Metaphors & Memories

Metaphors & Memories by Carol Ann Rice Rafferty

Hilbert College - McGrath Library.
5200 South Park Avenue
Hamburg, New York.

On display until the May 1, 2012

The college will be holding an artist reception
April 26, 2012 from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Gallery hours are as listed:

Monday -Thursday: 8am-10pm
Friday: 8am-6pm
Saturday-Sunday: 11am-4pm

It is with deep appreciation to Hilbert College for the invitation that my selected works created over 10 years are for the first time gathered in one place for public viewing.

Many pieces have been included in the following art show; Fiberart Intrnational 2007, Craftforms Intentional 2006, Northeast Regional Contemporary Fiber Exhibition Rochester Contemporary Art Center 2011, Re.Cycle.fiber 2010, Paper or Plastic 2009, Runway 4.0 2011 as well as other local and International shows.

Dream Some - 2009 is a  face mask I created from discarded lottery tickets I picked up from being litter on the ground around a gasoline station while I lived in Savannah, Georgia while I was studying in the Graduate Fiber Program at Savannah College of Art & Design.  

Money was a huge issue with graduate students, myself included, the program was expensive $3000 a class at that time.  Even with the Fellowship Grant the college awarded me for my studies I was always aware of the cost of my educational experience.

The stock market had crashed in Fall 2008 and many people with advanced degrees plus years of work experience suddenly found themselves unemployed.  Many students shared their fears and frustrations of mounting student loan some reaching $150,000 in pursuit of the MFA degree at SCAD.

Would they ever find jobs doing the art work they loved?  How would the pay back the burden of mounting student loans?  Part of what led the students to study in MFA program was dissatisfaction with low paying jobs after they earned the bachelors degree.  Once they were in the program many felt there was no turning back, they had no choice but to push forward and dream of brighter days.

All of my art work begins with a creative vision.  

Dream Some 2009 came to me as I was walking around the town of Savannah, Georgia.    Troubled times from the stock market crashing, rising unemployment and rising gasoline prices weighed heavy on everyone's head.  Was it about Wall St. what about Main St. ?

As I walked I noticed many lottery tickets littered on the ground after they were found to be useless to the one who had once eagerly traded their hard earned money for the short lived dream of being rich.  Once the ticket was deemed useless it was thrown on the ground as trash.

I could see this mask in my minds eye as I gathered together all the broken dreams of these lottery ticket buyers.  Metaphorically I gathered these people into my head, my hands and my heart then began to cut, weave and fashion their discarded dreams into this mask that represents anyone who dares to Dream Some.

 Serendipity is the art of making an unsought finding.
- Pek van Andel
I am an open for adventure person willing to see what happens when I say yes to an invitation, when I walk through the next door...  You can imagine my excitement when I was contacted by a sponsor of the art show who revealed he was quite taken by my  Dressing Gown to Filter Out Bad Chi.
In fact he said he had gone back to look at my wearable art object more than once and wanted to know if I was going to attend the First Friday Open Gallery in Rochester that week.

Dressing Gown to Filter Out Bad Chi

shown here at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) & The Surface Design Association present 28 artworks that expand the definition of fiber art
http://www.rochestercontemporary.org/mediaroom_fiber11.html

We did meet at the gallery and spoke for the better part of an hour about the process and concept behind my artwork as well as my journey as an artist.  Content with that discussion he asked if I would be agreeable to his visiting me in my studio space in my home in Clarence, NY.

  It is impossible to get to know me without breaking bread with me so I invited him to arrive in time for a small meal we shared my al fresco on my deck as we spoke.

 Here of some of the images he shared with me from our meeting on May 27th 2011.

Sanctuary -
steel wire, wool yarn, bees wax, burning with fire, paper pulp, rust, my hair, a paper wasp built a nest in my sanctuary

Hat with floral elements made from up-cycled used paper coffee filters.

silk screen patterns

talking about the process

how my vision will manifest in my art work

Here I am sharing the vision with Rome for my new collection of art work which will include silk screened images on used coffee filters.  Some of the works will be garments as a metaphor for people along with a variety of 2 -D and 3-D art works.

These series of images caused me to blush when I saw how deeply I was willing to share my emotions for this new collection.

Samples of experiments with the casting molds of my form that will eventually work their way into my art work at the appropriate time.

Special thanks to Rome Celli for capturing and sharing these  images of  my passion and creative energy in my studio.


Since this is the begining of a rather large on going art project up-cycling used coffee filters I would appreciate anyone willing to help me gather materials.   Simply dump the used coffee grounds, preferable into a composting container, then store the used filters in a water proof bag.  Perhaps the freezer would be a good place to prevent molds and keep the odors down until you let me know it is time to pick them up.  I do all the washing and ironing of each filter.

Your help is deeply appreciated and you will have a vested interest in my art project. Location of gallery where this work will be show will be announced at a later date.

Have a Very Creative Day,   Carol

Please visit us on Facebook @ Rice Rafferty or Rice Rafferty.com

"Inside you there’s an artist you don’t know about… say yes quickly, if you know, if you’ve known it from before the beginning of the universe." — Rumi

 I have the pleasure to lead a workshop 

Saturday June 25th. 2011 

Silk Painting 

 Hyatt's All Things Creative 

910 Main St.

 Buffalo, NY .   

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hyatts-All-Things-Creative/15743184165

The students gathered at 11:00 am to learn the basics of how to work with the Jacquard Silk Painting Kit available at the Hyatt's Stores.

 The week before the class I contacted each student with sample images of my work as well as links they could view for creative inspiration.

 Each student was asked to create numerous sketches developed from sections of  these works or something that speaks to them so they were ready to get started as soon as they arrived.

                          First I demonstrated numerous ways to attach the silk to a variety of framing devices.

                         Next I demonstrated how to apply the resist to create the desired design patterns.

                          Soon the students were enjoying seeing their designs come to life in living color.

While they painted with silk dyes I demonstrated various textural effects they could achieve by adding water, salts or rubbing alcohol.

Although the time during the three hour workshop passed quickly I made sure all of their questions or concerns were address before anyone left the group.

After a rush of preparation each person felt the relaxing joy of creative energy.  
 They each left with a sample size piece of art work, their own Jacquard Silk Painting Kit and  the confidence to continue to work on larger pieces at home.

They also have my contact information in case more questions arise in the future ;~)

If you have a small group that would be interested in any of my workshops please feel          free to contact me with special requests.  


                                                        http://carolannricerafferty.com/
                                                                              or
                                                       http://carolannricerafferty.com/

"Stressed is just desserts spelled backwards." Author: unknown

" Remember...

Stressed spelled 

backwards is Dessert "

Unknown

A visit to New Orleans is a great way to forget about life for awhile.  There is so much music, food, laughter and fun that your cares will surely melt away in the merriment. 

Sorry we did not learn the name of this talented group of musicians playing on the corner on St. Peter St. right outside of the fresh food market that offered a wonderful selection of fruits, veggies, 
cheeses as well as wine and beer.

                                     Night time on Bourbon Street Statue ala New Orleans flavor ;~)

                                       Many women set themselves free on Bourbon St. in New Orleans ;~)

                                                                    Killing Me Softly
There are almost too many talented artists competing for your singing, music and dancing dollars in clubs, bar, cafe's and out in the street.

                         

                                                 Interesting mix of Religious and Voodoo cultures.

                     Roach   -You are going to see a bug like this when you are in the south.
                          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roach_(cannabis_culture)

                             These precious little angels are enjoying a break from morning classes to dance.

                                         When the Saints Go March In  - Louis Armstrong
                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLjbMBpGDA 

                                                           Art for sale @ Jackson Square

 This cemetery is lovingly cared for by a group of volunteers.
A nice man took us to this open grave for a look inside.

 Because there was so much vandalism this grave is left open for curious people to see inside the tombs.

Lafayette Cemetery Number 1 

1400 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115

Right across the street from this cemetery is the Commanders Palace. 
 " Particular attention was paid to the heart and soul of the restaurant; the kitchen and the dishes created there. Commander's cuisine reflects the best of the city, both Creole and American heritages as well as dishes of Commander's own creating. Seafood, meats, fruits and vegetables; everything is as fresh as it possibly can be."
   http://www.commanderspalace.com/