More Folly......

....from the reception. Let me correct that---this was before the reception, when we all were laughing and being absolutely asinine. In other words, enjoying ourselves!

And there is always *one* in the bunch who cannot behave....you know, the sassy, brassy, way-no-sense person who has to, ummmmmmm, show off. For the sake of those photographed with me, I have cropped the image harshly, doing my best to preserve their dignity. I'm pretty sure I don't have any left..... ;)
I would like to think we were just blowing off pre-show jitters. Yeah. That sounds good!
So now you've seen my more mischievous side, or lower quadrant as the case may be, although I am sure you had figured that one out before.
I have never grown up.
I doubt that will happen.
Living life and laughing is too much fun!!!!
I do have a few more *real* photos I may post, but as you can see, my choices are made not by sense but nonsense!
Made ya laugh, didn't I????

A Few Photos From The Reception

Last night went great! We had a good crowd of our own people and a very good turn out from the Logansport people, so I am both happy and dead tired today.

I spent some time cropping a few pics to post and then tinkering with the exposure. Hopefully they will be good enough to show what went on.

All I can say is when you have a gallery that size filled with people,everything is GOOD! You may not get photos of the art, but, oh well. I can go over before we break down and do that.

Tonight I head to Wabash to Honeywell for the Fort Wayne Museum of Art's "Art and Espresso" program on Andy Warhol. Then I am *artted-out* for the week! I need to rest, schedule a board meeting, try and get a few other things lined up for Co-Op, yadda yadda.

And yeah, in between all that, if there is time, make some art.

Well, such is my life!!!

I would insert titles under the photos but I am not Blogger-tech-savvy enough to do that......... the photo of the young man is Shane Mohler who does the Artists In Peru blog.

And by the way, we had a LOT of delicious goodies....I think I gained a few pounds and brought home leftovers too.

Have to go crash now---or work. And it's probably going to be the second one!

Ta-Ta!

Picture of yesterday's show hanging

I'm glad this is not a deep thought post because I realize this morning I am NOT as young as I used to be, and hanging a show, especially when you are up and down the ladder numerous times, is hard work. We started with the packing at around 9:30, and by 11:00 we were at the Logansport Art Association ready to unload and figure out where everything was going. Including myself, we had a crew of six to unpack, sort, clean, reattach eye screws or hangers that just sort of weren't strong enough and then the fun began.......
First off, we have the great meeting of the minds ; Val, Susan, Caroll and Alisha. Naturally, my mind is safely behind the camera!
Alisha starts with tags and sorting of cleaning materials.....

Richard gets started hanging his pieces, which were large enough to fill one end wall and provide visual punch when the viewer comes in.

Group scrutiny as we check to make sure spacing is proper, things look good next to each other, etc. (and yes, I was working too--the photos came from ladder breaks!)

And finally a couple of shots of the finished product; this is just a portion. There was a lot of art and some of my end-of-day photography was less than perfect! Okay, a lot of it was. No excuses---I was in a hurry and wanted to be done and on the road.

We were all exhausted, mostly from the worry of dropping someone else's piece of artwork and then having a breakdown! But all in all, everything went smoothly, we only had one wall we had to really scoot things on to get it spaced properly and at the end, there were lots of high fives to go around.

And I don't want to do it again tomorrow. No, I think I need a few good soaks in the tub for the knees and hips and then, yes, I would do it again!

There is nothing more rewarding than taking a diverse group of art and making it into one cohesive unit, with a specific visual flow both through color and the gentle undulation of the eye going up and down as opposed to the straight hanging that is frequently thought of when the word "gallery" is mentioned. This requires the viewer to look, and look again, and then come back and find another treasure they may have missed.

I love it! Thanks all for a fun day!

Off to hang the Co-Op Art Show!

UPDATE: It's hung, it's done, and you have to wait till tomorrow for the pictures because I am dead on my feet! Don't let anyone kid you---it is hard work hanging a show, and a very diverse show is harder, because you have to figure who works best next to whom.
So tomorrow, pict-o-rama!
Or at least a few....... ;)

Early day today; getting things ready to help hang the show in the neighboring city of Logansport, at the Logansport Art Association. Our group is the February show and our members really pulled through with a lot of work. (which means a lot to transport SAFELY and sort and hang......but that's GOOD!!!!) We have several people volunteering to go and do work, so it should make it easier.
I will take some photos, if I don't forget the camera, and share them here later.
This is the first gallery showing of the group since it's inception. In March we will start our third year, and frankly, I can't believe all we have accomplished/been involved in. I did not realize it until I put an informational sheet together for distribution at the show. Here is the text:

The Community Artists Co-Op was formed by four Miami County artists out of a desire for a supportive work community for local artists of all medias and abilities and those who appreciate the arts to be able to meet, share expertise in art-specific areas, network with each other on art related matters and to further the education of all artists in the group. Within the group are both amateur and professional artists and the member demographic is from high school age to retirement. We draw not only from Peru but the surrounding areas of Miami County, as well as Cass County. Meetings are held monthly January through November at Café Du Cirque, 65 N. Miami, Peru, on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. The Café also generously provides gallery space.
The group has a strong commitment to involvement in our community, as it is our belief that the quality of life is improved through art. Being close to our third year in existence, we have participated in two Fallfests, the MCAC art show in conjunction with the Cole Porter Festival, the Miami County Historical Society’s Heritage Days art show, have hosted the Fort Wayne Museum of Art for their outreach program “Art and Espresso”, contributed art for the Circus Hall of Fame Gala fundraiser for two years (monies raised from Co-Op contributions approximately $3000), developed “You Got Art”, an original program which put small original pieces of art into the hands of the local community, produced a Storm Water coloring book in association with Peru Utilities to be distributed throughout the local elementary schools for use in their Science classes, and most recently, provided over 100 4”x4” original art pieces for a local nursing home to remember the elderly at the holiday season and we still have continued to encourage our artists to produce their own art—which they do, prolifically!
Further, we have a commitment to education, as shown through bringing in a working artist from the Indianapolis area for a successful mixed media class this past fall. Our members also occasionally provide classes to Co-Op members and non-members, and will work one-on-one with others when asked.
As stated in the first advertising fliers we produced:
COME JOIN US!!!!

WHEW!

More later when I get back, hopefully with good pics and some funny stories! Other than me sliding on the slush and snow and rearranging my back.......