New work, new camera, and a new look for an old piece

(Above:  Detail of Lancet Window XLII.  Click on any image in this blog post for an enlargement.)

The photo above was not altered in Photoshop ... not one tiny bit!  Yes, that means I bought to new camera.  I'm the proud owner of a Canon Power Shot SX700HS.  I really should have made the purchase before our trip to Barcelona but ... well ... it just didn't work out.


(Above:  Lancet Window XLII. Inventory # 3163.  Unframed: 28" x 8"; framed: 31 1/4" x 11 1/4". $375 plus tax and shipping.)

I'm really happy how these images of my new work look.  I've got several other pieces under construction.

(Above:  Lancet Window XLIII.  Inventory # 3164.  Unframed: 28" x 8"; framed: 31 1/4" x 11 1/4". $375 plus tax and shipping.)

This summer I plan on making plenty of new work in anticipation of my solo show at the Durham Arts Council.  I've also got several other commitments for new work and even new writing!  Yes, I've got a deadline for an upcoming essay ... that will be published!  I'm a bit nervous but mostly excited.

(Above:  Jeana and I melting fiber art in the garage.)

The only way I get all my work finished is because I have a great studio assistant, Jeana.  Don't we look stylish with our matching respirators!


(Above:  Strata XII.  12" x 12".)

I also turned in this piece for an upcoming charity fund-raiser, the AIDS Benefit Foundation's annual Dining With Friends Dessert Finale. The event will be on June 21st.  I've donated to this event for years.  The cause is so worthwhile, especially considering that South Carolina ranks eighth in the nation in the rate of new AIDS cases annually.  Columbia ranks sixth in the nation among large metropolitan areas in the rate of new AIDS cases.  This is shameful ... but at least I'm trying to do my part!

Believe it or not, this is NOT new work.  I created eleven pieces in a series called "Strata" back in 2007.  They were in only one exhibit.  I've been blogging long enough that I can say "CLICK HERE" to see how this piece originally looked.  Each one was mounted on a linen mat and framed under glass.  Only a few sold.

Since then, the work was removed from their frames and shrink-wrapped.  So ... I decided to cut Strata IX in half and stretch it over the 12" x 12" canvas provided by the AIDS Benefit Foundation for their charity event.  It was much easier than creating something new.  I actually like the result much better than the original look ... so much so that I just ordered ten, pre-stretched canvases.  I'm going to cut the remaining work from the Strata Series in half and make them all into nice, attractive squares!  More photos will be coming!


(Above:  My friend Paul Moore ... who dropped by Mouse House to donate several large cones of thread for my upcoming installation!  Thank you, Paul!)

In the meantime, I'm still spending my evenings unraveling old thread.  This week Paul Moore dropped by another donation!  Thank you, Paul!


(Above:  Bourbon, a new bar on Main Street ... with two, beautifully framed flat-screen televisions!)

Last week I framed two flat-screened televisions for a new bar/restaurant on Main Street called Bourbon.  This evening was "First Thursday" on Main Street.  Steve and I enjoyed several galleries and popped inside the door of Bourbon long enough to snap this photo of the two, lovely, flat-screened televisions on the wall!

I am linking this blog post to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Fridays", a site for sharing fiber artwork.