Bethlehem

We arrived to Tel Aviv two days ago, surprisingly we didn't have any problems entering the country. Then rode the bus through the countryside, through Jerusalem and finally through checkpoint 300 into Bethlehem.
We are staying at the ICB (international Center of Betlehem) or Diyar www.Diyar.ps The place is like a little oasis in the center of Bethlehem built by the Finnish government.

Leaving the "land of opportunities"

I have never been to NY, always tried to avoid the big city when traveling trough the state; but being on a plane flying over this territory that gradually changes its color from the deepest green splattered with, I'd like to say blue, but sadly is brown water, to a grayish zippered green into finally a true concrete gray; the gate into the land of opportunities, I can't help it I find myself looking for her, I have a feeling she's there hiding between all that gray raising from the water... And then I see her. An overwhelming feeling of sadness, excitement, and melancholy gets into my very core. I imagine the countless immigrants that came trough that gate, some escaping, some looking for opportunities. I think of displacement through physical, economic, social violence. I think about my own situation, being an immigrant leaving the "land of opportunities" through this same gate to go to one of the most oppressive places in the world, where those who have been there for countless generations are constantly forced to emigrate their beloved land or become prisoners in it.
Good bye lady Liberty! We are off to the Holy Land.

Resiliency print

Resiliency

It's true... my website was swallowed by a cyber monster.  Long story, but in short a very frustrating experience, and an important lesson learned.
So all I'm left with for now, is;  this blog, an Etsy site and a Facebook page; oh, sure a Twitter account too.

I am still trying to raise funds to pay for my trip to the Holy Land, one way is by selling prints. There is more information in two previous posts below, but basically I am selling 50 prints @ $35 each. And by selling them all I should be able to cover that expense at least. Donations are also welcome, there is a link on the side panel for that.

If you wish kindly offer your support by buying a print, they are available on my Etsy site; or there is always the option of buying directly from my studio in Grand Rapids.

I should say that I am 1/3 away from my goal, and it has been such a beautiful experience to receive so much support, affection, encouragement and sympathy from my local community and beyond.

Thank you

Infinite thanks!!!

I've got a late start... But the moment I announced I was granted an art residency in the Holy Land and my urgent need to raise funds; I was showered with sympathy, financial support, and all kinds of help and love.
I got checks in the mail,  online donations, over-payments for prints, etc. And when I was feeling sick under the stress of throwing a big fundraising party; I was overwhelmed by the amount of help I received from friends and "acquaintances"

I am still overwhelmed, and loving my community more than ever. This trip hasn't started yet, and I feel like I have experienced, and learned so much from it already. I still need to raise 1/3 of the funds, but nonetheless can happily announce that my Grand Rapids community is sending me to the Holy Land.

Here is a very ambitious attempt:

Thanks to:
 Joel Skendzel, for being the best landlord and putting up with my countless ideas of events.
Cabildo, for putting up with my innumerable requests and for playing such amazing music
Drew Nelson, for his inspiring lyrics, beautiful music and unbelievable generosity.
Carlos Aceves, for all the amazing food that made our bellies sooo happy
David McGowan, for documenting the event with the most timely shots I could've wished for.
Kate Avila, the best printing assistant!
Mariano Avila, for starting it all.
The beautiful Moon
Garry Perrine, Billy Bennett, Sharri LaPierre, my studio mates: Elaine Dalcher, Tommy Allen and Michael Pfleghaar, the unconditional Bivinses, Ramirez' and Siegenthaler's,  printmaking mama Sarah Scott,  all the MAM gang, Wendy Marty, Amanda Narvaes, Steve Davison and Steve Heintz, Alex Gilford, Josh and Rachel, Jason Shrier, Dianne Carroll Burdick, Jeff Smith and Colette Seguin, Cathryn Young, Dan Vandesteeg, the Rumsey's, Frederic Voisin, Dave Huizenga, Ron Lichtenstein, Heather Bryant, the Hollemans, Josh Duggan, Renee and Eric... Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I know I must be missing many more...

For those who happen to be on Facebook, here is a link to the album

Cabildo playing at my fundraising event. Thanks to Tommy Allen who recorded it.

Printing my way to the Holy Land

It is official! I'm going to Palestine and Israel.

And I desperately need help to raise funds to pay for this trip

I was invited to be part of The Hope Equals Artist Residency Trip; during which, I will be traveling with other North American artists from different areas and backgrounds. Our group will learn about the conflict by visiting Jewish, Muslim and Christian sites, as well as through collaboration with artists from Israel and the West Bank. Visit www.hopeequals.org for more info.
Art can be a very efficient tool to convey a message. The purpose of this program is to plant the seed that will grow within our art and have the power to inspire other people in our communities.
I am expecting this trip to be a deeply insightful experience that no matter what,  will for ever influence my art and my outlook on life. (I'll be blogging as often as possible)

This program is not free, and I am humbly asking for donations to help me raise funds. In return I promise I'll make the process as inspiring, fun,interesting and easy as possible to encourage your support.


So, here are the many ways you can help:

(For hefty donations, contact me and I'll get you a tax deductible receipt)

EVENT:

On June 29th I am:

1) Selling a "special occasion" limited edition print. 50 prints @ $35 will buy me a plane ticket.

2) Auctioning a super limited edition print, only 3 prints ever.

3) Hosting a fun party with delicious food, beautiful like-minded people, and awesome music by Drew Nelson followed by Cabildo.
This program is not free, and I am humbly asking for donations to help me raise funds. In return I promise I'll make the process as inspiring, fun,interesting and easy as possible to encourage your support.

Here are the details for those who actually read details:

2- Limited edition print.
I am carving a special occasion pre-trip linoleum and will print 50 copies. I figure if 50 people buy a print I can pay for my plane ticket.
Upon my return I will create a Post-trip print (Part #2); buying a pre-trip print will entitle you to a $10 discount on the Post-trip print.


1- Super Limited edition print. I am creating a 2 part print; pre and post trip. Part #1 is limited edition of 3 prints only. One of them will be auctioned at the party, one on Ebay, and the third one will be for sale. Part #2 is an edition of 50 and will be completed upon my return (if I don't return, then you would own my very last piece ever, a win win situation).

3- Music Event
If you don't want any prints but still wish to show your support, then come to the post-sale event and enjoy the thoughtful songs of Drew Nelson followed by the very danceable music of Cabildo.
8:30-9:30 Drew Nelson $15
10:30-11:30 Cabildo $15
or $25 for both.

If it is still impossible to make it to any of the above, but kindly want to donate use the donation button.

To buy prints online: http://www.etsy.com/shop/redhydrant

What is a studio for? anyway

January is such a slow month in the studio. I am tired from having so many holiday sales, my stuff is all misplaced, I can't find any energy let alone inspiration to create, etc etc; so, by the end of the month I've got enough from my isolation and I need people. That's why I have parties, but that isn't very productive. Instead I am hosting drawing sessions called Drink and Draw, also I've been teaching some workshops and later in the month I'm teaching a 4 week class for people who are selfconscious of their doodles.
I do believe that everybody can draw, I was the art-challenged type until my last year of high school, and I did my first good/realistic drawing only after 3 months of starting my college drawing classes; don't like to brag but by the second year my drawings started to get stolen, it's true. That doesn't happen anymore though, they look like I was on the phone while drawing them, I get away with it by calling it style, ha!

Back to people and visitors, last week I had the best of all! My friend Rob and his son Caden came to the studio to make some prints. Caden, learned how to transfer his whale drawing onto a soft plate and then carved it and printed it. Always, the best part is when they realize,  I can make a bunch of them!

The Beehive Collective's visit last Fall

Not too long after coming back from visiting the Beehive Collective in Maine, the bees came to Grand Rapids and did a three day event including a presentation of their latest graphic "The true cost of Coal", a workshop for artists and activists and an activity for kids on the last day. This was the second time I had the honor to host the bees since their last visit in March, that's right two times in one year!
On a personal note, the Beehive Collective has been an inspiration for me since the first time I saw them back in 2001. Back then I was a little lost, and was not too convinced that being an artist was the best choice in my life, needless to say; after looking at their beautiful graphics charged with powerful messages and how they have stayed true to their ideals; I was inspired. Now 10 years after, I am still inspired, loving what I do and no longer questioning my decision to become an artist.

Machias "Little bad falls"

I left Bethel, at 4PM on Friday, it was one of those hard to leave places, but the good news is that I may come back for either a show or an artist in residence.
I started driving again and according to google maps I should have been in Machias in 2 1/2 hours, instead I got there at 11:30 PM. I guess that was without considering all the stops and my 40mph driving speed through those narrow curvy roads.
 After being five days on the road I made it to Machias!
I arrived to the Beehive collective's house at midnight, there must have been like 40 people in and around the house, I was offered a place to sleep but I found the fire in the back yard, and although I was tired I couldn't resist music around the fire.

Next day we all had brunch at the Grange,  and then everybody just went everywhere, it was Sunday and Sundays are free. I set up my tent and talked with some of the bees. I was asked to help with the creation of a backstage decoration, and that's what I'm working on today. I'll post some pictures later.

five days on the road: gorges, rainbows, bears, mountains, curvy roads, people, fate?

Double rainbow!

At my campsite at Parc de la gorge de Coaticook

Yeah! where do I even start. Maybe by saying that I'm so happy to be alive after sitting all alone in my tent while some wild definitely big toothed creatures fought 2ft away over my hemp milk. Never in my whole life did my heart beat as hard as last night, I guess that is a way of saying that I have never been so scared in my life.

The Art Gallery of Ontario AGO

OK, so I couldn't find a place to stay in Toronto,  but I had found a couch surfer who accepted my request, and I was curious to try it at least once. So I did.  On a side note, the speed limit in Canada is 100km/h, that is 60 miles /hr or 35 on side roads, and I liked the slow phase, but I was always late. So I got later than expected to Toronto, nevertheless my couch surf host waited and even went out with me for dinner. We had a really good conversation about food and travel.

 The next day I walked the streets of Toronto until the heavy rain kept me inside of a little italian coffee shop with a flat screen TV in the rest room and wall covered with a picture of a soccer game (that explains the tv). My host mentioned that he worked at a gallery in town that happened to be the AGO, no shit! He gave me his last pass to let me in for free! During my visit, I remembered about this really cool printmaker whose work I have admired for so long and had moved to some city in Canada.  I sent him a FB message to figure out if he lived in Toronto or somewhere near. He texted back and invited me over.

We exchanged prints, t-shirts, ideas, experiences, frustrations, etc, and he fed me some delicious food!  Plus it was amazing to be able to see all his prints in real life. His name is Alec Dempster check him out. Him and his wife play son jarocho their band is called Cafe con Pan.
The next day I had to figure out my route and the place where I was staying in Montreal, so I went to a coffee shop that in fact was a Portuguese Bakery, to use their wi-fi. And yes it was delicious and yes it took me for ever to figure things out.


Driving to Montreal should take 6 hours but with construction, detours, and french traffic signs it took me 10 hours. I got to the hostel at10 pm. The next day a drove and walked around Montreal, had some sushi to go, sat at a park ate it and listened to a jazz band, went to a coffee shop found out my route to Machias or somewhere in the middle and got on the road again.

Near the border with Vermont I stopped at a info center and they sent me to the Coaticook campground. I got there, found my site (where the big toothed creatures live) and set up my tent, fire and dinner. Earlier that day I decided to follow "La route des vins" which was longer than expected, but I experienced driving in the country side which was absolutely beautiful, and found an Organic winery.  That is in part why I was so tired that night and forgot to put away the milk.

Day 5: Fate

woke up fine after several visits by several creatures to my site, had breakfast, carved a plate for a commission,  did my laundry, printed the plate there, forgot my all my pants in the dryer, and took off.

Machias was only 6 hours away! but it was already 2pm. I decided there was a chance I had to stay somewhere in the middle. On the map I found this little town called Bethel.
I drove 4 hours through what seemed to be the most beautiful road to drive. By the way they held me at the border for like 1/2 hour to check my documents, take my picture, my finger prints and inspect my car. That ruined my elation.

Yeah Bethel!  I decided I was too tired to keep driving and didn't have any desire to camp. The cheap motel was full, the expensive was too expensive. I drove around and found two inns at the end of Main street. I called both; one was $89 the other $99, but the guy who answered the phone at the $99 had such a friendly voice that I followed my gut and decided to stay there. And this was a one of the best experiences of my trip so far.

I walked in, and there was Woody behind a bar talking to an other guy and Rachel the inn keeper.  I sat at the bar, he offered food but had eaten already so I had a beer instead.
Woody turned out to be an artist, so he was curious about my art, and when I mentioned I had some prints with me he asked my if I could bring them over. Two hours later there was a party around my prints, the neighbors came over, Woody's wife, Rachel's friend and the other guests. I talked about my art, my interest in seed saving, the environment, etc. I was told I couldn't have chosen a better place to stay in town. I sold some prints and was offered to stay an other day. Rachel offered to take me to the water holes and go paddling the next day. I haven't decided if I'm staying, but I'm open to whatever the day decides to surprise me with.

The "going away" event

Back in March The Beehive Collective visited my hometown and besides giving  the presentation at GVSU, teaching a workshop at my studio and coming with me to the local brewery, they also planted in my brain the idea of coming to Machias and visit their community. I've been wanting to do so ever since I met them for the first time back in 2001.

The idea of driving/flying/riding the train all the way to Maine seemed daunting to me, but I decided I wanted to do it.

Now, the problem was that I didn't have enough money to cover all the travel expenses plus my expenses at home while I was gone. I struggled for I while and then decided that maybe if I had a studio sale I could probably be able to go, otherwise I was going to have to wait until next year.

A week before the date I was planing on leaving I started sending invitations to my "Going away sale", knowing that one week is too short notice, I really didn't expect much of it. Nevertheless I worked really hard that week to have enough prints to sale, and to entice people to come to the event I offered a trade; if they brought me a mix for the road they would get 25% off anything in my studio.

On the day of the event I woke up super early and super tired, went to the Farmer's market and cooked a lot of food. By noon I was ready (it helps to have nice housemates) and open for the sale.

Needles to say, I got a lot of support from my community and a lot of music too!

Now I'm on the road, and was able to pay for all the expenses that this trip has generated. I've been having the greatest time driving and listening to all kinds of music, thinking of the time and thought this or that person put into the mix that's keeping me awake, and  being grateful for having such a good hearted, supportive community.

I'm leaving Toronto today, Montreal is my next stop and I still don't know where I'm staying.

Festival Poster

Back in July I received an email to discuss an opportunity to create the poster for the Festival of the Arts, and even though they hadn't asked me to do it yet, I was so happy just to even be considered for the job.

unveiling event at the GRAM

Then in August I met with the Festival chairs, Joanne Bailey-Boorsma and Alex Castro and they officially asked me to create the Festival of the Arts 2011 poster.  Then, the pressure was official too, plus I couldn't tell anybody until the unveiling in February, that's 6 months of keeping my mouth shut!

I said: the print will look a lot better, trust me...

  Grand Rapids Press:
Grand Rapids Festival 2011 poster unveiled
2011 Festival of the Arts poster well received by Grand Rapids community

WZZM 13:
Festival-unveils-2011-poster

Dead End Print Exhibition 2010 - OIL

DEAD END MINI PRINT EXHIBITION

 

This event took place the last weekend of October, we received 50+ prints that were critical, satirical, sad, insightful, etc about the theme of OIL.

my plate halfway carved

CMU exhibition notes

I went back to CMU last week to talk about my prints and to pick up my artwork, and I have to admit that was more excited to pick up the notes that were exchanged for "seed packets" than my own artwork.

It has been my intention to create installations with the only purpose to inspire and get inspired. I can't speak much about the first part, but I'm always inspired by people's stories, notes, drawings.

"Graphic Protest" at Central Michigan University

This exhibition runs from January 11th to February 12th at Central Michigan University's art gallery

Renegade Craft Fair

Next weekend I'm coming to Chicago to the Renegade Craft Fair! I'm exited to be part of it and have the chance to meet all those creative people and to get to see all of the goods that have to sell. I always get back home inspired and motivated and ready to start on new projects.
For now until then, I'm cranking the press every day, I'm almost ready!

If you are in Chicago on that weekend, please come and visit me.
Red Hydrant Press is at booth #13 on Division St. between Winchester and Damen.

Dead End Prints Call for Submissions

This is officially the third year we celebrate El Dia de los Muertos with an exhibition of small prints. And just as in previous years we are once more asking for submissions:

Theme: OIL
Print dimensions: Image must fit within a MAXIMUM paper size of 5.5x7.5 inches.
Eligible media: Hand pulled prints only: woodcut, collagraph, monotype, intaglio, lithography, etching, silkscreen, etc. No ink jet, laser, photocopy or any mechanical or photographic reproductions please.

For more information, please download the submission form at google docs, or go to my website

Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments: alynnguerra@me.com

Old Birthday Notes

Back in April I celebrated my birthday by having a party and asking people to write notes in exchange for a print. What was different this year was that the note had to be about my favorite color, which wasn't that difficult to guess; and the author of my favorite story would get one of my prints framed.
I got stories sent by email, or posted on my face book and real hand written ones. I read and I enjoyed all of them. But two in particular got my attention, one was a poem and the other a very creative sci-fi story. The poem was written by a 12 year old girl, and the sci-fi story by her mother; so I decided to give the artwork to both of them, they are the two blue cards in the center of the picture.
I gad a great time which keeps coming back every time I open a drawer and find that stack of colorful cards in it. I'm very grateful to all my friends who gave me those wonderful stories on my birthday.

Open Studio Hours

Now it is official: I'm opening my studio to the public on Mondays and Fridays from Noon to 6 PM.
I kept telling people about this, but posting it on my website is going to make it look more credible.

All of my prints and printed stuff are available for purchase, the other good news is that I can now take credit card payments.

For more information please follow the link to my website.

Their Daily Bread

It was probably more than 2 years ago when Margie, Mandy and I had this idea of using a house for a site specific art installation regarding women and home. We couldn't do it last year, but we did it this year at last.

I was frustrated to know that the chosen house was "historical" meaning we could basically do nothing on the walls, no sticking, nailing, hanging, painting, etc. So, what was I supposed to do, lay things on the furniture, or on the floor? Well, that's exactly what I ended up doing after weeks of not knowing if I was able to figure something out.

I decided to talk about something that concerned women in Grand Rapids around the time when the house was built. What a nice surprise to find out around that that the women suffrage movement was about to be successful.

I had to find some bed sheet donations, which was not a problem compared to what followed next.

I decided to do reproductions of articles from the local newspapers from 1911 to 1920; I obviously had no idea what I was getting myself into. Most articles regarding suffrage, women, important women, etc. were very small and hard to find in the newspaper microfilms, but not surprising there were lots of sexist ads aimed at women, I guess that was very common. So I spent long long days at the local history department looking for those hidden articles. And, although they were small, and not very frequent, I gathered a big pile of them!

I printed all of those articles on the bedsheets and covered the furniture with them.

Here is my artist statement:

For the exhibit, we are using this historic home to focus on facets of history that took place when it was young, specifically from 1912 through 1920, the years during which the women’s suffrage movement succeeded in granting women the right to vote. The house belonged to the grandfather of Dorothy Leonard. Leonard was active in the fight for women’s suffrage; she joined the League of Women Voters in 1920.

My installation represents this history through the medium of dust, dust as a remainder and reminder of things past. The dust used is a combination of flour, as a tribute to the women servants who spent their hours hard at work in this home’s kitchen baking bread, and ashes, as a reminder of those in the movement now dead.

For the first part of my installation, I researched newspapers of the era and printed reproductions of relevant stories on bed-sheets. The sheets cover various pieces of furniture in the home as a way of drawing attention to the accumulation of history throughout the years. The history that settled around these pieces of furniture is the unseen history that settles like dust around us today.

The other part of my installation uses stencils of news stories that made big news around the dates that were relevant for women’s suffrage. Instead of paint, I used flour, again to represent the dust that history leaves behind, the dust of movements that never settles, but waits to be stirred up again by women seeking justice.


The exhibit took place at the Leonard at Logan B&B in Grand Rapids Michigan from March 26-28. The artists involved were Mandy Burrow, Margie Erlandson, Anna Campbell, and myself.
There are more pictures and information on my website.