Fabric Collage Postcards
Saturday, May 19, 2012  |  10:00 a.m.–12 noon  |  $12 (includes $4 materials fee)
Mastick Senior Center 1155 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
Pre-registration and free Mastick membership is required to attend.
Details online at mastickcenter.com or by calling Jackie Krause at (510) 747-7510.

Oh, what to do with all those lovely scraps that are hard to throw away? In this two-hour workshop, participants will use paper and fabric scraps to create a small collage or two. We’ll discuss what makes a pleasing composition and explore ways to incorporate sewing and embroidery into our finished work.

Please bring your own:

• scissors and/or craft knife (i.e X-Acto knife with blades
• self-healing cutting mat if using a craft knife
• light-weight bookbinding awl for piercing holes into paper for hand-sewing or T-pins will be provided

You may bring these optional items:

• sewing machine with jeans needle and thread
• favorite collage materials and fabric scraps

$4 materials fee includes use of:
matte medium for adhesive, glue brush, collage materials and some fabric scraps, T-pins, sewing needles for hand-sewing or embroidery, embroidery thread, mixed-media paper or interfacing for postcards and iron
About the instructor:
As an artist, Leah Virsik, works in lots of layers, primarily using paper, paint, fabric and stitching. She recalls that, “as a child I would sew with my mom and what I most remember is the guilt I’d feel as I jammed up her machine. Now, when the threads and material bunch up they become useful fodder for my work.” Optimistic and with a love for learning she looks for what works when her creative explorations don’t always go as planned. Leah exhibits her work and teaches book arts and collage classes locally. She sees herself in her students, especially the messy ones.  View her work online at leahvirsik.com.

Richard Serra’s “Verb List Compilation: Actions to Relate to Oneself,” (1967–1968)

I’ve seen Richard Serra’s work on Art21. Tom and I saw a piece of his at the LACMA years ago. We were at SFMOMA for my birthday and I wanted to see his work but I wasn’t totally compelled. So I was surprised when his work left such an impression on me. I was touched. I really understood where his sculptures came from when I experienced the substantial weight of his black textural paint stick drawings.

Here’s a John Tusa interview of Richard Serra that I have yet to listen to. Thanks to Victoria May for Kara Pecknold’s link of her Design One project using Richard Serra’s verb list.

Come to find out, Aimee Mullins film debut was a starring role in the highly acclaimed film Cremaster 3 by contemporary artist Matthew Barney. His work is unforgettable, powerfully different and odd but will leave a lasting impression on me always.

I had the great opportunity to hear Frances Stark lecture tonight at Mills College. I’m super lucky to be so close to Mills. It’s such a different experience not knowing of an artist’s work and then getting to hear about their process. I almost prefer it to seeing someone who’s work I’m more familiar with. I tend to go with some preconceived expectations. Having no expectations helps to open my eyes.

Frances Stark broached the question, if no one asked her to do art, would she do it?  I gasped. (Or what does it mean to do something that someone isn’t asking you?) Her whole talk felt honest and real and vulnerable. It was beautiful. She has a lot of writing that I’m interested in reading. She spoke warmly of Dennis Cooper, who she took a writing workshop from, and who helped her to see herself as an artist.

She shared Lydia Davis’ poem A Position at the University. It helped to make sense of what goes into her creative process.

She mentioned Sylvia Sleigh, George LaGrady, Cindy Sherman, Mike Kelley, Steve Prina and Silke Otto-Knapp who has a show at the Berkeley Art Museum until January 15.

I connected with her work Why should you not be able to assemble yourself and write? and appreciated her self-reflection.

These were my notes from her lecture. I realize now that I’ve written them down digitally I’ll find them more readily. Much easier than trying to remember in what notebook I scribbled them.

Art and Soul Inspirational Mixed Media Retreats

I’m teaching how to make my Scrap Fabric Book and Multi Dimensional Book (images below) at Art and Soul Portland in September! I couldn’t be more excited. Traveling to teach has been on my list of things I really want to do… a dream come true. View more of the other fabulous artist workshops here. I’m especially grateful to have been asked.

©2010 Leah Virsik, Scrap Fabric Rectangles multi-section pamphlet stitch, paper, thread, hand screened cover, eyelets, button, elastic 5 5/8 x 5 5/8 x 1/2 inches

©2010 Leah Virsik, Snack: Hungry for Growth Series paper and thread, running stitch binding 2 x 5 x 1 1/2 inches

On that note, I was browsing through the Cal State East Bay magazine tonight and ran across an article stating that students who blog get jobs. Having an online presence has definitely made a difference in my career. It has broadened my world and put me in touch with people I wouldn’t normally come into contact. It’s a valuable source of connection.

Meanwhile, I’m getting ready for Teahouse Studio’s Holiday Art Fair in Berkeley on Saturday, December 10, 2011 • 10am – 5pm. Come and support local artists and crafters.

Crafting Table!
From 12-3pm a crafting table will be set up where you can make your very own fingerless gloves! All materials will be on hand to get your craft on!

Refreshments & Drawing!
Food, drinks + a drawing to win a free spot in a future Teahouse Studio workshop.

Artists/Sellers
Mati Rose McDonough • Tiffany Moore • Stefanie Renee • Liz Kalloch • Jen Hewitt • Steph Cortes of Nerd Jerk • Stacy Newman of Hello Cupcake • Blue Chair Fruit • Jennifer Parker • Leah Virsik • Yueh-Wen Chang (Wen) of Sora Designs • Rachel Cole • Amelia Strader of GoGo Craft

**More details here

I’m feeling a lot of gratitude lately. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving visit with my in-laws. Tom made a really yummy fish soup per my request. I made pomegranate balsamic vinegar dressing. We both exercised in the morning. Tom encouraged me to go the night before by asking if I had ever felt bad after I went to yoga. Never. I always feel better afterward. It’s helpful also to commit the night before when I have morning practice.

Alice, the owner and inspiration behind Loka Yoga has built an incredible community of people and made a comment about how appreciative she is that people continue to show up to practice. It’s like having her birthday every day. It brought tears to my eyes. I get that when I teach. It’s incredible and amazing to have people show up.

Some other highlights: Tom and I are having fun in the garden building planter boxes. I’m enjoying Linda Lum’s Collage and Composition class at Foothill College. It’s much  more difficult for me online so I’m glad to have the opportunity to go to campus for the rest of the class. Tom and I saw the documentary The Swell Season last night. Loved it. Any opportunity to see Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová I am there.

Afterward, I was in the hallway looking at the promotional art mailers on the wall and a postcard of James Gayles caught my eye. I know James through the Artists Engaged critique group. I had never thought of sending one of my promotional postcards to art schools but what a great idea. Thanks James! I’ve put my cards out at art supply stores, on the community board where I go food shopping, cafes, galleries, but yah, now I’m adding art schools and art centers. You just never know how people will find you.

I got a really wonderful email from Rebecca who read the magazine and wanted to know where to get cloth book tape or if she could use something else. I have found book cloth tape called Filmoplast T Tape at Talas and PaperSource and Paperstudio.

One can also buy book cloth and use PVA glue to adhere it to paper or board. Another option is to make your own book cloth. Google “make your own book cloth” and you’ll find many resources. Here are detailed instructions from the fabulous Roz Stendahl. You really could use something else besides book cloth too. I imagine velvet could work and something that’s flexible and durable like laminated (multiple sheets glued together) sheets of Tyvek.

Many years ago before I had email, I was reading a cooking magazine and I wanted to make the complicated recipe that included fennel. I didn’t know what that ingredient was at the time and I called the chef in New York to find out. He actually called me back and it really touched my heart. I’m grateful for that experience and for so many people in my life who I’ve asked questions of and they’ve responded.

I was among five other artists who won a merit award for artwork in the Adobe Art Gallery 34th Area Artists’ Annual Juried Exhibit in Castro Valley, CA. My piece “Snack” pictured above was recognized. The show runs through December 1, 2011. Click for more details. It was quite a treat. At the same time awards and approval are such an interesting thing. On one hand I want to analyze the process of how I was able to make this piece and repeat that effort. On the other hand, I know that as I create, some work is going to more admired by some than others and the less analyzing I do the better. I know the value of the creative process is the chance to get to know myself on a deeper level and to just continue making whether my work is liked or not. On to the next thing…

This week I’m wrapping up teaching a fun Mixed-Media Fabric Collage class this Wednesday at Richmond Art Center. I’ll be  finishing up my block along with a ton of other artists for Pro Arts Box Art exhibit on November 4. Later this month, I’m looking forward to visiting family in LA and checking out the artists books of Yani Pecanins at UC Irvine.

Thanks to Tom for doing laundry and his encouragement to help make this post possible.