{do you have a sewing notion}

Sewing Notions: Expressive Doll Making with Recycled Fabric 

Lynn Dates

Adults (15+)

Members - $35 /Non-Members - $40 (prices include materials)

January 22, 2011 - Saturday, 1:30pm - 4:30pm

Drake House - Art Studios (Corner of First and Cedar Street)

 
Explore the human form and create abstracted dolls from recycled fabric, found objects and interesting bits and pieces. Participants will create a “doll” shape to embellish with life’s ephemera. Let inspirations from the natural world – or your deepest secrets – guide your hand.

Sign-up for my class at 171 Cedar Arts Center on-line www.171cedararts.org, by calling 607-936-4647 or stopping by either the Bruce House or Drake House.

*the gallery gala 2010

i am currently in a local exhibitionThe Arnot Art Museum is a world-class institution of fine art located at 235 Lake Street in Elmira, New York USA. and open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am - 5pm. Housed in its original 1833 showcase with a grand late-twentieth century gallery addition, the museum displays its permanent collection of 17th to 19th century European paintings, 19th and 20th century American art. Temporary exhibitions highlight various aspects of the collections and include works from around the world.  

here is my work

here are the participating artists 

framed!

 mavin ambrose * tedd arnold * walter arnold * will arnold * barbara c. baldwin * linda banks hansee * jacquelyn becker * chris ball * anne bialke *  marty breinlinger * tom buechner * ann cady * derek chalfant * tess danaher * lynn dates * ron dixon * john doddato * david dowler * jennifer fais * tom gardner * william gudenrath * fred herbst * kathleen huddle * robert ivers * diane janowski * jan kather * betsy kent * chris longwell * ginnie lupi * mary madigan * jeff perrault * marty poole * rod reynolds * marc rubin * mike sampson * pat saxe * amy schwartz * carol schwartzott * william schweizer * grant silverstien * denny smith * joann smith * joanne sonsire * barbara sowinski * jean k. stephens * bridget b. vanotterloo * debb vandelinder * caroleen vaughan * john wahlig * gary weisman * ann welles * aleta yarrow * barbara young * treacy ziegler

here are the details - i hope you can join me for a fun night

The GALLERY GALA returns! framed! is the fifteenth Gallery Gala exhibition, and will open to the public on Saturday, 5 June 2010 in the West Wing Galleries. It presents the work of 53 regional artists in a hybrid museum / gallery atmosphere. That is, unlike in all other Arnot shows, these works will be available for sale to Museum visitors!

The first two weeks of the show present preview possibilities for the public; savvy buyers visit the galleries and plan their strategies for purchases.

And then … on 18 June, the public is invited to an exciting and fun evening of (as the invitation says) “fine art, elegant food and drink, and bare-knuckled bidding wars!”  The exhibition will continue through 9 July, after which the works will be delivered to winning buyers. Over 140 works, ranging in price from $50 to several thousand dollars, will be exhibited.

Tickets to the event, which is chaired by Susan Chalmers and AJ Fratarcangelo, are $40 per person ($35 for Museum members).  Wine and beer will be served, with hors d’oeuvres and desserts by Global Gourmet. Bidding will begin at 6:30, and the gavel will come down on sold works by 9pm.

For reservations or more information, contact the Arnot Art Museum's Guest Services Desk at 607.734.3697.

Volunteer Fern

Volunteer Fern, 15"x15", acrylic on wood, 2010
Originally uploaded by l.dates
Volunteer Fern, 15"x15", acrylic on wood, 2010

This painting will be for sale on Friday, June 18, 2010, at the Arnot Art Museum, 235 Lake Street, Elmira, New York. The bidding begins at $200. SOLD!  Thank you, thank you, thank you - for supporting the Arnot Art Museum!!

Volunteer Basil

Volunteer Basil, 15"x15", acrylic on wood, 2010
Originally uploaded by l.dates

Volunteer Basil, 15"x15", acrylic on wood, 2010

This painting will be for sale on Friday, June 18, 2010, at the Arnot Art Museum, 235 Lake Street, Elmira, New York. The bidding begins at $200.

Volunteer Kale

Volunteer Kale, 15"x15", acrylic on wood, 2010
Originally uploaded by l.dates
Volunteer Kale, 15"x15", acrylic on wood, 2010

This painting will be for sale on Friday, June 18, 2010, at the Arnot Art Museum, 235 Lake Street, Elmira, New York. The bidding begins at $200.

*two dollars*

crochet hook booty, found this weekend, at a very amazing household sale!  $2 for a shoe-box filled with thread, scissors, darning eggs and Velcro ALONG with a box filled with hooks.

so here are two tiny hooks that have covers - covered hooks are new to me... here they are uncovered

... and covered

and this little one has some kind of hook on the other end.  what does this do? no clue.

*Exhibit :: Two Girlz*

Two Girlz

Ginne Lupi and Lynn Dates

May 1 - 31, 2010

Reception: Sunday, May 16, 2-5pm

Free and open to the public

Herdessa Confiserie and Cocoa Lounge

150 West Broad Street

Waverly, NY 14892

*just be{e} yourself*

StarWolf is a young contributor to The Gaia Girl's Blog!  Let the young person in your house read the entry - maybe they'll want to begin their own blog! 

Thanks StarWolf, you are a great inspiration!

http://gaiagirls.com/blog/2010/05/06/keeping-bees/

*create*

something unexpected

stain in the bottom of my teacup
left for twelve days
triangular eyes
crooked face
stain from ignorance
from neglect

*create*

H.O.N.E.S.T.Y

Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth. -- Benjamin Disraeli

*create*

T. R. U. T. H.
it is the foundation

*create*

i'm not superstitious, but i always make something to eat on new year's day that could encourage positive happenings in the year. today it's hoppin' john soup! and it turned out so yummy!

Eat poor that day, eat rich the rest of the year.
Rice for riches and peas for peace.
- Southern saying on eating a dish of Hoppin' John on New Year's Day.

Hoppin' John Soup at Saveur.com

*a hint of blue sky*

*tension

currently i'm working with crochet. my grandmother taught me to crochet when i was in elementary school. i still use some of her crochet hooks that she gave to me years ago. i used to attempt to make granny square afghans, but i could never control my tension. i'd begin with what seemed like the correct stitch but by the time i finished a few rows i could barely get the hook through the previous stitches.

i'm feeling less tension these days and picked the yarn and hook back up. last night i even taught myself some new stitches - tunisian crochet - i love it. it looks like it was knitted. i can't knit - i've tried about a million times to teach myself - talk about tension! i hope to incorporate the tunisian into some interesting jewelry. here are some samples of regular crochet - not anything great at this point. i'm trying to figure out what i like and what others might like. my aunt rosemary gave me a huge box of sewing supplies - there were tons of buttons, thread and findings.

above: gray shiny button with gray crochet cotton with pin back


above: yellow fuzzy button (probably from a house coat) with pale blue crochet cotton and pin back

i think these might look nice on a bulky sweater or securing a scarf.

fall inspiration

new pieces: i'm hoping they will all find new homes this month

wool pendants drying in the sun

fabric pendants with bead and silk thread

three babies: 1)alphabet on arms and legs; 2)black bird in pocket; 3)mermaid

one face up close

roving*

i purchased some wool to use with my embellisher, and began experimenting by creating some jewelry. the two pieces below were given as gifts to my little sister and niece this summer when i visited them in north carolina. i am very excited to make more - they will be available at the elmira open studio tour and i'm thinking they will be affordable - this is important. i enjoy making the artwork and i really enjoy when someone leaves with something - i am even open to trading. i have trade for some pretty spectacular work.
xo


riley's necklace

leslie's necklace

here is leslie opening her necklace

Working Hard

This lady is a brand new piece - a little larger than a playing card. Acrylic and collage on wood.

Oval foot girl - acrylic on board in a vintage frame.


Where did the time go? Now I am working hard at getting work together for the Elmira Open Studio Tour. I received my postcards today and can't wait to get them in the mail. Leave me a note in the comments if you'd like a postcard!

Open Studio Thoughts

I'm thinking hard about the Elmira Open Studio Tour - right around the corner - in October. My plan is to have a range of prices and a variety of new work. I've even started some jewelry - I'll post photos soon.

Wondering how to market myself. I have been watching and learning from others but need to represent my true style.

Here are 3 different views of my barrel. The project is pretty interesting. http://www.paintedbarrels.com/ This is the link to the 2009 Finger Lakes painted barrels. There are photos of all of the completed barrels and you have the ability to register and begin bidding.

Regional artists did some of their best work on the ruddy surfaces of the wine barrels. I attached wheels to mine. I envision it in someones back yard, on a deck or near a pool. A great place to stand and share drinks.

On the site you'll also find a map. If you visit at least 25 of the barrels, photograph yourself, save the photos to a disc and send them in to Finger Lakes Wine County you'll be eligible to win a prize - very cool.

a small painting

"Cultivate"
A gift for a friend

1 5/8"x7"
acrylic and collage on walnut

June Graduation

Overnight, 12.5"x15.5", acrylic on wood panel, $150

...was shopping at Corning Building Company a few Sundays ago and found a large number of cabinet doors on the discount rack. They make awesome 'canvases' for painting.

Today is Grandma's 90th birthday - wow! I'm going to see her this morning!

...another stitched figure with some paper.

I pulled out my free motion presser foot and attempted to draw. I like what I see. Maybe I can combine the free-form stitching with my embellisher and some wool for something fun.

Check out the stellar stitching and artwork on the inspiration blog I've been following.
Inspiration: Cathy Cullis

Artistic Process
My approach to painting is unplanned; I follow my instincts when it comes to color and composition. I paint whenever I can, referring back to sketches that I create almost daily. Most of the time I work with acrylic on wood sometimes incorporating collage or mixed media – occasionally I’ll paint a three dimensional object.

On October 10 & 11, 2009, visitors to the Elmira Open Studio Tour will easily find their way to my first floor studio after viewing my most recent work, hung gallery style in my entrance-way and living room. They will have the opportunity to watch me work on a painting, view my materials and ‘check out’ my inspiration, which is dripping from every nook of my studio.

Artist Statement
More recently I have a renewed interest in painting. I have been presenting distorted figures in random representations of the human condition. I hope that viewers might sense an unspoken but understood commonality and ambivalence. I am working to understand the metaphors I attach to the basic daily events of a simple life through color and placement of figures.