THIS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY!

12:Lightback
Plum Elements this Thursday for a preview 5:30-7:30 and the big OPENING is FRIDAY 5:30-7:30...the artists showing, including myself (see pics above), are of varied backgrounds of media and inspiration so it should be very interesting! Can't wait to see how everyone interpreted the challenge of expressing light and thoughts of the season at hand.

The paintings above are from the top: Honeycreeper; Lucia Gold Ring Halo and Honeycreeper; Lucia Pearl Halo.

Above: Cardinal Succulent Pear Below: Red-headed Woodpecker and Cardinal in Green

Kulture Klash 5 was a success! Excited to see what will happen for the next one...

Above are 2 new small pieces, Red-headed Woodpecker and Cardinal in Green delivered to Plum Elements. They would make great gifts!

The Low Country Artisan Collective is having a "Best of the Best" art show, which they asked me to take part in. Really don't know how I feel about the "best of the best" thing, but part of the proceeds go to OperationHome.org so I'll live with it. Friday night November 20th is the main party 6-10 and November 21-22 (12-6) at 10 Storehouse Row at the Navy Yard in North Charleston. http://www.artscuttlebutt.com/user/BestoftheBestArtSale/gallery

Also Saturday November 21st is the big annual Redux benefit art auction at the Center for Photography. I've donated Cardinal Succulent Pear so come bid!

Kulture Klash 5 this weekend!

http://www.kultureklashartsfestival.com/
This weekend is the fall 2009 installment of Kulture Klash.
I've been experimenting with some new work.
There's a free art opening Friday night 8-11 before the main event on Saturday night.
Come out for the shenanigans!

autumn

Had a lovely, though quick, trip to Asheville this past Friday. The highlight of autumn thus far is seeing Andrew Bird and St. Vincent play live twice. I've listened to Bird's music while painting so many times and felt the need to reciprocate art for art by giving him the Painted Bunting as seen above. Felt like an interesting cycle to complete.

Working on some new work for the 5th Kulture Klash....some interesting new stuff is emerging.

Thyme Halo Meadowlark

Just picked up my paintings from the Circular Church. Every experience is a learning experience, if you want it to be. (I like knowledge so it was a good one.) The Ortolan Bunting, Pear, and Tree of Wisdom will be going to Plum Elements this week.

Above is another new painting, Thyme Halo Meadowlark, which will also be available at Plum Elements.

I'll be traveling to Pennsylvania to visit family and friends—maybe something will inspire me for new work when I return!

Tree of Wisdom
Ortolan and Fig

I was asked to put artwork in a show here in downtown Charleston at the Circular Church;
She Shall Be Called Woman, is centered around an installation in the church sanctuary of works created by seven artists reflecting on the role of woman in religion/faith.

Since I am not a religious person at all, it was a challenge. Decided to go the route of human existence and the explanation of it through mythology...or at least how we've tried via creation of metaphors and parables to make sense of life.
Ultimately it was interesting reading all about symbolism of foods (especially fruits and vegetables) and the rituals correlating with them through the ages—from ancient celtic/gaul goddess stories to modern western religious traditions (which are much more male dominated). There are a few tidbits on my website. I'll post more at some point. There are so many to digest and pick through to share.
Meanwhile a great read is, In the Devil's Garden, I recommend it!

Studio Show This Saturday!

Saturday July 18th, our studio at 253a St. Philip Street is having a grand all lady artists (and Sully) art extravaganza! Come over 5 - 10p.m to check it out!

New ABSTRACTS (waterways)

I have never been able to do “just one thing.”  That has been evident  if you look at my full resume...i.e. research/writing for a new bio-fertilizer company, fabric studio assistant, antique art print seller, waitress.  

The same is true for my paintings, they go from more realistic representational to completely abstract.

I love learning and going from one theme to another keeps me balanced.

Underlying concerns/thoughts/passion of it all is the environment and humans’ relationship (not such a good one) with it.  

These abstracts come from meditations on our waterways, what we dump into them from mountains to ocean, and how they are all connected. 

Dumbfounded

Recently I was asked to put paintings up in a restaurant as part of a neighborhood show called, "Evolution." These two apple paintings were included and got enough patron complaints, mainly that they "looked too much like a vagina or vulva" that they had to be taken down.

For one it is ironic the art show was called "Evolution".
Two, they are seriously APPLES.

Are people really that afraid of their own imaginations??????

Newest Edition

Yellow-breasted Vireo is the newest painting added to the Plum Elements collection.

Also I have some artwork at Theatre 99 during Piccolo-Spoleto alongside Nathan Durfee,
Johnny Pundt, and Trey Jaskiewicz.

Go look at some art! It'll make you feel good!

WHAT SHIMKO IS SHOWING WHERE? part one: PLUM

Blue Jay Plum Sky,  Orange Sky Canopy, Fish Crow Okra Snow, and Basil Chickadee are a few of the paintings on view at Plum Elements during Piccolo Spoleto!  Plum Elements is located on lower King Street (161 1/2) a little north of Queen Street.  Pop in and have a look!

WEAR MY BIRDS! http://www.cafepress.com/VERTindigo

http://www.cafepress.com/VERTindigo
I'm creating an online store to share my birds with the masses.....So far 2 T-shirt designs are up and ready to purchase!

Check it out!

South Carolina Say NO!!

A letter forwarded by a friend was in my inbox this morning.  It was passed on to me because its about a topic that causes great emotional rise in me.  It should cause more of a rise in everybody! (the apathy is part of what gets my goat...or is it canary?)

Here is a bit of the letter (if you don't read it all AT LEAST read the bit I highlighted in red):

I was moved by the documentary shown Sunday at the Charleston Film Festival and on PBS about West Virginia and the effects of Mountaintop Coal Removal.

Bi-partisan legislation is being presented this week in South Carolina to ban its use in our state and I would like to invite you to lend your support to this bill.

 

What:  South Carolina legislators say “No” to Mountaintop Removal Coal

Where:  First floor lobby, State House building

When:  10 a.m., Thursday, April 30

 

Why: Mountaintop Removal Coal (MTR) is destroying one of the most beautiful and species-diverse places on the planet. It’s ruining a unique American

culture and killing its inhabitants. It is all happening very, very quickly, unchecked, here - not in China, not Darfur, not Afghanistan.

 

MTR methods release mercury and other chemicals through blasting into the air, “legally” dumping waste directly into streams and rivers, and through huge, open, unlined sludge ponds surrounding homes and schools, leaching poisons directly into the drinking water supplies. It is literally unchecked as the coal companies run the governor and the state environmental regulatory agencies. It is literally making the entire half of the state of West Virginia a toxic waste dump. There is nowhere for the people to run, they cannot afford to buy clean water, they are sick, they are dying and no one is looking out for them. We are complicit, especially as South Carolina is the destination of most of the MTR coal:

 

* South Carolina is the among the top ten users of MTR in the country.

            * 98% of the Coal burned in South Carolina is sourced from Central Appalachia.

            * 50% of the Coal burned in South Carolina is from MTR; approx. 8 million tons MTR consumed annually in SC alone.

            * Duke Energy & Progress Energy are among the top 5 corporate consumers of MTR coal in the country.    

            * Santee Cooper is 7th largest consumer of MTR, SCE &G is the 10th largest corporate consumer of MTR.

 

At our statehouse Thursday. Austin Hall, the young man from West Virginia who is so well-informed and spoke after the film “Burning the Future” will be accompanied by a group of the ordinary folks from Appalachia who are so affected. If you hear their stories you will never forget them. Please try to come and lend support to our brave legislators and these proud people.  For rides or other information please contact: John Ramsburgh, Sierra Club of South Carolina, 1314 Lincoln Street, Suite 211, Columbia, SC  29202, office: 803-256-8487;  cell: 803-743-6144. His press release follows. I respect your time and thank you for allowing me to share this matter with you.  

 

ANOTHER SOURCE FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.scsaysno.com/

Purse Donation for Center for Women Benefit Thursday!

http://www.c4women.org/in_the_bag.htm

This Thursday come bid on my purse and others at the Waterfront Gallery!

(one side is a painted bunting, the other a snow bunting)

Green Paint

My flat-land-coastal-legs re-acclimated to the mountain streets and took me many great places. One was a store Build It Naturally.

Got some NO VOC paint and low VOC / non-toxic clear coat to try out.  Very excited.  Have to check if our local Dwell Smart has the same products.

 

The trees around Asheville looked sad, brownish leaves that should be spring-green.  Lack of water I think.  Drought conditions are bad.  Lots of fire potential. yikes.

Earth Day everyday.....?

A reminder that plastics never go away....yes, they can be recycled, but it seems they usually end up in our oceans (The pics are from the ocean garbage gyres that occur). I did not post the disgusting pics of birds that died from plastic in their stomach.



What can you do???? The next time you're out shopping, think twice before buying disposable plastic items (razors, tootbrushes, bottled water, toys, etc. etc.), plastic packaged food, just look look look at what you're buying.
Will you start taking your own re-usable bags to the store as well??!?! Keep bags in your car. Leave a chico bag in your pocketbook (or for bikers-easy bag option!). Most stores have their own logo-ed bag by the check out or check out: http://worldofgood.ebay.com/Chico-Bag-Planet-Earth-Strong-Light-Grocery-Shopper-NWT/370152227674/item

KULTURE KLASH 4 THIS SATURDAY APRIL 18th

Kulture Klash 4 is this Saturday in the warehouse on the corner of Spurill and Cosgrove at the Navy Yard.  Starts at 8pm.        info: http://www.heiligmultimedia.com/kk3/

Pictured is some of my new pieces in the show.  

Hope to see you Saturday!

Charleston Mag pick!

Charleston Magazine chose the closing reception at Plum Elements as an art pick.  I will be giving a little informal talk about my work and share the "stage" with Bryan Cordell from the Sustainability Institute.  

Essentially I will speak a bit about my passion in art and concerns over the environment. Bryan will offer tips that EVERYONE can easily use to help conserve energy and in your own way save a part of the environment.

Plum Elements is located on lower King St., right above Queen St.  161 1/2 to be exact.

TUESDAY APRIL 21st  5:30-7:00 p.m.

CARROTMOB TOMORROW!

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

4/16 Deadline for Our Artful Moment Entries

Thursday, April 16, 2009 is the submission deadline for, Our Artful Moment, the first juried show at Plum Elements. All artists are encouraged to submit their work.

Open to artists working in any discipline or media — painting, prose, drawing, sculpture, poetry, photography, graphics, mixed media, video, and digital — Our Artful Moment is an opportunity for all to capture, via their art, the power of President Obama's inauguration.

Only original work will be accepted. There is no entry fee. The work will be available for sale. Email info@plumelements.com or call 843.727.3747 for an application form or additional information.

Andrea Schenck, owner of Plum Elements, said submissions are arriving, and she looks forward to more work of all types. “It was such a moment. I am optimistic that the work will be an exceptional depiction of that day," said Schenck. She encourages everyone to take part —
by creating and submitting or enjoying when the show opens. The exhibition is April 27 - May 17 in Plum Elements' main gallery. The opening reception will be April 30th, the President's 100th day in office.

Charleston's home for artful living, Plum Elements is located at: 161 1/2 King Street, across from the Library Society on Lower King. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10-ish a.m. until 6 p.m., on Thursday until 7 p.m. and by appointment. For more information contact: 843.727.3747 or info@plumelements.com.

Primavera

Namaste

Another flag with my name on it goes into the www ground, much to my disbelief.  Alas, the artist who came to my studio months ago and pressed me to blog has won out.

To revel in the Spring air I embrace yet another new, sometimes fear provoking concept.

[speaking with an announcer at a tractor pull's voice:]  Get ready to blog!

L

P.S. The painting is a new in my Canopy series.....Blue Sky Canopy 2.  18" x 18" on wood.