July 12, 2019

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN SOLO EXHIBITION

I am thrilled to be painting a series of Inspirational Women --- these are incredible women who overcame hardships, broke records and blazed trails, shattering glass ceilings along the way.

Inspirational Women, Work in Progress

From May 7 through June 2, 2020, I will be filling a gallery with oil paintings of women who make you feel inspired, confident and ready to make a difference in the world. My solo exhibition will take place at the Hutson Gallery at the Chester County Art Association in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Follow on Facebook and Instagram as the family of Inspirational Women grows!

Inspirational Women. May 7 through June 2, 2020. Opening reception May 7 and artist talk May 14, 2020. Chester County Art Association, 100 N. Bradford Road, West Chester, PA 19382.

July 12, 2019

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MALALA YOUSAFZAI

Happy 22nd Birthday to the fearless change maker, Malala Yousafzai!

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. In 2008, the Taliban took control of her town in Swat Valley and banned girls from attending school. Malala was 11 years old. The following year, she wrote a secret blog for the BBC under a pseudonym, detailing her life under Taliban control. In 2012, while on a bus, Malala was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban in retaliation for her activism. Following her recovery, Malala became an activist for the right to education, establishing the Malala Fund, a nonprofit organization that fights for the right for girls’ education. The goal of the organization is to ensure 12 years of free, safe and quality education for every girl. She is the recipient of many awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize.

“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” ~Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai’s oil painting portrait will be on display during my Inspirational Women solo exhibition at the Hutson Gallery at the Chester County Art Association in West Chester, PA, May 7 - June 4, 2020. Opening reception: May 7, 2020. Artist talk: May 14, 2020.

June 12, 2019

POLYPHARMACIZED: THE FACE OF AUTISM

In creating “Polypharmacized: The Face of Autism,” a 48” x 60” painted sculpture made from over 1,200 prescription pill bottle parts, I show my concern for my adult son Justin and those with autism, vulnerable people.  

Friends, family, neighbors, Pat the postal clerk, Rita our developmental pediatrician's executive assistant, Justin's babysitters and many more saved the orange bottles. After 10 years, I had amassed over a thousand that I stored in huge black trash bags. Never sure how the bottles would be used, I just knew they were important.

Over a period of two months, I painted my son’s portrait on a raised panel, primed over 1,200 pill bottle parts and adhered each to the panel. I then painted each pill bottle and finished with a protective varnish.

Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are a highly medicated population and polypharmacy, defined as "the simultaneous use of multiple drugs to treat a single ailment or condition," is a significant concern. My goal in creating "Polypharmacized: The Face of Autism" is to get conversations started. For parents to know it's okay to ask their child's physician why multiple medications are being prescribed. Will one or two medications do the job instead of three or four? Let's try! It's time to step away from the prescription pad.

May 27, 2019

PRIZE WINNING MIXED MEDIA PAINTING, A CUT ABOVE

I am happy to share that "A Cut Above" was awarded the 3rd place honor during the 3rd Annual Juried Show: Mixed Media at the Bethlehem House Contemporary Art Gallery in historic downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Director and Curator Ward Van Haute and Co-Director Kate Hughes presented the cash prize.

In "A Cut Above," my 24" x 30" mixed media flower painting, I used acrylic paint, with pops of pastel and graphite to add life and depth.

Bethlehem House Gallery feels more like a friend's home, with walls painted in fun colors (different colors for each quarterly show, which amazes me) and handmade furniture. They make collecting art fun! 

I highly recommend a trip to Bethlehem House Contemporary Art Gallery, located at 459 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA.

May 24, 2019

THE 2019 VOTES ARE IN

The votes are in! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for voting me your 2019 favorite Chester County Studio Tour artist for the second year in a row! The competition was steep, with 143 talented, professional artists. I am so humbled and grateful for all the support I received on my second showing on the tour. If I could hug each of you, I would.

And, many thanks to all of you who visited me in my tent in Downingtown, PA and shared your stories, laughed and purchased art.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! XoXo!

Thank you, THANK YOU, friends! XoXo

May 15, 2019

2019 CHESTER COUNTY STUDIO TOUR, STUDIO #12

The art highlight of May will be the Chester County Studio Tour, kicking off on Saturday, May 18 from 10 am to 6 pm, with the second and last day being Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 11 am to 5 pm.

A sampling of my work you will see at Studio #12 on the Chester County Studio Tour

 

The brainchild of talented pop artist Jeff Schaller, this famous open studio tour invites the public into 62 local art studios for an extraordinary inside look into artists' creative spaces. You have the opportunity to see the work of 144 artists.

Last year was such a huge success that I will be a guest artist again this year at the studio of Chester County gifted photographer Mike Fleck.You will want to make STUDIO #12 at 70 Highspire Rd., Downingtown, PA 19335 your FIRST STOP on the studio tour, as I will be offering something very special! Click HERE for details.

Come visit me and 4 fantastic artists at this year's Chester County Studio Tour this weekend at Mike Fleck’s Studio #12 in Downingtown, PA. 

Showing: Mike Fleck (photographer), Jessica Greet, (potter), Joe Milligan (painter), Sean Huntington (painter) and me, Merrill Weber (painter). A TWO DAY ART PARTY!

While you’re here, pop next door to Studio 11 and see six more artists: Jeff Schaller, David Haines, Lisa Muller, Dan Read,  Mia Schaller and George Watson.

Eleven artists in one stop! --> 70 Highspire Road, Downingtown, PA 19335

After you have visited our studios, head off through Chester County to see 32 more studios. More information is available HERE, including a printable tour map HERE.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU! XoXo!

 

May 14, 2019

2019 Chester County Studio Tour County Collector

The Chester County Studio Tour wants to make art affordable for everyone! 

As a participating artist in the Chester County Studio Tour, I was given the opportunity to create one unique 6x6-inch framed piece of original art that I will sell for $75 in order to show that art can be everywhere! This year, I created the oil painting "Five O'clock Martini" pictured above

The early bird gets the worm, or my County Collector piece in this case. The first person to visit me once the show opens has FIRST DIBS!  The show runs Saturday, May 18 from 10 am to 6 pm, with the second and last day being Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 11 am to 5 pm. Rain or shine! 

SEE 11 ARTISTS WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE YOUR CAR!

I will be a guest artist at the studio of Chester County photographer Mike Fleck.  You will want to make STUDIO #12 at 70 Highspire Rd., Downingtown, PA 19335 your FIRST STOP on the studio tour.  Click HERE for directions to Studio #12. 

Artists you will find at Studio #12:

Mike Fleck

Merrill Weber
Joe Milligan

Jessica Greet
Sean Huntington 

Right next door, you will find Studio #11, with artists:

Jeff Schaller

David Haines

Lisa Muller

Dan Read

Mia Schaller

George Watson

Click HERE to download the map pictured below. Can't wait to see you at STOP #12!

Click HERE to see fun pics from last year's Chester County Studio Tour. 

From the tour's website:  Whether this is your first time buying original art or you are a seasoned collector, the tour now has something for everyone. In some instances, a favorite artist might be out of someone's price range, but now with the County Collectors' Club, art is within reach. Some art enthusiasts are out of wall space yet enjoy the thrill of adding new art to their collection. This becomes possible with the County Collectors Club since the pieces are considered normal.

All County Collector pieces are uniform in size and framed with a simple, elegant black frame. To assure quality and uniqueness, all pieces will have a specially-marked certificate printed on the back commemorating this year's studio tour. The County Studio Tour is asking the artist to create only one commemorative piece of art, so plan your day and get out early to ensure you have art on your walls by Monday!