Dangers of Travel

Summer is flying by. Here it is already August, so hard to believe. I went on a wonderful trip to California in June, with my husband, Jay. Our first stop was in San francisco. Chinatown was definitely our favorite part of San francisco to explore. The shops are full of exciting sights and smells, dried sea creatures line the walls. We stopped at a small tea shop for a free tasting and checked out the fish market, where you could choose a live fish and they would club it over the head and clean it for you. Against my better judgement, we rented bicycles to ride down to Golden Gate Park and over the Golden Gate Bridge...we did not make it, got lost on the way back, I dropped my purse in the middle of an intersection, got the bungee cord that was holding my purse, caught in the sprocket disabling the bike. I finally caught Jay's attention as he peddled several blocks ahead, and on his return to assist me, his chain fell off. We sadly walked our bikes back to the bike shop and called it a day. Ah...the joys of vacationing. We also, had a mouse in the bathroom of the B&B we stayed at, tangled in the middle of the night with a cat named Anna, that slipped in through a window unannounced, I fell off a big, big rock and nearly broke my arm, monitored bat boxes at our next stop, hoping they wouldn't inadvertently slip into our open window, looked for bears as we ate smoked salmon and cheese in the woods...and much, much more...I did not know about that mouse until we left there, headed for our next destination.

I travelled to North Carolina for my annual art workshop/art camp. I always am fortunate to work with a wonderful group of artists. I took printmaking again this summer and learned some new techniques. I was invited to give a presentation about my "Road Trip" exhibition and book. I accepted because public speaking makes me nervous...I hate to say no to a challenge. I was very pleased with the reception of the talk. That is what my art is all about; connecting with others and sharing my point of view.

Have a Happy Summer! Be careful on your summer vacation.

The Show is Up, Road Trip, Impressions of a Memory

Roadtrip, Impressions of a Memory, opened May 2nd at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne, Florida. The exhibit includes 27 new works; a combination of mixed media paintings and printmaking. As part of the exhibition I also displayed 4 pages from my upcoming book by the same title. The 50 page book will include color images of all the artwork, along with the stories that inspired the show. A 45 minute video that included footage from the trip along with many of my father's stories of life in Appalachia was shown at the opening . The video will soon be available for viewing via my website.

It was a great opening! I am so pleased by the response to the artwork. This was a departure from my recent body of work. It was event inspired and I wanted it to work together in conveying my respect and admiration for my father and my family's heritage. I also wanted the viewer to be open to relating it to their memories of the past. My parents Chester and Udell Webb came to the opening with my sister Joy. My brother Jerry, his wife Paula and my niece, Christa were also down from Daytona for the evening.
Special thanks to all those who encouraged and supported me during the last 4 months as I worked to produce the exhibit.

If you came to see the exhibit...thank you for coming!

The show runs through the end of May if you live nearby and get a chance to go. All the artwork is also available at http://www.reneedecator.com/ under the collection: Roadtrip, impressions of a memory. The book is available at a pre-publication price. It will be ready for delivery late June. I would love to hear your comments about the exhibit.

Roadtrip, Impressions of a Memory

Work in Progress

Aunt Betty's House

I am back to work on my upcoming show at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne, Florida. "Roadtrip, Impressions of a Memory", will premiere the new work inspired by a wonderful journey I took last summer with my 87 year old father and my 18 year old son Tom.

My father, Chester Webb, holds a very special place in my heart. He is someone I respect and admire and I was so fortunate to be able to make this trip possible for him. I will always cherish the memory. The "memory" referred to in the show's title is his. Our quest to reconnect to the places and people of those memories is the subject of the artwork. I love to hear a story and let in develop into my impression. I hope to share the "magic" with you.

To read more about the trip, you can read my blog entitled, "Road Trip" from September. Just scroll down through my previous blog posts. I welcome your comments!

GIVE THEM THE FARM

UPDATE TO "GIVE THEM THE FARM"
The show ended on March 2, 2008 and after our final tally, we surpassed our goal of $2000. We will be able to purchase a "farmyard of animals" through World Vision. Thanks to all those who participated and supported the exhibit.
I always say that I don’t believe in coincidence, things happen for a reason. That is not to say that I always identify every event in my life as life-changing or “God-sent”, but many are, and it is exciting when something wonderfully special happens because you followed your intuition and stepped out in faith.

Last year I received a gift catalog in the mail from World Vision, a Christian organization that serves the needs of children and families throughout the world. I flipped through the pages of gifts that could be purchased to assist those needs and came to a page with the picture of a young girl and her cow. I immediately thought of a painting I had done for "Our Creatures Comforts", my two-artist show with Suzanne Clements, in September. The painting was entitled,”My Mother’s Sister Was a Cow”. This cow, named Snowball, was my mother’s only “sister” and an important part of her family growing up during the depression in Appalachia. I was really moved by the similarity of the two images and knew I should not ignore what my heart was saying. I decided to try to sell the painting with the intention of buying a live cow from the catalog; a cow that could change the lives of a family. Florida Today wrote a wonderful article, the painting sold the same day and I bought the cow from World Vision that week.



I had many of my artists friends say that they would do something similar. So…after thinking about it I decided that this may be one of those events that I should follow through on.
GIVE THEM THE FARM an invitational art show featuring the artwork of 40 artists will open on February 1, 2008 at The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne, Florida. A large portion of the sales proceeds will go to purchase farm animals through World Vision. The artists and the gallery are generously donating toward this effort. The artwork is wonderful! I have already seen images of many of the pieces. I hope you can come to the opening on Friday, February 1, 2008 or see the show throughout the month of February. If you cannot see it in person, it will be available online beginning February 1st on my website. You will go to artwork, then collections, then Give Them the Farm to see and purchase the artwork. The more we sell, the more animals we can buy. Our goal is to buy the "Farmyard of Animals" for $2000. I hope you will be a part of this very special show!
Renee
Happy New Year!

Tis the Season

I know Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner, but I'm speaking of the art festival season. Here in Florida it runs from October through April, sometimes a May show. It's a crazy thing!
It starts with the search for the perfect show, which usually means a subscription to Sunshine Artists magazine. Or the online digital entry process through one of several websites like Zapplication. Ah, the perfect show, it must be there... a wonderful location (sunny but not too hot)that attracts thousands of well-heeled (poem to follow), saavy, somewhat impulsive, wealthy, original art adoring, patrons. And could the organizers of the show please provide coffee and pastries in the mornings.
It can be a scary thing! Let me just lay myself out there for all to see, and comment on. Most artists, me for instance, are highly emotional beings...we long to share a glimpse into who we are and what we are passionate about. You could have a great sales day and still be stuck remembering that one, not so well-heeled guy with the cigar that shook his head and frowned when he walked by.
Working the artshow circuit is expensive too, you will need the following items:
a tent, (with sides and weights, and ropes), display racks, picture hangers, bungee cords, a hammer,(I never use it but...) extra tarps, a rug is nice, several chairs, an umbrella, a small table, a print bin, a coffee mug, pencils and a guest book, sales books and credit card machines, masking tape, duct tape. Not to mention paying for the 10x10 space that all your gear will sit on for the week-end. The list goes on and on.
Following is a poem I wrote during the throes of a show, it will explain the reference to "well-heeled shoppers.

Judge art shoppers

by their shoes

Flip-flops; not good

Worn out sneakers; no sale

German driving shoes,

Short stylish sandals with heels,

That's what I am looking for!

Peeking out from under my umbrella

I always feel the urge to smile when I

look someone in the eye,

It's 3:30 and my jaw is sore.

By the way, I will be in booth 106 this week-end at ARTWORKS in Melbourne, Fl. Please...wear your good shoes.

Road trip beginning the art

NEW ARTWORK

I have started the artwork inspired by my "roadtrip" this summer. A pilgrimage to the roots of my father's childhood, in the mountains of West Virgina and Kentucky. I was fortunate to share the trip with my father and my 19 year old son. I have been madly sketching the memories and impressions of the trip. The images develop quickly as I read the notes I scribbled along the way. Places that seem a million miles away from where I sit now.

I hope to share the process of this special project. Please feel free to share your comments.

"Cruel Punishment" sketch

"Seventh" sketch and start

More pictures to follow...

Renee

Something Exciting happened today...

I got a present this morning, a suprise gift. I walk in my neighborhood regularly for exercise but live near the beach and haven't been taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the ocean air and gorgeous view right down the street. It has been my goal to walk the beach on Saturday mornings, for the last month or so. I almost didn't go this morning, it was getting late and I had things to do, but my husband Jay agreed to join me for a quick walk.
The weather has been rough for several weeks here in Indialantic, high winds and waves. We weren't sure we would have much beach to walk but found the tide just coming in. I discovered a few sea beans, early on and that always entices me to scour the sand for treasures. We are making our way through all kinds of flotsam, natural and manmade when a shape caught my eye. A little turtle shape way up near the dune. Lots of sea turtle nest had been disturbed, but this was a not an eggshell, it was a turtle. I picked it up and immediately thought it was dead, but it's tiny eye was open and the light caught a faint reflection. We rushed to turtle to the surf to wash away the dried and caked sand and Jay thought the turtle moved. The surf was too rough to consider returning the turtle to sea.
We rushed down the beach, back to our truck and drove down 3 or 4 miles to the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. I cupped the turtle in my hands protecting him from the sun. He never moved, but I could see his tiny eye, and it felt like he was alive. I carried the turtle inside and met a volunteer and explained our find. She peeked into my hands and picked up the turtle and he started to immediately move his flippers and his head.
The little loggerhead was not a hatchling, but had washed back to shore due to the offshore winds. He would have died, too exhausted to protect himself from the sun or seabirds.
What a great present this morning, a wonderful suprise.