It's been great to have such a nice response to the exhibit. I told the curator, Jessica that it feels like my paintings are over-night guests being hosted so graciously. I so enjoyed talking with so may people about my work at the exhibit opening and two artist talks. Many thanks to Steven King for his Two Minutes With... Leslie Graff feature in Worcester Magazine and Mark Feeney's Review in the Boston Globe and Jim Haddadin's piece in the Telegram and Gazette. The exhibit is open until early March.
DANFORTH EXHIBIT- THE MEMORY PALACE: Domesticity, Objects and Interiors /
So it's finally here. I dropped of 29 pieces and collection for my great grandmother's aprons for my solo exhibit at the Danforth Museum. It opens December 19th and will be up until Mar 6. I will be giving artist lectures January 17th & Feb 3rd if you would like to come. I'd love to visit with you.
This entire exhibition should be wonderful. I peeked at some of the permanent collection pieces they were hanging on drop off and they were magnificent. Kudos to Jessica Roscio for curating a fabulous set of exhibits.
Worcester Telegram and Gazette Feature of Volumes Exhibit /
Many thanks to ArtsWorcester for a wonderful hanging of my volumes show. Here is one of part of Nancy Sheehan's writeup on the show in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. You can read the whole thing here
"Volumes," appears from a distance to be a striking postmodernist articulation of geometry and color. But just a few steps closer and the book motif comes into focus, scores of tiny volumes each made of acrylic paint on bits of glassine which Graff meticulously arranges to suit her mood and thoughts of the moment.
In a new show at ArtsWorcester's Aurora Gallery, Graff has 40 pieces - larger works as well as a grid of 25 smaller ones - all showing vibrantly painted books on bookshelves. In each piece, books with bindings thick or slim are piled horizontally or stand vertically. Some lean left or right, casually resting against a neighbor. Some of the shelves are densely packed, others more sparse. In all of them, her sole subject is just all these books and yet, through endless permutations of space, relationship and hue, each work somehow manages to convey a completely different feeling and tone.
Volumes Show at ArtsWorcester /
I delivered the show this week to ArtsWorcester- all 42 pieces! That is the largest number of pieces i have ever done for a single show. EXHAUSTED to be sure. I am really looking forward to seeing it hung and the pieces by the other artists work I peeked at drop off were stunning. Everyone is invited to the opening October 30th at Aurora Gallery, 660 Main street, in Worcester, MA. These series captures so many thoughts, ideas, memories, people, emotions for me- they are these fun post modern explorations. i hope you will enjoy them
Fitchburg Art Museum- 80th regional /
Excited to have a piece in the 80th Regional Show, that opens today at the Fitchburg Art Museum juried by Meg White of Gallery NAGA. It will be up until Sept 4. I have to say this one of my favorite pieces, it was my most ambitious volumes undertaking yet, at 48" x48 and 419 volumes. I think I painted the gray background 3 different times! Looking forward to seeing the full show.
DANFORTH MUSEUM Exhibit /
Loved the Danforth Museum Exhibits open this summer. Loved seeing Strawberry Pie featured on the postcard and honored to win an award. it was delightful getting to know the museum community as well.
Upcoming Volumes Show /
So the good news is I am doing a VOLUMES exhibit at ARTSWORCESTER this October. I had to laugh when I was starting a new piece last week and my 7 year old said "what are you working on?" excitedly i replied "another volumes piece". "Enough with the bookshelves already!!" he said exasperated sigh. Well he might have enough of them but I can't seem to get enough. There is something about these pieces that I absolutely love-- the curation, creation and infinite combinations... The colors, the tiny scraps, the rhythms, let alone the metaphor of personal narratives and the specific meanings I put into these pieces, Enough to keep up up until 3 am at times and make serious studio messes...
Snow College Convocation /
It was an honor to be invited to speak at Snow College Convocation and ArtTalks. Such a delightful experience with Celia Benson and the students. I enjoyed getting to know them over lunch and dinner, and appreciated my time spent with talented artists and faculty: Amy Jorgensen and Ron Richmond. I will NEVER forget the most amazing welcome given by the students at ArtTalks-- a long, clapping, cheering, full standing ovation, before I even spoke-- a perfect example of how choosing to do a little thing, sets you apart from others!
photo credit: Michael C. Morrise