Art Goes Outdoors

‘Tis the season for outdoor art fests and events!  I do enjoy doing them but man, the set up and break down can be killer!  By the end of a long, hot day under the tent, behind the table, you’re tempted to run a huge sale just to get rid of things so you don’t have to deal with packing it all up again..almost tempted that is…

I’ve been doing outdoor (& indoor) art events for many a moon now and you never know what will happen..sometimes sales are awesome other times not so much.  Sometimes my work wins awards, others not.  The weather is a very unpredictable factor that can make or break an event and even when it turns out to be nice,  if it was predicted not to be, many people still won’t venture out.  But such is the nature of the outdoor art show beast!

This past Saturday I participated in the 11th Annual Juried East Brunswick (NJ) outdoor art fest in a pretty setting encircling a pond in a local park area.  It’s about the 5th or 6th year I’ve done it…the past 2 years I won awards.  This year one of my photos did make it into the finals for the winner’s circle but it just got a certificate this time…still something to be proud of as only a few pieces made it that far out of hundreds!  Here’s the image:

Winter House 3, (c)Lauren Curtis 35mm B&W photo

(signed prints available starting at $50 for a matted 8″x10″)

Now I’m scheduled to do many more events this summer including the Junebug Art Fest in Metuchen this Fri., 6/14, an indoor gothic art show at QXT’s Club in Newark on Fri., 6/28 among others so if you’re in NJ keep checking my posts for updates and come out and join me at these fun and often free events!

 

Me at my booth, E.Bruns. Fest 2013

ART GETS SURREAL & SUNNY IN NJ

ART GETS SURREAL & SUNNY IN NJ

ART FOR ALL TASTES THIS JUNE There’s quite an eclectic variety of art events happening all over New Jersey this month & I’m looking forward to exhibiting in them!  Whether you prefer alternative art & goth music, educational exhibits or family-friendly outdoor art fests, there’s something for everyone this month so read on… 1. I have a photo in the traveling RAYS educational art exhibit at these NJ locations: The photo started at the Somerville Administration Building. It will also hang in the Morristown exhibit beginning mid June,  Morristown Medical Center. Then in August it will move to XACT Photo Studios, Rt. 206, Hillsborough. 2. Join me for the 11th Annual Juried Art Fest on Sat., June 8th (rain date June 9) at the beautiful Municipal Pond on Ryders Ln., East Brunswick, NJ.  FREE event featuring a wide variety of local artists & craft-persons!  11am til 4pm. 3. I’ll also be vending my original t-shirts, greeting cards & jewelry at the JUNEBUG Art Fest, Main St. in Metuchen, Fri. June 14, 6-9pm, FREE event for the whole family! 4. Last but certainly not least I’ll have several digital photo collages in the alternative group art show, DADA,  at QXT’s nightclub in Newark, NJ. See above flier for all the details about this surreal event! Hope you can join me! ~Lauren http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com (fine art website) http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com (commercial & fine art) http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com (cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration) http://laurencurtis.wordpress.com   (my Blog!) http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt (Facebook Fan Page)

MayDay! Art on YouTube, in NJ & more…

ART IN MAY:  NJ EXHIBITS,  ART ON YOUTUBE & T-SHIRT TIME!

 

MAY SHINES WITH ART!  THIS MONTH, JOIN ME FOR THESE NJ ART EXHIBITS: “INFINITE LAYERS” Join me for the opening reception of this month-long group art show at Alfa Art Gallery, Thurs. May, 2, 2013, 7pm-10pm, 108 Church St., New Brunswick, NJ.  732-296-6720  I’ll have several digital photo collages in this exciting exhibit! “RAYS ART PROJECT” A traveling, educational art exhibit focusing on both the helpful and harmful effects of the sun!  This show will be at various locations throughout Somerset and Morris Counties in NJ, April 15 thru June 1, 2013.  For further info.,  email Lucille Y-Talbot of the Regional Chronic Disease Coalition at YTalbot@co.somerset.nj.us or visit www.NancyEdwardsArt.com  or www.xactstudios.com  I have a sunset photo in this exhibit. ART ON YOUTUBE! Thanks to Graham Matthews of ARTPROMOTIVATE website/blog for including me in his new art YouTube video! Check it out…only a few minutes long but packed with great art!  T-SHIRT TIME! Original designs, 100% pre-shrunk cotton, All sizes (kids & adults) white, gray, black women’s cut in white Starting at only $20 ea. (includes s/h!!) up to $35 ea., depending on size/color/style. Paypal accepted to me at forestwalker333@hotmail.com Checks/$-orders to Lauren Curtis P.O. Box 193 Franklin Park, NJ  08823 Feel free to contact me for more info.! More designs seen here: http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com

CHURN out the Art

Social networking does work and it’s great when you make connections that really click!  I connected with artist/Churn Magazine guru Jeff Monje via LinkedIn and right away he was kind enough to feature me in his art zine!  So, of course, I invited him to be a guest blogger here to return the favor and so he could share his inspiration with you as to how he developed his project.  So, here’s what he has to say…check out CHURN…you won’t be disappointed!

CHURN_2002_GIGER_ISSUE

 

My name is Jeff Monje,  ARTIST & Founder of CHURN,

an ART, Music & fashion magazine . I created CHURN back in 1999 out of S.F. after graduating from the San Fransisco Art Institute with a B.A. in painting. Once out of school I quickly realized that promoting & selling your own artwork was more difficult than I had imagined. It was also apparent that many other artists were in the same situation, and after reflecting upon this I decided to take action and do something completely new to me…Publishing my own art magazine so there would be a vehicle of promotion on a much larger scale with more opportunities to sell my work as well as the opportunity for others to sell theirs too.  CHURN , an Art, Music & Fashion was then launched. The main idea behind the magazine besides being entertaining and informative was to help up & coming artists, musicians & fashion designers etc who didn’t get the exposure they deserved.  It was this ” Collective Community” approach  that was employed so as to help struggling artisans get work seen & sold.

 

We  experimented with different art/ music related subjects and interviews in the magazine to dig deeper in to the minds of the creators so that the audience would get a better appreciation of who these people are and why they are extremely important to the world. Artists, Musicians etc..are one part of humanity that glues the rest together. Having been at the magazine for years and after a hiatus of more than 12 years I decided to bring CHURN magazine back to the public in 2012 because so much is happening in the art / music scene and world that it was important enough to re-promote the creators. I will be doing the magazine for as long as I’m alive.  We welcome the world to submit their best!

CHURN ART

A bit more about Churn:

CHURN is an INDEPENDENT Publication Founded in 1999 -2000 out of S.F., California by Artist Jeff Monje. We stopped printing CHURN after issue #6 but have recently re-launched our publication online and in print coming out with issue #7 featuring World class artist John Brophy on the cover .We have featured some HUGE names in the Art / Music scene for a small run press. The goal from the beginning has never wavered. We want to help as many brilliant Artists, Musicians, Writers ,Theater Performers and Fashion Designers and more get the visibility they deserve through another venue .

WE WELCOME THE ARTISANS & MUSICIANS OF THE WORLD to submit your works for print and online!

INTERNS WELCOME!

submissions@churnmagazine.com

www.churnmagazine.com

www.churnstyle-directory.com

www.churntube.com

Discover NJ Arts Artist of the Month

BBBBRRRRR, it’s been cold out there but the art world is giving warm support to local artists!  Discover Jersey Arts, in conjunction with ArtPride NJ, has featured me on their VIRTUAL GALLERY as February’s ARTIST OF THE MONTH!!  Please check out some of my newer work and info on their website:  
http://jerseyarts.com/ArtistGallery.aspx

Mothers Lament (c)Lauren Curtis
Watercolor and collage

I’m proud to have artwork in the following exhibits this month:ONE NIGHT SHOW at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ, 2/16/13, 8pm-2am, 4 local artists and 5 live bands!!

BIANCO, a group exhibit featuring artwork based on the color white, Gallery U, Red Bank, NJ

FANTASTIC TALES, group show of NJ artists at the South Brunswick, NJ Municipal Gallery

WINTER SHOW, group show of NJ artists at Fiddlehead’s Restaurant, Jamesburg, NJ

Morgana’s Murder, oils (c)Lauren Curtis

Thanks for reading & stay warm,

~Lauren

http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com
(fine art website)

http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com
(commercial & fine art)

http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com
(cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)

http://laurencurtis.wordpress.com
  (my Blog!)

http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt
(Facebook Fan Page)

Renee Phillips & the Healing Power of Art

Hello Creatives!

Have I got a treat for you today!  My guest blogger is “artrepreneur” & founder/director of Manhattan Arts International at
http://www.ManhattanArts.com
,  Renee Phillips!

Now here’s a woman who is pro-active in her own career as well as tremendously helping others with their career goals.   A big focus for Renee is the healing power of art, which I think we can all take inspiration from, so I’ve asked her to describe her project in her own words…

Professionally, I’ve been devoted to the subject of Art and Healing, and Positive Change through Art, for at least 14 years. In my book Success NOW! For Artists, A Motivational Guide for The Artrepreneur, published in 1999, I have a section devoted to the Healing Power of Art.

 

All my life I have been a reader of Emerson, Thoreau, Jung, Peale, and others, and a strong believer in the power of positive thinking and the correlation between our thoughts and our reality.

 

As an artist, writer, and a career coach, I have always created from a place of pure love and joy.

Perhaps what triggered the original Celebrate The Healing Power of ART exhibitions was my desire to counterbalance a lot of the negative, angst-ridden art that I noticed was dominating the NYC art scene at the time. I felt a strong need to promote artists whose work emanated positive energy.

I believe in the “law of attraction” and as a career coach most of my clients have shared the same philosophy. I have become more focused on helping artists who have something positive to bring to the world. I have many written articles about artists who survived illness, grief, loss through their art and are helping others through the power of artistic self-expression.

 

When my mother was struggling with Alzheimer’s disease I saw firsthand how art helped her cope. She was unable to communicate verbally so we “spoke” through drawing and coloring together.

The Celebrate The Healing Power of ART exhibitions serve as a platform to bring our strong beliefs and truths about the power of art to heal, not only the creator of the art but viewers as well. And, the wondrous magic of it all is every artist has a unique way of expressing the message in many different styles and mediums.

 

And, that’s why I feel very strongly about bringing positive healing art to a global audience through Celebrate The Healing Power of ART exhibitions. In recent years I added the word “Celebrate” because the word injects bliss and hope.

 

One of my greatest pleasures is being on the jurying panel and viewing the art submissions! I feel that I connect to the artist and their heart and soul through the work they create.

 

All the best,

Renee

Here’s some samples of winning artwork from Renee’s Healing Power of Art contests:

Orion (Meaningful Life)

Benny H.V. Andersson (Bridge over Infinity)

Carolyn Abrams (Contemplating)

Winning Healing Art

Here’s where you can see what Renee’s up to:

The Healing Power of ART page:

http://www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/Healing-Power-of-ART/index.htm

Visit Renee’s Artrepreneur Coach blog

Visit Renee’s Healing Power of Art blog

Manhattan Arts International
www.ManhattanArts.com
212.472.1660

Join Renee
Twitter reneephillipsny
Facebook ReneePhillipsArtCoach
linkedin.com/in/reneephillipsartcoach

Have a BAZAAR Winter

Happy Holidays, Everyone!  I know things are getting stressful for many this time of year (especially with the added worry about the Mayan doomsday prediction, although so far so good as far as our survival..I hope!    )  and many feel even more stress to find the perfect, yet affordable gifts for friends and family…so here’s your answer (you’re welcome!).  Come to Highland Park, NJ & check out the PAZ Cultural Group’s WINTER ART BAZAAR and find unique, creative, reasonably priced art gifts!  I’m happy to be a part of this event and have invited the organizer to post a guest blog about the show, so take it away, Jonathan Horowitz!

The Winter Art Bazaar showcases local artists exhibiting affordably priced art during the Holiday Season. The recently launched PAZ culture system is organizing this event with the support of Main Street Highland Park. The bazaar gives artists an opportunity to have their work seen by consumers who can pick up unique, affordable gifts and support their local art community. The collective aims to empower emerging artists by involving them in community based projects, and this bazaar showcases those who are passionate about their art, but may have trouble finding places where they can show their pieces. Basically, PAZ want to give artists a chance to get their work out to the public so that the artists can make a little money, but also make people happy, sharing their creations.

PAZ culture system aims to bring people from all backgrounds together through art so that we focus on similarities rather than differences, and this event epitomizes the PAZ culture system mentality. We have twenty seven artists from a wide variety of disciplines and backgrounds; people who just graduated art school to those who went to art school almost seventy years ago. We have graffiti artists, photographers, potters, jewelers, painters, sculptors, crocheters, and many more…

This is the first of many PAZ culture system events. With the bazaar, we hope to raise awareness of our initiatives so that we have many more opportunities to put together events benefiting the local community.

We encourage you to like our Facebook fan page to stay updated regarding our future endeavors:
http://www.facebook.com/PAZculturesystem

Feel free to come by the Winter Art Bazaar at Main Street at 212 Raritan Ave. in Highland Park. We are open from 1-9pm during the week and 10-6pm on weekends.  The show will be extended an extra week!

Holiday Art Events; Fiddleheads, Winter Bazaar & more

Feel the chill in the air?  Getting into that holiday spirit?  Then here are some fun holiday art events in Central NJ to check out as well as some other exciting art news from yours truly…including my annual HOLIDAY ART SALE!!!

Birdwatcher (c)2012 Lauren Curtis Watercolor & collage, prints available

“GROUP ART SHOW at FIDDLEHEADS”
Join me & several other local NJ artists at the opening reception for this holiday art show at FIDDLEHEADS restaurant!  FREE OPENING RECEPTION, SUN. 12/16/12, 2:30pm-4pm, REFRESHMENTS SERVED.  ALL ARE WELCOME!  27 RAILROAD AVE. (Rte. 522), JAMESBURG, NJ 08831, 732-521-0878, www.FiddleheadsJamesburg.com  Great art, great food, great times!

PAZ Winter Art Bazaar in Highland Park, NJ

“WINTER ART BAZAAR”
PAZ culture system, with the support of Main Street Highland Park, presents the first annual Winter Art Bazaar offering affordably priced art in a wide array of mediums from local artists.
The bazaar will take place in the Main Street building at 212 Raritan Avenue in Highland Park, operating two weekends, from 10am—6pm on Dec. 8th & 9th and Dec. 15th & 16th. Customers can also visit the gallery during Main Street’s regular office hours. Additional weekday hours may be announced or arranged by appointment. I’m excited to have work in the premier of this event!
All art is priced less than $125
For more information about PAZ culture system, check out our Facebook page here –
https://www.facebook.com/pages/PAZ-culture-system/121567721323452

Photography by Lauren Curtis

HOLIDAY ART SALE!
It’s time for holiday shopping once again so why fight the crowds in the stores to buy what everyone else is giving when you can shop from the comfort of your home and buy AFFORDABLE, UNIQUE gifts?  I’m offering 20% OFF ALL PHOTOGRAPHY PRINTS!  Prices now range from $20-$60 (reg. $25-$75) for signed, matted prints, 5×7, 8×10, 11×14!  Also available, original GREETING CARDS, T-SHIRTS (& long sleeves) & FINE ART!  Discounts for multiple purchases!!  Paypal, checks/$ orders accepted!  Order ASAP to receive on time!   Reply to this email to order.    Visit these sites to see my work:

http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com
  (NEW fine art site!)

http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com
(cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)

http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com
(commercial & fine art)  I’m quoted in well known PROFESSIONAL ARTIST MAGAZINE !
I was so excited when renown artist and “artrepreneur”/art coach, Renee Phillips, informed me that she used my quote, about how I’m building my career, in her column in PROFESSIONAL ARTIST MAGAZINE!  As a long-time reader and fan, I’m honored to be included in this publication!  Here’s a sample: (Go to page 24) 
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/professional-artist/pa-dec-12-jan-13/2012110801/#0
Happy Holidays & thanks so much for reading & checking out the links!  Until next time…
~Lauren

Haunting art happenings for Halloween

It’s lurking just around the corner….don’t you feel the chill in the air?  See how it gets a bit darker earlier every day?  Halloween is almost upon us and you need to be prepared to be scared!  So, start sending out those Halloween cards and sporting your Halloween shirts and get ready for a hauntingly good time…

ORIGINAL GREETING CARDS & 100% PRE-SHRUNK COTTON T-SHIRTS FOR HALLOWEEN!

Halloween flyer

Just in time for the spookiest day…night…of the year!  Get your cool T’s & cards today to have them in time to haunt your friends.  All cards, $3 each + s/h, minimum order of 5 cards.  Shirts are $25 – $35 each (INCLUDES S/H!) depending on size & color; white or black 100% pre-shrunk cotton shirts, S,M,LG,XL.XXL. LONG SLEEVE NOW AVAILABLE starting at $35ea.  To see more designs go to the shirts/card pg. here:

http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com
PAYPAL ACCEPTED to forestwalker333@hotmail.com
Checks/ $-orders to:
Lauren Curtis
P.O. Box 193
Franklin Park, NJ  08823

AUTUMN & HALLOWEEN ART EXHIBITS;
Halloween is my favorite time of year so I’m looking forward to having artwork in these October exhibits;

Omen (c)2011 Lauren Curtis, oil painting with decoupage

1. 10th ANNUAL SURREALIST, VISIONARY, & ART of the SPIRIT    EXHIBITION    I’ll have several paintings in this ONLINE show so check it out on www.caladangallery.com from Oct. 1-31, 2012!  Artists from across the US & abroad are represented in this show!

Inner Voice (c)2010 Lauren Curtis, digital photo collage from my “X-RAYted” series

2. UMDNJ FALL ARTS FESTIVAL RECEPTION   This show will have 2 of my large, digital photo collages from the “X-RAYted” series.Its a wonderful opportunity to chat with many of the exhibiting artists who will be present at the reception. RSVP: Noreen Gomez (gomezna@umdnj.edu).    Thursday, October 18, 2012  4:00pm-6:00pm
New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Ave., B-Level Grand Foyer, Newark, N.J.

GalleryU Something Wicked… Art show flyer Oct2012

3. SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES…TO GALLERY U    Two more of my digital photo collages from the “X-RAYted” series will be in this fun Halloween art exhibit!  Masquerade party with Art from throughout NJ, food, music, costumes…if you dare…at the opening reception on THE night itself, HALLOWEEN!  10/31/12  6pm- 9pm  Gallery U, 80 Broad St., Red Bank, NJ  07710,  (732) 747-6696  
http://gallery-u.blogspot.com/
   Show runs to Nov. 20, 2012.  Be there or BEWARE!!!

Hope to see you at these events and thanks for reading,

~Lauren

One Stream, Many Wells; Inaugural Art Exhibit

It’s always exciting when a new art gallery opens up in the area and this is no exception!  And it’s especially inspiring as this new gallery, NAILS IN THE WALL, is located within  St Luke’s Episcopal Church, 17 Oak Ave, Metuchen, New Jersey 08840-1529!  What’s most inspiring is this organization wants to show appreciation and respect for all spiritual belief systems in their inaugural exhibit, One Stream/ Many Wells.  As a Wiccan who has interest and respect for other cultures and spiritual paths,  I’m honored to have one of my photos, “Enlightenment” (a 35mm, digitally enhanced image of a Buddha statue I took while at a meditation retreat at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY), included in this first exhibit at this new gallery which opens Sat. Sept. 22, 2012!

Artists from around New Jersey as well as other states and as far away as France will have work in this show and the opening promises to be exciting with music and refreshments…and if the weather continues to be as gorgeous as it has been around here lately, the reception might move out into their garden!

This small parish has always been a supporter of the arts, with theater productions dating back to the 1980′s, and Interim Pastor, Rev. Barbara
Crafton,  is an internationally respected writer and speaker.   Gallery Director,  Linda Vonderschmidt-­‐LaStella, is excited about the opening of the gallery and hopes it provides the community with a place for thoughtful contemplation.

Here’s the postcard with more details about this show & here’s the invite on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/341941222560240/ 
Hope you’ll join me there!

Postcard for premier show at Nails in the Wall Gallery, Metuchen, NJ