BE MINE: 2nd Annual Boston Handmade Valentine Show

I'll be selling these sweet, original Valentine cards, along with several new works at Be Mine: The 2nd Annual Boston Handmade Valentine Show.
Friday, February 6 ~ 5pm to 9pm
450 Harrison Avenue - Gallery #31 - 31 Thayer Street
South End, Boston, MA

This one-night-only event coincides with the First Friday open studios and gallery receptions in the SoWa arts district of Boston's South End. Local artists, artisans and craftspeople will be exhibiting their one-of-a-kind and limited edition works, along with live acoustic music by Peter Paulousky and new exhibitor designs created especially for the winter season and Valentine's Day.

Hope to see you there!

Disintegration

Inspired by Seth Apter of The Altered Page, I've begun somewhat of a mystery of a project called "Disintegration." The idea is to be inspired by the natural evolution of time, in collaboration with nature. I chose to use signatures from an old "1939 Supplement to French's Catalog of Plays" which I have been holding onto for quite a while. I have a feeling that our New England winter will be a wonderful collaborator! I have absolutely no idea how this will play out, but I look forward to the big reveal in spring, when I will figure out how to use the results.

2/26/09 -- Checked my bundles today and it looked like two of them were missing! There were four to begin with, including the cover of the 1939 booklet that I loved so much. And that one was missing.

So, I looked all around, and found both of the missing bundles. One was about 10 feet away huddled against a bench underneath my porch, and the other was hidden underneath a sled! How did it get there? Does it not want to be part of this project? Does it want to come back to the studio where it was nice and warm?

Anyway, I tucked both bundles back where they belong, and hopefully they will stay there this time.

in celebration

River of Hope
1/20/09

I just love this new print...another abstract based on those gelatin prints a while back, and incorporating a photo I took of trees (I think it was in Gloucester, MA). This is available on my etsy shop at http://chrisenc.etsy.com.

People, Places and Things: Documenting Our World Through Art

Getting ready for a new season of art at the Salem Arts Association! CinemaSalem will exhibit member works throughout February 2009.

My studio companions

I know some people would go stark raving mad if they had to work by themselves and not have much daily contact with co-workers or clients. Much of what I do involves working alone in my studio...and it suits me just fine. Of course, I do have these constant companions each day to keep me company! Sammy (the cat) and Little Bit (the mini-daschund) -- my favorite lunch partners -- were willing participants the other day while I tried out my new Canon Rebel digital SLR camera. I'm looking forward to a day when the weather is above 20 degrees so I can take it out for a spin!

New Online Shop at 1000 Markets

I've recently joined 1000 Markets, a new online market of small, independent, artisan businesses built by people who love their craft. Many of my Boston Handmade friends have joined as well. So far I've listed prints of my new abstract designs. Stay tuned for more!

More fun with photos and frescoes

I've been veering more and more to these abstract images which combine my photographs (this one incorporates an image taken from high atop Boston at the Harvard Club) with scans of gelatin monoprints, which are so fun to make. This whole series will soon be available as frescoed, textured panels.

Is that your breakfast, or is it an art project?

Saturday morning my husband asked whether I was making breakfast, or working on an art project. Even though I found his question hysterical, the more I thought about it, I can understand his confusion. Many times my projects consist of ingredients like knox gelatine, and other vague looking powdery substances. And, although most of my work is done in a separate studio room, I do sometimes take over the kitchen counter.

So, for the record, the bowl at the top is a bowl filled with pancake mix. The bowl at the bottom has some clear liquid gelatin, and the measuring cup is filled with marble powder -- not a breakfast recipe -- but a recipe for making frescoes.