A Virgin A Day: Day 4

Amore Incondizionato, encaustic, collage, Lisa JonesMoore

Totem 1 (detail), encaustic, mixed media, collage, Lisa JonesMoore

Madre? Is That You?, encaustic, mixed media, Lisa JonesMoore

Mary, with Red and Blue, encaustic, mixed media, found objects, Lisa JonesMoore

I am participating in "A Virgin a Day" with the lovely Rebecca Brooks, here (Recuerda Mi Corazon), celebrating the 12 days of the Virgin of Guadalupe. I had the privilege of visiting San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, last year during this most beautiful celebration. People, businesses, homes and hearts are all "open" during this most sacred time in Mexico. Music, food, love...all around.

The auction to benefit Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots starts TODAY, June 5!

IT'S OFFICIAL! LET THE SHRINE-ING BEGIN! The online auction to benefit Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots has begun! Buy art, help children. It's a win-win situation!!! The auction runs through June 12.

Here is the link:
http://recuerda-mi-corazon.com/

NEW exciting items in my Etsy shop!!!

Internet Publico Wall photograph...taken in Oaxaca, Mexico. LOVE the colors! Go to jonesmoore.etsy.com to see more!
All images COPYRIGHT JonesMoore

In the studio this week...

What's happening in the studio this week? I just finished another 5x5" encaustic milagro (miracle), soon to be offered in my etsy shop. I have used encaustic wax, india ink, oil pastel and a small tin heart milagro on this piece. Tin milagros are very popular in Mexico, and are used to pray for a loved one who is ill, or needs help with business, family, livestock, etc. I LOVE these!

I scored "The Owl's Nest" sign at Goodwill for $1.99! Now that's a miracle in itself! It will hang in my 2nd floor loft studio. I have recently become very 'hooked' on the show, "American Pickers". These guys finds some absolutely amazing stuff and meet the most eccentric, yet heartfelt people!!

I will demonstrate how to make a shrine tomorrow!

The 'beginnings' of a shrine...

Saturday, December 12, I will be doing a demonstration on how I combine encaustic and assemblage to make a contemporary shrine. The shrine I have started, pictured above, will be offered online during an auction to benefit the street children of Oaxaca, Mexico. The demo will be part of the monthly Artists Connect meeting, held in Edmonds, Washington, at the ArtWorks building at the corner of Dayton and 2nd. The meeting starts at 10:oo a.m., and is for artists that live/work in or near the Edmonds and 'north of Seattle' area. I am very excited to be starting a piece of artwork that will benefit children who are in need. To read more about this cause, please visit:

Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots

This contemporary shrine will go through many phases before being complete. The online auction, featuring the artwork of many talented artists across the U.S., will be taking place in March of 2010, so please visit this blog for updates!

mi cráneo del azúcar

My sugar skull 'creation', made for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration...

Dia de los Muertos, oh my!

These photos were taken during my trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, in 2007. Every year in late October and early November, the Mexican people (families) celebrate and honor their departed loved ones. This is truly one of the most beautiful celebrations I've ever witnessed. To see more photos of this trip, please visit my Flickr site.

Dia de los Muertos, oh my!

"Manos y Ojos", COPYRIGHT 2009 JonesMoore

I am just bursting with excitement! Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is happening in less than one month! This is a major holiday in Mexico, during which families celebrate their ancestors and departed loved ones. The collage shown above was based on images and my feelings about Dia de los Muertos. "Manos y Ojos" (the handwritten text in the background) means hands and eyes...with the Virgin of Guadalupe floating above.

Dia le los Muertos is one of the most profound and beautiful cultural holidays I have ever experienced. So much love and sharing happens during the festivities. The streets, homes businesses and cemeteries of Mexico are just alive with music and pageantry. Check out my photos taken during this amazing holiday in Oaxaca, Mexico in 2007!

www.flickr.com/photos/jonesmoore

and more photos here

AND here!!

Artwork and photographs to be featured at Oasis Art Gallery...

Josefina's Paints, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

I am SO excited to announce my upcoming show at Oasis Art Gallery in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The show will take place October 24, 2009-January 17, 2010. This is a beautiful gallery, featuring amazing artwork and photographs by some fantastic Seattle artists. This exhibition opens just in time for "Day of the Dead" (Dia de los Muertos) festivities, so I will be featuring--you guessed it--contemporary shrines and photographs taken in Oaxaca, Mexico! If you wish to be included in the announcement mailing list, please send your snail mail and email address to me at: jomoma58@yahoo.com. See you there!

People of Mexico: mi corazón está con usted...

Mexico is so much more than swine flu and drug violence...my heart goes out to the people of Mexico.  They are the most giving, loving people I have ever met. I've posted a few pictures (below) from some of my travels to Mexico, to show the joy and love I  have experienced from the people I've encountered there.

Street Children of Oaxaca Online Fundraiser

Please visit this wonderful blog (by artist Rebecca Brooks) and learn about the fundraiser for Street Children of Oaxaca. I was in Oaxaca (city) in 2007 for a shrine workshop with Michael deMeng. It is a most magical place, full of beautiful people, art, souls and history. The fundraiser consists of an online auction of some beautiful hand-made cigar box shrines. The bidding for these shrines started March 1, and will continue through March 31. A wonderfully worthy cause, and you will get a great piece of art for your efforts!

Pictured above: ofrenda in Oaxaca, Mexico

Spanish word for the week: la posada

la posada
English Translation: inn, guesthouse, lodging
Spanish Example: Debe ser muy agradable dormir en esa posada.
English Translation: It should be very pleasant to sleep in that inn.

(YES! It was extremely pleasant sleeping here, in the open air, listening to the surf...aaahhhh.)
Pictured: View from Casa Bougainvillea in Sayulita, Mexico

Clipboard Shrine-ology Workshop

"33,000 Words" originally uploaded by jomoma58.

I am SO excited to be teaching this class on April 25 at the University of Washington Experimental College in Seattle, Wa. I will also teach it in Everett, Wa, on June 13. Here's the basic information about the class:

Create a fun and fabulous clipboard shrine dedicated to a meaningful event or person in your life. You will learn about various forms of Mexican shrines and their place in contemporary society. Discover how to manipulate various media including acrylics, fabric, paper and text-while learning the art of simple attachments for found objects. Express yourself with photos, handwritten notes and your own sacred objects. To register, please visit the UW Experimental College website. The Spring quarter catalog should be up very soon. If you have any questions about the class, you may contact me at:  jomoma58@yahoo.com

Spanish word for the week

It's time for the Sayulita "word of the week", courtesy (and copyright) of "El Sayulero" (February 20):

el mote
English Translation: nickname
Spanish Example: Le ha merecido el mote de "Godinez"
English Translation: He has earned the nickname of "Godinez"

I receive this lovely e-newsletter once a week from the quaint seaside town of Saylita, Mexico--one of my favorite places on earth!

Spanish word for the week: la sonrisa

I receive a wonderful online weekly newsletter from the little town of Sayulita, Mexico, which is about 30 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. I have been to Sayulita numerous times and, despite it's recent growth due to being "discovered", it is one of my most favorite places in Mexico. It has retained its small/town fishing village charm, and everyone knows everyone. In their newsletter, "El Sayulero", they usually have an update of what's going on in the community, and an interview with a local member of the community (or expat who lives there). They also have a Spanish word for the week, which I just love. So, this is courtesy of "El Sayulero", February 6:

Sayulita "word of the week"

la sonrisa
English Translation: smile
Spanish Example: No hay nada mejor que ver tu sonrisa.
English Translation: There is nothing better than seeing your smile.

Pictured: Bras and undies at the Sayulita market, courtesy of my daughter, Jen. (This picture makes me smile!)