The online shrine auction to benefit street children of Oaxaca is about to start!

My shrine for the auction to benefit the street children of Oaxaca this year, "Illumination". It reflects my feelings about the raw and aged beauty of Oaxaca, Mexico, and the people of Oaxaca's ability to "rise" above the challenges of life there (thus the word "Ascension" and the dragonfly imagery on the inside of the cigar box). The shrine inside of the cigar box is actually made from an old clipboard, and I have added various found objects such as tin milagros, a ceramic Madonna and painted silk flowers.

This incredible online auction, started by Rebecca Brooks and due to start in early May, will feature a treasure trove of handmade shrines by many talented and caring artists who have found their way to this cause through the creative blogging community.

"Stay tuned" for more information on the "when, where and how" you can participate in this wonderful cause! Please visit http://corazon.typepad.com/gallery_of_hope/ to see more of these incredible shrines!

For more information about the organization Oaxaca StreetChildren Grassroots, click here!

My shrine has arrived!!

This beautiful shrine,"Art Heals", has just arrived on my doorstep! It was made by artist Lisa DiNunzio, and you can see her blog at: www.pritistudio.blogspot.com. Lisa was one of many talented artists who participated in the auction to benefit Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots, which raised approximately $4,000 this year. I was also very privileged to be involved in the auction, by making and donating a handmade shrine called "Protect the Children". (see my sidebar)

Here is a little bit about Lisa DiNunzio:
"I am a self-taught (self-critical) artist.  I was brought up by the
"waste not-want not" mantra, so this explains the up-cycled art
I create and also probably my extra 10 pounds :)
I am a paradox: eternally optimistic and at the same time
almost always melancholy.

I have a family that I am in love with...a charmed life I am so thankful for... I am bashful and ridden with anxiety, but I do have a "brave-face-mask" that I wear almost all of the time..."

I feel so fortunate to have met all of the artists (through our blogs) who participated in this heartfelt cause for children in Oaxaca, Mexico. I encourage you to visit Lisa's beautiful art blog!

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!

An Artist Date and a Mind-blowing Experience....

RUN, don't walk (or even saunter) to this amazing place in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle called Souvenir. The owner (Curtis Steiner) of this little gem of a shop/gallery makes incredible items and shrines out of found objects, has gorgeous hand made cards, jewelry and beautifully odd found objects. Some of these things are housed in a huge antique 'dresser' of sorts, and all of the drawers are just BEGGING to be opened...and amazing discoveries to be made. 

His website is: www.curtissteiner.com

Click on the link for "1,000 Blocks" for an even more mind-blowing experience...come back and tell me what you think. My creative "well" has definitely been filled.

Shrine Class and Spring!

This Saturday, I will be teaching a one-day workshop called Clipboard Shrine-ology from 10–5, in Seattle on the beautiful University of Washington campus. The campus is breathtaking right now, with spring blooms in full 'swing'. Here's more information on the workshop:

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. Supply list upon registration. No experience required! 

Clipboard Shrine-ology #10.0330 (class #)
Instructor: JonesMoore
Sec 1: Sat 10 am – 5 pm, 4/25 only

Course fee: General Public: $62/UW Students: $47
Location: University of Washington, on campus, Gould Hall, Room 436

REGISTER: (web) http://exco.org, phone: (206)68-LEARN, Walk-in registration: come to the classroom before 10 a.m. on 4/25. Be sure to bring cash or check for instructor and registration fee, and basic supplies (email me at jomoma58@yahoo.com for basic supply list).

I hope to see you there!

The birth of a shrine...

This is another clipboard shrine in the works. These shrine/assemblage pieces are like jigsaw puzzles...I just have to be patient with the process of trial and error (i.e. fitting the right pieces together). I did the base and niche (made from an old book) last January, and I'm just getting around to placing objects on the shrine. I found the porcelain figure piece at ArtFest vendor night 3 months later, so one HAS to be patient with the process. It's a good idea to have more than one of these going at the same time...if an object doesn't work on one shrine, then it may work on another. Now, how to attach... 

To the Sea completed...

I've just completed the clipboard shrine "To the Sea". It's a very quiet piece for me. It celebrates beach walks, contemplation while at the beach and the wonderful treasures we find in the sand. Some of these shells and sticks I found at the beach at Fort Worden, in Port Townsend, Washington (the site if ArtFest in about 10 days). The center piece of the shrine is an old book I cut a niche into, to hold the glass piece inside. I've also used encaustic wax and graphite/mettalic pigments.

Clipboard Shrine-ology: Registration now Open!

Registration just opened today for my upcoming workshop, "Clipboard Shrine-ology" at the University of Washington's Experimental College (ASUW). The class is on Saturday, April 25, from 10–5. We will be having some real fun with clipboards, various art media and found objects. No experience required!

I value your opinion!

I am submitting three images to Lark Books to be considered for inclusion in the upcoming publication "500 Found Object Works". The book will showcase art (and craft) made from found objects. I am having a tough time narrowing my choice down to three images. If you have the time and energy, I would be grateful if could you visit my web gallery at:

http://artid.com/jonesmoore

and vote (post your comment on this blog entry) on the three pieces that best represent works using found objects. I personally have eight favorites: 33,000 Words, Countdown to Nada, Dear Tom, Margarita and Marigolds, Mary with Blue and Red, 14 Squares with Chicken Bones and one  called "The Girls Cheat Death" (pictured above: a shrine made totally of found objects, dedicated to those who are overcoming breast cancer). I am also considering another piece  called "Captive Heart"--it is a shrine, also (pictured below in a previous post). If you don't have the time to do this, I totally understand. If you do, thanks so much!

"Captive Heart" shrine just completed...

I've just completed another 'clipboard' shrine. It's made with found objects and encaustic wax.  I dipped a fabric heart in the wax several times (this was too fun, and now I want to dip everything!). These are starting to be a bit addictive. I will be teaching workshops on how to do this in April and June. Please see the sidebar for my upcoming workshops if you are interested in learning how to do this. If they are not yet posted in the class catalogs, please contact me at: jomoma58@yahoo.com for more information. This shrine is now available in my Etsy shop.

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

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

Shrine of a Lifetime workshop: 3–1/2 days left to register!

There's only 3–1/2 days left to register for this exciting workshop, happening in Edmonds, WA. It will run February 21 and 28 (two consecutive Saturdays). We are going to learn a multitude of techniques such as: transforming small everyday objects with paint, how to use cheesecloth, muslin and lace for texture, simple attachments with carpet tacks, wire and screws, combining unrelated objects and images...If you, or someone that you know, might be interested in this fun and rewarding workshop, please call ArtsNow at : 425-643-1243. Below is the specific information you'll need for registration:

SHRINE OF A LIFETIME Workshop
Instructor: Lisa JonesMoore
ArtsNow C405
Edmonds Community College/ArtsNow
Edmonds, Washington
Dates: February 21 and February 28
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Class Fee: $139

More information on this class at :
http://www.edcc.edu/artsnow

Saints and Sinners: Shrine Workshop in Arizona

I will be teaching this fabulous and fun workshop in Arizona, March 13–15, in sunny St. David. We will explore the 'saints and sinners' in our lives, as well as those throughout history, especially those in the Latino cultures. We will learn how to make  personal shrines out of  cigar boxes, found objects, collage and simple assemblage techniques. The cut-off date to sign up is February 12, so get a friend or two to sign up with you and make a fun trip out of it! St. David is within 1 hour of Tuscon and Bisbee, and both places are loaded with history and culture. Please contact Karon Leigh at exPRESSive Arts Studio at http://expressiveartsstudio.com, or contact me at jomoma58@yahoo.com for more information. There is also a direct link to the exPRESSive Arts Studio website in my sidebar, under "Workshops".

Dos Corazones

Dos Corazones, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

I've just completed--yes, this very minute--this wonderful little encaustic wax and found object shrine for Valentine's Day. It also includes a small book with a window cut into it. This was so much fun to do, and I am hooked on the process. I will be teaching a workshop explaining how to make one of these in Everett, Washington, in mid-June (please see sidebar "My Upcoming Workshops"). I will soon be putting this up for sale in my online Etsy shop. This will be a tough one to part with!

To purchase, please go to:
http://jonesmoore.etsy.com

ArtsNow/Edmonds Community College

Shrine of a Lifetime workshop offered in Edmonds, Washington

Shrine of a Lifetime workshop offered in Edmonds, Washington

Memories of Marilyn: inside, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

My upcoming workshop, "Shrine of a Lifetime", will be taking place February 21 and 28 . It will be held at Edmonds Community College (ArtsNow program) in beautiful Washington state. Here's the description:

We will be creating a fabulous shrine dedicated to a beloved person, pet, place, or idea. Learn about Mexican shrines—such as ofrendas and home altars—and their history and place in contemporary society. Discover how to manipulate various mixed media using acrylics, fabric, paper, and found objects, while also learning the art of simple attachments. Express yourself with cherished photos, handwritten notes and your own sacred objects. Your completed cigar box shrine will truly be “art from the heart.”

Pictured above: Shrine of Marilyn (my mother)