Through Art You Meet the Nicest People

My recent reception for Light, as a Feather at Tribeca Trunk was a big success with 8 sales so far. The even more fulfilling aspect for me is making new friends with the people who support the arts by buying art. First of all, I am so pleased to get to know Becky Neal Ochenkoski, owner of TT and enthusiastic art collector. What intrigued me was that she curated some of my most subtle, and favorite artworks to be shown together.

©Greg Orth, KOB & Ochenkoski with 3 Book of Light pages & 3 Treasure Maps, collages by Kathleen O'Brien

Becky's assistant, Sydney Fulkerson, is starting to collect art early in her life. She is enrolled at UK studying Merchandising, Apparel, and Textiles major with a minor in Business. It pleases me deeply that a student would value my art to the extent that she would acquire 2 pieces, Homage for Nightingale & Light of Autumn 4. 

In Sydney's words: "I was drawn to Homage to Nightingale because of the text about the Nightingale and how the male sings a love chant. I am giving this to my parents as a gift for Christmas for them to hang in their lake house that they built for their 25th anniversary."

"I was drawn to Autumn Light 4 for the colors, but also mainly for the word "elegant" used in the piece next to the long, thin, simple leaf used that also represents "elegant." The piece spoke to me on a personal level, as I like to think of myself as being somewhat of an "elegant" person."

©Greg Orth, KO'B with Sydney Fulkerson holding Homage to Nightingale & Light of Autumn 4, collages by Kathleen O'Brien

Jeff Kerr & Sharon Tognoni fell in love with Memories of Summer 3 and I fell in love with them. Jeff is in real estate and they have been decorating their new condo. How I love that they are decorating with my art! It means so much to an artist to hear about the joy it brings in to a person's home environment. I enjoyed hearing Sharon's plans for their fresh rooms. 

In Jeff's words: "The painting, Memories of Summer 3, spoke to us immediately,yielding a peaceful feeling of effervescent joy. The summer days are fading with the cool silver rain, causing the leaves to descend with the lasting memories of another resplendent summer in Kentucky, to linger in our hearts and minds forever. Memories of Summer 3 is a reflection of a lasting and beautiful sensation of contentment, that is harmonious with humanity and nature. WE LOVE IT !!!!!" 

©Greg Orth, KO'B with Jeff & Sharon in front of  Memories of Summer 3, collaged drawing by Kathleen O'Brien

So thank you to those others who will bring home my art from this show and all of those of you who shared your appreciation of my art. It means so much to hear things like,

"this isn't just art, this is a 

window into the universe." 

WOW! that adds up to success for me.

Uncommon Wealth Exhibit

As a recipient of Kentucky Arts Council's Al Smith Fellowship I have the honor of being in the 30th Year Celebration Exhibit Uncommon Wealth. The juror Jenine Culligan, Senior Curator, Huntington Museum of Art selected Song for a Rainbow Parrot for the exhibit. 

©Kathleen O'Brien, Song for Rainbow Parrot, watercolor, drawing, botanicals on Arches Cover, on panel varnished, 20x16x2"

The works selected of the 62 artists in the exhibit, out of the 175 possible fellowship recipients in it's 30 year history will be on display in the gallery of the 

Lyric Theatre and Cultural Art Center 

300 E. 3rd St., Lexington 

Oct. 7, 2013 – Jan. 11, 2014. 

The exhibit will then travel around the state throughout the year, which may necessitate breaking it into two to three smaller exhibits. The final, closing exhibit will be in Louisville in the summer of 2014.

4:44 pm today

Autumn arrives later today, bringing with it a whole new perspective, the power of strength & introspection. 

It is a time of equilibrium & balance, thankfully.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Equinox, Day = Night, diptych collage with gold leaf & zinnia petals, 24 x 24"

Autumn is associated with the direction West, & the element of water. Some of the other associations; 

Animal, Bear      Color, Black 

      Time of Day, Sunset     Time of Life, Middle Age

 Ancestral Observance, Samhuin      

 Gift of foreknowledge

time of learning how to be comfortable with not knowing allowing trust instead of control

place of the ancestors,

who stand behind us to help break harmful family patterns

time of letting go of our attachments

place of the sitting meditation 

Free 4 the picking

First of all, Welcome to you, Autumn at 4:44 pm ET today.

Here is a sneak peak for some collages I am working on for the Open Studio November 2-3. For some mysterious reason I am inspired by numbers and geometry lately. This is a series about Magic Squares.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Magic Square of 4, in shadow

The series began with the thought of using my 4 leaf clovers. Walking the Corgis at a brisk pace, I will suddenly stop and gaze at a 4 leaf clover. It is so mysterious to me, this has happened countless times.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Magic Square of 9, in process

I am not bragging, but my poor husband has never found one. This does not mean he is poor, but we have been putting our heads together about how we could transfer this luck to the lottery. Does anyone have any suggestions? 

©Kathleen O'Brien, Magic Square of 16, in process

Oh, do come to the Open Studio, maybe you can take one of these home with you for a little bit of luck. Or find one yourself on our trails. there must be hundreds out there!

For Colorado part 1

Gold, Silver, White Energy for Colorado was ritually, prayerfully created and transformed September 17 from Rain Dance 5.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Gold, Silver, White Energy for Colorado, acrylic, watercolor, drawings, collage, 2013, 24x24"

Rain Dance 5 was ritually, prayerfully created and transformed from Rain Reaches the Water Table and Rain Waters the Sweet Grass from June - August 16, 2007 during a prolong drought.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Rain Dance 5, acrylic, 2007, 24x24"

The original collages Rain Reaches the Water Table and Rain Waters the Sweet Grass created in October 2002, humbly asking for rain.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Rain Reaches the Water Table & Rain Waters the Sweet Grass, watercolor, graphite, collage, sage leaves, grass, 2002, 24x24"

My deepest prayers continue for the people, the land , 

the animals and all growing things.

For Colorado part 2

 Prayer Feathers for Colorado was ritually, prayerfully created and transformed September 16 from Rain Dance 6.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Prayer Feathers for Colorado, collage, acrylic, watercolors, Hydrangea flowers, 2013

Rain Dance 6  was ritually, prayerfully created and transformed on June - August 28, 2007, 

during a prolonged drought.

©Kathleen O'Brien,Rain Dance 6, collage, acrylic, watercolors, 2007

The original collages ritually, prayerfully created in January 2004, humbly asking for rain.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Book of Light, pages 48 & 49, collage, watercolors, graphite, oil on paper, ferns, 2004

My deepest prayers continue for the people, the land, 

the animals and all growing things.

"Light of Autumn"

Wow! autumn is coming up quickly, Sunday the 22nd at 4:44 pm. Last year at this time I created 12 collages informed by this energy, Light of Autumn, that will be shown for the second time at Tribeca Trunk, the "Light, as a Feather" exhibit. (Reminder, today is the last day to RSVP for the reception)

©Kathleen O'Brien, Light of Autumn 1-12

Each of the 12 collages has a different leaf, and a stencil of that leaf, an absence & symbol of the transience of nature. The color of the stencil is spring green, a reminder of the never ending cycles of time.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Light of Autumn 1

Let's celebrate the passing of summer and welcome autumn Thursday September 19 or Friday the 20 for gallery hop, I'll be there 5 - 8 pm both days. 87 artworks will be on display until October 20.
Tribeca Trunk
116 Old Lafayette Avenue Lexington KY 40502
859-317-8793       tribecatrunk@aol.com  Hours: Tuesday—Friday, 11:30 am—5:30 pm or by appointment @ anytime

Homage to Birds at Tribeca Trunk

I am pleased to show a series of small, 7 x 6' varnished collages that are embellished with bead & fossils at the "Light, as a Feather" show at Tribeca Trunk. They are mostly white, a color that represents spirit for me. Birds remind me of my spiritual connections. "Homage to Birds" was created with those feelings.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Homage to Grey Parrot

These collages have graphite and ink drawings of various sacred geometrical symbols. Each has an antique encyclopedia piece about the bird. The botanical used it skeleton bodhi leaf.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Homage to Nut Cracker

There are 6 in the series. I look forward to talking to you about them either September 19 or 20 at Tribeca Trunk. I will be there both days from 5 - 8 pm. If you can't make it then, the show of 87 artworks will be there until October 20.

I will...Remembering 9/11

I just made my pledge of service on the 9/11 Day of Observance site. Now 30 million people observe this day in the spirit of "good deeds unite us through positive action." My pledge was to continue to dedicate making my art in the service of peace on earth.

One year ago I wrote a post about 8 collages I created, ritually listening to Mozart's Requiem mass, K. 626 to honor those who died in the attack on the twin towers. It was the "Rolling Requiem" project for the first anniversary of 9/11.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Requiem, Sanctus

It was sung around the world for a 24-hour period by chorale groups in 2002. The collages are in the originator's Seattle Symphony collection. Pictured here are the other 4 from the series, named for the movements from the Mass. I invite you to listen to Mozart's mass in prayer for those who died 12 years ago.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Requiem, Tuba Mirum

©Kathleen O'Brien, Requiem, Confutatis

©Kathleen O'Brien, Requiem, Liber Scriptus

My Summer of Loving the WOW, the journal complete

This was supposed to be on the Capture the WOW page... There was not enough room on the credit page to say that the music composed by my Gemini twin, Larry McFall is titled On a Day Like This. Thanks, Larry for letting me use this for the video.

3 Talismans at Tribeca Trunk

When I created these collages I added talismans for each bird represented in the art. It is my way of sending a prayer of gratitude to that bird for being here to delight us. Everything has a spirit. Birds  have a soaring spirit. Birds have always represented spirit in my art. Birds are a connection to  inspiration. So I am happy to have these 3 collages for the Light, as a feather exhibit at Tribeca Trunk, September 19 - 30. Below are 3 details.

Kathleen O'Brien, Talisman for Lark Buntings, detail

 

Kathleen O'Brien, Talisman for Chikadee, detail

Kathleen O'Brien, Talisman for Grey Vireo, detail