Susan R. Kirshenbaum

art and life - both the cherries and the pits

A Visit to SF Galleries

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On a rare hot and sunny day we went gallery hopping in San Francisco's up and coming art neighborhood, Dog Patch. We meandered around an uncharacteristically uncrowded Minnesota Street Project  where we saw this great exhibit by Sidney Russell: New Work, at Rena Bransten. WOW. Totally relate to these iconic, large-scale, sewn clothes. Very "Alice".

We also enjoyed the beautiful Hosfelt Gallery (see wall detail below)...and their 20th Anniversary Exhibit.

Inside Hosfelt Gallery the walls are artfully left as found in certain places...

And we visited two more great galleries, Catherine Clark Gallery and Brian Gross Fine Art where we discussed and the super-cool work of Roy De Forest on display. All in all it was an excellent art afternoon with friends and family.

Me surrounded by BIG dresses.

Making Bags and Pendants Now Too!

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Textile Wearables

Carry-All Bags (hand-sewn locally and made from digitally printed fabric from my original art). My textile products make a bold statement that reflects confidence – close to a campaign – for pride in the female form, close to flaunting female nudity. It says “be fearless”.  Sometimes subtle, buried in pattern, other times large, dramatic, and bold graphic identifiable figures, my textiles make an assertive expression.

I create my textile patterns digitally from my original model drawings, also created digitally. I scale and adjust the artwork, depending on the end-use and particular fabric. This fabric is 100% linen-cotton canvas. These bags  are lined with 100% cotton.

I draw my product prototype designs by hand. Once I get my digitally printed fabric, I wash it, iron it, and turn it into my product prototype and often I invent as I go. Most of my products are made locally in San Francisco, CA and are printed in the USA.

In early 2015 I started learning to sew in order to repair or remake a huge amount of knitwear that my cat, Nigel, had chewed up. I brought garbage bags full of sweaters and scarves to a nearby sewing studio (SEW) where I transformed the unwearable into art clothing. I now have great knitwear/artwear from this era! Once comfortable sewing, and later that same year, I transitioned into creating my own fabric and clothing which is designed to spotlight my figurative artwork. My art fabric (and paper goods) feature a single work of art - large, colorful female nude drawings, paintings, and photo collages, made into a repeat pattern.

I’ve been drawing short poses with live models for many years and I am prolific. This means that I have an enormous supply of potential art to use. I have to edit and select what work to feature - very carefully - and there’s always trial and error involved. The textiles I create come from my weekly model drawing sessions at The Box Factory. Since 2013 I’ve been drawing on my iPad with a stylus. In 2015 I started Cherry Pits Art, my personal brand.

Pendants.jpg

Two-Sided Picture Frame Art Charm Necklaces

I’m crazy about being able to wear my artwork and it’s so exciting to see it scaled to different sizes. This is the smallest version available of my original art prints, framed, and ready to wear. I’ve selected two pieces of my artwork for each necklace. Each pairing reflects a powerful symbiosis of my works of art.

The art is printed on thick stock, glued back-to-back, and trimmed to fit inside the glass and metal frame charm. (Note that it’s best not to try to remove it or even open the little door handle.) The necklace ball-chains are 15” long plus 2” for the charm. They are available in two metal tones: dark copper and bright silver. Hand assembled. Artwork is printed in the USA. © 2016 srkirshenbaum

In SF? Stop by! These cool art fabric bags and 2-sided art pendant necklaces will be available for sale at my Maker and Moss (www.makerandmoss.com) Pop-Up Art Show and Sale in Hayes Valley on Saturday, October 22 from 11am-6pm. They are now available in our online shop.

Cherry Pits Art Cards Are In!

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This is a limited edition set of 4 x 6 inch blank greeting cards. This selection of five images represents some of my favorite works, which I’m currently featuring in several mediums – large prints on silk, fine art paper prints, soft sculpture, and textiles. I’m making cards now because I’ve always loved paper and ephemera. I save and collect cards, postcards, and stamps. I even met my husband while working at a renowned postcard shop in San Francisco’s North Beach. I still live in San Francisco (and we're still married). Each 5-pack of cards comes with a set of brown craft envelopes.

These cards and more will be available for sale at my Pop-Up Art Show at Maker and Moss on October 22 in Hayes Valley and also at my Open Studio at The Laundry on 26th and Mission Streets on November 5 and 6. Stop by either or both between 11 am - 6pm. These cards are available to order online HEREHand-signed. Printed in the USA. © 2016 SRKirshenbaum

5-Pack of Art Cards with Envelopes 

5-Pack of Art Cards with Envelopes

 

Red, White, and Blue Series - It's in the Air

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Wanting to bring attention to the election during my ArtSpan SF Open Studios scheduled the weekend before the election - oh my! I wasn't thinking about that when I registered for November 5-6. Oh well, I hope we are not all too distracted! I'm sure engaged in this campaign.

Here's a little series of drawings in the appropriate color scheme. 

"Draping" ©2016 Susan R. Kirshenbaum

"Looking at You" ©2016 Susan R. Kirshenbaum

"Leaning Back" ©2016 Susan R. Kirshenbaum

Silkscreen Intensive Workshop at Kala

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This past weekend I participated in an intensive workshop to re-learn the silkscreen process and familiarize myself with Kala in Berkeley, which is an excellent printmaking facility! Plus, a great teacher and a small class comprised of friendly, talented artists.

It was a lot of work - messy, sweaty, and a lot of ink under my nails, but now I have a complete edition of 13 silkscreen prints on heavy fine art paper to share with the world. Very satisfying. Here they are laid out on the drying rack in the print studio. My original drawing is on the home page. I simplified the artwork and made it into a two-color print (ballet pink and rich black). The prints are 15 inches wide x 11 inches high.

View of Kala's printmaking studio

View of Kala's printmaking studio

My silkscreen print edition on the drying rack at Kala.

Just About Exhibition Ready!

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Here are several pieces from one of my new series titled White Silk Scrolls. Most of the finished pieces are around 6 feet tall – human scale. Galleries might ask how these scrolls hang. I've worked out a plexiglass rod system, top and bottom, mounted to the wall with L screws. They are each about an inch from the wall so air and light can pass through and behind. I'll be showing some of these works, along with works on paper, at ArtSpan SF Open Studios the weekend of November 5-6, 2016. Look for updates about my show and sale which will take place at The Laundry, a new exhibition space on 26th Street between Mission and Capp. Photos by David Papas.

Travel Inspiration - Ceilings, Floors, Walls

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This is our friend Miquel's Girona art studio ceiling, which is in an ancient building located on the original Roman road, La Forca. Girona, Spain has a gorgeous, history filled Old Quarter.

These are images in and around Lisbon, Portugal. It's a very beautiful city I enjoyed seeing for the first time last week.