Came across some nice work by Peggi

These two pieces are by Peggi Meyer Graminski. Thought they were quite nice...not to mention appropriate in relation to my last post.. Check out more of her work at http://desertphotography.blogspot.com/

Happy Day of the Dead

Days of the Dead are underway. I just got back fromValley Ridge after a great weekend of teaching and friends and food. Oh...and I spoke to a dead person...actually she spoke to me. Not going to go into that right now, I must ponder this a bit, but very wierd, and I'll leave it at that.

The above image is my ofrenda (dia de los muertos altar), which I just completed. About 15 years ago my friend Bev Glueckert and myself started a contemporary arts festival based on the Mexican holiday. Bev and I retired from the organizing position about 5 years ago, but it is still going on. Tomorrow is the procession..thousands of skeletons and giant puppets wandering down the Missoula night time street. Check it out if your in the area...its amazing...but dress warm. I have to go as el Diablo, because I'm playing a judge in the Miss Dead Debutante Pageant...hosted by Burnt Parts.

Today the SteamRoller prints are being made (large banner prints for the parade pressed by steamroller). Very cool and done by the printmaking department of the University of Montana.

Here's the link to Missoula's Festival of the Dead

see you there,
M

Okay okay...I know it's been a long time

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So now I can sit down and write a bit. It's been a bit of a crazy month. Since I last posted, I have taught at Art n Soul. Which was great. I love Portland....an maybe I do love it so much that I will marry it. I stayed with my friends Rob and Stace (who put on my, Sally Jean's and Nina's Italy workshops), great to see those guys. One of the classes I taught was the Holy Rolling Hot Wheels class...so we had a race off at the end. Great fun. Here's a photo from the class.


After Portland I had to turn around and fly to Burbank to film a couple episodes of CraftLab for HGTV. that was fun. It amazes me how many people are involved in a t.v. production. some of you may know Jennifer Perkins, the host. It was great to see her again, and I have to say everyone involved was great and fun to work with. One thing, if I do this again, I'll bring a good book to read...amazing how much down time there is....luckily I had a eighties decor dressing room to hang in.


Getting ready to head to Wisconsin for my teaching gig at Valley Ridge. This is one of my favorite venues. It's in beautiful setting, and Kathy and Bill are great. I love the laid back mellow retreats. I highly recommend taking a class there if you find one you like.
http://www.valleyridgeartstudio.com

In the mean time I've been doing some assemblage retratos (look it up). No peeking. I'll post them when I get a few more made.

ciao for now
Michael

Retablos, Milagros Y Marigolds

Here something coming up at the end of the month for those of you in Southern Cal. Unfortunately I won't be able to be at the opening but at least my art will. Check it out if you can.
October 28-Nov 17 at the Boehm Gallery Palomar College, San Marcos. Participating artists [and my friends] are Helen Shafer Garcia, Judith Parenio, Michael deMeng, and Jane LaFazio

Reception is October 28, 4:30-6pm. Everyone is invited! (The artwork is for sale! Ask the gallery for a price list.)

Retablos, Milagros y Marigolds will be a fantastic exhibition! The four artists have very different styles and techniques, but the one thing they share is the love of DETAIL. Each piece will be textured, layered, fascinating, and demanding extreme scrutiny by the viewer. Helen Shafer Garcia, well-known as an illustrator and watercolor artist, will also have small altars on display, featuring her whimsical watercolors and found objects. Michael deMeng, of Montana, creates assemblage out of ‘old rusty things’ and then painting them to create shrines, altars and pez dispenser totems. Judith Parenio, whose work you may have seen at the San Diego Art Institute is constantly recreating her art with texture, and meaning. Judy’s created a whole new series for this exhibition. Jane will show her small, heavily stitched art quilts, along with the debut of her pieces in Ralph's Letters and Ralph's Envelopes. Theseese are made from 30-year old love letters and sheer organza, and will be featured in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine in January 2007. The four artist’s views of Dia de Los Muertos will fascinate and inspire you!

Boehm Gallery on the campus of Palomar College
1140 West Mission Rd, San Marcos CA 92069
Gallery Hours: Tuesday 10am-4pm, Wed/Thurs 10am-7pm; Fri/Sat 10am-2pm

Cyclops

I have a new bunch of goodies. Haven't put them on my site yet, will do in the next day or so. Some new anatomy men assemblages. These are all cyclopian...not sure why.

ciao
M

Adhesives

For those of you who don't already know, I will give you the skinny on glues. Liquid Nails is my glue of choice and there are three to consider.

I use regular Small projects (gold tube with red tab…the glue is beige). Strong and great for making chunky texture. Takes paint very well.
I use Liquid Nail Clear for areas that you don't want to disguise with paint. Useful on glass or lenses. Similar to E6000 and just as stringy.

Now if you really want to get serious a product that is stronger than either is Heavy Duty. You have to buy a caulk gun. It is similar to the Small projects regular but stronger, much stronger.(gold tube with blue)

A few things to remember that none of these are magic. They all have limitations. Remember the more you use the longer it will take to dry, though in the long run it will be stronger. As far as the heavy duty and the small projects regular, they work best if you aerate the glue…in other words stick your objects together then take it apart and restick them together (for some reason getting air into the glue helps it stick.) Also these beige colored glues tend to be a bit ornery in humid or hot climates, and take a bit more time.

The clear is a bit better in these type of climates.

I have yet to come up with the ultimate glue, someday perhaps.

Excuse me M.A.M.

For those of you who don’t know…M A M, the Missoula Art Museum has just completed its expansion…dare I say reinvention. It is amazing. You will leave saying: “This is really in the town of Missoula? Cool!”

For those of you who want to read more can read more here:

http://www.missoulanews.com/News/News.asp?no=5974

Now for my shameless self-promotion

I will be teaching an adult assemblage class (something shriney…tba) at MAM on Saturday November 18.

They are offering a nice selection of classes there, so if my stuff is not you cup of tea, I’m sure you can find something that will get you excited. They are offering a variety of classes from a variety of instructors. They have everything from kid’s classes to found object sculpture to bookmaking to figure drawing to Day of the Dead ofrendas.

If you want to find out more call the Museum 406-728-0447