Taiko weekend in Mesa

No visual art this past weekend, but I played taiko two days in a row at the the lovely Tết Festival in Mekong Plaza in Mesa. It's the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration. Here is a link to a poster in PDf format. There was a large Hoa mai New Year Tree (photo below is a similar tree from Wiki) near the stage. One of my taiko buddies was absolutely fascinated with the tree since it was mostly artificial: a real tree trunk with fake flowers on it. It looked very real though. The festival also opened with one of my favorite Asian traditions: the Lion Dance. The Sunday opening performance was by the White Crane Kung Fu & Sport Association and they were excellent.  One of our taiko people took photos of the dancers and other festivities and when I have access, I will post them.

There is another fabulous festival coming soon to Phoenix: Matsuri, a Festival of Japan. 

It's definitely one of my favorite events in Phoenix. It's the last weekend of February and of course there will be tons of taiko there along with lots of other fun things like martial arts, dance, bonsai displays, Akita dogs, a kimono fashion show, food, cool stuff for sale, and more. I'll be there both days: playing taiko Saturday and wearing kimono on Sunday!

But wait, there's more! Since I had a day off from art this past weekend, I'm making up for it this week so I can play taiko again!! This coming Saturday is Tucson's own Carnaval!  

This is a newer festival held at Armory Park and presented by the ever fabulous Batucaxé! It's really fun to show up in costume and dance to afternoon away.  

I'm working very hard since the show at Platform Gallery is only a month away...between taiko and art, it will be a busy next couple of months.

~reb

Too many things besides art going on

It's totally fun to visit with relatives from out of state, especially if you haven't seen them for years. I will admit it though: some fun things that happen in life are serious distractions to making art (It's still work), so friends and relatives that are self-directed and low maintenance are my favorite type of visitors! Such were the aunt and uncle that came to Tucson to visit this past week. Give them a destination and all they had to do was plug it into the GPS in the truck and they were off and running to some national park or two. Great people, and we had a good time.

Aside from visitors, a few taiko gigs, the up-coming 3-week long Tucson Gem Show (Starts on January 31st!), two overnight trips to Phoenix next month including the fantastic two-day Japanese cultural event called Matsuri; I'm working in my studio to get ready for a show in March. Plus I'm also working with another artist on some possible art workshops for kids and collaborative projects in the very near future! So I may start an e-mail newsletter so YOU can keep up with any future workshops, classes, and other fun events I may be doing or partaking in plus blog updates!

Here is an announcement for a Tucson arts project I will be helping with and doing some marketing for- you will see me helping out at this event next Tuesday:

The Nature Zone   Toscana is proud to announce our newest one day workshop with Oro Valley's 2008 Best Artist Angela Rose, as she brings The Nature Zone to the foothills of Pusch Ridge. This is  special opportunity for all ages to build efemeral sculptures in the desert from materials found in nature. This is sure to be a creatively rewarding experience. Come join the FUN! Sincerely, Linda Ahearn Owner/Artist of Toscana Studio
The Nature Zone  Interactive Art In Nature Make art outside with natural materials  Facilitated by artist Angela Rose Who:    Parents and/or kids, ages 2 and up  When:   Tuesday, January 26th,   3-6 PM             Where:   Toscana Studio and Gallery                 Fee:    $30 per person ($25 for siblings)  Kids will remember this exploratory experience of making art in nature with artist Angela Rose. The Sonoran desert is the blank canvas, and rocks and twigs and giant reed are just some of nature's treasures we'll use to make ephemeral sculpture with and in the land. As creative energy ignites, a sense of delight arises, and spontaneity is invited back into the artmaking process. Self-directed ideas and expressions emerge as we put aside the product-driven, over scheduled pace of daily life and reconnect with nature and the artist within.  Finally, our creations will be left for the enjoyment and (perhaps) alterations of others - parents, students and wildlife (whichever comes first!) And, such is the circle of life!            Bring: Open mind and active body                    Wear: Clothes you can get dirty, closed-                   toed shoes, sunhat                                  Take home: Smiles and satisfaction     Reserve a spot today! Call Linda at Toscana Studio to reserve your                                   space in the desert. 520-575-1445.     For more information contact artist Angela Rose: 520-906-8708
Toscana Studio and Gallery 9040 N Oracle Rd, Ste A Oro Valley, Arizona 85704 520-575-1445 www.toscanastudioandgallery.com

2010 is here!

Ok, it is already January 4th, so it's been 2010 for 4 days! Woohoo.
Since New Year's Day, I have already dropped off artwork for the Arizona Edges art show at the Tubac Center of the Arts (Reception is this Friday), picked up art from the last show, played a taiko gig on New Year's eve at First Night in Tucson, and later was invited by my neighbor to burn my Christmas tree. Mine's fake, so I didn't take him up on it. A great time was had by all though!

What else: working on price increases for artwork for 2010, especially anything created on birch panels except commissioned work. Quotes for commissioned works will be less than last year's price per square foot since I now have a local craftsman creating my panels and canvas stretchers for me, so no more ordering stretchers from Wisconsin and paying for shipping, which gets passed onto the art patron! Hooray for you, the art lover. (If you are a local artist reading this, I can give you the name of my panel maker but you will have to drop me an e-mail! He doesn't have a website.)
But wait, there's more! I'm now obsessed with Japanese textiles, especially kimono, since I wear yukata and kimono occasionally for Japanese festivals (It's the taiko connection!) and have purchased a couple more as well as a couple gorgeous obi.

In my search for information on kimono kitsuke (the art of wearing of kimono), I came across this amazing artist, Itchiku Kubota, who sadly died in 2003. An article about an exhibit of his work is here, as well as a book with splendid photos available on Amazon. I will likely do a series of new paintings inspired by some of his textiles in 2010.

How could you not be moved by his work? Even these small images are breathtaking.
Arigato gozaimasu!
~reb