All posts filed under: Art

More Work for the Art Center

Published by Libby

I have been a bit busy the last few months! As I have been getting used to my role at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, I have been designing on several levels. As the Director of the Studio School, I create classes and events with my staff (Dalila DeCarvalho, I am looking at you!) . As the defacto art director, I design the materials to support them: pieces for print, web, for educational and promotional purposes. Applying a forming style I have had to design as quickly as possible, so I work within extremely narrow limits. It’s the only way I know to find great ideas, actually. I have limited the options for grids and fonts as much as I dare and let the color story develop as I go. It isn’t perfect, but it is actually starting to turn into a consolidated style my team can use. I have been able to get the catalog set up and it has come together well. I even get to go to Linco to print it! Press check …

On the Road for the Art Center: Paper Litho

Published by Libby

I was able to do a short segment on News 12’s On the Road program yesterday. I rolled out the Paper Litho and got to talk about the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. Materials and links Click here to see the segment (if you subscribe to certain cable carriers) and here is the handout for your own Paper Litho pleasure.

New Position at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

Published by Libby

I have been chosen to be the new Director of the Studio School of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. I am leaving my position of Assistant Professor at the New York City College of Technology and am relocating my family and studio in the Maplewood, NJ area sometime in the next year. I will continue to teach for Parsons the New School in the AAS program for as long as that fine institution will have me–this coming year, I am teaching online classes for them. Until the transition is complete, I remain active on the Steering Committee of the Gowanus Studio Space and continue work on my long-running Monstress Mid-Living suite. My work with the EAT lab is still underway, albeit a bit slowed by all the changes.

More Results: Paper Litho for Beginners at the Brooklyn Brainery

Published by Libby

Excellent class! June 05, 2016 Brooklyn Brainery, as per usual! I am starting to find all sorts of ways to push the instruction. There are some new ways of putting together the image that I want to bring into the class next time, concentrating on using juxtaposition of unlikely items more and more. The process is so easy to learn, I want to push the learning into some more interesting areas…

Monstress Studio Clear-Out Sale

Published by Libby

I am starting a new career, moving my family to a new town, and rebuilding my studio this year as I embark on a new suite of work. Buy some art, support Monstress!

Community Building: Workshop for GSS Members

Published by Libby

I coordinated a workshop for Gowanus Studio Space members called Grant Writing for Artists which was led by Andrea Petrini. It’s all a part of my effort to give the studio quality programming that deals directly with the business of being an artist. Andrea is an expert on the subject, being both an accomplished artist and grant writer on the individual and organizational levels. Overall, we all were shocked at how logical the process is; personally, it is hard to think of so many of my regular activities as being worthy of funding. I’d never think of putting a stipend for myself in the budget, for instance. This starvation mentality is from years of doubting my creative output’s value while dealing with the overall scepticism or apathy the world generally seems to be filled with. How amazing it is to consider that organizations are genuinely interested in supporting our work! I came away determined and renewed. Andrea will be giving another workshop in June for GSS members, then we may schedule in a few for …

Developing a Skillswap: Gum Arabic Transfer

Published by Libby

My amazing sister, Genny Clarke Neice, stopped by while dropping a piece off for an art show. We had a few hours in the studio, so we went over the Gum Arabic Transfer method, a printing process Gen had yet to get a chance to try. The amazing Peter Cavanaugh was also there, so he joined in and pulled a couple prints as well. It got me to thinking that I could organize a Skill Swap at Gowanus Studio Space: we could set up a week during which people could make small workshoppy-type teaching moments available and swap skills with each other. I want to help the members really see what an amazing community we have, and I want to learn new stuff without going poor.

False Dichotomy: Official Launch

Published by Libby

False Dichotomy is beginning to truly take form! I have artists agreeing to show, essays coming in from respected members of the fine art printmaking community, and a site in place! There is a lot to do: I have to find funding to print a decent catalog–but I feel so renewed. I have not been able to make a lot of work myself this year, but I can contribute through facilitation and research!    

Monstress Mid-Living: Prototype

Published by Libby

I have a few ideas bouncing around in the conceptual space I have titled Monstress Mid-Living. I am not giving much in terms of details at this point, but here are some shots of an initial prototype for a pop-up book that will also inform an immersive interactive piece. It’s very rough (10 minutes of cutting), but I am working out how to reproduce a non-obnoxious shrug.

Monstress Mid-Living: Progress Report 01

Published by Libby

I was overwhelmed by the response to my survey! 56 respondents right off the bat–and still counting! I’ve been using the data to help me start delving into some themes for the project and already I am blown away by the flood of ideas I am having. After 15 years of working as a professional designer, I have become convinced that gleaning data from people is an essential part of my workflow, no matter where on the fine art / commercial design continuum I am working from. Data is just gold, man. As simple as my survey was, it means I am at least attempting to create from a place of circumspection, not navel gazing. There is a practice in interaction design called Persona Creation: you basically use research to help you come up with a realistic ideal user, a fictional character who becomes a testing tool for your team. I have never been lucky enough to see it done well. Too often, I watched as teams basically created a virtual yes-man, always happy with their choices. …