The Art of Clean Up

My co-worker and artsy friend, Rachel, just introduced me to this fantastic book! It's called The Art of Clean Up: Life Made Neat and Tidy, and you can find it on Amazon (here).

Also, I've been in touch with 2 businesses that currently have October Art Classes. I know specifically that The Art Store, in Stowe is doing a neat class that brings parents and kids together to create art collaboratively! Check out our Local Events & Classes Page for more.

Washi Tape Sofa

I've really, really been trying to let Ellie just explore art lately. I put out the craft supplies -- paints, crayons, stickers, whatever we have laying around, and I let her just create. Anything she wants. No interference or guidance from me.

Yesterday, she decided to make a "sculpture" out of Washi tape. On the sofa. It was less about having a final product and more about the zen art of sticking tape on stuff. I can relate.

I loved watching her just focus on this activity, use her fine-motor skills, and discover how the tape worked, how to unstick it from her little fingers. It was adorable. And, even better was when she said, "Mama, please be careful with my sculpture. It's fragile." Melt my heart!

We all have a need to express ourselves and, in our house, even if that means sticking tape on every available surface, that is a-OK.

South End Art Hop Recap - Ellen Goodrich

To finish up our series, we were completely taken with these beautiful masterpieces of light and glass by Ellen Goodrich! See more of her work on her Pinterest board (here).

Thanks for following our recap this week!

South End Art Hop Recap - Mary Jo Krolewski

We were particularly excited to find some Cheez-It Fiber art! How cool is that!? Artist Mary Jo Krolewski creates "soft" sculptures! Check out more of her work at her site (here).

South End Art Hop Recap -- Jake Rifken

I got to chat with Jake Rifken on Saturday, and I loved hearing that he creates many of his wire sculptures without using a drawing or plan. The entire process is very fluid, and he just creates for the sake of creating! He says, "There are no 'mistakes.'"

For more of Jake's art, check out his Tumblr Feed (here) and more at the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery site (here)!

South End Art Hop Recap - Katherine Taylor-McBroom

Another incredible find! Katherine Taylor-McBroom's surrealism makes my heart happy! We got to see some of her mixed media pieces at Studio 266. Her sculpture is breathtaking as well, using what appears to be dollhouse pieces to build "impossible" houses.

Check out her site (here) and Facebook page (here).