Local accomplished photographer, Carolyn Collins, has graciously offered a signed, limited edition print of her work “The Sofa” to be used as a raffled prize give-away to a random VIP ticket holder during Underground 2012 on Saturday, February 11th. This gorgeous piece (24″x36″ framed to 30″x43″), which retails at $1,000, was a featured work exhibited during the 11/11/11 grand opening of Omni Hotel Dallas Convention Center and was featured on UtopiaPkwyArts by Gina Marie Dunn (Dallas Arts Director for Origin Magazine). “The Sofa” is one of several works in Carolyn’s ongoing Conceptual Portraits collection and is currently on display within the collective works that represent this years Underground event at the Janette Kennedy Gallery (Southside On Lamar). More of her Conceptual Portraits are currently exhibited at Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum, and at Classic Pilates Studio in Turtle Creek. You can see more of Carolyn’s work at carolyncollinsphotography.com

NOTE FROM CAROLYN:
As a veteran live artist for Underground, I truly appreciate all the hard work, love, and undertakings that ArtLoveMagic and businesses put into this annual explosive 2-week event, showcasing the visual and performing arts of so many ‘undiscovered’ talents! You’ll also be treated to a few you know very well, AND if you purchase a VIP ticket, well… let’s just say that you’re getting far more ‘Bang For The Buck’!!!!! AND you don’t even have to be present to win! (although, you’d be missing out on an amazing night) Free preview night this Friday, Jan 27th. Exhibit open every day/night thru Feb 10th. Your VIP ticket gets you in an hour early to the main event on Feb 11th (plus all you can drink/eat, free shwag & special performances in an exclusive area). Hurry, though… just a few VIP tickets left! All info available at undergrounddallas.com AND you can keep up with all the incredible featured talents, specials, etc…

Underground 2012 community page on Facebook
Free Underground Preview Night (Jan 27th) & two-week exhibit Jan 27th-Feb 11th) FB event post
Underground 2012 main event post for the grand finale event Feb 11th
ArtLoveMagic

The Sofa

(c) Carolyn Collins Photography 2011, all rights reserved
giclee print on archival matte paper
Limited Edition of 25 prints

This Saturday’s exciting event will take place in the Turtle Creek area of Dallas, Texas and will feature pilates demonstrations, new art, live music by Matt Barron, and an engaging introduction to this event’s beneficiary, The Fine Arts Program at the Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School. Light bites will be generously provided by Shensei.

Visit Art & Seek’s calendar for details of the event. To learn more about the collaborative art project benefitting the Dallas community, visit The Seven Project’s page on Facebook. The project’s artists work and reside throughout North Texas and include Christian Millet, Nix Johnson, Gina Marie Dunn, Taylor Douglas McClure, Liz London, Richard Ross, and yours truly. This project has been a tremdously challenging and inspiring journey for me over the past two months. The project itself has been such a wonderful experience and opportunity for us all. So much so, that we have already begun preparation to lead a new group of collaborative artists in our next project during the spring in 2012!!!

Carolyn Collins Photography | Art Takes Miami 2011.

Carolyn Collins Photography | Art Takes Miami 2011.

HOPE BUILDS BRIDGES
36″ x 24″
paper collage (signed original)
archival 7-color pigment dye ink photographs
hand printed on archival fine art paper
by Carolyn Collins

On September 15th, 2010 I awoke with a dreamvision and quickly sketched it in my journal to create a future photographic paper collage art piece. Little did I know it was just for this purpose until I got a text on March 15th, 2011 asking if I could create/donate something for this special benefit event. My sleepy handwritten journal notes included: “world travelers?… windows to the world?… boat like an Asian slip… misty/foggy… peaceful, still waters… as if having survived a storm.”

This original dreamvision art piece was a 62-hour labor of love to help those in need, the flood victims in Japan. It features 101 photographs I shot in 9 countries. Built from salvaged debris, the boat is carrying survivors from the dark of the storm to the light of relief. Passengers from around the world are also onboard, as we are all in this together. Flags hoisted represent the support from people of all different perspectives. Candles at the top honor those who did not survive the storm, and additional lights are all who seek solutions to render aid and support. Also included are images representing music, art and other forms of creative efforts to help heal those who are suffering. Thank you for helping us help others in need. Peace & smiles ~Carolyn

The Asian Festival will be held for its 21st year on Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 11am-5pm, at the Main Street Garden (1902 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75201)
(event details at http://dallasasian.com/news/the-asian-festival-now-at-main-garden-in-downtown-dallas)

The Japan America Society of Dallas Fort Worth has launched an emergency relief fund that will be used to aid relief and recovery efforts in Sendai, Japan, one of the cities hardest hit by the disaster. Sendai and Dallas have been International Friendship Cities since 1997, and money raised through this fund will be sent to organizations involved directly with relief efforts in Sendai. All contributions are tax-deductible. More about this organization at www.gdaacc.com

Inquiries on this and other donated art, please e-mail artistshealingjapan@gmail.com

I could use digital images and software applications to create the same effect (as most photographic quilting artists do), but I chose (and am sticking to) the old-school print/cut/layout process. Using multiple handprinted fine art images in various rotational positions, I design the quilt to more deeply convey the layers of symbolism within the image(s) used. Once I have the general pattern formed, I then repeat the process with smaller prints and adjust as needed from a more distant perspective. I then either scan into my laptop or snap a photograph with my camera once the artwork is completed. Each piece from this series is a hand signed one-off limited edition print. Only one print will be sold, ensuring that the buyer is purchasing a unique piece of artwork.

Shown here are two of my black and white Blind Stitch pieces, one of which involved 120 hours of work. Both are currently available through Luminarte Gallery, in the Dallas Design District.

Future works in my Blind Stitch series will be tangibly documented by preserving the original paper ‘quilts’ created in the process of producing the finished artwork. I never thought to save the paper constructions from the first few creations, as my goal was simply to create a finished piece of photographic art using this process. I now wish I had. To watch or listen to another artist’s creative process is fascinating to me, and I must offer the same opportunity to those who view my art.

At present, I am simultaneously working on four new Blind Stitch pieces.

This portrait of Dallas-based musician Matt Barron is just one photographic art piece discussed when I was recently interviewed by ArtLoveMagic's Michelle McSpadden. Thank you, Michelle. (click on the image to see more)