Domino Effect

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Dominoes have become my bread and butter –  I have been collecting them for many years, using them in my oil and collage paintings since the ’90s.  I think they look amazing in these bracelets.

The idea is to create a domino effect.  You pick numbers that have meaning for you.  You run into others wearing domino bracelets.  You find you have a number/numbers in common.  You strike up a conversation.  Friendships are born.

It is an idea, a dream, a deep wish, a desire that people can find an element of common ground through fashion and accessories, if that is the way.  There are no coincidences.

They are priced at $20 or $25 depending on style.  I love the vintage flavor to these pieces.  That they have survived for so many years and have such delicious patina.  And the smell of leather is intoxicating.  <3

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Music Collection

 

Cue the drumroll….

Here is the first look at how I spent my summer vacation.  I became a jewelry designer.  There are over five hundred pieces in the collection to date.  This is the Music series.  I scoured the flea market world to find vintage pins and attached them to genuine leather, sherpa and rabbit fur.

These bracelets are available for sale with price points of $55, $65 and $75.  I am in the process of photographing everything and adding tags to them so that they can be sold locally and on-line.  Kind of playing that by ear.  I am artist first and designer, of course, and (I guess) businesswoman now, too (using intuition as my guide).

I am in love with these bracelets.  Not sure how easy it will be to part with them since they are all one-of-a-kinds.  Handmade and infused with (lots of) love. <3

Embellishment

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Talitha Collection silk top, BCBGMaxAzria silk velvet pants, BCBGeneration velvet booties
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Rachel Zoe silk top, BCBGMaxAzria silk velvet pants, BCBGeneration velvet booties, Tashkovski bracelet

Just completed a legit full week of work with outfits of the day to show for it.  I am all about silk, silk-velvet, leather and embellishments, and have taken to wearing the bracelets I created over the summer.

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Akemi + Kin for Anthropologie dress, Calvin Klein booties
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Rebecca Taylor silk top, French Connection leather skirt, Marc Jacobs booties, Tashkovski bracelet

There are over five hundred bracelets in stock with more on the way.  I’m obsessed with this new venture!  I’m waiting for the arrival of tags and some other supplies.  Will be launching the collection soon! <3

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BCBGMaxAzria T-shirt, velvet leggings and sandals, Alice + Olivia silk velvet top
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Trina Turk top and pants, C by Bloomingdales cashmere cardigan, BCBGeneration velvet booties, Tashkovski bracelet

Where in the World

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C by Bloomingdales cashmere cardigan, Warner Bros. Hogwarts T-shirt, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Marc Jacobs boots

Where am I?  I am back at work at Chittenango Middle School, teaching 8th grade Studio in Art, Art-8, and helping fifty kids a day with homework in two study halls.  My outfit of the day (#ootd) pictures have been hit or miss.  Not sure whether or not to resume taking them.  Katy C. and I have been so busy prepping lessons and organizing stuff – I only have a few pictures to share (even though we’ve been back at it for two weeks now).

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Talitha Collection silk top, BCBGMaxAzria silk velvet pants, BCBGeneration velvet booties

Meanwhile, my artwork is going places.  I am exhibiting encaustic baseball paintings and horseshoe paintings during the month of September 2019 at Half Moon Bakery & Bistro (6500 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, NY 13078).

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And last night I delivered six encaustic angel paintings from the Futura series to a new restaurant called 317 (317 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, New York) before heading to the Italian Festival, which is taking place in front of City Hall this weekend.  These paintings will be up in a group pairing along with other artists’ work (indefinitely, as of now).  317 provides an incredibly intimate dining experience right in the heart of downtown Syracuse adjacent to the Onondaga Historical Association.

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Finally, my twelve Japanese-inspired fan encaustic paintings are still available for sale at Kasai Ramen (218 Walton Street, Syracuse, NY 13202) until September 16, 2019.

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P.S. I started designing bracelets!  I’ll be ready to launch that experience very soon – stay tuned!  The jewelry thing is my current passion and focus artistically.  The universe has been doing a great job of taking care of everything else.  Thank you, universe!  Life is good! <3

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Aqua Cashmere cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria T-shirt, Rag & Bone patent leather skirt, Marc Jacobs booties

 

Steely Pam

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With a name like Pam Steele, you can bet this internationally recognized artist knows a thing or two about using metallic elements in her artwork.

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Steele is currently showing work in the art gallery at Community Library of DeWitt & Jamesville (5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville, New York 13078).

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These mixed-media pieces are made of copper, stainless steel, glass, paint and resins.  They will be on display through October 2019.

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And, P.S., her prices are a steal – some as low as $220!  Contact the artist to make a purchase – steelestudio22@gmail.com

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Contact the library for more information –

Phone: (315) 446-3578
Email: reference@cldandj.org

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Library Hours

Monday – Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

*Summer hours:

Saturday
Sunday

Services limited 15 minutes before closing

 

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Conclusion

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Theory cashmere cape sweater and Saks Fifth Avenue cashmere sweater as belt, & For All Mankind jeans, Calvin Klein booties, Tashkovski bracelet, Coach crossbody, Marc Jacobs sunglasses
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BCBGMaxAzria top and shorts, Nine West booties, Marc Jacobs sunglasses, Coach crossbody

As of today, I am back at work.  Here are my most recent summer on-location #ootd pictures.

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BCBGMaxAzria top and skirt, Tashkovski bracelet, Coach clutch, Sorel booties, Marc Jacobs sunglasses

It was the summer of my dreams – beautiful weather, incredible people, creative juices flowing….  It was and is everything I could possibly desire.

So, not really a conclusion.  It’s just another beginning.  A renaissance!  Today is a continuation of a fun, blessed life.  I just had to get up a lot earlier and spend less time with my cat. #catsnamedpablo (yes, that’s a thing). <3

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Cinq a Sept dress, Marc Jacobs sunglasses, Coach bag, Tashkovski bracelet, Joie sandals
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Rachel Zoe dress, Coach bag, Tashkovski bracelets, BCBGeneration sandals
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BCBGMaxAzria dress and sandals, Michelle DaRin jewelry bracelets
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Halston Heritage dress, BCBGMaxAzria sandals
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Trina Turk top and skirt, BCBGMaxAzria sandals, Coach crossbody, Marc Jacobs sunglasses

Measuring Up

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The Art Galleries at Syracuse University are designed to facilitate education.  In other words, it’s a teaching museum.  Professors require students to go to there – to critique the art/learn how to judge a work of art.  Students journal about experiences for classes, attend the receptions and lectures, and even work there (which has to be the greatest work-study gig).

Last year, former Director Domenic Iocono mentioned it was the reason artists like Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist and Kiki Smith wanted to collaborate by sharing their work with our community, enhancing the walls of the spaces with their respective visions.

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In this season’s first exhibition, Not a Metric Matters, the university galleries led by new Director and Chief Curator Vanja Malloy, Ph.D. hosts its own – the School of Visual & Performing Arts faculty.  It is an opportunity to showcase their talent, yes, and also turn the tables on the critiquing process allowing the professors to show students how it’s really done.

Margie Hughto has been affiliated with the university for many, many years.  When I spoke to her last month, she said teaching is still fun and so, she will continue to share her expertise with students for many years to come.

Her ceramic and found object work is exquisite.  It is perfection in editing – selecting just the right found object pieces to coordinate with the ceramic pieces.  The work alludes to the recent discarded and forgotten in terms of technology.

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The thought provoking concepts aside, Hughto’s artwork screams of her strength of character.  She finds beauty in every angle, in each piece fused as one.  They are signatures of her style while continuing to surprise and delight us, continuing a growth trajectory as an artist and that in itself is the lesson.

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Holly Greenberg has isolated grief in this productive series of drawings.  These pieces resonated with me – as you know my father recently passed away and his belongings are still in the closets, his car in the driveway at Mom’s house.  Using these ordinary objects as memento gives them a lovingly somber power and isolating them in their compositions drives the message home.

It is curious how objects can retain the emotion of the spirit and Greenberg’s proficiency in rendering provides the elevation of their status.

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Ann Clarke‘s fiber artwork is marvelously original.  Texture is my thing and seeing monumental work on the walls creates a bold statement about time.  The fabrics are traditional, but the techniques are fresh and alive.  The hooked rug eye is really incredible in-person.  I love the idea of taking a method we all used in the past and formulating this new pattern, which seems to denote to me that someone is watching over me, loving me.

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Clarke’s statement does imply that she is the watchful eye for her ailing mother and that is a beautiful thing.  That the old becomes new again, and time is cyclical.

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Other teaching artists in this show –

Yasser Aggour, Cooper Battersby, Emily Vey Duke, Don Carr, Deborah Dohne, Heath Hanlin, Seyeon Lee, Sarah McCoubrey, Su Hyun Nam, Vasilios Papajoannu, James Ransome, Tom Sherman and Chris Wildrick

Their work takes dimension as paintings, drawings, photo-collage, video and installation – and all have something important to say within the context of their visualizations.

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There are more exhibits in the space, all curated by different people.  DJ Hellerman is the curator of this show.  He is the Art and Program Curator at the Everson Museum of Art and collaborates with SU’s Department of Transmedia.  I met him while stumbling into a critique of university students’ final exhibitions at Apostrophe’s.

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David Prince curated the display of former VPA faculty members.  As you know, I am an SU grad (B.F.A. ’85, M.S. ’93).  These professors are my people.  I absolutely loved Rodger Mack.  He was so devoted to building the sculpture department and his bronze sculptures are THE BEST!

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Seeing his hands portrayed by Jerome Witkin brought a tear to my eye.  There is so much love here, people.  Going to Syracuse University was a dream come true for me – I feel incredibly blessed to have been the first person in my family to ever go to a university –  and to see the professors being honored is such a gift.  They deserve every accolade.

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They were and are true working artists, not just people showing up to collect a paycheck.

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There’s lots more to see of these exhibits and the vast permanent collections.  It will all be on display until November 24, 2019.  There will be an art reception on Thursday, September 12, 2019 from 5 – 7 pm.  And Holly Greenberg will be giving a presentation in the adjacent Shemin Auditorium on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 6:30 pm.

Syracuse University Art Galleries is located in the Shaffer Art Building on Syracuse University campus.  Free parking is available on Sundays and on Thursday evenings in the Q lot – or at least it was when I was there yesterday.  Call (315) 443-4097 for more information including hours of operation.  <3

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Syracuse Antiques Exchange

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I drank a lot of iced coffee yesterday, well after 5:00 pm then I devoured free and salty buttered popcorn in the VIP lounge at the Mary J. Blige concert last night, which caused a totally weird all-night awake fest (thank God for old episodes of Million Dollar Listing on Bravo on-demand).  I fell asleep somewhere around 6 am and woke up around noon, thus missing my weekly Sunday trek to the flea market.

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Yes, Tuesday’s return to work after eight weeks of summer bliss will be a rude awakening for me.  I will need to start getting up at 5:30 am and if I can do that, it will be by some sort of divine miracle.

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This afternoon, in order to satisfy my craving for old stuff/junk/treasure, I decided to wander into Syracuse Antiques Exchange (1629 North Salina Street, Syracuse, New York 13208).

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The building itself is an antique.  Here are some pictures from yesteryear courtesy of their Instagram account/Facebook page.

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The place is chock full of antiques.  Four floors of vendor vignettes – clothing, jewelry, furniture, sports memorabilia, knick-knacks, collectibles even Tiffany stained-glass windows!  Very cool!  Purchases are made at the desk – on the first floor by the entrance.

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Prices are as marked but there is a little bit of wiggle-room for haggling, like maybe 10% off.  If the vendor is available via a text message, you are golden.

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They are open every day 10:30 am – 5:30 pm, although they are planning to be closed tomorrow due to the Labor Day holiday.  Call (315) 471-1841 for more information. <3

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