July 1–5, 2015, at the Marin County Civic Center Fairgrounds, Hwy 101 at N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael, California — way fun!!

Yippee, all four of my entries to the Marin County Fair adult fine art and photography exhibit were juried in. It’s always an honor to be accepted in this high-quality exhibit. I’ve received several ribbons and special awards over the years and sold something(s) almost every year. My mixed-media Brubeck pair, a digital abstract on aluminum, and a photomontage on canvas were accepted:

The Marin Society of Artists and the Marin Independent Journal sponsored the current show at MSA’s gallery: “Artists’ View of the News” (June 4–July 3, 2015; Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross, California). My two entries were inspired by two controversial actions taken by the City of San Rafael: enforcing the massage ordinance in order to shut down sex parlors posing as massage businesses; and closing a city park for three months to clean it and discouraging the return of homeless patrons who had trashed it.

What They Left Behind Archival inkjet print mounted on cradled birch panel, 12 in. x 12 in. x 1.5 in. Digital photomontage comprising photographed and scanned items found in San Rafael’s Boyd Memorial Park. In January 2015 the city closed the park for three months to clean it out and discourage the return of homeless patrons who had effectively taken it over. When the park reopened in April, I found drug paraphernalia that escaped the parks department’s cleaning crew. Items included in this work: Ace of Spades Ziploc bag; used and unused syringes; empty saline solution tube; vodka bottle label; beer bottle caps; rubber duck.

Emerald Spa Archival inkjet print of digital photograph 6 in. x 8 in., matted and framed 11 in. x 13 in. In 2013 the City of San Rafael began enforcing its massage ordinance in order to shut down sex parlors posing as massage businesses. One of the closed sex parlors was Emerald Spa at the corner of Second and A Sts. The floor-to-ceiling drapes that covered the storefront are now gone, revealing the pink and orange walls and little windowless rooms. The afternoon sun now illuminates the formerly shady space.

Marin Open Studios is done for 2015 and this is one happy artist. Thanks to patrons and friends who came by to support participating artists throughout the county (including yours truly). I’m taking the week off and plan to be back in my studio the following week to pick up where I left off on several paintings.  

Marin Magazine photographer Mo DeLong snapped a nice picture of me and Ethan Browning Jr. in my studio, and two party guests standing against my work (first framed print by Joanne Harwood, Studio 10) in the 1331 hallway of Art Works Downtown. Fun night!

Photo by Mo Delong, Marin Magazine

Photo by Mo Delong, Marin Magazine

So very nice to see those of you who visited me and all the artists at Art Works Downtown last week for the first Marin Open Studios weekend. It was fun, busy, and successful!  ::does happy dance::

And here we are, the final weekend of Open Studios (Sat.–Sun., May 9–10, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.) — plus tomorrow night, Friday, May 8, is our monthly art walk from 5 to 8 p.m. Hope you can come!

Below is a printable version of my business card showing my studio info plus the 2nd Friday Art Walk and Marin Open Studios dates for this year and next. A keepsake for sure!  😉

(Other than these open studios events, I don’t keep regular studio hours, so please call, text, or email me if you’d like to drop by, any time at all. Keep checking here for updates.)

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend
and thank you for supporting the arts,
—Suzanne

Suzanne’s studio info plus 2nd Friday Art Walk and Marin Open Studios dates for 2015–16

Panoramic photo of my studio. Walls are full of art and ready for Marin Open Studios, starting this weekend.

Fulfilled my volunteer requirement at Marin Open Studios‘ gallery in Greenbrae yesterday. The gallery fills the former Wipe Out restaurant space (and before that, a Chevy’s restaurant) so the remaining fixtures give the gallery a funky feel. TONS of art! It’s open Tuesdays through Sundays through May 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can see art by all participating artists and get lots of info.  Wish I could take credit for, or afford to buy, the Dalai Lama paper sculpture, it’s my favorite piece!

Hustling to get some new images produced and some favorite digital abstracts printed on new media. Here are Canyon Song, newly printed on aluminum, and China Camp Remixed, my first piece printed on wood. Looks cool! More to come!