getting wild in west virginia!

I leave for West Virginia tomorrow to install my first large-scale paper sculpture installation. I’ve been commissioned by the dynamic duo behind microWave Project to create a fashion-inspired piece for the grand opening of a new shopping mall.

Paper flower studies for installation, "Grace's Garden," at Huntington MallWe (and I say “we” because this is taking a team of helpers!) will be creating a gown made of paper flowers for a mannequin sitting on a swing, over a field of paper flowers, with a 15-foot long paper train flying behind her.

The train will be made of deconstructed paper shopping bags (from our sponsor, naturally), folded into Japanese origami fans. She’ll be wearing a hat made of black velvet paper butterflies that fly up from her hat “through” the skylight in the mall’s ceiling.

I'm thrilled to have this opportunity! It's also wonderful to be sharing the spotlight with another installation artist, Lisa Schumaier. Her work is soulful, playful and unexpected. Lisa is creating a separate piece for the event and, from what I've heard, it's going to be amazing.

If you happen to be in the area, details are below. I’ll try to post images here and on Facebook of the work in progress, and certainly of the finished installation.

There's an invitation-only opening gala this Sunday night, but you can still see the installations through early January.

Huntington Mall Gala Opening, Barboursville, WV. December 4, 2011 – January 15, 2012.

HearSee exhibition at torpedo factory

Art in Public Spaces (APS) is a special effort by the Torpedo Factory Art Center to reach the community through art and educational opportunities. I'm honored to have my artist book, Baby Blue, included in their current exhibition: HearSee, a look at how artists interpret the five senses.

The exhibition runs December 1-31, 2011 in a brand new gallery space within the Torpedo Factory, Studio 9. Participating artists will be on hand to talk about their work at a reception on December 8th, 6-9 pm.

art whino g40 summit

I'm thrilled to be part of microWave Project's stable of installation artists participating in the massive urban art attack known as G40. From what I've seen so far, this will be quite the scene and series of events.

Event Location
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2213-2217 14th street NW (the corner of 14th and W NW, Washington, DC)

G40 Exhibit Schedule:
Exhibit runs: May 19th-June 17th,  2011
Open Hours: Tuesday & Thursdays: 5 – 10pm,
Fridays & Saturdays: 12pm – 11pm
Sundays: 12pm – 6pm
Mondays: Closed

Entertainment schedule:
Brightest Young Things will curate unique special events in the space six days a week (Tues-Sun) to include live music, dance parties, local designer showcases and fashion events, photobooths, art workshops and talks, stand up comedy, cult movie nights, record fairs and more.

For full details and a sneek peek at some of the art, click here.

juror's choice: uprooted

A big THANK YOU to The Washington Post's Michael O'Sullivan for awarding my new print, Uprooted, Juror's Choice at The Target Gallery's March Madness exhibition! Now if I only had a decent shot of the print, I'd share it here. However, I do have a lovely photo of Michael in front of it, thanks to Target's Mary Cook.

Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post, Target Gallery's March Madness Exhibition

The best part of all? Our conversation about his experience of viewing my work, what he responded to, and being able to give him a little backstory. I really appreciate that he took the time and interest to chat with me.

Thanks again, Michael - you definitely made my day (heck, my entire weekend)!

march madness

Come buy real art at an affordable price to support a good cause! Target Gallery and the March of Dimes are teaming up to raise money for both organizations through March Madness, an exhibit of DC-area and regional artists. The gallery walls will be covered in 10x10 inch pieces of art created specifically for the cause.

The madness sets in at an art party on Friday, March 25 at 7 to 11 pm. Snap up one or several of the 200+ pieces of art and you could be a lucky winner...many of the 10x10 panels will be loaded with valuable prizes on the back from local businesses. Groove to the tunes of DJ Stylo and sip refreshments from Old Dominion Brewing Company while you shop.

Hope to see you there! I've got a new piece, Uprooted, in the show. Get full details and Art Party ticket information here.

spring update: nesting

Time again for a quick update on places you can find my work this spring. With my upcoming move to Germany this summer, the serendipity of the abundance of nest-themed work is not lost on me. I'm working on a new edition of mixed media nest prints that I'll share here soon.

March Madness exhibition and March of Dimes fund-raiser, Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA. March 17 – 27, 2011 

The Nest Project, presented by Target Gallery in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Featuring waterfront artist-built nest installations along the Potomac River. Alexandria, VA. April 2 – May 15, 2011

Our Nest exhibition, in conjunction with The Nest Project to raise awareness about affordable housing, Printmakers Inc Studio 325 at the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA. March 5 – April 30, 2011

NIH Clinical Gallery: installation photos

Today's installation at NIH went very smoothly, thanks to hands-on help from Judy Coady and support from the gallery's curator, Lillian Fitzgerald. Getting onto the NIH campus was a breeze as well - they have it down to a friendly but thorough system.

In Three Acts is a way for me to take advantage of the unique opportunity that three empty glass cases presented. It's a lot of fun to see it come to fruition.

What a healing atmosphere there! There is art gracing most walls and quiet spots to contemplate beauty. I'm thrilled to have my work included. The exhibition is open to everyone, and runs through March 4, 7 am to 9 pm daily.

Act One: Moving PartsAct Two: Finding GraceAct Three: Telling SecretsIn Three Acts: work by Kelly O'Brien

haiku exhibition: installation photos

With the help of fellow Printmaker Judy Coady and my hubby, I installed my first exhibition at our co-op studio. Each member selected a print and paired it with a haiku. Some wrote their own, others drew from the master, Yosa Buson. I love that my sister, Katie Engen, collaborated with me to write the haiku for Leap Year.

The exhibiit is up until February 28. If you're near Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, stop in and spend some time in our gallery, Studio 325. The haikus take the prints to a whole new level, and it's a nice way to spend a winter's day.

bound in japan

My very talented friend, Kieu Lam, is embarking on a big adventure in 2011 to Japan. Bound in Japan will bring a community of non-native residents together in Japan to create, talk about, and exhibit their book art. The goal is to increase awareness about diversity and cultural issues faced by non-natives in a host country.

All of this - the travel and living expenses, book art workshops, materials, an exhibition, publicity - is being facilitated and funded by Kieu, and she could use a little help! For a very good cause (what could be better than spreading awareness about the book arts around the world? okay, the diversity and cultural awareness stuff is good too), please consider making a donation.

I can vouch for Kieu and that your money will be very well-managed and appreciated. C'mon...for as little as $2/month, you can make a nice statement about your support for the arts. And for $20/month, she'll send you a handmade hard cover journal AND monthly mail art subscription.

How cool is that?

For more info and to support the cause (all tax-deductible, mind you), click here.

the healing power of art

Proof that art has the power to heal, The National Institutes of Health has a permanently rotating series of exhibitions in the Clinical Center Gallery. My work will be shown in three glass sculpture cases. In Three Acts will feature my artist books and paper sculpture. Curated by Lillian Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Fine Art. Open to the public 7 am to 9 pm daily, January 14 - March 4, 2011. For more information, directions and parking, click here.

photo works exhibition opens this weekend

If you're in Denver next month and looking for something different to do, stop by Abecedarian Gallery. Owner/curator Alicia Bailey holds a flame for the book arts in the Denver Arts District, with special exhibitions in the Reading Room.

Photo Works opens this Friday with a reception and shows through Oct. 30.

This is the debut for my piece, In Case of Panic, an artist book about what I did to thwart a panic attack while driving over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

fiber all around

This is a first: showing my work at a Textiles Conference.

Sequenced Fibers opens this week, with a reception and artist talks on October 10. If you're in Omaha, stop by!

My artist book, disguised as a dancer's tutu, is in the exhibition.

autumn update from TurningPointe Press

Photo credit: Jim VecchioneTime again for a quick update on places you can find my work this fall. I've been doing these updates by email as a way to stay in touch with people I meet at book arts workshops, conferences and events. Can't hurt to post here as well, right?

Pyramid Atlantic 11th Biennial Book Arts Fair, November 5-7, 2010, Silver Spring, MD. Moving Parts project demonstration: Nov. 7, 1:15-2:15 pm

Beyond Text: Contemporary Books, invitational group exhibition, Montgomery College Cafritz Foundation Arts Center, October 15 - November 15, 2010, Silver Spring, MD. Opening: Nov. 4, 5-7:30 pm

Small group show, ArtSpring-Pyramid Atlantic retail store, November 4-7, 2010, Silver Spring, MD

Sequenced Fibers juried exhibition, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October 1-29, 2010, Omaha, NE. Opening: Oct. 10, 1-4 pm

Photo Book Works juried exhibition, Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, CO, September 30 – October 30, 2010

unseen hands: women in the arts

Seems art is no exception to the lack of visibility women have received through the ages. The current exhibition, Unseen Hands: Women Printers, Binders and Book Designers at Princeton University is an illustration (thanks, Mark, for the heads-up!). I was first introduced to the notion of women's diminished visible role in printmaking by Susan King, whose work Women and Cars is included in this show. Susan was part of The Women's Building, a pioneering group of women printmakers in the 1960s.

Other opportunities for visibility are in the air. One of the films we're screening at the Pyramid Atlantic 11th Biennial Book Arts Fair, Who Does She Think She Is?, explores the issue on a very personal level. And then there's the new reality television show, Work of Art, where women and men have equal opportunity to shine or fail.

This is not a new issue and it shouldn't surprise me, since I come from the business world and well know the issues of women's equality in the workplace. So why are we still talking about it today? Instead of talking about it, I'd much prefer women just garner as much recognition, opportunities and success as we can earn.

inventive structures exhibition opens may 14

The esteemed Hedi Kyle, mother of inventive book structures, juried this exhibition. I've got two pieces in it, Archetypes: Journey to Self and Moving Parts. What an thrill to be included in Hedi's show, along side some of the rock stars of the book arts!

womanmade exhibition opens may 1st

I'm particularly excited about being included in this exhibition, WomanMade at Target Gallery in Alexandria, VA as part of the Minds Wide Open Virginia statewide celebration of women in the arts. This is my first multi-media show, and I feel truly honored to be one of 28 artists chosen from over 400 worldwide. 

Exhibition Dates: May 1 - 30, 2010 • Reception: May 13, 6-8pm • Juror's Talk: 7pm

Special Programming: May 13 at 7:30pm • Karen Reedy Dance

in the genes: an exhibition celebrating the family bond

One of my new collegues at the Torpedo Factory, Carolyn Witschonke, has work in this upcoming exhibition, In the Genes. A nice way to spend Mother's Day! Details below:

The Torpedo Factory Art Center invites visitors to explore the possibility of the existence of a “creative gene” with this special building-wide exhibition. Alongside their own work, participating studio artists will display work from artistic family members with whom they have a direct genetic connection, including visual artists, musicians, and writers.

There's a special Mother's Day opening reception on Sunday, May 9th, from 1-4pm. Moms and their families will enjoy an afternoon of wine and sweets as they explore this unique exhibition that celebrates the family bond.

making an impression

Looking forward to the annual Friends of Dard Hunter conference in Atlanta in October. I went for the first time two years ago and was impressed with the creative, scholarly, innovative papermakers and book artists I met from around the world who attended.

I'm excited and honored to have my work included in this year's member exhibit, Make an Impression, at the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum, Georgia Institute of Technology. The exhibit opens on October 16 and runs through January 4, 2010.