Darra Crosby
Every morning on my way to the studio, I pop into Stumptown Coffee and get my large latte. By the way, I believe the Stumptown is now open inside the new Ace Hotel in New York… Go in and have a cup of joe and see why I can’t function without my latte.
All the Stumptowns in Portland grace incredible art shows on the walls, and this month’s work at the Division St. location is no exception. Darra Crosby is a local artist who gives chalkboards life again. The environments she creates are simply breathtaking, be it a chalkboard drawing or an erased drawing. She describes her drawn environments here:
“Tapping into my memory, I start at the front door of each of the significant homes I have lived or spent time in, drawing every detail I can recall. I work room by room, corner to corner overlapping each view. The more discernible objects and areas are made permanent with paint, while those left in chalk represent the fragile memories flirting with disappearance. I struggle to capture the minute details of each room as I think I experienced them”
I missed her opening last night, for I had my own opening, but I so wanted to be there! Her work is so beautifully layered and oh so clever. I want to take it all home. She also has a side business called The Crosbie (love that) which was started with some friends. Check out her new web site and her blog for more info about this prolific artist.
15 7th ave.- chalk and acrylic paint on chalkboard- 24×24 -2007
e. 49th st.- erased pencil and and acrylic on vellum, 10×14 -2009
Besty Walton
Another now local artist I love is Betsy Walton. What’s not to love about a sweet gal from Kansas? She is also a creator of her own imaginative environments, but out of doors and in harmony with nature. Wisps of smoke and leaves, feathers and ghosts of homes, dresses and folks. You can stare at one of her works for a long time, look away, then look back and see something new. Her work is also featured on a Third Drawer Down tea towel, entitled "Dandelion Tea" that I must get my hands on. See it all on Betsy’s beautiful web site, morningcraft.com, and her Etsy shop, full of her gorgeous prints.
Embers, June 2009, 11×14, acrylic gouache on panel
2009 Kokeshi Show
Betsy, I and a plethora of others are in the Kokeshi Show this July at the Japanese American National Museum in LA, curated by the lovely Christina Conway. If you’re in the LA area on July 11th, please come by! A lot of us are making the trek for the show. It is also the weekend of the LA Renegade Craft Fair, so you can kill two crafty birds with one fancy stone. View Betsy’ lovely Kokeshi doll here on her Flickr stream… You won’t want to stop there! Google "2009 Kokeshi Show" and it will take you to many an artist’s blog or Flickr stream to view each of their amazing pieces. Or… just plain come to the show!
Women of (RED)
Speaking of art by the masses, today begins a four-week series of interviews by Converse called "Women of (RED)". It features some of the women artists who worked with Converse on the 1HUND(RED) series. And… I am humbled to be the first interview posted! So you can read up about myself and other talented ladies there as the days progress.
JDUCT
In these hard times, we’re all wanting to hang onto our money a little bit more. And something so precious to you must be kept in a good place. My dear friend Jen Woffinden at JDUCT has a bright and humorous line of wallets and flasks for just that purpose. Made with meticulously cut duct tape, each design is fresh and fun. I HAVE to have the Wonder Woman wallet. And the ‘drunken squirrel’ flask just cracks me up! Find it all at her Etsy shop. Jen is also a regular on Alberta Street on Last Thursday in Portland, so search her out if you’re in the area.
ha. it’s funny… ’cause it’s true ;)
Monsieur T
Monsieur T has an amazing line of tees, and I thought this t-shirt was fitting with the recent news of the Senate endorsing increased regulation of tobacco. And it’s on sale!
Hungry Eyeball
I have been tooting Portland’s horn all week, and I could keep going day after day if time allowed. It really is a fantastic community for creative entrepreneurs. So if you ever plan to visit Portland, or you already made the move to live and create here like so many others, find out what’s happening by visiting the Hungry Eyeball, a "visual art buffet served in Portland, OR". This is your day by day calendar to refer to when you want to know what’s going down, founded by the sweet Greg "Eye" Pitters. You can also sign up to receive an email newsletter of what’s happening art-wise, so you never miss a beat. You can also view interviews and videos of local artsits. The site just got rolling, but I think it will be well on it’s way soon enough!
Thanks everyone for letting me ramble to you every day! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and that your summer is friend-filled and fun. Cheers!
Signing off…
~@my
