You Come

You Come To Bury Me

(image copyright protected, Shana R. Goetsch)

More Watercolor Circles

These are two larger watercolor circles I did awhile back, just had to wait to get photos of them. These are made on 400 lb. paper, which is a lot sturdier than I am used to. However, I used to be used to heavier paper...I found this extra bit while I was organizing.

Got Paid for Work

That's right, I finally got paid for doing some creative work. I am doing some graphic design/brochure work for my friend Evelyn Terry. I'll say 'friend' here, because she took me to get groceries this weekend when no one else would, after my car broke down. She rules. Anyway, here's my down payment! It's really nice to finally be valued.

Light Painting

meh.
These look way better in person because they're too large to scan. Very light watercolors...they're kind of sorrowful, aren't they?

Making a Splash

Page five baby! Check it out.

http://issuu.com/platform58/docs/platform58_issue012/2

How can one go wrong with the Maid of Mer?

Barely There

Barely there, yet she encompasses every line, every movement, and every thing.
For she is the center from which all things come.
She is not without a face, she is in every face.

Barely There elbow-orange

Barely There elbow-pink

Barely There inside elbow-pink

Barely There knee-orange

Barely There knees-tan

Barely There knees-yellow

Barely There shoulder-grey

Barely There thigh-tan

Barely There thighs-maroon

Barely There thighs-pink

These are some brand new nudes. I tried something different, wherein I simplified. The economy of movement with watercolor. These ten are the whole series, Barely There, which were painted two days ago. thigh-tan is interesting because it is the smallest, and so I made it the closest cropped shot of the bunch. I think this one is interesting because it illustrates that these lines can be anything, a hillside, horizon, and yes, even a body part. They are one in the same, land and body.

So yes, she's 'barely there', in terms of color and line, but her body also spans the whole breadth of these images. In essence, these paintings show that 'she' is in fact, the whole of the world; her body, the continents. She may seem diminished in some ways, but she is still portrayed here as 'everything'. It's a good metaphor for women in society today, I think (but maybe I'll have to check with vag to be sure).

Mighty is Her reach...

Make That Four...

I just now, was made aware that I have participated in an international group exhibition in BC, Canada! How's that for exciting...I've shown internationally! The Postcard Readings exhibit opened this month in one location and will be up for the rest of the month in another gallery in Trail, BC. WHOOP! 4 shows, one month, and it ain't even done yet.

just to remind you...this is what is currently showing in Canada.

(I'm still painting, don't worry...just behind on the 'showing' aspect of this little show and tell. I'm about to make some collages up in here, in fact. And I'm applying for another free show that looks promising....gotta be there by the 31st though. I just love juried exhibits with no entry fee. LOVE.)

Official Tally: ArtWalk-2 exhibits total, one solo exhibit + Guildess-group exhibit + Postcard Readings-international group exhibit = Shana's October EPIC WIN

The Show

Since I was at the Jazz Gallery with John (RAA pres) getting it set up, and no one but Elmo came in (twice)...I made a deal with John, we left a note on the door, he went with me to the Bittersweet show, and then I went with him and got drinks. He drove, he paid...but I did buy him an ice cream cone at McDonalds. All around, not too bad of a night, but I definitely need more 'unmarrieds' to hang with.

Here's John thoughtfully posing for me, in front of my piece....

a random shot of people milling around...

scary Hide House building shot...

I'm going there again today, maybe I'll get a few more photos.

Studio One

What have I been doing lately? Well, I have been painting some larger circles in watercolor, on a different kind of thinner paper. I liked, and disliked that it was easier for me to tear. (said paintings are on a pile towards the back of this photo)

Almost ready for grad school applications. It's a humdinger this year...5 schools total. I'm getting all of my ducks (pieces) in a row. Pray for me people, PRAY.

And tonight I bring the piece in for the Guildess show, Bittersweet. Love-knot will be up next week for Gallery Night and Day! It's half of my duo, based on Alfred Noyes' epic poem The Highwayman. Poor lil Bess, this was her piece.

I also have a few other submissions in the works (as usual). It's just a waiting game now, and again.

Wish me luck in all of my upcoming artistic endeavors! (and cross some fingers, please)

ArtWalk 2009 Continued...

Here's my 'pick of pics', but please check out the video in the previous post.

It all started at church...

My photo display in photo form...

I sat in a pew for a bit. It was creepifyin'...

I got very overwhelmed looking at this, honestly. I almost lost it and started tearing a little. I think it's because this was a depiction of the third time he fell...

But people came and looked at my stuff!

Some more looking...

More highlights of ArtWalk

a Mariachi band!...

When I was at the Jazz Gallery, Sue was having some fun. (Then I yarnbombed these trees, which was fun for me)..

Aw, loneliness. I hate it. (She was included in the fun just a second or two later, so don't worry)...

My favorite site, regardless of the what that judge thought. Christian and Ximena (pictured)...

Day two (today) at St Casimir...

The next three shots are for Vag, whom cannot see the previously mentioned video...

This church was gorgeous and intimidating...

See what I mean?...

My dad came to The Jazz Gallery to check out my art...

Here he is at St. Casimir's with my godmother...

He's doing the "not too shabby" look here...

Excellent.

ArtWalk 2009, Photography Exhibit

mmmK. I'm gonna jinx myself purposely and repeat (outloud, to the universe, whathaveyou) that I sold one of these photos today (I seriously can't learn to contain these things). She's picking it up "tomorrow", so we'll see about that one. However, if it's true, and I did sell one of these photos....that means I'm THIRTEEN whole dollars richer than yesterday. Yeah, I said it, 'thirteen'. In fact, if I sell one more, I'll cover the entire cost of the photos. It's not easy being this talented and cheap *wink*.

I will have my 'Pick of Pics' for all of ArtWalk available to you sometime soon, as there's one more day of A.R.T. to go!
ETA: She arrived right at 4p like she said she would, and indeed, bought the photo. YAY!

On the Map

If you click on it for the larger image, you will find that I marked myself with red on the word listing (two places). That's just how I roll...I don't have a 'dot' because the two separate church sites are my 'dots'. ArtWalk STARTS TODAY y'all! There will be more to come from me!



And here's a photo of me with my ArtWalk pin...I look like I have two different colored eyes...

The Maid of Mer

Here's a little something I knocked out today, just for the fun of it. I think it took me 20 minutes, tops. The photo my dad shot, then I scanned, printed, watercolored and edited it. BAM.

The Passage Out of Hades

and another I lightly messed around with...

The Maid of Mer is my new muse.

YOU CAN ALSO

now buy this book in hardcover or softcover too!
platform58 ezines volumes 001-010 are available through blurb. Two of my pieces are in this publication, a 'flipped' photo taken in Virginia, and one of my 365 series. 365.one, in fact.

And on that note, I was thinking the last few months about somehow making a book or a calendar out of my 365 circles series. This just gave me the extra added incentive. Look for that, in about 6 months or so...whew. It's been an exciting month.

'Yes yes y'all, and ya don't stop...' (Beastie Boys)

Self Revisited

Ah ha! I used glitter. A lot of it. This is a reused mannequin head and an old self-portrait that deals with waitressing (it's painted on a ticket stub). One of my fears, at this moment, is being a waitress again. I'd do just about anything else.

All that Glitters Is Not Gold

ANDAND

Here is the Bittersweet postcard for the Guildess show!

(a sliver of my piece is the top left one. the colorful one with writing. yay. this is very exciting for me.)

Bittersweet opens on Gallery Night & Day at the Hide House in Bay View. Come see this show that I'll be in! 25% of the profits for this Guildess exhibit go to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. Worth it.

AND

Click the link, and about 4 pieces in, there's me!
(Self Portrait 2006)

http://littleepisodes.ning.com/page/gallery-1

here I come, published piece in a book...

ArtWalk 2009 x 2

Solo photography exhibit, Borne Morning

30 Years of Dialogue, the Annual Members Show

I will be somewhere in Riverwest during ArtWalk, doing something with my art, both of these days.
It's an Art Extravaganza!
More info is in this previous post.

Dangerous Pointy Things

just exactly what it says...

These Wicked Games

The Center Cannot Hold

Misery Loves Company

all images copyright protected, Shana Goetsch.

Let There Be Circles

More watercolor paintings, more found objects. The first one is actually a piece of the ceiling that fell on my, and my cat's, head. To reiterate, I'll use anything. Other than that, welcome to aqua/olive green land...

365.two-hundred, sixteen

365.two-hundred, seventeen

365.two-hundred, eighteen

365.two-hundred, nineteen

365.two-hundred, twenty

365.two-hundred, twenty-one

365.two-hundred, twenty-two

365.two-hundred, twenty-three

365.two-hundred, twenty-four

365.two-hundred, twenty-five

365.two-hundred, twenty-six

224 is one of my all-time favorites in this series, I want to lick it. Cheers!

Even More Than Before

"August" will soon be eating my dust. More daily circle paintings are here...


365.two-hundred, eight

365.two-hundred, nine

365.two-hundred, ten

365.two-hundred, eleven

365.two-hundred, twelve

365.two-hundred, thirteen

365.two-hundred fourteen

365.two-hundred fifteen

Cheers!

Wicked, Magic, Words

I made this...thing. It's a fused nail ball...I'm pretty sure. But anyway, I did some stuff to it, and it turned out looking like this...

For something completely unrelated:

This is the shirt I am wearing today, because you've gotta have some fun and magic in your life from time to time. I bring my own when I wear this...

and finally, even more unrelated:

I heard this explanation for 'worry' awhile back, and it made sense, but I don't know that it 'rang true' for me at that point....not until I saw an example of 'worry' on someone else today.

When we worry, we are living in the past, and in the future...anywhere but the present.

Here's to just being in the moment, and really being who we are....and here's to Andre being who he really was in 1998. Cheers!

More Than Before

Here are more daily circle paintings...we're into the month of August, finally. Please enjoy these six (a random amount) new-to-you watercolors. The first four are a 'set' of sorts, they all fit together to make one larger circle painting. I was trying something new.

365.two-hundred, two

365.two-hundred, three

365.two-hundred, four

365.two-hundred, five

365.two-hundred, six

365.two-hundred, seven

It's Providence

There are two new exhibits coming in October for me. Along with some painting/prints that I am submitting for 30 Years of Dialogue, the Riverwest Artists Association's Annual Members Show, I will have some of my photographs up during ArtWalk weekend. This will be the first exhibit of my cemetery art and my first solo exhibit of photography. Exciting, since ArtWalk is a 25 year old tradition in Riverwest, and exciting since I've never exhibited art in a church before, let alone two in one weekend. Yes, churches. Yes, photography.

I do enjoy being a part of a few, odd, not-of-the-norm exhibits (Streetza Pizza truck, anyone?) I think they are more intriguing, and fit me, in an outsider type of way. But I will say this: during my senior art show in high school, I watched from the big windows atop Wayland Academy's two-story library, the 'nunnies' coming for me, across that vast courtyard....and I don't think I've been the same since. They were headed to my exhibit, I knew them from my Catholic grade school, from my childhood. (I guess I feel that the nunnies are coming for me again, in a manner of speaking.)

But I will never, ever, forget that sight; a whole pack of nuns, their long, black, habits, whipping in the wind...and I knew that they were coming to see my work, specifically. I felt so important, so cool...the emissaries had come for me. It was really heart-warming that they had made the effort, and in such a surprising force of show. While they were there, they gave me a great book called A New Way of the Cross with illustrations by John Andrews. The illustrations are gorgeous in this book, all hands and close-ups of body parts. This is a treasure of an art reference book for me, and it always has been...and I just now noticed that it was published in Milwaukee (the Bruce Publishing Company, 1952) It all cycles back to the beginning for me. Some might even call it 'Providence'....

On that note, may I present to you:

ArtWalk Weekend at Our Lady of Divine Providence Parish
Our Catholic Parish in the Heart of Milwaukee’s Riverwest Neighborhood

Saturday October 3, 2009: Noon until 3:30 PM
St. Mary of Czestochowa Site, Burleigh and Fratney Streets

Sunday October 4, 2009: 12:30 until 4:00 PM
St. Casimir Site, Bremen and Clarke Streets

Each afternoon offers:

Self-guided Church Tours
View our historic buildings and stained glass windows
With historical descriptions
Photography and text by Kathy Grycowski

Finely woven 19th century liturgical vestments
Appreciate detailed “Old World” artistry
In treasured liturgical garments

Inspirational photography of historical religious statues
Shana R. Goetsch, Borne Mourning (black and white exhibit)

Classical music in a Sacred Space
Saturday at St. Mary’s: Hornucopia Brass Quartet
Sr. Anita New, violinist
Chris Kolanko, pianist

Sunday at St. Casimir’s: Bilingual Folk Choir
Teresa Flaherty, classical guitarist
Susanna Huerta, pianist
Josh Hren, singer/songwriter/guitarist
The Prata Duo: Mike Keegan, horn, and Steve Wolf, organ/piano

Enjoy a Fiesta Dinner Saturday at St. Mary’s Colonial Hall, after 4PM Mass
Delicious food and Mariachi Band
Art Exhibit by famous Veracruz artist Juan Flores
Children’s Art Project

Anointing Weekend Mass Schedule: Sat. 4PM (Eng) St. Mary’s; Sun. 9:30(Eng), 11:30 (Sp) St. Casimir’s.
All are welcome!

To recap: My cemetery photographs, Borne Mourning taken on a trip this past spring to Richmond Virginia, will be on display throughout ArtWalk weekend in Riverwest Milwaukee. The photos will be exhibited at both churches, St Mary's on Saturday and St. Casimir's on Sunday. And I will have two of my Deer Hart (Dear Heart) pieces up at the next RAA exhibit, also premiering over ArtWalk weekend, October 3-4.

Divine Providence has always been a truly excellent concept for me.

ETA: AND THE GUILDESS EXHIBIT MAKES THREE

(image copyright protected Shana Goetsch)

Upwards of Two-hundred

...just barely. This is 365. one-hundred, ninety through 365. two-hundred, one. From approximately mid July. Yeah, I'm that behind. But I have more poly'ed that I will be posting tomorrow. And I'm getting ready to make an unrelated post in a minute here, too. Three in a row for ya'll today!

I missed you, my blog.

365.one-hundred, ninety

365.one-hundred, ninety-one

365.one-hundred, ninety-two

365.one-hundred, ninety-three

365.one-hundred, ninety-four

365.one-hundred, ninety-five

365.one-hundred, ninety-six

365.one-hundred, ninety-seven

365.one-hundred, ninety-eight

365.one-hundred, ninety-nine

365.two-hundred

365.two-hundred, one

Cheers!

Seeing the Exhibit

Through my eyes, and briefly. P.S. Exhibit has a video up right now, which I shot, and is on the RAA blog.
Please check it out, my/your first video tour! (not quite a 'vlog') More links to come...

P.S. Exhibit

I designed this postcard for the RAA's upcoming show this Saturday! This photo of my dad when he was in high school was hand-colored by me (and whatnot)...I think it turned out nicely.



I am co-curating this show with Sue Pezonoski-Browne, in addition to having some of my event photography on display. K. Let's do this thing.

A Bug and a Doll and a Witchy Woman

My kind of a night.

No really though, the memorial exhibition for a very great regional (and way beyond) folk artist, George Ray McCormick Sr. was held tonight. He was awesome as a person, and as an artist.
http://www.vanguardsculptureservices.com/Content/George/GeorgeMcCormick.htm

http://riverwestartistassociation.blogspot.com/2009/08/our-pick-of-picsmemorial-exhibit-for.html

He was actually one of the artists that showed at RAA's (re)cycle (re)visit exhibit. He brought in these very large bug 'specimens' in cases. Metal bugs; they absolutely made my day. Well what do you know, he made small ones too? So yeah...I got first dibs on the small, metal, bugs in jars, people!

The card attached to the jar suggests I should name my bug, so may I present to you...'Astrid', My Bug in a Jar (presently outside of jar)...








Also, my cool friend from the RAA Sue, bought this doll at a local Mexican festival for me, just because. I love that. And I love him because he's silky and soft, almost like a worry doll. Or a doll made up of worry stones. So this lil dude's name is Harvey...





Another small piece of George McCormick's that I bought was this painting entitled Sane? Yeah, but I think she has a certain sad charm to her insanity. It's all about her tired, haggard eyes, they spoke to me.





And one creative thing that I did today (among others) involved the food we served...I was in charge this time, and it went a lil something like this...




Yep.

Folk

Recently, I was trying to think of the first thing that I ever painted. Well what do you know, it's a folk art decorative thingy. I've long attributed my weird style (that has been called 'folk' by my professor, while I was in art school...in a bad way), to that folk art class I took with my mom. That puts my age automatically under 14. It's looking like 10 or 11 years of age is when I officially started painting.
The piece of folk art in question has been hanging in my dad's kitchen since I left it. I requested he take a photo of it for me today so you all could see it. This amusing conversation ensued:

me: 'Are you in the kitchen? Can you look up above the desk? Are there two circular-shaped, wooden, wreath cut-outs by the window sill? Is one of them blue?'

my dad: 'Yes, they are still here. Let's see...one is sort of an orange color. It has a hen on it...some kind of flower...'

me: '...What about the blue one, the blue one...

my dad: '...This one has...it's not quite a hen...oh, let's see...I guess it's...it's a duck...?'

me: '...Is that the blue one, is the blue one more crude-looking?'

my very honest dad: 'Yes, the blue one is crude compared to the orange one.' *hearty chuckle*

me: 'That's because it's most likely the first thing I ever painted!'

my dad: *speaking through foot in mouth* 'Oh!' *hearty chuckle*

(okay, maybe it's not as hilarious written, as it was listening to him, baffled, trying to describe what kind of a bird was on mine.)



I think it's a very fancy dove.

A Proud Day...

Watch this whole video please (3 min). Sojourner Family Peace Center is also featured...

http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-090817-barrett-attack-domestic,0,1361568.story

Good show, Mayor Tom Barrett! Lately, I've quite truthfully, been really proud of Milwaukee...the Task Force on Family Violence being one thing I am continually proud of. If you'll notice....TFFV has recently merged with Sojourner Truth House to form the Sojourner Family Peace Center. YAY!

Circles, Oh My...

This double dose of daily circles is from about two weeks ago. Again, one day I will be caught up on the posting of these. I was really feeling the blue...

365.one-hundred, seventy-six

365.one-hundred, seventy-seven

365.one-hundred, seventy-eight

365.one-hundred, seventy-nine

365.one-hundred, eighty

365.one-hundred, eighty-one

365.one-hundred, eighty-two

365.one-hundred, eighty-three

365.one-hundred, eighty-four

365.one-hundred, eighty-five

365.one-hundred, eighty-six

365.one-hundred, eighty-seven

365.one-hundred, eighty-eight

365.one-hundred, eighty-nine

Cheers.

Art and Fashion and Pizza

Yes. It's true, they all go together!
I will have some of my art work featured on the side of a (stationary) mobile pizza truck for Gallery Night tomorrow...Streetza Pizza from Milwaukee, to be exact. They will be parked in front of Lela Boutique, 321 North Broadway in the Third Ward, from 6-10 pm. Check it out if you can! (otherwise, I'll take some photos)

You can find more information about this very creative fusion of pizza, art and fashion here.


ETA: Flickr Slideshow of Friday's Event!

Mountain

Bird-feeders, lovingly constructed by me. 5 hours of love, it took me. Each one has some kind of sparkly hot-glue on it too, all different colors (used for its adhering properties, and its panache).
80 bird-feeders, coming right up...



(for the RAA Summer Program, COA Skyline Music, tomorrow night)

Continued Cycle of Circles

Redundant, much?

365.one-hundred, sixty-nine

365.one-hundred, seventy

365.one-hundred, seventy-one

365.one-hundred, seventy-two

365.one-hundred, seventy-three

365.one-hundred, seventy-four

365.one-hundred, seventy-five

Cheers.

Close (Sneaky) Encounters II

Two 'illegal' photos from the Kohler Arts Center, American Story exhibit (and I have many, sneaky, more shots, that place was vast). Anyway, it was my first trip there, and I enjoyed it immensely. I loveloveloved the bathrooms too, each a work of art, in its own right.

So, in keeping with my deer theme, the officially requested birthday event shot...

I had just turned 34 years old, and my present to myself this year, was seeing a blind outsider artist's found objects pieces at the Kohler. That's impressive enough for me. Incredible work....

Hawkins Bolden