Community Print Shop Opening

Ever dream of learning how to make your own letterpress business cards? Or create a series of silk screened posters Paul Rand would give the thumbs up to? Oooo, oooo I know, wallpaper for your bedroom that will make you wake up smiling? If you're lucky to live near Providence now you can, at the incredibly well appointed and affordable AS220 community print shop. Morgan Calderini, a RISD grad, balloonist and Vista volunteer, is the resourceful, talented and tenacious artist that conceived and brought the shop to fruition.  Morgan and her team of tireless volunteers, have been working their tales off and tonight is the grand opening party in AS220's newly renovated Mercantile building from 6-8. For details on classes, schedules and what you'll see tonight go to their site here.

Images are from the top, Morgan Calderini, some of the print shop members, a recent installation of Morgan's and a sample of letterpress designed By Arley-Rose Torsone printed at the print shop. 

Some Pretty Sparkley Things

I've been designing a catalogue for Swarovski Crystals that will be printed next week. I thought I'd share a sneak peek of some of the spreads. Model photos by the wonderful Sandy and Rick of Hornick Rivlin Photography, product photos by Ira Garber Photography, print production and design assistance by Morris DeLuzio, wardrobe styling by the fabulous Janine Maggiore, hair and makeup by the lovely Kate Mahan, my hardworking production assistant, Cody Nowell, making so much appear out of thin air and the city of Providence for being such a treasure trove of locations. I had the best time scouting for the spots we shot in and feel so lucky the owners or managers were so gracious and hospitable. I've referenced every location or business which are each worth a visit the next time you're in the area.

Top and second spread are Donna from Wilhemina at Duck and Bunny, 

Third is Donna at Heir Antiques, Fourth is Kate from Maggie at Hotel Providence,

Fifth is Margaret from Maggie on the roof of the Peerless Building and 

last is Donna again, also on the Peerless roof top.

Poem for Monday

I had a wonderful start to today. And Monday's don't usually feel so good. Most of today was the river I've been trying to stay on. Letting it all come to me, receiving what I'm given. Early evening has been a different story. When anxiety starts I know Mary Oliver is the right person to listen to. This is what I found in her collection entitled Dream Work. Thank you Mary. You manage to start such peaceful revolutions in me. And of course Paul's image of the Providence Police Station demolition fits so beautifully.

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver ~

Photo by Paul Clancy

Artist Trading Card Night

I'm starting to organize another artist trading card night for Providence the end of March. If you missed the one we did last year here's your chance to connect with a group of wonderful, diverse artists. There were about 40 of us last year that spent 2 hours trading original pieces of art measuring 2.5" x 3.5" The range of styles and mediums were incredible. Tiny photos, sculptures, die cuts, collage, stamped, stiched, cartoons, paintings and everything in between. Our youngest artist was 5 and I'm guesing we had some folks in their 70's there. Visual artists tend to not socialize much out side of openings so this was a pressure free way to get to know a lot of local artists and get beyond small talk. Everyone had there own mini show going. There's no money exchanged, just ideas, emails and little teeny masterpieces. I'm hoping we can get some writers involved this year. trading mini novelas, plays, or sonnets. I'm working on a date and location now. But March 31, downtown Providence, a childrens' trade starting at 6 and adults at 7:30.  So get out those tiny canvases and stay posted for the info blast soon.

Graffiti Surprise in 100 Years

"An artist is always alone - if he is an artist. No, what the artist needs is loneliness"-Henry Miller 
My sweetheart, Paul, is one of three photographers asked by AS220 to respond to and interpret the renovation of the Mercantile Building on Weybosset Street in Providence, RI. The last building AS220 transformed, the Dreyfus Hotel, now houses their admin offices, printshop, gallery and the restaurant Local 121. Describing The Dreyfus, a huge body of work by Paul Clancy, David Ellis, Erik Gould, Scott Lapham, Susan Mobley and the students of Photo Memory, was presented in the fall of 2007 and wonderfully represented the range of talent and vision of these artists. Many great discoveries and stories of past lives of the building came to the surface while these artist recorded the building being dismantled and brought to life again. Now it's the Mercantiles' turn and I've gotten to tag along a few times while Paul has shot there. One warm day last fall I  brought with me a big bag of drawing materials. The walls are large and were coming down so I thought it would be fun to use some large charcoal. Grandma does graffiti. What I found worked well were some charred logs from my fire pit out back. Why not? That's what the stuff is made from and these walls are big.  It's kind of spooky in there so I also brought with me a tiny oil painting by the founder of the Providence Art Club, self taught artist, George Whitaker. I hung it next to me on the wall while I worked. This tiny landscape is over a hundred years old and speaks to me so much about the difference between being alone and lonely. One of my favorite objects I've ever bought myself. A lovely fact I recently stumbled upon is George Whitaker's studio was in the Mercantile 100 years ago. So as I've watched them bury my drawing under new shiny wall studs I can't help but wonder if someone 100 years from now will discover my work beneath sheet-rock and be as touched by it as I've been by Mr. Whitaker's painting of the tiny figure in the field circled in light. Paul and I have a piece of work entitled Mercantile:Two Part Intervention that will be part of the AS220 show at the CCRI Knight Campus Gallery till March 4th with an opening Feb. 4th.