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!

Discovering a Crafter in Sugar Loaf, NY - The Arts and Crafts Community

Finally, this Memorial Day weekend gave me some time to scout out a local town that I've been really curious about, Sugar Loaf, NY. The Welcome to Sugar Loaf Sign at the Town's Precipice.

The hamlet of Sugar Loaf is a community of creative craftspeople and artists nestled under Sugar Loaf Mountain in picturesque Warwick Valley, Orange County, New York. Surrounded by apple orchards and horse farms, it has had a distinguished reputation as a crafts community for over 250 years, Today, Sugar Loaf remains true to its heritage as the year round home of over fifty independent business men and women. Many of these artisans live and work in the original barns and buildings which date back to the 1700's.

While I was walking along the street of candle, leather, potters, painted gourds and art frame shops, I came across a place named FRUITION Time Well Spent owned by Linda Gargano. The second you walk into this fabric filled store with hand-sewn delights dangling in every nook, you imagine yourself walking into a no-longer-virtual Etsy shop...but as I found out Mrs. Gargano doesn't have any Etsy shop! Which to me, makes her and her wares highly exclusive, since I equate having an Etsy shop with being accessible to the world.

As it stands, you'll have to contact her through her website or make your way to SUGAR LOAF NY if you want one of her hand-made art dolls, bags, aprons, eyeglass holders, or countless other pattern and fiber-filled treasures. Like me, Mrs. Gargano can't bear idle fingers...hopefully I can convince her to open an Etsy shop!

Linda Gargano owner of Fruition Time Well Spent

"I began sewing at a young age of 11 and had always busied myself by drawing and coloring before that. My hands were always doing something and to this day the aroma of a box of new crayons still brightens my day! I'm happiest when my hands are busy and I have something to show for my efforts. I've dabbled in many art forms but I always wind up in my chair behind a sewing machine (or two) and find it's where I am most creative." - Linda Gargano

My new Apron made by Linda Gargano owner of Fruition in Sugar Loaf Ny

Idle Fingers Need(le) to Felt Dogs or other animals for that matter...

Fleece Dog Book by Sinco

I have always struggled with allowing my hands to be idle. Whether in meetings, on a plane, in a car ride, waiting room or subway...idle hands (mine of course) drive me insane. So through out the years I've taken up all sorts of portable string and hook activities like embroidery, crocheting and knitting. When I was eight yrs. old on my weekend trips to go see my grandmother, I used to crochet on the number seven el train while I sat alongside of my mother.

However, when it came to needle-felting arts, what I had seen the most of were felted fruit and I was never really intrigued with hairy strawberries and grapes. Infact, I was kind of 'ick' about it. So I never got into it, until thirty years later when I ran across Sinco's book Felted Dog. Dogs (unlike fruit) SHOULD be hairy!

In addition, Sinco has an entire site to support, supplement and encourage you called www.fleecedog.com! She has tutorials too and even guides you in how to incorporate REAL dog hair into your little miniature faux dog!

In order to needle felt you need carded wool Felting Needles vaible from Sinco And in craft stores or Felting Sites

The one downside to needle felting is that you need barbed needles that are VERY dangerous (think of the tip of a fishing hook multiplied a thousand times AND reduced to microscopic size!) Since the action of needle felting is to repeatedly move the felting needles in and out/ up and down (like a sewing machine) through the fibers in order to entangle and bind them - it is often easy to poke your finger.

Glass Eyes from Sinco Two Unfinished Dogs I've started (Chica and Chulo) My Maya Maya by me!

My friend Laura has a pug named Nugget and I made her this felt dog (though I haven't given it to her YET- but I will!) So here is Nugget:

Nugget by marisol diaz

If you're interested in this or in other felted animals (like cats) there are many new books available including one called Little Felted Animals.

Wanderlust Dreams

Summertime is right around the corner, prompting me to revisit the idea of summer-dreamin' - what I would do if I knew I could not fail (or if I simply had the money). I think answering this somewhat universal question is vital for all of us and can truly inspire life changes (if not the big ones - at least the little ones).

If I could, I would get one of these:Vespa GT250

Isn't she stunning? Though I would share one, if I'm dreaming - I might as well say I'd get two Vespas so my husband can come along on my adventures. I have wanted a Vespa since my college years when visiting Europe, Greece and Mexico meant inevitable run-ins with these romanticized and adorable pint-size buckets of speed. There something about the wind in my hair, (under a helmet of course) but via a machine that my five-foot size one inch body can control!

Daily Coyote Book by blogger Shreve Stockton I would travel across country like this TOTALLY INSPIRING blogger: Shreve Stockton http://www.dailycoyote.net/

Shreve Stockton got up one day and decided to drive across country from San Francisco to New York City on a Vespa.

She chronicled the trip through photographs and blogged about her experience at a blog called Vespa Vagabond. During her journey, she stopped for one, single, solitary day in Wyoming and fell in love with the place. After she reached her destination (NYC), she ended up returning to Wyoming to start anew. While there her life crossed paths with an orphaned coyote whose parents had been shot. His name is Charlie. The Daily Coyote blog chronicles Charlie's life as he lives in a log cabin with Shreve, her cat Eli and the newest member of the family, puppy Chloe.

Hogan's Alley Guerilla Art Project

Though I have secret fantasies of seeing how much greener the grass is in other parts of the country, if I had that Vespa, my travels would revolve around the North Western parts of the Garden State, NY state, excursions to the grocery store, bookshop and summer escapades.

If I feed the dream, I would perhaps travel across the country as well. However, unlike Shreve, I would busy myself with doing spontaneous acts of anonymous Guerilla Art! Of course, just like Shreve, I would photograph and blog my journey for you, but I doubt it would make it into a publication!

OR...

The other dream I have is to forgo the Vespa, home and job and get one of these:

MaryJanes Farmgirl Teardrop Trailer

MaryJanesFarm Limited Edition Teardrop TrailerMaryJanesFarm Limited Edition Teardrop Trailer

This baby is a beauty and it would unleash the farm/cowgirl/nomad and wanderer in me! I would pack up the dogs (and again possibly the husband) and seek out a life of wanderlusting self-sustenance!

But the dream starts getting a bit impossible right around here since this little trailer will set you back $14,425 big ones...but look at what you get!

My little classic American travel trailer is easy to tow with virtually any vehicle. (Also great for those weekend antiquing trips—fill ’er up with your finds!)

Its aluminum matte finish exterior sports vintage-style steel wheels with baby-moon hubcaps and wide whitewalls, reproduction fiberglass fenders, and reproduction 1932 Ford tail lights. Inside, you’ll find maple woodwork, a cozy double bed with ample room for two, lighting, and a ceiling vent fan, completed by a locking entry door with a porthole window and a sliding picture window and screen. Out back is a tailgate kitchen, featuring a 12-gallon water tank, sink, and faucet; ample cupboards; a Coleman camp stove; and a matching 54-quart Coleman cooler that rides up front in style when not in use.

Purchase includes a night at MaryJanesFarm B&B getting acquainted with your new little darling, and lessons for both towing and what many women dread most: b-a-c-k-i-n-g up. Before I send you down the road with your MaryJanesFarm Limited Edition Teardrop Trailer, you’ll be driving in any direction you choose!

But at this point in my life...these fantasies are simply not possible. So its best to reign in the dreaming (for now) and return to the feasible and that is turning to Vivian Swift's amazing book.

Vivian Swift is a wonderful illustrator and watercolorist who hangs up her traveling shoes and starts to see the world immediately around her with fresh eyes... When Wanderers Cease To Roam

Vivian Swift's illustrated Book When Wanderer's Cease To Roam Vivian Swift Illustration - Book excerpt from When Wanderers Cease To Roam by Vivian Swift