FAMILY MATTERS Opens First Friday at Five15 Arts Gallery

I am so happy to be showing with my sister, Napa Valley artist, Nancy Willis.  Since the passing of our Dad in March of 2012, we have used art as a way to reflect and process his loss and our changing family dynamic.  Nancy will be here for the Friday, October 18th reception and following Saturday.  I hope you can stop in and meet her.

Tango, Scottsdale Library and First Friday Happenings

Tango and Art Update:

The weather took over and a do not drive alert was sent to everyone's cell phone.  So not many people got to see this fabulous dancing...The dancers are gone but the art will stay up until September 19th.  If you are in the Mesa area go to Cafe LoFI  at 105 W. Main Street and check it out.

Last Tuesday I had occasion to go to the Scottsdale Library where they are exhibiting a wonderful show called STOP FAST SLOW.  I loved the work - especially the prints of Diana Hartley and drawings of Rossitza Todorova.  Highly recommend. On view until October 12th.

FIRST FRIDAY IN PHOENIX

I will have work in two shows in downtown Phoenix - A print in the Arizona Bill 1070 exhibition organized by the industrious Rossi Todorova showing at A. E. England 424 N. Central with a reception 6-9 pm. 

I have 3 related prints in the Arte de Latino exhibition at the Gallery at the Phoenix Center for the Arts.  The reception is 6 to 9pm (I will be there early on, but will be heading out to see more art...)  

I can't wait to see Donna Atwood fabulous relief prints in her one person show at @Central Library Gallery.  Her reception is from 6 to 8pm. Don't miss it!  Little Miss Tex-Mex Rides Again!

Also opening on First Friday is Generation CSA, the intriguing mixed media creations of Mary Shindell at Five15 Arts Gallery on Roosevelt.  Reception is 6 to 10 pm.

TANGO AND ART - MONDAY AUGUST 26TH

I am happy to share I will be showing in Mesa at a unique event on Monday, August 26th.  My work will be on display through September 18th.  

TANGO AND ART EVENT AT LOFI COFFEE

Tango and Art Events have been ongoing since the beginning of 2013. The idea behind them is to join together different forms of Art. On one side: dancing... a beautiful form of interior expression.... and among the multiple form of dances... Tango, with its passion, musicality and elegant movements.

On the other side: printmaking, painting, photography and other forms of art that bring up artists' visions and interpretations.

A special location has been chosen for this magic mix of Art: LoFI Coffee. Here you will find a relaxed atmosphere where Art pieces can be contemplated and absorbed without rush...

A great wooden floor allows Tango dancers to dance while the Artist explains and talks about his/her own pieces.  Sensual tango music is alternated with modern and classical music to suit many different tastes.

 

The events are held the fourth Monday of every month from 6 pm to 9 pm at LoFi coffee 105 W Main Street Mesa.  Stefano Pappalardo is the event organizer. He is a Tango teacher and performer; he has been dancing for over 10 years and is hosting a weekly Milonga since 2012.

Come see some extraordinary dancing and my art!

Tango and Art

Water Dance

Art exhibited by Wendy Willis

Wendy, Phoenix printmaker, is a member of Five15 Arts Gallery in Phoenix and is the Resident Artist in Printmaking at the Phoenix Center for the Arts.

 

Exhibition is held at

Lo-Fi Coffee in Mesa, AZ 105 W. Main Street,

Monday August 26th 6-9pm

Stefano Pappalardo, DJ& Event Coordinator

Contact us: sm_monti@yahoo.it or 480-399-2305

$5 Suggested Donation

Four Week Classes for Fall

With my upcoming exhibition in October, I have had to reduce the number of class offerings so I can concentrate on making new work myself.  Here is what is open now at the Phoenix Center for the Arts:

GCC Student/Teacher  Relief Collaboration

4 Wednesdays, 1-4pm  September 4-25th 
Solarplate Etching $140

4 Wednesdays, 6-9pm  September 4-25 th
What a Relief! $126

and a special 2 day workshop which combines solarplate and drypoint etching
Saturday/Sunday, 10-4pm September 7&8th Solarplate/Drypoint $125

The Wednesday classes will be repeated for 4 weeks in October.
4 Wednesdays, 1-4pm  October 9-30th
Solarplate Etching $140

4 Wednesdays, 6-9pm  October 9-30th
What a Relief! $126

In November, the classes will switch to Saturdays
4 Saturdays, 9-12pm November 9-Dec 7th
What a Relief! $126

4 Saturdays, 1-4pm November 9-Dec 7th
Solarplate Etching $140

and we will repeat the 2-day workshop:
Saturday/Sunday, 10-4pm November 2&3rd
Solarplate/Drypoint $125

Registration is open for all classes at phoenixcenterforthearts.org. Click on the Printmaking tab.

TRY ME! PRINTMAKING CLASSES - AUGUST 19-24TH

I am offering Try Me! classes in Solarplate Etching and Relief Printmaking at the Phoenix Center for the Arts, 1202 N. 3rd Avenue, Phoenix.  If you know anyone who has never tried printmaking before, one of these 3 hour classes will show them that anyone can make art, and they will walk away with their own handpulled print!  The price per class is $49.  All materials are provided. 

MONDAY AUGUST 19^TH 1:00-4:00PM         RELIEF PRINTMAKING

MONDAY AUGUST 19^TH 6:00-9:00PM         SOLARPLATE ETCHING

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21^ST 1:00-4:00PM   SOLARPLATE ETCHING

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21^ST 6:00-9:00PM   RELIEF PRINTMAKING

SATURDAY AUGUST 24^TH 9:00-12:00PM    RELIEF PRINTMAKING

SATURDAY AUGUST 24TH 1:00-4:00PM      SOLARPLATE ETCHING

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS: 

Relief

Everyone can print! You will be given instruction, tools and materials needed to create, carve, roll up and print a 4 x 6 inch relief plate. No experience required.

Solarplate

Bring 4 photos from which we will select one to make into a 4” X 4” etching.  Photos with high contrast work best (lights, darks and middle values).  You will learn to etch with ultraviolet light instead of acid, and print by hand on the etching press. No experience required.

 

TO REGISTER:

Call 602 254-3100 or go to phoenixcenterforthearts.org and click on the TryMe! tab. 

With Brent Bond at Santo Press

Today was the second and final run on our 2 color reduction linocuts at Santo Press in Scottsdale.  Brent Bond printed editions of 12 each for the 14 students and teachers from our Summer Printmaking Class at Glendale Community College.  The photos here pretty much tell the story:

The whole experience was interesting and fun.  Very satisfying too.  Brent couldn't have been more capable, amiable or genuine.  I highly recommend Santo Press for any artist lucky enough to print there.

New Two Color Reduction Linocut

Drawing on pastel paper on right, plate on left

Print of first color

I am happily taking a printmaking class at Glendale Community College, co-taught by Donna Atwood and Marlys Kubicek.  It is fun seeing how other printmakers teach, and more to the point, I am learning a lot from Donna who is an excellent linoleum carver.  She has arranged for our class to have our two color reduction linocuts printed at Santo Press in Scottsdale, by Brent Bond.  This is thrilling, to see how the Vandercook press operates, and to have the luxury of having someone else do the laborious inking and registration.  I also learned a great way to help define the areas of color, black and white, by copying my line drawing onto pastel paper the same color that will be used and then coloring in the white and the black. After defining the white, blue and black areas on paper, I transferred the line drawing onto the plate and then drew in the black and white areas. Then I carved away what I want to preserve as white.  Brent printed the first color Saturday, shown here.
Ttoday, I carved away what I want to preserve as blue and then used a Sharpie to color what was left.  Brent will print the black on the first set printed in blue, this coming Saturday.

Carved plate ready for second color