Summer 2014 Visit to Wormfarm

I visited Wormfarm for the first time since January with Jami, a friend and fellow artist-in-residence from last summer. It was a short visit but we got to say hello to Jay and Donna, and meet Lawton, a musician and current artist-in-residence, as well as this years Residency Manager, Loey, a flower essence therapist.

The Magical Barn-my home.

The swallow painting Pilar made last year. I thought it was fitting to photograph Pilar's favorite kitty, Jem under her work.

Dear Crookshanks.

I somehow forgot what a great friend he was to me last summer but he made sure I remembered.

Honey, lookin' a mess. I think she was molting.

Little Relly Belly (the black one) always looking so startled.

Dino.

Sunbathing!

This guy...Turkey the rooster was killed and eaten while this rooster remains...

We worked in the garden in the morning like old times.

Wormfarm from across the neighbors corn field.

Jami and Trouser.

Jami and I went foraging for black caps.

We visited Orange Cat Community Farm to see our friends, Laura, Katie and Little Anne (pictured above) and made delicious pizza with fresh ingredients from the farm!

Jami and I spent the night staring at the stars (and lighting sparklers with Lawton) and the day soaking up the sun (and meditating with Loey).

I am a Fartist. A farmer/artist. My friend, Nick gave me the title!

In the garden where we got our hands dirty every day last summer.

I was sent home with these beauties! I have only had one dozen eggs since I left Wormfarm last October. I don't see the point of eating eggs if they don't taste like these.

But not really...

Wormfarm Speech at The American Academy of Art

Yesterday I gave my speech about my time as an artist-in-residence at the Wormfarm Institute in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.  It was a ton of fun to share my photos and experience with everyone.  I loved seeing my teachers and fellow students.  Thank you to all who came!

I did a lot of chicken talk.

Thanks Mr. Kennedy for the photos and thank you to Lindsay Harmon and The American Academy of Art for inviting me!  And thanks to Mr. Scribner for the organic cabbage from his garden!

Speaking at the American Academy of Art about my residency at The Wormfarm Institute

Tomorrow I will be speaking at The American Academy of Art (the college I graduated from in 2011) about my experience as an artist-in-residence at The Wormfarm Institute.  It will start at 1:05pm in the Bill L. Parks Gallery.

332 South Michigan Ave.

Chicago, IL 60604

I can't wait to tell everyone about Honey!

The Ladies Made it Safely to Wormfarm!

The Feathery Ladies of the Wormfarm Institute is in Reedsburg, Wisconsin for the 2012 Wormfarm Institute Artist Resident Show.  Opening reception is this Friday, October 12 from 5-8.  The work will be on display until the October 21st at the Woolen Mill Gallery.

Finishing Up the Chickens

The Wormfarm Institute 2012 Resident Artist Show will be from October 12-21 and I still have a bit to do for my epic chicken piece.  It's really just a matter of finishing Heneral Lee and sewing the ladies, eggs, and fried eggs to one sheet of fabric but I had better get a move on it!  

Goodbye Wormfarm - For Now

I finished my time as a resident artist at The Wormfarm Institute on June 21st.  I had a wonderful time and have grown as an artist and as a person.  The Wormfarm opened up a lot of possibilities for me and I am thankful for the experience.

The Wormfarm is part of a collaborative CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) called Wisconsin Home Harvest.  Before I left, I wrote a few paragraphs about my time spent at The Wormfarm for the Wisconsin Home Harvest newsletter that would be sent out to all the members of the CSA.  A photo of Honey and I was included as well!  Here is what I wrote:

I have been an artist in residence here at The Wormfarm Institute since May 20^th and will be leaving in a few days.  I was born and raised in Chicago and therefore have always been surrounded by concrete and dirty pigeons with missing toes.  Reedsburg, Wisconsin offered me something more natural and a chance to be connected to the animals and land surrounding me. 

The chickens were the highlight of my stay.  All those beautiful, feathery, plump ladies running to me all at once in hopes that I had something good for them to eat.   Much of my time here was spent watching them and learning their habits.  I admired the way they bathed in the sun.  They would lie down, sprawl out their wings and legs, close their eyes and tilt their heads towards the sun, taking every ray in.   Food is their main obsession.  They roam The Wormfarm searching for bugs and greenery to snack on throughout the day.  Their wide variety of nourishment is the cause for the most golden yolks I have ever seen in an egg.  These ladies are living the life and their eggs are the proof of that!

Relish, Honey, and Heneral Lee are the names I have given my three favorite hens.  They stood out from all the rest and were the inspiration for much of the artwork I created while here.  It breaks my heart to say goodbye, but I know I will be back.

First Day as an Artist in Residence at Wormfarm Institute!

My mom drove me to Wormfarm Institute yesterday morning.  We knew we were in the right place because a chicken was in the road...such pleasant way to be welcomed!  I had to get out of the car and let her know we needed the road for just a second.

It is beautiful here.  My mind is free so I can paint and sew.  I have never been to a place so green and open.  

These cows are here to graze and fertilize the land.  They rotate them across the land.  Staying in one place for a few days then moving them on to another.  

Toonces/Stuffy (I have heard two different names for him) the cat in front of my huge and bright studio!  What a friendly cat.  He runs around all day and pops out in unexpected places.  So do the two dogs, Mister and Trouser.

Barn Swallows fly around the basement of the barn.  They zip around my head.  Tiny little birds.

Last day in New York

Yesterday was our last day in New York.  We came home this early morning.  We stopped by Dun-Well Doughnuts one last time.

Then we visited Central Park for three hours.  We love it there!

A beautiful day!

Later that night we went to the opening reception for The Society of Illustrators Student Show.  Jacob's piece was accepted into the show.  Check out Jacob's blog here, he is super talented.

I am going to miss this boy.  Tomorrow morning I leave for Wisconsin for my artist residency at Wormfarm Institute.  I am nervous because I have never been far from home and on my own, but I am excited to grow as an artist and farmer.  I have so many ideas and I can't wait to get started.  

I have been accepted as an Artist in Residence at Wormfarm Institute!

I found out a few days ago that I have been accepted to be an artist in residence at the Wormfarm Institute from May 20th to June 15th in Reedsburg, Wisconsin! I am so excited. I will have a month to work on a farm and create some new artwork. This will be my first time away from home for a long period of time without friends or family. The residency will be an amazing growing experience for me. I will blog about my days there too!

I started the day out right with some Mango Sticky Rice! :0 ) I have tried 2 recipes so far that weren't quite right and finally the third recipe is perfect! Here is the recipe. The only thing I did differently is add a pinch of salt to the sauce and add some mint to the plate. Also, if you never have had this before, I recommend putting the mango in a fridge, it's super yummy to eat warm rice and cold mango together!

A rock painting I finished. I wanted to study the many colors I was seeing in the rocks at Lake Michigan, the shape was less important. This is 10.5 x 13.5 inches, watercolor and acrylic.

I painted my duck eggs I bought from King's Hill Farm. I loved the pristine shape of the eggs and the varieties of colors and sizes I saw in my dozen. But the painting did not turn out as nice as thought it would. I still liked the eggs though so I cut them out and created the piece below. This piece was 11 x 14 inches, watercolor, marker.

I hand sewed the watercolored eggs onto the fabric (something I have been wanting to try for a while now) and it worked wonderfully. I can't wait to do more with paper and fabric. This is 23 x 23 inches, fabric, watercolor, marker, paper.