Slowing Down to Catch Up installed at thefashioncenter -NYC

View from Inside Looking Out

Installing the work...
flashback from my Visual Merchandising
days at Macy's Herald Square

Laurette Kovary lending her astute installation eye
Notice the Button Logo!

Jerry Scupp, Deputy Director of the Fashion Center
and all around art friend

Tuesday was installation day for my window at thefashioncenter at 209 West 28th St.. It was a beautiful sunny summer day and I had a great time putting it all together. Setting it up in my studio was an important way to get a sense of how the work goes together but actually putting the work in the space took on a new life....

Here are some installation shots including one of Jerry Scupp, deputy director (and visionary) of thefashioncenter sitting in my From Where I Sit Chair.

There were actually some fun "serendipitious coincidences (are there really any?) The work is part of my Inherently Found series where I am interested in what we find and how it takes on a life of its own in a new context. As I was unpacking my nets from the bubble wrap behind the window, I found a small button with a drop of paint on it. That button made its way into my piece as it hangs from one of the nets that are clustered together. There are also other buttons in my piece. My great friend and art buddy Laurette Kovary came into meet me just as it was coming together and she noticed that logo of thefashioncenter is a button.... naturally, don't ya just love when that happens... its like a signpost telling you that you are on the right track!


Have you noticed any cool "signs" lately?

HAPPY Birthday, thank you

Had a great birthday! Thank you all for your good wishes from near and far, past and present.

Feel very blessed in so many ways.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. ” —Sophia Loren (1934-); actress

Slowing Down to Catch Up - from where I Sit

Dain Simons came by the other night to photograph my work for my Fashion Center Installation http://www.fashioncenter.com/.

It was fun "staging" the pieces so he could shoot them here before I bring the work to NYC where it will be exhibited at:

209 West 38th Street, New York, NY 10018

I felt like the director in improvisational theatre. All the "actors" were present and ready to go, they were all part of a cohesive idea but the role they would play in the whole would be fluid. It was great working with Dain as I moved pieces around and asked him to shoot from different angles. Here are some shots from that evening. It will be interesting to see how the work changes in the space.

The piece is titled Slowing Down to Catch Up and is from my Inherently Found Series.

Reception for Koi Pond Series at Empowered Yoga, Newark, DE

Artist Reception today 7/17/10 at Empowered Yoga Studio, Newark, DE  5:30- 8:30 pm

Koi #3
acrylic on cradled board
16"x16"
©2010NanciHersh
SOLD

Koi #1
acrylic on cradled board
11"x14"
©2010NanciHersh
SOLD

The Koi Pond Series grew out of an intention to feel centered or grounded in a time of

transition. Our family relocated to Pennsylvania, and our new home has a beautiful koi

pond stocked with fish in the backyard. This has become a sanctuary for me to sit,

meditate, practice yoga, and paint.

Pond life is continually moving and changing with the weather, the seasons, as well as

moment to moment. Some of the smaller pieces are snapshots - moments frozen in

time. The larger paintings and mixed media drawings are more like the water itself,

constantly in flux, with life shifting above and below the surface. Process and presence

are part of an ongoing investigation and connection to something larger than self.

Hope to see you there!

That Elusive "X"

I realized that making art is often like a treasure hunt. Sometimes, I want to go right to the X, the treasure/ the finished piece. BUT, each step is a clue to the next one, and like a treasure map it is not always linear or clear. Lately, while working on my wire, pulp and encaustic pieces- primarily the forks, knives, spoons, and nets, it has been frustrating the heck out of me. I can appreciate the process but it has been a challenge not quite seeing how they work together, how they hang, and more specifically how I am going to put it all together when I install the work in the window at the Fashion Center at 209 West 38th Street in Manhattan in two weeks (!)

While in my studio today I reflected on the process and the treasure map analogy and I could see how each step along the way has informed or moves me to the X ... whatever that may be.

My friend Marian sagely pointed out, that like in life that X is not always clear and changes and evolves. So for the next two weeks, the boys are in camp and I have the luxury of going into my studio and continuing on this great adventure of making art and gaining insight along the way.

Back home and ready to work...

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of travel first to Hawaii, then West Virginia and Rehobeth Beach. It was great stepping into my former life in Hawaii with friends in Honolulu and on the North Shore. Went there to celebrate my dear friend and former employer Pegge Hopper's birthday and for my teacher and Dept. Chair of Printmaking at University of Hawaii, Allyn Bromley's retrospective opening at The Contemporary Museum http://www.tcmhi.org/cal_exhibits.htm. Two incredible women, whose work as artists http://www.peggehopper.com/and vibrant members of the art community in Hawaii is far reaching. They both at ages 75 and 82 respectively, look incredible as well!

Now back home, my Koi Pond Series is hung at Empowered Yoga Studio in Newark,DE and am getting ready for the reception next Saturday, July 17, 5:30 - 8:30 pm.

Also, continue to work on my nets for my installation at Fashion Center's 38th St. window... boys go to camp next week and I am looking forward to a block of time to be with the work and put it all together.