AVA: Artlink VisualArt Awards...you are invited!

First VisualArt Awards, an event you can't miss!

PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE AVA AWARD PARTY TODAY!
Winners will be announced at the AVA Awards Party

Thursday, February 17th, 7-10 p.m.
at Artlink and Fort Wayne Cinema Center.
Tickets are $20 for Artlink Members and $25 for non-members.
Call 260-424-7195 or stop by the gallery for yours today!

The party will feature hors d'ouerves and a cash bar from Club Soda, music by Possum Trot Orchestra and Rich Lee as the Master of Ceremonies. Raflle items from local businesses will also be available by purchase of $1 rafle tickets.

Visit the online gallery of the nominated artists here

All proceeds raised will benefit Artlink's exhibition and educational programming!
Voting is now closed, thank you to everyone who voted!

Thank you to our sponsors!
United Art & Education, Fort Wayne Metals, WANE TV, Fort Wayne Reader, Rock 104, V102.9, River 1250, Good Stuff Design, Arts United, IAC Regional Partnership Grant.

Lorri Courtney...rock 'n' roll!

Below are some thoughts from Lorri Courtney on her creations: octopus dolls and bowls made of long playing records and journals with theircover!! Indiecool in Fort Wayne!

What inspires

you?

First, I consider myself a crafter not an artist. I

don't presume to have any vision or

viewpoint with my work. I just like

making things. I mostly knit and crochet and work with paper. I

like manipulating

yarn to make textures and patterns. I've made many sweaters over the years but

lately find that I do

better with smaller projects that I can finish quickly and move on. I started making the

little octopus dolls a few years ago and

they've really caught on. I sell

them locally

but also on-line at my Etsy shop. Etsy's a crafter's website that

has worldwide

appeal. I've sold to Austria, Wales, and Canada as well as all over the USA. My site is

www.llcourtney.etsy.com.

I grew up with a very creativ

e

mother. She was an expert seamstress, she liked to knit and crochet, and did beautiful crewel work. My sister and I

were always busy. We always has a jigsaw puzzle or a latch hook rug out to work on. I remember we had a

papercutter and I loved using it. It

seems I always had something to do.

How did you start?

My

crafting "career" started when I went to my first indie craft show

in Columbus, Ohio. I saw hip, talented people making

unusual things

that I absolutely loved. The indie movement seems to attract young, creative, free-thinkers

who want to create

unique pieces that represent their point of view. After that

show I decided

to start making things that I could sell. It's been fun experimenting and especially

exciting when

others like what I make.

I started making bowls out of

discarded long

playing records which lead to using the cardboard covers to make journals. Both of these

items are fun to make and share. I love the reaction when

someone finds their favorite recording

artist or an album from their past.

Cat Voors and her Cat's Creations!

Here is another artist of our Artlink holiday sale, check out the interview and her works at Artlink!
What inspires you?
What inspires me is a particular piece of stone or other element that becomes a focal point and the otherparts of the piece come together organically. Sometimes a piece never gets finished.
What medium do you primarily work in? Why did you select this medium?I primarily work in stone and glass and some silver.I love natural elements – stones, pearls, even wood. I want to get more involved with creating silver projects.
What do you put in your art that represents you?
I need my pieces to be unique. I will make several like pieces of costume jewelry on occasion, but the better pieces are one of a kind.
Do you try to make a statement with your art?
I don't try to make a statement. If I finish a piece and put it up for sale it is because I like it and wouldwear it and hope someone else will as well.

What is your favorite aspect of art?
My favorite aspectofart is to see it come together without my forcing it. That is why I call my jewelry art – because I am the one with the tools but the pieces come together on their own.

Who inspired you to be an artist and who are your favorite artists?I was inspired by a gal I met and whose name I never knew. She made lovely jewelry and made me want to get involved with that mixed medium. I have so enjoyed this creative outlet and meeting so many lovely people who stop to look at what I've made.

Dixie Bradley: glass & creativity

Here is another interview with one of the artists taking part in the Holiday Art Market ongoing at Artlink: Dixie Bradley.

What inspires you?

I started in photography and did mainly "light paintings" -- cibachrome photograms. From there, I went to oil painting. Then I also got interested in doing collages, since with the photography, I had a number of compositions that didn't work out as well as I had hoped, and they got thrown into a corner to "someday" go into collages. I also have always collected interesting "stuff" when we travel, ie, shells, rocks, hunks of glass, wood, bones, whatever I can either put in my pocket or purse. After a while, that "stuff" was getting to be quite a pile of things and one day, I wanted a decoration to hang on the side of a kitchen cupboard (since I was bored with potholders) and began making three-dimensional assemblages. I also have done some stained glass pieces and had extra scrap glass left, so I would add it to the assemblages. I also have always been fascinated with hot glass work -- loving the shine and texture, etc. So, I took a few glass fusing classes and started making some fused glass jewelry. This seemed like a natural for the Holiday Art Market, since a one-of-a-kind piece can be sold at a very reasonable price.

What medium do you primarily work in? Why did you select this medium?

I'm not sure I have a favorite medium -- maybe whatever I'm doing at the time I find switching mediums helps when I get "blocked".

What do you put in your art that represents you?

I guess that any piece of art that I do represents me in some manner, since every artist is different and will see and interpret things differently.

Do you try to make a statement with your art?

I don't think I consciously try to make a statement in my work -- only that I want to create something that the viewer will enjoy.

What is your favorite aspect of art?

I guess my favorite aspect of art is that something can be made out of almost anything. I especially enjoy doing the collages and assemblages for the repurposing aspect -- artists are the original recyclers.

Who inspired you to be an artist and who are your favorite artists?

One of my favorite artists is, of course, my husband and best friend -- Norman Bradley. He has always encouraged me to keep experimenting and stretching as an artist. Other favorites would be Georgia O'Keeffe, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, John Singer Sargent, Turner, Picasso, Steiglitz, Ansel Adams, Frida Kahlo, etc., etc.,

Marie Gardeski at the Holiday Art Market at Artlink

Holiday Art Market will be open for business Friday, November 19^, 2010 through January 2, 2011 for holiday shopping needs.

Among the artists you'll find Marie Gardeski with her crazy hand soaps.

We have asked her some questions so you can get to know her better.

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by segments of stories, overheard and read. I get ideas from occurrences I witness (a boy on a bike, crossing the road with 2 eggs in one hand) and odd/humorous bits of conversation I overhear ("she's the only woman in the world who can eat beef through a picket fence"). Many of the characters I draw are inspired by broken action figures, strange old toys and figurines. And, of course, tiny plastic animals.

What medium do you primarily work in? Why did you select this medium?

Mostly I draw with graphite and colored pencil and paint with watercolors and gouache. These materials allow me to make the delicate lines and soft colors that I love. I also do installation work in various materials including found objects...

Sometimes my artwork later turns into something more like a product... Like Handsoap. Other times I make items for myself that I think will be handy, and end up making more of them to sell, in hopes that others would find it useful as well (i.e. tote bags, wrist zips). Many of my sewn products are made from second hand materials.

What do you put in your art that represents you? Everything.

Do you try to make a statement with your art?

I try to tell stories with my art. Vague tales that can (hopefully) be interpreted in various ways by different viewers.

What is your favorite aspect of art?

I like being able to express myself in a subtle way. I like making things that people might enjoy or puzzle over. I also enjoy developing new ideas and ways of creating images and objects. I like that art is an excuse for me to play.

Who inspired you to be an artist and who are your favorite artists?

I have always been interested in making things. Growing up I spent most of my spare time drawing or sewing or assembling something. My parents have always been very supportive.

Recently I discovered the work of Allyson Mellberg-Taylor which has a delicacy and weirdness that I love. I also enjoy the work of Marcel Dzama, Henry Darger and of course, my husband david birkey.

Tonite, Tonite, Tonite!

Visit Stone Carver, Cary Shafer's Studio

Tonight, Thursday, November 4, 6-9 p.m.

Cary Shafer a nationally recognizes stone carver will give a stone carving demonstration. Join us for this unique opportunity to watch an art form that only a few still do in the United States. There is no charge for this event so mark your calendars. Cary's studio is located at 611 East Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. To view his work visit www.caryshafer.com

Toy and Book Illustration Exhibit

Reminder

Reminder

Reminder

Opening Reception Friday, October 29^th, 6-9 p.m.

Check out work from over 70 regional artists.