Diversions.

I'm going to distract myself from the nerve-wrackingness of today, Election Day, and take some time to review some good things from the weekend before last, which I was too lazy to post about at the time.

We got to see (and hear, in fact) Paula Poundstone at the Carolina Theatre in Durham back on the 24th... I even got my book signed, yay!

It's the second time we’ve seen her this year – we also went to see her in Greensboro in January. You can never have too much Paula Poundstone in your year, in my opinion.

Since we had rented a car to get to Durham, we kept it for the rest of the weekend and went to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University to see the "El Greco to Velasquez" show of early 17th century Spanish painters. I have to give Bank of America some props, despite my earlier rant against them, for their sponsorship of this exhibition and therefore for saving me $6 on our admission price when using my BofA card. Whooo! I won’t spend that $6 all in one place, don’t worry.

So anyway, it was a good show, even if there were too many damn people (damn people!!) getting in my way and preventing me from hanging out in front of some of the paintings as long as I would like... such as the Ribera, for example. I was also fond of this one, however – love that still life action, gorgeous!

Unfortunately photos are FORBIDDEN in the Nasher and especially in the special exhibition; but I snuck one in from the front door (and managed not to get busted by any security guards, yesss) of that giant latex head. I love it. Overall, a decent Durham experience. Thanks, Durham.

P.S. This was on the side of the road on the way into the Nasher. Random hubcap or art installation? You decide:

Man, I'm not good at keeping up with this.

Hey, so I'm back. Why does it take me so long to get back to posting updates on this blog? Damn. Anyway, I meant to post updates on last weekend's trip to Durham for the "El Greco to Velasquez" show at the Nasher Museum... I'll get to that soon, but in the meantime here's a recent painting in the "fabrication" series:

Siamese twins oil on printed fabric 2008 by me, Diane Feissel

And yet more tidbits from the San Francisco trip...

So I haven't yet mentioned a cool surprise from the trip to SF... one of the best parts - that is, aside from getting to see my old studiomates, getting to spend some quality time with Sadie and meeting Nowell, seeing my in-laws, catching up with Jennifer, and generally touching base with the ole Bay Area - was accidentally stumbling upon a thoroughly grade A+, awesome, new, little, excellent, fantastic fabric store. Whooo!!! I was planning to sniff around for some more fabric for future installments in the "fabrication" series while I was out on the West Coast... I just didn't expect that I would happen upon the exact perfect place just wandering from my studio over to meet a friend in the Mission. But that's exactly what happened: I was shuffling down 18th Street on Friday afternoon and happened upon Whiz Bang Fabrics, a physically small but amply and carefully stocked repository of awesome fabric product. They had EXACTLY the type of fabric I was looking for - interesting, vibrant prints, primarily 100% cotton. Plus the owner is really nice and her mother and her intern too (yes, I was there 3 different times in my short trip) so I highly recommend you pay them a visit if you are even remotely interested in fabrics and other fabric-related crafts and you plan to be in the SF Bay Area anytime soon. You will be overwhelmed by their awesomeness.

Fortunately, the fabrics I purchased also passed the stringent quality standards maintained by our cats (upheld via extensive sniff tests and vigorous rubbing). Behold:

Above: Libby tests the fabrics for chin supportability. Below: Emmy rubs her entire body against the stack of fabrics, ensuring maximum cat hair dispersion.I love those guys. And my new fabric.

More Open Studios recap.

So 1890 Bryant Studio #212 is still a groovy place, with groovy people. Here's a view of me with my paintings, which Tessa was kind enough to let me hang in her studio... this particular space used to be mine (the long studio space is divided into 4 semi-separated workspaces and a storage area, currently shared by 4 artists) and I miss it. Sniff.Though sales were minimal, the reception to this particular series seemed to be relatively positive, although most people seemed to think it was a significant departure from my previous work. For me, of course, I don't see it - maybe because I know that everything I come up with is coming from the same brain, it naturally all makes sense to me. Hmm. Anyway, it left me wishing that I had planned ahead enough to type a little explanation of where this "fabrication" series came from. Its genesis and all that. Naturally lots of credit for the fabric idea goes to Juliette, with whom I did an artistic exchange in the past couple of years; she paints on antique sheets and other linens, though usually those without a pattern. Anyway, that's what gave me the idea initially... I'll elaborate on the full development of the idea soon, when I have more time... in the meantime, let's take a look at what my studiomates are up to - here's Michele King and some of her paintings, and some lilies:And here's Tessa with her paintings:

As for the stay in SF as a whole, it was great but short - but not so short that I didn't get some quality time with one of my favorite SF residents:

I ♥ Olio.

Open Studios Recap.

Just back from San Francisco, and participating in Open Studios at my old studio... good ole 1890 Bryant Street Studios. Ahh. I'll have more updates when I've recovered from the redeye flight back to the East Coast - but in the meantime, some photos:

Michael, all wistful and melancholy and such.

Michele, Chris and Tessa, all feisty in the studio.

More soon. Zzzzzzzz.

Open Studios San Francisco 2008

Before I forget to mention it, I'm going to be showing work this weekend, October 17-19, 2008, with my former studiomates out in San Francisco. You can find me and the rest of the gang - Chris Leib, Tessa Merrie, Michele King and Michael Schoenig - at 1890 Bryant Street Studios (Bryant at Mariposa, which is between 17th and 18th Streets), Studio #212. If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, I hope you'll stop on by to say "hello" – here are the dates and info:

Open Studios Fall 2008 - 1890 Bryant Street Studios
(Mariposa & Bryant Streets, San Francisco - btw 17th & 18th)

    Come on up to Studio #212 on the following dates:
    Opening Reception: Friday, October 17, 7-10pm
    Saturday and Sunday, October 18-19, 11am-6pm

Here's a pic of the studio from a couple of years ago, when I was still there (sniff):

In a muddle over mediums. (media?)

I'm not sure if other artists go through this, but I find that I occasionally battle with myself back and forth over whether it is better to work with the highest quality painting mediums, paints and supports possible, or if I should be creative enough, improvisational enough, free enough (whatever you want to call it) to just pick up any objects or mediums, supports etc., and be able to create something brilliant out of it. Does anyone know what I mean here? Anyone?

Anyway, when I'm not thinking about those issues, I'm just going ahead and painting, these days on printed fabric:

ladies, your prince has arrived oil on printed fabric 12"x12" 2008, by me, Diane Feissel