Snow Day!

Photo B.Grady

   Due to the white stuff classes will  be cancelled tonight:(.

PAINTING THE POND
More quick studies

November 24th 2013, 4" x 6", Oil , B.Grady

November 18th 2013, 4" x 6", Oil , B.Grady

Sunset on Heminway Pond- photo B.Grady

November 17 9:30 AM

 Quick Morning Study on Heminway Pond- B.Grady

An Update On Everything That's Gone On Lately

I know, not the most creative title:)! but what can I say we've been kind of crazy busy:)! It's good thing. So here's the news!

 "Conversation With Pieter and Paul", Combined Media Digital and Acrylic , B.Grady

I will be presenting a lecture on my work at Post University on November 19th from 1-2:30 in McDermid Hall Auditorium. The talk will encompass the recent  community based projects I have been involved with that contemplate the effect of industrialized agriculture on the environment.  For those who are unfamiliar with my work, these projects have included "Plight of the Pollinators," Animals in the City, "Crop Circle," and "Glut." The lecture is the first in a series of visiting artist  presentations that the university will be hosting. The artist's talk  is free and open to the public. A special thank you! to Ginger Hanrahan and John Rohlfing of the Post University Art Department for this invitation!
 

 Here's the press release for this event.

 Image by Jay Foster

"Ms. Grady will discuss her experience creating and curating community based art projects that focus on issues in the environment. She works either as the principal artist producing works for exhibition or the initiator of these endeavors.

Most recently, Ms. Grady collaborated with the Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust on Plight of the Pollinators. The central premise of the show, which featured an international group of artists, was to raise awareness of the vital importance of pollinators in maintaining the health of our food and eco-systems. The project involved a six-month program that incorporated interdisciplinary practices, educational art/science workshops, lectures, and resource information through both physical and social media platforms. 
The culminating exhibition was held at the “Field Projects” exhibition space in Watertown, CT.

 Image by Jay Foster

In her presentation Ms. Grady will discuss her work, and the natural development of ideas and how it feeds the creative process. In addition, she will describe how her work is applied to community development and awareness and gives artists an opportunity to engage in collaborative initiatives that push the boundaries of the traditional art practice. A reception with light refreshments will follow the talk".

 Animal or Vegetable 1, 12" x 12", Oil on Panel , B.Grady

I have also been selected for  the Manifest International PaintingAnnual 4 (INPA 4) for the still life piece "Animal or Vegetable 1", which is an extention of the "Crop Circle" project and subtly alludes to questions around the genetic engineering of food.
This is the second time I have had the privilege of being selected for this international competition. The painting "Conversation with Pieter and Paul"  from the "Glut" project was published in the first year of this painting  competition, the INPA 1. Last year a work commissioned Dianne Parmalee of  the Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust to raise funds for their animal program was also selected for  Manifest's International Drawing Annual (INDA 7). 
Dianne was a main instigator and collaborator the Plight of the Pollinators project that resulted from that drawing!).  

Artist- Ben Ni

A selection of works from the Crop Circle project are currently on exhibit at the LQM Gallery  located on 165 State Street, Harris Building Atrium, Suite 106 in New London, Connecticut, where I was an invited participant for a panel discussion on women in the arts. 




The panel was put together by Qimin Liu, Professor of Painting at Eastern Connecticut State University and  Iranian- American artist Afarin Rahmanifar, who was the moderator for the panel. Middlebury artist Leeah Joo was also an invited panelist. 

                                                                                                                              

The panel discussion included the four Chinese women artists taking part in the ICAS (International Contemporary Art Space) International Residency program hosted by LQM Gallery. The main exhibition, "East Meets West;An Exploration of Women Artists and Cultural Impact", featured Ben Ni, Guan Yuling, Xu Chunli,Zhang Shuyun. My paintings are still on view there until the end of November by the gracious extension of gallery director Qimin Liu.

 Leeah Joo

Afarin Rahmanifar

 Leeah Joo was also the consulting artist in the winning animation piece submitted by Westover School Students for the Plight of the Pollinator's  exihibition. 

Both Afarin  Rahmanifar and Leeah Joo were featured in Carina Tautu's  documentary film " Where Beauty Lies" sponsored by the The Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center commissioned this  film to document the Josephine McMillen and Lois Livingston McMillen Exhibit. The film explored the studio lives of five contemporary  Connecticut women artists including Mia Brownell, Susan Madacsi and Eleanor Miller. Check out the video below.

     

The LQM Gallery is beautiful so if you are looking for a day trip this weekend head on over to LQM in New London!

 OR 

Check out our  exhibition of Hollis Dunlap's Drawings. This small selection of drawings will be on view until the end of the month. Gallery Hours 12PM-5PM Weekends and by Appointment. 860-417-3243

Painting by Qimin Liu -LQM Gallery

Hollis Dunlap Workshop Pics

Hollis Dunlap Demo

 A sincere Thank You!! goes out to everyone who made the Hollis Dunlap Workshop this past weekend. And a special thanks to Hollis!

It was a great weekend at the studio! We got to meet some new friends and talented painters from both coasts along with some new artists in  our own home state.

Hollis gave great instruction and an extremely informative demonstration throughout the class. I'll have to say I thought my palette was limited but I really am taken by the simplicity of his 4 color palette!








I highly recommend this talented painter as a mentor if one gets an opportunity to study with him! 
I should have taken more pictures but I was too engrossed in the experience:)!


 

Sarah LaRose, Hollis Dunlap, Suchitra Bhosle

Hollis has graciously allowed us to extend his show of drawings until the end of the month. The hours are weekends, 12-5PM and by appointment. Call or email the Studio at  860-417-3243 or bgrady@bridgetgrady.com

Image left
Father and Daughter team Joel and Sarah LaRose

Image Right - Alfonsina Betancourt, Suchritra Boshle, Carroll MacDonald, Hollis Dunlap,Veronica Smucker

  Carroll MacDonald, Yolanda Mazzoni, And the elusive Rita whose lovely image cannot be captured  through the lens :)!
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!!!

Hollis Dunlap Drawing Exhibition Gallery Hours

Drawings by Hollis Dunlap 

 Hollis Dunlap

For the folks who missed last week's awesome "Sketch Jam," featuring Kristie Holiday on Vocals and Jay Foster on guitar and the concurrent opening for Hollis Dunlap's  exhibition of selected drawings, the gallery will open this weekend!

The exhibition hours at in our Field Projects Gallery Space at Blue Horse Arts Studio are  this Saturday and Sunday November 2nd & 3rd 12PM -5PM and by appointment.



Hollis Dunlap will also be holding a two day intensive Figure Painting Workshop on November 9th and 10th from 9AM- 4PM.  Click Here for more information or call 860-417-3243.

Hollis Dunlap

Sketch Jam Today! Drawings by Hollis Dunlap

JFOSTERMUSIC.COM

 Drawings by Hollis Dunlap Opens Today!!

Next Sunday SKETCH JAM and Drawing Show!

Here's what's coming up next weekend:)

Kristie Holiday

 Kristie Holiday

Our semi regular Sketch Jam will be taking place next Sunday! This Sketch Jam will featuring Kristie Holiday on vocals and Jay Foster on guitar!
Well versed in both music performance and production, Ms. Holiday’s sultry, soulful, vocals are at home in a myriad of musical genres from Jazz to Country to R&B to Ska and much, much more. Kristie has performed on both sides of the proverbial “pond” at places like Jazz After Dark in London and Wally’s Jazz Café in Boston.

  

Drawing by Hollis Dunlap

New London artist Hollis  Dunlap will also be presenting a selection of his drawings which will be on view for a few weeks.Hollis will be giving a  Figure Painting workshop at Blue Horse Arts on Nov. 9th and 10th. There are  only one,possibly two spaces left for this Figure Drawing Workshop.   So Sign up while you can!!!!

 

 

Drawing by Hollis Dunlap

Along with a nice opportunity to view Hollis Dunlap's drawings up close and personal this could also be one of the last chances we'll get to hear Kristie in the States for awhile as she moving to Great Britain next month!  So don't Miss it !

 COME ON DOWN!!!!!!!

 www.jfostermusic.com

WHAT'S A SKETCH JAM?

For the uninitiated, The Sketch Jam is a free musical event in which artists, music lovers, and the generally curious, are invited to come and draw, listen, crochet, or just hang out.  So please come down and bring some friends on Sunday, October 27^th from 3 till 5 pm. J Foster Music and Blue Horse Arts Studios are located at 250 Porter St. in Watertown. Call (860) 417-3243 for more info.

P.S. We really love interpretive dancers;)! 

 and we feed jya:)!

Lights, Camera, Action It's Peyton's Place!!

 Early Morning on Porter Street

You know I just couldn't resist this blog title.  
It's been a way busy week here at the studio.  We thought we'd share a little of the behind the scenes film-making that took place at Blue Horse Arts and Jay Foster Music Studios in the early morning hours of Friday. ESPN producer Jalaine Edwards contacted us to ask if it would be possible to use the space as a set for  the Peyton Manning Homecoming teaser!

The Studio Before

 And of course we said that would be possible:)!
 
The teaser will be airing tomorrow on the Sunday NFL Countdown at 10AM and then again at 11:55 ish in case you are sleeping in:)! The teaser concept is staged as Peyton Manning's Art Gallery. So for the short time being "Field Projects" is Football Field Projects:)!

                            DON'T MISS IT!!

Peyton "Paintings"

 Producer Jalaine with Film Crew director Charlie

 Looking Forward to Jalaine's Magic of Editing in the Morning!

 
 

Testing Testing Testing

 Heeeeeere's Peyton!