Tag Archives: Karen Tashkovski

art education, fashion, Karen Tashkovski

Wrath of Tash

Image October 20, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

Here are my #ootd (outfits of the day) from the last couple weeks. Am dying to buy something new, but, I know, I know…I should be grateful for what I have and for being able to figure out a way to wear what I have in different ways – mixing designers, changing up the shoes, etc.

My classroom is weirdly one of the warmest rooms in the school, so I am always wearing a cardigan or blazer thinking it will be a lot colder than it is only to end up flinging it on my desk chair as soon as I get to class.

BCBGMaxAzria sweater, Banana Republic pants, BCBGGeneration booties

Lord & Taylor cashmere beanie, Black Brown 1826 cashmere sweater, BCBGMaxAzria T-shirt (underneath) and leggings, Eitienne Aigner boots

I almost always toss on an apron too. Students are painting in two classes, clay in one and colored pencil in the others, so it’s not that messy yet.

JCrew cashmere hoodie, BCBGMaxAazria top and leggings, Ralph Lauren boots

But still – the minute I get paint or marker on the sleeve of something, I get so frustrated. The lure of on-line shopping rears its pretty little head and I’m like, please let me have new stuff!!!!! I want, I want!

Lord& Taylor cashmere cardigan, Banana Republic cashmere dress, BCBGGeneration booties

The joke is that you haven’t really lived until you have experienced the wrath of Tash. Usually I’m just angry with myself but…if someone is behaving inappropriately, I’ve been known to turn green. Steam comes out of my ears and I say, “Tash mad.” (lol) I am always laughing at my own jokes, sorry. I guess you have to be there.

Bailey 44 top, INC pants, BCBGGeneration sandals

This kid in the hall told me he’s going to be all cammo for Halloween so I said, “No one will see you. You’re gonna end up with no candy.” I laughed and laughed at that one. I’m telling you – camouflage jokes just never get old.

Free People cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria T-shirt, Trina Turk skirt, BCBGGeneration booties

Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Honora necklace, BCBGGeneration booties

Another thing that never gets old – finding money on the ground. I love when this happens. It’s like the universe is saying – see, you can manifest cash anytime you want. In the US, the streets are lined in gold…sort of.

Nickels, dimes and mostly copper pennies! And we all know those are really worth two cents because that’s how much, apparently, it costs to make a penny these days.

Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru, Eastwood (Syracuse, NY) — Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru, Eastwood (Syracuse, NY)

BCBGMaxAzria sweater (reversible!), Banana Republic skirt, Ralph Lauren boots

JCrew blazer, BCBGMaxAzria top, Banana Republic pants, BCBGGeneration booties

It’s a fun game to see how much you can find in a year. Whoever wins gets to brag and then all the money is given away.

Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria T-shirt, 7 For All Mankind jeans, BCBGGeneration sandals

You can’t really hunt for it. Money usually just finds you. You just have to believe.

Free People cardigan, Banana Republic (leather!) top and pants, Coach booties

Banana Republic sweater, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Nine West boots

BCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, Ralph Lauren boots

BCBGMaxAzria T-shirt and pants, BCBGGeneration sandals

art education, art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media, painting

Those That Teach, Do!

Image October 19, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

There is this weird Catch-22 about the teaching profession. I think I heard this growing up a lot. Those who can’t, teach. It is such a strange statement. And to grow up thinking your teachers are less intelligent than people who choose other professions – like being an engineer instead of a math teacher or being a rocket scientist instead of a science teacher, and in this case, being a professional artist instead of an art teacher…it’s so bizarre. It was probably the reason I went into teaching reluctantly, because I perceived it as a death sentence to my creativity. Of course, I was way off base. Totally wrong.

In this town, there is this weird thing where people perceive the university professors as “better” artists than public school art teachers. Again – utter stupidity. In fact, the public school teachers have a much better gig. There are very few full time art professors – most are part-timers without the benefits of a decent salary and amazing insurance plans. So the teaching gig is actually the best possible outcome, especially for people like Barabara Vural, who took time off from making art on and off, while teaching and while raising her family, but somehow managed to still find time to create this massive inventory of work.

Barbara Vural’s current show at the Manlius Library in Manlius, New York proves my point. She is sharing sixty years of artwork including current work that she has prolifically executed now that she has retired from teaching.

Here we see a body of work that contains different media (pastel, acrylic…) as well as landscapes, still-lifes and portraits that are as well executed as a Mary Cassatt.

Brilliant use of color – and lyrical rhythm that takes the viewer inside a beautiful mind. There is so much beauty here – line quality that is so precise and just a complete mastery of art skill.

There were sold stickers on many of these pieces already. Her prices are extremely reasonable, from $75 to about $1,000 depending on size and detail.

Artwork is on display until November 14, 2015. Contact Barbara for more information including how to purchase and library hours, at bvural@twcny.rr.com.

art education, art exhibition, art for sale, fashion, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media, painting, paper collage, watercolor

Interviewed

Image October 15, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 1 Comment

Hi everyone!

I was recently interviewed for a blog post on http://www.segmation.com. It was done via email. I answered a series of questions. My answers appear exactly as I had written them except for the part where I call myself an outward focused nurturer. Those are not my words, lol, but I am flattered by the compliment.

I am not sure how they found me. I think it was through Twitter. I haven’t been on my Twitter account in a couple weeks. I better start paying it forward again by retweeting my followers to keep the good karma going. I’m up to something like 6,400 followers now. Now if I can get that many Instagram followers…. Lol, are we ever really satisfied?

Well…I am truly grateful for anything coming my way these days. I love being part of an international art community and I love that I move closer to the dreams I have for myself every day. So thank you, Segmation and everyone else who has been following me here and on other social media. I am glad we are friends.

See the interview here –

http://segmation.com/blog/2015/10/13/outward-focused-nurturer/#comment-1986

art education, Karen Tashkovski

Competitive Spirit

Image October 9, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

I am competitive.

I like the idea that my students can become professional artists – by selling their artwork, yes, but also by winning poster contests. So when my friend Michael Moody sent me the link to a contest last June, I immediately set about using it as an extra credit assignment during the last week of school.

Students had to design their dream education or school.

The deadline for the contest was June 26, 2015. On the last day of school, I mailed about 70 entries to Albany, NY.

Zoe S. won the contest. She and her family are invited to attend a gala fundraiser in New York City on November 5th where she will be awarded a check for $100.

http://www.aqeny.org/champions-of-education-celebration/

This is just so cool! I am sooooo excited for her. It’s one of those moments in a child’s life that she most certainly won’t ever forget.

As a teacher, you don’t always know if you’ve affected a student’s life. You want to think you have, but then you kind of go on with your life, you know? They depart to the high school and you just end up with faded memories.

But Zoe…. She is very talented, of course, but still, I did try to push her out of her comfort zone, like help her improve her compositional skills and give her advice once and a while instead of saying – oh, that is so good (because, let’s face it – her work is that good).

At the end of the year, she told me that she loved the class and loved how she learned more about art from me. Her mother later reiterated the same sentiment to me. They’d spoken about the art class at home. This is such a special gift. To really know that I mattered to her. To know that I have a true purpose in life. So Zoe won this New York State contest and is going to the ball, but I feel like the bigger winner.

art exhibition, art for sale, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski

Cup Almighty

Image October 5, 2015 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

The Almighty Cup is a national juried show, as well as international ceramics exhibition.

The difference between this show and any other I have ever been to at a gallery is touch, as in you can pick up the artwork!

The mugs are functional, meant to be used. Held. Caressed? Lol – so of course, you will want to hold the handle in your hand to see if it is comfortable there when you drink your morning coffee, tea, hot chocolate, warm milk etc., etc., etc.!

Jen Gandee owns and operates the Gandee Gallery, which is tucked away in the nook of Fabius, NY in the old hardware store on Main Street. It is here she lives and breathes art alongside her husband Errol Willett. She also entertains birthday parties and nights out for friends who want to dabble in pottery making parties, which is GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!

The art exhibit is nearly sold out due largely to internet sales and a great turnout at the opening reception I attended on Saturday night.

Now is a great time to check out this adorable place! (The amazing autumn in New York country drive is really spectacular.) The Gandee Gallery is open Thursday-Saturday 11:00 am-6:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am-4:00 pm or by appointment. Contact Jen at (315) 416-6339 or jen@gadeegallery.com.

http://www.gandeegallery.com/

art exhibition, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media, painting

Carrie Moyer Fan

Image September 28, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 3 Comments

I guess it’s an understatement to say I am obsessed with Carrie Moyer.

She is well represented in the Three Graces exhibit at the Everson Museum of Art in Sracuse, NY. I attended the opening last Friday night and I really could not get enough of her vibrant color palette, her use of solid areas including raw canvas juxtaposed with translucent layers of color and some sparkly bits!

I was especially fond of her monoprints, which I believe are a series of printing passes, one on top of the other, to create one vivacious singular print. They are just so beautiful! Abstraction made deliberate in a sort of Helen Frankenthaler meets Robert Motherwell brainiac-ism sensibility.

The whole time I was there, well, after I loaded up on turkey sandwiches (discarding the bread) and yummy cheeses while sharing the love of art with my friends Anne and Penny, I was wondering if the artist was in attendance. She works in Brooklyn, NY, described as an artist who writes (sounds familiar), having written articles for major art magazines and other publications. I didn’t know what she looked like so I Googled her just now –

I don’t remember seeing her, but I am terrible with faces. For a visual artist, that is probably the stupidest thing I could say, right? If you change your hair or throw on glasses, I have no idea who you are. I’m like Lois Lane that way. But, at any rate, Carrie Moyer will visit the Everson, along with her Three Graces cohorts Polly Apfelbaum and Tony Feher on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 6:30pm. It’s a freebie, a guided gallery walk with the artists where, according to the Everson Bulletin (got mine in the mail today!) they will “discuss their contemporary art practices, materials and processes, and explore the inspiration of incorporating works from the Everson’s collection in their installation.”

These works include the Morris Louis piece that was the inspiration for Polly Apfelbaum’s rugs, a Helen Frankenthaler and this amazing print by one of my favorite artists of all time, Marisol!!!!! (see below)

As Tina Fey always says (stolen from her young daughter) I want to go to there. Oh, I am SOOOOOO there.

Find more of Carrie Moyer’s work here.

The Everson Museum of Art is open noon-5:00 pm Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, open 10:00 am-5:00 pm on Saturday and open noon-8:00 pm on Thursdays. It is located at 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, NY 13202. (315) 474-6064. Contact www.everson.org for more information.

art education, art exhibition, fashion, Karen Tashkovski

Black & Blue…Dog

Image September 25, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

I went with a black and blue theme in fashion this week starting with my self-instituted black Mondays (#blackmondays). All in the name of fashion?

BCBGMax Aria top and pants, Banana Republic cardigan BCBGGeneration booties

Well, funny thing is that my art project, which coordinates with my new local assessment”test” was to introduce students to George Rodrigue and his famous blue dog paintings.

Students drew the dog’s face insuring an emotion – serene, happy, angry, etc.

Then they added a fashion element – clothes, accessories.

Then outlined with extra-fine tipped Sharpies and colored with colored pencils (Prismacolors).

They cut them out to place on fabulous 3D Os and mount them on black paper.

The results were outstanding. A wall of what looks to be dancing dogs! I imagine them barking to a tune from A Chorus Line, but that’s just me.

Bailey 44 top, Trina Turk pants BCBGGeneration sandals

BCBGMaxAzria top, Banana Republic pants, BCBGGeneration sandals

art exhibition, Karen Tashkovski

Captive Audience

Image September 12, 2015 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

Every year I install art exhibitions in the Chittenango Middle School library in Chittenango, New York. I seek out professional artists in the region – four per year as follows: September – November/Thanksgiving-ish, November – February/Winter break, February – April/Spring Break, and April – June.

It’s a captive audience scenario. They go into the school library to get books, use the computer, take classes, have a study hall…and in addition, they are subliminally bombarded with art/aesthetics and all around good taste.

They are the very people artists target – students who can learn to appreciate art at a young age and become life-long patrons of the arts – as artists themselves, hobbyists or consumers who appreciate…or all of the above!

Steve Pearlman is my current artist-in-residence with fifteen photographs showcasing his interest in Syracuse, travel, fashion and an amazing eye for contrast, composition and perspective.

He will give an artist talk to students during our after school time/tenth period (2:20-2:50 pm) on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. I’m sure he will share what he told me – that aside from his family, he has no greater love than the love he feels while holding his camera, pointing the lens and capturing a unique image that freezes time. Art is sometimes the most beautiful gift you can give to yourself. When I spend time talking to other artists about their contributions including hopes and dreams for themselves, it really feels amazing – we are more similar than different with regard to the love of creating.

I was just talking about this with my students yesterday. The importance of emotion as a component in a work of art. It is always the hope that students will make these connections to their own lives in order to be happier, and in order to lead supercalifragilistic artistic futures.

art education, art exhibition, Karen Tashkovski

Coming Up Rosenquist

Image September 11, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

The James Rosenquist exhibition at the SU Gallery on Syracuse University’s campus is nothing short of exquisite. I went to the opening last night and I was seriously moved to tears.

For me, this IS art. I can see his hand, taste his brushstroke, hear his narrative and feel everything I imagine he felt when creating these enormous paintings, breathtaking prints and inventive mixed media collage works.

I love him.

I am definitely going to plan a field trip so that I can share this experience with my Studio in Art students. In addition to the Rosenquist pieces, the university has an eclectic collection of ceramics from many cultures, as well as 15th century paintings and things lurking around the corner that are shockingly unexpected. What a gem of a place.

The exhibit runs through November 22, 2015.

According to the gallery literature, this show was “developed in collaboration with Oklahoma State Museum of Art and curated by Sarah C. Bancroft, co-curator of the artist’s 2003 retrospective at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.” During her brief speech at this event, Bancroft shared that Rosenquist wanted to do this exhibit because he enjoyed the idea of inspiring students. It’s been thirty years since I was an undergrad and yet, I felt exactly like the student I was as I stood in front of and breathed in the life of each work of art. I told her how I felt and she said, “I’m glad you liked it.”

A symposium is scheduled for October 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Slocum Hall auditorium on SU campus. Titled The Rosenquist Network, it will “explore (the) role that the printmaking workshop has played in contemporary American art, and in particular in the career of artist James Rosenquist.”

Karen Tashkovski

Road Trip

Image September 10, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

Last night Penny Santy and I took a road trip to Rochester, NY to visit the Nan Miller Gallery.

What a beautiful place! Nan Miller has an exquisite eye for abstract art. I loved everything about the place. Linda Bigness has been in Nan’s stable for years and her work was prominently displayed throughout the gallery.

Linda’s husband told me the space is a new incarnation, now located at 3000 Monroe Avenue. A short hop, skip and jump from the New York State thruway.

There are sculptures and paintings, and in the back room, prints by well-knowns Keith Haring and Jim Dine! Price points range from $1,000 to upwards of $60,000!

The opening was very well attended by patrons of the arts (lots of sold stickers!!!), as well as artists. Nan and her colleague Gail Leess were so friendly and informative. If you’ve never been, I suggest a road trip. It’s definitely in order. You will love it!!! <3

For more information – http://www.nanmillergallery.com – (585)292-1430.

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Visual Artist