That’s the Indigo Girls  singing “Second Time Around” in the background.

Detail of the Collaboration Quilt..

It snowed again last night, about 6 inches,  but it hardly seems to matter, there’s so much snow already.  And it really is a spring snow (even though it’s still technically winter)   and has been melting in the sunshine all day.  Snow is dripping and sliding off roofs.  The birds are singing and the sky is blue.  Tried to capture it in this video:

I started being interested in video when Jon got me an ipod for xmas and I realized it took photos and video.  We were on our way into NYC when I began experimenting.   I’ve never been interested in photography or video (except for going to the movies).  But with my first attempt, I was hooked.   I felt like a cavewoman with a piece of charcoal and a cave wall.  I’m sure my first considered video of the Carousel in Central Park was similar to the first moving picture ever filmed. (I’ll have to google that)

I saw my videos as having 3 important elements: sound, movement, and being short.  But I temporarily quit on the videos when I found it difficult to post them on my blog.  But 2 weeks ago we hired Sara Friedman from Social Momentum to help us improve our Social Media and the first thing she showed us how to do was post a video.

Since then I’ve created 4 0r 5 “Visual Poems”.  Sticking to my 3 elements I’m figuring out how to tell a  story, evoke a feeling or convey an idea.

Once again I’m beginning to see things differently.  I don’t know where I’m going or where it will take me, but it has me in it’s clutches.

Serena and I had lunch  again yesterday at the Happy Hen in Fort Ann.  This time we had the chocolate cake.

After discussing the show at at Gallery 99, we got to talking about the Pig Barn Gallery.   The first show will be in the beginning of June.  The working title, “From Everyday to Art”.  The theme being the everyday and the mundane made into art.  There would be 5 artists: Jon ( his everyday objects photos), Diane Swanson (paintings on computer parts), Jack Metzger ( found object sculptures and photos) Serena  ( Gourd Art, that’s Serena in the photo with some of her work at Gallery 99) and my everyday  stitch scenes made from recycled clothing.

We were thinking of ways to be more inclusive.  A way of bridging the gap between artists and audience.

I thought of some of the things that always made me uncomfortable in galleries and museums:
The funeral silence. The expectation to say something “knowledgable” about the work.  The fear of saying something “stupid”.  Feeling bad about not buying something.  Being ignored by the person at the front desk.  Being watched by the person at the front desk.  Feeling like my clothes or glasses aren’t  funky or hip enough compared to the other people in the gallery.

I’d love to know what you think, let me know your likes and dislikes about your gallery experiences and maybe we can  avoid the bad and incorporate the good.

I finished the last of the Library Tour potholders today.  Most of them are sold, but there are a few still not spoken for.  They are $20 each and if you’re interested in one, you can contact me at maria@fullmoonfiberart.com or click on CONTACT ME.    Here’s the lineup:

Community Library in Cobleskill NY.

Stayed at my friend Bobbi’s house that night, in her weaving studio.

The Scoville Community Library in Salisbury CT.  This one is for sale.

The room of a friends house where we stayed that night.

The Rochambeau Library in Providence. (Jon’s hometown Library)  This one is  for sale.

The Osterville Library in MA.  The reading was in the gym of the Methodist Church next to the temporary library, while the permanent library is under construction.  There aren’t any books, but there is a basketball hoop.  This one is also for sale.

The Community room at the Scituate Library.  I was sitting in the back.

The Edgartown Library on Martha’s Vineyard.  The fern has a pulley system for watering it.

I’ve been noticing them since last week, ever since we had those days warm enough to walk around without a coat on.  The snow began to melt in the 40 degree weather and the warming spring-like sun.  Then over night it would freeze again, until a couple of days later and more warm weather and sunshine.  With each melt and freeze the snow sculpture became more prominent.  I’ve been watching the snow and ice, caught in mid slide, cantilevered off the edges of roofs.  I know they are perfectly balanced, because if they weren’t they would have already fallen.  Mother Nature doesn’t use formulas  to perform such architectural feats.

But only today did I notice this snow sculpture on the side of the road. And I didn’t see the rest of them (which are right outside the front door) until I started searching.

After spending about an hour this morning with my ipod, filming the shelf in my studio

Lila Downs is singing in the background)  I continued working on my Library Tour Potholders.

The Osterville Library was under construction, (actually it was just a hole in the ground),  so they have their events in the gym of the Methodist Church next to the temporary Library, which is in the basement of an office building.  I caught the crowd in the Scituate Library but was able to do a quick drawing in the Rochambeau Library in Providence (Adult Library).  I worked from one of Jon’s photos of the fern in the window of the Edmonsds Library in Marthas Vineyard.

\”reflection on YouTube\”

I’m thinking of my videos as visual poems.  If you click on the link above, you will see a video (or visual poem) of my drawing.   I’m experimenting with the videos as being short and atmospheric, expressing one idea or emotion.  Different from a still picture only in motion and sound.  I like the idea of interpreting the same image in different mediums. I wanted to draw this mirror because of it’s shape and the way the mirror hung in the supports.  It looked like some sort of creature that might get up and walk away or swing itself into motion.  The video seems to be more about the reflection of the mirror.  A witness to the inhabitants of the room and their effect on the space.

After about an hour of meeting with Sara from Social Momentum my head was starting to spin. “We better stop” I said, “or I’ll forget everything.”

Sara did such a great job drumming up publicity for Gallery 99 Jon and I decided to hired her to help us with our social media. She was teaching me how to manuver around Facebook. Before she came I was still trying to figure out the different pages. She showed me how to tag and link (?) and how to put up a video. (I put up my first video of the Carousel in Central Park on Facebook yesterday!) When she left I couldn’t remember a thing she said. But then it all started to come back and with a little practice I’ll have it down.

When we were done working we visited the donkeys. Fanny couldn’t get enough of Sara, she kept trying to get in her pocket, no doubt looking for more cookies. When she comes back next week I’ll learn some more about using social media and Fanny will get more treats. It’s hard to believe that 5 years ago I didn’t even own a computer.

Gallery 99 was a success in so many ways. It will be happening again in June and July at the Wood Theater for the Adirondack Theater Festival and again in the Fall although the venue isn’t determined yet. I have 3 Stitch Sketch potholders left from Gallery 99. They’re $20 each + shipping.

“New Chair and Old Desk” (this is the chair I fell off of)

“Power Brush” ( I prefer a broom, but am actually grateful for this vacuum, it gets all the threads off the rug)

“Grandma’s Couch” (I guess this is a pretty personal one, but the story is universal, at some point we all need someone to thread our needles for us. Anyway, there’s something about needles in a couch that evokes yet another story)

These potholders are $20 each + $3 shipping. If you’re interested you can contact me at maria@fullmoonfiberart.com or click on Contact Me above.

Next: Library tour potholders and a show at the Pember Library in Granville NY in April.