Recycled Art Display

I thought it would be 'fun' to put together a display over at Esther Bone Library's display case and have it coincide with Earth Day (in April) along with the Recycle Programs that are slated to be held there at the library during April in honor of Earth Day.

I installed the exhibit this morning-which ended up being a bit of a daunting task since I ended up with more things than I thought I could fit in to the display case. That, along with trying to figure out how to hang the cool 'raincoat' and umbrella my friend, Donna Barnitz had made out of Purina dog chow bags (which, by the way, won first prize a few years back at the Recycle Santa Fe fashion show).

Contributors to this exhibit is Tara Cunnings, Sam Garcia, Star Cooley, Donna Barnitz and myself,  Paula Scott.

A lot of the things I brought in are things that I own as a result of buying it from other artists: such as the earrings that were made by Kim Mason, the boxes made by Carol Sanchez (of prints that she made but was not curating for anything), a bracelet made by jewelry artist, Robert Redus, a wind chime made by Laurie Gregg. 

What motivated me to take the time and trouble to put this display together is that 1) I am passionate about recycling and finding other uses for things 2) raising the level of awareness as to the possibilites of what can be done with seemingly ordinary objects. I am not comfortable with the fact that we are such a 'throw away' society and live our lives as though our resources were limitless. I know I can't change the world, but if I can at least get a few people to think differently about what gets cast off, I would be more than pleased.

I would also like to extend a big, hearty thank you to Tara Cunnings, Sam Garcia, Star Cooley and Donna Barnitz for contributing their pieces for this display of art that demonstrates the limitless possibilities to creating and re-purposing things instead of throwing it in to the landfill.

"Color It Red"

An annual on line photography contest. Anything red. Nearly anything goes. The only parameters is that it be an image you took and that it had the color, red, in it.

This year there were 297 images submitted from 41 photographers around the world-from Finland to Albuquerque.

Initially, the organizers had planned on just exhibiting 26 images in the winner's on line gallery. But, it ended up being expanded to 40 images since the scoring was so close on many of them.

I, for one, am glad they did this! I did get an "honorable mention" in this contest.

Here's my image:

"My Love Is Like..."

At first, I wasn't going to enter...then, a little voice nudged me and I went looking through my image files for anything red. I was surprised at how many images I had that contained the color, red, in it and ended up having fun 'gathering' files to consider for submission. I even hesitated about submitting this one as a red rose seems so, 'oh-so-predicable'. But, it is an image I was fond of, so I thought, why not?

So, there you go. 

Honorable mention. I'll take it!

You can find out more about this contest, the winners and the gallery of images here.

Be There...

"Be There": watercolor, wax, oil pigment, mastic varnish. 4" x 4" © Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio, 2012

The above image is a very small painting: 4" x 4" to be exact, executed on an ampersand board. I was experimenting with using watercolor with encaustic (wax) medium. It was one of those things where I'd do one thing (such as the watercolor layer), set it aside and months would go by and I would discover that I haven't gotten any further along with it. I'd pick it up, look at it and think, now what'? Another idea would come to mind, I'd try it, and again set it aside only to have it be forgotten again. It's really a 'lab' for me, this kind of approach where there is no pressure to perform and no expectations of outcome. This is where I allow myself to explore the, 'what if's'.

The last 'what if' I tried on this was the the mastic varnish-which is a varnish that was used in the Renaissance as a medium to paint with and to finish a painting with. I figured that since it was used in oil paintings not only as a blending medium, but as final varnish, that it should be OK to use as the final coat on an encaustic work. I am happy to say, that it does work beautifully and has passed the Ellen Koment freezer test (Ellen says the best way to test if a new technique will work on an encaustic piece is to put it in the freezer and if it doesn't fall apart when you take it, it is good to go).

Although this piece of art is tiny, it will most likely withstand just about anything (except a five alarm fire) and will most likely be around long after all of us are gone.

We Will Be Known Forever By The Tracks That We Leave

Today would've been Delma M. Petrullo's 64th birthday had she not left us so suddenly at the age of 60. Yet, in the short time that she lived here in the city of Rio Rancho, she left really BIG tracks! Positive ones, at that. She had an incredible way of bringing people together for a single cause and also had an incredible gift of vision for our city and what it can become. She had thoroughly 'infected' my husband, Mark and I with her vision.

And, how I wish she were here to see all the positive changes that have been occurring. The Art Commission that she so dreamed of having is now in it's 3rd year. And, I will say, that we now have a full commission (we've gone for more than a year with just a partially filled commission). For the first time, we have people who seem to all be passionate and committed to being a commissioner and that we all are on the same page. It is simply quite amazing.

In addition, the presence of public art pieces in our city is growing steadily. The latest and perhaps most exciting piece was completed by Matthew Lutz and is called "Gateway to Lupus". Based on the constellation, Lupus, it graces the southwest corner of the UNM West building. Lupus in Latin translates to 'wolf' . 

Gateway to Lupus sculpture done by Matthew Lutz. Photo by Paula Scott

And, the non-profit status that she so hoped for for the Rio Rancho Art Association looks like it is not far from becoming a reality (once and for all). The paperwork was sent off to the IRS last week and I know that all the 'i's were dotted and t's crossed' before it was sent in. That in itself is monumental. The direction of the art association has also been on the path that she originally intended it to go-our community outreach programs are strong and effective. We also have wonderful, new members joining, so the diversity of the membership continues to grow. Most of our venues boast regular sales. A new website is about to be launched.

Today, Mark and I joined Robert and his friends and family for a small gathering to pay tribute and to celebrate Delma's birthday. Delma now has a headstone at her grave site at Vista Verde Memorial. Now, anyone can go and 'visit' her. The image on her headstone is one of a painting that she had done in her last year. I think that it might have been amongst the last several paintings that she had done before she lost her battle with cancer.

I'd like to think that Delma is still orchestrating things where she is now. Too many 'serendipitous' things have happened along the way since she passed. I don't question them, but I do think that she has had a hand in it somehow or other.

We miss her like crazy. Mark and Delma used to fantasize how much fun they'd have if they were both city councilors. I know they would've. I think it odd too, that the councilor that was appointed to take her place and then later ran for and won her district has yet to appear at one of the art commission meetings. The very thing that Delma was adamant about (that it was important to have an art commission). It's really odd because it was Delma that had convinced this councilor to get involved.

The inscription on her headstone is one of the things she said a lot (that, and 'you can make a difference if you get involved').

"We will be known forever by the tracks that we leave."

What tracks are you leaving?

You have a choice.

"E is for Eclectic...and sometimes eccentric"

Here are the images of the work being exhibited in the show, "E is for Eclectic...and sometimes eccentric" show. There isn't really a sense of scale imparted in these images. The 4' x 4' cell phone photos look like they could be bigger than the photo encaustic series!

Which is why it is best to see an art exhibit in person....the show will be up until August 28th.

You can view a complete slideshow of the images in this exhibit at my Flickr Photostream.

News Flash-Solo Show for Paula Scott!

Please join us at the opening reception: Friday, August 3rd, 2012

"E is for Eclectic (and sometimes eccentric)"

A solo show featuring the artwork of Paula Scott

www.molokaigirlstudio.com

Over 30 pieces of art will be featured in this one woman show exhibiting the eclectic and eccentric works of Paula Scott. Paula works in multiple mediums such as encaustic, acrylic, mixed media and printmaking; with photography as her base. Often, her photographic works are printed on substrates that are 'off the beaten path', such as Nepalese paper, pages of a dictionary and even cheesecloth. Paula interprets images with a contemporary flair combined with an exploration of 'what ifs'. A 'must see' exhibit for your summer roster!

The exhibit will be held at The Printmakers' Studio and Gallery from August 2nd-28th, 2012

The Gallery is located on 425 San Mateo NE, Albuquerque between Lomas and Central Ave. 

Opening reception will be held on Friday, August 3rd from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public.

Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m - 5 p.m

or call for appointment at 505.620.9030

ImageOnHD Workshop

Learn how to do the photogravure process of intaglio style printmaking using Keith Howard's ImageOnHD photo polymer film.
This process lends itself beautifully to all photography based images and also to paintings and drawings.

Instructor: Tish Miller
Assistant: Paula Scott

If you do the math, that's 17 hours of class and studio time-that's what I call a lot of bang for the buck!