First Thursday Art Event

I got the best birthday present this year! Don took a day off work to stay home with Mom so that I could go to Portland for Danielle's art show at Urban Studios in the Pearl District. Several streets are blocked off in this area every first Thursday of the month to aid foot traffic during the evening hours. Businesses hire DJs and live music, serve appetizers and drinks, and throw open their doors to lure the browsing public inside to peruse the work of a selected artist. It's quite the festive affair!

Lots of time and thought went into the preparations. Yay for sisters and friends! Danielle repurposed slides into these clever business cards that are miniature art pieces in themselves.

Danielle had five wall sections to fill. This 10-section painting was one of six art pieces that she sold before the evening was over. She titled her show "Amidst Utter Chaos" and provided a random experience of media, emotion, and genre; something for everyone.

At 7:00 the doors opened and friends, coworkers, and complete strangers started to filter in. It was great to see people circle the two big rooms, often more than once, linger in front of their favorite piece, and reach for one of Danielle's cool business cards.

People schmoozed with the artiste...

...mingled amongst themselves...

...and danced to the music provided by a DJ. Deemed "Jersey Shore Guy" by Sarah, this character, minus his colorful cap, entertained us a couple times with some impromptu break dancing.

Halfway into the evening, this jazz band marched in and regaled us with some live music that kept even the wallflowers from holding still. At this point, the crowd more than doubled.

A beautiful evening, amazing people, inspiring art. What a great celebration! Congratulations Danielle!

(Check out Danielle's art at http://www.mongolouise.wordpress.com/)

Remember the Mario Brothers?

Remember Nintendo, Luigi, and Mario? Remember coin boxes you bump with your head, smiling clouds you can jump on, and green pipes that transport you to other lands? Then go check out the moveable Mario Land mural elements that Jen and Danielle created, with Cherie's help, at Liam's house this week for his homecoming. They did a really good job and their efforts will be a great source of smiles and imaginative fun for both Liam and his sister. Kuddos!

http://www.normalcyaside.blogspot.com/

D's Art

Check out D's online entrepreneurial endeavor that is now up and running at:

www.knachlebach.etsy.com/

Save it as a favorite and check it periodically to catch the new work that she adds each week.

Artsy Fartsy

Daughter D and I have been working on some fun projects. The first two were done on wood using photographs, acrylic paint, and a high gloss epoxy. The resulting craftwork looks convincingly like ceramic tiles.

What looks like 4 framed and grouted tiles in the above photo is actually a photograph I took from the window of our hotel in Venice that has been applied to a single, routered board. (Familiar scene, Uncle L.?)

These angel pictures were also applied to 4-inch MDF board tiles, but look like ceramic tiles after the epoxy is poured and cured. I put a thin layer of cork on the bottom so that they can be used as coasters.

D, of course, went one better and painted actual ceramic tiles before finishing them in the epoxy. Aren't the colors beautiful?! They will soon be available to internet consumers, along with her other art projects. Stay tuned for the announcement of her etsy.com site once she has it ready.