Don't Mess with Texas

Growing up in Texas, I never noticed how much pride people had for their state. I thought getting a tattoo of one's state on an arm or ankle was a common thing. I thought big malls, big hair and big personalities were just the way it was.
Now, I know my mom would chime in right now, if she heard me saying this, and tell me "that is not what everyone does, or how everyone lives and is in Texas!", and this is true, but it is a contrast to what I know and observe here.
So, I'm going to visit my parents and my sister's family for a week, and if you have any requests (a cowboy hat, a Dallas Cowboy jersey, or some longhorns, for example) give me a shout out in the comments below, and I'll do my best.

Next weekend (June 4-6) we will be headed down to Richmond, VA.
Eric has a jewelry trunk show at Quirk (pictured left) on Saturday and
I will be giving an artist lecture on Friday and teaching a collaborative printmaking class on Saturday at the Visual Arts Center. Please come if you can!
Here is the full scoop.

Papel de Bling

Thoughts of adorning one's body with paper has wondered back into my head. Although I put the idea down for a while, it makes sense that it has come back to me because I love the idea of combining paper with body ornamentation/modification. There is something playful and low-pressure when I start working in paper, maybe because it is easily accessible and low tech. Furthermore, there is something really fascinating to me regarding the ephemerality of it-how when paper is placed on the body, it changes when the body sweats, it becomes embedded with smells, and it stretches and tears.
above: Marcus Tomlinson, Stills from the film „Pen to Paper“, UK 2003. ©Marcus Tomlinson












above: Michael Cepress, Collars for the Modern Gentleman, USA 2006, commissioned by ATOPOS, created using the “Yellow Pages”. Photo: Michelle Moore ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

So for the next couple of months, I'm going to dive more into researching and making paper jewelry. Last night, I made this paper ring, inspired by a pattern I found online by Sarah Kate Burgess. I have to say, although it is not very practical, I love it.

Going (to) Elsewhere

Last weekend Landria, Phoebe and I took a road trip to Elsewhere Collaborative, in Greensboro, NC.

Simply put: artists from all over and from different disciplines come to Elsewhere, a former thrift store, to make art inspired by the objects that are a part of the living museum.

Thoroughly put: Elsewherians discover new objects that reflect Sylvia’s (the original owner of the thrift store) fascinating mind and life, and whose placement and preservation reference the eccentric process by which the objects of her collection were ordered. This mass of objects tells a cultural narrative about material excess, consumption, and overproduction. The re-ordering of things and the curation of collections speaks to the potential to re-imagine collaborative creativity and the role of place and presence in telling a community’s story. The salience with which visitors and artists alike share in the immersive experience of this unique site, speaks not to an idea but to a shared narrative written in attics and basements across the country.

No matter how you put it, this place is pretty amazing! If you love Pee-Wee's playhouse, a collaborative art environment, and working in a multi-disciplinary and an organic way, I would highly recommend applying for a residency!

Yay for Progress!

With a lot of help from interns and volunteers, the public art piece dedicated to legendary Maryland figures is almost ready for its big reveal!
Today we worked on installing it on the side of Pyramid Atlantic Art Center's Building.














Even though the hammer drill was a bit scary, James nearly fell off the ladder, and we forgot a couple of things (including how to spell forgotten), there was great satisfaction and lots of high-fives at the end of the day.

Upcoming Workshops and Events

I will be teaching some workshops, and have some visiting artist engagements in the next couple of months.
Please feel free to email me directly if you have any questions about a particular workshop-gretchen@gretchenschermerhorn.com
Please pass along to anyone who you think might be interested, and hope to see you!

Pulp Printing
April 11th, 10am-4pm
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
Silver Spring, MD
(301) 608-9101
Registration and more information

Gocco Printing
April 19th, 11am-1pm
Strathmore Mansion
Rockville, MD
(301) 581-5109
Registration and more information

Hand Papermaking
April 24th, 10:30-1:30
Strathmore Mansion
Rockville, MD
(301) 581-5109
Registration and more information

Beth and I are going to Kars, Turkey to teach a Papermaking workshop!
May 10th-14th
Sponsored by the Anatolian Artisans organization.
I'm sure we will make a special blog just for this trip, so stay posted!

Eastern and Western Hand Papermaking
Summer Session, May 24th-June 25th
Corcoran College of Art and Design

Visiting Artist lecture and Workshop
June 4th-6th
Visual Art Center of Richmond
Richmond, VA
More information to come

From Paper to Print
July 19th-24th
Women's Studio Workshop
Rosendale, NY
845.658.9133
For more information and to register

Can You Own a Sound?

My favorite album sophomore year in college was De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising, and my favorite single on that album was definitely A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays". But it wasn't until I had listened to the song a couple of times, that I recognized that among others, Saturday in the Park, by Chicago and Could you be Loved, by Bob Marley, had be sampled into it. Besides being one of the greatest records of the last quarter century, 3 Feet High was a turning point for sampling laws.

That's just a little background on where I was really going---last night I watched COPYRIGHT CRIMINALS on PBS. As an artist who helps others others produce their own work, I found this film to be so interesting. It addressed questions of ownership, the role of the producer, the artist, and the publisher. The main question the movie asks is--can you own a sound? As hip-hop rose from the streets to become a multibillion-dollar industry, artists started reusing parts of previously recorded music for their songs. But when record company lawyers got involved everything changed. The movie examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law and money.
Check it out, it's so good and hurts so bad (Little Anthony & The Imperials) at the same time.
Watch the trailer