do not.

6. What superpower would you want?

Healthy longevity. I consider that a superpower. To be able to keep going with health and create art and food for umpteen more years would be so amazing. Since we are on the cusp of downloading our consciousness into post-human form, I am hoping to be able to accomplish that. My husband and I will be first in line to become robots. I don’t know why everyone is so skeptical and fearful of this phase of evolution we are IN. We need to pull our heads out of the sand and be pro-active.

7. What is your favorite artists and or other person?
sTriangulation (detail) by Leisa Rich


31" X 36" X 36" X 1

Materials: PLA, thread, resin, graphite

Technique: 3D printing, drawing, free motion machine embroidery

I think I answered that above….but hey! Throw the Dalai Lama in there. Love his sense of humor! 

8. What advice would you give to other artists?

I used to think I had advice to give but as I age, I realize how little I really know. 

9. Contact details if any?


My website:


Review on invisible:visAble


Children’s book website


Art Clothes:



Sunday, November 1, 2015

Interview with Anita Stewart



1. Who are you and what do you do, and what is your background?
I am an international artist and art teacher. I graduated from the University of Memphis in the ancient year of 1977 with a BFA. As I taught, I got  elementary, junior high and high school art  programs off the ground for both public and private schools. This encouraged me to start my own art school. I was the sole owner and director of Anita's  ArtsCool for 15 years,1998-2013. I hit the ground running when we move to Atlanta in 1983.  Since then I have been in numerous juried local, regional and international art competitions. I  became friends with an artist who lived near me in Suwanee. Jill Fearon was  an artist from South Africa. In 2006,she invited me to visit her in Capetown and travel through beautiful South Africa. I visited Capetown for a month in 2007 . In 2009 I ,went with her and a group of South African artists for almost two weeks  to paint in Tuscany. I returned to South Africa in 2010 to paint and travel .  During my last adventure, I got my courage up  to  travel by myself. I developed a passion during my visits to South Africa to view cave paintings. (They are much older than the ones we have in the US.) My explorations in Africa led me to other adventures in Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Australia. 


2. What's integral to your art and or art career?
Travel has become very important to my quest in understanding the people and art of other countries. I love the challenge and adventure to stretch myself and has driven me to a deeper understanding of who I am and where I came from. I have Native American heritage and I find myself attracted to the indigenous people of whatever country I travel to. 

3. What themes do you pursue and what medium do you use?
I have taught a wide range of media through the years. I progressed through acrylics ,pastels ,pen and ink, and oils . I have drawn and painted a wide range of subject matter in both realistic and fantasy styles. I am currently exploring maps as artwork using mixed media . I have cut, torn and pasted maps  with zero and minimum paint . I have rendered many portraits of live models   using water color crayons  over printed maps. I think using maps fits who I am and what I want to explore..many worlds !!

4. What makes you angry, what makes you happy?
I makes me angry to see an individual cause hardships for other people.
Especially when it causes them to become adversaries . We live in a small world and our online technology is making it even smaller. I love to laugh and discover something new.

5. Who and what inspire you in your work and or in your life in general?
Those who don't give up. People who bring more  joy and sunshine into your life.I think my Great Aunt was also an inspiration to me. She taught in London and loved to travel.

6. What superpower would you want?
I would want to visit with loved ones who are gone..Like my good friend Rosemary Williams who was also a WCA member. I would also love to be a time traveler to learn more form other people born in other places and at other times in life.

7. What is your favorite artists and or other person?
I am always amazed by the work of Salvador Dahli.. I also like Van Gough's work. I share the same birthday as Van Gough.

8. What advice would you give to other artists?
Never give up.  Be true to yourself and give yourself grace to make mistakes. Some of my greatest accomplishments have come from big mistakes that I learned from ..in my work  and in my life.
www.wetcanvas.com is a great place to discuss questions and connect with other artists. ( I met the originator  years ago.. )
Always look for ways to learn more.. Step back and reconsider what has happened in your life.

9. Contact details if any? 
www.anitastewartgallery.com is my website. Please friend me on Face Book.  My email is anitaarts@hotmail.com

I am currently teaching art at Art and Beyond on Holcomb Bridge Rd. I am teaching drawing to teens, painting to adults. I have several workshops scheduled for the near future in calligraphy, visual journaling and pastels. http://artandbeyondstudio.com/adult-classes/adult-workshops/
www.artandbeyondstudio.com Ask for Andy Schwartz.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Interview with Ann Rowles

Comic Relief
Crocheted mixed fibers, vinyl tubing, found plastic objects
2014



1. Who are you and what do you do, and what is your background


I am an artist, wife, mother, grandmother and sometimes teacher. I grew up in Hickory, North

Carolina and attended both the Greensboro and the Chapel Hill branches of the University of

NC. I received my MFA in Sculpture from UNC-CH in 1990. We moved to Atlanta in 1995.


2. What's integral to your art and or art career?


I am a 70's feminist. When I was living in San Francisco I read articles and saw work by women

artists; the revelation that I could make artwork about my own life, observations, and

experiences was overwhelming. After returning to NC I found the women artists who formed

"Center/Gallery." I was allowed to exhibit work which would not have been shown otherwise.

This freedom and support allowed me to grow and develop. My "career" has been up and

down, peaking in North Carolina in the nineties, but I have continued to make art, which is what

matters to me.


3. What themes do you pursue and what medium do you use?


My work concerns the juncture of body, psyche, history, and society. I am work in whatever

material suits the idea and my situation in life. When I was a young mother I used broken toys;

in grad school I felt the need to work big, fast, and "in your face" so I made over-life-size chicken

wire sculptures of empty clothing which retained the shape of the absent body - big, fat and

female. When my elderly mother was in decline I began to crochet my sculptures, so I could do

my work in hospital rooms and doctor's offices.


4. What makes you angry, what makes you happy?


The mistreatment of people, animals, or the environment make me angry and sad. My

grandson, family and friends give me hope and make me happy. I'm crazy when I can't make

art.


5. Who and what inspire you in your work and or in your life in general?


My aesthetics did a flip flop when I saw the work of Egon Schiele on a high school trip to New

York. Later I was influenced by Edward Kienholz. When I began to see and read about women

artists, I found an artist soulmate in Louise Bourgeois. I love discovering women artists past

and present. Real life mentors were the women of Center/Gallery, as well as artists Scott

Burton, Kate Erickson and Mel Zeigler, and Faith Ringgold.


6. What superpower would you want?


Peacemaking.


7. What is your favorite artists and or other person?


Too many to list!


8. What advice would you give to other artists?


Listen to your gut; teachers and curators have their own agendas. Don't forget to play or be

afraid to fail. Stretch. Keep working, however slowly.


9. Contact details if any? (those you are willing to have in the newsletter and on blog)


My website is www.annrowles.com, but it is badly in need of updating!

I am on Facebook and my email is annwrowles@gmail.com

An update about WCAGA Exhibits and Drawing Marathons of 2015.

WCAGA Exhibits
WCAGA’s last exhibit of 2015 is currently showing at the Lyndon House Art Center in Athens GA. MARK is a WCAGA members exhibit, curated by Georgia Strange, a professor at UGA.

In conjunction with the MARK exhibit, Lyndon House Art Center sponsored two drawing programs; Sept 17 and Oct. 10. These ‘Draw Tables’, as they are called, are open to the public and our MARK exhibitors, in particular, have been invited to participate.

The Exhibit, MARK, is up till Oct. 10, 2015. We have 38 WCAGA members and 9 invited women artists from the Athens area in the show. The MARK exhibit is held in two gallery spaces, The Atrium and the Ronnie Lukasiewicz Gallery on the first floor. 


WCAGA Drawing Marathons
The Drawing Marathon Program is finishing it’s 4th year. Initially, this was a one year program that simply kept going almost of it’s own accord. Our last Drawing Marathon for 2015 is taking place in Helen DeRamus’s studio at the Artists Resource Center in Marietta. This session has been dubbed Figure2Days. Our focus will be the human figure and the session will last Friday and Saturday (Oct. 2,3). Fridaywe will have a live model. We’ll spend the day on short poses that are meant to inspire our second day, Saturday’s, drawings. 


2016
Exhibits
Upcoming for 2016, we have been invited back to Georgia Perimeter College in Clarkson’s Media Center’s 4th floor gallery in March. Dates to be determined.

Drawing Marathon
Our 2016 Drawing Marathon Program hopefully will continue to evolve new formats for this program to keep it challenging and inspiring.


A Note to our members: 
I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you over the years because you have involved yourself in WCAGA programs. I hope you will continue to seek interaction with your fellow artists. If you are new to our organization, come and share your knowledge, excitement and vision with us. 

Thank you
Barb Rehg
WCAGA Exhibits and Drawing Marathons

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Message from WCAGA Board

                                   Message from WCAGA Board

In late 2014 the WCAGA Board held some intense discussions about whether or not  to pursue the idea of obtaining our own space for meetings, programming and exhibitions.  We decided that the first step was to develop a Strategic Plan as a way to articulate and establish our common goals and to implement a process to help us reach them.  

This Strategic Plan was developed last Spring by Board members Kate Colpitts, Sally Wansboro Eppstein, Maggie Davis, Barb Rheg, Maxine Hess and WCAGA members Rita Beasley, Aviva Stern, Serey Andre and Ashley Schick.  Wendy Cardell served as our professional facilitator.  The committee met on three Sunday mornings over a six week period.

The plan is divided into four categories:  Administrative, Financial, Communication and Programs.  Within each category, short and long term goals were established.
It was our objective that this plan remain flexible.

Our guiding principles were inclusion, outreach and education.  


                                WCAGA 2015 Strategic Plan


1. ADMINISTRATIVE
     Executive Board
     Committees
     Members
Goals
     12 - 18 months
     Define roles and responsibilities of Executive Board/Committee Chairs
     Review By-Laws and make recommendations for organizational structure
     5 Year
     Develop Membership Directory
     Hire a PT Administrator

2. FINANCIALS
      Budget
      Fundraising
Goals
     12-18 months
     Develop Annual Budget for calendar year
     Identify projects and grant opportunities
     5 Year
     Seek funding for PT Administrator
     Fund an Archivist
     Conduct a feasibility study for operating a chapter office and/ or program space

3. COMMUNICATION
     Social Media
     Newsletter
     Membership
Goals
     12-18 months
     Develop a communication plan that addresses all communication opportunities
     5 Year
     Hire a PT social media person
     Put into practice a sound communication plan

4. PROGRAMS
     Exhibitions
     Lectures
     Outreach
     Collaboration
     Social Activism
     Book Club
     Art Share
     Drawing Marathons
Goals
     12-18 months
     Continue to support projects/programs that originate with our members
     Create partnerships w/organizations that share our vision
     Create Art and Ideas Discussions
     5 Year
     Create an international exchange of art/ideas with women artists from different   
     cultures

We invite you to join us as we work to implement this plan which we believe will ensure the continued viability and relevance of WCAGA .  If you are interested in being involved please contact me at klfrost@aol.com.

Thank you
Kate Colpitts
President

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Womens Caucus for Arts Georgia Hosts an Outdoor Installation at The Blue Heron Nature Preserve




This spring, Womens Caucus for Arts Georgia (WCAGA) is hosting an outdoor installation, “The Art of Nature,” in North Buckhead at The Blue Heron Nature Preserve(BHNP).

Blue Heron Nature Preserve

Inspired by art displayed on the Atlanta Beltline in 2014, Sally Eppstein, WCAGA Vice President investigated creating and installing art in the natural environment of her city of Brookhaven. Her quest took her to The Blue Heron Nature Preserve and before she knew it, she had not only exhibited her art—a totem pole—there but had also been asked to become the preserve’s Art Director and its first Artist in Residence.

Sally Eppstein at BHNP with her totem pole
Now, as an expression of her combined WCAGA and BHNP roles, she has created an opportunity for any current WCAGA member to make art installations made with nature or inspired by nature of the preserve’s urban greenspace and exhibit it there.

“I would love to see old and newly joined WCAGA members coming together at the preserve offering performances, painting really beautiful murals on walls, or interacting collaboratively with nature,” Sally says in the kind of enthusiastic voice when the imaginative ideas abound.

Proposals for “The Art of Nature” are due by midnight, Sunday, March 22, 2015. Ten WCAGA members or teams will be selected and have from Tuesday, April 21st to Saturday, April 25th to install their work. The installations will stay up until Saturday, June 27th.

Selected artists receive a stipend of $300! Go here for exhibit application details.

Visit the Blue Heron Nature Preserve and see what site engages you to create. Until then, here are a few photos of the preserve by Sally Eppstein to get your creative juices flowing:

BHNP is a flood, one of the reasons it was not developed.
Any thoughts for what might go here?


Walls in need of expression.
Older wall art.