Art Open Studio

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Well, I guess that I have now been officially sculpting so long that I have little memory of sculpting the child’s portrait shown here. See what a delight it is to be moving and sorting through all kinds of hidden “treasures”? This little boy was probably done around ten years ago, shortly after I took a portrait class with sculptor Eugene Daub at a workshop in Colorado. This piece is water-based clay and was never finished. However, plastic garbage bags do not really keep in the water; they simply delay the drying out. You can see how the unfired clay cracked as it dried: Kind of a cool effect.

So, come on out and see what other surprises there are. I am also having a moving sale and selling or giving away art supplies in several fields (photography, fabric arts, sculpture, etc.)

Kelly Borsheim’s Open Studio and Moving Sale
October 14 - 16, 2011
Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day

Borsheim Arts Studio
223 Greystone Lane, Unit A
Cedar Creek, Texas 78612 USA
Tel. 512.303.3929

This second image was taken during my recent book signing at the Community Renaissance Market (CRM) in Austin, Texas. Susan Wenck is showing of her new copy of my book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy.” She is standing in her shop called “Renaissance Apothecary” and showing off (on her hand) the big Pandorus Sphinx Moth” that was discovered just outside of CRM.

Incidentally, I am starting to get feedback from people who have received their shipped copies of my book. The wonderful thing is that a few have been so pleased that they have placed GIFT orders now! One new book owner, sculptor Gene Piersa in Minnesota wrote:
Thanks Kelly. The Book arrived in perfect shape, I felt excitement on every page I turned. Bottom Line, I Love the book content and the quality overall.
Hugs and Best Wishes,
Gene P.

P.S. Happy birthday to my sister Danielle who flies into Texas tonight to see her new nephew!

Art Open Studio Texas

Dear friend,
Well, I have just spent the last 16 hours or so trying to figure out why I cannot send out my art newsletter to my subscription list. So, I am hoping that Facebook and my blog here will get the word out to most of you who would like to know about the following events. First one is TODAY!
Thank you for your continuing interest.
'night (nap time) and see you at the book signing later today,
Kelly

CONTENTS of Borsheim Art News:
* Invitation to Last Open Studio
* Book Signings - Austin, Texas: “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy”
* Subscription Info.


Dear Art Lover,

Hello again. I just wanted to send you an invitation to my last Open Studio in the place that I have lived and worked for over 20 years.

October 14 - 16, 2011
Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day

Borsheim Arts Studio
223 Greystone Lane, Unit A
Cedar Creek, Texas 78612 USA
Tel. 512.303.3929
Online directions:
http://borsheimarts.com/map.htm

Besides letting you see the near-finished marble “Gymnast” that I hope that you have been following the creation of via my blog, I will also be introducing two new works. Both are inspired by the divorce that I have been going through this year. The first is a bronze “The Unwritten Future” and the second one is a 30” x 40” oil painting titled “New Year’s Eve.” Images will have to wait until my next newsletter.

While this kind of thing is never really happy, per se, I am not trying to share depression or anything dramatic. And moving offers opportunities for many, including an array of good deals on selected artworks, time to visit, and also a sale of a variety of art supplies and random goodies that I just cannot take with me. I hope that you will come out to this event or the few others I have before I leave Texas in November.

For details about all the future events, please visit my exhibits page:
www.borsheimarts.com/exhibits.htm

##################

Book Signings - Austin, Texas:

While you may order my new book "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” online at:
http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm
you may also pick it up at the following events in Austin, Texas, this week:

Book Signing - North Austin: Today 6 October 2011
6 - 8 p.m.
hosted by the Art Space and Austin Visual Arts Association (AVAA)
Austin Art Space
7739 Northcross Drive
Austin, Texas 78757


Book Signing - South Austin: Saturday 8 October 2011
4 - 6 p.m.
hosted by The Curioseum inside the Community Renaissance Market
Community Renaissance Market
6800 West Gate Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78745


Wrote Mary Condon, Mayor of Florence, Texas, "I love your book. I can barely put it down to do my work. I would like to order two more . . . "
[If you have already placed your order: I expect to ship books on Tuesday, October 11 since Monday is a postal holiday.]

*******

I hope to see or hear from you soon. Thank you for reading and sharing in my adventures. By all means, forward these invitations to anyone you think would enjoy them.

Pace (peace),

Kelly Borsheim

--
Borsheim Arts Studio
http://borsheimarts.com E-mail: sculptor@borsheimarts.com
Exploring our Internal Thoughts and How Our Bodies Express Them
223 Greystone Lane Unit A, Cedar Creek, Texas (USA) 78612
Telephone: (512) 303-3929 (local to Austin)

P.S. If you enjoy Borsheim Art News, please forward it to friends and colleagues. It comes to you about 6-8 times a year from Cedar Creek, Texas and Florence, Italy-based artist Kelly Borsheim. And on the contrary, if for any reason you would prefer to unsubscribe from this newsletter, just respond to this message with your wishes. Thank you.

Details Stone Carving

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

It is not all in the details, but the details can offer fun little bonuses. These images show the beginning of my carving marble shapes into the hair band on the ponytail of the “Gymnast.” This is another case of a seemingly open space to work in that is actually not: There is not really enough room for me to get in an electric rotary tool to carve the small spheres in the band at all the angles I would like to reach. The legs that point to the sky in her pike position get in the way. Still, I hope that the details will be worth the efforts.

Below, you are invited to come over to say hello, during my upcoming book signings. The first is in North Austin this Thursday, while the second is in South Austin this Saturday. The book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” is getting good reviews, including this one:

Says Mary Condon, Mayor of Florence, Texas, "I love your book. I can barely put it down to do my work. I would like to order two more . . . "

Book Signing – North Austin:

Thursday, 6 October 2011
6 - 8 p.m.

Book signing for "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"
hosted by the Art Space and Austin Visual Arts Association (AVAA)
Austin Art Space
7739 Northcross Drive
Austin, Texas 78757
www.austinartspace.com

Book Signing – South Austin:

Saturday, 8 October 2011
4 - 6 p.m.

Book signing for "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"
hosted by The Curioseum inside the Community Renaissance Market
Community Renaissance Market
6800 West Gate Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78745

Book Signing Street Art Florence Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I am delighted to announce that I received the proof copy of my new book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” and it looks great! There are over 330 images in the book and while I did try to focus on the art, there are images of the artists who create the paintings. I also wrote about various issues that street artists face, including our struggles with taxes and government and the joys of sharing the street.

I placed my first order for the books, which should arrive before October. And so, I am offering a very SHORT-LIVED Special Offer:

Pre-printing sales offer:
Signed copy $25 + $5 shipping (anywhere in the world)
[regular price for unsigned book = $28.95 + shipping]
Offer Expires 28 September 2011
Do not forget to include the name(s) you would like me to write into the book signing.

To order, please visit my home page:
http://borsheimarts.com
and you may pay safely with PayPal
or
send a check to me for the proper amount, depending on your book quantities to:
223A Greystone Lane, Cedar Creek, Texas 78612
and then send me an e-mail to lock in your rate. I will reserve a book for you.

##################

Calendar: Art Events:

My time in central Texas is coming to a close soon, so I do hope that I get to see you before I leave. Here is what I have planned thus far:

~ 1-2 October: Stone Carving Competition, The Vineyard at Florence (Texas)
~ Thursday, 6 October, 6 - 8 p.m.: Book Signing - ArtSpace, Austin, Texas
~ Saturday, 8 October, 4 - 6 p.m.: Book Signing - Community Renaissance Market, Austin, Texas
~ 14-16 October: Kelly's Last Open Studio in Texas
~ 22-23 October: Sculpture Show, Wesley Gallery, Dripping Springs, Texas
~ 25 October - 14 November: One-man exhibit, Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas
~ Saturday, 5 November: Quattro Gallery, Artist's reception (evening, time to be announced)
~ Saturday, 12 November, 2 - 5 p.m.: Book Signing - Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas

This coming weekend:

1 & 2 October:
Saturday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

2011 Stone Carving Competition and Fine Arts Festival
The Vineyard
8711 FM 487
Florence, Texas 76527
Contact: KAMBRAH GARLAND at 512-924-7447 or ph. 254.793.3363
www.thevineyardatflorence.com E-mail: stonecarvingevent@gmail.com
The competition will be judged on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm by no less than 3 independent judges. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places will be given.


For details about all the future events, please visit my exhibits page:
http://www.borsheimarts.com/exhibits.htm

Straccetto Toto de Angelis

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Toto de Angelis (aka Straccetto) breathed his last breath this evening in Italy. Or, as his niece Anna Innocenzi wrote, “Il cielo da questo momento non solo sarà profumato di lavanda...ma sarà pieno di tanti colori...ZIO TOTO STRACCETTO CI HA LASCIATO.............” ["The sky in this moment is no longer perfumed with lavender, but it will be full of many colors. Uncle Toto "Stracetto" has left us."]

Toto was born on 31 March 1948 in Rome. At an early age, he was stricken with polio, which left him with a permanent limp. He had a difficult childhood in a ghetto in Roma, with a father who was in and out of prison. As he got older, Toto sold lavender from a cart that rarely left him. He often admired the work of the madonnari, who created devotional paintings on the street, but it was not until 1982 that he began to try his untrained hand in art. He painted consistently once he got going, teaching himself mostly, and in 2003, he began to receive recognition from such events as the street painting competition in Grazie di Curtatone in northern Italy.

Straccetto was arguably the most famous of all of the contemporary madonnari in Italy. Even in my relatively short time street painting in Italy, it was not long before I met Toto. I was introduced to him on May 15, 2009, in Nocera Superiore, a small town in southern Italy that hosts an annual street painting competition each May. I noticed him at another table before I understood that he was also an artist. His face caught my attention and I remember thinking that he would make a tremendous portrait subject – what a sculptural face! It struck me as classically Italian and reminded me of the many Dante sculptures I have seen in that country.

He was always friendly to everyone and the night after we all finished our paintings that year, my colleague Johnny McGrogan and I got to share a drink with Toto and another true madonnaro Pino Vommaro (also from Roma). That was a pretty cool evening!

Toto was never far from his cart and in August 2010 at the competition in northern Italy, I saw that his dogs Mara and Valeria were with him as well. His art would be considered folk art, but like any true artist, he walked his own path and spoke with his own symbols in his work.

This blog post was intended to be about my new book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy.” In it, I shared a few of the images I have of Toto. But on the eve of his death, it feels wrong to try to sell anything to you in my tribute post to him.

That said, there is another situation that I was made aware of by my contacts on Facebook. The Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida recently experienced something quite unpleasant. The City’s Art Funding program just changed the rules on current applicants for those events happening this year. My understanding is that the Chalk Festival no longer is eligible because they are not “old enough” yet as a non-profit organization. However, this event is not new and they appear to have had an understanding that they had properly followed all of the rules and application guidelines (until they changed). They thought that they would be receiving a serious chunk of change to fund the many artists who have bought airplane tickets to arrive in Florida for the event, which is scheduled for 1-7 November. And it is a little late for them to be having this kind of funding surprise.

Check out their Web site and if you like what you see and would like to support them, whether or not you can attend this year, buy a catalog of the art, or make a donation in the name of Toto de Angelis. Maybe they can even create an award in his name for the artist who shows the most creative or story telling work. That would be a good way to honor Toto, as well as the history of street painters. Toto de Angelis was part of making street art into something more than a few small voices in one country.
http://www.chalkfestival.com

Art Calendar Book Signing

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Good grief, time moves with such fluidity! On the mornings that I have been home, I continue to work on the marble Gymnast. These images were taken about a month ago, but I am starting to run out of time and must really focus now on using my time well. I must say, though, that carving ears are really fun. In truth, I am only carving one ear since I wanted that asymmetrical look and have part of the figure’s pontail falling to one side and over the other ear. I find that the non-ear side is actually more difficult to carve. No doubt you have seen bronze figures in clothes in which the proportion of the body looks off. It is because the artist got lost in the fabric and forgot that clothes hang on a skeleton. Without clear reference points (in my case a jawbone), it is easy to lose one’s way.

Art Calendar

Here is what is happening in my neck of the woods and hopefully yours too:
1 October: Stone Carving Competition, The Vineyard at Florence (Texas)
Thurs, 6 October, 6 - 8 p.m.: Book Signing - ArtSpace, Austin, Texas
Saturday, 8 October, 4 - 6 p.m.: Book Signing - Community Renaissance Market, Austin, Texas
14-16 October: Kelly's Last Open Studio in Texas (Cedar Creek for the event)
22-23 October: Sculpture Show, Wesley Gallery, Dripping Springs, Texas
25 October - 14 November: One-man exhibit, Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas
Saturday, 12 November, 2 - 5 p.m.: Book Signing - Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas

After this last date, I will be heading to North Carolina, Florida, and then Italy.

My book is out and it looks great!

Do not live in Texas and would like a signed copy of my new book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy”? It has over 330 images and you may find out more about what is inside here.. But take advantage of a pre-printing special by visiting the special offer on my home page. Early Bird Offer expires 28 September 2011.

Finally, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome into the world my new nephew, August. He was born on 12 September and is a complete joy to our whole family.

10-Year Anniversary of September 11

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." ~ John F. Kennedy