Lucy In the Sky Receives Honorable Mention Award, Space and Form Show, FCCA

I was thrilled to learn that I would have a piece included in the national show, Space and Form, at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts this March, and I was very excited to learn last night, that "Lucy in the Sky" was selected for Honorable Mention by juror, Jerry Shapiro of the Red Door Gallery in Richmond, Virginia. www.fccava.org/main_gal/3-14/"

The Space and Form show is open through the end of the month at FCCA, which is located in the heart of historic Fredericksburg. If you head down for a weekend jaunt, you'll find a wide variety of quality restaurants, galleries and shops, a beautiful park with paths alongside the river and an intimate, small town atmosphere.

To learn more, visit hwww.fccava.org/

Brad and I attended the opening reception last night, and we were swept up in a flurry of wonderful artwork and interesting conversation. The reception at FCCA was well attended by artists, collectors and appreciators of art of all kinds. I found myself chatting about everything from football to grand opera, and we truly had a wonderful time. Below are some pics of the occasion.

Lucy In the Sky
36 x 24" oil on canvas

Color and Form Show

It was wonderful to be included in this spectacular show at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts. The gallery space is a beautiful historical building and as the story goes, it comes with its own friendly ghost!

The first Friday reception was well attended and we enjoyed meeting the other artists, talking with juror Margery Goldberg and getting to know some of the wonderful staff at the center.

Some days after the reception, we visited the gallery to take a quieter look at the artwork presented. You can view other work presented in the show at the FCCA website at www.fccava.org/main_gal/7-13/"

Below are a just few pics from our visit:

For my email subscribers, please note a correction...The "Celebrate Color and Form" exhibit opens on Friday, June 28 at Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, but the public reception takes place on FRIDAY, July 5 at 6:00.

National Exhibit, Celebrate Color and Form

Exciting news!! The "Celebrate Color and Form" exhibit opens on Friday, June 28 at Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts. A public reception takes place on Friday, July 5 at 6:00. I am thrilled to have 2 pieces featured in this national exhibition. And...guess whose artwork is featured on their website? (o:

www.fccava.org/main_gal/7-13/

About FCCA: Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts is located in a refurbished silversmith's house built circa 1785. A partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA) is the oldest art center in the greater Fredericksburg area and hosts two art galleries, art classes, and various special events. It was founded by some of Fredericksburg’s leading residents in October 1963. For nearly half a century FCCA has evolved into a leading visual arts center, and for the last two decades has maintained a national presence. FCCA’s juried art exhibits are well subscribed and usually include artwork from nationally recognized artists, as well as from regional artists located in Virginia, Maryland, and DC.

Chorus, 30 x 40" oil on canvas

Lady Sings the Blues, 40 x 30" oil on canvas

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.