CLAIRE IRIS SCHENCKE

Finger-Painting on Your iPad, new OLLI class starting April 19. Open House on Sat. Jan. 21st.

2012-01-18T22:51:00.000-08:00

WHY PAINT ON THE iPAD?

portability - that’s why it's called mobile digital art

no mess or fumes - that’s the digital part

innovative - join a growing community of iPad artists

insanely fun - that’s the best reason!

Since I got my first iPad two years ago, I have painted on it in my studio, during trips, and at live music performances. I am an active member of iAMDA, the International Association of Mobile Digital Artists, and was invited to give a presentation on live iPad painting at their recent conference in New York City. I have exhibited iPad art as archival digital prints at Stanford’s Schwab Center. You’ll be studying with a pioneer in a brand new digital art form.

I have developed an introductory curriculum of four classes. Such a start will launch an iPad student! I am in the process of developing an intermediate class which I hope to offer in the fall.

Having explored several of the painting apps for the iPad, I’ve come to the conclusion that ArtStudio has a friendly user interface and is at the same time a very rich tool. At $6 or less (it goes on sale now and then) it is an affordable app. It runs on any version of the iPad.

Each class will consist of a demonstration of a specific set of ArtStudio features, followed by individual work on the iPad with guidance from me. This format allows me to the meet the needs of each student in the class. Between classes students are invited to email me their iPad creations and questions.

All that is required to get started is an iPad, the ArtStudio app, and a willingness to try something new. No art or digital art background is required. Professional artists will enjoy adding a mobile digital platform to their toolset.

Four classes, four Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. starting April 19, at the lovely Humboldt Aquatics Center on the Bay next to the Adorni Center in Eureka.

Enroll today! OLLI at HSU , www.humboldt.edu/olli , 826-5880

Painting on the iPad during flights and in airports is fun and makes the time go faster, and amuses your fellow passengers.

2012-01-02T22:53:00.001-08:00

Just returned from another airplane trip with three more iPad paintings. Since I got my first iPad last year I have been making "flight scenes" and just realized to my delight that I have a substantial collection. Enough for a show! So here are some of them:

Many include a title. The strange, almost abstract one, is a live de-icing that took place during a very snowy, very late night on Dec. 1 last year in Munich. I remember the plaintive voice of the captain as he came on and said, "there might be an opening in twenty minutes, if we can get the plane de-iced." The twin dragon-like machines sprayed foam and red hot beams at both wings. Great visuals. I felt like Edward Munch at a fire! - They did, we flew and landed in Helsinki at 2 in the morning where snow does not stop anything.

Some of the iPad paintings include passengers sitting near me. I met interesting people who enjoyed seeing the painting develop. The "Cash Refund SAS" is at Arlanda airport near Stockholm. "The Hall of Fame", is the my most recent one from United's Terminal, Gate 76 in SFO.

Devin Phillips at Jimmy Macks': great jazz in Portland, Oregon

2011-12-19T23:26:00.011-08:00

We were so lucky! We headed up to Oregon, stopping first at Breitenbush Hot Springs, where we soaked, hiked and ate and met some really cool people. One of them a jazz musician who combines music with farming with his wife on their ten acre sustainable organic Dancing Roots Farm.

Then further north to Portland. Where my husband found himself a sleek new recumbent bike, and zoomed all over the cycling friendly city.

We had heard about Jimmy Macks' the Jazz Club that Down Beat Magazine rated as one of the 100 best in the world! And as luck would have it Devin Phillips,playful,joyful,Coltranesque sax player was performing on Friday Dec.9 with his New Orleans Straight Ahead. Phillips and Andrew Oliver, the fine pianist who led the band too, are both refugees from the Katrina disaster. They have been in Portland for five years and plan to stay. I've been enjoying Phillips' CD Wade in the Water as I think and write about the sweet jazz evening we had. The place was packed. The food was good. No pressure to keep buying drinks. And - I got really into painting the setting and performers on my iPad. They autographed the painting! Thank you very much Devin Phillips, Andrew Oliver, Eric Gruber (hidden in the shadows - sorry1) Mark Diflorio, and lovely singer Michael Angelo.

We wish Portland, with its bike paths, largest independent bookstore in the world - Powell's, good food and sweet jazz scene was closer!

December art at the Morris Graves' Humboldt Artist Gallery

2011-12-19T22:30:00.009-08:00

Celebrating the winter solstice I am showing a glacier topped mountain and a Blue Lucia for you to see at the Humboldt Artist Gallery, downstairs at the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka.

The mountain is the famous sugarcane volcano, Snaefellsjoekull on Iceland that Jules Verne used as setting for his fantasy "Journey to the Center of the Earth." I hiked to the foot of the mountain and made four watercolor sketches. It is a three registration oil monotype, 22" x 30".

The other original is a Blue Lucia, Swedish winter solstice celebrant, who is inspired by a photo of my mother at the age of one. She is at the photographer's in her eyelet dress and small boots, standing on a bench made of unbarked birch branches. Adorable!

In the print stand you will find a few Lucia art prints, butterflies, landscapes, and figures. On the counter there are ten Lucia greeting cards. I'll hang new original art each month, as well as fine art prints and a small selection of greeting cards. Once a month I will be in charge of the gallery. I'll post the time on Facebook. Come by and see me! I can show you the art and I'll also give introductions to painting on the iPad. Bring your own iPad if you have one.

Some of the other members of the Humboldt Artist Gallery are Joyce Jonté, Jim Lawry, Frances Kuta, Gary Todoroff, Linnea Tobias, Candy Miller, Julia Bednar and more.

Humboldt Gallery at the Morris Graves, New Art for Novemeber, Ruska - Dusky Moth, Lucias from Dalarna & Cycling Lucias.

2011-10-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

The Finns have a succinct word for fall colors: RUSKA - to me it conjures up flaming birches and aspens, as well as the spicy fragrance and crispy sounds of autumnal forests. My Dusky Moth, that you can see during November in the downstairs Humboldt Gallery at the Morris Graves Museum of Art, is a celebration of ruska.

I will also show two of my Cycling Lucias - Look Ma No Hands featured here - a limited series of fine art prints on archival hemp papers. I created these as a friendly wink to my husband and his cycling friends the Latte Warriors. :-) In the art bin you will find art prints on hemp paper of my original series of Lucias - mixed media paintings - these quote from the folkloric Swedish province of Dalarna, home to well known artists Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn. Note the floral "curbits" and the images of painted horses, "dalahäst".

These light-hearted pieces provide me a nostalgic solstice journey to the old country.

I am pleased to be included in the Humboldt Gallery at the Morris Graves as it gives me an exquisite permanent space to show my art here on the North Coast. Be sure to stop by during Arts Alive! on the fist Saturday of each month - from 6 to 9 p.m. The next art walk is on November 5. See you there!

I am about to embark on a new series of Lucia paintings. Follow me on this blog to be the first to see them!

Occupy MOMA? The Modern Museums of Art are my homes in large cities.

2011-10-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

When recently in NYC I wanted to go to the Brooklyn bridge and paint the Occupy Wall Street protesters on my mobile art device - iPad - but did not find the time. I am feeling sympathy for the protest. I too worry about the skewed income distribution and the disregard for the public good, and the short sightedness of policies. I've come to the conclusion that only countries in which there is a general agreement to pool resources, in the form of taxes, for the common good, will function well in the long run. And, that the tax collection has to work well too - and not just for middle income salary-earners whose incomes are transparent and easily taxed.

But I find myself unhappy about my beloved MoMA being occupied!

When I was a student in Stockholm I spent as much time as possible at the Modern Museum of Art on Skeppsholmen, enthusiastically participating in all the avant grade activities. Pontus Hulten, who later headed the Centre Pompidou in Paris, was in charge. His mother, renown artist, Siri Derkert embellished one of the new subway stations. I remember walking through Niki de Saint Phalle's She, the arrival of op, and pop and all the other iconoclastic trends - those were exiting days. I seldom miss visiting the SFMOMA when in the City. A couple of years ago I discovered a series of transfer drawings by Paul Klee, which inspired me to pursue this technique used in my Cycling Lucia series.

When in NYC during first weekend of October, I made for MoMA my first day there. Had a lovely, expensive lunch then joined the large crowds checking out de Kooning: A Retrospective, and ended the visit by sitting down and making an homage to de Kooning on my iPad.

Here's an article about the protest at the MoMA. What do you think of this development? Are our large art institutions elitist? Do they exclude people? While a student in Stockholm I had very inexpensive access to all our museums and theaters, including the nose bleed section of the opera. Our beloved Ingmar Bergman had a say in this policy.

Images: "Smiling Cycling Lucia", transfer drawing; "Ripping off de Kooning at the MoMA", iPad painting, both by me; "She" by Niki de Saint Phalle - a walk though sculpture large as a room!

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2 fab JAZZ links: Monterey Jazz Festival, Redwoods Jazz Alliance

2011-10-19T23:40:00.000-07:00

I have decided to add links to my favorite jazz sites starting with the The Monterey Jazz Festival. I have a new series of live paintings from this years festival which was the 54th. The link covers this one and shows what's being planned for the 55th in 2012.

I am also linking to our wonderful local Jazz organization: The Redwoods Jazz Alliance. The next performance will be with great drummer Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom. We have seen her with Dr. Lonnie Smith at the Monterey Jazz festival, and are very much looking forward to having her on our home turf at HSU on Sunday Oct. 30. I hope capture her on my iPad.

Here two live iPad paintings of jazz drummers: Justin Brown with the Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet, (red background) and Michael Formanek's Gerald Cleaver.

Stanford MBA '76 35th REUNION ART EXHIBIT

2011-10-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

Participating artists: Seth Fearey: photos from the Kyrqyz Republic Pat Jones: landscapes and still life in oil, Avner Mandelman, oil and mixed media paintings shown a digital images, Claire Iris Schencke: oil monotypes and iPad paintings as signed limited series prints.

Here's an short video of my presentation of the art exhibit. Gordon, who had a great time at the reunion, made it on his iPhone.

Sunday, last day at the Monterey Jazz Festival, iPad paintings of SONNY ROLLINS and others. Beautiful ending!

2011-09-22T20:09:00.001-07:00

By the time Sunday came along I felt confident that I could paint on my iPad all over the sprawling Monterey Fairgrounds. After another indian meal, this time with a hot chai, I parked myself in the shade on the left hand side in the very front of the Garden Stage. Shade is needed for the iPad. The luminous touch screen is highly reflective. Tia Fuller was a very nice surprise. She was so happy to be there, and I was so happy to paint her pretty figure.

Steve Coleman and Five Elements followed and put me in a sweet mood as I let the music guide my strokes on the iPad.

The evening ended with a love fest, as big, red shirted Sonny Rollins, now in his mid eighties showed us that he was still the man. He took us out with his long and powerful rendition of Saint Thomas, his famous calypso influenced jazz. He pumped the air with his fist and he stood his ground. It feels damn good to have captured him on the iPad.

I am posting a detail of the Sonny Rollins image. Saving the whole piece for a special occasion!

Saturday at the 54th Monterey Jazz Festival: iPad paintings during live performances

2011-09-22T18:16:00.001-07:00

I wandered over in the late afternoon, had a lamb curry with mango lassi and lingered with the Dumpstaphunk New Orleans sound in the warm sunshine. Having the MJF app on my phone and iPad was handy for figuring out what was happening where. One of the tough aspects of the festival is having to forgo so many potentially great acts. Can't be at more than one place at a time - more so if you want a front row seat and stay long enough to execute a painting. On Saturday I knew I wanted to see the pianist Geri Allen perform with the tap dancer Maurice Chestnut: Geri Allen & Timeline "A Jazz Tap Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr". And I did not want to miss Herbie Hancock, both events taking place at the big outdoors arena, the Jimmy Lyons Stage. I got there early and took a seat at the front, hoping no one would claim it....and went to work, cheered on by a couple of ushers. Painting in layers I started with the stage, struggled to add Geri Allen as she flicked back and forth in the giant screen above the stage, then drew in the shadowy audience in the coveted orchestra seats, and found a way to add the constantly moving marionette - like tap dancer. Such intense focus - that I nearly fell off the seat when its rightful owner showed up. Moved a couple of seats over and finished as the set finished. I loved the piano, and the tap dancing, and the visuals were compelling. And, having had such misgivings about painting in the big arena, I was happy to find out I could.

Herbie Hancock is one of my all-time favorites. On this painting he appears as a very small guy with his white portable keyboard. And tiny Herbie is multiplied on the overhead big screen. Just a fantasy! Herbie was painted from our regular seat in row G.

Monterey Jazz Festival 2011: series of new iPad paintings!

2011-09-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

54th Monterey Jazz Festival! What a great festival it was. My best one so far. I was concerned about not being able to sit close enough to the stages to see the musicians well enough to paint on my iPad. Painting during live jazz is what I do! This was my first chance to do so at MJF.

The first night, Friday , Sept. 16, I recklessly abandoned the large outdoors arena (Jimmy Lyon's Stage) where we do have very respectable seats in row G - earned over many years steady attendance - and stood in the long line for Dizzy's Den, had my dinner in line, and got a pretty good seat. I chose Dizzy's Den because it promised a close view of Richard Bona and Raul Midon followed by Hiromi: the Trio Project. This was a totally different approach to the festival. In the past I would come and go between the various venues (there are 6 different spaces - all spread out over the Monterey Fairgrounds, with food and drink vendors, vendors of CDs, hats and crafts) depending on how much I liked the music.

I found myself supported by the audience around me at Dizzy's Den. They showed a lot of interest in what I was doing, and a couple of them gave up their seats so that I could have a better view of the performers. And at the end of each performance I was able to go backstage and get signatures. Afterwards I was so jazzed.... painting at the MJF works!!! It was a lot of fun! I am very pleased with the results. And, I was completely blown away by the forceful playing of Hiromi and her drummer Simon Phillips! Richard Bona and Raul Midon's performance was sweet and lovely. A great evening.

Richie Cole at the Typhoon at the Santa Monica airport Aug. 2011 He blew us away!

2011-08-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

Gordon and I have a long standing relationship with Richie Cole - wonderful Jazz musician - and we got to see him perform with his Alto Jazz Orchestra at the lively, friendly and FUN Typhoon restaurant/club located right on the small planes' airport in Santa Monica.

This is what my husband Jazz - Gordon just wrote to Riche Cole:

"Your wonderful music has meant so much to my whole family. When I met my wife back in the early 80s we used to listen to "Keeper of the Flame" and I remember her saying, "what IS that incredible music?" Years later when we took our son camping a tape of "Pop Bop" was our companion music for the car trip and all three of us were happy to find it on CD. Needless to say, we were delighted to find you at the club in Santa Monica during our visit. My wife Iris was the woman who drew you and the band on her iPad. "

And here is the iPad Painting of Riche Cole! Signed by him!

For more about my iPad paintings become a follower on my blog. Email me ischencke@mac.com if you would like to purchase a print or have me make an iPad painting for you.

Student iPad paintings - four first lessons! Lovely work!

2011-08-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

I have now taught four students, four first lessons, consisting of :

1. Mondrian

shapes: straight lines, rectangles

dimensions: thin -thick, translucent -opaque

tools: pencil, brush, pen, bucket, eraser

general operations: open, save, export, email

2. Miro

shapes: curved lines, circles, dots

tools: spray can, scatter, smudge tool

layers: background, foreground

general operations: wi fi connect, searching for art

3. Modigliani

shapes: angled lines

tools: eyedropper

dimensions: touch screen expansion/contraction

color palette: making skin tones

general operations: publishing to facebook

4. Monet

review of all the first lessons

tools: stamping

add additional layers

work on a comprehensive project

As expected, the students progressed at different speeds and found some features more interesting than others, so the lesson plans changed accordingly and become very tailored to the individuals students interest and abilities.

I am now working on developing a set of intermediate lessons.

Here are some of the subjects: incorporation of photos into iPad paintings, advanced use of multiple layers, transformations, gradients, creating your own textures and patterns.

I am going to attend the International Association of Mobile Digital Artists, IAMDA, 2nd annual conference in NYC in early October and expect to come back with a lot of new knowledge, inspiration and contacts for my iPad art.

At this time I have openings for a small number of private students. Send me an email if you are interested. You will need an iPad and the ArtStudio app - which costs about $6. ischencke@mac.com

Above examples of one of my students work.

About all kinds of water nymphs, at the Piante Gallery

2011-08-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

Richard Evans who writes the Art Beat at the Journal, now featured in the monthy insert called the Muse, dropped in on me a couple of week before the opening at the Piante gallery of The Glacier Art Project and At Waters' Edge. We had fun looking at the paintings - which I strewed out on the floor in my studio - and in his art review he captured a lot of what I said, including the concept of "iciness". But, what I found brilliant in his writing was the interpretation he gave to the figures that appear in quite a few of the paintings. Here's what he wrote: "It’s so fascinating to observe how artists call upon their backgrounds and skills to bring forward themes using new visual clues. Iris has been a lifelong practitioner of drawing from the live model and in many of these prints anthropomorphic figures emerge as though calving into our presence."

Thank you Richard!

Here's what I say about these nymphs in the art: Greek mythology gives us a multitude of nymphs associated with life giving waters: Nereids, nymphs of the Mediterranean Sea, Hyades, rain, Limnades, lakes, Potameides, rivers, Oceanids, salty water and Naiades, of fresh water. At the splintering edge of a tide water glacier one can imagine playful Naiades, bathing, dancing, singing, and also raging as the glacier violently calves an iceberg."

Piante is open on Wed. through Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. my exhibit comes down on Aug. 30. I do have a key if one of my friends would like a private showing when the gallery is closed.

Amazing Esperanza Spaulding, live jazz iPad painting of her performing at Humbold State University.

2011-08-01T21:57:00.001-07:00

more Ipad paintings of live Jazz performances 2010, 2011

2011-08-01T21:53:00.001-07:00

iPad paintings of live Jazz performances 2010, 2011

2011-08-01T21:49:00.001-07:00

Sunset over Samoa or can an old smokestack be beautiful?

2011-07-21T22:16:00.000-07:00

17 days until the vernissage at Piante in Old Town, Eureka, Saturday August 6, 2011

This is what happened. We had some time to kill between dinner out and a movie, so we decided to walk along the shore in Eureka, washed over by one of those icy cold and vibrant winter sunsets.

Without paying much attention, we ended up inside some large wire enclosures...and kept walking and taking photos and talking about the end of the pulp mill era. The end of the stink, and the end of the jobs. The rusting hulk, and the seeping toxins. How when we moved here our real estate broker pointed out the active smokestack with its plume across the bay. He thought it enhanced our view. He was part of the generation that saw this as progress.

Well, we got stuck, the gates were closed when we wanted to get back to the car. My man, manly as he is, wanted to climb over the tall fence. Luckily, before he actually did so, we found a way out of the maze. Don't know if my painting is based on his or my photo. We often photograph the same thing and then argue about who got the best shot. It is a three color registration monotype diptych.

For an extensive and unique exploration of human impact on our earth take a look at local artist and art professor Cynthia Hooper's paintings and videos. I quote from her website: "My videos, paintings, and interdisciplinary projects investigate landscapes transfigured by social and environmental contingency. My work is meditative and poetic, but also takes a generously observational and generally factual approach toward the places I examine."

Mendenhall Glacier - Reflection, diptych: it is retreating for good?

2011-07-19T22:05:00.000-07:00

As these majestic rivers of ice melt, we face the prospect of a world without them - and their fate will affect us all. I seek to bring the intense beauty of remote glacial landscapers into your life and make the dilemma real.

This painting of the Mendenhall Glacier is inspired by a photo by my friend David Smith. I am grateful for his permission.

" The Juneau Icefield Research Program has monitored the outlet glaciers of Juneau Icefield since 1942, including Mendenhall Glacier. From 1951-1958 the terminus of the glacier, which flows into suburban Juneau, has retreated 1,900 feet (580m). The glacier has also receded 1.75 miles (2.82 km) since 1958, when Mendenhall Lake was created, and over 2.5 miles (4.0 km) since 1500. The end of the glacier currently has limited crevassing, a negative glacier mass balance and will continue to retreat in the foreseeable future."

19 days until the vernissage at Piante in Old Town, Eureka, Saturday August 6, 2011

Naiad over Beagle Channel: Glacier Art Project

2011-07-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

20 days until the vernissage at Piante in Old Town, Saturday August 6, 2011

I am not sure why these figures entered the Glacier Art Project, but they pushed in, and I feel strongly that they belong. I think they connect the remote glacial landscapes to humans. They make a link between the melting ice, the rising waters and us. Some of them seem frozen, some are playful at waters' edge. At the exhibit you will see them grouped with glaciers. They are my own invention. I find them surprising and cool!

Greek mythology gives us a multitude of nymphs associated with life giving waters: Nereids, nymphs of the Mediterranean Sea, Hyades, rain, Limnades, lakes, Potameides, rivers, Oceanids, salty water and Naiads, of fresh water. At the splintering edge of a tide water glacier one can imagine playful Naiads, bathing, dancing, singing, and also raging as the glacier violently calves an iceberg.

Naiad over Beagle channel, monotype 15"x 22"

Together & With You at Water's Edge, transfer drawings

2011-07-18T00:10:00.001-07:00

21 days until the vernissage at Piante in Old Town, Saturday August 6, 2011

These cool and dreamy monotypes have figures created using transfer drawing. The figures are based on live models I sketched during the croquis session run by Joyce Jonté at StewART galleries. (Thursday night, and Friday mornings, drop ins welcome, reasonable fee - amazing artists! ) Paul Klee made interesting transfer drawings. With my artist collective 7 Plus, we brought accomplished and inspirational artist and teacher Annie Stromquist up to Humboldt for a workshop in various printing techniques, among them transfer drawing. I like incorporating this element into my monotypes. I use it on two different ways...more about that soon.

I notice a new follower on my blog! Thank you! Feel free to make comments.

Running Fast on Black Sand: At Waters' Edge

2011-07-17T01:23:00.000-07:00

22 days until the Arts Alive! Opening at Piante. Here's a small monotype with transfer drawings of a figure running fast, running away, enjoying her run, on a black sand beach.

23 days until opening at Piante: At Water's Edge on the North Coast

2011-07-15T22:24:00.000-07:00

In the cozy center room at Piante, I will show a series of favorite shorescape from Humboldt County. Including, Arcata Marsh and the Moonstone Beach. I like walking on our beaches and shores in all kinds of weather. It always lifts my spirit and make me feel whole and happy.

24 days until opening at Piante: What is a monotype? Rembrant, Degas, Diebencorn and Oliveira created monotypes.

2011-07-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

This show features 34 oil monotypes on archival paper. They were created at Patricia Sennott’s monotype collective, first using The Ink People’s Center For The Arts (TIP) lab and its hefty etching press. Now relocated to the StewART studios in Arcata after the monotype collective became "homeless" after the 6.5 earth quake in January 2010 made the Municipal Auditorium in Eureka, which housed TIP, unfit to occupy.

Patricia Sennott is an award winning artist know for her vibrant monotypes of birds and florals. She has an occasional, highly coveted, opening in her Friday monotype group. Most of the members keep coming for years. Great master, talented members and an inspiring setting!

Monotyping creates an image by drawing and painting on glass. The artist then transfers this image onto a sheet of dampened paper using a printing press.

It is an ancient art form, used by Rembrandt, Degas, Gauguin, Picasso, Matisse and others. Contemporary artists known for monotypes are Nathan Oliveira and Richard Diebencorn.

To clarify, while it is a print, it is not reproducible but a singular, unique work of art. While many types of printing techniques produce a series of images, the monotype gives you only one.

I find making monotypes a sensual art form - the slick glass, the creamy inks, the hand of the fine paper, the smooth brayers, the gentle movement of the huge press – And the frisson in creating something that you don’t – can’t control completely.

The first photo shows Patricia Sennott printing at the Ink People's lab. In the second you see me with a monotype painting on plexiglass ready to be run through the press, followed by a photo of the big old etching press with a young student. The next photo shows the first three colors (yellow and magenta) of a three color registration monotype. In the following image the final color, cyan, has been added for a multicolor effect. Lastly, a picture of the set up, a glass palette with oil inks, a brayer and knives for mixing. I also use wipes, q-tips, a dental tool given to me by my dentist, sticks and rags. For clean up i use vegetable oil and soapy water.

25 days until opening at Piante! About press releases, and painting in Iceland.

2011-07-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

Just sent in my stories and images about the Glacier Art Project & At Waters' Edge, to the Journal, and asked the Times Standard life style editor when to send it to her, in time for the August 6 opening.

We artists here in Humboldt County are really quite spoiled with the amount of free publicity we get in the local papers. Big colorful and beautifully composed spreads in the Style section of the Times Standard are common and appreciated. The new monthly Muse insert of the Journal, focused on the arts, promises even more arts coverage. The Arcata Eye and the McKinleyville Press also give space to the visual arts.

When it comes to the actual writing of a press release I take the time to review Kevin Hoover's, editor and founder of The Arcata Eye, "How to get a press release published in the Arcata Eye" each time I need to write one. Not only is it succinct and practical, it is also very entertaining in the inimitable Kevin Hoover way. I recommend it highly. Bob Doran, listed as staff writer, arts & entertainment editor at the Journal (you know him, he is the tall, cuddly guy with the camera who is everywhere and knows everyone - he now has 1, 574 friends on facebook) Recently, Bob, kindly took the time to give advice to Open Studio participants on how to submit press releases. He said to send it as an open text in an email. (not as an attachment) indicate what it is about, in the topic line, and be sure the images are of a size that is printable. And, he pointed out, that unless the story has a byline it is written by the person who submitted it.

So if your art looks good in print, your story is interesting, and you follow the guidelines by Kevin and Bob, you have a pretty good change to get featured in the local papers. If you have a photo of yourself painting, or falling into a crevasse, you just painted, then email it too.

I'd like to add to this: send it in on time, be grateful for any press you get and thank the editors.

And don't complain - ever.

Here's a photo taken by my great travel companion and sister Susanna, while I was sketching the Snaefellsjoekull in Iceland. This glacier sits on top of the extinct volcano, which is the setting of Jules Verne's famous book "A Journey to the Center of the Earth." I am also posting one of the sketches made on location of the mountain with its melting ice cap.

26 days until opening at Piante 8/6. Painting Glaciers in Glacier Alley, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina & Chile

2011-07-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

"In many parts, glaciers extend from the mountainside to the waters' edge. It is scarcely possible to image anything more beautiful than the beryl-like blue of these glaciers" Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle.

Todays blog post is about painting glaciers al fresco in the Beagle Channel, and about feeling vulnerable as an artist getting ready to show a large body of work.

In 2005 on a trip to visit our son in Chile, my husband and I sailed through the Beagle Channel. We followed Darwin's passage, and I sketched, with frozen fingers, all day long while gliding through Glacier Alley - so named for the numerous, glistening tide-water glaciers that extend into the narrow channel.

I am completely in agreement with Darwin - this was unbelievably beautiful.

Here's a list of the glaciers in order starting from Ushuaia, in Argentine Tierra Del Fuego: Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, Romanche. Romanche, was the best! Huge, and with a magnificent waterfall.

I made several sketches of Romanche, and in the exhibit there will be two monotypes.

I have already dealt with the most vulnerably stage of this show: taking all 34 pieces of art (plus some extras just in case) over to the gallery - wondering what the reaction would be. But it was really good! And the layout seemed to work very well. I thought it looked great! I felt elated! Now it is time to finish the press release and mail it in with images, and hope that the exhibit gets good publicity. Another opportunity to feel vulnerable. Opportunity? My good friend Silke would say that it is good for me.

Here are two photos of me sketching in Glacier Alley. Both taken by Gordon Inkeles. I am very grateful to him for all the fine photos during this voyage. The two monotypes depict the Romanche glacier with its forked waterfall.

27 days until opening of Glacier Art Project at Piante Sat. Aug. 6th!

2011-07-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

I should have started blogging about this art show 34 days before the opening since it will include 34 pieces of art - or 6 years ago, since that is how long I have been working on this project.

But, then again, we were not blogging yet. The inspiration for the study and painting of glaciers started in Alaska, in the Glacier Bay in 1995 when I, together with my husband, his 85 year old mother, and our son, experienced out first calving glacier. Ever since glaciers have captivated me.

You are all invited to the opening, but if that is not possible, you can see the art on this blog and also on my website. At Piante Gallery in Old Town, Eureka, I will have two rooms. In the first larger space I will show the Glacier Art Project, 20 works, in the more intimate center room I will show At Waters' Edge, 15 works, shorescapes from our beautiful north coast. It is all about water.

I also thought it might be interesting for my readers to know all the bits and pieces involved in putting on an art exhibit - from the artists viewpoint. All the shadow functions after all the art has been created. Since I am fortunate to be working with a professional full service gallery - with a great reputation and a lot of experience - I am not alone in this work. The result will be a lovely, festive opening that will seem quite effortless!

Shadow functions for an exhibition:

Choose the best pieces for the show - I probably have twice as many.

Get the measurements of the gallery, make a preliminary layout of the work. For this I had wonderful help from my artist friend, Tina Rousselot, who has an eye for keeping a space exquisitely uncluttered.

Photograph, enter in iPhoto, name, sign, measure, and price all the pieces.

Update my website, start blogging, tweeting, linkedin -ing about the show. (overwhelmed already!)

Work on the wording of an invitation, choose a piece to feature. Check on dates, times, fonts.

Make a list of local people to invite, get their postal mailing addresses.

If you don't live here I'll send you an email invitation. You can see the show on my website.

Figure out when to send a press release to the local news media.

Invite local art critic home for an exclusive "vernissage" - and hope he comes.

Write the press release, choose images to go with it, send it out and hope it gets featured.

Write the artist statement - not too long, not too cryptic. In Swedish we have the word lagom, which means just right. Wish me luck!

For all the writing ask husband to edit...and thank him!

Figure out how to use social media to get out the word about the art show -

I could use your help with this. How are you making use of social media?

It all started with seeing calving glaciers at the Glacier Bay of Alaska. Here are two monotype paintings showing the explosive calving, and the lovely frigid bay.

Cool signaturs on the iPad, President Obama, Michael Blake, Soeren Kjaergaard, Vijay Ayer ....

2011-05-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

I was exited to see our President sign an iPad. I have asked the jazz musicians I have painted on the iPad to sign their images. (Well, not all of them, just he ones I was able to catch after the performance). Here's an image of President Obama scribbling his name on the iPad, and images of some of the signed iPad paintings I have. Note, no pen, pencil or stylus needed, your fingertip works fine!

And the ArtStudio app works just fine too - and all the other drawing and painting apps I would think.

At a recent rally in Seattle, Sylvester Cann had President Obama sign his iPad. Running the Adobe Ideas app on the tablet since "the President doesn't sign autographs along the ropeline because pens can be used as a weapon," Cann was able to get what he claims to be the first Presidential autograph under these conditions.

"Secret service was leery about the idea, but they warmed up to the idea and the President thought it was cool," Cann wrote Wired.com. "He looked slightly surprised, but proceeded to use his finger to scribble on the iPad."

Cann has set up a Google webpage to showcase the signature and a video from the signing as well as to track media mentions of the event. It's named, simply, "I figured, 'Why not ask?'"

Celebrating Ambrose Akinmusire's birthday with another iPad painting.

2011-05-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

Ambrose Akinmusire and his quintet were generous with their music and in answering questions at the next day workshop, 4/27, put on by Redwood Jazz Alliance in room 131 in HSU's music building. It was well attended and appreciated. I was tired after the late night party, and I admired the stamina of the quintet.

I made several new iPad sketches, here's the first one of Ambrose in his yellow shirt.

I am also posting a photo of myself painting on the iPad at the HSU concert the evening before. And a closeup showing the painting in progress. Additionally, a photo from the after party at which the jazz artists and friends are looking at the iPad paintings. (photos by G. Inkeles)

Painting at a live performance is a performance in it self! A challenge.

I am right now listening to Henya from the CD When The Heart Emerges Glistening. Good listening...

iPad painting of Marcus Shelby Orchestra at Yoshi's in San Francisco

2011-05-07T16:13:00.001-07:00

It was a wonderful evening in SF. We took the bus from the Embarkadero all the way to the Fillmore. Sauntered down the street past all the boutiques and cafes until we got to the jazz district. Yes! There we met with friends Rich and Jenny, had a delicious meal. I loved the black cod and the sushi too. And then we got the hear the music.

And, as I have been doing since I got my first iPad (yes! I am now on my second iPad) I got ready to paint during the live jazz performance. Shelby launched into the Ellington songbook and I put in the backdrop in the first of six layers. After I moved into the second layer, sketching in the numerous musicians (a big band after all!), I was told by the ticket taker, to turn off the iPad. Oh no! So, I waited a while and started up again trying to hide it ....well, he came back. Saddened and disappointed, I though, I could perhaps convince him to let me continue, so I got up, and smiling hopefully, showed him my Esperanza Spaulding (everybody loves Espe!) iPad paintings. ( you can see them below in my blog), and the beginning of the Marcus Shelby painting. And, to my happiness and relief he loved them and gave me permission to continue.

Here's the painting. I hope you like it too. I am selling signed, limited series, fine art prints of my iPad paintings. Send me an email if you are interested. ischencke@mac.com

Esperanza Spaulding graced Arcata with her presence. We love Espe!!!

2010-11-07T16:16:00.001-08:00

Last set of SF Giants images from the World Series: Brian "Fear the Beard" Wilson, and fab Renteria.

2010-11-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

World Series, Giants, three more iPad paintings, done "live" while watching the games on TV. Fun!

2010-11-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

World Series, Giants: more iPad paintings of Giants.

2010-11-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

The Giants, Lincecum, Uribe, Ross, and the guy with the real beard.Los Gigantes! World Series Oct. 27 & 28

2010-10-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought I would be sketching baseball players? Blame the iPad. Just sitting here with Gordon and the bird, trying to catch the "looks" of the players as the throw, swivel, spit, hit and dance.

An invitation to 7+ art exhibit at the Upstairs Gallery, Umpqua Bank, Arts Arcata Oct. 8

2010-10-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

post cards from trip using the app artStudio on iPad

2010-10-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

Fundraiser for Madrigal Singers, who were stuck in Verona (poor babies!) in April because of the Eyjafjallajoekulll eruption.

2010-08-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

Robin Hashem Volcanic ash hit close to home last April when the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption disrupted life in Arcata, stranding the Arcata High School Madrigal Choir in Italy and binding them together in friendship and unanticipated debt.

Another explosion of sorts on Friday, Aug. 13 will bring the choir closer to wiping out that nearly $20,000 extra debt and give the local community a unique opportunity to buy fine art at a good price. Along with the usual Arts!Arcata tour that night, art from the private collections of community members will be on display from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the former Geppetto’s location on the corner of 9th and G Sts as part of a silent auction to raise money for the choir. This unusual sale includes work from significant artists like George Van Hook, John Wesa, Tom Knight, Keith Schneider, Mimi LaPlant and Patricia Sennott, plus a Japanese Kyugetsu doll and North Redwoods Art Guild (NORBAG) items. The public is invited to drop in any time between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to enter a silent bid on the art pieces, many of which have starting bids as low as $10. In addition, there will be live music throughout the night, plus wine served for a donation.

Also, as a natural tie-in to the disruptive Eyjafjallajökull event, artist Claire Iris Schencke will offer a signed print of her Eyjafjallajökull Eruption l. The print is part of her GLACIER ART PROJECT (www.claireirisschencke.com), a series depicting the “fragile beauty of glaciers.” Schencke hopes this work will contribute to the debate on how to prevent ice melt.

This auction is the brainchild of Julie Fulkerson, who enlisted the aid of Mayor Alex Stillman and former “orchestra mom” Robin Hashem to bring it to fruition. Fulkerson, a former Madrigal Choir singer herself, knows what a challenge it is to raise funds, “especially during the summer when school is out.”

Instead of asking artists to donate their art, the trio asked friends and strangers to support the award-winning young singers by contributing art from their personal collections for the auction. Fulkerson said “some of my friends have been collecting for decades and have run out of wall space.”

“Art is such an important part of our lives. This silent auction is a great opportunity for young people to purchase art that is quite valuable but, thanks to this auction, now affordable and in reach of pocket books of all sizes,” said Stillman.

"Art Explosion" silent auction during Arts!Arcata

Friday, August 13, 2010 at 6:00pm

corner of 9th & G Sts, Arcata

Julie Fulkerson made the poster, and Robin Hashem the press release. Come the the Art Auction! A fabulous opportunity and a good deed.

Not much left of the old plankway railtrack.

2010-07-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

Standing at the Marsh by Cobb lake in last winter's storm, I thought the stumps left of the old plankway railroad would soon not be visible at all. I wanted to document their existence with a painting. Yesterday in the still sunshine and very low tide they seemed much diminished.

Read the plaque and ponder the furious shipping of redwood from Arcata, then called Union.

A singular impression: montoype with pictograph

2010-07-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

A monotype including both direct transfer drawing, the dark line, and reversed transfer drawing, the light line. Trundled through the press once.

Look what I found on the beach near the surfing spot on the North Spit called Power Poles.

2010-06-27T01:05:00.000-07:00

Solnedgång i skärgården. Efter foto av Gudmund Nannesson.

2010-06-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

Dreaming of the pink granite cliffs of Åland.

2010-06-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

More Eyjafjalljoekull art, these inspired by a photo by Lucas Jackson

2010-05-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

Tiny Dragons for Matt on Mother's Day

2010-05-10T23:42:00.000-07:00

Flowers for Mother on Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Eyjafjallajoekull - lovely glacier

2010-04-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

Here's an etching on a monotype of the peaceful smallish glacier with the long name: Eyjafjallajoekull. It happens to sit on top a fissure that erupted so forcefully, and darkened the skies over most of Europe.

from the volcanism blog: Just a few things Eyjafjallajoekull has screwed up

2010-04-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

Just some of the things Eyjafjallajökull has screwed up 23 April 2010

Posted by admin in Eyjafjöll, Iceland, eruptions, volcano culture.

Tags: Eyjafjallajökull, Eyjafjöll, Iceland, volcanic eruptions, volcanoes in the media

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(In addition to grounding European aviation for days on end and exhausting headline-writers’ supplies of volcano puns.)

The UK General Election … betting on 2010 temperatures … Southern California music festival … UK schoolgirls’ geography field trip … the Norwegian Government (iPad to the rescue) … touring wrestlers … Boston Marathon runners … the London Book Fair … health of pets … football, ice hockey and running … Premier League referees … the gilded progresses of celebs and pop stars … John Cleese’s trip home … football, cycling and running … Polish state funeral … transport of wounded soldiers … Dubai luxury hotel opening … Morocco golf tournaments … exams, exotic foods and surgery … yet more celebs (Hollywood ‘paralized’, no less) … Japan MotoGP … the international oil market … and even more celebs … European stocks and shares … Kenyan flower growers … Kenyan vegetable growers … movie premieres … BMW production in South Carolina … and still more celebs (superstar forced to take Irish Sea ferry) … youth boxing … equestrianism … football (also boxing, running, tennis, motorcyle racing) … organ transplants … Ghana farming, war crimes trials, rose growing, car making, flowers for New York weddings … travel plans of dogs, horses, snakes, geckos, turtles … classical concerts in San Diego … classical concerts in Salt Lake City … classical concerts in New York … Tribeca Film Festival … Metallica tour (kings of heavy metal fight back, take bus) … supplies of sea urchins, monkfish livers and scallops to British restaurants … art shipments … weddings … weddings … computer gaming events … airline emissions regulation … Indian TV host’s IPL contract (seems rather unfair) … Italian guitar players … supply chain resilience, whatever that is … college admissions … scareware cyberscams

The Volcanism blog is a interesting read. Check it out.

The timely return of Carol Jacobson and the ArMac Madrigal singers from Verona. The visit of my cousins from Finland.

Two new shorescapes. Celebrating the Foggy Moonstone Beach

2010-04-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

Iceland Volcanic Eruption. Painting of glacial lake: Gigjoekull lagoon

2010-04-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

Eyjafjallajoekull continues to be on my mind. At the lowest point this icecap forms a glacial tongue that slides down into a lagoon, where it breaks off into floating icebergs. Or did when I was there and the volcano under the glacier was dormant. Here is my monotype painting of this glacial lake.

Iceland Volcanic Eruption. The braided glacial river Krossa drains Eyjafjallajoekull

2010-04-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

The river Krossa must now be a raging torrent, destroying roads and bridges. We traversed it both coming and going in a huge multi- wheel- drive vehicle. On our return in the late afternoon we were bumped and jostled, as the meltwater made the streams wider and deeper.

Eyjafjallajökull, exiting discovery of my own plain air sketch of it.

2010-04-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

Just looked up the location of the erupting volcano on Google Earth - erupting right under a large glacier (jökull means glacier in Icelandic) and realized that my sister Sanna and I spent a day hiking, taking pictures and painting within view of it, in the Thorsmörk wilderness. I actually have a plain air rendition of it for you to see.

We also crossed the river Krosso, in a huge many wheel drive vehicle both coming and going. A huge challenge on the late afternoon return when the river was up from the glacial melt. At the end of the day we ran into a wedding party all mounted on the beautiful small Icelandic horses.

Two mixed media pieces of the Eyjafjalljokull erupting volcano in Iceland

2010-04-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

"Many airports were expected to remain closed at least until Saturday, and officials warned of an unprecedented bottleneck in global air traffic. Scientists, unable to estimate when the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano might end, predicted that it could take hours, days or far longer for European skies to clear of the ash particles that experts say could choke jet engines enough to shut them down." from the Washington Post

Hopefully my cousins from Finland, who are planning to fly here on Monday the 19th of April can make it. Alternative route would be to catch a boat ; -) to Iceland and take a plane from Reykjavik airport - which ironically as of this morning was open. The ash is all blowing southeast.

Here are two paintings - digitally manipulated monotypes - that I just created to mark this event.

It is a beautiful and powerful spectacle. But what a disaster for Iceland, Eyjafjallajokull is a huge glacier and the volcanic eruption is causing it to melt with the result of great flooding, wrecked highways and bridges; I also feel sorry for all the stranded travelers, and the already economically stressed airlines. Our local ArMac Orchestra members and chaperones, with maestra Carol Jacobson are stuck in Verona.

Blue Dots, new monotype, WATERS' EDGE SERIES

2010-04-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

Photos from LA trip, Rodeo Drive, LACMA, Bamboo Grafitti

2010-04-08T00:01:00.001-07:00

You are invited to the opening of CONTEMPORARY MONOTYPES, WESTHAVEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS, SUN. 3/7, 1-4

2010-03-06T13:50:00.001-08:00

See lavish piece in the Times Standard re the Westhaven exhibit.

a new monotype: Arcata Marsh with what remains of the old railroad

2010-02-22T00:21:00.000-08:00

When Arcata was called Uniontown and was a mill town, the timber traveled to Eureka on a railroad that crossed the bay. There is a plaque commemorating this railroad down by the Mars

(near Klopp lake). We have seen the black wooden supports grow shorter and more broken up over the years - and soon they will not be visible anymore. The birds don't sit on them anymore either. In this work you can see them as parallel dots disappearing to the other side of the bay.

Look for this piece at the Westhaven Center for the Arts show, starting March 7. See earlier posts.

New exhibit! March 7th at Westhaven Center for the Arts

2010-02-16T18:08:00.001-08:00

Cool montotype on card by Susan Zink: "Pee-Wee Huntington's Back Alley Ballet"

Westhaven Center for the Arts

BEAUX ZOOS, Arts Alive Sat. 2/6, First Street Gallery. You are invited!

2010-02-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

New Art 2010, Cycling Shadows

2010-02-03T15:03:00.001-08:00

Close up of one little heart by Joan Gold. BTW did you see the photo of Joan in her studio in today's Time Standard?

2010-02-02T23:05:00.000-08:00

Little Hearts by Joan Gold, donated to Haiti Fundraiser. Come an get yours, this Friday at the Bayside Grange

2010-02-02T22:14:00.000-08:00

Our most distinguished artist donated not one (as I thought she was going to) but NINE beautiful framed small paintings of hearts. This is an opportunity to get your own original Joan Gold at an amazing price, and also support the suffering people in Haiti. I am going to get to the Bayside Grange early to bid on one of them. Thank you Joan!

New Art 2010! Red head on a recumbent bicycle

2010-01-31T21:55:00.000-08:00

New Art 2010! Mother & daughter sunset cycling

2010-01-31T17:37:00.001-08:00

New Art 2010! Keenan on the beach with Crab

2010-01-31T17:30:00.000-08:00

Bayside Grange Haiti Fundraiser. Poster by Amy Uyeki

2010-01-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

I've decided to donate an art print to this fundraiser and to go and support the event.

I've seen it mentioned in the press, but this poster made by artist friend Amy Uyeki (thank you Amy! Powerful poster!) got me energized.

I called Kate Martin who is collecting the donations - her phone no. is on the poster - and got her email address: katemartin22@yahoo.com

Click on the poster to make it larger and legible.

Finally a sunset! Sunset over bay shot from inside my studio.

2010-01-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

wind in my hair - first an earthquake and now El Niño!

2010-01-17T23:36:00.000-08:00

Felt motivated to update our emergency box. Got it after the 7.2, 6.7, 6.2 quakes in 1992.

Guess when we last checked it? Yes, 1992. Embarrassing! Unpacked our son's clothes and hugged them. They were for the slender 9 year old we had then. Gordon's were too large, he has shed 30 lbs.

The cans with poptops had completely disintegrated. And, technology has improved: we don't need batteries for anything. They had also erupted! Crank and solar radio, and flashlight.

And modern spacefabric clothes - so much lighter and better. So there it sits, yellow and bold ready for whatever nature hands us.

Right now we are in the middle of a series of rain and windstorms that could cause flooding, power outages and cut us off from the rest of the world.

Here a couple of selfportraits of wind in my hair

In the printing lab at the Ink People

2010-01-16T22:25:00.000-08:00

Here are photos of Crescent and Susan, members of Patricia Sennott's monotype class, working with the hefty press, that cannot be moved out of the lab. ( too bulky, too heavy) Nor can it be used there, since the building is "red tagged" - unsafe to be in after the earthquake.

Moore about the Ink People status, and how you can help.

2010-01-16T22:10:00.000-08:00

The Ink People Sets Up Temporary Administrative Location

Many Arts and Cultural Programs Still Need Space To Operate

January 14, 2010 – After 22 years in Eureka’s Muni building, earthquake damage has forced The Ink People Center For The Arts (TIP) to relocate temporarily to Suites 36-39 of the Carson Building at 517 3rd St. in Old Town Eureka. This space will accommodate administrative functions, the after school MARZ program, and a small number of classes and meetings, though many TIP programs still need new work space.

TIP is requesting community assistance locating suitable facilities for the following: The Humboldt Handweavers Guild, The Printmakers Studio, Life Drawing Class, Placebo, Rural Burl Mural Bureau, and the Animation Lab. Also needed are a photography dark room, artist studio space, and a display gallery, in addition to several desks, file cabinets, bookcases, and a couch.

Inquiries and offers of assistance can be made via Tanya@InkPeople.org. Monetary donations can be made online at http://bit.ly/TIPdonate. or via snail mail to TIP’s new temporary location in the Carson Building. TIP has no budget for rent or utilities since these have been provided free for many years by the City of Eureka to its designated art agency.

TIP has been an art and cultural hub in Humboldt County since 1979 and runs mostly on volunteer energy and donations. TIP Executive Director Libby Maynard thanked the Northern California Indian Development Council for providing the new location, and Charlotte McDonald of Eureka Main Street for earlier temporary office space as well as networking and community outreach assistance.

Damage to the Muni Building appears limited to the area used by TIP, but may involve asbestos and toxic lead paint. The City of Eureka does intend to fix the space, although with a current repair estimate of $500,000 the time frame for TIP returning home is uncertain.

# # #

Tanya Nordberg

Programs Manager

The Ink People Center for the Arts

Eureka Earthquake damage: update on Ink People status, from Libby Maynard

2010-01-13T16:24:00.001-08:00

"Thank you so much, Iris. Tanya was thrilled to hear her postings were well appreciated. It doesn't look good at this moment, but things are changing moment by moment, for Perta's class. The press is just too big to move.

The inspectors are assuming asbestos in the fallen plaster and think a concrete wall shifted. We have found a temp home in the Carson Block Building, 517 3rd St., Ste 36, Eureka, CA 95501, thanks to the generosity of the Northern Calif Indian Development Center.

We are definitely not going to waste this crisis."

She's thanking me for offering to make a donation. Now I know where to send it.

6.5 earthquake hits the North Coast, what happened to our art galleries?

2010-01-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

The first report came from Jack Bentley at HSU’s First Street Gallery:

"Hello All -

I did an inspection of the gallery last night after the quake. The gallery, and its storage areas fared well with minor plaster damage to the ceiling at the drywall joints . The building was seismically retrofitted before we moved in in 1998; and it looks like the upgrade did its job. There are reports that other buildings in Old Town, which were not retrofitted, have sustained significant damage.

All the artwork was safe, undamaged and in place as we had installed it. This is a testament to the professional standards that our students and gallery assistants employ in their earthquake-proofing installation practices. So you artists who have work at the gallery, especially you ceramists, can rest assured that your work is safe.

Thank you interns and assistants for your excellent work!"

Note: my paintings are still there, as they have been held over to a new group show featuring animals in art during February. I am impressed that the clay sculpture was intact. Have to learn about their practices.

Note: Dolores Vellutini who owns the Janssen Building that houses the First Street Gallery, hired architect John Ash to do the seismic retrofit - and they became a couple. He must have done a good job on more than one front.

Next I heard from Tanya Nordberg of the Ink People, on Facebook, that the Municipal Auditorium that houses The Ink People for the Arts (where I have spend every Friday afternoon, making monotypes for a year now) was badly damaged

and "red tagged" that is, nobody has access to it, except guys in hazmat suits inspecting the cracks.

Note: we were in Old Town during the quake and it was terrifying. On the way home I found that Facebook had very current information, generated by numerous plugged in friends. Having an iPhone turned out to be useful. Our home did not show any evidence of the quake - well, just a few paintings askew.

Yesterday I emailed Jemima Harr at the Morris Graves Museum for the Arts, a building that was retrofitted, and it did well. I also heard from Sue Natzler at Piante that all is fine at that gallery, and so is the Accident Gallery. ( information about other art venues is welcome. How did galleries in Ferndale do?)

Ran into Cynthia Hooper at the COOP who said CR's Art building was not damaged, but a kiln had fallen down and broken, but that the students are planning to repair it themselves!

The Arcata Artisans had no problems, not even any broken items, and at the Upstairs Gallery in the Umpqua Bank, the paintings had already been straightened by the staff. Arcata was much less impacted than Eureka.

See if you can give the Ink People your support. They will need temporary housing for all their numerous art incubator programs. And money. Contact Libby Maynard: libby@inkpeople.org.

TIP is a very important part of our art infrastructure!

First Street Holiday Invitational comes down on Dec. 23 -

2009-12-20T20:23:00.000-08:00

Visit the website for HSU's First Street Gallery and see all the artists in the 2009 Holiday Invitational. Be sure to scroll down, down, down! Just heard that Peggy Loudon won the Victor Jacoby award for the year. She is showing her interesting new pieces that incorporate a fine filament - looks like embroidery!

I've posted a bunch of photos from the opening on my website - all the beautiful people in their red holiday finery!

Wonderful article in the Times Standard, Eureka, Dec. 13 about my Cycling Lucias!

2009-12-17T00:18:00.001-08:00

This old photo, with my sister Sanna and me in our fur hats, near our family home in Stockholm, was included in the paper version of the Times Standard article. No snow on the ground even though it is Yule time, but the low winter light and the bare tree branches give it an Bergmanesque mood. All the 2009 Lucia paintings have migrated to the Garden Gate on the Arcata plaza.

Garden Gate‎

905 H Street

Arcata, CA 95521-6221

(707) 822-2156

Cycling Lucias for Garden Gate at Arts Arcata Fri. Dec. 11

2009-12-07T23:40:00.000-08:00

I am getting them framed. They are small and quirky and I think they are cool. What do you think?

Here's a couple of cropped up parts!

You are invited to the Holiday Invitational at the First Street Gallery on Dec. 5, 6 - 9 p.m.

2009-12-04T10:53:00.000-08:00

A Holiday Invitational Exhibition
at HSU First Street Gallery

Humboldt State University First Street Gallery is pleased to present "A Holiday Invitational Exhibition", which opened on December 1st and will continue through December 23rd. Featured in the show will be artwork by fifteen artists from California's North Coast, who work in diverse styles and mediums. The show is a fundraiser for the gallery, with a broad selection of affordable, high quality art pieces suitable for gift making during the Holiday Season.

The participating artists will display photographs, works on paper, ceramics, sculpture, and paintings. “We're very excited to bring together these artists, many of them HSU alumni, during this holiday season," says First Street Gallery Director Jack Bentley. "This exhibition reminds those of us who live here, how fortunate we are to live in a community that is also the home of so many wonderful visual artists."

Of special note, the exhibition will introduce the ceramic work of David Zdrazil who will be exhibiting his work in Humboldt County for the first time. Zdrazil recently moved to California’s North Coast and teaches at College of the Redwoods.

A Holiday Invitational Exhibition is produced by Humboldt State students. Students enrolled in the Art Museum and Gallery Practices Program participate in the daily management and planning of shows at the gallery. The gallery provides real-life opportunities for the students to develop their gallery and museum skills, which in turn provides them with experience that will help them to enter the job market. Many students who have participated in the program have gone on to careers in museums and galleries throughout the nation.

Exhibition Schedule

The exhibition will run from December 1st through December 23rd. There will be an opening reception for the Invitational artists that will coincide with Arts Alive on Saturday December 5th from 6-9pm. First Street Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12-5pm and is located at 422 First Street, Old Town, Eureka, CA. For more information call (707) 826-3424 or to see example of these artists’ works, visit the gallery's web site at www.humboldt.edu/~first

Los Bagels in Eureka - isn't this vibrant!

2009-12-01T22:37:00.001-08:00

Artists' Challange at the Ink People on Sat. Dec. 5. Show your support for the art-kids.

2009-12-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

Click on the " Artists' Challenge" poster and you will be able to read the text. I just dropped off my FIFTEEN monotype and transfer drawing Lucia paintings. That an intense amount of art making! If you would like to participate, but can't be there, send me an email.

Another pair of Lucias for the Ink Peep's Challenge

2009-11-29T23:18:00.000-08:00

Moonlit Lucia, transfer drawing, part of Ink People Challenge on Dec. 5

2009-11-29T16:04:00.001-08:00

Ink People's Artists' Challenge: 15 works in 30 days. 1. Lucia looking at Moon

2009-11-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

Come to the Ink People and get original art for fantastically low prices. Arts! Alive, Dec. 5, starting at 5 p.m. I know that Patricia Sennott will have great pieces. I'll post more about this as I get more information myself.

Read more about it in the Ink People site

Surfing at College Cove, Humboldt County

2009-11-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

A new monotype featuring Matt getting ready to plunge into the freezing waters at College Cove. I was there all bundled in down parka.

Moonrise at Mad River Beach, three color registration monotype

2009-11-16T12:54:00.000-08:00

Featuring the color PINK

2009-11-11T15:44:00.000-08:00

If you have a pink mid century commode, you must also have a kindle!

Bathroom remodel done! PINK still there. Inside of wall cabinets painted just like in old Scandinavia.

Rising Moon over Mad River Beach, monotype by Schencke

2009-11-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

A birthday celebration erupted among the monotyping collective at the Ink people - Perta's and Iris' birthdays falling within the same week - with cheeses brought by Susan from famous cheesemaker sister Nancy in Petaluma, champagne, butterfly napkins and a card made from a bold monotype by Arlene, a cake infused with taste and health (zuks, 70% proof chocolate nibs) made by Kathrin. It was a wonderful party! I still get to light the candle and taste the plum jam Perta gave me.

In a champagne induce haze I made this moonrise monotype in memory of this birthday - Kathrin said that one needs to celebrate longer as one gets older.

Sanna kom med pa min födelsedags strandpromenad!

2009-11-05T21:52:00.000-08:00

Man kan skymta oss, skuggan, fotspåret och jycken du tog med. Vi är på Mad River stranded och solen går snar ner. Sen stiger den stora ljusa månen upp och vi kramar om varandra.

A poster featuring Blanche's, a SF landmark, now gone I think.

2009-11-01T14:41:00.001-08:00

Getting this poster framed for our bathroom - it will look good with the mid last century pink bathtub and commode.

To Jen who is running in the NYC marathon in just a few days in Lance Armstrong's Livestrong group.

2009-10-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Livestrong Foundation

Want to see where we live? the art of the redwood forests

2009-10-18T00:41:00.000-07:00

The art of the redwood forests: National Geographic Magazine Oct. 2009

New monotype: Hovering Mourning Cloak

2009-10-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

-being created on the glass plate - and reversed after trundled through the large press at the Ink People's printing lab.

LUCIA RIDING ALONG AND SMILING

2009-10-01T22:17:00.000-07:00

LOOK MA, NO HANDS! CYCLING LUCIA

2009-10-01T22:14:00.001-07:00

CYCLING LUCIA

2009-10-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

Lucia with Dalahorse, transfer drawing by Schencke

2009-09-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

one cut out Lucia by Schencke

2009-09-27T17:57:00.001-07:00

Sunset Lucia, transfer drawing by Schencke

2009-09-26T00:14:00.000-07:00

Paul Klee, transfer drawing at MOMA

2009-09-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

Scherzo with Thirteen (Das Scherzo mit der Dreizehn)

Paul Klee (German, born Switzerland. 1879-1940)

139.1951

GALLERY LABEL TEXT

2006

During his tenure at the Bauhaus, Klee explored distinctive ways of image–making, including transfer drawings. This work was executed by tracing the lines of a pencil drawing through a black-inked surface onto another clean sheet of paper. The clean sheet received the outline of the drawing in black as well as additional smudges of excess pigment, to which Klee then directly added motifs in watercolor and ink. The arching and angled arrows, before which whimsical figures appear to dance, indicate motion and spatial depth. The reference to music, a mainstay in Klee's life and in his Bauhaus activities, is underscored by the word "scherzo," referring to a vigorous and playful composition, in the work's title.

And don't miss Barabara Dolan Wilkinson at PIANTE on Oct. 3, Arts! Alive

2009-09-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

I don't have a picture to post at this time...but found some images of her WORK IN PROGRESS in the her website: Check it out for yourself!

Athony Lucero's poem cropped out - now you can read it.

2009-09-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

Arts!Alive on Sat. October 3 at PIANTE will be amazing according to my sneak previews.

2009-09-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

Here's an image of a monotype by Patricia Sennott with a poem by Anthony Lucero, part of the group exhibit Picture Poems