Bonnie Crawford Kotula

New Exhibition

2010-02-22T13:18:00.000-08:00

I am reading.

2010-01-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

Speaking of bears...

2009-11-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

So here it is! My Halloween costume in its entirety. Look how serious I am. Now that Halloween is over, maybe I will refocus my creative energy on actually making art!

In an effort to post more often, I am going to start featuring some of those items in the sidebar under "What I am reading". Because there is a lot of good information on the internet. Like... such as... for example...

..what bears look like with no fur:

Taken from clusterflock who took it from this site.

The bear's name is Delores. Poor Delores.

Wild Things

2009-10-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Internets*,

I am sorry I haven't been around much these past few months. You should know that I think of you well and often.

Since May, I have started a new job walking distance from my house (YAY!) - sometimes duties include wrapping coworkers in aluminum foil (YAY!) - and trying not to be too self aware as I work with a bunch of awesome, brilliant twenty-teen-year-olds (hmmmm...)

As Halloween is rapidly approaching, I have provided you with a sneak preview of my costume (pictured above). What is it, you ask? Here's a hint. I am not the best sew-maker, so I am super proud of myself for buying brown bear fur fabric and turning it into something that looks like a bear head hat! The fact that I look pasty and insane in the photo should not detract from my handiwork.

In related news, I saw Where the Wild Things Are yesterday, and I may be dragging Curt to see it again tonight. It was That Good. I don't care what anyone says about all the hand held cameras and running through the woods, and it not being for kids - it was great. Period.

Insert rant here about how children's stories too often provide glib postulates correlating suffering, dreams, expectations, happiness and love - see film version of Coraline. But Wild Dings don' do dat. There was some amazing line in the movie that I can't remember exactly but the gist was, "Happiness is not a good way to become happy." Which is true! Right? Hmmm.

After the movie, I went thriftin' with Nic S. We found lots of great stuff, thusly maintaining my habit of spending way too much time getting dressed in the morning. A habit which has worsened since my recent fascination with the coolest thirteen year old in the world.

Then, Nic and I have settled on a plan for some kind of strange collaborative creative whip cracking. Stay tuned for updates on this new project.

So that's that. I am not going to promise to write more often, or to be at all interesting or entertaining when I do write, because I know our tenuous relationship couldn't handle the disappointment. Just know that "I'll eat you up I love you so"

Love,

Bloppy Vernisabeth Crawtula

*By "internets" I mean all four of my readers: Nicole, Alicia, Curt, and that random person who left the hateful comment on the Teppei Kaneuji post (if we were still living in the nineties, I would make that cat sound that people used to make back then...)

Dorkbot Meeting Last Night

2009-05-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Now that I have finished teaching my Tuesday night classes, I am able to return to my regularly scheduled Dorkbot meetings!

Last night was pretty interesting. You can read all about it on the Dorkbot Site.

In case you're too lazy to click the link above, I will repost my favorite part:

Aaron Oldenburg's Sucky Game

Oldenburg shared some new games he's been creating using UNITY. Aaron's latest game was created in under 48 Hours and was inspired by the verb 'to suck'. The game doesn't suck, except that it does. A lot. (huh?) I'm sure my description of the game will clear things up: You are a white blob that moves, floating through space, by pumping a bellows at your side. As you move, you encounter other white blobs with giant puckered, sucking lips. The goal is to allow the sucking lips to suck something (?) out of you without letting it suck you up entirely. Eventually, the lips either suck so much sparkling ephemera out of you that they explode, or they suck you up and you die. Still confused? Play the game!

Teppei Kaneuji

2009-05-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

I just came across this artist on Tokyo Art Beat.

Taken from a review of his exhibition at Yokohama Museum of Art which closes next week:

Kaneuji is known for his assemblages of commercially produced goods. Not exactly ‘found’ as in discarded refuse, but ‘found’ to have different possibilities of use. He states, “(t)hese objects originally existed with a different meaning. Using them was meaningful.” As we find out, beyond creating meaning simply through the act of ‘use,’ these works carry a strong ambiguity. These works dwell upon the interplay of relational forms rather than any nuance in the details.

The holy trinity: use, meaning and ambiguity.

Booksplosions! Art! Craft! and Musical Space Westerns!

2009-05-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

Summer is coming! In one week from today, I will be wrapping up the semester, which means a break from my job as Professor Bloppy Crawtula.*

Time to celebrate! Here are my plans for the weekend:

MAP CRITIC'S RESIDENCY PUBLIC FORUM (More info at MAP's Website)

I am excited to be a participating artist this year, and WYPR's Aaron Henkin is moderating so come listen to us all talk about why it's important to talk about art.

MD FILM FEST (Click for Schedule)

I already have tickets for Stingray Sam (a musical space western from Cory McAbee - who did American Astronaut). I am going to see it on Sunday with my book club after our meeting re: Barry Gifford's Wild at Heart.

I am gonna try to make it to SQUIDFIRE'S SPRING ART MART (Complete list of vendors)
Featuring some of my favorite local crafters including Red Prairie Press, Cotton Monster and Hampden's Puffs and Pastries

*Responsibilities include:
- Listening to the sound of clicking eyelids following my attempts at wit (mostly Brad Neely and Noah Baumbach rip offs).
- Convincing myself that said clicking is a round of applause.

Upcoming Exhibition at Maryland Art Place

2009-04-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

Here is the info for the next place you can check out my work:

23rd Annual Critics' Residency

April 28-June 20, 2009

Saturday, May 9: Public Forum 2pm / Reception 3:30pm

Maryland Art Place
Power Plant Live!
8 Market Place, Suite 100
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Hooray!

2009-03-23T08:52:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to my pal, Kohli, who has just made her very first sale in her Etsy store!

In other news, Fly-post, the site I mentioned back in October is beginning to pick up speed, as more users post items. If you have an event coming up that has a beautiful flyer, please share it with us by posting it to fly-post.

Cecil County Public Library

2009-03-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

Cecil County Public Library launched it's brand new fancy website this week. (ahem, fastspot) It's nice to see libraries dive in and thrive in this digital age.

Sewing at AVAM and Upcoming Exhibition

2009-03-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to everyone who helped make the workshop at AVAM such a success. So many great glowing things were made, especially this awesome rat. (Note the cheap plastic pink bead as nose. I love it!)

In other news, I am preparing now for an exhibition that will open April 1. If you are near Media, PA in the month of April, please take a moment to check out this show. I know many of the participating artists and I can guarantee that it will be worth the trip! The artists include Tiong Ang, Jeffrey Aronson, Steve Bradley, Bonnie Crawford, Carlo Ferraris, Eduardo Kac, Jaimes Mayhew, Aaron Oldenburg, Paul Rutkovsky, Hadieh M. Shafie, Kathryn Williamson

Upcoming Workshop at AVAM!

2009-02-09T11:08:00.001-08:00

I was a little sad to take down my exhibition at Greenbelt Community Center today. Every event that was associated with the show was so much fun, and the community center itself is a super cool place.

But, I am happy to announce that I have a workshop coming up at the end of this month at the American Visionary Art Museum. Feel free come out and make your clothes sparkle!

From the AVAM website:

Saturday • February 28 • 2PM-5PM: Electric Pickles, Electronic Sewing & LED Accessories with Bonnie Crawford Kotula
One of two separate workshops on a day full of Bright Ideas! Get ready for AVAM's AfterGlow Party on March 28th...or simply get ready to inspire awe and fascination on the streets of Baltimore after dark. Students will learn about simple electronic circuits, and how to make these circuits with alternative materials. The workshop will begin with demonstrations of the conductive or resistant properties of every day materials. Examples include electric pickles, potato batteries and testing the resistance of household items such as toothpaste, pasta, or glue. Each student will bring a personal garment or accessory to modify with tiny lights and safe low voltage “button” batteries. Some good examples of things that can be modified include hair wrap/ head bands, bracelets, or garments with a zipper. Each participant will use a basic electronic sewing kit provided by AVAM to stitch in miniature Light Emitting Diodes. Pre-registration is requested, please call 410.244.1900. Members $20, Non-Members $35 (Call to inquire about family discounts and special rates for those interested in also attending the "Illuminated Hats" workshop this same day.)

Happy New Year

2009-01-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

Phew! I can't believe 2008 is over. What a year! Highlights include five weddings (one of which was my own), finishing my master's thesis, my first summer swimming in fluid movement's water ballet, and trapeze lessons!Let's hope 2009 is just as adventure filled yet not quite as stressful.

To kick of this year right, I spent New Years Eve watching modern dancers interact with my sculpture on view at Greenbelt Community Center. This show will be up until February 6, and there's a workshop on Feb. 1. So stop by if you get the chance!

Tis the Season

2008-12-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

A very special and belated thank you to everyone that helped make my last workshop at School 33 a success! And thanks to workshop participant, Willy, who's electric snowman graces the top of this post. AND super special thanks to the gang at Aniomagic, who were the awesome suppliers of my essential electric sewing kits! They have a new very adorable addition to their inventory, the cutest battery holder ever.

I am showing my student's how to embed video

2008-11-21T11:47:00.001-08:00

So for your viewing pleasure, check out this rat I electrocuted in Grad School.

Thank You!

2008-10-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to those of you who came to my test run electronic sewing workshop! It was HUGELY important for me to test this project out, and I got some great feedback!

Exhibition at School 33 Art Center!

2008-10-20T06:19:00.000-07:00

The opening event (complete with live music) is Saturday, Nov. 1 6-9 PM!

Beautiful Internets - Papercutting

2008-10-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

One blog I regularly check in on is Elsa Mora's. Elsa is a Cuban American artist, wife and mother who makes very nice things (see- up there). Elsita has created a nice new fancy blog for us to read all about the art of papercutting. The Pretty Blog about Papercutting

Fly-post is Here!

2008-10-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, Ok, I know I disappeared around the time that school started up, but I am returning to announce a new web site that should prove to be addictive and useful. (And I am not just saying that because my husband helped create it!) Fly-Post is dedicated to the art of the flyer. On fly-post, you can create an account to upload flyers for events you are planning. If you don't have flyers to post, you can also create an account, and browse the events coming up, as well as comment about them, and even rsvp! I just posted an announcement to an upcoming art opening I will be participating in. But others are posting anything from upcoming performances to flea markets, musicals to raven's football games.

Visit www.fly-post.com to create your account and start posting!

Trapeze School

2008-08-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

My grand career as college instructor begins on Monday, and thanks to the invitation of Nicole DeWald at Greenbelt Community Center, I am ending my summer with a rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, and the sensation that I am flying.

See the video below to find out how much I learned in one class.

It's done It's done!!!

2008-08-14T03:48:00.000-07:00

WOOO HOOO!

Before:

as promised

2008-08-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

Here are pictures of my new and improved studio! I think I like being in a clean space. I have been used to warehousey type spaces and this is a nice change. It makes me want to make only pretty things, though. Not sure if that's good or bad.

Maybe I will share some pretties with you soon.

Dog Days

2008-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

The water ballet has ended and the dog days are officially here, foreboding the beginning of the school year. And the beginning of my career as adjunct faculty at a number of schools in the area. I wish I could be a water ballerina/house wife year round!

In a more half glass full light, my birthday is in a little over a week, and the kitchen remodel we have been plowing through all summer is scheduled to be done by the beginning of next week. Stay tuned for before, in progress, and after shots once it's finished!

Also, due to the phenomenon of indoor basement rain, I have again moved my studio. This time, to the guest bedroom of my house. Sorry to those of you whom I have promised a bed in Baltimore, you have been demoted to a couch or a very nice blow up mattress. As for my studio, it is beautiful, sunny and light blue. Tomorrow I plan to go to everyone's favorite Swedish furniture store (for the hundredth time this summer)to purchase some accessories with which I will organize all of the scraps of inspiring images and objects I lug from studio to studio each year. Pictures of this project to follow later in the week.

So Many Great Artscape Happenin's

2008-07-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

Please come out on Thursday, July 17 from 6-8 PM to check out a show I am participating in.
The show is called Station North Works: A Full Service Garage and it will feature work by myself as well as some really great artists including Natalia Panfile, Shannon Young, Jaimes Mayhew, and Marian April Glebes. If you can't make it Thursday night, check it out any time during Artscape in the garage across from the Charles Theater.Click for more information.

Also, the Amazing Kelley Bell will be displaying her mystery monster, Hydra at the Artist's Midway all weekend. It gurgles it grunts, it repeats after you! For more info on Kelley Bell and her fascinating work, click here. For more info on the Artist's Midway, click on this.

Another must see is the Full Circle exhibition at Goucher College. The lovely and talented Laura Amussen has been leading the Rosenberg Gallery at Goucher in a very nice direction of late, and with artists like Renee Rendine, and Hadieh Shafie, this show is bound to be excellent.

One more show that is worth checking out is Passage at Jason Hughes' new space The Library. This show features Matthew McConville's paintings (pictured above) which are a treat and a marvel.

Last but not least, don't forget to check out the DIY section on Ostend Street (I think) this year featuring our pals from the Charm City Craft Mafia, as well as jewelry designer Beth Pohlman. God, I want one of everything that lady makes.

REISI

2008-06-27T05:54:00.000-07:00

So last year, my pal Alicia had this great idea to send each other emails with links to cool stuff, and to pass back and forth some random ideas. She called it REISI, which stood for something like, Random Ideas Email Service Industry. Industry? That's the part I'm not sure about, but she can correct me, because I cannot locate the original email.

Anyway, in the spirit of revitalizing this practice with Alicia, I am going to provide you all (all 3 of you) with highlights of last years Random Ideas Service:

Alicia:
IDEA #1 (came to me at approx 11:30 pm last night):

pictures of me sucking on everything in my apartment

:)

REINFORCEMENT WEBSITE: Accumulation Project

Bonnie:
IDEA #2
reply to alicia penner's ideas with random ideas of my own. document this correspondence.

WEBSITE OF NOTE: Some weird science news

Alicia:
this guys got some good RIESI

Harrell Fletcher

Bonnie:
idea # 34 make a drawing inspired by all the little greater than signs that appear at the bottom of this email.

Alicia:
I think this says it all... but we could make mannequins of people we
hate and have sex with them...

Mannequins

Is that considered therapy?

Bonnie:
i am much more into the idea of moving forward in denial and dysfunction. like this guy:

Real Live Mannequin