meredith cutler :: arts marketing :: artist

It's a lovely, breezy, late August day and I've got lots to do, but I just came across this great website: CAFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org) that lists a bevy of open calls for entry of artist work. I've bookmarked it for myself, and you should too. Although the site is run by WESTAF, quite a lot of New England artist opportunities for exhibition are currently listed. Check out the Boston Printmakers North American Printmaking Biennial 2009 and the forthcoming The Perfect Fit shoe themed show at the Fuller Craft Museum. Good luck!

Yesterday did not turn out as planned; which, in my newfound "on my way to becoming an Italian passport holder" relaxed attitude should have rolled right off of my back. Unfortunately, it was only after I was forced from my studio by an ungodly decibal level of compressor/power tool noise taking place in the workshop next door that my beloved, sneaker-shaped Subaru decided to explode (in solidarity for my state of mind, I suppose).

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but there was a good deal of black, acrid smoke pouring out of the right wheel well. I had the fire extinguisher in hand. Luckily, my husband and bro'-in-law were kind enough to shuttle me to the Design*Sponge "Boston Biz-Ladies" night at West Elm. The girl power networking event was a good remedy to my general state of frazz, (although the table of sugary treats blew my head off!) I recommend checking out Grace's page of Biz-Ladies notes on the Design*Sponge website to anyone (girl or guy) starting up their own indie business.

Meanwhile, as I await the fate of my Subaru and muse on the extremes I'm willing to endure to retain my Hyde Park studio, I leave you with this lovely "Subway Stories - St. Mary's" collage by Leah Piken Kolidas, a fellow Boston-based artist who also muses while riding the MBTA. Her work can be found on Etsy and her own site, Blue Tree Art Gallery.

Often, the best creative materials can be found off-the-beaten-path, rather than at your local art supply store or out of that glossy wholesale catalog. As a supply junkie, some of my most triumphant finds have been courtesy of tag sales, personal or business move giveaways, and downright dumpster diving!

Over the years, I have utilized my collection of unique materials to create many pieces of original artwork and, more recently, collectible designs and accessories.

Today, however, I hit the supply jackpot. My lovely studiomate, who enjoys a very interesting career as a trend forecaster, let me have at a gigantic pile of sample books that have outlived their rather short life at the top of the trend pile. Because she forecasts color and material trends four years ahead, the sample selection (albiet yesterday's news for her) is super space-age in my book!

I'm already drawing up a list of project ideas so that I can breathe new life into these squares of fabric, leather and beyond!

Readers: if you have creative ideas for reuse of sample fabric and material swatches, post them to comments below. I will be putting together a "Wicked Cool" crostini*VS grab-bag prize from these designer footwear sample materials that will go to a winner, chosen at random from your project idea comments. The winner will be chosen next Friday, May 30th! Good luck!

Fat Tuesday is one tradition that the folks in New Orleans maintain in order to show some love to February. It's long been my least favored month, having been host to a number of nasty breakups, bouts of illness, vitamin D deficiency, and icy spills. This year, I decided to give February the benefit of the doubt. In order to guarantee it a special place in my heart, my fella and I scheduled our wedding for February 2nd (sharing the calendar with the pagan holiday of Imbolc and the more widely known Groundhog Day). Wouldn't you know it, but the sun actually came out for the whole weekend! Punxutawny Phil's furry reaction? Less favorable than we'd prefer.

That said, expect a flurry of activity from me now that the daunting task list of my nuptuals has passed. As a compliment to my review contributions to the upcoming issues of Boston's Artscope Magazine, I will be covering art shows and events local to Providence right here on Studio Debris. Stay tuned, as I have a couple of tasty shows to tell you about right here in the queue.

If you have any suggestions for Providence arts coverage, feel free to send them along via my contact form.

* Special Note: if you want to be considered for full editorial coverage in Artscope, please provide press releases and show information at least 2 months in advance of the show's opening date. Submission does not guarantee coverage in either Studio Debris or Artscope Magazine.

This has been an a-typical holiday season for yours truly, due in part to a new domestic role as holiday hostess, and in part to a much-needed change of career path.

This road-less-travelled effectively negating a much dreaded, annual business trip, always undertaken at the frigid, painful crack of dawn after New Years, and terminating no less than 3 weeks later (usually during a blizzard). Collateral damage ≥: jet-lag, post-traumatic stress syndrome, hearing loss, viamin deficiency, and unecessary exposure to the psychological tics of the overpaid, underappreciated and often ungracefully aging rock stars.

So, for once, I can actually approach my January with all of the promises and fervor of the optimist! I hereby declare January 2008 to be the best January ever.

 Shame it's only 18 degrees outside, as I could really go for a sail...