BOOK

Hello everyone! I'm happy to announce that I'm alive and back in the studio! This Friday, I will be exhibiting four pieces from my original Passages series, along with three new assemblages (which I'm calling "book relics"), for the upcoming exhibit BOOK. These "book relics" speak to the way books and traditional photography are going by the wayside, becoming something to covet.

Just as traditional religious relics serve as tangible memorials to venerate saints, these "book relics" have been memorialized, for future generations, in a similar fashion. Each assemblage has been created inside old leather-bound books, bibles, or photo card albums from the early 1800s, and each one contains two relics: one being a fragment of the actual book, and the second, a relic from one of the characters from the book.

In addition, I'm excited to tell you that this is also the first time that I've incorporated hand-drawn imagery or text into the pieces. I added this element in honour of the lost art of traditional book-making, where every word and illustration was hand-crafted by artists.

It's been exciting to work in the studio again, and I hope you can join me this Friday, October 19, at 709 Penn Gallery. The opening reception runs from 6pm – 8pm, but the gallery will stay open until 11pm, to welcome "One Young World" participants.

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BOOK, curated by Sonja Sweterlitsch, is a result of her parents' house being stuck by lightning, reducing her father's extensive library of physics books to ashes. This devastating act of nature came at a time in our culture when digital books are outselling print books and bookstores are disappearing. Sweterlitsch reflects on the idea that books, as we currently know them, may soon become precious objects.

While artists continue to create “artists’ books” as art objects, the use of printed matter as an art material is increasingly popular. In BOOK, Sonja Sweterlitsch asks artists Seth Clark, Dana Ingham, Randie Snow and Brett Yasko to reflect on the material nature of books, and changes in the way we perceive and consume them.

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Here are images of the three new pieces:

1. ex calce sepulchri, D. (from the stone of the tomb, Dracula)

2. ex tela imbuta sanguine, R.D. (from the cloth imbued with the blood, Red Death)

3. ex carne, F. (from the skin, Fiend (Frankenstein))

eXchange :: AAP centennial exhibition

Hello friends! I'm very excited to announce the opening of the next group show that I'm participating in, "eXchange," which is part of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) "ARTrageous" centennial exhibitions. I hope you are able to join me, and the other 39 great artists, for our opening night celebration next Friday, Feb 5th, from 5:30-8:30, located in the 2nd floor gallery on 937 Liberty Ave.

This exhibit, "eXchange," explores the pseudo-symbiotic relationship between established artists and emerging artists located within greater Pittsburgh region. AAP selected ten established artists and ten emerging artists to participate in this exhibit... me being one of the emerging artists, who then selected an established artist in which to collaborate with.

For me, this was an easy decision... I choose someone who not only has the experience required, but who's work I respect and admire, along with being someone who I consider a great friend... Kyle Ethan Fischer. Years ago, I was invited by Sara Swan and Kyle to help them work on a collaborative show, "Common Thread", that was exhibited at Digging Pitt gallery. And since that time, Kyle and I have often talked about the possibilities of working together, but the opportunity never arose until now.

I just want to say what a great pleasure it has been to work with Kyle on this show. We might not have hit the ground running... more like crawling, lol... but we came together and developed a very symbiotic relationship, starting with our original concepts, on throughout the different and sometimes challenging work stages, on through to completion. We complimented each others ideas with more ideas, and took turns pushing each other in order to explore things further, or to see things in a different light. It really has been a very exciting, positive, and creative adventure... one that I am most grateful to have been a part of, and one that I hope continues on into the future... so here's my virtual "hi-five" to you Kyle! :)

Randie Snow w/ Kyle Ethan Fischer Artists Statement
(aka: snowfisch)

We see assemblages as haikus. They are personal meditations made with objects that are both sacred and profane. It is our intent to manifest a fruitful synthesis of opposites using the juxtaposition of objects like gold leaf and discarded remnants as reminders of excess and scarcity; to bring the viewer’s attention to the fragility existent on individual and societal levels. Each work is a microcosm contained and restrained within it. Each unique object, like words in a haiku, alludes to meaning outside the poetic construction itself but retain a loaded significance within the context of the poem in meaning and form. Outside the poem that connotation may be void. It is for this reason that these works are metaphors for fears and dreams. The main recurring symbol that manifests in both of our work and in the development of our collaborative effort is the bird. Whether it is a specific species like a hummingbird or a swallow or the actions of nesting and flight, we have looked at how these metaphors intertwine with the vicissitudes that we encounter.

Here are some "sneak peaks" and images of some of the pieces in progress... enjoy! (clockwise from top left, flight 1, nest 1 detail, nest 1,  flight 2 progress, nest 2 progress)

Arbor Aid + Holiday Shows

hello friends! well, it's the day before thanksgiving, and i have yet to start the whole cooking and baking process for tomorrow... there has just been too much going on lately! at least i did go out and pick up a fresh, locally-raised, free-range turkey for dinner. unfortunately, i don't have the oil to do a proper deep-fry, so i believe i'm going to have to bake the turkey this year. (sorry tico!) :)

anyway, it's been a whirlwind of the past few months, so i wanted to send out an update with all of the recent past, present, and upcoming shows...




in september, around the same time as the G-20 show, i also participated in two group shows. the first was at the Borelli Edwards Gallery, which was a show for all of the new AAP members that have joined over the course of the past two years. the piece that i created for this show was entitled, "the trouble with diving for pearls," and is actually still hanging at the gallery! :)

the second group show, entitled "G-Spot," was at Fe Gallery. this show was a collection of artists that participated in the Visionary Arts Festival. and keeping in theme with the title, i selected Lust to be part of this exhibit.




october was a busy month, to say the least... friday, october 30th, i participated in three shows! "Arbor Aid" was the first show of the evening, a fund-raising event for Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, which featured a number of local artists who all created sculptures made out of reclaimed wood. my new sculpture is called, "Hymn of the Pearl." i had a lot of fun working on this project, and am looking forward to creating a sister sculpture to go along with this one.

the second show, "Dia de Los Muertos" was a fund-raising event for the food bank, and was held at shadow lounge. celebrating rebirth, "sheila" was my creation for this event, where i used an old violin case that a friend had given me, along with my favorite character (sheila) who has been with me since the beginning. i'm happy that she has finally found an assemblage that she can call home! lol!

and finally, the last event of the day, (and the second "day of the dead" theme), was a fund-raiser for the New Hazlett Theater... where i worked on creating two shrines and decorations for their lobby. you can check out some of the images that nokturnal posted on flicker here.






the fourth show (of october), and third Day of the Dead-themed show, called "Dia de Los Muertos y la Resurreccion: the existencial crisis," was Moxie Dada's last official show at their space in the firehouse on arch street. i'm sad to see them move on, but i'm also excited to see where their new endeavors take them next! i wish them all the best of luck!

early in november, i met with ellen neuberg at Gallerie Chiz, where she selected six of the bible pieces to include in her group holiday show. the show opened on november 6, but runs through january 9, so there's still time to check this one out. ellen exhibits a wide variety of artists in her gallery... one of which just so happens to be my friend karen evancho. karen has 10 of her photographs hanging in the gallery as well... congrats karen!

and now for upcoming exhibits! the next two group shows are, "25 Squared" at Fe Gallery, opening saturday, december 12th; and "XChange" at 937 Penn Avenue Gallery, opening during the downtown gallery crawl in february. these are both right around the corner, so i'll send out more details as soon as i get them.

hope everyone has a relaxing turkey day tomorrow!

G-20 Exhibits

hello everyone,

it's officially fall and things are moving along rather quickly... i have the pleasure to announce my participation in two exciting G-20 exhibits that open this week!

the first exhibit entitled "G-Spot", is a 3-day exhibit that opens tomorrow night at Fe Arts Gallery, in Lawrenceville. this exhibit features artists from the Visionary Arts Festival, which debuted this past august in schenley plaza. we're taking a break from the news and media of the G-20 to relax and enjoy art and good conversation!



the second exhibit that i'm participating in, “Urbanic 2: Catalysing a Regional Economic Renaissance,” opened today at the Landside Ticketing Level Display Case at the Pittsburgh International Airport. This exhibit was conceived and proposed by Mox Box Consulting, as a way to create awareness and promote Pittsburgh's local artists.

Urbanic 2 features 5 Pittsburgh artists that express the following in their artwork; microcosmic, ironic commentary on suburban surroundings, visionary samplings of community city life, or urban decay giving way to transformation. This exhibition engages the G-20 audience because the viewer is being given a glimpse of what is coming to be... urbanic.

well, that's the quick update for now... i have a of group shows coming up in the next couple of months, so stay tuned... and i hope you're all safe during the G-20!

Pittsburgh Visionary Arts Festival

So, after taking a little more than a year hiatus from the whole blogging thing (um, can you say slacker!?! LOL!), I've decided to revive it... and I am honored to announce that I've been invited to participate in a brand new festival, called the Visionary Arts Festival, where I will be exhibiting the Passages show once more. So please come out and join in the festivities and experience amazing art from more than 50 local Pittsburgh Artists! :)

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The first Pittsburgh Visionary Arts Festival is bringing together more than 50 local visionary artists and art innovators into a single venue. For three full days, these artists will share their work, vision and unique ideas in a friendly outdoors festival setting. The VAF will feature a rich diversity of minds, covering the full spectrum of art mediums: from painting to mixed media, from digital media to sound art, through recycled and self-taught art… and beyond! Experience a slice of Pittsburgh’s greatest visionary art, in a festival that hopes to decorate your soul rather than your living room! Free and open to the public. August 7, 8 and 9, from 12pm to 9pm. Schenley Plaza, (directly in front of the Cathedral of Learning, in the heart of Oakland.)

blog: http://pghvisionaryartsfestival.blogspot.com

15 minutes gallery

I would like to send a big thank you out to everyone at The Pittsburgh Technology Council for all of their hard work (especially Kim Harvey!), and their successful opening of the 15 Minutes Gallery, where I was honored to receive "Best of Show" (scroll down for article) for my piece entitled "Flight of the Imagination."

Founded on the notion that art and technology share the elemental characteristic of innovation, the 15 Minutes Gallery seeks to unite both veins of creative prowess in celebration of the regional dynamic. The Gallery, located in the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s atrium and conference areas, provides a unique opportunity for local artists to reach key figures of Pittsburgh’s business community.

Joining the opening night as a special speaking guest was Mitch Swain, CE0 of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Jane Haskell, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts 2006 Artist of the Year, and Barbara Krause, owner of the Sirani Gallery, served on the 15 Minutes Gallery jurors panel.

The exhibition featured 47 local artists and nearly 100 pieces of artwork in a variety of media. All artwork will be displayed from June 1 through August 31, 2008.

Sirani Gallery is currently planning a gallery show this fall for the four award winners of the 15 Minutes Gallery opening night ceremony. I'll post more updates on this event as they arrive, so stay tuned!

the creative process

in my last blog i talked a bit about coincidence and how important of a role i feel it plays in the creative process. well, i recently started http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifworking on my next project, and the coincidences have already been hitting me over the head...so much that it's a bit scary for as early in the process that i'm in. but i take that all as a good sign...and today, i found this speech that Amy Tan gave at the TED conference, and it amazed me. Amy Tan is the author of such beloved books as "The Joy Luck Club", "The Kitchen God's Wife" and "The Hundred Secret Senses", and her words have stuck a chord...it's how i feel while working in the process, and when i don't feel it, i know that the piece i'm working on will not become what it's supposed to be. that's when i know that i have to put it down and let it breathe. anyway, enough said...i'll let her speak for me...just click on the link...

Amy Tan on creativity