Although the opening night has come and gone, if anyone is in the Midwest / Columbus, OH area – two of my pieces (shown below) will be hanging at the Red Brick Gallery (7 N High St, Canal Winchester, Ohio) until the end of August.  You will also find works from some of my stellar artist friends Aaron Leu, Kathryn Dart, Bruce Campbell and others, so check them out if you’re in the area!

And CIVA’s show Curse or Calling which features one of my pieces (shown below) and the works of artists whose work I really admire like Sandra Bowden, Guy Chase and Bruce Herman will be having its first opening on August 27, 6:30-8:30 pm at Evangel University, 1111 North Glenstone Ave, Springfield, MO 65802.  The show will travel for about 3 years to various venues across the US.   Again, if you’re in the Midwest and have a chance to check it out, I’d highly recommend it!  (Or if you’re a venue interested in booking it, you can find out more on CIVA’s website or by contacting me.)

My work “Rootedness” (pictured above) has been chosen as a finalist for the L’Arche juried show “The Art of Being Together.”  If you are in the Vancouver area, the opening will be next Saturday, March 6th from 1-5 pm.  More details can be found here.  The piece is also eligible for Judges Choice and People’s Choice awards, so come out to the event if you can!

Regardless, I knew if I wanted to make the most of my break from classes, I had better get in the studio some today!

This piece will be number 4 in the “By Its Cover” series *when it’s finished.*  In the last few days, I’ve decided to experiment with different frames.  The idea occurred to me that using meaningful objects (that have been recycled) would not only be a cheap option, but also add to the overall concept of each piece.

Here’s the process (and result) of this piece so far:

A trusty green vintage suitcase ($1 at a local thrift store), and a lot of tools to try to separate the top from the bottom.

When I had the top and bottom halves separated, I began to tear out the old fabric that was lining the suitcase.

Next, I gathered up some old books (also thrift store finds), tore off their covers to reveal ragged, natural tan and brown colored spines.  Knowing the depth of the suitcase they’d go in, I then began cutting each book down to size with a ruler and an xacto knife.

This is a common sighting in my studio: tons and tons of torn book pages.  Materials for a future piece, perhaps?

Next, I set the cut books into place to create an earth-y landscape.

Next, I carefully poured hot wax into the suitcase.  I titled the suitcase to ensure that the wax was trickling down through the “landscape” (book spines).  I did this several times – fusing between layers – to be sure the books were staying in place.

Here’s the piece so far.  Tomorrow, I’ll pour more layers of wax in, add a “tree” (another dried hyndrangea?), and brainstorm how to secure wire to the back so the piece can hang.

But for now, I think I’m going to try to find some chicken-noodle-soup and 7 up and watch the Olympics!

While I’m content with this piece for now, I hope to push this concept further in future pieces.  For now, though – here’s “By It’s Cover” Number 3.

]]> http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2010/02/in-the-studio-today-2/feed/ 2 http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2010/01/january-23/ http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2010/01/january-23/#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:58:56 +0000 shans http://www.newbyart.com/blog/?p=1482

If you’re in the Vancouver, BC area – come out and join us at Mainly Sweet Cafe!

]]> http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2010/01/new-year-new-aesthetic/feed/ 3 http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2009/12/second-opening-for-in-the-making-show/ http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2009/12/second-opening-for-in-the-making-show/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:36:53 +0000 shans http://www.newbyart.com/blog/?p=1302

This Sunday evening, the Vancouver Project II show “In The Making” will have its second opening at First Baptist Church here in Vancouver.  If you are in the area, I’d recommend coming at 7 pm this Sunday.  There will be a “Celtic Christmas” concert, with an art reception afterwards.  For more about the work and to read about the first opening, you can visit a previous blog post here.

Here are some images (I promised ages ago) from the first opening at Regent College.

]]> http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2009/12/second-opening-for-in-the-making-show/feed/ 0 http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2009/11/illuminated-manuscript/ http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2009/11/illuminated-manuscript/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:12:19 +0000 shans http://www.newbyart.com/blog/?p=1240 So I’ve been dreaming and planning a new body of work for several months now.  I had this week off (from grad school) so I decided it was a good time to be in the studio to put my ideas into motion.

Illuminated Manuscript

beeswax, rulers, rope light, chicken wire, black ink, text and nylon

10 x 36 x 3″

I don’t quite yet have an artist statement hammered out for this, but I’ll walk you through a bit of my process (and my head for that matter).

Although conceptually this piece is much broader than Ezekiel’s calling, it was originally inspired by this passage:

Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.”  So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.  Ezekiel 3:3

]]> http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2009/11/illuminated-manuscript/feed/ 0 http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2009/10/upcoming-opening-at-regent/ http://www.newbyart.com/blog/2009/10/upcoming-opening-at-regent/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:50:38 +0000 shans http://www.newbyart.com/blog/?p=1205

Community: Lessons from the Hive (a 21 piece installation: wax, paper, graphite on hexagon panels)

Next week, Regent will be opening the By For residency exhibition “In the Making.”  This is the first opening of the traveling exhibit and all of us (the participating artists) are excited to see all the artwork come together.  The residency was a phenomenal experience and a blessed gift from patron churches and organizations.

Regent College Lookout Gallery

5800 University Blvd

Vancouver, BC   V6T 2E4

Wednesday, November 4  4:30-7:30 pm

An interview about the residency with Brian Moss

blog series about the residency

sneak peek video below:

BYFOR 2009 from Erik Newby on Vimeo.

A few pictures I wanted to share right away from the trip:

And something to whet your appetite.  Waxy art that is very similar to an upcoming project I’m dreaming up of illuminated seed pods:  artist Lori Fredette

and a video to warm your soul: (a new favorite)