Minnesota State Fair: At the Barns

Sorry if I have been missing in action this past week--I've been savoring the final days of summer. For me, that means enjoying several trips to the Minnesota State Fair, aka the Great Minnesota-Get-Together. 

Today hubby and I made our last trip...which was our fourth trip. (The Fair runs 12 days--always ending on Labor Day). It was our shortest trip--only 5.5 hours long. Usually we stay 8-10 hours. We do lots of walking, people watching, sitting (resting!), listening to free concerts (Rosanne Cash was this year's highlight!), and of course, enjoying once-a-year Fair Foods. Our favorite foods? Buffalo chips (potatoes), Corn dogs (we have a favorite booth), pork chops on a stick, Chocolate/blackberry malts from the Dairy building (where you can see the Dairy princesses' heads carved in a life-size chunk of butter!), and a few other miscellaneous treats. There are plenty of exhibits to check out each year--the Fine Arts competition, crop art, Creative Activities, Flower shows...It's an endless array of entertainment.

Which means it is a great opportunity to take photos! I've meant to share photos as the Fair proceeded, but time got away from me. I thought I would share a few over the next few days, loosely grouped by various themes.

Today's Theme: At the Barn!

No trip to the Fair is complete without a trip to the barns. I grew up in rural Minnesota and still enjoy seeing the farm animals--especially cows. And who doesn't love horses?! The day we headed down to the barn area, a high school rodeo show was about to begin. I couldn't resist taking a few shots of these cowgirls with their horses.  

Back to Trotter's Cafe...

Today we headed back to Trotter's Cafe to rearrange the exhibit of my artwork in the cafe. The September artist only wanted to hang her work in one room...so I got to keep some of my work up for a second month!

We took down all my work in the first room and then went to work changing things up in this second cozy room. I felt more relaxed about the whole thing, so I was able to snap some better pictures of the space.

Alongside one wall, there is a set of inset shelves--I put a few of my small paintings on the lowest shelf, along with my business cards and postcards.

We made some changes--mixing in some of the paintings that had been in the other room, changing how things were hung, and even adding a few different paintings. Here are some closer looks at my art.

Paintings from the Womanspirit series

The Four Seasons

Hope Garden

Offering Peace

I wanted things to look fresh for repeat visitors. I actually like the new look better. If you live in the Twin Cities area, please stop by and enjoy my art, along with a fantastic organic meal. (I enjoyed Tortilla Lucia today--a flour tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, black beans, and monterrey jack cheese, plus salsa--yummy!).

Stepping out of the Studio!

Minnehaha Falls

Today I had a chance to cross the river to visit my old stomping grounds--south  Minneapolis, and enjoy some artsy fun. Hubby and I started out by making a few stops on the Longfellow neighborhood art crawl--aka Lola art crawl. There are a number of coffeeshops and local businesses participating and exhibiting art of local artists, but a great number of artists are opening their homes to show off their work. Some are exhibiting outdoors. Hats off to all those artists opening up their home spaces--it's a lot of work and intimidating to have people enter your home and comment about your artwork and space. Even though I do it on nearly a monthly basis in my own home, I find it hard to enter someone else's personal space. I don't want to be too intrusive! But it's a wonderful way to view an artist's work. Lola will also be running tomorrow, Sunday, August 29th from 10-5 pm--check out their website for more info!

Umber Studios

Following a quick lunch, we drove by a gallery space I've been wanting to check out--Umber studios. It's  a small space in south Mpls located in an older brick building. The gallery is being collectively run by several local artists. The artists have  maintained much of the original beauty of the space--such as the wood floors. They also brought back the original tin ceiling by knocking down a false ceiling.  The space was simple, but charming. Intimate and welcoming. 

The gallery was not actually open when we stopped by, but one of the artists/owners was there hanging a show of children's art (opening tonight) and invited us in. We had a wonderful little talk about the space.  I would love being part of running a space like that one day! 

Then we headed to downtown Mpls, where Joel was going on an audition. I spent my time at the Mpls downtown library (a beautiful building!) and checked out an exhibit that I had heard about--The Art of Aging. It is only up til September 5th, but I would highly recommend making an effort to take it in before it's gone. 

The exhibit features the artwork of four Twin Cities women artists--Karen Searle, Lucy Rose Fischer, Bette Globus Goodman, and Jody Stadler--all facing the aging process themselves (I don't know the ages of the artists, but I'm guessing they are in their 60/70s).  The work, presented in a variety of mediums--glass, photography, fiber/textile, painting/drawing--was very powerful, moving, and insightful. And I must add that it was inspiring to view the work of four artists actively making such powerful work in their 60s and 70s!

Even if you are not able to check out the exhibit, you can visit the exhibit link to  watch the video interviews with the artists. It will inspire you!

It was a good day for stepping outside my own studio and checking out the work of others! It's also fun to check out different types of spaces.

Trotter's Cafe

And tomorrow I will be off to rearrange my show at Trotter's! Earlier in the month I was asked if I would like to share the space with another artist in September--extending my exhibit there for a second month. I will be taking down my work in one room, but then rearranging things in the other. Feel free to still stop by to check out a small sample of my work!

 

Preview-MN State Fair Fine Arts show

Just as I posted my last entry (all about feeling isolated and needing to get out...), my artist neighbor/friend left a note on my door asking if I would like to go to the State Fair's Fine Art Preview opening! This is one of my favorite shows of the year. I'm a little disappointed with myself for not entering this year, but hey, there's always next year!

I have enjoyed this show for years as part of my annual State Fair pilgrimage. Years ago I dreamed of being brave enough to enter. And the the past few years, I have entered...but have not been accepted. I have gained some perspective on all that...it is just one juror's opinion, after all. But I will keep trying.

So last night, my neighbor and I headed out to the fairgrounds. There were a lot of people there!  Much of the art has a theme that fits with the State Fair theme (such as state fair foods, livestock), but there is a wide range of other subject matter. There is also a wide range of different mediums used, everything from glass mosaics to oil. What I appreciate so much about this show is that anyone can bring a piece in for consideration (no entry fee!) and so many different mediums are part of the show. Basically, if you create it, they will look at it.

The fun part now is that as I become more involved in the local arts community I recognize the work of more fellow artists. Last night I saw the work of several fellow Lowertown artists, as well as work of two former Tilsner residents. It's always fun seeing the work of someone you know. 

And I found what would have been the perfect spot for the painting of hubby eating an ear of corn at the Fair--next year!

It doesn't feel like Fall...

The summer is wrapping up. Folks are sending their kids back to school--I remember the secret joy felt as a parent when that day came! Freedom! It definitely signaled a change in the daily routine.

Not much changing here. Summer is still holding on. Even I am starting to get weary of the heat combined with humidity. My hair is definitely tired of it! In a few short days, the State Fair--aka "the Great Minnesota Get-Together" begins. That's my end-of-summer ritual...I love going several times (it runs 10 days) just to walk, people watch, and check out our favorite activites/buildings. Don't worry...I'll be sharing our exploits here!

Outside of that, my daily routine is just that...routine. I wake up, turn on the computer, make my coffee...and eventually make my way to the studio. Most days I get a couple of painting stints in at the studio (returning home for lunch break...) I'm coming to the realization that even introverted-me is getting a little tired of talking to the same three people every day--my hubby and kids. I need to get out more! 

It is one of the bigger changes in my routine. When I was going to my outside job five days a week, I had lots of socializing time with others. My work space was one big area filled with desks and very little privacy. Truth be told, it drove me a little crazy at times. I just wanted a place to hide! Plus, my job involved going into people's homes, listening to their problems and hopefully, offering some resolutions. 

Now I am totally at the other extreme...I work in isolation...which is the atmosphere I need in order to create. But I am becoming aware that I need to be sure to get out and socialize with others. I need to get out and seek some inspiration as well.

Looking for some changes in that direction might be my change this fall. Just curious...as an artist, do you struggle with isolation at times? How do you deal with it?

Me and my honey after a long day at the Fair!

 

Today at the Studio

Not everyone gets how excited I am when I receive a shipment filled with art supplies...but I know you do! Thanks to my recent painting sale, I was able to purchase some paints and acrylic mediums from Dick Blick. The box arrived today! I was a little giddy!

Here is my shelf filled with goodies. I ordered some new mediums, like Crackle Paste and Clear Tar Gel, to experiment with. Oh, the fun I will have.

But before I dive in and start playing with new stuff, I decided to stay focused and work a bit more on my Ladies in Waiting. (That's not really their title, just my fun personal reference). I worked on a lot of faces today. It's amazing how each feature added changes their personality in some way.

What is hard to show in a photo of my Winter lady-in-waiting is the background...it has an iridescent finish with a snowflake pattern. 

I decided to add a quote to this one: "There came a time when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." (Anais Nin)

But Autumn, pictured below, is my favorite... My inspiration for her background came from the Starbucks mug I drink my coffee from each morning. See, inspiration can come in a cup of java. Could it be a business expense?
 

Here they all are at the end of the day. Not quite done, but getting close.  

My Ladies in Waiting

This morning my Facebook status update was about these "ladies in waiting" waiting to be finished. These five 10x20's were started months ago and I work on them every now and then. They have been sitting on my studio's heating element all summer, faceless-yet staring at me, and seeming to say,  "We'll sit right here till you make us come to life."

Believe me, seeing their faceless faces has been nagging at me. But there is a reason I put off painting their faces. It makes me uncomfortable, because it scares me a little. I don't feel particularly good at it, but I keep trying it anyways. Because I want to keep challenging myself. It's good to step outside your comfort zone now and then. And even though I feel so unsure of myself, I keep painting them.  I think I might be done with this series, but then I think this is just the starting point. I think they will evolve into something very different...eventually. (I finished five of these 10x20 woman paintings last year--check the label "four seasons".)

This morning I headed to the studio and decided to put my anxiety aside and work on finishing these "ladies in waiting". It's time. I didn't finish any of them, but made enough progress to make me want to keep going.

Even if I'm not "in love" with how each of them turns out, I think it's time to finish them and move ahead. One of the hard things about painting their faces is that sometimes when I'm done I feel completely different about the painting...and not always in a good way. And then sometimes it just takes a while for the finished result to "grow on me".

It's not always comfortable stepping outside of your comfort zone, but it is a good thing.