On Convenience | Paper 25

("Gas stations, robbing the world of mystery")

On convenience and the problems it presents to us in the end; on convenience and what it robs us of. Following a discussion of how we can never truly be "lost" these days.

From the collection of Original Little Pieces of Paper. 

Context: Picture the gas station for all of your road-traveling needs. From a fancy piece of cheese, to the modern ATM. From water with air, to the exact directions you need when you're lost from point A to B to D and back on track again, recounted to you by the gas station attendant who's using the iMap on their cell phone (since yours is charging in their wall), and not using their local prowess. Everything you need conveniently put there for you.

(This is true story.)

This is a true little piece of paper.

Note* This is also the description of a modern convenience store that also happens to sell petrol, not a dusty, broken-down, picturesque gas station. 

Convenience stores: robbing the world of mystery. 

When we rely only on what is convenient, we may be lead down a path of suffering so great that we don’t realize it is happening.

Even More New Art from the Boys at Schaefer House

More outstanding work from our high school boys in the William Donald Schaefer House (a halfway house-style detention center; MD Dept. of Juvenile Services).

Roy continues to blow us away with his painstaking attention to detail and perseverance. Here is the heart in stages 1, 2, and 3 that he made for his daughter.

Geometric piece by Girardo

2-D planet of organized chaos by Cason

Peace by Roy

Hearts and tributes by Tre Quan

MD by Girardo

Happy birthday, Tabitha Womack (Mom), by Rico

 Follow our Shining Youth Shining Walls :: AVAM Facebook page for ongoing updates + photos of our new permanent panels, and work from the boys. Previous post of boys' work here.

Copper Lion Revisited | Paper 24

("You are the best human I know. Thanks for making me want to be the best human I can be.")

Certainly that must be worth much.
Acrylic and mixed media on wood, 9"x5 1/2".

Shameful to think that if my wallet had gone missing, so may have this little piece of paper. So I made it part of this piece. Shameful to know that it's doubtful I can use it as my resume.

New from the Boys at Schaefer House

Over at the Visionary Museum studio, we have a large new crop of finished mosaics and "planets" from our high school boys in the William Donald Schaefer House (a halfway house-style detention center; MD Dept. of Juvenile Services).

'Rome, by Jerome

 Angel between darkness and light, and cross by Roy.

 Citrus + Fig by Anthony

 MM by Girardo Munoz

 Another from Jerome (tribal)

 Image of home by Tre Quan

 Grouting process for Sabian's 2-D planet, permanent fixture on the AVAM building.

 "Shining Youth, Shining Walls" project title, getting made into a new sign for our studio. Schaefer House collaborative work.

 Follow our Shining Youth Shining Walls :: AVAM Facebook page for ongoing updates + photos of our new permanent panels, and work from the boys.

Wood Signs for Woodland Nephews

One of my very favorite friends is going to be Aunt Mel for the second time (this May), and I did a carve+stain+sand on this tree truck cross-section for her to take all the way back to her nephew's nursery, in Sandpoint, ID. 

Copper Lion

Acrylic, metallics, ink, plastics on wood. 9" x 5 1/2"

Personified: to live as though we expect the lion to live, unaffected by much, could be a great gift. 

Mosaic Wall Opening and Dedication | Rebecca Hoffberger | Juvenile Services Program

The young men of the Schaefer House (Juvenile Services group home for boys) were a huge contributing factor to the 2000 sq. foot mosaic that was installed and dedicated in October.

Watch the "DJS TV" short video about it here, hear interviews with the guys, and see them working in our studio. See some of their personal work from our program this past year.

Above: Installing the last ceremonial panel.

Artist Mari Gardner, and (below) AVAM founder Rebecca Hoffberger during presentations with the Schaefer House guys, and crew.

Studio crew: (Photos courtesy of Maryann Baker)

A really lovely day for a crowd. Below: poem taken from  museum's annual literature.

The Schaefer House Boys

Part of my work (glass studio+mosaicing+AVAM) involves teaching, coaching, and interacting with a group of young men from the William Donald Schaefer House of Baltimore, (a group home for boys in the juvenile detention system) who are being treated there for various health and addiction related issues before going home. Sincerely- they are a pleasure to work with. 

Listen to their interview this Friday at 7pm (+ Saturday at 3p), on WYPR (MD NPR station 88.1 fm) as a segment on The Signal, with Aaron Henkin. It is so good! Or listen here.

The boys learn foundations by building their own pieces, and then make 2d circles and 3d "pop-out" spheres that are permanently installed in the main architectural mosaic at the museum.

They are eager to be there. They are ambitious and diligent. They always get right to work on the masterpieces they have been constructing from session to session (after changing the music selection).

They have also developed a very specific art skill that not even other high schoolers (who are young artists in stable home/school environments) traditionally would have. For that, I am so proud of them. They are funny. They make funny things (see "Fats Life" vs "Fast Life" above.. Fats was one guy's nickname). They all make beautiful glass hearts, and most of the time for their family members (hear about it in the interview).

This Sunday, October 26 at 3pm, is the opening and completion ceremony at the Visionary Museum. If you are in Baltimore stop by 800 Key Highway, it's free and open to the public. Several of the boys will be in attendance to hang their very last panel and see the whole 2000 sq. feet in it's permanent glory. I cannot wait to see and hear their reactions.

Paper 22

("I love music [so much] more than painting.")

 In fact, it is cleaner. 

*NOTE* This is my 100th post! The irony, since this is also in fact, an art blog.

Why Not..

24"x30" acrylic on OSB

From here to there. Highway inspiration. Of course there are dozens of explanations, but it may have been stolen (the irony) because it's not there now.