Susan R. Kirshenbaum

art and life - both the cherries and the pits

Visual Highlights of Myanmar

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WHERE AND WHEN

Ending the year and starting the next with the most exotic and best trip of my life was a great way to bring one year to a close and start the next. Only complaint is that with so much fresh stimulation it's been tough to get back on track with my art making and blogging. Here's my travel itinerary and the slideshow below - a sampling of images from the several thousand I shot - sort of follows our itinerary.  We planned our own trip (my travel partner is my husband) and it worked out incredibly well. The winter holidays are an ideal time to head to South East Asia to escape from them (that's my preference), and for the driest, coolest weather. It was hard to come back to US politics. All around the world people are wondering what we Americans are up to. In Burma, folks loved Obama. 

December 18 - 20 - Yangon (used to be called Rangoon)

December 21 - 23 - Mandalay

December 24 - 27 - Bagan

December 28, 29 - Pindaya

December 30 - Inle Lake

December 31 - January 3 - Ngapali (a beach town on the Bay of Bengal)

January 5, 6 - Yangon

A few highly recommended books I read on the trip are Myanmar Lonely Planet, Burmese Days, The Piano Tuner

 

Post, Post, Post Mortem

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Getting ready 1: The shadow of one of my "helpers" for the shows. Making packets of gift wrap.

Getting ready 1: The shadow of one of my "helpers" for the shows. Making packets of gift wrap.

Getting ready 2: Cutting, sewing, and stuffing. The process of making my soft sculpture at SEW. 

Getting ready 2: Cutting, sewing, and stuffing. The process of making my soft sculpture at SEW. 

The last show and sale of 2016. I'm with my work on display at The Blueberry Farm in Sebastopol, CA. 12/16

My pop-up storefront in the heart of Hayes Valley in SF, CA. October 2016

My pop-up storefront in the heart of Hayes Valley in SF, CA. October 2016

I'm wearing one of my art dresses next to one of my color block silk scrolls at the Maker & Moss pop-up.

I'm wearing one of my art dresses next to one of my color block silk scrolls at the Maker & Moss pop-up.

Our Opening Reception Brunchette at The Laundry. November 2016

Our Opening Reception Brunchette at The Laundry. November 2016

My soft sculpture installed. November 2016

Newest fabric design made into long, 2-sided silk scarves, a tribute to Warhol (a fellow Pittsburgher). I have two left  in my online shop.

IT'S THE END OF THE YEAR!

My three art shows are wrapped up and I'm taking off for an exotic travel adventure! After this last blog post please check back next year. I promise an awesome slide show from a very photogenic trip.

I'm still thinking about what I learned from my 2016 shows and how that will affect what I do next year as I plan. The October, November, and December art events were the culmination of several years of creating multiple bodies of work. The emphasis for each show was unique.  

My first show was a one-day Pop-Up at Maker & Moss (see my blog post). Held at my friend's artistic retail housewares shop in Hayes Valley, I was asked to make a lot of art merchandise for this show. I  went into production for many months - designing, sewing, finding helpers, making new editions of prints, figuring out my product lines, packaging them all up.

This was a lot of work for one day. It's unlikely that I'll book another one-day only pop-up, but it was a healthy deadline and test run.

The second show started out with SF Open Studios and a shared rental gallery at The Laundry in the Mission. Talented artist friend Lisa Lightman shared the space with me. Our art paired beautifully. 

This was my first opportunity to show all seven pieces in my new series of life-sized silk scrolls and the beginning of a another new series, large soft sculpture. With a fan creating a gentle breeze, my scrolls fluttered slightly, producing an experience for the viewer of being in a roomful of nude women in conversation. 

One of my corners of the gallery showing a color block silk scroll (left), two of my white silk scrolls (right), three of my prints and a drawing (center) Plus the fan. November 2016

One of my corners of the gallery showing a color block silk scroll (left), two of my white silk scrolls (right), three of my prints and a drawing (center) Plus the fan. November 2016

This is my friend who stopped by during her Thanksgiving visit. She felt an affinity for the red-haired subjects in these scrolls. November 2016

I also showed (and sold) silkscreens, etchings, fine art digital prints, and pre-digital life drawings at The Laundry. 

Another corner of the gallery shows a large silkscreen (top left), Backs, a set of four fine art digital prints (below), and a gouache painting (right). More redheads!

We were asked to stay on in the gallery through November - a wonderful chance to get more exposure. We had opening and closing events with Spanish champagne and snacks, an art talk, and more. I sold prints and drawings met some interesting people. I got some exposure to curators and galleries and photos of my scrolls as a group.

The Laundry is a new hotspot in the Mission. It's a shared workspace and artspace focussed on building a creative community. This is a place to watch! I plan to stay involved with The Laundry and show my work there again.

I've just wrapped up my last art event, at The Blueberry Farm in Sebastopol, an annual group holiday show and sale with five artists (jewelry, sculpture, photography, painting, and montages). I sold prints, drawings, art cards, tea towels, silk scarves, cherry pit filled hot/cold pads, gift wrap, art leggings, and more.  

Even the weather was on our side. It was a gorgeous, crisp late fall weekend. This farm is utterly charming...even the mint-filled ground cover smells great. We served tiny blueberry muffins and home-baked goodies. It was nice to be out of The City and I met lots of cool locals and was impressed by my SF and East Bay friends who made the 1.5 hour trek to see and buy. I'd do it again next year!

Hosts and artists Alivea and Gayle Cole at The Blueberry Farm. Thanks! December 2016

Big News! My Art Show is Extended to November 27

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At our Brunchette on Saturday. 

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.

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.

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.

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). 

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. 

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. 

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!

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!

Pop-Up Post Mortem

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My Maker & Moss Art Show and Sale on 10/22/16, SF, CA, USA ... Feeling pretty good as I hit a major milestone that I've been working on for over a year - my first ever pop-up art show - showing and selling all of my new artwork. So much to do to get ready, but it all went without a hitch! Thank you, my new and old friends for being there! Here are some shots of the day. And by the way, it was more of a Pop-OUT than a Pop-Up - as in - showing the world all of my yummy COLOR COMBOS. 

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

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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

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.

Gift Wrap

Tote Bag

Sofa Pillow

Silk Scarf

Silkscreen Print

Tea Towel

Color Block Silk Scroll - Series

Shift Dress

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.