This Is An Emergency Portfolio Print Process DAY TWO/ THREE

We called in some reinforcements to help finish printing mine and Emmy's editions.

Thanks to Aaron, Katie, Sissy, and Caitlin Cali for all your hard work.

{Thanks to Jori Ketten for the photo}

We covered the floor with our editions.

and here are a few bad shots of the last day of printing. Thank you to Katie O. for all her help.

The final product.

Here's a few shots from Meredith Stern of the full portfolio.

Piles and piles of collated editions.

They just got shipped off to NYC. They will be available for purchase through the JUST SEEDS site.

Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative is a decentralized network of 26 artists committed to making print and design work that reflects a radical social, environmental, and political stance.

This Is An Emergency Portfolio Print Process DAY ONE

{My transparencies in process}

Meredith Stern invited me to be a part of her THIS IS AN EMERGENCY Gender Justice portfolio (more info below). In the spirit of sisterhood I invited Emmy Bright to collaborate with me. Before we started on our separate prints, Emmy and I spent some time talking about what we valued about feminism and what activism meant to us. I drew on a lot of texts I read in my early 20's and Emmy brought along some of her favorite dog-eared books, we found new meaning in the well worn words.

We were lucky enough to draw on the kindness of a fabulous Providence art organization to donate time and resources for the printing of the editions.
New Urban Arts, a nationally recognized interdisciplinary arts studio for high school students and emerging artists in Providence, Rhode Island--- let me and Emmy Bright print in their printshop. Emmy and I carved out a few Fridays to print like mad before the high school participants showed up after school to claim their shop back. Here are some shots of the mayhem.

{Emmy Bright puts the finishing touches on her transparencies}

{the first layer of my print begins to take over the space}

Without a drying rack our editions of 125 each took up a lot of floor space.

And since I decided to start with a large blend I used a lot of ink as well.

Here is Meredith Stern's statement about the portfolio.
Click here for more info.

Reproductive Rights and gender justice are in a state of emergency right now. This past year we witnessed the near defunding of Planned Parenthood in Congress and from Komen, one of their largest private funders. In 2011 alone, a historic 80 new laws were passed which further prevent people from accessing abortions. Also this past year, over 200 transgendered people were murdered. And currently more than half the states in the US have passed amendments that prevent the recognition of same sex marriages.

In response to all the bullying, the legislative measures, and the horrifying statements filling the media, I feel that we need a collection of voices commenting on this situation through visual art. This project will bring together over a dozen voices from people most affected by these issues- women, queer identified, and transgendered artists.

Over a dozen artists have already confirmed to create a print for this project and an artist will be printing the covers. Artists who have confirmed are: several members of Justseeds Cooperative including: Melanie Cervantes, Thea Gahr, Bec Young, Favianna Rodriguez, Mary Tremonte, Molly Fair, and myself (Meredith Stern). Also participating are: Ian Cozzens of Secret Door Projects, Kristina Brown, Delia Kovac, Emmy Bright, Lois Harada, Olivia Horvath, Sam Merritt, and Katrina Avocado. Arley Rose and Morgan Calderini, of Ladyfingers Letterpress, will be designing and printing the portfolio covers. Each artist will be creating and hand printing their own image.

KICKSTARTER: This Is An Emergency Portfolio

I was invited by Meredith Stern to participate in THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, a print portfolio which focuses on reproductive rights and gender justice. I will be collaborating with Emmy Bright for THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.

In just over a day the project is almost funded, which is a testament to print collectors and the political climate, but any funds pledged over the amount will be well used. More cash---> more fabulous prints.

Thank for your support.

Click here to find out more about the project and read Stern's Statement of Purpose.

Over a dozen artists have already confirmed to create a print for this project and an artist will be printing the covers. Artists who have confirmed are: several members of Justseeds Cooperative including: Melanie Cervantes, Thea Gahr, Bec Young, Favianna Rodriguez, Mary Tremonte, Molly Fair, and Meredith Stern. Also participating are: Ian Cozzens of Secret Door Projects, Kristina Brown, Delia Kovac, Emmy Bright, Lois Harada, and Katrina Avocado. Each artist will be creating their own image, and hand printing them themselves.

Punk Rock History Book Club

So I decided yesterday to start an inter-generational punk rock history book club.
if you wanna get in on the ground floor and watch me struggle with facilitating really grumpy opinionated people via skype click here.
and if you arn't on the evil facebook.
email me.

But really I just want to gather a group together in Providence  with Girls Rock! RI to talk about music culture.

FYI-The amazingly talented Erin Kilkenny made that logo in a heartbeat.
making this idea all too real.

Valentined @ Craftland

 L-R: Gilheeney/VanNostrand, Pedini, Barandes

I am happy to announce that the first finished piece resulting from my experiments with natural dyes is on display in a group show in Providence.  Details below.  Pictures to follow shortly.
Please join us at the reception.

Valentined
Group show featuring one-of-a-kind and limited edition Valentines by local and national artists.
February 2 - March 3, 2012
Craftland
235 Westminster Street
Providence RI 02903


These artists pay homage to or push the envelope (so to speak) of the Valentine tradition popular since the 19th century. About 190 million Valentines are sent each year in the United States. Valentined pops out from the masses.

Featuring:
An Li Liu, Mark Pedini, Shea'la Finch, Lois Harada, & Dan Wood, Shawn Gilheeney & Willa VanNostrand, Arley-Rose Torsone & Morgan Calderini, Mickey Zacchilli, Alec Thibodeau, Devienna Anggraini, Kath Connolly, Jason Tranchida, Liz Starin, Pippi Zornoza, Jill Colinan, Sarah Parrott, Shelley Barandes, Delia Kovac, Jen Corace, Marissa Falco, Deb Dormody, Hilary Treadwell, Sarah Coyne, Eling Chang, Emmy Bright, Julia Gualtieri & Walker Mettling, Ian Cozzens

Please join us for the reception: Thursday, February 9th, 5-8pm. There will be sweet snacks and delicious drinks.


Click to read a review of the show in the Providence Phoenix

Swallowed Whole now available on ETSY

A Selection of collaborative drawings made by Delia Kovac and Marissa Paternoster are now available HERE. We like to draw together but we live 4 hours apart.  So, all proceeds of sales from the drawings will go towards gas money, stamps, snacks, and other necessities.

Fabric Dyeing Experiments--> VALENTINED

Mark my words, 2012 will be the year of yellow.
I spent the day experimenting with dyeing fabric.
I used the Coreopsis and Turmeric.

Boiling a lot of vinegar for hours makes your kitchen smell like Angry Pickles.

I Boiled this piece of Cotton for an hour. Then realized that I could get the same amount yellow in 10 minutes. 

Compare and Contrast: Cotton before and after.

It is unseasonably warm so I am drying the pieces in the sun.

I hope that the color is set, cause it might break my heart to have all the color wash away.

I am hoping that these will magically be transformed into something for the Craftland Valentined show.
Exhibition dates: February 1 - March 3, 2012
Reception: February 9th, 5-8pm
Craftland Gallery
235 Westminster Street
Providence RI 02903