Art at UK HealthCare Chandler Pavilion

At UK HealthCare Chandler Pavilion there is an interesting Photography exhibit by John Cohen. Last Friday we were entertained by the artist as he told stories and played his banjo and guitar. It was a nice surprise to see friends Caroline and Sylvia and show them my Garden of Healing, Garden of Hope, located on the first floor by the Kentucky Wall. If you have not been there, the new pavillion has an outstanding art collection. 

© Greg Orth, Caroline, Kathleen, Sylvia with Garden of Healing, Garden of Hope, K. O'Brien

Watch Video of Baking in the Bread Oven

Last weekend's weather was superlative for firing up the bread oven. It is an all day procedure, so we need to make sure we will have the success to provide refreshments for the Open Studio in just a few days now. In the kitchen there is much preparation and lots of washing dishes. Outside, the fire is tended for about 4 hours until the masonry is 600 degrees.

Pizza and bread are baked at the highest temperatures, then many other foods are cooked as the temperature lowers after the breads are done. The next day when it registers at 100 degrees we make yogurt.

Surprise Gifts for the Correct Answers

Everything is getting reorganized. Everything is within reach, yet it also has an inspiring appearance to my specs. After finishing many new artworks, it is a relief to put everything away until the next onslaught of ideas that brim over. + having your studio open and scrutinized is a great excuse to clean up.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Studio Corner

So here is a challenge: answer a question about the photo correctly to receive a surprise gift. The first person to answer each question gets one, 1 to a customer. (zoom in) Bring your answer to the Open Studio. Look closely because I will remove some things.

1. Which box do I keep mica in?
2. Who is the reigning artist on view?
3. How many animals do you see?
4. What series is that collage from?
5. Which State bird is there?
6. How many triangles/pyramids are there?
7. What is that blue semi-circular thing?
8. What is in the longish black box, and what's on top of it?

Series of Series Preview Of Open Studio pt 5

The background on this series of 4 is almost entirely script and other secret messages. Unfortunately for house plants, I don't have a green indoor thumb, these leaves are all that are left of my little trees.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Olive Grove for Peace 1, watercolor, pencil, Olive leaves, stamp

Series of Series Preview Of Open Studio pt 4

This series of 12 features tree leafs and a certain word...

©Kathleen O'Brien, Light of Autumn 5, watercolor, pencil, leaf, word

Series of Series Preview Of Open Studio pt 3

More places, more maps, bring your imagination to the Open Studio. 

©Kathleen O'Brien, There Are Places I'll Remember All My Life, Giza, watercolor, pencil, petals, glue

4 in this series - I LOVE this one...

Series of Series Preview Of Open Studio pt 2

The wanderlust has caught hold of me. 

Traveling into my birds eye world, then charting it is a close second to being there.

©Kathleen O'Brien, By the Beautiful Sea, Greece, watercolor, pencil, stamp, mica, petals

4 in this series, come and see, it is hard to see the subtlety of pencil online...

Series of Series Preview Of Open Studio

Starlings have been the subject of many artworks ever since I have been here, where they visit and vanish. Their murmurations stop me in my tracks, whatever I am doing, humbled. I attempt to feel their murmurations so they can be expressed as energetically as I experience them. If only humans could figure out how to murmurate, think of the harmony that would be.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Murmeration of the Darling Starlings, watercolor, pencil, glue

4 in this series, come see the others and read the fine print...

Preview of Grounds for Open Studio Part 3

Greg Orth will be here to show his wood fired masonry Bread Oven. He recently published his book through Amazon.com, My Experience Using "The Bread Builders" Book, or How I Made a Masonry Wood Fired Oven [Kindle Edition]. We'll have some food prepared from it on hand for you.

©K. O'Brien, Greg's Bread Oven

In the niche next to the oven door is a homage to the Goddess of the Furnace, Fornax. Greg cleverly made the handle from a plaster tool. Ever the problem solver. This is a good view of the opening where he scrapes the ashes into.

© K. O'Brien, Fornax, clay, metal, glass

This is one of his gargoyles on the back of the oven.

©K. O'Brien, gargoyle 

Here Greg is building the oven...

©K. O'Brien, building the oven

Studio Tour of Fox Hutt's Weaving

As you may know, Fox Hutt is one of 7 this year on the Art Trial 2012. She is presenting her weavings in her beautiful custom studio. For food for the body she is serving her super- nutritious food, home grown biodynamically. Her story about this weaving is inspiring.

©Fox Hutt, Nags Head Dawn, 25" x 22"

She says, "I received channeled information that a trip to the ocean would help shake up my creativity, so several years ago I drove by myself to Nags Head, NC, and stayed several days meditating, walking on the beach and taking photos. It was a wonderful experience, one I consider a turning point for me. I think acting on this channeled advice helped me with my faith, and my creativity."

Preview of Grounds, part 2

As you walk towards the south on Greg's nicely mowed paths you come to Honeysuckle Haven, a place where we have made rooms out of the honeysuckle. Greg has done extensive stone work here. It has become a sanctuary for so many birds depending on the season.

©K. O'Brien, stone benches

Walking back towards the north, you can see our house in the distance, and "Little Big Dog".

©K. O'Brien, path back to home

More tomorrow about the bread oven...

Surprise from the Archives

Janet Crymble spoke yesterday at Community Art Center, Danville KY. It was so inspiring to here about Ireland and her approach to installation art, and her reverence for the land that I decided one thing I would show from the archives is my piece from Artists in Support of the Peace Process project in Ennis, Ireland 1998.  And perhaps she can see it before returning to Ireland.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Well, oil on canvas, 16x20", 1996

...one of many oil paintings from the project...

A Preview of Open Studio Grounds

Yesterday I strolled around taking pictures so you could see some of the destinations on our grounds you might like to walk to or sit at. I will post more in the next couple of days...

©K. O'Brien, east porch

Most likely, you will begin from the east porch. Depending on the weather you may sit or gaze from all 4 sides of our glorious porch.

©K. O'Brien, east yard

Greg is proud of his standing stones seen (vaguely) in the middle. He created a stone bench just off to the right of the stone lantern. Everyone asks, what are those blocks in the distance. They are Cempo, the material Greg built our house with.

©K. O'Brien, Super Collider Conductor

As you arrive, on the bend of our driveway is a kinetic sculpture, Super Collider Conductor. It is a collaboration between Greg and I. If you stand within 5 feet it will transport you to another dimension.

Check tomorrow for more touring.

10.11.12, an exciting day

Last Thursday, October 11 was full of creativity. Greg's birthday celebration included a 2 day class with the Dry Stone Conservancy  learning to build stone fence with Scottish Master Stone Mason, Neil Rippingale. The class was conveniently located around the corner at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. Greg has much experience with stone, now he has confidence to rebuild our Shaker fence remnants.

©Greg Orth, section of fence at Pleasant Hill

Later, the opening reception for Horizon; Contemporary Landscape exhibit at Community Arts Center had record crowds attending. Earlier in the day, the governor and many politicians in town for the VP debate were at the Center for meet and greet.

KO'B with 3 artworks in Horizon; Contemporary Landscape exhibit

Just a few blocks away people were gathering at Centre Collage for the VP debate. Later this lawn was full of spectators watching on the screen in the distance.

Hours away from the VP debate at Centre Collage

New Cards at Open Studio

In addition to the greeting cards you are familiar with some new lines, birthday and invitations, will be premiered at the Open Studio Art sale November 3-4.

©Kathleen O'Brien, birthday card, C 189

©Kathleen O'Brien, invitation, N 03

You may also choose to personalize any of the cards, just ask!

2 Maps for Open Studio & Art Trail

Here is a detailed map to Kathleen O'Brien Studio. Note our close proximity to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill . It is a peaceful and beautiful place to stay overnight if you are traveling from afar (or near, for that matter).

Map to Kathleen O'Brien Studio

This year there are 6 other artisans on the Art Trail.  Mine and 3 others are open both days of the weekend, November 3-4. To the North, 3 studios are open Saturday only.

Art Trail 2012 Map

Open Studio news

Guest artist Melanie VanHouten, Founder and Artistic Director of Josephine Sculpture Park, Frankfort, KY will be visiting in the studio on Saturday Nov. 3.  She will be exhibiting several sculptures from her solo exhibition Threshold.  Materials utilized range from reclaimed wooden doors to cast iron and stone.

Melanie VanHouten, Thrown Stones

4th Annual Open Studio Art Sale

On November 3 & 4, from 10 am—5 pm, please visit the studio for an artful autumn day.

We’re excited to share some of the same things you've enjoyed in the past years like food from the bread oven & some new things.

The open house is my largest event of the year, so you will be the first to see my latest artwork:

• series of Parrot & Lovebird collages on panels

©Kathleen O'Brien, Song for Orange Bellied Parrot

• a new line of “Nursery Friendly Art” 

©Kathleen O'Brien, Dawn Song

• series of collages based on the cave paintings of Chauvet

©Kathleen O'Brien, Light of the Earth, 10

• examples of Treasured Maps, plan yours

• new lines of birthday and invitation cards

• a surprise from the archives

• holiday special; order 10 cards of 1 design and choose 10 of another design free 

Stay tuned for more of what you will see and do!

This year there are 6 others on Art Trail 2012. 

To see the maps go to http://www.facebook.com/KathleenOBrienStudio/events. 

Please "join" in the fun!

Also, I will post the maps here in a couple of days.