Creative Access Art Center

Idaho Parent's Unlimited's Creative Access Art Center. (It's wonderful - I love it, and perhaps by the end of this blog post, you will too)

On the corner of 8th and Myrtle in downtown Boise, Idaho, you will find the Creative Access Art Center, and the offices of some very amazing and dedicated people. These fine folks partake in educating, empowering, supporting and advocating for individuals with disabilities and their families. I would draw you a picture of how big their hearts are, but I would need a lot more paper.

"Programs they provide have included art workshops, exhibits and educational classes. This includes providing space for the Treasure Valley Artist Alliance monthly meetings and four exhibits per year as well as emerging opportunities such as Music Therapy for children with disabilities, Youth Yoga and Massage Therapy for both parents and children." *

They also share space with Amy Nack with Wingtip Press, and Arin Aruther with Arin Arthur Textiles. CAAC participates in First Thursday Artwalk Events, offers classes such as Musical Tuesdays with Gayle Chapman and Acting lessons with Sandra Cavanaugh. On top of that, they provide Inclusive Summer Art Camps - everything from printmaking, sculpture, dance, public art tours and more!

"In 2011, with help from a grant from the State Independent Living Council's Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, CAAC's Master Apprentice Artist Program was underway. This unique mentorship program allowed Master Artists to work with Apprentice Artists in developing technique; guide them with vital connections to the local arts community and fostered personal and professional growth. This program is aimed at providing opportunities for employment for artists with disabilities." *

Is your heart melting yet? 

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is more. How about these highlights from their Artist in Residence Program -

Teaching Artist Sandra Cavanaugh taught residencies in playwriting at Boise High school as well as Mountain View Elementary. Students at Mountain View enjoyed a three week theater workshop in playwriting, producing and performing a revised version of Robin hood. Students from special education and general educations classes combined to create and perform a play for over 200 delighted audience members. 

Matthew Jordan, a certified music therapist, lead a music residency at Valley View Elementary. Students learned how to create an original piece of music as well as reaped the benefits of active listening exercises and musical games. During the residency students with disabilities were supported by peer mentors from another classroom which facilitated new friendships, teamwork skills and musical abilities for all students. 

Megan Brandel, prima ballerina and teaching artist, is currently conducting a movement and dance residency at Garfield Elementary. Students with visual impairments have developed greater body awareness, coordination, and spatial awareness, as well as increased self esteem and social skills. Students will perform their new dance moves at a recital for their classmates and friends this spring.  *

And        so       much        more! 

For the past two years, I have had the pleasure to donate works of art for their charity fundraiser to support their programs. 2013 really showed the support of the community, with over 100 gorgeous panels of art created by local artists up for grabs in the "Art for Art, A Night on the Boardwalk" event.

2013 Flyer

The following images of the "Art for Art - A Night on the Boardwalk "were captured by Patty Payton.  

Everyone had a different colored wristband. When a color was called, seven minutes were allotted to snatch the tag of the panel desired for purchase. 

Art can't stop, even for a minute! 

Getting a closer look; there was so much to see! 

A long hair and the Westins admiring the works of Lauren T Kistner

Artist Katherine Bajanova Grimmet next to her donated work

Artist Nicolet Laurson also donated work for the cause! 

Who wouldn't be excited to see these smiling faces bringing truffles?

   

     If anyone knows who this classy lady is...
   Look, her outfit matches my paintings! 

Artist Chieshenam Westin caught in conversation

 

Heather Skinner, Will Spearman & Angela Lindig

Artist Karen Bubb- Public Arts Manager at Boise Dept of Arts & History

 Mrs. & Mr. Lindig. Angela is the Executive Director for IPUL and CAAC. One heck of a motivated and inspiring woman

     

    Artist Joseph Pacheco and I winding down.

This guy was awesome. 

 

Outside, waiting patiently for our colors to be called so we could bulldoze in and purchase our favorite pieces of art! No host bar inside - Hor Dourves circulating and the musical talents of  Sandra Cavanaugh & Rex Miller playing in the tent. 

I wish I would have remembered to bring my camera; unfortunately I can't find images of Megan Brandel's Open Arms Integrated Dance Group's performance for the night. It was stellar! It truly was an excellent night of community and culture.

Magic Makers -  Staff, Board, Advisory Committee Members

 "The CAAC extends opportunities for artists both with and without disabilities -birth through adulthood - to create, showcase, and sell art in an inclusive facility. Sometimes you'll see our own programming at the CAAC; sometimes you'll see exhibitions of others that are aligned with our mission: We support, empower, educate, and advocate to enhance the quality of life for Idahoans with disabilities and their families. " 

The Creative Access Art Center opened the site containing gallery, art and class space, along with the administrative offices of Idaho Parents Unlimited and VSA in December 2010 in BoDo, the downtown warehouse/shopping district, at 500 S. 8th St. on the corner of 8th and Myrtle. *

The center is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

* exerpts from the CAAC website 

Garden Valley Center For the Arts

During BOSCO Open Studios Weekend, a group of ladies came in and we started talking about art. They were interested in seeing more of my work so I mentioned the current exhibition in Garden Valley. One woman's jaw dropped to the floor. "Garden Valley?" ..... Silence... "I used to live there. There's nothing there..." Silence.... It was really cute! And understandably so -

It's a small town tucked between granite mountains, western white, ponderosa, and lodgepole pines, with long stretches of valley; the city of crouch has a population of 157, Garden Valley itself holds around 3000. The kind of people that choose a life in the mountains have me dreaming of it myself. It's not any simpler, just different, perhaps a bit more grounded.

The Garden Valley Center for the Arts is the brainchild of about 10 incredibly motivated individuals, two of which I had the pleasure of working with on the exhibition. Incredibly sweet folks - Lois and David - put the art in heart. With generous support of the community, the Garden Valley center for the arts is growing faster than imagined. A recent donation of 8 pottery wheels from Treasure Valley Community College has the town "spinning!"

Gage takes the wheel
Photo by David Bagnard

I am grateful to Katherine Bajanova Grimmett for introducing me to them, and know this venue will quickly find itself on the map for cultural destination through their drive, determination and thoughtful endeavors.

The following photo tour images of the opening reception are by David Bagnard.

The evening started off with Kevin Kirk and Onomatopoeia. We were blessed with gorgeous weather! 

Gates open! 

George Gledhill, a potter from Payette, Idaho, creates in a gorgeous and earthy style. 

Gage is an active member of the GVCA. 

The interactions with the guests made the opening very memorable! 

The lucky corner

Such an interesting process, George salts them prior to firing. I know what I'm getting for Christmas! 

Engrossed in captivating conversation! 

At the end of the night, tradition stands to throw wine on your gracious host mid embrace!

My exhibition with George Gledhill is the sixth in the history of the Garden Valley Center for the Arts. Many talented Garden Valley artists have graced the walls and display cases, Boise artists have too - Kellie Cosho, Zion Warne, Heidi Haislmaier, Katherine Bajenova Grimmett, and Tarmo Watia. I am excited for the future of the gallery, and thankful for my experience with everyone who had a hand in putting the show together! The next time you find yourself in Crouch, Idaho, stop in and take a look around; you will be glad you did.

Working Tiny in Tiny Spaces.

Coming up soon, October 5th to be exact, the Garden Valley Center for the Arts will be exhibiting my work, along side of George Gledhill, a potter from Payette, Idaho. His works are so earthy and balanced, well defined and exquisite! I am excited to pair my paintings and assemblage pieces with his work. I haven't had much opportunity to show the assemblage due to their fragile nature. It should make for a truly earthy exhibition! 

I was born and raised in Idaho, in a small town on a quaint farm. I am always looking at the ground and picking things up. As a child, gifted with terrible eyesight, to see much of anything I had to hold it really close to my eyes. I enjoyed the details up close and personal, each line, every texture, and of course, color. When it came to my attention that I wasn't seeing the way others were (aka - the chalkboard in first grade) a cute pair of tiny little pink glasses with thick lenses were introduced, and everything took on a whole new life, with sharp lines, ridges, and definition. Literally, albeit not peripherally.

My workspace is (gorgeously) cluttered with remains of plant and animal, rocks of textural interest, seeds, feathers and pods - tiny works of art in their own right - that find new homes in sheltered boxes.  My own little curios, wonders. They are personal, and each has it's own story of where or when it was discovered, or who left what on my porch. 

The first assemblage I made was in 2010, (after 3 days roaming around in the Seven Devils wilderness), to celebrate 3 years of adventures with the mister. Representative of our time together - foraging, homesteading, run-ins with critters (Danger!), exploring, rockhounding, freedom, love and fleeting time, with respect to the past.

"Oh, the Places We Will Go!"
Collection of the Mister

From there it was an easy transition into creating new worlds for lost and forgotten items.

"Light at the End of the Tunnel"
gopher trap, gopher skull, poppy tops, poppy seeds, dill, chicken feathers, old animal medicine bottles
Artist's Collection

This trap belonged to my grandfather.  He has poked gophers for many, many, years. I remember collecting gopher tails with him and turning them in for 50 cents each, and then grandpa would take us girls out to the Arctic Circle for ice cream on the proceeds. I think I still have a tail in an envelope in my childhood dresser. Probably quite gross by now, if there is anything left. Anyway, he has plenty of these traps around the farm, and it wasn't until I promised him that I would make art out of it that he sent it home with me.

This particular kind of gopher trap has a hole (hidden under the skull in the image) and is inserted into the gopher tunnel hole side up. When the gopher sees light coming into his home, he comes up to fill it in, hits the rod in the middle (the "vase" is in) and it snaps the trap. Hence, he goes for the light at the end of the tunnel, and then he...... finds the light at the end of the tunnel... 

On that note - I will now present a picture of our Frye kitten with his stolen dinner plate prize, circa 2008.

Aww, isn't he adorable? 

Nampa Idaho's burgeoning Art Scene!

4 new Nampa "Paint the Box" Utility Box Public Art (that's a mouthful) pieces were part of the Nampa First Friday Artwalk event last week. Each Artist applied their signature style to represent the city for this project, and the results are a fabulous addition to a growing city!

Melissa Chambers 

Melissa Chambers is a detail oriented sort of gal (it's epic, for sure), and her traffic box really stands out on this corner. Every little curio in the cabinet is ornately decorated and exploding with color! The original artwork is watercolor.

Treat yourself by viewing her website - http://melissasasichambers.com/

Belinda Isley

Belinda Isley has a knack for history, and will keep your attention with her traffic box! Her work brings captivating new life to images of yesteryear, encapsulating a unique story. See for yourself - http://www.inside-the-box-art.com/index.html

Rachel Teannalach

Rachel Teannalach is capable of many things when it comes to art; conveying a place, a warmth, and a deep appreciation for her surroundings through explorations of nature and structure, her vivid images draw the viewer in.
To get lost in her work, visit http://www.teannalach.com/

Prior to facelift

Make Over Complete!
"Open Invitation"

In honor of Nampa's rich cultural history, and the location of the box residing in the heart of downtown, (a historical gathering place, then and now) I created "Open Invitation" as a colorful celebration of the city. 

More "Paint the Box" projects are scheduled for Nampa; I am excited to see the personal touch the artists will bring to the streets through the unique applications of their visions. 

A notable worthy cause to help Nampa, Idaho grow culturally - 

The historic Pix Theatre was on the path to becoming reborn as a multi use artistic venue until the power of a recent storm (quite rudley) caved the roof in, damaging the interior and prior work. Those interested in volunteering or donating to the project can find more information by visiting  http://www.thepixtheatre.org/

Enjoy your day, and Thank You for supporting the Arts! 

Chickens

Chickens. With a few feathered friends you are never alone, or un-entertained.

"Strutting Dottie"

This is more of a collection of what I think my clucky friends dreams may be.

Dottie typically lays the smallest egg in the coop, so I have portrayed her with a large golden egg.  She is always proud and sings a loud song after depositing her glorious efforts with the clutch. 

"Good Looking Roo"

When he was hatched as a bantum naked neck in a world full of hens towering over him twice his size, he got a touch of little cock syndrome. (Don't Get no Respect!!) He chose the path of  the mouthiest one in the bunch, and overcompensates sometimes trying his hardest to be terrifying. His mullet is a shiny red cap, and some days it verges more on the look of a rat-tail. Like Tom Jones,  he always has his shirt unbuttoned for the ladies, and I know he's a  tender sweet little thing when he sings.  I have portrayed this ridiculous little scamp as large fanciful rooster, with a flowing Fabio mane of feathers, who walks in silence because he can't help but be noticed in all his glory. 

Sand Chicken

The sand offers many options and opportunities for creating public art, later to be destroyed mercilessly by a two year old merely because that's what little boys do. Build it, crash it! Though sad to see the hen smashed back into the ground with little feet and hands and the aid of a plastic shovel, the giggles during and after demolition are irresistible. 

Why did the chicken cross the road?  - She has an apparent lack of dromophobia.


"Business is never so healthy as when, like a chicken , it must do a certain amount of scratching for what it gets."- Henry Ford
Enjoy your day!

Greta Gnatek Redzko = Fabulous

Greta Gnatek Redzko is a fabulous artist. Her painting is so creamy, so dreamy; she invokes images with bold whispers of contour lines, velvety textures, and blushing colors. Now she has created this and I have become narcissistic (get it? it's a painting of me and I am in LOVE with it, haha) 

"Lauren"
by Greta Gnatek Redzko

She told me she was nearing completion, just needed to add lips. She even offered to have me kiss it! It needed to be signed by her lips though, and hers are much nicer than my pencil thin lips.

No one before has said "Lauren, I'm going to paint you" and made it happen.

Until today.

Today is a good day.

Here are a few images of  friends that have found their way to my drawing board that I  hope feel as elated as I do to be works of art.

"Lean In"
by Lauren T Kistner

"Liz, in Curlers"
by Lauren T Kistner

"Desert Flower"
by Lauren T Kistner

Magpies

Some things take their time to come to fruition. Sometimes it takes a few gentle reminders to get the ink flowing. Returning home from a float in the river last night, we entered onto our property to find a plethora of magpies. (I realize now I should have counted, but I'm not too superstitious and really just enjoyed their presence)  Last week a friend showed up with a magpie feather in her hand. Right before another epic rock hounding adventure with my Sara, we found two magpie feathers across from Stewart's Gem Shop. I had been pondering magpies for months. Memories of them on farm and the ditch rider shooting them. I would come across their lifeless bodies in the 5 acres of wildlife preserve on my grandparent's property that I frequented. That is where he would shoot them. In a wildlife preserve. I remember always being intrigued by their feathers (those long, silky, iridescent tail feathers the most) but without the gall to remove them, I would bury the birds as best I could.

One for Sorrow

The series is based around a poem. All images will be ink on paper, 12"x12". Between the chicken drawings that are clawing their way out, I find some time to work on the magpies.

Two for Joy

I know what you are thinking - this is not my typical medium. My obsession with color, line, and texture is aided by the brush and paint. So far in this blog there has been no color, a major element in my work!  I have always drawn, (just ask my mother) and if by some magic, the aligning of the stars, life's paths or the mere acceptance of change and evolution in my art, I will be allowing the images to come forth and be seen on a more regular basis. This blog is a step outside my comfort zone, hence I have started with the media that fear has held back.

Color will sneak it's way back in.... 

On that note, Nampa traffic box public artwork will be unveiled Friday the 13th (Wooo!) of September for Nampa's Art Walk! Starting at 5 pm, Artwork on the boxes to be unveiled include the work of Rachel Teannalach, Belinda Isley, Melissa Chambers, Misty Benson, Lauren T Kistner (that's me!), Helen Grainger Wilson, and Oscar Nye. I am excited to see the images installed and the artists on location! If you get a chance, we would love to see your smiling faces!