Here We Are Again

I have been avoiding this. Writing in my blog. It has been hard to dismantle something I wasn't ready to let go of and I didn't know what to say about it.

This morning I watched a building burn to the ground. It stood across the highway from our house. It was an old saloon style building that I loved looking at. This morning I woke to sirens and smoke. The smoke is still rising from the ground. The building is completely gone. I am reminded that everything is temporary. And it could be worse.

So... I focus on the future.

I have set up my studio again here in my house. I have started working a bit. I'm still not sure what to focus on, but getting my feet wet, testing the waters, looking for inspiration.

For a couple days my studio was floor to ceiling boxes and chaos from bringing all my "junk" back from the gallery. Now it is more organized (though bursting at the seams!) than it has ever been.

I think it's good to bring my work home now. I'm comfortable here. It doesn't feel like work, creating feels like play when I do it at home. Ok... The Artsiehorse Studio isn't closed, just relocated.

Random Fact #7

Adding cats increases the energy and furriness of a household exponentially.
So:
2 cats + 1 kitten = 6 times more catiness in our house!

Marvin the Mildly Neurotic

Pickle, AKA Too-Cool-For-School

Dante, AKA Dr. Purr Monster and Mr. Spaz

The End of the Beginning of Something New

There's been some strange whisperings here and there about the gallery. Something about a hairdresser... maybe an architect...

Anyway, the story is, the Artsiehorse Studio and Gallery is closing April 9th. I won't go into the gory details, but the short version is: I don't want to!!! But I'm very casually and calmly being forced to. Eventually.... So, I'm taking initiative and doing it sooner rather than later.

I know that's really vague, but this isn't the place for dragging people under the bus. I just don't do that here. But, if you call me, maybe.

So, I'll be packing up my studio (sigh...) and bringing it home again. Somehow in the short amount of time I've been in Artsiehorse, I've accumulated MUCH more STUFF. I'm not sure how I'll fit it all back into my shoebox studio at home again, but I'll try.

There will be one more First Friday opening that promises to be a winner. April 1st, Beth Martin, mixed media on velum paintings. So awesome! Come say hello.

There may be a big sale on everything come the last week. I'll let you know. I'd rather get these starving artists some money rather than just give them back their art. Artists really appreciate being appreciated monetarily. Complements are nice too. Just sayin'.

Entangled: An Installation

I can't wait for this up coming First Friday showing. The artist this month is Katie Ludwick, aka, Lady Pajama. I think she's awesome! She is one of my favorite local Missoula artists. Here is a sample of her work and what she has to say about it.

In this fresh and insightful installation ladypajama weaves together collage and drawing. Caught in a web of string and lace the viewer will certainly be intrigued by these fragments of ladypajama's mind -- each piece is a window into the artists inner blundering.

What is entangled here? Memories, pieces of the past, hopes for the future, evidence of life -- lived and loved.

Showing March 2nd - 30th. Opening Reception: 5:00-9:00 Friday, March 4th.

Sale This Week!

This week only in the Gallery:

10% off all Original Wall Art!

That's anything hanging on the wall. Maybe you didn't get what you wanted for Valentine's Day... Maybe you have had your eye on a particular piece of art... Maybe you just feel like treating yourself to some scrumptuous eye candy...

Wednesday February 16 through Saturday February 19

Prints by Elizabeth Claire Rose

I have a love affair with Etsy. I am always looking for new things to make me "ooooh" and "awwww" and Etsy is a great place for finding that.

So, one day while browsing Missoula artists I found Elizabeth Claire Rose. I was so impressed by her prints and photos that I asked her if she would like to bring a few by for the gallery. She said she would (yay!). Just yesterday brought me a huge assortment of prints: photographic, block, and intaglio. She has some greeting cards and magnets made of her work as well.

I would have asked her to write a bio like some of the other artists here in the shop, but she's on her way to Eastern Europe tomorrow and just a little busy getting ready. Maybe later.

Till then, you MUST come see her work in person.

Have You Ever?

Have you ever had one of those times - maybe a day, maybe a month - when you were full of ideas and brimming with intent? When everything you tried to create, do, make, say, etc., ended up wrong? Well, that is the state of my artistic being right now.

I have started 3 projects for the Light Show and scrapped them all. I had 2 different ideas for the Birds and Bees show in Polson in February, but in practice they weren't as intriguing as I imagined. Or I just couldn't get my ideas across on canvas, one or the other.

*sigh*

These things happen.

It's just nice when they don't too.

Call to Artists!!

Ok. It's time to get this new year rolling along.

I'm looking to fill spots in the gallery for the First Friday art walk from February till June of this year. If you or anyone you know has an itch to get their art out into the world, please email me with three or four .jpeg images of the art that you would like to display to artsiehorse@gmail.com under the header: First Friday!

Any medium will be considered, though I have a special affinity for mixed media and fiber art...

The display area is 15' along one wall and 12' along another. The face of the wall is brick and mortar. If the work is 3 dimensional we have ways to accommodate a limited number of pieces.