tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380603452024-03-18T02:48:33.929-07:00collage clearinghouseA place to find all kinds of information about collage.Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.comBlogger804125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-50101904114735023662014-07-09T17:55:00.003-07:002014-07-09T17:55:49.370-07:002014The blog. I let it die. For awhile.<br />
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I have gone through so many personal things over the past couple of years, it became difficult to keep up with this blog. I started to explore other mediums and it felt silly to report about that here on a collage clearinghouse!<br />
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I started teaching altered books in my collage Design class at SUNY Cobleskill. I wanted to post pictures about all the wonderful work I have seen and explain how I am teaching this idea. The effort required to DO became more than I had bargained for and I had no time to WRITE about it.<br />
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With new zeal I tried my hand at acrylic painting. I have had some time to ferment. I do feel it's important to take time out and live. I take these sporadic breaks from my collage practice often, but hardly do they last this long.<br />
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I am working through some new ideas, such as collage in 3d. It's all so exciting and fresh and it takes every bit of the energy that I have and it leaves me so little time to tell the story about it. I regret this and it saddens me.<br />
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I am in the process of removing myself from things that seem to waste my time and keep me from living and trying to lean back on things that I felt were life-building. I am thinking over this blog and wondering exactly where does it fall within these 2 categories….Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-1852351240497746502013-08-15T11:56:00.001-07:002013-08-15T11:56:07.544-07:00#DayDetroit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/files/2013/08/BetyeSaarBeyondMidnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/files/2013/08/BetyeSaarBeyondMidnight.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
Betye Saar Beyond Midnight<br />
What a gorgeous piece. I have never heard of Betye Saar but I am glad I did. Sorry we had to meet under such horrid circumstances. The Detroit Institute of Arts owns you, but your future life there is threatened due to financial issues. Detroit is dear to my little old heart. I lived there for a time when I was a young 5th grader. It was a great city, but it really got hit hard in recent times.<br />
Posting this to help the cause. What are you doing? Do something.<br />
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the scoop from MAN is...<br />
"I<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">n an effort to spotlight the collections at the Detroit Institute of Arts that would be lost if the threatened sale of art in collections at the DIA are sold, all day long Modern Art Notes and many other sites will be spotlight art at the DIA. I’ll be featuring roughly an artwork an hour for the next ten hours. I hope this will help spotlight both the collection at the DIA and the access we have to Detroit’s art. I think that the more people think about what’s at the DIA, the more concerned they’ll be about what could happen there.</span><br />
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How can you help support the DIA? Share artwork here on MAN and at other sites with your friends. If you live in Michigan, tell your elected officials that the future of Detroit is important to you and that you don’t support a fire sale of the city’s future. <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Best of all: Join me <a href="http://www.dia.org/support/membership.aspx" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">in becoming a member of the Detroit Institute of Arts.</a></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 23px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
To read more about what we’re doing here, check out these stories <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130813/ENT05/308130119/Detroit-Institute-of-Arts-Tyler-Green-Bankruptcy-a-day-for-detroit" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">in the Detroit Free Press</a> and <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130814/METRO01/308140036/DIA-says-would-sue-protect-art-from-sell-off-Detroit-bankruptcy" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">in the Detroit News.</a></div>
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Sites participating in today’s action include:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;">
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Modern Art Notes</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://manpodcast.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">MANPodcast.com</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://artfcity.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Art F City</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://badatsports.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Bad at Sports</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://blogs.artinfo.com/artintheair/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Artinfo’s In the Air</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.edwardwinkleman.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Ed Winkleman</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/artcity.html" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Mary Louise Schumacher</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://greg.org/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Greg Allen</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.twocoatsofpaint.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Two Coats of Paint</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.theartblog.org/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">The Art Blog</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://hyperallergic.tumblr.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Hyperallergic LABS</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://eyeteeth.org/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Eyeteeth</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.artpractical.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Art Practical</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://dailyserving.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Daily Serving</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.papermonument.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Paper Monument</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.secretplacesitaly.net/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Italy’s Secret Places</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://artsmarttalk.blogspot.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">ArtSmartTalk</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://chadedward.com/blog/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Chad Edward</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://gregcookland.com/journal/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://artery.wbur.org/2013/08/14/detroit-institute-art" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">WBUR’s The Artery</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.16miles.com/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Andrew Russeth</a></li>
<li style="margin: 7px 0px 8px 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://artnote.blog.com/2013/08/14/a-day-for-detroit-my-two-cents/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Art Note</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 23px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
I hope other websites, critics, art museums and more will join us throughout the day in spotlight art at the DIA. (And please email me at tylergreendc -at- yahoo.com if you do!)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 23px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Participate on Twitter by sharing one of our posts or by tweeting your own favorite from <a href="http://www.dia.org/art/" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">the collections at the DIA</a> by using the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23DayDetroit&src=typd" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">#DayDetroit!</a></div>
Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-38406039962857664252013-08-15T03:06:00.001-07:002013-08-15T03:06:33.373-07:00I am HyperallergicI do a lot of reading about art online and one of my favorite places to catch up on the latest news is <a href="http://hyperallergic.com/" target="_blank">Hyperallergic</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mTpjwdPbrkg/UgylHgpWy6I/AAAAAAAACHU/MWlchdj-TVk/s1600/yp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="61" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mTpjwdPbrkg/UgylHgpWy6I/AAAAAAAACHU/MWlchdj-TVk/s320/yp.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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They had an article series going on this month about the Selfie phenom and I really learned alot from this series, especially since I had no idea what a Selfie was. I already wrote in a previous post about how I am using the Selfie technique to begin my self portrait work so I decided to write in to Hyperallergic about what I am doing. Much to my surprise, I got some ink! Or computer type...depending on how you look at it!<br />
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The article is here...<br />
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“For me it started two years ago while I was preparing a wedding gift for my husband-to-be. I was dreaming of our honeymoon on the sea in Maine and everything was tainted with oceanography. I was making a collage series of very personal work for him and I ended up wanting to do a self-portrait — the most personal of all. I didn’t want him to know what I was up to, so a selfie was just the answer! I used my iPhone and took pix until I had some looks, some poses, some attitudes and I printed them out. Using a chosen print as the basis of my <a href="http://collageclearinghouse.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0089bd; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">collage work</a>, I wove seashells in my hair and even sewed real pearls onto the final piece. I was the Mother of Pearl. A 52-year-old getting married, not exactly white but pearlescent. Since that we have had two anniversaries and I have been able to do two more rounds of selfie portrait collages for him, and I love the freedom. I was hooked. I have decided to do a new series based on these selfie portraits.</div>
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“There’s a certain liberation of the art when you put yourself into it. I am free to take my ideas visions and thoughts and paste them as I need without restraint. (Is this what Matthew Barney explores? That restraint?) I always thought my art was autobiographical and I am always the subject even when I try not to be, and when a selfie is used the personal experience is heightened! I don’t care how zany the outcome … how freeing. I doubt anyone will buy these new pieces (with my mug in them!) but that in itself may be the liberation! Certainly it’s become a catalyst for creation.”</div>
Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-62138659771478657392013-07-22T09:32:00.001-07:002013-07-22T09:32:17.326-07:00I know I can mimic. But can I create?My original idea here was to share things about collage Only. A clearinghouse of ideas for collage artists. A clearinghouse of various artists and what I feel about their work. But I get inspiration from everywhere. This blog began to feel so sterile I ran away. I am such a varied individual and I get psyched about a lot of things..not just art. Sometimes these things affect what I am doing so greatly and I feel lame about not sharing the connections here on this blog. It's half ass.<br />
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The problem with this clearinghouse idea is that I am such a sponge! I soak up all these great ideas people have and they taint my own chemistry. They bring in thoughts that are like little mini chemicals and they affect where I was heading and I end up with a different end product. Left alone, I find I go to a deeper and more creative place. I know I can mimic. But can I create?<br />
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I have boxed myself in so damn far that I have not allowed myself to Live and Breathe some new creative stuff. I have wanted to some silk screen prints and add this flavor to my work for a long time. But I think about a GOOD printer and how it takes time and experience to really become good....My mind does a rip tide and begins to think about how all this fooling around and experimentation takes time away from my art, which is collage. And it all deters me from that creative joy and exploration I love so much. I am a Viking! I want to go on an adventure, even in my fantasy art world.<br />
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I broke the box this month. I set up a studio on the 3rd floor of our Antique store and I have claimed the 20x20x20 space as my own. I named it <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Towerfifty5?ref=hl" target="_blank">TowerFifty5</a>, a mixture of the fact that it's in a tower and on 55 Willett St.! It's my new print studio. I moved in all my book binding equipment and papers and Chris made me a wall shelf unit. I am ready for action. So what if I am going off on a side track for awhile. So what? I hope it can enhance my art, not detract from it. AND most importantly, My Self gets the experience of doing.<br />
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<br />Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-87382738405243248222013-07-22T09:20:00.000-07:002013-07-22T09:20:14.021-07:00It's all so deep and complicated....who could explain it? Those inner thoughts and inner subconscious things that find their way out of the soul and into the art?<br />
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<i> i will try but honestly it will most likely come up short.</i><br />
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I've always had trouble with self image. My father meant well but was hard on us kids and I never got too many attaboys even if deserved. My looks were average so so and I never was able to look in the mirror without wanting to look away. In my own way I have avoided my "self" and never really came to terms with what exactly it is that I Am. Even in the 50+ years of life on this planet. I have run so hard, I never paused to feel.<br />
As I age, (and age and age) I am forced to look in that mirror and see what I have been hiding. I am finding out what wants to be revealed. And I am finding the time to pause and look within to see what hides deep down.<br />
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In my art I have always had problem with people. As a youth, my pictures contained no "man" and no trace of him at all not even a house or man made object. Pure Nature was joy and perfection, get man involved and it all goes sour! In my young adulthood I came to terms with this and began to explore humans and their environment. I used pictures from every source in my collage and nothing was sacred. Slowly I have no decided that as a ...dare we say it? Mature adult...I feel I no longer have the time to hide and I have begun to explore with putting my Self into the picture. The progression seems to point to the fact that I am forcing myself to go Inward and get to the root of the matter and Outward to see what it is that I show to the world.<br />
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I have looked back at these selflies, these self portraits a la collage....and I can see wrinkles. Lots of them actually! Without seeming vain, I am trying to look at myself long enough to accept myself. And live with this New Older Me. I am hoping to see beyond the superficial into my mind too. I can see connections in the art with how I feel in my heart. They are my own symbols, perhaps no one else can ever be expected to see them! But I am connecting with the inside and the outside of my Self. Perhaps there are some dormancies that need to come out of hibernation.<br />
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This is why these particular self portrait - selfies- pieces excite me enough to bring me out of my sleep and back to this blog. To report it. This excitement of self reflection and nirvana through creative art exploration.Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-1890634015175184512013-07-13T11:30:00.001-07:002013-07-13T11:30:10.953-07:00SelfieBeen reading on the web about the selfie phenom. It's where a person takes photos of themself ...via all those wondrous techno devices we have available to use now. What a blast! Here's a wiki definition: "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">A </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">selfie</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> is a genre of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-portrait" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Self-portrait">self-portrait</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photograph" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Photograph">photograph</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, typically taken with a hand-held </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_camera" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Digital camera">digital camera</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> or </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_phone" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Camera phone">camera phone</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">. Selfies are often associated with</span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Social networking">social networking</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_sharing" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Photo sharing">photo sharing</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> services such as </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySpace" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="MySpace">MySpace</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Facebook">Facebook</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="Instagram">Instagram</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, where they are commonly posted."</span><br />
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The whole selfie thing was something I just discovered but the idea of a self portrait via art surely isn't a new idea! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo" target="_blank">Frida</a> did it. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-portraits_by_Vincent_van_Gogh" target="_blank">Van Gogh</a> did it. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Portrait_(D%C3%BCrer,_Munich)" target="_blank">Durer</a> did it. And thankfully he did, I love his self portraits most of all.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Duerer01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Duerer01.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Durer Self Portrait</td></tr>
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Each year for the past 3 years I have given my dear husband a set of artwork based on the sea, since that is where we spend our vacation time together. It's a sweet topic loaded with fodder for my wild imagination. Since this set of artwork is for my love, I try extra hard to bare my soul on these works and try to make them extra good, extra special. E X T R A everything.<br />
My love of the ocean stirred romantic visions of my own self, with a lot of shells, seaweed, and ocean wrapped in my hair. I made it real with collage. I took a photo of myself (yes, a selfie) and used it and made it happen. I was the mother of pearl. All whites...freshly married and feeling white. That was my absolute favorite work of that year. I was very pleased with idea of giving my self to him...via art.<br />
Last year, I was all about mermaids. I made images of merchicks and immersed myself in the idea of being a mermaid. I cannot recall whether or not I did a self portrait but I have been thinking about it for months.<br />
Finally this year I decided I was going to do a whole series of them.<br />
An iPad, and iPhone, a camera, my tools of selfie! I have done 3 more self portraits with the aid of my camera. Again these are based on the sea. I cannot stop myself. I have 3 done and I am formulating the fourth. It's a great thing to put yourself in the art. It feels so utterly liberating! And I am not afraid to do anything, like I am when I use a photo that's already been taken of someone I have never met. Through the art I am going places. Places I want to take you....<br />
It's my version of a selfie.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_ttX8UJT0w/UeGN7X9btJI/AAAAAAAACGQ/lcCCpb6h3Wc/s1600/masqueradesm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_ttX8UJT0w/UeGN7X9btJI/AAAAAAAACGQ/lcCCpb6h3Wc/s400/masqueradesm.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Masquerade - 3rd Year<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother of Pearl - 1st Year</td></tr>
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Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-63884737808028455682013-02-19T15:09:00.000-08:002013-02-19T15:09:03.399-08:00I'm teaching a workshop? Yes, I'm teaching a workshop.The experience of teaching Design and Graphic Design at SUNY Cobleskill as an adjunct for the past 4 years has started to really pay off. I have been doing an Altered Book Final Project for my class for 4 sessions now. It's been really great to see what students can do in just 4 sessions. I get really excited and very humbled when I see the talent that I can draw out of people.<br />
This challenge has appealed to me and I find now that I have some confidence and experience behind my belt. It means I have the skills and courage now to tackle teaching a local workshop. Whitney Hubbard of the Fort Plain Free Library has been urging me for awhile now to do something at her library. It's such a beautiful location, with glorious wooden floors and tall ceilings all wrapped up within this stately and unique old historical building on the corner in Ft. Plain.<br />
I love the space! It's got a huge table, with I don't know how many seats plus a nice glass display case where I can display some samples of Altered Books from times past. I can't wait to let my various artist friends know that their work is on display here in town!<br />
I set up a workshop based on 6 weeks, figuring the general population will need 6 weeks...some will miss some clases, some will be so challenged it will take awhile, and others hopefully will be in a creative rapture and be unable to quit!<br />
I am so glad to be active and busy again in my art life. The past 8 months have been difficult while I quit my day job and took on working with my husband full time for his Antique biz. I finally have relaxed enough and figure that now I really can make enough money to survive. Now I am back at the table, back at work, and teaching even!<br />
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Come join us if you can, in Fort Plain during the month of March while we tear up some books!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The poster</td></tr>
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<br />Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-31234236588107523772013-02-19T09:17:00.001-08:002013-02-19T09:21:33.965-08:00A Black History Month Special featuring Denise Allen<i>Please note: All images used in this post are copyrighted by Denise Allen. All right reserved. Permission to use these images MUST be cleared through the <a href="http://www.deniseallen.com/">artist</a>.</i><br />
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It isn't too often that an exhibit that entices me so much comes to the little town of Canajoharie! This month we are all blessed with an exhibit of dolls, story quilts, paintings, and mixed media by the talented local artist <a href="http://www.deniseeallen.com/">Denise Allen</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Floor space at The Brotherhood filled with artwork</td></tr>
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I first heard of Denise a few years ago from Chris. Denise shops our <a href="http://fortplainantiques.blogspot.com/">Fort Plain Antiques</a> store and buys up all sorts of vintage linens. A passion for linens is something I can appreciate. I like to use them and hoard them. I have my grandmothers hand crocheted work…I use tidbits in my work. Already I had respect for this woman and I was intrigued about what she was doing with all these forlorn linen pieces that I also adore. I couldn't wait to see how she used them and what she did with them.<br />
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I have heard many good things about Denise…. She is doing good things for our community! One such good deed is the donation of her time and effort on behalf of Tyson Fowler. (see the entire story <a href="http://www.deniseeallen.com/2013/01/08/250/">here</a>) She sadly lost a son during the 911 catastrophe and has made a story quilt documenting the <a href="http://www.deniseeallen.com/">experience</a>. The proceeds from the sales of the 911 Prints will be donated to the Tyson Fowler Fund. I love how she has taken her grief full circle to help someone living....There's depth to this person and her ability to give to those in need through her work shows it.<br />
She makes story quilts, these incredibly rich tapestries of brute honesty. She has exhibited in some pretty high profile places and I am so humbled. I have more seriously been wanting to catch up with her and meet her ever since I saw her work in person at The Brotherhood Antiques store where she has some things on display and for sale. And so it was with great excitement my pal Travis Button and I went down to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brotherhood-Antiques/291005804351722">The Brotherhood</a> in Canajoharie to see this exhibit!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9eBSamEGbE/USOpKkfba9I/AAAAAAAACBY/d4CaJ_MrB0o/s1600/IMG_3560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9eBSamEGbE/USOpKkfba9I/AAAAAAAACBY/d4CaJ_MrB0o/s400/IMG_3560.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_tESx1nAOs/USOpK1s9xnI/AAAAAAAACBQ/pxEn26CGBLM/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_tESx1nAOs/USOpK1s9xnI/AAAAAAAACBQ/pxEn26CGBLM/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Quilt, Above</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_tESx1nAOs/USOpK1s9xnI/AAAAAAAACBQ/pxEn26CGBLM/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_tESx1nAOs/USOpK1s9xnI/AAAAAAAACBQ/pxEn26CGBLM/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_tESx1nAOs/USOpK1s9xnI/AAAAAAAACBQ/pxEn26CGBLM/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_tESx1nAOs/USOpK1s9xnI/AAAAAAAACBQ/pxEn26CGBLM/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><br />
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It's on the second floor of the building in this hauntingy beautiful open and raw space. The bones of this building are exposed and it provides a great foil for the most intricate and decorated work of Denise Allen. The front windows provide an almost primitive style light and atmosphere perfect for absorbing these intense pieces of artwork.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1154 Dean Street, $650<br />
This is my personal fave. Collage built on a wooden door. Swoon!</td></tr>
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I was very slow as I went through each piece trying to take in all the multitudes of materials that Denise has mastered and used in her work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1AMz7x-KRF8/USOpL4kBNkI/AAAAAAAACBc/Ltw0MoIJ1dQ/s1600/IMG_3579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1AMz7x-KRF8/USOpL4kBNkI/AAAAAAAACBc/Ltw0MoIJ1dQ/s400/IMG_3579.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many materials are used!</td></tr>
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There is no limit to the types of items that may appear in one of her compositions. A work with fabric for a base will have painted surfaces, embroidery, attached objects, handwriting and even cardboard fastened to it to help tell a tale.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool! Figures extending beyond the boundaries of the picture plane!</td></tr>
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Her talent is extraordinary in that these various items work together in harmony to tell the story so well, you forget to see the individual parts I was mesmerized and happy to be able to spend time up close and personal with these works in such a cool setting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Negro Cooks, Recipe Collage Cookbook Cover, $380<br />
I love this blue and white pottery made of fabric! It's really ingenious</td></tr>
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Cheers to Joe Fowler of The Brotherhood for supplying such a groovy space for such a great cultural thing for our community. (and especially for me! I love to see this in our town! Collage On!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These dolls have such stature</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FxJfzD9iMxE/USOpJSL9PnI/AAAAAAAACA4/NzinnIP-7FA/s1600/IMG_3556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FxJfzD9iMxE/USOpJSL9PnI/AAAAAAAACA4/NzinnIP-7FA/s320/IMG_3556.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't her attire so lovely??</td></tr>
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These intense pieces of art are really involved and active. It's easy to get lost in her neighborhood and look to see who is there! Her ability to show expression on the faces of the dolls is also quite extraordinary.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe The Mechanic, $450</td></tr>
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They have such feeling, and their elaborate costumes had me wondering which little tidbits she got from our store?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEAH_wHobo4/USOpIIjHL5I/AAAAAAAACAo/bvcaqN8zerY/s1600/IMG_3542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEAH_wHobo4/USOpIIjHL5I/AAAAAAAACAo/bvcaqN8zerY/s400/IMG_3542.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Gossip, $450</td></tr>
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I am so glad Denise has shared her work in this exhibit! This type of web weaving isn't something you see often. This is some seriously good stuff. They call it folk art, but I just call it creative genius!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCZNFFNREmw/USOpIdvSidI/AAAAAAAACAs/OJkDVIfQfE8/s1600/IMG_3545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCZNFFNREmw/USOpIdvSidI/AAAAAAAACAs/OJkDVIfQfE8/s400/IMG_3545.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Butler, NFS</td></tr>
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Denise's 911 prints will be for sale at the Tyson Fowler Fundraising Event on Sunday at Canajoharie High School. See you there!Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-52374544526912411582012-08-15T06:49:00.001-07:002012-08-15T06:49:10.319-07:00I had a video in mindI was so excited when I got my iPad and I thought it was going to change my internet world and how I react with it. I started my first Video Blog Post...and found that it was a lot harder being your own producer/actress than I had thought! I did a bunch of footage and as I looked it over I just kept finding flaws. I really wanted to post it here, and held on stubbornly so I could come up with the "right" video.<br />
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Then came my life bounding in with it's utter immediacy. Things in my world are about to change so dramatically that it has tipped and upset my delicate balance. You know how hard it is to get collage work done when the focus is lost. I have had a complete loss of life focus! Chris has been needing help at his antique store for quite awhile now and we hold back knowing that it means finding someone he can trust in addition to committing hours for someone. Money is tight and we really just haven't had the means to do this. So we mutually decided that it would be best if I give it a try and help him myself. This is a pretty big undertaking. I am talking about quitting my day job (of 14 years) and also leaving my printing related career (of 29 years) and moving into being an antique dealer. The skill sets are quite different, that's for sure. Even though I am a Mac techician by day, I deal with the same folks from my company day after day. In my new capacity I will be dealing retail with the public, setting up store displays, promoting the business on line, etc. It's a lot different than what I am used to, since this job has a flexible schedule and basically I am working for myself.<br />
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I am so excited I could burst. But this moment is still a month away and I am in the middle of the prep that is required to make the Leap! We have taken care of our financials...and that's all ready for this new mode and now I am trying to clean up my computer at work and get ready to give my notice. You dear reader, know even before them.<br />
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Please accept my excuses and lack of blogging for what it is. I am looking forward to finally having some time to work on things for myself, such as this blog and my own internet presence, when this whole job thing switches over. Meanwhile I apologize for such sparse posting. It have been doing artwork, in fact I just finished an 8 page series of mermaid based works inspired by my trip to Maine next week. (well, really I HAVE to use up those vacation days....!!)<br />
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Collage is still at the bottom of my heart and I am narrowing down my focus on a few super big projects that I have always wanted to tackle, things that are dear to my heart but will take a lot of perseverence and effort. I think this next phase of my life will allow me this time to work and I cannot wait to see what happens next!!!<br />
<br />Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-46266930083973155602012-07-18T05:16:00.001-07:002012-07-18T05:16:47.509-07:00A Crash Course in Online Piracy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was contacted via email by Katherine Long, who is part of <b style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://OnlineGraduatePrograms.com/">OnlineGraduatePrograms.com</a>, </span></b>a team of designers and researchers that designed a graphic which highlights how the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">billions of dollars that Hollywood claims to lose due to piracy, isn't all that they make it out to be. In fact, it may be helping them. She kindly offered to share the graphic with collage clearinghouse readers and I was happy to oblige. It's really well done, and I love the way the graphic symbols match the content.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was also amazed with the facts in it's content. Take a look for yourself, and see where your opinion lies...</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.onlinegraduateprograms.com/music-movies-programs-piracy/"><img alt="Music, Movies, Programs & Piracy" border="0" src="http://images.onlinegraduateprograms.com.s3.amazonaws.com/music-movies-programs-piracy.jpg" width="500" /></a>Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-76881742729427592292012-07-07T06:01:00.003-07:002012-07-07T06:06:34.226-07:00Kurt Seligmann<br />
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Steve Specht here...</div>
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Kurt Seligmann was an influential American surrealist painter who passed away in 1962. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Seligmann's death, Jonathan Talbot curated an art exhibit this summer at the Seligmann Center in Sugarloaf, NY. My fellow collagist Julie Takacs and I both have pieces in this show. You can view the exhibit (and click on individual pieces for enlargement) at this website <a href="http://www.kurtseligmann.org/homage_exhibition/">http://www.kurtseligmann.org/homage_exhibition/</a></div>
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(btw, I absolutely love this web design that enables you to 'click' on pieces and see them individually). Enjoy! </div>
</div>Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-71011446643886764792012-06-25T08:33:00.002-07:002012-06-25T08:33:46.610-07:00two collage booksSteven Specht here...<br />
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Over the past month, I received two new collage books that are so good, I just had to share information about them on this blog. One of the books is a technical book about various image transfer techniques by my friend and fellow collage artist Jonathan Talbot and Jessica Lawrence. The book can be purchased through Jonathan's website at <a href="http://www.talbot1.com/">www.talbot1.com</a>. This book should be useful for any level of collage artist. The second book is written by collage artist Randel Plowman, who curated the Collage Masters book (what a gem!). Randel's new book is a wonderful in that it covers some design basics in the first half of the book and then presents 50 short exercises to stimulate creative thinking as it relates to collage making. It's a GREAT book and I highly recommend it for beginnings and experts alike. I am hoping to use it in the future with my students. The book is published by Lark Crafts. Randel's blog site is listed in the blogs I follow. Enjoy!Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-83185920248343125582012-06-16T20:53:00.005-07:002012-06-16T20:53:50.013-07:002012 NCS ExhibitSteven Specht here...<br />
The 2012 National Collage Society Annual Juried Exhibition can now be enjoyed on-line at: <a href="http://www.nationalcollage.com/2012.html">http://www.nationalcollage.com/2012.html</a> Enjoy!Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-57807654660723434792012-06-09T12:37:00.002-07:002012-06-09T12:37:32.868-07:00lapel pinsSteven Specht here...<br />
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I worked a lot this week on school-related stuff and research, so today I wanted to get some work done in my studio space. Per usual, I have multiple project going on and some cleaning and organizing to do. I had no idea I was going to be doing lapel pins today; but it worked out that I pieced these together with the materials that I was getting organized. That's cool! These pieces are approximately 2" x 3" and 1.5" x 2". I made one for my friend Tom Nettle and the other for another friend of mine who, unbeknownst to me, has the snake as his Asian symbol. Enjoy!Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-21942005335082156792012-06-09T05:29:00.000-07:002012-06-09T05:30:19.099-07:00"Livre rouge"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Steve Specht here again...<br />
Here's something a little different. I will be floating this piece with a surrounding mat inside a 16" x 20" frame so that it will have room to "breathe" more. It's made from a vintage French book cover I got in a flea market in Versailles, an antique spur, cut paper and a rhinestone. I will be entering it at this year's Regional Exhibit at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. Enjoy!Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-63741106775351990912012-06-05T07:01:00.002-07:002012-06-05T07:01:47.067-07:00variations<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Steven Specht here...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Here's another example of how I go about my work (trade secret?). I saw this picture of a nice room that I think I got out of a home decor magazine. I really liked the strong light source from outside and knew that it would lend itself well to one of the things I like to do best.... space-scape backgrounds (I hope it's not getting too predictable). I should have taken a photo before I cut the door and window out for full comparison; but here are three candidate space-scapes I was playing with for the background. To me, one of them is "clearly" works best. Which do you think it is? Enjoy!</span>Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-52515565007192836352012-06-01T08:13:00.002-07:002012-06-01T08:14:18.091-07:00National Collage Society postcard show 2012Steven Specht here...<br />
Every year the National Collage Society sponsors its "Wish You Were Here" postcard show. The show is open to all members (which is always nice) and is not juried. Every submission must be 4" x 6" (the size of a post card) and no deeper than 1/4". This year's award-winning pieces can be viewed at: http://www.nationalcollage.com/exhibitions/12pc.html# Enjoy!Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-84614465177399972332012-06-01T06:26:00.003-07:002012-06-01T06:26:52.921-07:00the question of minimalism<br />
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Steven Specht here...</div>
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So here's the $64K question for today... "What makes a collage a 'collage'"? Or perhaps for this particular post, the question could be refined as, "Can a very minimal change constitute a 'collage'"? I suppose neither question really "needs" to be answered; but I find them both interesting. Here is a pair of images which prompted me to create this post in the first place. As soon as I saw this vintage image of the guy lifting the dumb-bell, I knew I would be using it for collage material. I've been intrigued lately by the variety and richness of "vintage grays". I was exploring potential placements of some of the other specimens I had lying around and found that this gorilla head looked pretty cool. With the gorilla head placed, I considered the possibilities of inclusion of other elements. But I kept coming back to the simple combination of gray dumb-bell guy with the muted brown (raw umber?) of the skull. I think it has a great aesthetic "as is". And thus the original questions. Does what I am showing here constitute a "collage"? If not, what would you call it? After exploring minimalism painting (a la Brice Marden) and appropriation art (a la Richard Prince), and after some of my own experiences with previous pieces, I'm not too "worried" about the answer. But I do find the questions to be thought-provoking and worth discussion. Any input would be welcome. Enjoy!<div style="clear: both;">
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</div>Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-35917225579466504312012-05-22T18:00:00.001-07:002012-05-22T18:00:56.727-07:00staticchange is again afoot. as i type this first post from an iPad i must say that i am not sure about what is next. my ideas of internet sharing are changing and i find my lack of technological advancement annoying as i hold onto this blog like a security blanket. the world is changing as computers lose their singular power over us and our phones take over. its getting easier for us to go to the next level and yet its all changing so fast we are barely able to keep up with it all...let alone process it all. my day job has led the way in my own personal journey towards an evolving internet, one wrought with so much potential that i have yet to touch. my thoughts turn to video...audio...a change in the media that i present to the world. blogs arent exactly a new phenom and i crave to use these all-too-available little microphone and camera buttons on my new devices.
i apologize for the lower case post as i know its hard to read. its a product of this new device and the problem i have with typing so fast -99 wpm- and not being used to this keyboard. i have already slacked aon (a freudian slip?) ON this blog to such a degree that i am tempted to just end it altogether and run along with the rest of my twitterati and my tumblratti et al.!
But something keeps me hanging on as i try to milk this blogging format for what its worth! i think something new is birthing. and i cannot wait to show you...and i will...as soon as i get over my fear of it.Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-44436396444418041292012-04-13T08:15:00.000-07:002012-04-13T08:16:02.920-07:00Power of N... again!Steven Specht here...<br />I am VERY excited to announce that Joel Lambeth has posted the call for "The Power of N" collage project for this year. See more at: http://tothepowerofn.joellambeth.com/Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-37383346481136999172012-04-07T05:07:00.002-07:002012-04-07T05:07:57.148-07:00The End is Near - The Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some shots from the opening:</div>
<br />Fascinating work by Sylvia Netcheva. She used handmade paper as her substrate. Upon close examination there were elements embedded in the work. I liked this idea very much. Her pieces were sculptural and very expressive.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sylvia Netcheva (Bulgaria)</td></tr>
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This closeup shows some of the intense detailing </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glass embedded in the work</td></tr>
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<br /><br />Kevin's heavy gloss work was amazing in it's thick textured surface. I liked the abstract look, the various interesting papers he chose, and the small intensity of these works. I wanted to talk to Kevin more, but the busy show prevailed!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin Gilmore (Rhode Island US)</td></tr>
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<br /><br />I liked the work of Pierre. The diagonal words on the top right piece placed at that angle really worked. The colors he chose were rich and full. I liked the way this work was on canvas...and required no mat or frame. I didn't photograph it, but the images rolled around the edges.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pierre Jean Varet (France)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crowd congregates at the opening</td></tr>
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Really detailed stitching and very meticulous placement was required for this work by Deborah Snider. She had some really beautiful works and they crossed the lines from collage to quilting.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deborah Snider (UT)</td></tr>
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As is usual for Steven, his meticulous work showed attention to detail. I found his work and the work of Frank Viola quite similar. You can tell these 2 have a similar philosophical approach to the work.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steven Specht (NY-US)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank Viola</td></tr>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br />These are meticulous and colorful pieces by Frank Viola. During the panel discussion, I could feel how deep Frank goes into his mind as he places his ephemera. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Frank Viola (NY)<br /></td></tr>
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<br /><br /><br /><br />My stuff. Hanging on the wall. Like a little village. 4 of these works were 3d, sticking out like the real building they represent.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julie Takacs (NY)</td></tr>
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<br />Aprile had a very interesting display. These pieces all in matching frames with their similar tones were quite striking. I liked the way they all looked like a dissected book on display! These were works with a nautical theme. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aprile Elcich (Toronto)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lively crowd</td></tr>
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<br />I had my camera in my hands during the panel discussion. Here's a shot of 3 collage artists deep in thought as they try to describe the creative process they go through.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aprile, Kevin Gilmore, Jonathan, and Frank's hands during the panel discussion</td></tr>
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<br />This series of works by Jonathan Talbot was a striking presentation. These pieces drew you in, you wanted to get up closer and see what these people were doing. The sepia toned background provided a good foil for the tints in the photos.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan Talbot (NY)</td></tr>
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Dale's intriguing work also lended a vintage aspect to the show. These fragile pieces made it all the way from New Zealand to the states and survived intact. The umbrella particularly spoke to me, in it's very decayed state it reminded me of lace.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dale Copeland (New Zealand)</td></tr>
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<br />The show still hangs in the gallery....if you want to see it yourself! This show ends on April 30th. </div>
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More info <a href="http://www.utica.edu/academic/as/fine_arts/gallery/exhibits/exhibits.cfm?keywords=gallery" target="_blank">here</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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</div>Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-56007155702016204352012-04-07T03:47:00.001-07:002012-04-07T03:47:36.365-07:00The End is near - The WordsDriving to Utica on the night of the opening, various thoughts crossed my mind. I've exhibited with other people before, but I have never had the privilege of attending since these shows were too far for me to travel. I've also exhibited solo a couple of times. But this time, I was going to be in an exhibit with other folks and on the scene to meet them. I get a bit of anxiety when I have to deal with a lot of people, especially ones that I don't know. I tend to talk alot and I get clumsy and lost in my words when I speak so this isn't usually a good feeling! I worked on pulling myself together. This was going to be easier for me than for artists who were traveling a far distance to attend this opening. I only had to drive an hour.<div>
As I entered the gallery I was immediately struck by how many people were already there! The <a href="http://www.utica.edu/academic/as/fine_arts/gallery/" target="_blank">gallery</a> at <a href="http://www.utica.edu/" target="_blank">Utica College</a> has such a nice ambience! In the adjacent room, a sweet jazz band was playing music for us and refreshments were on hand. They had several choices of water infused with various fruits and vegetables....I loved the strawberry water and Travis mentioned the cucumber water as being delicious. </div>
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I walked over to my corner where my artwork hung next to <a href="http://www.talbot1.com/" target="_blank">J</a><a href="http://www.talbot1.com/" target="_blank">onathan Talbot's</a>. I saw a man in a grey suit with a beard standing by his work and it occurred to me that this must indeed be Jonathan Talbot himself! I have wanted to meet him after we have had a few phone call conversations already and he is an interesting character. I walked up and introduced myself to the man and said "You must be Jonathan Talbot!"</div>
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"No, actually I'm not." The man replied.</div>
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"Oh c'mon! I saw your picture online. Your work is really interesting. I like the way the work is floating in the frame."</div>
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"No, really. I am not Jonathon Talbot." Again the man gently replied.</div>
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Hmmm. I thought quickly to myself. What an odd character! He doesn't want to discuss his work! The grey suited man strode off to look at the other collages and I considered the situation to myself. There was a lot of confusion with people coming in and I quickly forgot this incident. Later on, my friends Travis, Josh and Jen showed up. Travis wanted to meet Jonathan too, and I told him I would point him out and relayed to him my strange encounter. Before I found the grey suit man again, a tall man in a darker grey suit walked over to me and introduced himself. "Hi, I am Jonathan Talbot."</div>
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You can imagine my insides turning to jello at this point as I realized that indeed the grey suit man was really NOT Jonathan Talbot! Travis was nodding at me from across the room, since he heard the introduction and I said to myself...this is the reason you get nervous prior to shows!!!</div>
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I laughed it off, especially since I didin't see the grey suit man again. I feel sorry for my actions. I am certain he left scratching his head and muttering to himself about crazy artists!</div>
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After this crazy start, I could do nothing but enjoy the show and laugh it all off. I introduced myself to Aprile <a href="http://www.notpaper.net/" target="_blank">NotPaper</a> Elcich and her sweet husband Jory. They made the trip all the way from Canada and I was going to do my best to not leave them alone standing there and make them feel welcome. I had hoped to talk more with the other artists but it was so busy! Many people attended and I was surprised at the turnout. </div>
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The gallery is run by Caroline Whitefeather. She has several capable young students working in the gallery and doing various tasks. They were excellent docents that night. More than once, they brought over interested customers and patrons that wanted to talk about the work. I was happy to explain my thought on the theme of the show. It's really a side of the art process that we don't get enough of. it's tht interaction with others, that ability to see their response to your efforts and ideas, that is so valuable! I try to work in a vacuum so that my ideas come from ME> I know all too well my tendency to copy others without trying to. It just happens. In this isolation, you really don't get much feedback. Like a mad scientist you mix those papers like chemicals and out turns a smoking test tube. Getting a chance to use the chemical is a necessary facet!</div>
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Many interesting discussions were had. Janet and Matt Stanley came to see the show. They publish <a href="http://pulsepointpress.com/about-us/" target="_blank">Pulse</a>, a magazine for the Utica scene. They are friends of mine and also have purchased my work before. I was glad to have them on board, since this show is something that fits their readership. I also got to speak with Barbara Boucher, who is such a patron of the arts! She was a godsend for me and Steven during our solo shows at the <a href="http://www.mohawkvalleyarts.org/" target="_blank">Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts</a> and continues to be a patron of our arts. </div>
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The people at Golden Arts attended the show and were so gracious. They introduced themselves and expressed their ability to provide an artist tour of there facility in New Berlin. I am quite excited about this and plan to make a trip in the near future. It's so great to see these nice people out in the field meeting with actual artists that use their products. I love it that this company is in upstate New York. Our region needs more of this type of small business!</div>
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After all this tedious and exciting art talk, we were ushered into the main room for a panel discussion. It was nice to sit and talk with the public about their perception of what we do. I was fascinated by the answers of my comrades and found that experience to be less intimidating than I had imagined. </div>
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I fiddled with my iphone and took a couple of closeups during the discussion, but I learned that next time I need to keep my hands free of thing to play with! I am a nervous person, and don't need toys when I am on stage!</div>
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After the show the artists all met up at Marin and had an absolutely amazing buffet of Indian food. I was still exhilarated from the show experience and of course I couldn't gorge myself like I would have. I have to go back there, the place had most excellent curry!</div>
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A great night came to an end. I rode the wave all the way back home to Canajoharie thanking Steven under my breath for his efforts in pulling this all together.</div>
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<br /></div>Julie Takacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321117239292373395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-61568877805672144872012-04-03T13:12:00.002-07:002012-04-03T13:12:59.023-07:00"Choices"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pblml3Jlr2o/T3tZxWIncaI/AAAAAAAABPM/ycSoEuWqt7k/s1600/Choices.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pblml3Jlr2o/T3tZxWIncaI/AAAAAAAABPM/ycSoEuWqt7k/s200/Choices.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727270055421899170" /></a><br />Steven Specht here...<br />Here's a new piece I did as a demonstration at the Kirkland Arts Center in Clinton, NY on Sunday. I have decided to donate it to help them in their fund-raising efforts. I entitled it "Choices" because the characters seem to have made various choices in life. Enjoy!Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-25370329950100269882012-04-02T03:49:00.003-07:002012-04-02T03:52:55.464-07:00Kirkland Art Center "Great Continuous Collage Project"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0x7coJEaw0/T3mExQTFzqI/AAAAAAAABOw/6PfVrEBvb1s/s1600/DSC00064.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0x7coJEaw0/T3mExQTFzqI/AAAAAAAABOw/6PfVrEBvb1s/s200/DSC00064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726754382901792418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gOA6sNPVWec/T3mEw4AvSuI/AAAAAAAABOo/5uTZQSy_3X4/s1600/DSC00056.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gOA6sNPVWec/T3mEw4AvSuI/AAAAAAAABOo/5uTZQSy_3X4/s200/DSC00056.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726754376382368482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTpQt4Kw_kY/T3mEweoSUFI/AAAAAAAABOc/bf9YUMm52Eo/s1600/DSC00047.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTpQt4Kw_kY/T3mEweoSUFI/AAAAAAAABOc/bf9YUMm52Eo/s200/DSC00047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726754369568919634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dT4uPD_r50Y/T3mEwD0L_DI/AAAAAAAABOQ/7trEIOTaW9Q/s1600/DSC00045.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dT4uPD_r50Y/T3mEwD0L_DI/AAAAAAAABOQ/7trEIOTaW9Q/s200/DSC00045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726754362371079218" /></a><br />Steve Specht here (one day after April Fool's Day)...<br />I had a REALLY nice time yesterday at the Kirkland Art Center for the Great Continuous Collage Project! They have paper up on the walls and plenty of materials for folks to make collage. It's an on-going community event. Go try it out! See "kirklandartcenter.org" for more details. Enjoy!Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38060345.post-807554236647895082012-04-01T16:35:00.002-07:002012-04-01T16:36:21.931-07:00end of a blogSteve Specht here...<br />Just wanted to share what I just posted n my blog:<br />"Looks like I'm gonna have to close this blog down. Seems as though the copyright laws have finally caught up with me. Thanks for your interest and support over the past couple years. It's a very sad day for me. Collage is dead.<br />Star date - 04-01-12"Monkeybrainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050830196830623149noreply@blogger.com0