It is unbelievable that the Open Studio and all of the Holiday Buzz is over...sort of. There was so much going on, and there is still so much that's whirling around in an exciting swirl of possibility that I feel like I am in a Holy Daze.
The New Year will bring good things to The Studio, to my life, to my city, and I am excited for all the developments. Looking forward to seeing more old friends, making more new ones, and general merriment and joy!
The Studio: a funky gift shop and gallery created by Melissa McCarthy, artist and bon vivant. 50 Canal Street, Laconia NH. 603.455.8008. Regular hours Wednesday - Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-3. Special events monthly; see calendar for updates. Every Tuesday at The Studio Local Outbreak, a great music program records live - check out http://ipmnation.com/local-outbreak for information!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Open Studio (thrilling) Updates
In spite of today's snow, I've gotten a lot accomplished, especially if one counts drinking coffee and napping (never mutually exclusive!) as "a lot". The Open Studio is shaping up so wonderfully: Donna Catanzaro is bringing her Saint Cards and other work, including her book "Do We Have Enough Stuff Yet?", Kate Lemay is doing some new work, Cathy Brennan is bringing stuffed "Snow Folk" modeled more after Calvin & Hobbes than Frosty. Stunning Stacey Lucas is bringing her Grown Up Hula Hoops and more, and there will be sign-ups for a Hoop Making Workshop at The Studio on January 2nd. Gail Smuda is bringing some of her wonderful work, including her not-to-be-missed felted bead bracelets. And Jim Tyrell is bringing his CD's with him; don't forget he is playing from 3 o'clock until he has to go...He'll be at the Black Cat Cafe in Laconia later Saturday night. Sunday will bring more fun; it's also the Open House Day for all of the Downtown Laconia shops, so you'll be able to wander across the river to hit the local stores. Santa and Mrs. Santa will be at the Historic Belknap Mill, too!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Holiday Open Studio
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Time is on my side
Having given notice at my "day job" has given me newfound energy for working at/in The Studio. Yesterday was the first day of training my replacement, and by agreement with my boss I left work at 1pm and was in the studio by 1:30. I've had so little time during weekdays to be there, it was a thrill, and I had 3 visitors who saw the notice that it was open on the landing and made the trek up to see it.
The time feels both essential and luxurious....
The time feels both essential and luxurious....
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
It isn't often that one is given the opportunity to use one's creative energy in a way that isn't predominantly self-serving, but when the opportunity arises, boy, is it a nice thing! A desire to create change in My Fair City, fortuitous introductions and (almost) indefatigable optimism are conspiring to change my life in big, happy ways!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
It takes time...
Someone asked me recently if the new studio took up more of my time. I had to explain that I'd love for the new studio to take more of my time, that I'd love to have more time to give it. I love being in the space; I would love even more if the studio could be the first place I went in the morning to begin my day. Right now it's a challenge to balance The Day Job and the energy it requires (some days it takes more than others...) with The House, The Dog, The Friends, The Other Commitments... with the time I'd like to be working in The Studio.
I realize that, in the grand scheme of things, I've only been there a few months and have done quite a lot of settling in. There are currently two activities, Tai Chi and Bellydancing, that are using the space, with more to come. But I get impatient, and want to go-go-go and do-do-do (and it's odd that those 2 words don't rhyme...). Learning, in many ways, to appreciate process -- damn it!
I realize that, in the grand scheme of things, I've only been there a few months and have done quite a lot of settling in. There are currently two activities, Tai Chi and Bellydancing, that are using the space, with more to come. But I get impatient, and want to go-go-go and do-do-do (and it's odd that those 2 words don't rhyme...). Learning, in many ways, to appreciate process -- damn it!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Home on the Range
I don't know what it is about New York City, but the energy, especially the art energy is unmistakable, and (unfortunately) un-bottle-able. Last week I was there for the opening of A Book About Death at the Emily Harvey Foundation Gallery (http://abookaboutdeath.blogspot.com/) and for a FluxFest performance at The Boiler in Brooklyn. I performed my own original score, "Breath Piece", and assisted with Reed Altemus' performance of Luc Ferien's "Rose Piece" as well as Carol Starr's "Red Circle Piece (for Allan Revich)". I hadn't done any Fluxus performance work before, and had assisted in two pieces at the opening the previous night (Cecil Touchon's "Requiem for a Rubber Band" and Keith Buchholz' spoken word piece (the title of which I can't remember; sorry Keith!) Video of these performances here, and other shots of the opening as well http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/2139753
So, why the rambling? My intention for The Studio is to create a space locally where this kind of activity could take place and be happily attended, a place to expose New Hampshire residents (and visitors) to performance work, especially Fluxus work, which can sometimes be more accessible to a wide variety of people than some other forms of performance work. But how to infuse this small New Hampshire city with even a little of the energy of New York?!
That's my dilemma and my challenge, but also my pleasure!
So, why the rambling? My intention for The Studio is to create a space locally where this kind of activity could take place and be happily attended, a place to expose New Hampshire residents (and visitors) to performance work, especially Fluxus work, which can sometimes be more accessible to a wide variety of people than some other forms of performance work. But how to infuse this small New Hampshire city with even a little of the energy of New York?!
That's my dilemma and my challenge, but also my pleasure!
Friday, September 11, 2009
New York, New York
I can't believe that in the 2 days that I've been here I have seen and done more than I have all year at home. Openings, both my own and others, galleries, restaurants, laughter, wine and meeting artists whom I've worked and corresponded with for years "in person" for the first time...it's all been a full and amazing trip.
The hotel where I'm staying (The Jane, http://thejanenyc.com/) is home to one of the hottest bars in town. When we got back from the opening and "afterparty" there were lines of people waiting to get in, bouncers, police escorts. Thankfully I'd brought my key; I brandished it above my head and said, "I'm staying here".... The bouncer took my elbow, hollered "Hotel guest, move, move, hotel guest!"...the doorman hollered " 'otel gaste! 'otel gaste!" -- and the crowds parted. Fortunately, I was wearing my black bar glasses http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2256, so no one knew it was only me!
I can't wait to use the energy I'm absorbing here to work once I'm back in The Studio. I will try and arrange an exhibit of Book About Death Postcards (http://abookaboutdeath.blogspot.com/) so more people can see them, and I am looking forward to doing some performance work later on! Now to go and get ready for tonight's performance in Brooklyn...
Monday, August 31, 2009
"This is an art studio?!"
I had my "The Studio is Open" sign out on the landing yesterday, and a few Lonely Wanderers made the trek upstairs to see it. Perhaps I need to put out a disclaimer: "No paintings of loons and canoes; sorry!" The distress was palpable; I can only imagine the inner conversations ("It said it was an art studio. There are no paintings of birch trees or anything that looks like something! I don't know; I don't think this is really art...oh, but she does have peppermints in a bowl. I'll just take one, say thank you, and head out now....")
Perhaps I'll consider the peppermints a participatory installation piece....
Perhaps I'll consider the peppermints a participatory installation piece....
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Process
A full sheet of Rives BFK and a 15 year old niece can go a long way toward detaching one from product. Haven't enjoyed working for the sake of working like that in a long time...and ended up with a mixed-media drawing I really like. It is an interesting realization that the end result of good process can be more satisfying that a pre-conceived notion of what the end result should be. It also feels like one of those lessons that I will need to keep learning....
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Jiffy Pop
I think I am going to make Jiffy Pop the unofficial sponsor of The Studio. Nothing happens until you shake things up a little and the results are delicious! In thinking about the way I'd like to approach things, that's really my goal: to shake things up a bit.
I told a friend, "I don't want to pull the rug out from under people, just rearrange the furniture a little".
I told a friend, "I don't want to pull the rug out from under people, just rearrange the furniture a little".
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Two months almost already
Tuesday, August 18th will mark the two month anniversary of physically taking possession of my studio. It was the day I handed over the signed lease and a check with a lot of numbers on it and got, in exchange, the keys (two; one for the standard lock on the front door, and the other for the padlock - padlock!? - on the heavy industrial door) and a world of permission and possibility. My generous, wonderful landlord allowed me to use the space "rent free" for the remainder of June, beginning the lease in earnest on July 1st. Since I had told my prior landlord that I would be out by July 1st, what ensued was a frenzy of what is best described as major schleppage. Stuff down the stairs from the old space, into the car (or cars, depending on how successful I'd been enlisting friends and family), across town, then up the two flights to the new space...hot, sweaty, rewarding work, but work nonetheless.
So, I was moved, but not moved in. July was the month for arranging, rearranging, packing back up, unpacking, hanging, taking down, drilling, swearing, and walking miles back and forth, back and forth. Does this sound like a complaint? It shouldn't; my old space was about a 10th the size of the new, and I couldn't back up without hitting my head on the sloped ceiling. In The Studio I can run laps, should I desire, and couldn't hit my head on the ceiling if I tried...unless I really tried, and involved a trampoline, or perhaps a bungee cord.
Now August is half over and I find myself making inroads toward making art again, tiny inroads toward working large, and tinier inroads still toward making the space available to others who might like to use it, creating an alternative to the status quo in my little corner of the world.
Blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda, and so on and so forth, and so it goes: I'll keep you posted. Toodle-pip! xo
So, I was moved, but not moved in. July was the month for arranging, rearranging, packing back up, unpacking, hanging, taking down, drilling, swearing, and walking miles back and forth, back and forth. Does this sound like a complaint? It shouldn't; my old space was about a 10th the size of the new, and I couldn't back up without hitting my head on the sloped ceiling. In The Studio I can run laps, should I desire, and couldn't hit my head on the ceiling if I tried...unless I really tried, and involved a trampoline, or perhaps a bungee cord.
Now August is half over and I find myself making inroads toward making art again, tiny inroads toward working large, and tinier inroads still toward making the space available to others who might like to use it, creating an alternative to the status quo in my little corner of the world.
Blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda, and so on and so forth, and so it goes: I'll keep you posted. Toodle-pip! xo
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