First Exhibition of Collaborative Works

Laura and Tina announce their first exhibition of collaborative works.  Opening reception is Friday December 4th 5:30-7:30 at Plum Elements Gallery in Charleston South Carolina.  The work is available for purchase.  We are looking forward to hearing how the community in Charleston responds to our work based on this poem by Rumi:

The Waterwheel

Stay together, friends.

Don’t scatter and sleep.

Our friendship is made

of being awake.

The waterwheel accepts water

and turns and gives it away,

weeping

That way it stays in the garden,

wheras antoher roundness rolls

through a dry riverbed looking

for what it thinks it wants.

Stay here, quivering with each moment

like a drop of mercury.

Vision 21

This post marks 100 posts for us since starting the blog!

Vision 21 Laura

My dearest Tina~

I cannot even believe this is our 100th post since starting this blog!!! My heart is full and is reflected in my Vision for the week. It came to me with the unexpected gesture of love found in my cereal of all places. My obsession with hearts began with the first heart rock I had ever seen given to me by good friend, Enid. Since then I look for them every time I am at the Bluff and now have a small collection. I had the unexpected pleasure of finding a heart in a tree stump when I was out Saturday night and today my cereal! This week I plan to open my heart to new experiences and be mindful of small gestures of love I can give and receive. xoLaura

Vision 21 Tina

Dear Laura,

Today was a monochromatic day.  This is unusual to have it grey and cool here.  In an effort to not be whiny about it (my midwest roots are thinning!), I took a picture of this beautiful tree outside my house this morning.  I wish you a beautiful Thanksgiving (and those who are reading this too)!

Tina

MAKING THE MARK: THE WORK OF THE STONINGTON PRINTMAKERS SOCIETY

Monotypes by Sadie DeVore (l) and Mara Beckwith (r), Society Co-founders.

Please Join Us! I will be exhibiting 5 monotype paintings in this exhibit along with many diverse, talented artists. I have had a sneak peak at the work and guarantee you will not be disappointed! The exhibit is held in the Converse Gallery at the Norwich Free Academy. I would LOVE to see you at our opening reception! If you have never been to the NFA and the Slater Gallery you are in for a treat as their collections are expansive, informative gems.

The reception for the artists, friends and the public will be held

Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The reception is open to all and free with museum admission. Light refreshments will be served. Click here for directions to the museum.

Printing demonstrations will be held:

Saturday, December 5, 2009 (The day of the opening!!!)

Sunday, January 10, 2010 &

Sunday January 17, 2010

Hope to see you there! ~Laura

ReVision 20

ReVision Laura

Dear Tina~ Thank you for remembering my many “benches.” I still stumble upon them in unexpected places like the one in this picture, often when I need to pause and reconnect with nature or myself. I see them as little gifts we all can find if we are receptive to them.Walking at Bluff Point centers me in a way I cannot explain. Largely surrounded by the ocean I am often reminded of how tiny I am in comparison to the larger universe, yet I feel connected to my surroundings, knowing I am an intricate part of the whole. There is a history at the Bluff much like the Caw Caw Interpretive Center you described in your Vision. The Bluff is filled with magic and wonder, always filling me with unexpected delight. The benches remind me of when we were at Goddard and I was studying environmental art. The green museum is a great resource for learning about all of the WAY COOL things artists are creating from nature. I remember how inspired we were by Betsy Damon when she came to Goddard as one of our keynote speakers. I learned how her line of inquiry led her to the informative work she is doing today.

Dear Laura,

This week I developed lessons about geometric and free form shapes for my students.  I was teaching how identifying shapes can help students not only learn how to draw an object and develop a composition, but also how to discuss art (their own and others).  Your Vision this week seemed to be a perfect example of this concept and how shapes can create a composition that moves the eye around the picture plane from the geometric shapes of the boxes to the free form shapes of the plant.

On a walk yesterday with the family, I came across this hydrangea in my neighbors yard illuminated with light much like what you described in your Vision this week.  The hydrangea also had this element of geometric (the lines of the stems) and free form shape (curves of the leaves) so it seemed the perfect response this week to your Vision.  Teaching the fundamentals of artmaking this year has made me think about what makes an engaging composition in my own art work.  I often do this intuitively so do not think much about it, but I do have to acknowledge my formal education in the arts for perhaps developing that intuitive act.

Tina

FAQ #1

You Ask….We Answer…

Frequently.Asked.Questions

Laura and Tina are starting a series of question and answers about our individual studio practices.  Feel free to ask us questions as well and we will make sure we answer them.  For now we are asking the questions to one another.  The teachers in us are often feeling the need to share, explain, discuss and assess all that we have learned.  We can’t help it…this is what all these years of being educated and being the educator has done to us.  So, excuse us while we scratch the teaching itch!

Not only will we be talking about what it means to be an artist, but also all the juicy good stuff about what materials we are using, why we like them, stumbling blocks and triumphs we may come across.  Of course we have a vested interest in doing such an exercise as it will help us mean what we say and say what we mean.

Our first FAQ is:  What art materials are you using in your studio today?

Laura Gaffke, monotype on paper, 8 x 8 inches

Hi Tina~

As you know I use many different materials in my studio and am always looking for ways to challenge my thinking, widen my scope of learning, yet stay true to the thoughts and ideas that are central to my work. I was recently asked to try monotypes for a wonderful art exhibit at the Slater Museum in Norwich, CT. I first learned about monotypes while taking a class with Mara Gillen Beckwith the owner of Studio M when I first move to CT.  A monotype is a printmaking process where you paint on a plastic or glass plate and transfer the image onto paper. It may seem like a simple process, but I can guarantee it is much more challenging than you might think, but FUN! I wasn’t sure I loved the technique at first because the paint does not transfer to the bright palette I normally love and the color of the images transfer much softer than my vivid watercolors, but I have grown to love the process. I allowed this series of monotypes to be meditations on my  day. The imagery on the paintings are abstract because how I feel cannot often be translated into words. I have given them titles to allow the viewer a glimpse of my inner guidance. The image above is one of five on exhibit at the Stater Museum from Novemeber 22, 2009 until January 29, 2009. The opening reception is on December 5th from 1-4pm. I wish you were here to see it and would welcome anyone who might be in the area to join me. I would love to know what you think, share the artwork with you and see your smiling faces.

xoLaura

TINA

In my studio I primarily create collage and assemblages.

In my collage work, the main material I work with is paper.  The types of paper I am using now are: hand made paper, paper found on the streets, receipts, magazines, newspapers, old Sears catalogs from the turn of the century, maps, color copies of photos I have taken, notes, drawings, vintage postcards, sheet music, notes from the boys school, watercolor paper, homework, mail, etc.   These papers mixed, cut, torn, and glued are the ingredients to my collage work.

In my assemblage work I use a variety of objects such as rusty metal, shells, antique kitchen utensils, game pieces, stones, sand, sawdust, branches, mirrors, yarn (knitting), and the list could go on.  I use anything that might express the idea I am getting at in a particular piece of art.

I often incorporate image transfers into these collage and assemblages.  These images may be photos I have taken, digitally altered images, or drawings I have created.  The material I swear by for this process is Golden Matte Medium.  To read directions for an image transfer click HERE.

Here is an example of my work using this method of image transfer.  This will take you to my website, where you will see more of my collage and assemblage work.

www.tinahirsig.com

I am currently updating the information on this page, so check back in a week or so when I launch that.  It outlines my plans for 2010.

Vision 20

Vision 20 (Laura)

Hello Sweet T~

Several days for the past week I have awoken to the sunlight bouncing through my bedroom window like an excited child rushing to wake her parents after a restful nights sleep. Shadows illuminate the wall like an abstract painting. My pothos plant, Miley sits like a princess a top a tower of old suitcases and cigar boxes, illuminating the room. The shadows quickly dissipate into the morning by the time I return with my morning coffee reminding me to take a deep breath, pause and appreciate the gift of this day.  miss you! Laura

Vision 20 Tina

Dear Laura,

On a hike last weekend with my family at Caw Caw Interpretive Center I saw this bench and thought of you.  I remembered all of the “benches” you found on your many walks at the Bluff in Connecticut.   They were often not the human made benches like in this photo, but fallen logs or rocks that were just right for sitting.   Caw Caw is now a part of the Charleston County Park system, but they still maintain the shape of the land when it was a rice plantation.  It is a great way to see what a rice plantation would have looked like and also acknowledge all the hard work the African Americans did while enslaved during that time.  What I have learned since living here is that the African Americans brought all the knowledge of how to grow and farm rice.  It is a facinating process of trenches and flood gates that allow the flow of water in and out of the fields.  That is why you see the rectangle shape of the water behind the bench rather than the natural curve of a river you usually see.  Your walks are probably rare at the Bluff now that it is getting cooler in Connecticut, but perhaps sharing one of the benches you have come across would be interesting to see.     ~T.

ReVision 19

ReVision 19 Tina

Dear Laura,

What always inspires me to dream up new ideas is the natural landscape here in South Carolina.  When I read your post about dreams I knew I had to create a digital collage by mixing a photo of the enchanting marsh with your dream painting.  Whenever I am need of some inspiration, I do not need to go far.  The ocean, marsh, and land illuminate many of my thoughts and ideas for the future.  South Carolina may not be the best place for politics and thoughtful politicians, but it is the most inspiring landscape I have experienced in the US (there are only five states I have not been to in the US!).  It is like a hidden gem (ssshhhh-don’t tell anyone).

I also want to mention that you have always been true to who you are and who you want to be.  Having experienced graduate school with you where we examined our artistic/life intentions with a magnifying glass, you always talked about wanting to be someone who inspires others.  This is the central element to much of your work today, in graduate school, and while you were in Deerfield.  I suspect you have always been like that, even as a child.  You speak of wanting your artwork to be a gift.  It is not only in a literal way of wrapping up a piece of your art and giving it to someone. It, more importantly, is the experience people gain by knowing you.

The experience is the art and the gift.

love, Tina

ReVision 19

Dear Tina,

This week I have been thinking about how life brings unexpected surprises and joy, much like the whimsy of the pods fluttering about in your stain. Every once in a while this comes from meeting someone special. Bea Vanni is one of these special people. I met Bea as you know when I decided at the last minute to have my Master’s Thesis edited. In my desperation Bea came to my rescue in what I can only believe was serendipitous. She went out of her way to insure the success of my paper, selflessly staying up many late nights, going above and beyond what was expected of her. I was and still am in awe of her perfectionism, attention to detail, calm demeanor, positive outlook and kindness. Through this process we became friends and she has helped me in countless ways, always believing in and supporting my dream of becoming an artist. I still look to her for advice and counseling as the scope of her work goes beyond just editing. This week I want to honor her “quiet presence” in my life, like the pods in your stain, as she has once again surprised me with her kindness, generosity and knowledge.  much love, Laura

What I learned from Latoya

Dear Laura,

When I drive around the city going to my studio, picking the kids up from school, going to teach, etc. I have begun to leave the radio off (with the exception of listening to Joseph Campbell on CD when I need some inspiration).  I use this time to let my mind wander and notice where it wanders to.  I started thinking of a former student I had named Latoya.  When I met her she was in the second grade and came into my art room full of sass and negative energy.  She proceeded to refuse to do the lesson that day and announced she would just sit there rather than participate.  Not sure what to do and not wanting a full on teacher-student battle of wills, I just let her sit there.  This went on for about six weeks.  It was like she was on strike and I just decided to just give her some space.  I told her that when she was ready she could join the class.  Each time I made a point to talk personally with her even though she wanted nothing to do with me.  Then one day she decided to participate.  This is not one of those stories where I feel like I did anything magical to reach this student.  I didn’t.  It was all her.  She needed time to trust me.  As the weeks went on she eventually started to talk with me.  This process took about six months until every time I saw her she greeted me with a hug and a smile.

So, in the car I was thinking about trust and teaching.  If we are going to learn anything, we need to trust who is teaching us.  Trust opens us up. Trust also takes a lot of time to establish.  I see this in my own children’s ability to learn as well.  A trusting relationship allows for risk-taking in new learning.  I am not sure where I am going with this thought, but in this blog we have started talking about how we learn from one another- we are teachers for each other.  I thought I would open up this idea of peer-learning and how vital it is to becoming interested, curious, and excited about who we are and what we are doing.  Perhaps the trust we have with our close relationships (peers, family, colleagues, etc) is a source of inspiration we have tapped into and need to share the news with others how powerful it can be.

Latoya taught me that time, patience, and space is the first step to a trustful relationship.

I am grateful to have been given this lesson from an unexpected teacher- a child.

Tina

Vision 19

Vision 19

Dear Tina~ My heart was completely full of joy today. I was just in NH for a quick visit with my friend Danielle who was visiting from Arizona. We met and taught together at the fabulous Deerfield Community School until we both moved to different states after our weddings three years ago (our weddings were only two weeks apart!). Danielle and I made a special trip to DCS to see our beloved friends. I was overwhelmed with feelings of nostalgia and reminiscence. Deerfield was were my love of teaching ignited and where I was allowed to experiment, connect, learn, stretch, grow and DREAM. It was my home for almost 14 years. When I was teaching there I created  and hung a series of little posters with encouraging messages throughout the building. My hope was that people might pause for a moment during their busy day and think about what electrifies their imaginations and makes them come alive. I was surprised to find one of these posters still up. It said “Dare to Dream” and reminded me of my dream and good fortune of becoming a teacher in a school that was so supportive of the arts. I now find myself pursuing another dream ~the dream of becoming an artist. I am constantly amazed with what can happen when you set an intention and allow yourself to dream. What do you (or anyone reading this) “dare to dream” for yourself? I would love to hear your dreams in the comments of this blog where they will be thoughtfully encouraged and nourished. xoLaura

Vision 19 Tina

Dear Laura,

Today in my studio I had to stain some wood so stepped outside to do so.  As I was staining in the back of the building, I noticed tiny, white fluffy seeds surrounding me.  My studio is set in a very industrial area, as you know, so I wondered where these were coming from.  In my Vision for this week I took a picture as they settled in on the lid of my stain can.  When I left the studio these seeds where all over North Charleston.    Something about their quiet presence as they lazily floated with the wind made me happy.

Tina

ReVision 18

ReVision 18

Dear Tina,

This week your Vision had me thinking about all the ways nature impacts my life. Like you I have an abundant garden here in CT. It wasn’t always this way as I am sure you remember. When I moved here there wasn’t so much as weed of a flower at this house leaving me homesick for my NH garden. It has now been three years and I finally feel as though my garden is somewhat established. I say somewhat because it is an endless work in progress and part of my creativity. As I worked this week on cutting back things for fall I was overwhelmed with how big my plants had gotten in such a short time. I will soon have to divide them to give them space. I love doing this because I am able to share the abundance I have with friends. This little painting is a meditation on the balance of nature in our daily lives. I was thinking about how we shift, grow and place ourselves with the world around us, as well as with inner selves. We all need space and room to grow. xoL

Dear Laura,

In thinking about the color red from your Vision this week, I took a walk around my house and took pictures of anything that was red.  I did not think I would find much, but look at it all!  The boys helped me find things so it was fun to go on this “red hunt”.  I did not expect to find so many plants that had turned red.  The season change is very subtle here and to have the intention of looking for color actually made me see that Fall is literally right outside my door.  Training my eye to look for the subtle details in my immediate surroundings was refreshing.  I saw so much!  Wouldn’t it be interesting to do these “color hunts” for some future Vision/ReVision?  We could pick a color a week for a series.  What do you think?

T.