Working on finishing up repairs to these guys. They live in a secret bookcase room at Founding Farmers restaurant in King of Prussia, PA, but unfortunately someone broke their feet. So, I added screws to the area where the feet were missing as an inner support. Next I used a 2 part sculptable epoxy (Magic Sculpt!) to rebuild the forms and patch some small chipped areas. Once that was set, a coat of gesso, then a coat of paint.
Scott Kip, Perpetual Inventory
These photos do this show zero justice. Scott Kip’s Perpetual Inventory is on view at Arcadia University for the remainder of the week. It is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen, yet also so familiar. It felt like a dream of my grandfathers basement that got lost in a Quay brothers film set.
Weekly Update
I imagine that in advance of the holidays everyone’s schedules have become a tangled mass of “holiday cheer” and “OMFG I just have to finish this”. Or at least that is where I am at. We aren’t particularly great at holiday things. I always want to be but somehow it escapes me….due usually to the above feelings of “cheer pressure” and deadlines. I had the thought last week that maybe I just wouldn’t do shows between October and December in the future, so I am not fighting deadlines while trying to enjoy my family and life in general. I will still make work, just not on a panicked “get ‘er done” type of schedule…We’ll see. I realize that I sound grumpy about it all. I think I’m just overwhelmed. Such is life!
In other news, Paul and I went to Procession Gallery yesterday, which was started by one of my former PAFA students. We bought 2 pieces are are very excited about them:
A piece by Brooke McVeigh.
New! (Yet to be hung) Top piece by Henry Murphy. Middle piece by Mark Manning. Bottom piece by Aubrie Costello. Bottom left by Josh Yelle. Bottom right by Nathan Reidt. Top left by Ray Abary. Top right by Chris Mrozik. Middle left cross stitch done of a photo of my work by Shana Mccarron. Middle right by Heather Gabel.
All the other things are mostly the same for now.
Current Exhibitions
Switch is still on view at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists until this Friday, December 20th. The work can be viewed and purchased HERE.
Upcoming Exhibitions
In Shadow, Brassworks Gallery, Portland, OR - March 2025
subject/matr/mother, Carbondale Arts, Carbondale, CO - April 2025
Solo show, HUB-Robeson Galleries, Penn State University, University Park, PA - May-August 2026
Work in Progress
I am mostly trying to finish some things for the end of the year. Casting molding for a friend. Repairing some rabbits for Founding Farmers restaurant. And getting ready to start a bigger piece. More to come very soon!
I Ching
This week I sent out a newsletter for the first time in about a year. A huge thanks to everyone who reached out. It really made it feel like I wasn’t screaming into the void, which is often what it feels like.
One thing I mentioned was that I started using the I Ching as a morning meditation tool and I wanted to include a quick note to show what my process is like.
I learned the process from the intro in the book (this is the one I have!) It’s really easy. You need 3 coins (I use a collection of foreign coins I had) the book and I use a notepad to record the hexagrams.
Once I do this, I read the corresponding text, and record the hexagram in the corner of my planner (Moleskin 18 Month is my go to.)
The process overall causes me to pause and approach things a little more calmly. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes!
Weekly Update
I’m on a roll… I set up a newsletter to go out later today. Now a blog post. Crazy!
Truth is I am trying to be more organized. And all of this helps me do that. Plus, as I mentioned in my newsletter today, I miss sharing my process lately. And Instagram just does not feel like the place it once was. This has me retreating a bit into my own space, and you are certainly welcome here.
Mawdi enjoys my studio wall….mostly she is pleased with herself for stealing the rabbit’s foot off of that lone empty thumbtack.
Current Exhibitions
Switch, is still on view at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists and runs through December 20th. The work can be viewed and purchased HERE.
Paul and I had work on display at the AQUA Art Fair in the Arch Enemy Arts booth December 4-8.
I am very thankful that my piece sold. You can view the exhibition HERE.
Prize Winner, by Paul Romano
Upcoming Exhibitions
In Shadow, Brassworks Gallery, Portland, OR - March 2025
subject/matr/mother, Carbondale Arts, Carbondale, CO - April 2025
Solo show, HUB-Robeson Galleries, Penn State University, University Park, PA - May-August 2026
Work in Progress
This week I am catching up on some projects, before I start some new things. Enjoy some peeks into the studio while I am casting, casting, casting…!
Weekly Update
And we’re back. Struggling to find the motivation to keep up with online anything, especially during the holiday weekend shopping extravaganza where the entire internet is screaming “BUY THIS!”. Olivia and I went to the mall on Friday for Santa photos and I had to break up a fight between two middle aged women, which started just because they were both rude. (Don’t worry, I told Santa about it.)
Anyway, here are some updates…some the same and some newish.
Current Exhibitions
Small Wonders 13 is coming to a close at Arch Enemy Arts but the work is still online. All pieces in this show are under $300, which makes it perfect for holiday gifts. Work can be viewed HERE
Switch, opens today at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists and runs through December 20th. The work can be viewed and purchased HERE.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Paul and I will have work on display at the AQUA Art Fair in the Arch Enemy Arts booth December 4-8.
Here is my piece and a sneak peek of Paul’s, (the horse) which I love.
Work in Progress
Here are my thoughts so far for subject/matr/mother, a group exhibition at Carbondale Arts in Carbondale, CO:
Weekly Update
Behind again, but I haven’t given up yet. I am trying to slowly move forward despite it all. Let’s see how that goes…
Current Exhibitions
I have work in Small Wonders 13 at Arch Enemy Arts through the end of the month. All pieces in this show are under $300, which makes it perfect for holiday gifts. Work can be viewed HERE
Switch, opens today at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists and runs through December 20th. The work can be viewed and purchased HERE.
Upcoming Exhibitions
My work will be on display at the AQUA Art Fair in the Arch Enemy Arts booth in early December.
This piece is a study in the various finishes I use in my work.
Work in Progress
I’m still planning/making work for subject/matr/mother, a group exhibition at Carbondale Arts in Carbondale, CO. Right now I have three pieces in progress, and another (larger) one in the wings. My thoughts are that I’d like to have 7 pieces total and I am figuring it all out…I think.
So busy…
I’ve been so busy…work, appointment after appointment, fun things for O’s birthday, cats and more cats. But finding time to go see some Art always seems to bring me back to earth.
Tell me all your secrets…
The last three hummingbirds in my “Tell me all your secrets…” installation are now at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists aka CFEVA for their small works show, Switch. This series was made for a show that I was in last year, Birds Rising at Brassworks Gallery, and while a few sold, I received about half of them back. Being able to find new places and therefore new audiences for pieces is always exciting for me. We see so much Art through a tiny screen anymore and it’s just not the same. Like David Lynch says about watching movies on a phone… it’s just not the same.
Weekly Update
Not to get too “A Beautiful Mind” but in order to stay organized, I really need to document. This starts as some chaotic piece of paper (not pictured) that eventually gets distilled down into something that fits on a post it (or 3) with check boxes. (I LOVE check boxes…)
Sketches for ideas will happen in sketchbooks or Kraft paper, but the real work for me has begun when there is a check list. These lists will likely get updated soon, with some new work forming behind the scenes.
Current Exhibitions
I have work up at CUSP Gallery in Newport, RI. Curtis is an incredible photographer and his work is stunning. He has some of my favorite pieces of mine beautifully hung in his space.
Upcoming Exhibitions
As mentioned last week, Small Wonders 13 (Arch Enemy Arts’ yearly small works show) preview will go live Wednesday, October 30th at 2pm EST to Arch Enemy’s Collector's List. If you would like to be on the list, send an email to info@archenemyarts.com with SMALL WONDERS 13 in the subject.
Switch, another small works show, will open at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists on November 12th and runs through December 20th. More info, or tickets to the VIP Reception can be found HERE.
Work in Progress
I am currently working on a few things…the first being a piece involving shadows for In Shadow at Brassworks Gallery in Portland, OR in March. I am debating whether it should be a semi interactive piece with a small shadow theater or a more straight ahead 3D sculpture. As I get older (and weirder) I am pushing boundaries in all directions and people don’t always love that. I understand that it is easiest to just hang a normal and properly wired piece to the wall, but isn’t Art a place for the unexpected? Having to ship something across the country keeps me confined to what will reasonably fit in a box, but I’m still trying to be me about it.
I’m also already making work for subject/matr/mother, a group exhibition at Carbondale Arts in Carbondale, CO where I will be exhibiting with Mya Cluff, Courtney Dudley, Shawna Miller, Sara Minerd and Maria Teicher. I originally wanted to do a series of “sad pull toys” (This was my note that I came away from our first meeting as a group with.) based on writings that my daughter did, but my ideas are coming a bit faster than Olivia’s writing so we’ll see how it goes. I am on the edge of (possibly) starting a larger piece for this show and dragging my feet a little bit. I know what a pain making larger pieces can be but that is where my ideas are leading me…and I feel like every week I delay starting a larger piece, my ideas get bigger and bigger, so I better just go for it now if I want it to fit in a reasonably sized box for shipping (see above ideas about shipping pieces that reasonably fit in boxes…)
Upcoming Miscellany
Nothing other than the last week’s mentioned seconds sale and possibly another sale of available work. I am trying to get this together before all of the pre holiday “BUY MY STUFF” days because I really can’t be bothered to scream into the void along with everyone else, but it takes a fair amount of time to list it all, so…. I hope to have a firm date(s) by the end of the week.
Loss
To know someone for so little time, but to be with them at the end stretches the knowing out into some universal infinity. We first saw these kittens on Monday, so it’s only been a week, but loss hits solidly whenever it comes.
This little calico, which we’ve been calling Pumpkin Pirates (Pirates is her mother), died this afternoon. When I came out this morning, she was completely limp and barely breathing with eyes open. I tried to get her warmed up. Paul offered to rush her to the animal hospital. But I knew it was already too late. She took her last breaths wrapped in a blanket on the grass in the sunshine, near her family. I watched over the entire time, my heart breaking over and over again. When she was still, I buried her under our Magnolia tree.
Normally when I come upon a dead animal, I take a photo so I can memorialize them in a future sculpture. Giving some sort of future to the nameless that have passsed I suppose. But I couldn’t bear to do it this time. I can still picture her too clearly and maybe I didn’t want a reminder of how awful nature can sometimes be.
Weekend friends
In addition to Art and Work and Life, we also squeeze in rescuing cats. New to the yard, are these tiny guys and their mom, Pirates. She was recently taken to be spayed and they are so very happy she is back.
Friday finds…
Pastéis de Nata from Gilda (@gildaphilly)
In the studio
Weekly Update
I find its helpful for me to keep a “Weekly Update” log…so I know what’s happening, what’s coming up, and what I should start thinking about. So here it is:
Current Exhibitions
Imaginary Menagerie Vol. 6 is up at Arch Enemy until….oops. This past Sunday. Well, if you were interested in taking a look HERE is a link to the exhibition.
My piece Divine Intervention is based on the 3 legged crow from Shinto mythology, Yatagarasu. I was really excited about this piece originally but a few comments led me to ultimately have a hard time with it. I feel like there is growth here, but something isn’t quite there yet. I think trying new things and going outside your comfort zone is important as an artist. It’s just hard when you are constantly making new work that is already destined for a show, as this leaves no time for reflection or adjustment. I’m working on shifting how I work a bit to account for this much needed space in my process.
Little Luxuries, an exhibition of small works all priced under $350, is up at the Main Line Art Center until Sunday, October 20th, with a closing reception this Thursday, October 17th.
HERE is a link for more info.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Small Wonders 13 preview will go live Wednesday, October 30th at 2pm EST exclusively to those that specifically requested the preview link or are already on Arch Enemy’s Collector's List. If you would like to be on the preview list, send an email to info@archenemyarts.com with SMALL WONDERS 13 in the subject.
Switch will open at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists on November 12th and runs through December 20th. More info, or tickets to the VIP Reception can be found HERE.
Upcoming Workshops
Unfortunately, I don’t have any workshops available for the foreseeable future. My shift in jobs has meant a shift in how I am approaching my art making, which has left little time to teach.
Work in Progress
I have 2 shows coming up in 2025 that I am currently working on pieces for… A group show called In Shadow at Brassworks Gallery in Portland, OR, which is to be curated by Lana Crooks and subject/matr/mother, a group exhibition at Carbondale Arts in Carbondale, CO where I will be exhibiting with Mya Cluff, Courtney Dudley, Shawna Miller, Sara Minerd and Maria Teicher. More on these later this week.
Upcoming Miscellany
I am sorting out work for an upcoming Seconds Sale. Stay tuned.
There is no secret ingredient…, 2023
Oh hi...
Oh it’s been a while. I have had nearly 2 years of life changes since I was last here. Well the TLDR version is that I taught, showed work and got a new job…
The slightly longer version is… In 2023 I had a solo at the Delaplaine in Frederick, MD, a show with Paul at Arch Enemy, AND 4 pieces in 3 museum shows (in addition to 8 group shows, one of them in Germany.) I taught a group of amazing students at PAFA. Foundry class was particularly fun.
Then about this time last year, despite having been “promoted” at PAFA to assistant professor, I applied for a job a a Medallic Artist at the US Mint, which I got and started in January of 2024. Shortly after I began, PAFA somewhat imploded and let go of most of its amazing and dedicated faculty (both full-time and adjunct) and many students were forced to find new programs. Despite it being a major life change in so many ways, I have been learning new processes and am really enjoying it.
I am also continuing to show work, including another show with Paul at Arch Enemy in the Spring and a three person show with Maria Teicher and Katherine Fraser. I have some things coming up for 2025 and hope to be better about talking about them here.
I guess I am struggling with the fact that my once loved Instagram has become a strip mall of the internet. It feels like everyone is screaming for attention and every post is asking someone to buy something. And that I don’t see anyone on there anymore…just ads and cats I don’t know. (The cats are ok…but I don’t KNOW them, which means I also can’t pet them, so…)
Anyway, I thought I’d fire this up again (AGAIN) to see if I can find a way to share what I’m thinking that doesn’t feel like I am whispering into a black hole. We’ll see!
Tonight!
The Wagner is one of my favorite places in Philadelphia, and also one of its best kept secrets. A Victorian Science museum in North Philadelphia, the Wagner is a beautiful space full of amazing specimens. Their lecture hall is lovely and it has been a dream of mine to give a talk there. I’m very much looking forward to this Sip & Sketch tonight!
In the studio…
Motivate Me Monday?
Oh man. I am not actually as far behind as I feel like I am but wow am I feeling the pressure.
“Of what Darla?”
I don’t even really know at the moment. It just feels like I am on a slippery slope of trying to finish everything and catch up and schedule this and get ready for that. And like I said, I’m more prepared than I normally am for the things I’m feeling stressed about, but nonetheless I am feeling the stress.
In times like this I make a list.
What to do?
When is it due?
What do I need to get to do the thing?
How long do I need to do each thing?
That usually helps. I’ll give it a shot and we’ll see.
This whole year has felt like trying to get up an icy hill. Last year my footing felt more certain in all the ways… I’m not sure what changed this year.
