Seth Apter's Blog, page 105

Seth and the City

I hope to meet up with any and all of you who happen to be close to New York City in the coming days, weeks and months...
November 28, 2012
I am excited to be spending the day at The Ink Pad in NYC on Wednesday, November 28th and am inviting you to join me. Is if for a workshop? No. A talk. Nuh-uh. You will find me stocking, selling, and going on some coffee runs. That is because I will be an unofficial, official employee for the day.

I love The Ink Pad and the people who run it so much that I recently, half-jokingly, said I would love to work there for a day. Well...you know where this story is going. They said yes. So I have joined the mixed media union and will be brushing up (pun intended) on my SKUs.

Oh yeah....and I will be demoing some of the great Spellbinders products that the Ink Pad carries and showing/selling my own art as well.

Please stop by if you are in the neighborhood. The Ink Pad is located at 37 Seventh Avenue, corner of 13th Street. The hours are 11am-7pm. I will be there for my shift at 2pm...and I won't be late so that I am not fired on my first (and last) day. My demo will run from 5-7pm. Hope to see you there.
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December 6, 2012 - January 6, 2013
I will be part of the 8th Annual Small Works Show at the 440 Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, December 6th from 6-9pm and the exhibition runs through January 6th. 440 Gallery is an artist-run collective in the Park Slope neighborhood
You can see all the art that will be a part of the show on their Facebook page here. If you are so inclined, you can also "like" your favorites, as your vote will determine which piece will receive the People's Choice Award.
Center of Gravity-------------------
January 6, 2013

I will be teaching my 52 Card Pickup workshop at the Little Bird Creations Studio on January 6th and registration is now open. In this workshop, we will start with a standard deck of cards and create a one-of-a-kind, year-long weekly journal. Techniques using gesso, acrylic paint, acrylic glazes and collage will be highlighted. 3 spots are open at the time of this posting.

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March 9 & 10, 2013
I will be back at Little Bird Studios for a 2-day collaborative workshop that I will be teaching along with Roxanne Evans Stout and Elizabeth Wix. In The Need to Tell Stories, we will all be making a handbound artist book, filled with art and the written word. There will be a few surprises too. Only 4 seats remain at the time of this posting. [image error]

5x5: Chapter 4

I may be the author of  The Pulse of Mixed Media  but the true, creative force behind my book is the group of artists who generously shared their secrets and passions and, of course, their art. It was important to me that this book be representative of our entire artistic community, but the total number of contributors I could include was limited by the number of pages in the book. Not wanting to be contained by page numbers, I decided that the Internet was the perfect vehicle to extend the book and be able to include more of the community. With this in mind, the 5x5 Pulse Project was born.


The Pulse of Mixed Media  presented the results of a survey in which contributing artists were asked questions that they had to answer with words or provided with prompts that they had to respond to by creating art. These ideas were combined in the 5x5 Pulse Project. I put out an open call for artists to submit artwork created in response to one or more of the following questions that were part of the original book:
1. If your artwork could talk, what would it say?
2. Who has had the most impact on your creative life?
3. What is one thing you have never shared with the creative community?
Submitting artists could chose 1, 2, or all 3 of the questions and respond to each by creating artwork in any medium in the form of a 5" x 5" square. They were asked to include words as a part of their artwork as well. There was a tremendous response to this call and I will be posting each submission every Sunday throughout the months of November and December. 

The 5x5 project is also being featured in a ten-page spread in the November/December 2012 issue of Somerset Studio, now available in stores and online here.
---------------------------------If your artwork could talk, what would it say?

Joanna Bennett
"She's growing"

Carolyne Morrison
"As a collage artist I use many different materials in my work...the old and the new, the precious with the rusty street finds, the unexpected...creating work that is whimsical and at the same time filled with reverie and discovery and that is so intensely personal to who I am. If my art could speak, it would express the joy it experiences at becoming a visual image of my being...of my soul."

Holly Dean
"Lose yourself in my fantastical world."

Cindy Jones Lantier
"Chill out! Play more! Don't take me -- or yourself -- so seriously!"

Darlene Wilkinson
"there are times. it brightens everything up. mixed media. strongest footprint. grunge. magical tales. dreams. celebrate. and found objects. fun and playful. layering. humor. arty. textures. really fun. inner journey. it's different when the words are coming through you. invoked miracles. organic art. embracing. you. search for meaning in our lives. play. a mirror for personal experience and breaking boundaries. the world in which we exist."

Susie Bass
"It would ask for more glitter and a frill of lace."
(this 5x5 also answers the other two questions)

Norma Conway
"Love yourself"
-------------------------
What is the one thing you have never shared with the creative community?

Beth Bynum
"My fantasy name is Chloe. I have a fantasy identity."

Sarah Fishburn
"Once, when we lived in Tucson, an irate husband with a gun chased our dad home. My brothers and I were locked in a back bedroom for safety."

Wanda Hickman
"I really don't like getting messy!"

Laurel Englehardt
"I have never shared my fear of not being a real artist."

Jody Carlson Cain
"No one will hit me again."

Jann Sage
"My art. After a lot of personal drama, I lost nearly a decade in finding my way back to life again and art saved me through all of that. So now I'm finally showing up and sharing the art. As a late-bloomer this link is to my very first blog and it's a brand new baby just learning to walk. It's all part of an artistic journey and late to the party or not, here I come!"
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The next edition of 5x5 will be posted on Sunday, December 2nd.

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Breaking Boundaries

On several occasions I have been asked to share my pet peeves when it comes to art and the art community. My answer is always the same: exclusivity and snobbery. I get my knickers in a twist whenever I am confronted by or hear a story about people in the art community who maintain that art and creativity belong only to a select group. A trained artist who denies the validity of those who are self taught. A fine artist looking down on a mixed media artist. A mixed media artist who dismisses a scrapbooker. And don't even get me started on the debate between art and craft.

It is my strong feeling that creativity belongs to everybody - at every skill level and in any domain. There are probably as many definitions of the word artist as there are artists in the world. I personally believe that anybody who feels comfortable with the term can rightfully call themselves an artist. And while I respect the fact that not everybody agrees with that...I don't have to like it. We are all so often confronted with judgmental and divisive attitudes in our lives and in the world. Why would anybody want to bring that into the world of creativity?

I have always tried to be inclusive in all the projects and collaborations I have developed. On my blog, well known career artists share space with hobbyists who may not yet have a following. And there are definitely times when I favor the work of the latter. It may be naive, but I believe that we can all learn from each other and benefit from the blend.


To that end, I am embarking on an adventure that I hope will shine a bit of light on this subject and perhaps even break down some boundaries. As of today, I am an official member of the Blog Team at Spellbinders Paper Arts. You can read their announcement here. Spellbinders is a company traditionally connected with the scrapbooking and card making communities. They are known for many products but perhaps are best known for their incredible and innovative die cutting and embossing machines and tools, items not traditionally used by many mixed media artists.

As part of my tenure on the Blog Team, beginning in December I will be creating and presenting a project using their products (along with many others) on my blog every Wednesday. It is my hope that I can introduce a host of new supplies, tools and techniques to my mixed media people that will serve to increase their arsenal. And it is equally my hope that perhaps a bit of my mixed media style will rub off on to the scrapbookers and card makers who can then add new techniques to their tool boxes as well.

Having had the pleasure of spending time with the Spellbinders team, I know the quality and creativity that comes along with all their ideas and products. They are truly a visionary company and I am thrilled to now be a part of their family. They had me at "you can make photo transfers with this machine." I am truly thrilled to get this party started and equally excited to have you join me on this adventure as we explore beyond.[image error]

For Your Eyes Only

For Your Eyes OnlyAn Artists' Book


















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Parallax

This past weekend I exhibited at the Parallax Art Fair in NYC.
The show was held at the Prince George Ballroom in NYC, which was a gorgeous venue as can be evidenced by this shot of the ceiling and one of the many pillars.
Set up went smoothly.
Opening night was fun and well attended.
Take a walk with me through the fair...
I exhibited 7 mixed media pieces from my 2012 series Passages.
Passages - Sold

Headstrong - Available

Charlotte - Sold

Passare - Sold

Take Flight - Available


Momento - Available

Keeper - Available

Please email me for more information if you are interested in purchasing any of the available pieces.



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5x5: Chapter 3

I may be the author of  The Pulse of Mixed Media  but the true, creative force behind my book is the group of artists who generously shared their secrets and passions and, of course, their art. It was important to me that this book be representative of our entire artistic community, but the total number of contributors I could include was limited by the number of pages in the book. Not wanting to be contained by page numbers, I decided that the Internet was the perfect vehicle to extend the book and be able to include more of the community. With this in mind, the 5x5 Pulse Project was born.

The Pulse of Mixed Media  presented the results of a survey in which contributing artists were asked questions that they had to answer with words or provided with prompts that they had to respond to by creating art. These ideas were combined in the 5x5 Pulse Project. I put out an open call for artists to submit artwork created in response to one or more of the following questions that were part of the original book:
1. If your artwork could talk, what would it say?
2. Who has had the most impact on your creative life?
3. What is one thing you have never shared with the creative community?
Submitting artists could chose 1, 2, or all 3 of the questions and respond to each by creating artwork in any medium in the form of a 5" x 5" square. They were asked to include words as a part of their artwork as well. There was a tremendous response to this call and I will be posting each submission every Sunday throughout the months of November and December. 

The 5x5 project is also being featured in a ten-page spread in the November/December 2012 issue of Somerset Studio, now available in stores and online here.
---------------------------------If your artwork could talk, what would it say?
Ella Wilson
"listen to deep whispers...transparent wings appear...mysterious gifts extend...grace grows in fertile mind"

Cecilia Swatton
"If my steampunk art could talk it'd be loud!"

Sara Morison
"transparency...colour...balance"

Pam McKnight
"Thanks for saving us from the trash and turning us into art for the next generation to enjoy."

Carina Karlsson
"Your trash might be my treasure."

Tonia Burgess
"This is what life is about. Life...raw emotion, energy, love, ups, downs, good, bad , ugly, beautiful, daring,  experimental discovery and mostly that I am grateful"
(this 5x5 also answers the other two questions)

Joyelle Brandt
"Anything is possible."

Marcia Beckett
"I am bursting. Exploding with color. Overload. Jam Packed full. More is more."

Stephanie Hilvitz
"Bee happy"
------------------------
Who has had the most creative impact on your creative life? 

Arabella Grayson
"My mother. Painter. Quilter. Crocheter. Designer. Stylist. Ceramicist. Seamstress. Cook."

Donna Joy
"My mom introduced me to many types of mediums. We got to try it all: sewing, painting, crayons, ceramics, fabric painting, pastels, drawing, mixed media, decoupage, dioramas, writing."

Raylee Syrch
"My mother taught me to draw, to write, to read, to sew, design, create when I was very young."

Karenliz Henderson
"My mother. She told me to go make art. It's in your heart."

Cindy Lantier
"My husband. He supports and encourages me like no one else. He thinks I can do anything."
------------------------The next edition of 5x5 will be posted on Sunday, November 25th.[image error]

Read on...

It's a Do Over. Beginning today, I will be introducing some changes to the design of my blog - which has not been updated since birth in 2007. I am a creature of habit though, so the changes will be slow and subtle. The first change is the addition of the tabs at the top of the blog, which will take you to pages that offer a glimpse into my life as an artist. As of now, you can read about my book (soon to be books), my workshop DVDs, my publications, and my exhibitions. Next up is my 2013 workshop schedule. After that...who knows?
And if that is not enough reading for you, then read on...

Some recent finds, a bit off the beaten track and all added to my wish list...

Joseph Cornell's Manual of Marvels: How Joseph Cornell reinvented a French agricultural manual to create an American masterpiece. First spotted on Cool Hunting. This looks beyond amazing!


Sketchtravel by Gerald Guerlais. The results of a 5 year collaboration among 72 artists. Check out the Sketchtravel blog here.


Building Stories by Chris Ware. I think I am mostly drawn to the format of this "book", which is actually a box filled with 14 books, booklets, magazines, newspapers, and pamphlets.


Book Art: Iconic Sculptures and Installations Made from Books by Christine Antaya. Books as sculpture. Includes the work of Brian Dettmer, Guy Laramee, and Jacqueline Rush Lee.


In My View: Personal Reflections on Art by Today's Leading Artists by Simon Grant. 75 artists explore the single work of an artist that inspires them.[image error]

The Daily News

The Pulse Charity Auction for Hurricane Sandy aid ended last night at midnight. I want to thank everybody who visited the site, donated an item, spread the word, and bid. Once again, I am in awe at the amazingness of our community. In total, $2,375 was raised. 100% of that will be sent to The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and they will use 100% of the donation for dispersement to relief organizations and their efforts. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

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I have been setting up my teaching schedule for 2013 and hopefully will be at a venue near you. The entire schedule will be posted soon. I will be teaching in New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington State, New Jersey, and Arizona. And who knows where else. The full schedule will go online soon but I wanted to tell you about several opportunities now...

I will be teaching Mixed Media Memoire at Ink About It in Westford, Massachusetts. This 2-day workshop will be held on April 6th-April 7th. Registration opens tomorrow, Tuesday 11/13/12 at 9:30am. In this workshop, you will be making a one-of-a-kind artist book. In the process, you will learn a new binding technique. We will be making pockets, folds, flaps, and mini-books, altering personal photos, creating mail art, trying out various approaches to collage, using found objects, making commercial products your own, and more!


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My 52 Card Pickup workshop at the Little Bird Creations Studio in NYC on December 2nd is now full. A second day has been added on January 6th and registration is now open. In this workshop, we will be using a deck of cards to create a unique journal that you can use weekly for one year. This is a project-based workshop but you will learn many techniques using gesso, acrylic paint, acrylic glazes and collage.



----------------------------------------I am very excited to be teaching a collaborative workshop at Little Bird in NYC called The Need to Tell Stories. I will be working alongside Roxanne Evans Stout and Elizabeth Wix in this 2-day workshop on March 9th-March 10th. We will be making a handmade artist book and filling it will both art and stories. I think this will be a magical weekend. There are 5 spots left and I hope that you can join us. 

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I would love to meet those of you who are close to NYC this coming weekend when I will be exhibiting at the Parallax Art Fair. Parallax opens on Friday 11/16 with a private view showing from 7-9pm. It is open to the public on Saturday 11/17 and Sunday 11/18 from 11am-5pm. It is being held at the Prince George Ballroom on 15 East 27th Street in Manhattan. Entrance is free but you can order tickets in advance here. 

5x5: Chapter 2

I may be the author of The Pulse of Mixed Media but the true, creative force behind my book is the group of artists who generously shared their secrets and passions and, of course, their art. It was important to me that this book be representative of our entire artistic community, but the total number of contributors I could include was limited by the number of pages in the book. Not wanting to be contained by page numbers, I decided that the Internet was the perfect vehicle to extend the book and be able to include more of the community. With this in mind, the 5x5 Pulse Project was born.

The Pulse of Mixed Media presented the results of a survey in which contributing artists were asked questions that they had to answer with words or provided with prompts that they had to respond to by creating art. These ideas were combined in the 5x5 Pulse Project. I put out an open call for artists to submit artwork created in response to one or more of the following questions that were part of the original book:
1. If your artwork could talk, what would it say?
2. Who has had the most impact on your creative life?
3. What is one thing you have never shared with the creative community?
Submitting artists could chose 1, 2, or all 3 of the questions and respond to each by creating artwork in any medium in the form of a 5" x 5" square. They were asked to include words as a part of their artwork as well. There was a tremendous response to this call and I will be posting each submission every Sunday throughout the months of November and December. 

The 5x5 project is also being featured in a ten-page spread in the November/December 2012 issue of Somerset Studio, now available in stores and online here.
---------------------------------If your artwork could talk, what would it say?

William J. Charlebois
"Art survives all space and time to speak of joy divine."

Audrey Fish Pfeifer
"It would convey to the viewer the joy I feel when I am making art - my soul soars! Being a caregiver leaves me little time to myself. Art is my passion and I cherish those moments when I can escape into my studio and create."

Linda Sagastume
"It's a love affair."

Barbara Bytwerk
"Whatever I do in word or deed, I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God by Him."

Lin Collette
"My life has been one big invention."

David Hayes
"Life...a grand adventure."

Chris Fondi
"Love."

Paula Bogdan
"I have a story to tell you and the words are as important to me as the art is. My art would whisper this woman is on overload. Beware it would point out that I'm a lover of color and texture and that smearing paint cures all of life's woes."
------------------------
What is one thing you have never shared with the creative community?
Carol Henley
"I Need You."

Jo Murray
"I am an open book. I wear my heart on my sleeve. All those cliches apply to me. No secrets here. Despite my professing to be an open book, it seems my work belies that statement. Slightly unsettling angles, an allusion to eyes and windows, a cage-like texture, a gloomy palette...all appear to evoke hidden messages. Perhaps my work speaks more truthfully than I?"

Erika Husselmann
"doubt"

Teri Mahl
"Sometimes I feel as if I'm drowning in an ocean of pitch. And that people who you thought you could trust, end up turning on you when you least expect it. But truth always wins out and I am always going to land on my feet."

Jane Royal
"There are techniques I am longing to try, yet my paying working usually takes up my whole day so I save the longing for retirement when I hope to have time for more of my own projects."

Erin Perry
"I was in an abusive marriage for twenty-eight years, which ended six years ago. Not surprisingly, it was also six years ago that I discovered my love of mixed-media art and began creating. As each year goes by and I feel safer and happier, my artistic life grows and becomes more prolific."
------------------------The next edition of 5x5 will be posted on Sunday, November 18th.

Charity Auction - Day 5

So far, $1,800 has been donated as part of The Pulse Charity Auction for Hurricane Sandy Relief. Thank you all who have played a part in making this happen. The 10th and final bundle has just been added to the site. Current bids range from $25 to $375 per bundle. This is a great opportunity to get some wonderful art/art books/workshop DVDs/online art workshops and help at the same time.  100% of the donations will go to The Mayors Fund to Advance NYC, which will donate 100% of the proceeds to aid the region in the recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

Bidding ends this Sunday, 11/11/12, 11:59pm EST. For details and to see all the items on auction, click here.[image error]