Artwork of Terra Fine

Drawing Exhibited at the Duluth Art Institute

2012-01-01T16:35:00.002-06:00

Annual Membership Exhibition 2012

Duluth Art Institute
Great Hall Gallery
Duluth, MN

January 18th thru March 1st
Artist Reception: Wednesday, January 18th, 6:30 - 8:00pm

Exhibiting in Savage Arts Council's Juried Show

2011-06-09T18:17:00.001-05:00

Savage Art Studios & Gallery
Savage, MN

June 10 to July 14, 2011

Award Ceremony and Judge's Reception, Sunday June 12 from 11:30am to 2pm

Juror: Dale Redpath

The Body Beautiful: Life Drawing at DAI

2011-06-02T20:19:00.000-05:00

Having recently moved back to my home state of Minnesota, I had the desire to take some drawing classes to get back into the swing of things. The Duluth Art Institute offers some good classes open to the public; I chose their Life Drawing intensive, three evenings of drawing nude bodies. Since I primarily work from photographs, it was wonderful and challenging to work from a live model again. I had to perform more quickly, focusing on the gesture of the figure and less on the details. The goal was not to execute a finished work of art, but to study the body and add to your anatomy knowledge base. This, too, was difficult for me, since I always want to have a polished and complete drawing to show for my time.

The class had a nice array of students, from complete beginners to more advanced artists, which showed various styles. It is always inspiring to see how other people interpret the same subject matter and what approach they use for choosing their composition. Our instructor, artist Sarah Brokke, led us through multiple techniques and poses, ranging from 30 seconds to an hour. Having three different models to draw during the course of the program was refreshing, two females and one male. It ended much too soon for me; by the third and final evening I was just getting warmed up! What a great way to get those creative juices flowing, which I was definitely needing. Off to create!

Published Article in Siouxland Magazine

2011-03-24T15:53:00.000-05:00

The Spring 2011 edition of the Siouxland Magazine has arrived! I was honored to be asked to be this season's featured artist, showcasing three charcoal drawings from my "Relative Distance" portrait series. The article reads:

Relative Distance

By Terra Fine

“Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” ~ George Orwell

Regardless of age, gender, or cultural background, within all of us is the strong desire to be known and seen for who we truly are and not for how others perceive us. We long to be understood as a person, to connect with another human being, but we assume no one else can possibly feel our heartache or fears or longing. Judgments are often made based on age; the young are seen as reckless and naïve, the elderly as boring and out of touch. We think, how could she possibly understand, she’s just an old woman? Or, these kids today don’t know what life’s all about. We think they don’t know what it’s like to be me.

“Relative Distance”, my most recent series of charcoal portraits, focuses on this rift between generations. Within each portrait you see two people, physically so close, almost touching, yet the emotional distance between them seems unbearably vast. Each drawing is composed to reveal an intimate scene, as if we’ve stumbled upon a moment of tension, a point in the relationship where neither person can break through to the other. Assumptions have been made; walls have gone up; there is nothing more to be said.

In the portrait “Can You See Me At All?” two women stand, faces inches apart, without seeing each other. Both entrenched in their own thoughts, the younger with piercings and heavy makeup, eyes clenched, the older with lines creasing her face and lips drawn tight. Each woman both accuses and desperately seeks acknowledgement of the other with that one simple question. A similar scene is drawn in “How Could You Understand?” with evidence of sorrow and emotional isolation etched on the faces of two women, old and young, cast in deep shadow. There is a darkness present in these images, a sadness. As an artist and observer of people, I believe these conditions to be self-inflicted. We don’t have to feel so alone. If only we didn’t assume that our experiences were so unique, if only we saw others with our heart and not our eyes, if only we let ourselves be more vulnerable, if only we took the time to truly listen to each other, if only…

Perhaps an answer lies in the third portrait featured here, “Building Bridges”, where both the physical and emotional gaps are “bridged” by the extended hand of a child and the indulgent smile of an elder. Their eyes lock as they see the other and accept all that they behold. Perhaps it is their extreme distance in age that allows for this connection. The infant has not yet learned to be cynical and presumptuous and the elder has outgrown the need for it.

Terra Fine currently lives and works in Sioux City, Iowa. She received a B.A. in Fine Art at Western Washington University. Terra’s artwork has been recognized and exhibited internationally. For more information, visit www.terrafine.com.

Can You See Me At All?

How Could You Understand?

Building Bridges

Featured in Siouxland Magazine

2011-01-30T23:11:00.000-06:00

How Could You Understand?, Charcoal

I was recently contacted by Siouxland Magazine's editor Susan Fey to write an article about my artwork for the Spring 2011 edition. I've chosen to highlight three charcoal drawings from my "Relative Distance" series and discuss the ideas behind the work. As many of you know, the "Relative Distance" drawings focus on the rifts between generations, often showing a moment of tension or discord within a relationship. I'll post a copy of the article once it's published in a few months. In the meantime, happy art-making!

Commission Completed

2011-01-21T18:57:00.000-06:00

I recently competed this commissioned charcoal drawing of a lady here in Sioux City, Iowa. It was a gift from her long-time admirer and companion, who absolutely loved it. Though he did ask if they ever split up would he get a refund! He was just joking...I think...

"Drowning" at Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Conference

2010-11-28T14:51:00.003-06:00

Drowning Charcoal on Paper

I was recently asked to have a reproduction of my charcoal drawing "Drowning" be displayed at an upcoming Center for Substance Abuse Treatment conference. This federal agency awards grants that address substance abuse and mental health issues, and shares the results of these efforts through a variety of conferences. This particular conference will focus on how addiction affects adolescents, young adults and their families. CSAT will have a small addiction art gallery consisting of 14 works of art from the Addiction and Art book as part of their annual grantees meeting on Adolescent Treatment Effectiveness next month in Baltimore (December 14-16, 2010 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel). By invitation only, a wide range of partners (treatment providers, families, youth, community leaders, researchers and policymakers) will come together to discuss the latest advances in adolescent drug treatments, with a particular emphasis on the unique perspective of youth and their families. The 3-day meeting will draw about 750 participants.

Art and Healing at the Mayo Clinic

2010-11-22T18:43:00.002-06:00

Lobby at Mayo Clinic

While visiting my father at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota this past weekend, I was impressed with the integration of original artwork and interesting architecture there. The Mayo has an impressive art collection with works covering all media, including glass chandeliers by Dale Chihuly, paintings by Jacob Lawrence, bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, along with multiple stained glass windows and ethnographic art from cultures across Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. You can even take an art and architecture tour, self-guided with audio commentary or with a tour guide. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

Man and Freedom Ivan Mestrovic

When the Dr. William J. Mayo and his brother Dr. Charles H. Mayo opened the Mayo Clinic in 1914, they designed their building with a radical new idea: medical buildings should not only be clean and efficient but also inviting and interesting to the patients, staff and visitors. According to the Mayo Clinic's "Art and Healing" pamphlet, "Since its inception, Mayo Clinic has used art, architecture and beauty in surroundings to address the "spiritual aspects" of medical care. From the ornate interior of the original Mayo Clinic building to the use of modern art today, Mayo Clinic has always believed that restoring the mind and spirit is an important part of making the body well - and that art and science together play a role in the healing process".

A great resource for anyone interested in the connection between art and healing is the Arts & Healing Network, where they believe that art is an essential catalyst for creating positive change in the world. Their website lists current projects, artist opportunities, and links to art and healing organizations.

Stained Glass Arch at Mayo Clinic

Glass Chandelier Detail by Dale Chihuly

New Member of Siouxland Artist Coopertive

2010-11-10T21:16:00.002-06:00

The Gallery, an artist cooperative

Succumbing to my need to surround myself with a professional peer group, I have recently joined the local cooperative artist group Siouxland Artists Inc. here in Sioux City, Iowa. Although I am self-motivated (mostly) and continue to create art on my own, I tend to create at a higher standard when able to share my ideas with others who can give me encouragement and critical feedback. As with all cooperative artist groups, members cover a broad spectrum of life and artistic interest. Through membership, there are several exhibition opportunities available locally, including St. Luke's and Pickerman's. I will be exhibiting my artwork at St. Luke's February and March 2011. Many members show their work on a more permanent basis at The Gallery located at the Clarion Hotel in downtown Sioux City. The Gallery is run by Siouxland Artist members.

If you are interested in joining Siouxland Artists or are interesting in learning more about our group, feel free to come to our monthly meeting held the 2nd Tuesday of every month (except December) from 5:00-8:00pm. Meetings are held at the Wilbur Aalfs Public Library in the Gleason Room, Sioux City, IA.

The Gallery is located at the Clarion Hotel, 707 4th Street.

My Inspiration V: Albrecht Dürer

2010-10-25T00:50:00.000-05:00

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

Frederick the Wise

Considered the finest German Renaissance artist, Albrecht Dürer was a painter, printmaker, draughtsman and art theorist. Artists across Europe admired and copied Dürer's innovative and powerful prints, ranging from religious and mythological scenes, to maps and exotic animals. Dürer was exceptionally learned, and the only Northern artist who fully absorbed the sophisticated Italian dialogue between scientific theory and art, producing his own treatise on proportion in 1528.

I have been fortunate enough to see some of Dürer's prints in person. The detail and lines are superb. I respond to his excellent technique and his ability to portray emotion and drama. I am influenced by his use of high contrast, keen observation, narrative quality and attention to texture and detail. In addition to his portraits, I love his studies of hands (shown below).

Knight, Death, and the Devil

Dürer's Mother

Praying Hands

Hands

Hand Study with Bible

My Inspiration IV: Leonardo Da Vinci

2010-10-22T14:14:00.068-05:00

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

Okay, everyone has heard of Leonardo da Vinci and agrees that he was a genius on many levels. His technical skill as an artist is self-evident. Because of his universal popularity, I won't go into too much detail about his life, only touching on parts that I identify with.

Leonardo da Vinci was born in Italy and spent much of his life working for royalty as an inventor, scientist, and artist. Though da Vinci is best known for his paintings, I was always much more struck by his drawings and studies. I see myself as a scientist and observer of nature more than an artist; art is merely my means of reporting my findings. I identify with da Vinci's broad range of interests, especially in nature, anatomy and aging faces (see images below). I find that the best way to understand the world around me is through intense observation. As an artist and scientist, Leonardo came to his revolutionary belief in empirical observation as the foundation of all knowledge, leaving an unshakable intellectual legacy for centuries to come.

Leonardo produced studies on loads of subjects, including nature, flying machines, geometry, mechanics, municipal construction, canals and architecture (designing everything from churches to fortresses). His studies contain designs for advanced weapons, including a tank and other war vehicles, various combat devices, and submarines. Leonardo's interests were so broad, and he was so often compelled by new subjects, that he usually failed to finish what he started. I fall into this dilemma myself on occasion, having to force myself to remain focused.

Five Characters in a Comic Scene

A Grotesque Head

Study of the Heads of Two Soldiers

Old Man with Ivy Wreath and Lion's Head

Heads of an Old Man and a Youth

Studies of the Shoulder and Neck

My Inspiration III: Francisco Goya

2010-10-21T12:51:00.003-05:00

Francisco Goya (1746-1828)

Saturn Devouring His Son

As far as classical art, the first painting I remember being moved by was by Spanish artist Francisco Goya. I was thumbing through a book of paintings and came upon a page I could not turn away from. I was a child at the time and didn't have any idea who painted "Saturn Devouring His Son" (shown right), or the meaning of the art, but I felt deeply disturbed and captivated by the image.

Goya was a court painter of great skill, though his "unofficial" works are more interesting to me by far. Like Kollwitz, he lived through a time of turmoil and war, which was reflected in his work. He is known for his scenes of violence, especially those prompted by the French invasion of Spain. A serious illness in 1792 left Goya permanently deaf. Isolated from others by his deafness, he became increasingly occupied with the fantasies and inventions of his imagination and with critical and satirical observations of mankind.

In relation to my own art, you can see how his heavy use of shadow and social commentary influenced me. Goya's use of the title to add more depth also inspired me, such as in "Hunting for Teeth" and "The Captivity is as Barbarous as the Crime" (shown as last two images below).

Self-Portrait

Two Old People Eating Soup

Hunting for Teeth

The Captivity is as Barbarous as the Crime

My Inspiration II: Edward Gorey

2010-10-20T12:41:00.001-05:00

Edward Gorey (1925-2000)

The earliest memory of an artist that captured my imagination and touched on my dark sense of humor was Edward Gorey. I remember as a child seeing his animated opening of PBS "Mystery!" and was hooked. An American artist and author, Gorey is known for his macabre illustrated books. Although Gorey's books were popular with children, he did not associate with children much and had no particular fondness for them.

I fell in love with his children's books, especially "The Gashlycrumb Tinies: or, After the Outing", where Gorey tells the tale of 26 children (each representing a letter of the alphabet) and their untimely deaths. I found this video showing the complete book of "The Gashlycrumb Tinies", a little slow-moving but well worth the time.

My Inspiration I: Käthe Kollwitz

2010-10-19T11:31:00.003-05:00

I find the idea of inspiration and its sources fascinating. Where we draw inspiration from is very personal, unique to each individual's life experiences and philosophy. Sometimes we are unaware of our muse and her source. I feel I am at a point in my life where I have established a personal style within my artwork that is truly mine and stable. From there, I have been able to identify those sources of inspiration that were most powerful in the shaping of my view of life and how I choose to interpret it through my art.

Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945)

Self-Portrait

The link above gives you a brief bio of the artist, who lived in a time and place of great suffering and ugliness. From the images posted here by German artist Käthe Kollwitz, you can see how her strong use of dramatic lighting, dark shadows, and emotional subject matter have influenced my work. Her ability to capture despair, sorrow, and hurt in a seemingly "simple" black and white print haunts me and forces me to feel something, and to think.

Woman with a Dead Child

Death and the Mother

Whetting the Scythe

Installation Opportunity for Siouxland Artists

2010-10-18T17:56:00.000-05:00

The Downtown Partners of Sioux City are looking for artists to spruce up vacant windows on Historic 4th Street. Still in the planning stages, artwork is needed to be installed in the storefront windows or painted/attached directly to the windows. Since these are vacant buildings, no electricity or climate control will be available (nor insurance), traditionally framed pieces are discouraged. There is a budget for this venture to help cover the cost of artist's materials. All projects need to be approved before a board, so submit proposals, including description, sketches/images, and budget to:

Ragen Cote, Executive Director
Downtown Partners Sioux City
418 Pierce Street
Sioux City, IA 51101
P (712) 252-0014
F (712) 258-8516
ragencote@downtownsiouxcity.com

Timeline wise, the plan is to have everything installed by spring 2011 and have our artwalk coincide with the Sculpt Siouxland opening in early May.

Addiction and Art Book Published

2010-05-08T09:52:00.005-05:00

I was just given my first look at the new book Addiction and Art by Johns Hopkins University Press and it looks great. My charcoal portrait "Drowning" was one of 61 works of art depicting addiction to be published in this book. Written by addiction scientists and professionals, this book marks the intersection of science and the visual arts. It captures the real-world experience of addiction and recovery as revealed through the visual arts and written word. "Science gives us the tools, but art gives us the inspiration and the drive to make a difference in reducing addiction and helping people achieve recovery".

Here is an exerpt from the book:

"Addiction to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is one of the major public health issues of our time. It accounts for one of every five deaths in the United States and costs approximately one-half trillion dollars per year in health care expenditures and lost productivity. Its human costs are untold and perhaps uncountable. Addiction and Art puts a human face on addiction through the creative work of individuals who have been touched by it.

The art included here presents unique strories about addiction. Many pieces are stark representations of life on the edge. Others are disturbing contemplations of life, meaning, and death. Some even reflect the allure of addiction and a fondness for substance abuse. A panel of addiction scientists, artists, and professionals from the art world selected the 61 pieces included here from more than 1,000 submissions. Accompanied by a written statement from the artist, each creation is emblematic of the destructive power of addiction and the regenerative power of recovery.

Stunning and occasionally unsettling, this unique portfolio reveals addiction art as a powerful complement to addiction science."

If you are interested in purchasing a copy, visit http://www.press.jhu.edu/

Complimentary Wellness Spa at RISE Exhibition

2010-05-01T10:52:00.005-05:00

Health

Wellbeing

Beauty

It is a joy to share the bounty of an Artful life.
Join us for the Kerala Ayurveda Wellness Spa

refresh :: relax :: rejuvenate

while being surrounded by more than 130 pieces of original contemporary art from 26 local Washington artists.

Friday May 7th 12-6pm

Seattle Design Center
Suite 258
5701 Sixth Avenue South
Seattle, Wa 98101

Keep up on all RISE art exhibit news here.

Update on RISE Exhibition at the Seattle Design Center

2010-04-27T17:32:00.001-05:00

We had great success for the RISE exhibition reception and charity auction on the 24th. Sales of art from the auction went to support the Rise n' Shine organization and we raised over $3200! The exhibition will be displayed until May 20th, 2010 at the Seattle Design Center, so if you haven't already checked it out, please do. We're raising money for a good cause, the Rise n' Shine organization helps kids affected by HIV/AIDS including summer camps, group support, and art projects. Some of the proceeds will also be donated to Artist Trust which is a wonderful Washington state arts organization. One of the artworks sold in the auction was my charcoal drawing "Drowning", shown below with an explaination of the significance of this piece for the RISE exhibition. Enjoy.

Life is a choice. We may be born into situations and circumstances that are beyond our control, but we have the power to choose how we wish to live. Decisions we make daily shape and redirect our path, for good or ill. We may see an opportunity to rise up, to reach our goals, to get out of a bad situation, but it is so hard to place our foot on that first rung. It’s easier to stay down here where it’s safe or at least familiar. And it is here we must make a choice. We may choose not to climb anymore, finding the effort to continue up unbearable. If we choose not to choose, we still have made a choice. Or we may choose to pull ourselves up out of the muck and rise above the tree tops, gasping and heaving, to see the world anew. “Drowning” is about that moment of decision, when we either keep wallowing in the muck or we choose to take action to change our lives. I wish for you the courage to RISE.

Rise. Charity Art Auction & Exhibition

2010-01-28T19:15:00.003-06:00

Featuring Artist Trust EDGE graduate artists Jacqui Beck, Zalman Berkowitz, Victoria Bjorklund, Amy Buchheitt, Mary Coss, Julie Sipe Cummings, Terra Fine, Lisa Mei Ling Fong, Susan Gans, Naomi Gray, Joy Hagen, Craig Alan Huber, Dayton Knipher, Andrea Lawson, Molly Magai, Holly Ballard Martz, Christen Mattix, Maxine Mattson, Dorothy McGuinness, Pamela Mills, Stan Raucher, Victoria Raymond, Mardie Rees, Bestsy Best Spadaro, Laura Thorne, and Amy-Ellen Trefsger.

A philanthropic exhibition created in collaboration with Rise n' Shine, Artist Trust and The Seattle Design Center.

"RISE."
April 19, 2010 thru May 20, 2010
The Seattle Design Center, Seattle, WA
Reception and Art Auction: April 24th, 5-8 pm
(Images of work to be auctioned off can be viewed here.)

New Drawings on Display at Tacoma

2009-11-15T13:31:00.002-06:00

"Can You See Me At All?" Charcoal, 2009

"How Could You Understand?" Charcoal, 2009

"Building Bridges" Charcoal, 2009

“Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” George Orwell

“Relative Distance”, my new series of portraits, focuses on relationships and barriers between generations. Each drawing consists of pairing individuals of different generations within the composition. These could be mother and daughter, grandparent and grandchild, or facets of the same person; the interpretation is left to the viewer. Negative space separates the individuals in each drawing, sometimes by only inches, though the emotional distance seems unbearably vast.

Within all of us is the strong desire to be understood, to connect, but we assume no one else can possibly feel our heartache or fears or longing. We think, how could she possibly understand, she’s just an old woman? Or, these kids today don’t know what life’s all about. In “Can You See Me At All?”, two women stand facing without seeing the other, both entrenched in their own thoughts, the younger with piercings and heavy makeup, the older with lines etching her face and lips drawn tight. Each woman both accuses and desperately seeks acknowledgement of the other with that one simple question.

"On the Verge" in Tacoma, WA

2009-11-15T10:34:00.000-06:00

"On the Verge" travels to Tacoma, WA this month, showcasing my drawings along side thirteen other Washington state artists who graduated from the 2008 EDGE professional development program.

UWT Iron Gallery, Tacoma, WA

November 18 thru December 31, 2009

Opening Reception: November 19th, 5-8 pm

Read article on Examiner.com

Read review by Rosemary Ponnekanti of the News Tribune

View "Art Zone" video clip (if you don't want to watch the whole show, skip to 19:38 to see "On the Verge" coverage)

Views of CVG Installation

2009-09-03T17:35:00.000-05:00

Photos of the gallery installation for the "On the Verge" show happening at the Collective Visions Gallery in Bremerton, Washington (see post below for all the details). My three drawings from the "Relative Distance" series are in the top photo (red wall on the left-hand side). Click on image for a larger view.

"On The Verge" Traveling Group Exhibition

2009-08-10T17:59:00.000-05:00

New work from my "Relative Distance" series will be on display alongside art from 13 other talented artists who took part in the EDGE Program for professional artists in 2008. This group exhibition will be held in Bremerton, WA in September 2009 then travel to Tacoma at the UWT campus in November.

"On The Verge"

Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA

September 1 thru 26, 2009

Artist Reception: September 4th, 5-9 pm

www.collectivevisions.com

Exhibition in Budapest, Hungary

2009-04-22T11:48:00.001-05:00

I will be exhibing my artwork in a group show May 7 thru 29, 2009 at the Ferencvarosi Gallery, Budapest, Hungary. Opening reception: Thursday, May 7th 6:00pm.

"La Raza" Exhibition at ArtsWest Gallery

2009-01-04T17:23:00.003-06:00

Terra Fine ~ charcoals
Janet Geib Pretti ~ sculpture
C. Martinez-Luna ~ mixed media

ArtsWest Gallery, Seattle, WA
January 4-31, 2009
Artist's Reception: January 8th, 6-9pm
http://www.artswest.org/

Janet Geib Pretti, Terra Fine and Christopher Martinez-Luna recognize the stability and strength found in family and the bonds of community in ArtsWest’s exhibition, La Raza, from January 4 – January 31, 2009. La Raza was curated specifically to complement the concurrent stage production at ArtsWest, Well (Jan 21 - Feb 15) and its exploration of the dynamics of health, family and community.

Geib Pretti’s adept use of wood and bronze gives shape not only to objects, but also her perceptive ideas on family and friendship. Each painted wood and bronze sculpture is exquisitely crafted into cherished treasures everyone can enjoy.

Fine’s current series of work, Worth Remembering, is based on the life lessons spoken by seven women she met volunteering at a nursing home and assisted living facilities. Her flawless charcoal portraits in this series display an insightful use of line and shadow that explore the questions of what in our lives is truly worth remembering and who will listen?

Martinez-Luna refers to himself as a "Chicano Artist." He cleverly uses advertisements and found objects taken from or influenced by Hispanic culture and juxtaposes them with portraits of family thoughtfully made in charcoal. His well crafted works of art utilize found materials to collage ideas that address some of the stereotypes and realities of the Hispanic-American experience while evoking a powerful familial bond.

Our community of artists reaches out every month during the 2nd Thursday art walk. For the new year, join the ArtsWest community to discuss these artists’ works with them at their wine and cheese reception on January 8th from 6-9pm. The ArtsWest Gallery is always free, handicap accessible, and continually enhancing the total “ArtsWest experience” by combining stimulating visual art alongside compelling performances. Dates and artists subject to change. About ArtsWest: ArtsWest produces artistic events so fiercely compelling that they require conversation, improve the imagination, and promote cultural vibrancy as a core value for the communities of West Seattle. Utilizing a 149-seat, 3/4 thrust theater and visual art gallery, ArtsWest has presented over 400 different performing arts productions and gallery exhibitions to over 200,000 visitors since 1999.

Table Tennis in the Park

2008-11-26T12:54:00.000-06:00

During one of my walks through City Park in Budapest I came across a group of people playing table tennis. There were permanent tables set up among the trees, a magical place where I sat and watched some very talented players. I was noticed soon, my staring obvious, and a couple of very nice Hungarian gentlemen greeted me. We soon discovered that I didn't speak Hungarian and none of them spoke English. I came back to the park almost every day during my residency and in that time I learned a little Hungarian and I taught them a little English. "Charlie" (the very serious looking fellow below) offered to teach me to play and though I didn't compare with the skills most had there (my friend "George", also below, was excellent), I had a lot of fun trying and they had a lot of fun laughing at me.

Loveliness of Budapest

2008-11-26T11:47:00.000-06:00

Many people I know had no idea where Budapest was, so I thought these maps would help. All of the artists in the AIR/HMC Residency stayed at the Medosz Hotel in central Budapest. It was a fabulous location within walking distance to major sites and near the public transit system. Most of my residency time was spent exploring Va'rosliget (City Park) which has a zoo, lake, Szechenyi baths (a personal favorite), Heros Square, historical buildings, and several art museums.

Budapest is well-known as the "Spa City" for its numerous theraputic thermal spas scattered across the city. With dozens of pools of varying temperatures both inside and out, taking a bath was a day-long event! The buildings are old and grand, like bathing in a cathedral.

Artist In Residence in Budapest, Hungary

2008-11-19T19:33:00.000-06:00

November 5-18, 2008 I participated in the Artist Residency program hosted by the Hungarian Multicultural Center in Budapest (http://www.hungarian-multicultural-center.com/). Our group, pictured above, consisted of Amelia Schembri and Louis Denes (installation, Canada), Beata Veszely (HMC Residency Coordinator), Malesha Jessie (opera soprano, USA), myself, and Luca Armigero (painter, Italy). Two group exhibitions are scheduled for 2009 in Budapest, at the Ferencvarosi Gallery (May) and Mucius Gallery (August).

EDGE Program Graduate

2008-08-30T16:57:00.000-05:00

August 23 thru 30, 2008 I participated in the EDGE Program with 16 other Washington artists at Centrum. Located in Port Townsend in the historic Fort Worden State Park, Centrum is a statewide center for arts and creative education.

The EDGE Professional Development Program for Artists is a comprehensive survey of professional arts practices offered through a hands-on, interactive curriculum that includes instruction by professionals in the field, specialized presentations, panel discussions and assignments. The EDGE Program provides artists with the relevant and necessary entrepreneurial skills to achieve their personal career goals and the opportunity to build community through peer support and exchange. www.artisttrust.org

Award of Excellence at 21st National Juried Art Exhibition at Mable House Arts Center

2008-08-20T22:28:00.000-05:00

August 23 thru September 28, 2008
Awards Reception: August 23rd, 7-9pm

Mable House Arts Center, Mableton, GA
http://www.southcobbarts.org/
Winner of Award of Excellence for "Who Loves a Garden Still His Eden Keeps".

Worth Remembering: Solo Exhibition

2008-06-02T01:33:00.003-05:00

June 5 thru 28, 2008

Artist Reception: Thursday, June 5th, 5-8pm
Shift Collaborative Studio, Seattle, WA

http://www.shiftstudio.org/

In a society where elders are no longer cherished for their wisdom or stories, Terra Fine seeks to bridge that chasm using charcoal, interviews, and installation to explore the elusiveness of memory, the frustration of forgetting, and what we hold onto in the end.

Erika Hobart of the Seattle Weekly writes:
Eva recalls living on the Alaskan coast with her late husband, a fisherman. She used to fillet the fish he brought home each evening. Mary shares that she’s most proud of being appointed gardener at the senior center. What memories are powerful enough to withstand age and disease? What does it mean when someone afflicted with dementia can remember her rose garden but not her children? Bellingham artist Terra Fine navigates the issues surrounding memory in “Worth Remembering” (through June 28), a series of charcoal portraits based on her experiences volunteering at a nursing home. A poignant examination of the mind’s frailty, Fine’s art demonstrates a frustrating truth: regardless of their importance, we cannot always control what memories we hold onto. Shift Collaborative Studio, 306 S. Washington St. #105, 547-1215, www.shiftstudio.org. Free. Reception 5–8 p.m. ERIKA HOBART June 5-28, 2008

To bring my portraits to life, visitors to the gallery were encouraged to use this listening station to hear the actual words and memories of the elders interviewed.

Solo Exhibition: Consumed

2008-05-01T23:27:00.000-05:00

May 3 thru June 5, 2008

Artist Reception: Saturday, May 3rd, 7-10pm

Art/Not Terminal Gallery, Seattle, WA

www.antgallery.org

"Consumed", a series of large-scale charcoal drawings, creates a dialogue around consumption for comfort's sake, taking the viewer on an intimate journey into dietary rituals.

Drawing from "Edible Comfort" Series to be Published

2008-04-15T16:05:00.000-05:00

My charcoal drawing “Drowning” has been selected to appear in a forthcoming book on art and addiction to be published by the Johns Hopkins University Press, in association with the Innovators Combating Substance Abuse Program (http://www.innovatorsawards.org/). The Innovators Program, supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a national program based in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Receiving over 900 art submissions on the theme of addiction and recovery from artists in 42 states and 14 foreign countries, the Addiction Art Advisory Board had the task of selecting approximately sixty submissions for their book and exhibitions in Rockville, Maryland (May 2008) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (June 2008). The exhibition in Puerto Rico coincides with the Annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence June 14-19, 2008.

The purpose of the proposed book (scheduled for publication mid-2009, titled "Art & Addiction: Placing a Human Face on Addiction and Recovery") is to provide a stimulus to change the way America views addiction by using the visual arts to put a human face on addiction and recovery. Creativity and artistic expression play a significant role both in recovery and in raising awareness of the personal toll caused by substance abuse and addiction. The proposed book on addiction art is intended to complement and serve as the companion volume to the editors’ book on addiction science, "Addiction Treatment: Science and Policy for the Twenty-First Century" (JE Henningfield, PB Santora, WK Bickel (eds), Johns Hopkins Press, October 2007).

Award Winner at Washington State Juried Art Competition

2008-02-01T21:16:00.000-06:00

Exhibition: February 2 thru 29, 2008
Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
http://www.collectivevisions.com/

I was awarded 3rd Place in the category of 2-Dimensional art at the 2008 Washington State Juried Art Competition. Juror was freelance curator Susan Parke.

Louise Goes To NYC

2007-06-04T11:40:00.002-05:00

25th Annual Juried Show
June 28 thru July 21, 2007
Pleiades Gallery, New York City

My charcoal portrait "Well Met" of artist Louise Nevelson was selected in this years 25th Annual Juried Show at the Pleiades Gallery in New York City. Curator is Rebecca Rabinow, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Well Met Charcoal on Paper

Pleiades Gallery was founded in 1974 by a group of like-minded artists who sought an alternative to the dictated constraints of the commercial gallery world. One of the oldest cooperative galleries in New York City, Pleiades was a leading participant in the Association of Artist Run Galleries and the cooperative movement of the 1970’s. Located in Chelsea among the most prestigious galleries in New York, Pleiades exhibits highly professional contemporary and thought provoking work by its artist members.