Honorable Mention!

On Friday night, I attended the 18th Annual Winter Art Show at the Monroe Art Guild in Monroe, GA. Not only was it a great opportunity to see new artwork, find old friends, and meet new people, but I was thrilled to receive an Honorable Mention for my Kennedy Road Beaver Pond painting on silk! I was honored that my work was selected for an award and excited to share the good news here on my blog. 

If you’re not familiar with the Art Guild, you should definitely check it out - it’s a hopping organization that is housed in a historic Post Office Building. I’ve had a working relationship with them for several years now, and have really enjoyed the creative projects that we have developed together. Plus, everyone involved with the organization is so nice! Be sure to stop by if you are ever near Monroe - just look for the old Post Office on South Broad Street, just by the courthouse square.

A Good Beginning for 2013

              Oconee St Methodist Church, Athens Ga, by Rene D. Shoemaker, 2012

The Athens Area Arts Council was kind enough to put a shout-out about my current exhibits in their newsletter this month:

Silk paintings by Rene Shoemaker: See a collection of her silk paintings displayed and for sale at the new (and delicious) Broad Street Coffee (a new vegan/vegetarian restaurant), 1660 W. Broad St., Athens; 706-548-2266.

More artwork by Rene Shoemaker: This AAAC member has been busy! See painting on silk, waxed pencil on paper and silkscreen on paper at the Winter Art Show hosted by the Monroe Art Guild. The opening reception is 6-8 p.m. Jan. 25 and the exhibit is Jan. 15-Feb. 22. The exhibit takes place at 205 S. Broad St., Monroe, Ga. (Find Rene’s blog here.)

Rene Shoemaker exhibits in Minnesota:

If you’re traveling in the next couple of months or have friends in the Twin Cities area, spread the word about Rene Shoemaker’s participation in an exhibit, “A Common Thread,” at the Textile Center in Minneapolis, a national center for fiber art.

'This exceptional exhibition is unparalleled in showcasing the breadth of textile art. A true community event, the show features the work of over 60 of Textile Center’s members - and takes over our three gallery spaces in the process. A Common Thread illustrates the variety and innovation while honoring traditions in fiber art methods and forms. From weaving, quilting, knitting, and sewing, to needlework, lace making, basketry and beading - A Common Thread has it all.

The opening reception is 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18 and the exhibit continues through March 2.The Textile Center is located at 3000 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis, Minn.’

Thank you to the AAAC for promoting my work, and for being there to help support Athens artists. It looks like this is the beginning of a busy and productive New Year, and I do so appreciate the support of my friends and community.

Now tell me, what do you have planned for 2013?

Holiday Wishes for You

          Happy Happy Holidays to You, my special friends!

                         Best wishes for a creative New Year.

                                                                                          -René

— 

René D. Shoemaker

                 fine art on silk

 rene.shoemaker@gmail.com         706.424.4739            www.ReneShoemaker.com  

Italy!

My mind has been in Italy lately… I have been working on several new pieces in preparation for a grant application. I looked through my sketches and photographs from two previous trips to Italy (in 1998 and 2007). They brought back great memories, of course, but also made me realize once more that for my process, I really need to BE THERE to experience the place! That’s by far the best way to create some really rich, meaningful artwork. I’m still pleased with the results of this experiment, though - I think maybe having those sense memories to call upon, and sketches to supplement the reference photos, made all the difference. So fingers crossed as I wait to hear about the Italy grant, and in the meantime, I wanted to share the new body of work with you: 

Roofs, Urbino, Italy 
 

Hillside, Urbino, Italy
 

Street Corner, Urbino, Italy
 

Piazza della Repubblica, Cortona, Italy
 

Via Mazzuoli, Cortona, Italy

Via Mazzuoli, Movimento, Cortona, Italy
 

Do you have any favorite places in Italy? Somewhere with a memory attached? Anywhere you long to visit, plan to go, have read about or heard about or seen in artwork?