Lisa Call

Dream #39
©2010 Lisa Call
34" x 34"
Textile Painting (Fabric hand dyed by the artist, cotton batting, cotton thread)
Purchase here

Please Join Me

Dwelling: An exhibit of textile paintings by Lisa Call
Macky Auditorium Gallery
University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
February 17 – March 17, 2010
The gallery is free and open to the public on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and to ticketed patrons during performances.

Opening Reception
Sunday, February 28, 2010
1:30-4:00pm
Artist Talk at 2:00pm

Directions
Parking Information

The Artwork

I’ve created a website with images from all of the artwork from the exhibit. See them here: Dwelling.

All of the artwork is for sale and can be purchased directly from that website. If you’d like, all artwork can also be purchased over 2 or more installments, please contact me to reserve your favorite textile painting now and make a deposit.

The ACEOs

I’m creating a limited series of ACEOs to compliment the larger artwork in the exhibit. The first 3 of these, all of which sold, were unveiled in my studio newsletter sent out on thursday evening.

Check my brand new artist trading card (aka ACEOs) webpage often for updates with additional Home themed aceos, my most affordable artwork. I’ll also update my blog when new cards are available.

All house themed artist cards will be discounted 15%, for a price of $34, during the run of Dwelling, which closes on March 17.

Structures #67
©2007
33"x38"

Mixed Media Fiber Art

January 7- March 1, 2009

The Danforth Museum of Art proudly presents Mixed Media Fiber Art, guest curated by internationally-recognized fiber artist Jeanne Williamson of Natick, Massachusetts. On view beginning Wednesday, January 7, this contemporary show features works by thirteen artists with new approaches that “break the rules” in working in the fiber medium. The group of thirteen artists focus on innovative mixed media approaches to fiber arts using printmaking, painting and dyeing, as well as unusual ways of piecing and using appliqué and reverse appliqué.

The artists include regional, national, and internationally-known practitioners:

Deidre Adams
Elizabeth Barton
Lisa Call – Structures #67 shown above will be included in the show
Linda Colsh
Merill Comeau
Linda Levin
Dominie Nash
Angela Moll
Patricia Mink
Lori Lupe Pelish
Barbara Watler
Jeanne Williamson
Barb Wills

Danforth Museum of Art
Museum Hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm.
Friday and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm.

123 Union Avenue
Framingham, MA 01702
www.danforthmuseum.org

 
Thanks Jeanne for inviting me to be included in this show.

An Artful Weekend

Travel Diary, Saturday, April 5th:

1. Stayed up past midnight chatting and laughing with Pam. Notable topic of conversation was powdered sugar donuts, a favorite of Pam’s on road trips and her aliens (see her comments on her blog). Surprisingly we hear little noise from the high schoolers sharing the hotel with us as the evening goes on.
2. Earplugs in I sleep until 8am. Unfortunately the high school kids played a round of volleyball in the bathroom next door so Pam enjoyed the early morning taking great photos of the sculpture at the International Quilt Study Center.
3. After a yummy breakfast it’s off to galleries to see an exhibit of Michael James new work at Modern Arts Midwest. This work seems more saturated to me than some previous pieces. Could be my memory but I liked these richer colors better. My favorite was from 2006 and is not on either the gallery or artist’s website.
4. Next we went over to the brand new International Quilt Study Center and Museum to see a show of Nancy Crow’s work. It was good to see a collection of her work from over the years.



5. The building for the Quilt Center had some cool architectural features. Including a large reception area with very cool windows.



 


6. They also had a really cool mesh screen on wheels. Love the feet.


 

7. It’s my daughter’s birthday so I pack up and head back to Colorado for a 6:30 dinner reservation. The sharks are ready to hit the road.



8. Looking for something to do I phone up my friend Kelly and we have a 2+ hour chat as I drive down I-80. In addition to fabric dyeing the topic of powdered sugar donuts comes up as we were huge donut fans growing up. My car is in need of a gas so at a bargain $3.69 I fill up the tank and go inside in search of some fine pastries. I’m shocked and dismayed to discover there are no donuts and not even a twinkie in the entire convenience store.
9. Fortunately this is America so I drive over to the next store and find exactly what I’m looking for. I have a hard time deciding between the powdered sugar and those yummy plastic chocolate coated ones so select a package of both and head to the counter. The worker guy has just hit some magic button and the register is spitting out a very long tape of recent purchases and I’m told I’ll have to wait 5 minutes. Not wanting to look desperate I opted to walk out of the store empty handed.
10. All is well until I hit I-76, a stretch of road that makes driving across Nebraska seem exciting. It’s just me and a bunch of huge trucks and some tumble weeds. Realizing I’m darn close to falling asleep I stop and buy myself some sunflower seeds. Not being a caffeine drinker, food that requires effort to eat seemed like the next best option for staying awake. And really, why not, a pack of powdered sugar donuts ends up in my hands also.
11. The universe was clearly trying to send me a signal as there was a huge line at the cash register (in the middle of nowhere eastern colorado) – yes – it’s shift change and mr. manager is counting the pennies. I can hide my desperation no longer, I ignore the universe, and I stand there a good 10 minutes to purchase a pack of stale donuts. Happily I was in good company. It was kinda funny watching us. We’d look at what we wanted to buy. Look at the line. You can hear the wheels spinning "am I really standing in line to buy this?" Then we’d realize noone we know is watching – so yep – sure enough we did.



12. Yummy!
13. I was 20 minutes late picking up my daughter for our sushi dinner date. I blame it on the traffic.

May all your art adventures be inspiring and fun. And enjoy the donuts on the drive home.

An Artful Weekend

Travel Diary, Friday, April 4th:

1. Awake at 5:30am to pack and print out maps.
2. Have daughter help load car. Apparently BAHO and BDHO will be joining me on the road. I insist on driving. BAHO cries but finally moves over. BAHO = Bite Alex’s (brother) Head Off. BDHO = Bite Dad’s Head Off (pronounced Baa-ho and Bid-ho). To date there is no BMHO. Mom rocks (and is in charge of shark shopping).



3. As I back out of driveway I notice brake light warning is on. Frantically flip through car manual as I drop ACEOs off at post office. Discover it means my brake light is out (clever how the warning is called that). Relax, no need to fix before leaving, car is running fine, who needs brake lights anyway.
4. On the road at 7:45am. I thought it was 6 hours to Lincoln as a quick scan of mapquest said it was six hours a few weeks ago. Apparently I should have looked at the details – it said 6 hours and 56 minutes. Oops. Good thing the car goes faster without brake lights.
5. Arrive in Lincoln 6 hours and 30 minutes later. I was right about the brake lights.
6. Stop by hotel procured via Priceline. It was cheap – the large number of high school students loitering in the lobby and in front of the hotel gives me warm fuzzy feelings (translation – I’m glad I packed my earplugs).
7. Quick change of clothes and I arrive at the brand spanking new International Quilt Study Center to say hello to Nancy Crow who is teaching a class.
8. Nancy asks me to give a quick talk about how I can focus on my work while also a fulltime cube worker and single mom. I have no idea what to say but once I start I don’t shut up. Rambling might be a good word to insert here.
9. I head over to the Lux Center to check out the show and take some photos before the crowds arrive.



 

Overview from front entrance (both shows are in one room)

 

Overview from front entrance (Two pieces of Deidre’s work is on the wall behind me in both of these pictures, my work is in the back left corner.)

 
Distinctive Directions

 

Deidre Adams and Joanie San Chirico

 

Deidre Adams

 

Jeanne Williamson

 

Pam RuBert

 
Fencing In or Keeping Out – Lisa Call


Structures #42

 

Structures #95 and Structures #59

 

Structures #39

 

Structures #96

 

10. It’s 4:40 – time to prepare my gallery talk. I think I should have done this earlier. Good thing I printed out notes on the artists in Distinctive Directions.
11. It’s 5pm – show time. The next 2 hours are a blur. I talk, Pam RuBert talks. We had a great turnout. (Deidre Adams, Joanie San Chirico and Jeanne Williamson are in Philadelphia at the Art Quilt Elements Opening.)
12. Dinner with my Aunt Myrna from Omaha, which is apparently quite close to Lincoln. Who knew!
13. And finally back to the hotel to chat with Pam.

 

The sharks have settled in

Tomorrow – gallery hopping with Pam, the drive home, donuts and high school kids.

Markings #3    ©2006    74"x66"

Goals vs. Intent

In my last post I talked about setting intent and promised next to talk about how I hold that intent.

I know I have a reputation of getting lots done and when it comes to achieving goals I have some of this figured out. Although I don’t think in a healthy way. I’m great at setting goals and marching towards reaching them. Setting intent is a deeper practice and something I just started working on. I want to focus on intent with these posts but I’ll talk about goals also.

Unrealistic Goals

I have set an intent to have tremendous joy in my studio this year. I’m changing how I approach my studio time to honor the intent and to be an artist in a more healthy and positive way. It’s been an interesting process of learning to let go of the pressure to be in my studio but also getting things done. I’m only just beginning to understand how to do this.

With my solo show coming up in 4 weeks I panicked last week and made an insane schedule for my studio. A year ago I wouldn’t have thought it crazy. Just challenging. I spent the long weekend freaking out and doing just about anything other than studio work. I uploaded dozens of pictures to smugmug, I sorted through stuff in my basement to get rid of, I started reorganizing my studio, I photographed artwork, I cooked some yummy soup, etc.

I also saw myself falling back on patterns that don’t serve me. I didn’t go hiking and didn’t even get out for a walk as I promised myself, telling myself I didn’t have time. I ate junkier food. I surfed around the internet doing nothing.

I suspect I was rebelling against the ridiculous idea that I needed to make 8 new pieces in 4 weeks. Sure I could do it because it was a goal – I’m good and marching towards goals while letting the rest of my life become a wreck but it went completely against my intent for joy in the studio.

Realistic Goals

So I’ve shredded the schedule and decided I don’t need any more new work at all for my 2 solo shows. I have tons of excellent work that will make awesome exhibits. I started my Markings Series 2 years ago for exactly this show – I’ve got 19 completed pieces and room to hang only 12-15 of them. Of these 19 pieces only 2 have ever been in shows and most I’ve never even posted on the internet. Why would I need more? I don’t!

I have to give thanks to Christine Kane for helping with this realization. I recognized the unhealthy behavior (the first step in realizing I’m not holding my intent) and knew I needed to do something different. With her prodding I was able to take the necessary steps to dump the unhealthy behavior. I can’t recommend Christine’s eseminars enough for this type of self understanding.

Alignment

I’m back to my studio this week and loving it. I’m creating because I want to create not because I have to. One of the things I most love is making art, but the last year or two I’ve made it unfun in many ways. I’m now ready to embrace the joy again.

The goals I set need to be in alignment to my deeper intent. Then I know I can achieve both.
 

Materials Hard and Soft

The above piece is part of Materials Hard & Soft at the center for visual arts in Denton, Texas, which opens this weekend. Another of the juried shows I entered last fall. The runs through March 20, 2008.

Deanna Wood sent me an email the other day saying she had seen some of the show as they were hanging it and it looked great and my piece was up and looked nice. Yay – thanks for the note Deanna!

Center for Visual Arts
400 East Hickory St.
Denton, Texas 76201
Phone: 940-382-2787
Open 1-5pm Tuesday – Sunday
www.dentonarts.com