Big News! My Art Show is Extended to November 27

At our Brunchette on Saturday. 

At my art show on Sunday with designer pal Anna Singer. Yes - I am wearing one of my art dresses here too.

One of the advantages of the show staying up longer include being featured at "Wine Wednesdays" - an art and mingling event at The Laundry. We gave an art talk to this group last night.

That's me - Susan R. Kirshenbaum in front of my life-sized figures in the series White Silk Scrolls at The Laundry though Nov. 27.

WOW! We had a great Open Studios weekend, but here's even better news - now there's an opportunity to come by the gallery and look at the work leisurely because we will stay up until November 27! Lisa Lightman, a San Francisco artist and friend, is exhibiting with me.

Stop by again, or for the first time, to check out the gallery, our show, and The Laundry. It is open all day M-F, 9-5. Or call for an appointment. Walk all the way through the cafe and shared workspace to the gallery at the far end of the floor.

I'm showing my current fine art which includes seven silk scrolls I created over the last year and this is the first time they've been shown together in a gallery exhibit. Plus I'm showing all of my framed prints on paper. 

Last weekend was great fun - we had an opening party with mini-bagels, Lisa's home-baked goodies, cava (Spanish champagne), coffee, and more, on Saturday. There was even a fellow playing piano out front! 

This show is very different from my recent Pop-Up which was more about making and selling my "art merch". I won't be exhibiting more of that until the group Holiday Show and Sale with friends in Sebastopol - Gayle and Alivea Cole on 12/2-4.

Note that our exhibit - now through November 27 - is also an event on Facebook

With Jack and old friends who surprised us at the exhibit last weekend. I'm wearing one of my art dresses and we are in front of one of one of three of my color block silk scrolls (those are my prints on paper in the right hand corner).

Lisa Lightman in front of her paintings at The Laundry gallery with me though Nov. 27. 

After the initial show weekend - since it's been extended - here's a cluster of friends (from Catalonia!) at Wednesday wine mixer.

Did you see her? Blue Woman with Pink Posey. She's the first of my life-sized soft sculptures of women. So excited about this new series. Hoping to make a roomful at the next show!

This Week in SF - My First Pop-Up is at Maker & Moss

So excited (and busy) getting ready for this show and sale. It's the first time I'm displaying all of my art and goods. Now Cherry Pits Art has a fall/winter line - all with my figurative drawings and paintings in a gorgeous array of colors and patterns! 

Hot/Cold Pad - Filled with Cherry Pits

Join us at Maker & Moss, in the heart of Hayes Valley, San Francisco, on Saturday, 10/22, from 11am-6pm. I'll be there the whole time so if you are nearby stop in and say hello. 

My pop-up venue, Maker & Moss, is my friend Matt's lovely home goods shop. Matt and I met each other while we were working at the JCCSF, where we used to go for "inter-departmental walks". We continued our walks after we both left over two years ago. On a walk many months ago we decided to do this pop-up show, so here it is at last. 

This is a rare opportunity to see everything I've been making - in person. Check out my art fabric tote bags, throw pillows, silk scarves, tea towels, cocktail napkins, placemats, hot/cold pads (filled with cherry pits!), greeting cards, gift wrap, art pendant necklaces, fine art prints on paper, and monumental silk scrolls. And dresses too, made to order.

I've been making art and art merchandise like crazy and several folks have helped me tremendously - so here's a shout out. Huge thank you to my sewer buddies, Mary Allen (my neighbor), Connie Walker-Shaw and Eva Hernandez from SEW (West Portal/SF), and Rachel Myers from Home Decor Learning Center (Concord). Thanks, too, to Jack, Kat, Lyndee, Valerie, Rhiannon, and Matt for the all the different ways you've helped me get here.

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Gift Wrap

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Tote Bag

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Sofa Pillow

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Silk Scarf

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Silkscreen Print

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Tea Towel

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Color Block Silk Scroll - Series

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Shift Dress

A Visit to SF Galleries

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.

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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.

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Me surrounded by BIG dresses.

Making Bags and Pendants Now Too!

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.

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!

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 HERE. Hand-signed. Printed in the USA. © 2016 SRKirshenbaum

5-Pack of Art Cards with Envelopes