Gregg Emerys Azucarera Exhibit was a Blast

Gregg in the packed Gallery

The opening was a great success. Since Gregg Emery is a Dean and instructor at the Dwight-Englewood School, there were many former and current students as well as faculty support.

The postcard circle

A circle was made using the announcement cards by family who attended the opening reception, Devin and Alexandra.

Substratum painting by gregg emery - Sold

This particular painting was worked over several times during the past year. The crackling paint effect was achieved while working in a below freezing studio space.

Gregg and Former student Jerry Igdalev with his girlfriend Nadia

It was great seeing such an amazing turnout in this new alternative exhibit space. The work looked beautiful, the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming and a good time seemed to be had by all.

NYC Weekend Edition- Artist Gregg Emery at Azucarera Gallery

This Friday night, August 21st, at 7pm Artist Gregg Emery (a.k.a. my husband) will be exhibiting a show entitled The Drawn Line -On Reading The Human Soul. The Azucarera gallery is located at 414 W. 145th St. (basement) between Convent Ave. and St. Nicholas Ave., Harlem - if you're around stop by!!!

Cynosure by Gregg Emery

Some of you may remember when I wrote a blog post on Gregg and his work and I urge any of you curious about him and his process to check out that old post here! As a special treat the exhibit will also have a wall dedicated to his phenomenal gestural figure drawings from his numerous sketchbooks.

figure drawing by artist Gregg Emery

And for an EXTRA special treat for those who follow my work - Gregg and I collaborated on a piece entitled Fleeting Seedling and you can see that complete painting only at the exhibit - but here is a detail shot of my work. Come to the opening to see the whole thing!!!

detail of Fleeting Seedling Collaborative Painting by marisol diaz and Gregg Emery

Treat Yourself to a Subscription of Color!

The full spectrum of colored pencils by Felissimo

So during my blogging escapades I discovered the kind of mail subscription I would have LOVED, and I mean LOVED, to have had as a young budding artist - heck if the times weren't so financially tight I would LOVE to have it now!!!

just one sample of the cleverly named pencils- Mermaid's Gown

Think back to a time when (instead of a new encyclopedia every month) your parents ordered wonderful little packages of animal flashcards that you could build a zoological collection of and catalog in that great little complimentary index case. Well this subscription is just as good if not better! 500 pencils and not just any pencils, color pencils!!

Japanese design house, Felissimo has created a new social experiment by developing this subscription plan in which 33 dollars a month will buy you a Japan-mailed-package of different assortments of 25 like-minded colored pencils, for 20 months until you have 500 varigated colors. The different colors have names like Tragedy, Tea with Milk, Maple Sugar and Drizzly Afternoon. Geez I want these!

One of the ways to display your pencils as they arrive

In addition to being able to order your pencils you can order high-design displays that rival some of the great stuff you see in the Moma (Museum of Modern Art) gift shop, like this wall display on the left appropriately named Orchestra. Felissimo's Social Design Network states,

Social designer curates and creates smart products that tune into the greater good. You can join the cause by submitting designs for our competitions, weighing in with your opinion, purchasing goods or just simply talking about them. After all, every good idea (and every good cause)... starts with a conversation.

The Color Wave Display Option ($104)

So if you do happen to indulge or splurge on this beautiful monthly treat let me know! I would love to see pics of your open packages as they arrive - they're sure to be works of art in themselves!

Glass Explorations II

While contemplating the word encasement, I explored some new glass powder work this summer.

Unintentionally, my concept was very similar to an assignment that I gave my students last year. The assignment (to paint a distorted self-portrait by basing the composition on a scanned/xeroxed facial print) was a blessing for some students who flourished with the 'chiaroscuro' demands of the project. However, the assignment proved to be challenging for others, who were left feeling disillusioned, which for me as an art educator is never ok.

quick sketch of idea as I saw it in my mind actual xerox of my facexerox of my face 11"x 11" layered glass tile made with glass powders entitled ENCASED by marisol diaz When working with glass powders, your initial drawing is very forgiving since the dry powders can simply be wiped (or blown) away until you fire it. However if you're working to create strong blacks it can be challenging since the material that you're working with is transparent and will also be reflective (it is glass) - thats why we use light tables during the process. Once the glass is fired your options become very limited since you can only add material and re-fire.

For this piece I combined both picture references of my face to create a new composition that included my hand. After the piece was fired I re-fired it with a layer of clear glass on top. The thickness and depth that created is difficult to see in the above shot. That clear glass layer also really helped 'encase' the piece. In addition, it made more sense why this piece was made out of glass as opposed to a drawing or a painting. I love sharing these explorations with you all!

Illustrations and The Azucarera Exhibit

Sugar Plum by marisol diazIdle Cherry Bomb by marisol diaz

The End of Glass Class

Ok so I fell off of the blogging bed and have struggled to get back up, and the clapper was of absolutely NO help!!! Luckily with a little rest and resuscitation under my belt I can now safely say that, I'm back! I have a gallery opening tonight that I will soon be posting about - but for now lets see the end of my glass class experience with instructor Catharine Newell at Corning NY.

The view of Corning from the pedestrian bridge on the way to class A dream kiln filled with my classwork...

Because of these hard economic times our class was incredibly small (we only had three students)! As any one who is familiar with education knows (super-small intimate classes such as this one can be a double-edged sword that cuts both ways, positive and negative. However, I ended up LOVING my classmates whose work and personalities couldn't have been more different than mine - Lynn Smith and Sue Hill. We were riding the same wave and trying to fully immerse ourselves in Catharine's high- concept manner of teaching powders. We also were charged with making a collaborative piece together. Each of our different styles lent greatly to this endeavor and we made one of the best pieces of the whole two weeks! We donated the completed piece to the Auction which raises funds for The Studio's scholarships.

Our student Collaboration piece in the kiln before its stacked and fused! We were also intrigued and deeply affected by the artwork created by our teaching assistant Richard Parrish whom I am looking forward to writing a post on next! One thing we all found we had in common was a deep penchant and appreciation for dessert. Sue's Notorious Dessert

Favorites at Corning

Well, I'm fortunate enough to be at glass class at The Studio again this year, and being taught by one of my all time favorite glass artist Catharine Newell whose course is entitled, A Particulate Language. While I'm here (and until January 3, 2010) Corning Museum of Glass is showing an AWESOME exhibit entitled Favorites From the Contemporary Glass Collection where they feature some of their most popular contempory works.

While You Were Sleeping by Christina Bothwell at Corning Museum of Glass

Above is one of my personal favorites from this exhibit- a piece by Christina Bothwell that employs ceramics raku, in addition to glass.

Omagh by Clifford Rainey at Corning Museum of Glass

Another exhibit that is happening while I'm here (and will be up until January 3rd, 2010) is Voices of Contemporary Glass: The Heineman Collection, which showcases more than 230 important works by 84 international artists. And since we're discussing favorites I just had to show this museum piece to the left entitled Omagh that is made but cast and cut ground glass by British b. Northern Ireland artist Clifford Rainey in 2001. This piece really resonates with me and even the work that I do.

As for my class, we have had our first two days and working with Catharine and our TA Richard Parrish has been intriguing and provocative to say the least.

Compared to past glass classes that I have taken, this a relatively small session (in terms of attending students) which is a special treat when considering community, attention, space and depth of focus. I will be sure to keep you abreast of our progress!

For anyone who has followed my work you will know that I am very interested in working with powdered glass to combine my illustrative passions with those I have for the medium of glass. Catharine Newell has been an artist whose work in powders has been very inspirational. If you don't know anything about this medium or process I urge you to watch this Youtube video on her and the process!

The Soul of Sweet Delight - New Art Pieces for Gallery - Azucarera NYC

work in progress - Sugar Cane - by marisol diaz for Azucarera this July

A professional liason and friend, Nova Gutierrez is in the process of fulfilling a life-long dream- opening her own gallery! As we are both educators, it's a hectic, precious and vital time for us. We're ending the academic school year, chaperoning proms, walking the yearly, but unique, recessionals that are our graduations. However, along with all of this we are celebrating and championing the opening of the gallery AZUCARERA.

Azucarera is an artist run gallery opening June 1, 2009, in the historic Sugar Hill neighborhood in Harlem, NYC. Exhibits at AZUCARERA will emphasize the creative work of new and emerging artists who identify as women of color, indigenous, LGBTQ/Two Spirit, working class, and/or feminist. AZUCARERA is a transnational, multigenerational space that recognizes and celebrates the artistic work that energizes and sustains our diverse communities.

This new gallery fulfills a mission to be more inclusive of those who have been most excluded in the art world vernacular. The show in which I am participating in is entitled The Soul of Sweet Delight inspired by a line in William Blake's Poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Here are some peeks into my works in progress:

In Progress Watercolor - Cherry by marisol diaz Watercolor in Progess Blueberry by marisol diaz

This gallery will prove to be a wonderful door and opportunity for women of color! Currently there is a CALL FOR ART WORK for this Soul of Sweet Delight exhibit with submissions due June 22th! There is still time! If you are interested in this gallery and can't make this show, stay tuned, there will be future call for entries!

Earth Day Creativity Shot!************ Inspiring Artist Vik Muniz on TED Talks

Have 15 minutes??

Indulge in a creativity shot! Watch this TED talk video by Artist Vik Muniz who makes art from pretty much anything! Be it shredded paper, wire, thread, clouds, sugar or (my fave) chocolate!!

I think this is a great artist and visionary to look at on Earth day as his work inspires me to see in new ways and to look at things that I would normally disregard, and notice that these things have majestic potential.

My earth day wish and oath is that we would approach our communities and future with open eyes, a conscious heart, an active hand and a willingness to try. - Amarettogirl

Here in this video he describes the thinking behind his work and takes us on a tour of his incredible images. If you stick it out past the cotton, fluff shapes you'll me mesmerized!!

I was fortunate enough to see this Vik Muniz piece in 'real life' when it was at the MOMA:

So what do you say? After reading such negativity, deceit and hardships in the news why don't we shake our heads and open our eyes to seeing life a new. Lets try to see the beauty and potential in everything. Lets be more creative as we strive to create environmental balance and daily peace.

Lastly, let me share this phenomenal ten second exercise emailed to me today by a brilliant student W. Greenbaum,

Here is a 10 second exercise: Read then try...

Close your eyes. Inhale softly, then exhale slowly. Then open your eyes.

That moment was brought to you by the planet earth. The relative stillness provided by her gravity. The air from her atmosphere. Love and Respect her. That's all you have to do.

Happy Earth Day everyone!

3ww prompt:Deceit, Indulge, Oath

Drawing With Light

So I was going through some pics from this past summer and I found these silly abstracted photos from when I was playing with drawing with night light:

path by marisol diaz hearts by marisol diaz circles by marisol diaz

In the popular world of drawing with light my pics are definitely little itty bitty babies!!!! To see some AWESOME, sophisticated, funny and flat-out spectacular drawings with light images (and EVEN get in on the action with awesome INSTRUCTIONS check out this site- BOOM!) Boom is a site made by genius designer Jeff Hamada in hopes to foster a community of creators. He asked for submissions of light drawings and boy did he get them!

Light Drawing submitted to Boom by Brett Peacock & friends | http://www.soap.com.au/