Road Trip

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I drove to New Jersey on Monday.  Visited with friends in Jersey City and Morristown, and stopped in to see my art exhibition at Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights.  I love how easy-peasy it is to find your way around the country via Google maps/GPS, by the way. It is clearly the greatest invention to eliminate fear of travel.  It was an effortless, fun-filled journey!

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This place is so beautiful!  Space Planner Elizabeth Wiech did a magnificent job installing this show.  I feel lucky to be a part of it.  It turns out that my work is the most abstract of the bunch.  I picked up the artwork I had delivered that wasn’t used – actually my friend Anne had delivered it for me originally, and so this was my first time there.  Everyone was so nice and helpful from the valet parking attendants and security people to the reception desk ladies and maintenance.  Thank you, everyone!  I am just so incredibly grateful for the experience.

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The art exhibition is in the basement floor of the Lawrence Pavilion building in the complex at 1 Diamond Hill (Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922).  Each artist is represented with an artist statement and information on how to contact them in order to make a purchase.  A portion of sales will go to a pet charity – this is an animal-themed art show.

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Eight of my paintings are there – from my 18″ x 18″ oil & collage Echolalia series.

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The exhibition will continue through November 2016.

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Contact Elizabeth Wiech at (908) 277-8806 for more information.  This is a medical office building – she will know the building hours.  The show is open to the public and can be accessed through a separate entrance with stairs leading to the basement floor or through the main entrance using the elevator.

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Wearable Art!

ctkr,x1350,front,black-c,65,80,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-1

ctkr,x1350,front,black-c,65,80,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-2

ctkr,x1350,front,black-c,65,80,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3

I have a BFA in Fashion Design, as well as in Studio Arts from Syracuse University.  I used to imagine being on the cover of WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) as a fashion designer.  All the headlines that would work.  Like TASH SPELLS CASH or if I was designing bathing suits, TASH MAKES A SPLASH.  There was TASH IS A SMASH, and, lol, if I put out a bad collection, TASH MAKES TRASH.

ctr,x1350,front,black-c,65,0,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.4u3

ctr,x1350,front,black-c,65,0,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.4u3-2

ctr,x1350,front,black-c,65,0,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.4u3-1

Being a fashion designer has never stopped being one of my deepest desires.  And now… I am!

gtdr,x1350,front,black-c,65,120,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-1

gtdr,x1100,front,black-c,20,75,720,960-bg,f8f8f8.2u3

gtdr,x1350,front,black-c,65,120,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-2

www.redbubble.com has added new merchandise to include dresses, skirts, scarves, leggings and chiffon tops!  I spent about five hours last night updating my work.  I have several watercolor paintings on the site.  You can purchase all sorts of items designed with my original paintings’ images on them – phone cases, satchels, stickers, mugs….and now all of these clothes!

gtdr,x1350,front,black-c,65,120,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-3

gtdr,x1350,front,black-c,65,120,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-4

gtdr,x1350,front,black-c,65,120,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-5

The quality of the image on the merchandise is really outstanding.  And there is a quick turn-around time.  Items are usually shipped within a week!  Right now they are offering a 20% off sale on all goods and in addition, the scarves are on a special sale.

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I am sooooo excited about this!  This is a sample of the abundant choices in the Karen Tashkovski – Visual Artist line.  I will link each picture to its page on the site for easy access.

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pencil_skirt,x1055,front-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-4

ctkr,x1350,front,black-c,65,80,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-6

ctkr,x1350,front,black-c,65,80,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-5

ctkr,x1350,front,black-c,65,80,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-3

gtdr,x1350,front,black-c,65,120,789,730-bg,f8f8f8.2u3-12

 

 

The Cuban Phenomenon

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John Dowling’s inaugural art exhibition at the Dowling Art Center is nothing short of phenomenal.  I attended the opening reception on Thursday, June 23, 2016 – the show will be up all summer (if you didn’t get a chance to make it there yet).  The new gallery is located at 1632 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, New York (13206).  It is home to John’s photography studio where he creates his own art, as well as providing archival inkjet printing and fine art reproduction services, and is home to this impressive gallery space, which he plans to both house art shows he curates and rent the space to artists for shows, workshops and meetings.

The theme for this exhibition is Cuba.

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David Creedon is from Ireland.  He and a Spanish-speaking assistant travelled to Cuba to photograph the people.  John Dowling purchased rights to the photographs and reproduced and framed them for the art show.  Although none of the artwork in this show were yet labelled for sale, John said these are available for $300 each.

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Here I am speaking with the artist – he told me that the Cuban people were really friendly, happy people.  They welcomed him into their homes and allowed him to snap whatever he pleased.  The one of the car in the living room is particularly stunning, isn’t it?  Viewing the photographs makes me desire a trip there – as Tina Fey says, “I want to go to there.”

David said the food is delicious and the atmosphere is sort of a throw back, almost like a 1950s meets modern-day.  The people don’t make a lot of money but there are a lot of free services, like PhD level education, health care, and food and other items are not expensive so it is all relative.

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See more work by David Creedon at www.davidcreedon.com.

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Abisay Puentes, like John, is one of my Facebook and Linkedin friends.  Unlike John though, I had never actually met him until this show.  His artwork has a surreal flavor and is hauntingly beautiful!

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Here I am with Penny Santy.  We are listening to Abisay’s original instrumental music, which accompanies his work.  In this way, he creates a sort of phenomenological encounter, engaging all senses.  He has videos on youtube that you must check out!

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The other artists in this show are a combination of locals who are from Cuba – most of them live in the Eastwood section of Syracuse near the gallery, or the work has been shipped in directly from Cuba!  It really is a must see!

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Contact John Dowling for more information about the gallery space and this show specifically, including hours of operation – (315) 466-8189 or jdphoto@twcny.rr.com.

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OZ & Me

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Twelve of my Talisman series paintings are hanging in the Community Room of the Sullivan Free Library in Chittenango, NY.  I installed the show yesterday and the work will be there until I go back to school in September (2016).

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I love my connection to the Chittenango community and with Karen Fauls-Traynor, who pops me into the calendar every July!  The Community Room can be rented out for events and so, there are always people in there.  It is part of the library but is accessed through a separate door at the entrance.  I heard there will be a graduation party in there today!  They also have afternoon movies (free) every Wednesday at 1:00pm.

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The paintings are $200 each.  They are 18″ x 24″ mixed media pieces comprised of oil & collage and chalkboard paint.  I created them in the summer of 2008 in a studio space on my front porch while the television in the living room played Harry Potter videos 24/7.

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It is pretty fascinating how positive energy and the idea of magic can create magnificent outcomes in our lives.  One of my friends told me I need to immerse myself in painting again, but I don’t feel ready to go back to that type of isolation.  I would need to sell quite a bit of art to fuel that inner motivation again.  That seems to go against the grain of how other artists see themselves – as though art making is a desire that surpasses all consequences of the act.

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Oh well.  It is what it is.  The idea of someone else valuing what you do, what I do, is what I crave.  My friends in Florida have several of my paintings in every room of their house.  I visited them last month – I hadn’t been there in thirteen years, so seeing my presence in their home filled me with so much gratitude and love.  The idea that I matter to people.  I don’t know how else to explain it.  I just don’t want to make a bunch of art that sits in a pile in a closet somewhere, unable to breathe or see the light of day until I am gone or something.  That just seems yucky to me.

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If you are interested in purchasing one of these paintings, contact me.  I can sell it off the wall and replace it with another.  There are twenty-four pieces in this series.  And they all need homes…. <3

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The Sullivan Free Library is located at 101 Falls Blvd., right off Route 5 in the village of Chittenango, NY.  It was the former State Bank of Chittenango.  Click the link at the top of this post for hours of operation.

 

Last Licks

Bailey 44 top and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry bracelets, BCBGeneration sandals
Bailey 44 top and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry bracelets, BCBGeneration sandals
BCBG Max Azria dress, Michelle DaRin jewelry, Minnetonka boots
BCBG Max Azria dress, Michelle DaRin jewelry, Minnetonka boots
Banana Republic T-shirt and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry, Calvin Klein sandals
Banana Republic T-shirt and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry, Calvin Klein sandals

Here I am, officially home from the last day of school.  I will be heading over to the Sullivan Library in Chittenango, New York in a bit to install my annual summer art show.  It will hang through August 2016!

BCBG Max Azria dress, BCBGeneration sandals
BCBG Max Azria dress, BCBGeneration sandals
Bailey 44 dress, Nine West boots
Bailey 44 dress, Nine West boots
Chan Luu bracelet, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt and dress, Nine West booties
Chan Luu bracelet, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt and dress, Nine West booties

I have many plans for my summer – travel, parties and lots of art shows.  I thought last summer was my best ever, so I am really looking forward to all the fun and surprises in store for me in the next two months.  I don’t know why I am certain it will be even better, lol, but I get the feeling that my life is getting better and better every minute…because it is!

Banana Republic T-shirt and skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
Banana Republic T-shirt and skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
Trina Turk dress, Guess sandals
Trina Turk dress, Guess sandals
BCBG Max Azria dress, belt and pants, Calvin Klein wedgies
BCBG Max Azria dress, belt and pants, Calvin Klein wedgies

Here are my final outfits of the day (#ootd) from the past couple of weeks.  No more outfit pics for a while since I will be living in Champion sports gear and Trina Turk bikinis, although I just received my new Trina Turk top and am dying to wear it.  Lord & Taylor had a CRAZY sale on-line – 30% off almost everything plus an additional 15% off on top!

Honora necklace, Banana Republic jacket and pants, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt, BCBGeneration sandals
Honora necklace, Banana Republic jacket and pants, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt, BCBGeneration sandals
BCBG Max Azria dress, BCBGeneration sandals
BCBG Max Azria dress, BCBGeneration sandals
Michelle DaRin jewelry, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt and top, Trina Turk skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
Michelle DaRin jewelry, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt and top, Trina Turk skirt, BCBGeneration sandals

I love fashion!

Honora necklace, BCBG Max Azria top and pants, BCBGeneration sandals
Honora necklace, BCBG Max Azria top and pants, BCBGeneration sandals
Trina Turk dress, BCBGeneration sandals
Trina Turk dress, BCBGeneration sandals
Bailey 44 top, Banana Republic skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
Bailey 44 top, Banana Republic skirt, BCBGeneration sandals

Happy, happy summer!

Michelle DaRin jewelry, Bailey 44 top, Trina Turk pants, Nine West sandals
Michelle DaRin jewelry, Bailey 44 top, Trina Turk pants, Nine West sandals
BCBG Max Azria dress and belt, BCBGeneration sandals
BCBG Max Azria dress and belt, BCBGeneration sandals
Trina Turk dress, Guess sandals
Trina Turk dress, Guess sandals
BCBG Max Azria dress and pants, Calvin Klein wedgies
BCBG Max Azria dress and pants, Calvin Klein wedgies

 

 

Porches

Yesterday I walked around Ruskin Avenue in the Strathmore area of Syracuse, New York.  Art on Porches is an annual event with artisans displaying their wares on the porches of these beautiful homes – as well as under small tents on front lawns and by the sidewalk.

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There was music, food and my new favorite thing in the world – iced coffee, provided by Recess Coffee!

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Dorothy Wilcox creates these exquisite dream catchers.  She gathers vines and allows them to speak to her – to sort of tell her how they want to be woven.  I felt like her booth was definitely the most soothing of all the displays due to the breadth of her collection.

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It was set up in her front yard!  Her company is called Yonder Hill Specialties and you can reach her at (315) 440-2012.

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I bought a small print from Jamie Ashlaw.  He is an art teacher in the Westhill district.  Jamie creates these paintings of local signs that have a vintage flavor.  I loved his work!  I asked him if he would be interested in exhibiting at the Chittenango Middle School library for next school year and he said yes!!!!

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For information on acquiring his work, contact him at his Delavan Center studio at (315) 529-4501 or email him at jamieashlaw@hotmail.com

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Ray Kowalski is a professor at Syracuse University.  His glazes are spectacular. He said he learned how to layer them by working with his good friend Margie Hughto.

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Contact Ray at (315) 420-3113 or rgkowalskipottery@gmail.com.  He has a website too.  It is www.raykowalski.com.

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This is Tim See with his work.  I blogged about him once before and he became a Facebook friend!  He is part of the IPA- Independent Potter’s Association and sells his work at Clayscapes, the Gandee Gallery and other local venues.

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Bicycle chain and tire art is the specialty of Rob Niederhoff.  He has an Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/UpCycling4ACause).  Fifty percent of his sales go to support orphan hosting through New Horizons for Children!

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Barbara Floch had a magnificent little set up using vintage luggage as risers.  She creates jewelry in her studio at the Delavan Center (501 W. Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13201).  Her company is called Gypsy Girl Designs.  Contact her at (315) 263-3407 or gypsygirl62@yahoo.com.

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It was such a beautiful day for this event.  Loved, loved, loved meeting all the artists.  I bought several other things including another Michelle DaRin bracelet – I have decided I want my arms to look like her display racks.  I absolutely love her style!  She totally rocks!  www.michelledarinjewelry.com.

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