Chant

Hello Again!

October to April has been a time of intensity and change, resulting in a scarcity of Laurie's World posts. Life has been busy but artful, and it is time to catch up on recent events. After the Female Form show at the Workhouse last February, preparation began on my first solo show, “Song Cycle” which hung at the Gallery at Convergence in Alexandria, Virginia through October and November, 2011. Song Cycle explored the notion that sound informs our visual experience and influences our creativity. This idea was presented within the rhythm of our life cycle.


Curated by my husband, Brad Davis, the show was a resounding success, and our guests embraced the spirit of our “festively glamorous” artist reception, turning out in elegant dress for the occasion. It was an evening of good food, friends, music, and of course, artwork. A film of the artist’s reception can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_p27jZuYdg


To represent death and rebirth, I created a piece called "Chant." The making of Chant was recorded as a timelapse film and set to the music of a song I had written years before. The film can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUNXq26Cg-Q" .


The execution of this and other works was made especially poignant for my family when my Mother passed away on October 30, as the show was running. My Mother was too ill to attend this show, but she encouraged many of her friends to come to the reception. It was a delight to meet people who knew my Mom in ways that I did not, and it added immeasurably to the evening for me.


Please enjoy a few pics from the Song Cycle Artist Reception:

Solo Show! Artist Reception for "Song Cycle" at Gallery At Convergence

Announcing the opening of my current show, "Song Cycle" at the Gallery at Convergence in Alexandria, VA.

Song Cycle explores the relationship between music and the visual world. Each piece in the show is musically connected and each is presented along with information about their musical inspiration. The artwork is presented within the larger context of the life cycle. Birth, death and rebirth are expressed in different ways along with the ideas we embrace and create as we follow our path.

The show runs from October 2 - November 22

Artist Reception: Friday, October 21 at 8:00 in the evening.
Gallery At Convergence
1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22301

Attire: Festive Glamour. Express your inner diva! (o;

Please join us at the gallery for an evening of music, art and treats.

New Arrivals

Der Blumenbaum, 30x24 ", acrylic and oil
on canvas

Der Blumenbaum, is a made up word which translates to "flower tree". Der Blumenbaum is also an award winning American based German genealogical society. "Family tree" is a bit more of an exercise in German: Der Familienstammbaum.

Supernovae
36 x 24", mixed media (acrylic, oil and rice paper) on canvas

Supernovae, detail

Spring is Sprung!

It's been an exciting spring in the art studio. I've just completed my new portfolio book which should be available in the studio within the week. This book is the culmination of many hours' work and I'm thrilled to be sharing it with you!

Luminous Language
A Catalogue of Works by Laurie Nelson

FEMALE FORM EXHIBIT
The Female Form show at the Workhouse Art Center was very well received and was an exciting opportunity to meet with art lovers and fellow artists. A big thank you to my friends and collectors who came out to the opening reception and/or visited this wonderful exhibit during the month of the show. I have a few pictures to share:

Chatting with collector Ellis Glover and fellow artist Susan Glazier during the reception.

Midsummer Night's Dream hanging in the exhibit.

Visiting with collectors Mrs. Marjorie Bertman, Dr. David Bertman and Mr. Ellis Glover during the opening reception.

My talented young voice student, Ryan Alexander, Midsummer and me at the gallery reception.

Birth of Mars hanging in the exhibit.

Gallery shot of the Female Form exhibit.

To check out what is currently happening the Workhouse Art Center, visit
www.workhousearts.org/calendar.php

The Road Less Travelled By, Detail

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzUm0wqhE7E

The Road Less Travelled By

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

For a wonderful rendition of this poem by Alan Bates, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzUm0wqhE7E . Union Bank of Switzerland, notwithstanding.

New Painting!

The Road Less Travelled By, 48 x 36 inch, oil on canvas
A girl rides a unicycle in a tree, with her party hat on.

Women Interpreting the Female Form

Two of my paintings, Midsummer Night’s Dream & Birth of Mars have been selected to hang in the juried exhibition "Women Interpreting the Female Form" at the Workhouse Arts Center. The exhibit runs from March 2-27 in Gallery W-16. www.workhousearts.org/events/392/women-interpreting-the-female-form--juried-exhibition,-march-2--27/

There will be an opening reception Sunday, March 6th, from 2 – 4PM. Friends are welcome! For directions and a map of the workhouse art center, visit www.workhousearts.org/directions.php

Life!

Kaboodle in the music studio

Happy February, Valentines and New Year! It's one month into 2011 and life is moving along at its usual mad dash pace. All of the usual challenges keep me busier than a one armed paper hanger; painting, singing, teaching, organizing, submitting artwork and proposals, exercising the body, planning concerts, celebrating birthdays, finding time for fun and love with friends, hubby and family. Whew! I think it's time for a long winter's nap.

The art studio was particulary festive and busy this December; here are some pics of it festooned in holiday finery and felines:

New Commission

Interest in the Woodland painting has led to a commission based on the piece for an office space here in Northern Virginia. My client works with children with special needs and wants artwork for her space that exudes peace and healing energy. At her request, the new piece will be more in the blue palette with accents of rose and clear greens.

New Painting!

The first of a new style for me:


Woodland
30x40" acrylic, oil and liquid gold leaf on canvas

New Painting!

A new piece for my Song Cycle Show.


Lucy In the Sky
36x24" oil on canvas

Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds
The Beatles

Picture yourself in a boat on a river,
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies.
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly,
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green,
Towering over your head.
Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes,
And she's gone.

{CHORUS}
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Ah... Ah...

{VERSE 2}
Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain,
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies.
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers,
That grow so incredibly high.

Newspaper taxis appear on the shore,
Waiting to take you away.
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds,
And you're gone.

{CHORUS}

Picture yourself on a train in a station,
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties.
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile,
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes.

New Painting!

A new painting for my Song Cycle Show. Coming soon.


Singin' In the Rain
24x36" acrylic, oil and liquid silver leaf on canvas

My expression of this idea is on the dark side. If you read the lyrics thinking satire, you'll get it. In my piece, the universe "melts", the hand of the "almighty" is reaching, the umbrella is leaking, but we sing blithely on.

Lyrics:
Doo-dee-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dee-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dee-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dee-doo-doo-doo-doo...

I'm singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin',
Singin' in the rain

Dancin' in the rain
Dee-ah dee-ah dee-ah
Dee-ah dee-ah dee-ah
I'm happy again!
I'm singin' and dancin' in the rain!

New Paintings

One of 3 new pieces for my Song Cycle Show. Where and when are in the works.


A Stitch In Time 36x24" oil on canvas

Jethro Tull Song, A Stitch In Time
Lyrics

A stitch in time saves nine
Said Cock Robin from the wall.
It's an early bird catches the worm.
Show a little pride before you fall.
So I flew to the south sun with birds of a feather
to drink in the warm nights and tell of fine weather.

A stitch in time saves nine.
Said Cock Robin from the wall.
It's an early bird catches the worm.
Show a little pride before you fall.

Listen all you young folk your lives on a timetable,
clocking on twenty-one fly while you're able.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Said Cock Robin from the wall.
It's an early bird catches the worm.
Show a little pride before you fall.