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These pieces are the first of my left-handed work.  Well, I used my right hand too;  but since it is currently in a cast ( from a bike + pothole spill in September), it really isn’t very helpful.

I had a quick preview of the show, and there are some gems to see and snag.  So stop by the official preview on Thursday night and the opening on Friday night to pick your favorites!  Details and previews at Think Small 6.

The View – Evening

Historic Richmond Foundation is hosting the River View Event, a party and art auction on October 6, to raise awareness of the view of the James River that gave Richmond its name.  William Byrd II was struck by the similarity of the view of the James from Libby Hill to the view of the Thames from Richmond Hill at Richmond-Upon-Thames, England.  This is the piece I am donating.  It is a 12″ x 18″ oil on linen.  Join the party at Libby Hill Terrace on October 6 and have a look for yourself!

It is officially summer in Richmond, and the days are warming up accordingly.  What better way to cool off than to spend some time looking at new art in local galleries.  Two group shows will open this Friday, June 24 offering cool space for a hot time.  Check out the [work] 2011 show at the Visual Arts Center for a look at new work by faculty, staff, and board members with an opening reception 6-8 PM.  Then move on to artspace with a gallery talk and reception 6-10 PM for the juried show radius 250 featuring work by artists living within a 250 mile radius of Richmond.  And, yes, this is clearly self-promotion, since I am happy to be included in both shows!

Recently I had the great pleasure of helping with Patrick Dougherty’s new installation at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Diamond in the Rough. And yes, this is a belated post, since the piece was completed a couple of weeks ago. There was so much to enjoy about working on this project: learning how these things are put together, learning how to draw with sticks, enjoying the smell of the material and the feel of the spaces, meeting new people and working with other volunteers, helping Patrick’s assistant Andy on the highest dome (on my birthday!), watching Patrick work, and having a chance to get to know him. Patrick is a remarkable artist and a remarkable person. Unlike an artist working alone in a studio, Patrick depends on the help of volunteers and is very aware of the community aspect of his work. He has to be open to whatever happens at the hands of his helpers, to be willing to not be in total control. As any artist, he begins with an idea – in this case a grid of eleven diamonds – and reacts and adjusts as the piece develops. Throughout the process, Patrick was sincere and generous with viewers and helpers alike. Now that the working is done, he has left behind not only a truly delightful installation to be enjoyed by many people in many different ways but also a sort of lovely cloud of kindness and generosity that has settled upon the many people he encountered during his three week stay here – one that surely gathers and settles wherever he finishes a project. It is not only the site of his installation that is changed by his work, but the people too!

Diamond in the Rough will be at the gardens for a long while, but it will change over time. So visit soon and visit often. You won’t be disappointed!

Patrick Doherty

Almost finished

Andy on the roof

Looking through

March 3 – 26

Saturday, March 19, 10:30 – 12:30

Coffee in the gallery

Saturday, March 26, 2:00 PM

Closing day artist’s talk

Please join us for these upcoming events!

Regular hours: M – F 10-6, Sat. 11-4, or by appointment

This is the newest drawing from my studio.  It is also the oldest.  I began working on this image about eleven years ago and have worked on it on and off over the years with long spans (years!) in between. Twice before I tried to finish it for shows but was unable to make the image come together as a whole. Recently, I decided to give it one last go before permanently retiring it, and it seems the time was right.  The drawing is now hanging at Quirk, waiting to be seen at the opening this Thursday night.  It is the largest piece in the show, over one hundred times larger than the smallest pieces which are tiny collages like this one:

Clearly there is a range of work in the show, so stop by and see how it all fits together!

The show at Quirk will open next Thursday, March 3 with a preview reception 5:00-7:00.  The First Friday reception will be March 4, 7:00-10:00.  Please stop in if you can!  The show will include mixed media sculpture, assemblage, and collage as well as drawings and clay work.  It will be up through March 26.  See more details below.

At the end of last year I took a clay class at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond to learn more about the possibilities that clay has to offer.  In one class we learned how to make clay whistles, and I immediately became enchanted by them.  The shape reminded me of pods, spores, and organelles, and I pulled out my old botany book for inspiration.  I love the way these feel in my hand as I shape and carve them and the way each develops into its own particular form.  But most of all, I love that these little sculptural objects have a secret life: they make a sound, a beautiful note – hollow like the hoot of an owl.  It is really silly how much I enjoy working with these little chunks of clay (an addiction really),  but I see no reason to pass up delight!

I expect to have a small bunch of these in the March show at Quirk, so come by and take a look.