Our Bra Party!

What a fun afternoon...gathering with fellow artists, crafting our unique bras for the bra ball.

I'm so proud of Kristin!

My Friend Kristin Kuhns....

just opened her "installation" show at the Salem Art Association. Kristin has been working a full year in planning, going on location and doing extensive research. Kristin's body of work was inspired by her experiences in the Zena Forest – a local model for sustainable forestry practices and site in which she has explored the complex relationship between harvesting and artistic practice. The resulting exhibit invites reflections on human relation to landscape and the natural world. A must see if you are in Salem.

More bras!!!!!

SO.....bras have been arriving!!!!!!. Tomorrow I am driving to Portland for a "Bra Circle" at Hilary Pfeifer's studio. I can't wait. Watch for upcoming photos!

More bras!!!!!

Calling all bras...

for the upcoming "Bra Ball" at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery!

Beautiful Boston

Cobblestone streets, art, intimate corner bistros, brownstones...what a great trip.

Waiting for the train

I found these phones interesting while waiting for the train to Boston.

When nobody's around...

we like to take pictures of our shadows. This was our ferry ride back to Providence.

Each year

we take pictures of numbers that show our age and how many years we will be married (August 18th). Since we were on the beach we thought we'd just make our own numbers.

Block Island

What a beautiful place to land. Two days of relaxation.

After Providence...

we jumped onto the Ferry and went to visit Block Island. I can't believe we were wearing matching shoes...geeze.

Visiting Boris Bally

While in Providence we visited with Boris in his studio. He is an amazing artist. Lucky us.

Onto Providence...

After the awards ceremony we decided to extend our trip. Our first stop was Providence, RI....we loved the charm of the community, Brown University and RISD. I discovered the Art-o-matic.

We won!!!

On August 2nd in Philadelphia, the gallery was given two awards from NICHE Magazine for Top Retailer and Best in Gallery Event for 2009. Pretty exciting!

Sculpture in the backyard

Recently we ripped up the concrete at the back of our house because we are building a studio/workshop. My son Adam and I couldn't resist spray painting the giant pieces of stone.
Since we have lots of neighbors who walk our alley they enjoyed the splash of color and random patterns (even though it lasted only one evening). To our dismay and my husbands delight they brought in a truck that removed all the debris the next morning.

Emerging Artists

Art Mail is here and we have some...

exciting news!!!! I have submitted my "Art-Mail" postcards for the Salem Art Association"s "Project Space" and they have given me two rooms during the month of July to create an installation.

As part of this installation I would like to encourage artists to create their own "art mail" cards and send them to us. Not a big deal...just a postcard that you could make...jot a note on the back and send it to the gallery.

My proposal includes converstations with artists (you), the community and myself....what can we say using postcards as our canvas and having them pass through many hands?

When a postcard is mailed don't you wonder who may take a second to read what is written on the back? Sneaking a peak..... I do. Usually the words are non-discript..."having a good time", "wish you were here", "enjoying the scenery"....nothing that is too personal....What if there was something that was written or created that made us stop to think. Art SHOULD stop us, make us pause..... that is why I'm creating these cards and why I'd love for all of you to join me in this show....nothing big, just a postcard...out there for anyone to see...passing through many hands...pushing the limits and exposing those that "sneak a peak" to ART .

The other part of my installation will ask those that visit to make their own "Art-Mail", BUT....(you know there is always a catch with me) they will not be able to take the card home with them. They will have to address the card and send it out right away. I'm hoping that this might help people understand the artist's perspective of "creating" and then having to part with the finished piece -even if they love it.

It's just a small piece of mail, but who knows - we may change the world - just a little...I'm a postive thinker.

Send me a postcard by July 12th...Mary Lou Zeek Gallery-335 State Street-Salem, Oregon 97301 (I'll personally send you one of mine back!)

Mary Lou
www.zeekgallery.com

Commissions sometimes aren't so easy....

but when working with Seattle artist Steven Gardner it has been a wonderful experience.
I have been hired to be the "art consultant" for the new Kroc Center that is being built north of Salem. What a spectacular building!
Steve is creating a terracotta wall sculpture that will be mounted into the fireplace. Steve and Randy Curtis are shown here discussing measurements.

Me? I'm just behind the camera smiling...art in public spaces, that makes me very happy.

More for the Bra Ball!

We now have our second bra for our "Bra Ball". This was donated by Renee Hartig in memory of her Great aunt Irmi Wenner.

It was a sad day....

Last night while fixing dinner I heard a giant crash come from our living room. A large painting had fallen down from over our fireplace, taking out three of my favorite ceramic pieces.
All I could do was pick up the pieces and cry. At the gallery I always tell people of "connections" to the art and the artist. For them to know how art is created...who made the artwork...know the soul of the piece. These were my good friends. Sad day at my house.

It was a hot night....

...but we debuted our "Art-Mail"l machine with MiKayla as our "talking machine".


Despite the loud music that was being played in front of the shop next door, "Art-Mail" was a success!


We only had my cards along with a few from "Emerging artist" Allison Kerst for this first time but do hope to encourage other artists to contribute for the next First Wednesday. Let me know if you are interested and I'll give you the scoop!

Why? Let's spread "the love" for art!

Art Mail

I love creating art but find that running a gallery can take up most of my free time. Understand that I do LOVE what I do but find that people who knew me in my "previous life" ask the same question...."are you going to ever go back to making pots?" "Don't you miss making art?"....don't you miss "being creative".

My response is to tell them that running the gallery has kept me thinking creatively every minute of the day. Maybe not making the traditional art but thinking of how we can push the limits with our artists. Each month we plan shows, create show cards, mailers (remember us sending a can through the mail?) We are always looking for ways to stand out in the crowd.

Well....we do have another fun idea up our sleeves and I've been having a great time making "art mail" postcards for our new "Mail Art" machine. This fine tuned, person run, wacky but fun machine will be making it's debut on First Wednesday.

This is one of the many cards that I've made for this "Mail Art" machine...random but fun. Stop by to see it in action Wednesday evening.

My new friends

Today I took two of Kim Murton's giant clay sculptures to a clients house for approval. I couldn't fit anyone else into our tiny Smart car so it was just me and my two new friends. A quiet car ride with lots of people doing "double takes".

Our first bra....

Would this be considered a "training bra" since it is our first submission for the bra ball? We love what Ruth Armitage created for the "Bra Ball" and we can't wait to see what others send. Notice the detailed stitching? Spectacular!

Door Show #4

Always a clown...

We recently had our "Door Show #4" preview party. There were lots of people who came out for the evening to see all 23 doors in one place. For the evening, we placed a cardboard cutout of myself in the entry as a greeter (not my idea) and my son Adam is posing....silly but fun.
It was a wonderful evening.

Some days...

we get out of town to see our kids. This last weekend we drove down to Eugene to see the new baby goats that my son and girlfriend are raising. Friendly little guys who love climbing onto everything and everyone.
I also had to get a shot of the chicken posing by the artwork.

This was a nice break from the gallery.