I’m intrigued by visual conversations of value, color, line, pattern, layers, and texture. Merging the wonder and excitement of Life into my art offers viewers opportunities to explore belonging, connection, potentiality and transformation. We all can feel more alive.
I create through an intuitive, spontaneous process balanced with conscious choice making. Transparent and opaque layers overlap pattern and texture. Colors relate synergistically. Each layer informs subsequent layers which may then be partially swiped or scraped away. I consider myself an evolving artist as I continue to learn about materials and the process and craft of painting. Exploration and discovery nourish my creativity.
My narratives are portrayed in water media, collage and encaustic. The more ancient encaustic combined with newer mediums is a metaphor for the Past’s continued resonation through the Present and into the Future.
March 5th was the one year anniversary of the freelittleartgallery_ws1. AMAZING!
March 2022 had some warmer weather, some rain, snow flurries, and cold days. It was a slower month for people TAKING art, but here’s the art that passed through the gallery that I was able to catch and photograph:
Megan Schoeps, #dragonflyblueprintMichelle Schenket, #aqua_hartrepurposed gift card tagpainted rock, KH??Smooth Ray, smoothray.comearrings
Things were moving slowly, so STREAMERS were added to the free little art gallery. They really catch your eye when the wind is blowing!
Ellen Murphy, #ellenbakesellensewsMarch 19, 2022Elese Elysée, #FreeArtWinstonSalem
MORE encouragement to TAKE art!!
BEADS!! for the taking!Elese Elysée, #FreeArtWinstonSalemMarch 20, 2022Photograph Card, unknown artistPhotograph Card, unknown artist
Looking forward to April with new and previous artists contributing to the fun, and new and previous patrons taking art to enjoy or pass on to someone else…
Whoopee, the free little art gallery is back thanks to talented, local artist/craftsperson, Mark Pashayan!!! Gallery viewers, art recipients, walkers and joggers have expressed gratitude that the whimsical, create-and-share has returned to the 1700 block of Virginia Road!!
Grand re-opening art included some pieces that quickly moved out to new forever homes:
Wood turning, Mark PashayanGlass bauble, Mark PashayanWatercolor, @aqua_hart, Michelle Schenker
Then we had a weekend of windy, RAINY weather…
But FLAG2 was quickly back for creativity sharing:
All of the following items were donated to the free little art gallery this month!
@ellenbakesellensewsunknown artistunknown artist
December 6, 2021
Ellen Murphyunknown artistelese elesées#freeartfridaysuzAelese elysées
enthusiastic gallery patrons, December 12, 2021
December 12, 2021Michelle H Schwenker#ellenbakesellensews
Alas, after those mid-December rains, there was standing water in the gallery again. The remaining art was stored til reopening when the gallery was for repairs. Upon review, it was decided to remove the gallery for SERIOUS repairs. It’s now in the hands of contributor Mark Pashayan for rehab or perhaps an entirely new gallery!!
The weather got colder for awhile, and traffic past the gallery as well as contributions to the gallery decreased. And when people did go by, they seemed to be walking faster 😉
On a warmer day, I got to meet the charming Deacon who left the thank you note last month. He and his grandmother often have the gallery as a destination on their walks.
A sweet thank you notefrom Deacon
The art donated to the gallery in November:
found object assemblage, SuzApainted tile, UKAgelli print, SuzAabstract, Pickles the Corgifound object assemblage, SuzArecycled canvas into a pincoloring by Beckett (age 3.5)painted rocks, UKANovember 12, 2021
I hope the creative contributions increase in December.
The gallery started October with a full exhibit and continued to sport a cookie sheet clipped to the roof to prevent further rain damage. The copper sheeting arrived but during installation, it became apparent the copper would become dangerously hot in the afternoon sun, so the cookie sheet was popped back on.
Here is the known art that passed through the gallery in October. Joan m Carter, in Texas, mailed quite a few items for our neighborhood’s pleasure, and we are most grateful for her generous contributions. Also, local artists Mark Pashayan and Ellen Murphy were frequent contributors. Please consider what creativity YOU might share!!
@joancarter4549
Mark Pashayan
Joan m Carter
@joancarter4549
unknown artist
Joan m Carter
Bouquet, SuzA
Spotasaurus, SuzA
Joan m Carter
Joan m Carter
Mark Pashayan
October 19, 2021
Ellen Murphy
Joan m Carter
Ellen Murphy
Ladybug, SuzA
October 27, 2021
A sweet thank you note
from Deacon
Encouragement for the freelittleartgallery_ws1 came from Deacon. Having young supporters and contributors makes the gallery all the more special!!
time for repairs
fresh paint
roof sealing spray??
It seemed wise to close the gallery for Halloween– time for repairs of spraying flex seal on the roof and filling holes and repainting the walls and floor. The gallery will be reopened any day now.
FEEL GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFTS WE CAN SHARE WITH EACH OTHER
September weather included hot days and rainy days, yet new art continued to be installed and taken by local art creators and patrons. The gallery received a lot of positive comments from people walking by who always look to see what’s new, sometimes taking an item, sometimes adding one, but mostly in the spirit of appreciation.
After a few days of hard rain, it became apparent the roof caulking wasn’t enough and there was standing water in the gallery. Again. So much for ‘weathering future storms in style.!! I ran out at 3 a.m. to put a baking sheet on the roof!!! Hopefully, that copper sheeting will arrive and I’ll figure out how to best attach it (fingers crossed).
Here are the items I was able to photograph before they moved to new homes. Unmarked or illegible items are unkown artist (UKA):
It’s been a month with lots of positive comments from people walking by!!! They all appreciate the whimsy and beauty the Free Little Art Gallery brings to their daily walks. Several artists from out of state have mailed artwork to offer in our neighborhood gallery…. how much fun is that!?
We had LOTS of rain with wind at times, and there was water in the gallery!!! The small bench’s wood glue dissolved, and some art on paper got a bit curly. The gallery’s been dried out, caulked, and a copper roof has been ordered. The bench has been re-glued, and the gallery will weather future storms in style.
Remember, when you take items, it leaves room for new ones to be installed!!
Here’s what’s currently installed or has moved through the gallery the past month:
Watercolor, UKA
Watercolor, UKA
Motherunitdesigns on IG
Ceramic Happy Face necklace, UKA
Pouncing Kitty, UKA
Glass Ornament, UKA
Abstracts created by Pickles the Corgi!!! Pickles licks peanut butter off plastic bags in which canvas and paint have been sealed.
weaving, UKA
Gouache Street Scene, UKA
weaving, UKA
Wood Turned Bowl, Mark Pashayan
String&Bead Ring, UKA
Sun, MotherUnitDesigns (IG)
Yard Art Day 2021 Installation: Rainbow Bottle Garden with flowers from repurposed magazine images, chocolate boxes and plastic sign holders.
MAY THE FUN AND JOY CONTINUE. THE WORLD THRIVES ON GENEROSITY!!
Gotta love this gal!!! Not all gallery patrons appreciate some of the pieces left in the gallery, and that’s okay. Each viewer brings her/his own experiences and preferences to the interpretation and appreciation of art works. We welcome Crabby Critic to our rotating group of ‘little people’!
Here is an update on pieces that are either in the gallery as of this date or have been taken by passersby:
sculpey gnome, UKA
glass suncatcher charm, Bonnie Phillips
Summer Fun earrings, bottle caps, beads, nail polish, Jeanie Wilson
Serene Moments, mixed media collage, Susan Andre
Crocheted Basket, Ellen Murphy
Crocheted Flowers, Ellen Murphy
New Free Little Art Gallery Lettering, July 29_2021
Maybe there were fewer people passing by on those HOT days we had in the past few weeks, but items have not been moving as quickly through the gallery!! These are are what have been displayed since the last update:
Susan André 