A Curious Trend...Just Wondering

Wondering

Handcolored photo with watercolor pencils

Illustration from book-

Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings:

When someone you love has cancer...

a hopeful, helpful book for kids

AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVAL DIGITAL PRINT

www.butterflykissesbook.com

©2010McVicker&Hersh,LLC

Has someone stuck that sign on MY back? I have noticed a curious trend in my career...

Someone wants to use a piece in a brochure, another wants to include my work in a slideshow in Asia, a third wants me to do a presentation and workshops at an elementary school in her town, and another contacted me today... would I be interested in presenting to art teachers locally for an inservice day this week. The common denominator is that there is no financial

compensation available. Did I file for 501C inadvertently?

In the end I have agreed to them. (and say I need to be paid for one that involves travel) I want to get my work out there and support my community. I have also noticed that in the case of our book, Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: when someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids. when we give without expectations it comes back to us in spades.

Point me in the direction of the magical place where good karma and good business intersect!

(what) Rhymes with Orange

(what) Rhymes with Orange
©2010NanciHersh

no idea. but I do believe...She is in a class of her own.

love child of yellow and red

but there is nothing secondary about her.

The big sister of peach

Who lives life out loud

shouts "look at me"

without raising her voice.

Succulent orange

Birds of Paradise fly on her back

Radiates warmth with her fiery breath... shimmers on scales, smooth petals

pumpkin flesh

Cadmium yellow deep.

deep.

copyright2010NanciHersh

Road Trip (Blog Triage- Intro & Lesson #1)

Road Trip

©2010NanciHersh

Laughing Buddha

©2010NanciHersh

Autumn is a great time for a road trip - a tapestry of rich hues of orange, golds, reds and yellows, crisp weather and the scent of pine needles permeate the air. This week along with my hikes throughout scenic White Clay Creek Park near my home, and road trips to visit family and friends, I am embarking on a journey in cyberworld.

I have signed up for ArtBizCoach Blog Triage Class online. Hosted/ taught/ led by Alyson B. Standfield and Cynthia Morris .

My intention in signing up is for two reasons: Clarity and Connection.

Clarity....why I do what I do, and what it is I am doing, and for Connection with other artists, art lovers, and adventurers in an online community that allows and empowers each other to bring their work in whatever form it is, to others in their neighborhood and beyond. Lofty? nah, I like to think.... GO BIG OR GO HOME!

Who is my reader? Your age, gender, or where you hang your hat - is irrelevent.

What I am interested in is how you show up in the world, are you creative? interested in conversation, perhaps collaboration and how can we infuse each other with inspiration and energy to bring our vision, our craft, our ideas into the world.

ARTrashTransformation

Vik Muniz

Rain Shower in the Studio, after Baron Reteniz von Stillfried,
from Rebus, 2008
Digital C-print
98 x 71 inches

Vik Muniz

Took the Double Happiness bus up to NYC city yesterday. Had business to take care of that didn't allow for gallery hopping (though people watching, as always in the Big Apple is a visual feast in itself)

Upon my return however, I did a virtual tour of the recent Vik Muniz exhibition at his NYC gallery site Sikkema Jenkins and Company. http://www.sikkemajenkinsco.com/vikmuniz_works.html.

My introduction to the artist and his work was through a recent write up in the Sunday, New York Times about Muniz' recent show at Sikkema Jenkins and a documentary about his work,

"Waste Land." http://www.fastcompany.com/1698070/wasteland-lucy-walker-vik-muniz-jardim-gramacho. The title of the article, Where Art Meets Trash and Transforms Life and images are rich, and when we examine the work and the process of creating these images we see so much more.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/arts/design/24muniz.html

Drawing from his Brazilian roots and his compassion for others, his collaborative work with the "catadores" or Brazilian garbage pickers has expanded and torn down the "walls" that we often let define us as artists. Using the workers and the garbage that they pick in a new and beautiful context offers possibilities that have far reaching impact.

Boxes of Butterfly Kisses (Books! that is...) and "I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends)

Griffin with our fleece blanket...

Ellen and I recently received our 4th edition copies of our book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids. http://www.butterflykissesbook.com/ It is just 4 years when we launched our book and our joint endeavor in conjunction with the Art of Survival and the Olivia Newton John concert at Count Basie. In that time we have connected with so many incredible people all over the world! The internet is an amazing tool, and one that I know we have only begun to tap into.

Ellen and I do this (getting our book and message to families who need it) inbetween taking care of our families, our careers and whatever else comes our way. It is truly a give and take. Right now I am a week away from celebrating my son Griffin's bar mitzvah and have been immersed in not only preparations for his service and celebrations following, but it has been a real time of reflection of how religion plays a part in our contemporary lives. Then, just for an added twist, Griffin's nose accidently collided with a friend's hand while horsing around and he went in for surgery last week! Healing is not going as quickly as we helped, but thankgoodness for the Temple Beth El community and beyond helping me with the Bar Mitzvah TO DO LIST.

Thankfully, Ellen is right there taking care of things for McVicker and Hersh, and now my friend Marian is helping reach out to hospitals and cancer centers. It certainly takes a village.

Grounds for Success at Grounds for Sculpture

Chakaia Booker

Chakaia Booker

Mid Atlantic Grand Prix, New Castle, DE


Earlier this month, the NJSCA hosted along with the the Artists-in-Education Consortium, Perkins Center for the Arts, and Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey a multi- day Artist Training for AIE Artists at the Johnson Center for Arts at Grounds for Sculpture. It's always energzing to meet and share experiences working in various teaching situations with other artists of all disciplines.

I was a presenter/panelist for the workshop titled Successful Strategies for Challenging School Environments

along with percussionist, Rudy Bird, and poet, writer Andy Hoffmann and moderated by Aysia Souder from the Playwrights Theatre. We have all been in challenging school environments, presenters and attendees alike, and collectively we came up with some suggestions and strategies, that upon reviewing can be helpful in and OUTSIDE of the classroom (kind of like, yoga off the mat!)

Here is what our break out group came up with:

1.In planning meeting, LISTEN to what the expectations are of all participants, and then

look at how you can meet their needs

2. Address their expectations.

3. Set clear boundaries/ ground rules before residency begins. How much time does

your art form require. Set up time? Clean up time? One of our workshop participants

- Steven provides a handout of his guide for a successful workshop. On it he also

provides all his contact info so he can present the written

guidelines within a positive framework.

4.Know what you can offer- and BE ABLE TO SELL WHAT YOU DO. Remember they

hired you for who you are. Be professional. Be confident.

5.How do you define success in a challenging environment? Set realistic goals for

school.

6. Remember to make friends with school secretary so you are aware of unexpected

changes in school calendar (school closings, half days, testing, fire drills, etc.) and of

course, the Custodian.

Following the session I took the opportunity spend some time at Grounds for Sculpture http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/ in an absolutely beautiful September day.

Featured in the main gallery is Chakaia Booker's sculptures from her Eminent Domain series. The work is truly unique with her use of rubber inner tubing and tires. The pieces are fluid, flowing and very powerful.

I love when I see an artist find a medium that is utilitzed and manipulated in such a way that you can never look at the material even in its 'common use state' again without seeing it's possibilities. note the tire shots from Mid Atlantic Grand Prix, that were taken this past weekend from my sons birthday party!

Rabbits,Rabbits,Rabbits

A Nobler Truth. 1988, Acrylic on canvas

copyright2010NanciHersh

Monoprint3, 2010

copyright2010NanciHersh

Finis, 2010

copyright2010NanciHersh

Swimming Thru My Head, 2010

copyright2010NanciHersh

The first of the month is always Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits day... I have no idea why. But since I have always had a thing for those fluffy bunnies I figure it must have something to do with new beginnings - Lapins are so prolific in the reproduction dept. - it seems fitting.

New month, new school year and back to routine after summer time lazy hazy and sometimes busy crazy daze.

I spent the day yesterday with friends working in my studio using my press to create monoprints...get those creative juices flowing once again. The DCCA is holding their annual fundraiser on Oct. 23 with their Small Art BIG AUCTION, http://www.thedcca.org/eventssmallartbigauction2010.html so I completed a piece for the event.

It is supposed to be a blind auction in that you don't know who the artist is so I am posting a few from yesterday to be a little coy with one of my rabbit paintings thrown in for good measure.

Happy Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits!