spring fever

rose bowl 10" x 5"

It has been a daffy week friends. It is official...I have become the obsessed and absent minded Artist I have always longed to be. Heh, not really. My absent mindedness is causing me more headache than I prefer to have. Wish I could blame it on spring fever but unfortunately that is not the cause. The good part is things are roaring in the studio at the moment and hopefully by next weeks end I will have loads of new work to share with you.

Some of it will be going off to Mudfire Gallery where I was invited to participate in a show, Line and Color, that opens on April 5th. You can read more about it here. I am really excited to be in this show and the cache of other Ceramic Artists that are also participating is fantastic! A true honor indeed! Be sure to check them out as well.

I have to run and unload the kiln now.

***

Spring is finally here!!
Have a glorious weekend everyone!

good times at the candystore

First things first a big thank you to everyone who came out to my show on Thursday evening. So many people had a difficult time finding parking and I so appreciate you all sticking it out to show your support. It was such a fun evening. The babushkas flew out the door. I can't wait to have my first random babushka sighting!

I did a lot of talking about my new work which felt a little strange as I have been so involved in the making of the drawings that my thoughts on what they are about haven't completely gelled yet. I woke up the next morning with a very scratchy voice.

I think the drawings were hung too high (though they look so nice where they are) and the lights were reflecting off of the glass so it was kind of hard to see them up close (especially for short people). Sorry about that. There are plans to move the drawings to a different location in the store so that they will be easier to see.

Friends and family showed up and also a lot of people whom I had not met before.
(It was so nice to meet you!)

Last but most definitely not least a big thank you to my buddy Lisa, who in the midst of her insanely busy schedule took time out to help me hang the show and was not only the most excellent photographer for the evening but also the most stylish in her folk inspired outfit!

five of me

opening reception November 8th,2007 6:30 until 8:30 p.m.
at Candystore

It is better to be busy than not...but this busy? I wish I could split into five people right now. All with their own specific responsibilities and they would list like this.

1. Artist (maker)
2. Accountant
3. Graphic Designer
4. Office Assistant
5. Studio Assistant

I am managing to doing it all and somewhere in my mind, nestled between the to do lists and the piled up laundry, I keep whispering to myself that this won't kill me and that it is all good. Yes it is good and I am so happy for it but the down side to doing it all myself is that it becomes very difficult to do everything well and with all the attention every single (and very important) task demands. I've learned this lesson this past week the hard way, by making costly mistakes and having to clean up the mess that they created. Ugh!


With that I want to end this on a positive note with one thing that did get knocked off the to do list for this week and that is my invitation (see above) for my upcoming show at Candystore on November 8th. I hope that those of you that are in the area will mark it on your calendars and come on by. It is sure to be a fun party and I would love to see you there!

By the way my 2008 Calendars are still available so check them out here!

F O L K * L O R E

charcoal, gauche, paper on used cardboard envelope.
11 x 9"

I have been feeling a little speechless lately. I think it's because I have SO much to do and it is taking all of me to keep my head focused. I get quiet at times like these. So since I don't have much to say at the moment I thought it would be a good time to list eight things about myself that you may not otherwise know about me. I was tagged twice about a month and a half ago so I guess it's about time I get to it.

By the way most the things (except for the tidbit about dog food) I am about to reveal all relate to my upcoming show, called FOLKLORE, that I am preparing for which opens on November 8th at the Candy Store in San Francisco. I am going to mix it up for this show and do a combination of drawings along with ceramics and there is also a rumor that I will be painting one of my designs on the wall.

Enough yapping, on with the eight things...

1. My hand shakes when I draw. I am not sure why it does this but it always has. That is why my lines are a bit squiggly.

2. I have a bit of an obsession with collecting cardboard. Rectangle pieces of cardboard from insides of stocking packaging or mens shirts, pieces that separate things inside of boxes, cardboard envelopes (see above), corrugated cardboard, even bits that I find on the sidewalk, it all makes me very happy.
*please see note below*

3. I had an aunt who was an acrobat in the World Famous Hungarian Circus in the 1950's & 1960's. I did not inherit one spec of acrobatic skill (took me years to master a cartwheel) but I was very influenced by her and the fact that she pursued her dreams as far fetched as they might of seemed. She passed away a few years ago but she still inspires me everyday.

4. I used to eat dog food when I was very young. I liked the dry kibble (Purina Dog Chow to be exact...just in case you wanna try some yourselves!). I really loved the graphics on the bag, big red & white checkerboard with funny portrait photographs of dogs. Oh, I remember it fondly.

5. I tend to be attracted Art that is moody and on the dark side.

6. I really did not like being a child. I couldn't grow up fast enough. I much prefer being an adult.

6. When I was seventeen to support myself (I was living on my own) I worked an eight hour swing shift after school at a plastics factory.

7. I went to Junior High and High School with Teri Hatcher (from Desperate Housewives). When we were in Junior High we both entered a window painting contest for Christmas. I won first place.

8. When I was in High School I once tried out for the school drill team called the Featherettes. Teri Hatcher did so as well. I barely made it through the routine (really made quite an ass of myself). She became the head of the drill team.

I am not going to tag anyone else. Yeah I am a poor sport and too damned lazy to think about it. Besides everyone I'd tag has already been it.

The drawing above is the first of series that will be in my show in November. Stay tuned for more to come.

*A call for your used cardboard envelopes*
I thought you all might enjoy helping a girl out with her obsession (and material for her upcoming show) and send on any used cardboard envelopes you may have laying around? I prefer ones with stamps, post marks, addresses and bits of writing on them. Please nothing new and cardboard only. White or the natural kraft paper type cardboard are all fine. All sizes are most welcome though I am especially in need of the 11" x 9" variety.
Please email me at diana@dianafayt.com and I will send on an address of where they can be sent.
*Thank you, Thank you*

you are invited

Xen gallery invitation front; Diana Fayt ceramic platter & Clare Goddard collage

It is time to put worries aside...put on something nice to wear and show the world my smiling face (because I am smiling). Please join me for the opening of my show at Xen Gallery tomorrow evening. It will be a virtual opening (for me included as I won't actually be there). I will imagine us finally meeting and exchanging handshakes and hugs, oh yes, so many hugs, with all of you.

You can see the show here
and
if you are interested in purchasing any of the pieces you can do so here.

Also showing along side of me is my dear friend Clare Goddard who makes the most lovely collages from all kinds of found ephemera and used tea bags. Her work is simply stunning. Clare lives in Helsinki, Finland and runs a small gallery called Compost.

I look so forward to seeing you all there!