1000 Woodcuts: March 2016

Friday, March 18, 2016

Traveling Year! Big ones are biting...

Calendar Shaping Up

Started out the year thinking "eaaaasy girl..." after all this is only my second full year back in the mad mad world of art festivals. Well, toss easy out the window! Since my last stint at being an itinerant artist, I decided last year I would only apply for larger and well rated festivals hoping to get into a few. The reasoning being that a festival is hard to do, mentally, emotionally, and most of all, physically. Little festival, big festival, all the same, really and the big ones pay dividends. I'm getting up there in years and haven't gotten any taller lately which would greatly help!

Seriously, the road life can be tough on a lass like me and so I thought I would end up doing two or three festivals a year and work on my tan and my art the rest of the year. The events are very competitive and usually takes several years of applying to break in. I'm not complaining, mind you...

Salt Lake City, The Temple
sight seeing is a "side effect" of traveling!

Here is my calendar so far (also at the left column of this blog), just looking at it makes me tired:

March 4 (Opening)

Peace Puzzle & Maria Arango woodcuts

Exhibit March 1st-April 30 2016

Creative Framing & Gallery

Oakland California

April 1, 2 & 3

4th Avenue Art Festival

Downtown Tucson Arizona

Along 4th Ave, between 4th St and 8th St

June 23-26

Utah Arts Festival

Washington/Library Square

Salt Lake City, Utah

July 29-31

BAM ARTSfair

Bellevue Washington

Bellevue Square, downtown by the Museum

But never mind that the horse is lame...load the wagon!

So with this latest acceptance, adrenaline started flowing and that is always exciting, as it should be. What the heck, you only live once, right?

Here are some pictures of my last Salt Lake City Utah festival, which was awesome, exhausting and full of wonder.

My booth, UAF 2015

"My" tree, looking up from my chair

Long hours require refreshment and nourishment

Very well attended

And the night life!!!

Stay in touch!

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Maria's Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/1000woodcuts
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Tuesday, March 1, 2016

A Very Fast Week

Drive, work, play

Oakland, California is roughly 400 miles as the crow flies...unfortunately, the "crow" cannot fly where there are no roads so the actual drive is around 580 miles. I start out going South, which is totally wrong but the Sierra Nevada is a daunting obstacle, especially in winter. The marvelous highway system eventually gets me there through the central California valley after crossing a bit of desert.

Expecting the usual drab dead grass covered ground, instead the hills were bathed in lush green spring grasses covered with swaths of yellow, orange and lavender flowers. Quite the meditation! Pictures on the next trip, I was too nervous during the drive but I did take some Oakland shots once I arrived.

I will be right back out there this Friday for the Opening Reception, Creative Framing & Gallery, 2700 Park Blvd, Oakland California - 6-9 PM

I am hearing a few of the Peace Puzzle artists will be there and can't wait to meet everyone in the flesh. Heather Piazza and I have been exchanging prints for nearly 10 years and now we finally exchanged hugs and great chats throughout the day.

The Gallery 2700 Park Blvd, Oakland California

Loaded with art, the faithful steed got me there safely and was able to relax a little after checking in and stretching my legs. I even dropped in the Creative Framing and Gallery for an early hug from Heather Piazza. Then a good night's sleep.

Work begins "early" (Californians...) at around 11:00 AM, surf's up dude! Heather is very efficient and knowledgeable and had a plan in her head already. I unpacked, put away boxes, wrote price tags and dutifully handed here hangers and hammer. Eventually, the gallery looked scrumptious with the incomparable Peace Puzzle and some of my works.