Art-A-Whirl : This Weekend

It's that time of year again! Art-a-Whirl is just around the corner.

 For those of you out of towners, or those who have been living under a rock for the past 18 years, Art-a-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country. It’s a great opportunity to tour private artist studios and galleries, connect with the artists, and purchase original artwork.

Art-A-Whirl takes place annually in Northeast Minneapolis, the third weekend of May. This event is free and open to the public.





2013 Dates and Hours:

Friday, May 17th -  5:00-10:00 p.m.

Saturday,  May 18th -  Noon-8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 19th -   Noon-5:00 p.m.

This year I am displaying/selling my work at the Grain Belt Building - 79 13th Ave NE.  Stop by and say hello!

Friday Funday: New Finds

Today I had a bit of a 'Friday Funday' adventure. I stopped by the ol' MCAD and discovered that their senior shows are up. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay long, so I only saw a few of the exhibits that are displayed on the main floor.

I did find 3 illustrator's works that I really enjoyed and wanted to share.

Kelsey King
had a wonderful 12 month calendar of Women and Wolves. I love the juxtaposition between the  whimscal nature of women and motion and the fierce looks in their eyes. Very beautifully done.

 

Here are a few more lovely illustrations from Miss King.  (all images from the artist's website)

Kim Bogeman
had a lovely display on of feminane portraits painted both traditionally and digitally. Sadly, I didn't document her display, and I see that the final product not quite up yet on her blog - but just trust me. It is lovely.
Here are some of the pieces from her senior show (from the artist's website)

More illustrations from Miss Bogeman:

Maximilian Queripel: 
Had a book with some gruesome, yet colorful and playful illustrations. I love the organic shape his illustrations posses. There's a lot going on without being overly complicated or filling every inch of the page. Sometimes less is more, and I think Mr. Queripel has nailed it. 

More from Max: (all images from the artist's website)

The Broadside Project

I recently was asked to participate in Red Bird Chapbook's Broadside Project, which connects artists and writers in a blind collaboration to produce a monthly broadside/poster that is displayed at local Twin Cities gathering spots.

"This is for you"

Cool girl in stovepipe jeans
lighting a smoke at the bus stop,
your back to me,
me remembering
a morning, hot like this,
rising in the dark,
leaving early for work, going
to a job I tried not to hate
after dreaming for the first time ever
in sad-sack black
and white, up so early
I caught the grass unawares,
in the act, the lascivious
blades beneath the evergreen boughs
saying to hell with it, keeping on, spawning
weeds regardless of my presence.
It wasn’t a storybook dawn.
It was rawer than that. More like
a caterpillar turning monarch,
cesarean-cutting
the body of a chrysalis,
birthing perfect orange, perfect green.
I bore witness to it all. I was not
the me I had hoped to be.
“Before ripe turns to rot,” I said, I say,
“open your mouth. Swallow yourself.”
-Matt Mauch

Experience Art This Weekend

 

Comic Artists at the Opera & Brewer's Craft @ Altered Esthetics / Fri 7pm-10pm

Lowertown First Friday @ Lowertown Arts District / Fri 6pm-9pm

First Friday Films featuring visual/video Artist Cheryl Wilgren Clyne @ Minnesota Museum of American Art Project Space / Fri 7pm

ARTCRANK 2013 @ Grainbelt Bottling House / Sat 5pm-11pm

Flood @ Form+Content Gallery / Sat 6pm-8pm

Visceral Dysentery @ SooVAC / Sat 7pm-11pm

Reconstructed Space @ Rosalux Gallery / Sat 7pm-10pm

Deviant Art: Dispelling Myths V @ Northrup King Building #322 / Sat 3pm-9pm

Daniel Corrigan Photography Opening @ Maeve's Cafe / Sun 6pm

Details on these events and more via l'étoile magazine's Weekend What's What here: http://www.letoilemagazine.com/2013/04/04/weekend-whats-what-44-47/ as well as via arts calendars at mplsart.com and mnartists.org.

I know I'll be hitting up Artcrank! See you kids there.  

xoxo, K

Play Time

Lately I've been trying to work on developing backgrounds and environments in my illustrations. Here's a personal piece I've just finished - "Play Time"

Enjoy!





















copyright Karen O'Bryan, 2013

I Miss Your Face.

It's true. I do miss your face. Luckily I designed this card so I have a nice way of telling you so.

Available for purchase at I Like You in NE, Minneapolis.

Valentine

Valentine's Day Card - Now Available HERE

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! And you know, sometimes just saying "I love you" isn't quite enough.

To make the deal even sweeter, I'm having a SALE! Now through Valentine's Day.