Written on June 4, 2012 at 4:24 am, by Helen
Susan Grabel’s recent retrospective at the Staten Island Art Museum offered an exhibition that recognized her 35 plus years of creating art with a social purpose, and brought together works representing the feminist critique of contemporary culture that has brought a larger meaning to her creative work her throughout her career.
Categories: Activist Art, Art Techniques, Beauty, Fablous Artists, Fabulous Artists, Feminist art, Fiber arts. Fabric design, Inspiration, Women Artists
Written on July 6, 2011 at 7:02 am, by Helen
Welcome to day two in the 33 Paintings in 33 Days Project of Alaskan artist Nikki Kinne and Wisconsin artist Helen Klebesadel. So far so good.
Categories: A Painting A day, Ability, art collaboration, Beauty, Fablous Artists, Inspiration, Teaching Art and Creativity, Watercolor, Women Artists
Written on July 5, 2011 at 4:33 am, by Helen
Introducing the 33 Paintings in 33 Days Project that Fairbanks artists Nikki Kinne and Helen Klebesadel agreed to undertake with an eye toward sharing simple playful paintings across the distance between Wisconsin and Alaska.
Categories: A Painting A day, Ability, art collaboration, Beauty, Fablous Artists, Teaching Art and Creativity, Watercolor, Wisconsin Arts, Women Artists, Workshops and Classes
Written on July 4, 2011 at 4:25 am, by Helen
I love nothing better than working in my art studio alone. I hunger for it. I work hard to protect my art time from other obligations. I can spend endless hours painting, creating, and seeking that place of flow that is timeless and thrilling. It is my favorite thing to do right up until it becomes lonely, oppressive, and isolating.
Categories: art and technology, art collaboration, Artist Resources, Beauty, Biographical, Fablous Artists, Feminist art, Fiber arts. Fabric design, Inspiration, Spoonflower, Teaching Art and Creativity, Watercolor, Women Artists, Workshops and Classes
Written on June 9, 2011 at 11:46 pm, by Helen
“The making of beauty and of art says that we are alive and we have this beauty within us.” Ann Schaffer, artist
Categories: Activist Art, Artist Resources, Beauty, Biographical, Fablous Artists, Feminist art, Inspiration, Political Art, Watercolor, Women Artists
Written on May 2, 2011 at 2:50 am, by Helen
Activist art is, by definition, historically specific. It aims to address particular cultural, political and social concerns with a view to producing concrete social change. It is interesting to me as an artist and an educator how seldom we find an analysis of what makes effective activist art a part of what we teach and learn, especially since we need it now more than ever.
Categories: Activist Art, Artist Resources, Diversity, Fablous Artists, Feminist art, Fiber arts. Fabric design, Inspiration, Political Art, Teaching Art and Creativity, This and That, Wisconsin Arts, Women Artists
Written on April 17, 2011 at 2:56 am, by Helen
Accepting my limitations takes on a enjoyable sense of victory when I remember to treat those limitations as intellectual challenges that require me to find creative alternatives.
Categories: Ability, Artist Resources, Biographical, Disability, Fabulous Artists, Inspiration, Uncategorized, Women Artists
Written on October 24, 2010 at 5:53 pm, by Helen
I spent a rousing evening with the Arts Matters folks discussing the difference between using social media for ‘marketing’ your art and using it to build creative community (I’m an advocate for the latter).
Categories: Artist Resources, Biographical, Career Development, Promotional Materials, Teaching Art and Creativity, This and That, Uncategorized, Women Artists
Written on October 10, 2010 at 5:43 pm, by Helen
The only way to properly mourn a person like Rae Atira-Soncea is to organize opportunities to recognize her creative work and to bring people together to figure out how to put their creative thinking into action. There were many ways people knew Rae personally and professionally, and all of them reflected an acknowledgment of her fierce commitment to positive social change through community building and creative actions that acknowledge the integrity and potential of all individuals.
Categories: Activist Art, Diversity, Fabulous Artists, Feminist art, Inspiration, Teaching Art and Creativity, This and That, Women Artists
Written on August 24, 2010 at 3:04 am, by Helen
The Feminist Art Movement profoundly influenced contemporary art practices. It introduced feminist content and gender issues; nonhierarchical uses of materials and techniques; and the idea of a multiple-voiced, fluid subject. The women’s art movement has championed the idea that gender is socially and not naturally constructed; validated non-“high art” forms such as craft, video and performance art; questioned the cult of “genius” and “greatness;” and placed an emphasis on pluralist variety rather than concepts of totalizing universalism.
Categories: Artist Resources, Diversity, Feminist art, This and That, Uncategorized, Women Artists