Q1: What's in Store for 2020?
FEBRUARY: DRY & FAST
February = the beginning of Spring in SF! There was the insipid Valentines Day (just cards this year = ok with me!), it is such a Hallmark greeting card day afterall, but more exciting - my niece’s 21st birthday. Now she feels old. Actually that’s what she said when she turned 20!
I can’t believe the Bay Area weather. So warm. Well there’s global warming of course. Even though I’ve lived in SF longer than my home town of Pittsburgh, PA, I still think February should be the dead of winter. But maybe that’s why it’s a time for new beginnings here and I get itchy to get going.
January was a wash - our recovery from the year-end TRIP TO JAPAN and getting over the shock of entering a new decade. Jammed with shows and openings. Feeling - hopeful. The garage art studio project got well underway. There were several hot prospects for getting a studio in an artist’s building. And poof! February ended so quickly with that Leap Year and all…
MARCH: NEW STUDIO & ELECTIONS
Good news, Bad news
Happy Women’s History Month! How are you celebrating? Since I started writing this blog last month I went to Seattle (had no clue about the Coronavirus yet), had a few more shows, openings, and made some future bookings. But the biggest news of all is that I rented a studio! It’s a good-sized square room inside a gallery. I’ve got 350 square feet with windows. Now I’m getting set up…I’ll have a reception/open house soon. When people can safely gather again. I’m excited about being able to make some big, non-digital pieces and also to be able to hire models.
My new studio address is: 680 8th St (btw Brannan & Townsend) in the Sobel Design Center. Yes, that’s in the SF Design District! Call or text if you’re in the hood and want to stop by.
But now with the Corona Virus in full stride we are all in a tizzy. Worried, taking precautions, checking in with each other. So far it is simply becoming ever more disruptive to our daily lives and outings as we continue to learn more about it and it continues to spread and plans keep changing while there are increased cancellations, and panic. SF is in the midst of a shut down restriction for two weeks – no events of over 50 people. Stay away from crowds please.
And in the midst of this is another unavoidable and ever so important series of election primaries. I am so proud to be a Californian! This is such a tricky year. I hope everyone out there is voting! I heard a funny thing…it’s impossible for Americans to learn to do two things at once - to vote and to wash their hands.
It finally rained a bit in SF, but it appears as if we are in another drought. There was no rain in February and that was the longest stretch without rainfall in a February in around 157 years.
En-route to Seattle: Saw this fab art show about hair at the SF Airport. These are hand-painted African and Caribbean signs combined with a photo I took at a friend’s house. This is my favorite flower color.
The sign out front.
ACQUISITIVENESS?
I’m thinking about some topics that I’ve been wanting to write about but I am feeling the pressure and panic of dealing with this pandemic which has taken the spotlight. Still, I attempt to write about other matters in the world. People say that we live in times when people, especially those younger than me, don’t want “things” anymore. They just want “experiences”. Yet as artists and makers (I hate that term) we continue to create…and we need people to see and buy what we produce. We want people to spend time with our art in the places they live and work. We need and want the world to see what we are doing. We add fresh perspective. I love to see what others collect and arrange - it is often done so well that it’s an art form!
Featured artist Ralph Ziman showed “The Casspir Project” at the Tribal & Textile Show in Feb. He used traditional beadwork by local artisans to create an outrageous series of contemporary works of art.
A sampling from the Tribal & Textile Show at Fort Mason, SF
A sliver of Galen Lowe’s booth at the Tribal & Textile show (he was also our guide in Japan).
COLLECTING?
So I’ve been thinking about the notion of “acquisitiveness” and “collecting”. Recently I attended a favorite annual event at Fort Mason - The Textile and Tribal Art Show. Now as the next round of art auctions and events are coming up this month (such as Artspan’s annual art fundraiser on March 21 at Somarts - JUST CANCELLED) I find myself thinking about recent conversations with those who collect, those who sell to collectors, and to those who don’t understand the notion of collecting. Recently I learned that acquisitiveness can have a negative meaning and connotation. Here are some of its synonyms: greediness, covetousness, cupidity, possessiveness, avarice, avidity, rapaciousness, rapacity, materialism. It is “an excessive interest in acquiring money or material things”: a culture of acquisitiveness permeated his administration.
So perhaps this word is too strong and too negative to ascribe to collectors who buy art and antiques. Artists and dealers need these folks! I am one of them! But in the meantime, so many friends are focusing on elimination, simplification, and minimalism. They’re getting rid of storage facilities, organizing their homes and garages, generally getting rid of excess things, but also stockpiling “necessities”. We, on the other hand, just rented a storage unit to make space to work, build stuff, and move things around.
THOUGHTS?
Do you collect? How do you select your art? Do you love art and beautiful, intriguing objects? Do you go by the rule “one in, one out”? Do you travel and bring home souvenirs? What objects have special meaning in your life now? What would you rescue in a fire? What will happen to your art when you’re no longer around to enjoy it? Or are you in a shedding stage of your life? Are you downsizing or expanding into a large space? Have you read any of the books like “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing”? Do you consider yourself a minimalist or a maximalist?
A SHORT VISIT TO SEATTLE
A seasonal display at our host’s home in Seattle.
We traveled to Seattle for our first Japan Trip reunion. I love this city! It’s so fun getting to know a place that you’ve never lived in and probably never will. I love our friends there and that makes it like a another home.
SEATTLE ASIAN MUSEUM RE-OPENS
At the beautiful Seattle Asian Art Museum which just re-opened!
This sign at the museum seemed to be about the same idea of objects and their meanings and why we keep things.
This Pilgrim’s tunic tells a whole story. I love the idea of writing beautifully and meaningfully on clothing.
AROUND TOWN
Still wintery - this photo feels cold to me
Classic view of Seattle with daffodils in full bloom
The trees were all blossoming. I loved the pink and yellow combo of this nice gallery in my fav neighborhood, Georgetown. The sky is often dramatic and hints at more rain coming.
This ceramic sculptor does powerful vignettes from his early life in Japan.
BARBIE IN SEATTLE
BARBIE IN SEATTLE
Choosing which sake to bring to a party is no easy task with so many options.
Her halo might or might not be a coaster…
Then there were the distractions at the liquor store. Absinthe anyone?
She loves her dessert!
She makes friends easily.
MORE BARBIE UPDATES
I’m working on my third iteration and zine featuring Barbie on the Cusp. I am working toward a one-person show that features a full-scale Barbie installation. If I can land an art residency, this would be a great time and place to work on this project.
NEW ZINE
Order my newest zine here/now: email srkirshenbaum@gmail.com for your “Barbie on the Cusp: Japan”. Limited edition of 10, signed, and are at the printer right now!
$25 with tax & shipping included.
TELL YOUR STORY
Reminder that I am looking for more Barbie stories. Send yours: SRKirshenbaum@gmail.com Subject Line: Barbie Story | Max length = 2pages.
NEW WORK
“B. Feeling Sad” is a collage with a painting plus a photo of the view of SF from my window.
“A. in a Child’s Chair” was drawn in SF and collaged with images of moss from my Japan trip.
They were happy to entertain her!
2020 UNFOLDS
As springtime approaches I cannot help but feel hopeful about the future despite so VERY much bad news. I’m looking forward to making some non-digital art in my new space! I'll be able to have people in to see my work here soon. I hope to snag an art residency and some new gallery showings.
Fusion Art accepted this piece in their March Juried Online Show.
WHAT’S NEXT?
> Fusion Art March Juried Online Show, “4th Annual Colors"
> ArtspanSF Benefit Art Auction | Saturday, March 21, 6:30 - 9:30pm - JUST CANCELLED!
> SFWA Gallery | March - EXTENDED THROUGH APRIL | "Hidden Figures" | Juried Group Show
> Rite Spot Cafe | Sept-Mar (?) | Closing Happy Hour: Wednesday 3/18, 6-8pm | (SF)
> Ameriprise | Through Apr (?)| SFWA Offsite Show - By appointment (San Jose)
“Asleep in the Moss” is my current work at SFWA’s juried March show “Hidden Figures”
SAVE THESE DATES - BUT check back FIRST as everything shifts daily due to the Corona virus pandemic
> City Art Coop Gallery | June Group Show | Reception: Fri, June 5, 7-10pm (SF)
BEING RESCHEDULED: SFWA Gallery Gala Fundraiser | Wed, July 1 | Top of the Sales Force Building! (SF)
> SFWA Artist's Salon Gallery | Sept | 8 Women (a new art group I’m in)