Dear friends and supporters,
As I reflect on the incredible journey of the past 5 years with my downtown shop, I am filled with gratitude and warmth. There are so many individuals who have played a vital role in the success and vibrancy of Art Collective, and I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks. First and foremost, my deepest appreciation goes to my husband, Pete. Your unwavering support has been my anchor throughout this wild ride. To my Artner, Bette, your grace and assistance over the last 4 ½ years have been invaluable. I couldn't have done it without you. A special thank you to all the artists, both current and past, who have contributed their incredible creations to the shop. Art Collective exists because of your talent and dedication. To our customers, you are the heartbeat of our shop. Your appreciation and support have made our creations lasting and meaningful. The true magic happened when my mom, CL Porter, graced the shop with her presence. Her laughter and fun filled the space with light. Behind the scenes, she provided invaluable support by reading contracts and offering guidance. Losing her is a great loss, and I am immensely grateful for the wonderful mother-daughter relationship we shared. Her absence, especially the absence of her hand-painted fabric hearts, will be deeply felt. Despite the challenges, our shop not only survived the pandemic but thrived. Mom was proud of what we created, and I am too. As we step into the next year, I look forward to bringing you more classes, more art, and new exciting ventures. Your continued support means the world to me. Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey. Here's to the next chapter! Big hug love,Chelsea Rachael is a Maryland-based artist who specializes in stained glass. With an associates degree in graphic design and a bachelors degree in fine art, Rachael merges her skills to create her own patterns and then brings them to life! Her work ranges from traditional to fun and quirky and everything in between.
Other passions of Rachael’s include mixed media collage, watercolor and all kinds of recycled/upcycled projects. With the help of her husband, Jared (who works in wood and metal), there is no limit to creativity! We had a chat with Rachael to learn a little more about who she is and who inspires her. Keep reading to learn more about this artist. How and when did you get started with your craft? About three years ago my mother-in-law handed down to me a lot of the basic tools needed to get started with making stained glass. With a lot of Youtube tutorials and patience, my journey in stained glass was underway! What do you enjoy most about your art? The finished product is what I enjoy most. It can be frustrating working with glass and sometimes it's hard to envision the finished product. I also love when others see something that I made and they just have to have it! It's a great feeling as an artist to make something that could bring joy to others. What would you tell an artist just starting on their journey? Have patience, a lot of it. And be kind to yourself. Who are some artists and makers that inspire you? Dale Chihuly is one of my favorite glass artists. I'm also a big fan of some of the all-time greats - Alexander Calder, Auguste Rodin and Francisco Goya. What are your favorite things to do when you are not working? I enjoy cooking, making collages and going for walks. Art Collective presents Malika Rachelle DesignsWe are so excited to have Malika Rachelle Designs in our shop for this weekend. Her work is truly stunning and has such a beautiful raw organic feel to it. Definitely shop on by and see what you might add to your jewelry collection. "Bespoke everyday pieces of intense texture inspired by nature - its beauty, strength and intelligence. I design in wax, cast in silver, gold or bronze, for each piece to have a character reflective of its owner: an eclectic and dynamic wanderer." -Malika Now, let’s hear from two of Art Collective’s local artists about their work and how they are re-inventing things post-pandemic. Deana Whitaker of Six Gables Original, and Lindsay Anderson of Lindsay Elizabeth Art. Deana Whitaker Greenberg of Six Gables OriginalsRE-inventing my identity this year! My last child is headed off to in-person college (after a freshman year at home) and I’ve joined the circulation staff at C Burr Artz Library, so my decades-long role as work-from-home Mom is coming to an end. But my role as a maker-of-things is a constant through-line in my life. I started sewing at the age of six, when Santa brought me a weird little sewing machine that used a glue cartridge instead of thread. In my senior year of high school, already admitted to college and looking to take it easy, I took a clothing construction class. I was motivated by a desire to always have pockets in my clothes--so ahead of my time!--but quickly became addicted to textiles in general. I love the colors, the textures, the quirks of how different fabrics behave. I love to solve the puzzle of how a garment should fit together. When I work with vintage linens or a pile of flannel shirts, I lose track of time as I work out how to best use the original textile to create a new garment. It’s a delight to me to see a finished product and know that it sprang from MY head. Sure, okay, but what about the monsters? I’ve been making NomNom Bags since 2008, at first just a few a year, but even as my output has gone way up, I still love each one. The moment of “birth,” when I turn the bag right-side-out, is a surprise each time. I can pick the colors, of course, decide how many teeth, but each monster gets its own personality in its own way. After I turn the bag and see who I’ve got, I pick the name card to best suit that monster. Naming the monsters and listing their favorite foods and activities takes as long as the sewing, but is integral to the fun of the bag. I love to see how my silly creatures delight children, but it’s especially great to see an adult find a NomNom Monster that speaks to them. You can follow me on Instagram @DeanaSews for photos of new releases, my adorable cats, and the occasional hiking photo. I’m on Facebook as Six Gables Originals (but terrible at remembering to post there). And soon, I SWEAR, I’ll be at sixgables.com, posting about new projects. Maybe in July I’ll REcommit to actually starting that blog... Lindsay Anderson of Lindsay Elizabeth ArtHello Art Lovers, I’m Lindsay Elizabeth (Anderson). I am most definitely RE-inventing my productivity as an artist this year. With a one year old, a four year old, and hybrid teaching, my paintbrushes have been collecting dust. Just recently, I’ve made time to create. It’s so important that I SCHEDULE it (in ink) or it won’t happen. I was born and raised in Frederick, MD and fell in love with creating at an early age. I pursued the dream of becoming an artist and connecting with others through creativity when I began my master’s degree in K-12 art education back in 2009 . Soon after graduating, I began teaching Visual Art at Windsor Knolls Middle School in Frederick County and never looked back. Going on twelve years, a few different schools, and incredible experiences that I couldn’t have imagined, my career evolved into becoming a working artist and educator. Honestly, I wouldn’t change either profession for the world and can’t even imagine one without the other. I love sharing art processes, techniques, and styles with others as much as I love creating the work itself. I currently teach Art, Drawing & Painting, Sculpture, and Ceramics at Frederick High School. Having spent ten years at the middle school level and loving every minute, I have found my true home working with high school artists. As a local artist, my work continues to evolve with every collection. I am constantly redefining my creative process and experimenting with unique representations of my favorite subject matter. The delicate jellyfish, vibrant florals, and crashing waves that I often paint are truly joyful and therapeutic. The occasional unrealistic color combinations inspired by trending color palettes and detailed dancing lines are characteristic of my style. Mark-making with paint is part of the creation process I find incredibly fascinating so be sure to look close. Every mark, every layer, and every “oops” is intentional. For me, creative success is when my artwork has connected with someone in such a way that they find the perfect spot in their home to hang it. I hope that the chosen painting colorfully compliments that perfect piece of furniture, becomes the perfect statement piece to start a conversation, adds some vibrant color to a gallery wall, or simply styles that cozy corner bookshelf. I sincerely enjoy getting to know my collectors, so please reach out! You can find me on Instagram @LindsayElizabethArt and on my website at www.LindsayElizabethArt.com. If you’d like to take a glimpse into my life as a high school art teacher and see the talent I get to work with every single day, you can follow me on Twitter @ArtfulAnderson #FrederickHighArt. During the month of June, the LGBTQ communities come together to celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Pride gatherings occur around the world to bring together minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are. Check out these colorful pieces by PiHole Designs and Row House 14.
Father’s Day is quickly approaching. QUICKLY, as in, it's this Sunday! Check out new work by master tie dye artist, Morris Pierce of @mojorelics. His shirts are not your standard Deadhead tie dye (not that there’s anything wrong with that!)--they have a precision that lends them a fractal-like design. With color palettes from vibrant to nearly sedate, there’s something for most any dad!The official date of Maryland day is March 25, but our state is too great to confine celebration to one day! We have beaches and mountains, crab cakes and kinklings! And so much great art! Art Collective focuses on offering the work of local artisans--we currently represent twelve Maryland residents. Obviously, we have the best state flag and the best state sport (jousting!), but did you know we have a local monster, too? The Snallygaster was described as a beast with "enormous wings, a long pointed bill, claws like steel hooks, and an eye in the center of its forehead” that screeched like a train whistle. Some accounts suggest that the Snallygaster nested in an attic on Braddock Mountain, swooping over the Middletown Valley to find its victims and suck their blood. The monster was said to have a particular taste for children and candy. Teddy Roosevelt reportedly considered coming to hunt it down! No need for you to hunt, come on in to Art Collective to get a zippered pouch with a sparkly Snallygaster on it! Braddock Heights resident Deana Greenberg of Six Gables Originals makes the pouches mostly from upcycled materials so that you can store your agates (state mineral!) and Patuxent River Stones (state gemstone!) in style. She will neither confirm nor deny that the Snallygaster is nesting in her attic saying only “I need to pay for all this candy corn somehow.” March is Women’s History Month, a great time to focus on the female identifying artists of the past and today! Art Collective is home to the art of 21 women, and a few of them agreed to share their reflections on women who inspire them. Interestingly they are all living artists! Take some time this month to learn about a woman artist! #womenshistorymonth #womenartists
|
*Sparks* BlogArchives
October 2024
Categories |