A beautiful video of love at first sight in slow motion

via wired.com

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Between The Folds Official Trailer

via youtube.com

This is the trailer for an mind blowing art form. Stream it on netflix.

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Arts and Crafts Trail in Downtown Canandaigua video

via downtowncanandaigua.com

Thanks to I Town.com and Jim Kerins.

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Painting: The Signing of the Treaty of Canandaigua (1794)

Signing of the Canandaigua Treaty Painting by Robert Griffing Since the signing of the seminal 18th century Canandaigua Treaty, only a few written descriptions remain of what must have been a sight to behold during the Autumn of 1794. The rest has been left up to the imagination. That is, until now.

On Thursday, November 11, 2010, during a commemoration day filled with ceremony, a massive 6’x9’ oil painting by artist Robert Griffing capturing the scene of the historical treaty was unveiled in an emotional and educational presentation. Speaking from the stage at the Canandaigua Primary School, Griffing talked about the project’s multi-year process and some of its inherent challenges. These included gathering re-enactors in historically-correct dress to pose for a photograph on which the painting would be based, as well as the usual Western New York weather issues.

Griffing also stressed the importance of using real faces, the “inheritors” of the treaty in the painting, and cited the tremendous assistance of Ganondagan Site interpreter Michael Galban, who then took the stage. To prepare for this photograph, Galban compiled a massive amount of information about the treaty and the events contemporary to the time period. More than a thousand were in attendance at the time of the original Treaty event, including those from the Six Nations (Haudenosaunee), families, Chiefs, and important Native leaders, as well as representatives of the United States government and four Quaker individuals. “Of the three Quakers who recorded the event, William Savery’s journal would prove the most descriptive and helpful,” said Galban. “I decided to use his journal as the focus for our impression of the treaty.” Galban sent out open casting calls for the “faces behind the history.” Thirty individuals posed in two photo shoots: one for the Native re-enactors and one for those representing the Europeans. Some even flew in from out-of-town, including the model for Colonel Timothy Pickering, George Washington’s official agent at the negotiations.

At the unveiling, Linda Lovejoy from Wegmans Food Markets announced its collaboration with Ganondagan and Griffing to capitalize on the New York State fourth-grade Native American history curriculum and the Wegmans fourth-grade “Eat Well, Live Well” store tours. During the last school year, more than 17,000 students participated in the tour. To help document and preserve this important piece of living history, Wegmans will be providing posters and an upcoming educational DVD by filmmaker Denver Miller to each of more than 420 fourth-grade classes participating in this year’s store tours. The DVD is being produced in conjunction with the production of the painting. It profiles all participants, provides important historical information about the Treaty, features interviews of prominent Haudenosaunee leaders, and captures footage of the 2010 commemoration.

Posters of the painting will be available to the general public through the Ganondagan website and at its giftshop, as well as in a half dozen select Wegmans stores. All proceeds will benefit Friends of Ganondagan—the educational arm of Ganondagan State Historic Site—which organizes the annual Treaty day. The Canandaigua Treaty brought about peace between the Six Nations (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora) and the U.S., and was negotiated and signed by sachems representing the Grand Council of the Six Nations and Colonel Pickering. It also acknowledges the sovereignty of the Six Nations to govern and set laws as individual nations. This yearly commemoration is a time of rededication of the agreement, helping to ensure that the “chain of friendship” and agreements between nations remain current and vibrant. Robert Griffing graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and after a 30-year career in commercial art, returned to the subject of his early fascination, painting the Eastern Woodland Indian of the 18th century. His work draws attention to a neglected area of the nation’s history, when one culture was being supplanted by another, and great changes were initiated that set the scene for the next 100 years of settlement. Back to FingerLakes1.com Homepage

via fingerlakes1.com

Thanks to Wegmans, Ganondagan and the artist Robert Griffing

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A wonderment; an interview with doll sculptor-painter, Nancy Wiley - part II

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October 27, 6:25 PMNY Doll Collecting ExaminerElizabeth de Almeida

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Shadows and lights are distinguished through Nancy Wiley’s brush stroke technique and style of painting which she combines with her creation of doll artistry and designs. She sculpts dolls of paperclay with a precision and with intricate detail, which gives life to the dolls she brings forth. And when the dolls are brought to full fruition; an eminent effect seems to take place; an effect of an appearance of which a memory has been captured in time; an effect that she has formed into an innovative path of purpose for her doll making. An effect that can be seen through the pages of the newly released original classic of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland; A classic of which Nancy created a whole new world of dolls as illustrations to aid a timeless and trilling tale.

In part I of the interview with Nancy Wiley, there was an exploration of her work; the study of the conceptual imagery of a dreamy type quality to her doll artistry; And how she applied her artistic skills and abilities in ways that would take doll sculpting-doll painting to a greater level. In addition to her doll making, Nancy is an accomplished painter, Doll collectors will find her work mesmerizing and will see the many techniques she uses to communicate

her style, gift and expertise. In part II of the interview, Nancy explains the challenges in describing her work to others who are new to her artistry and originality, and how the goal is to bring an understanding of her unique type of doll creativity; Also, the interview zeros in on what she thinks and feels about her doll creations and what is important to her when she shares her work for the world to see.

EA: What do find the most challenging as a doll artist?

NW: The most difficult thing as a doll artist is communicating about this art form. I need to have visuals to help explain, because people have vivid preconceptions of what a doll is to them. So if I just say "I make dolls" that could mean anything from Raggedy Ann to Barbie or anything else people associate with the word "doll". However, I haven't come up with a better term. Sometimes I will say "doll sculptures"--I don't know if that is really any better.

EA: What do you demand of yourself, when you create?

NW: The question I ask myself is "How do I make this work"? I usually have an idea in my head and it is always an adventure to see if I can make it work in three dimensions. But also the hardest question is "Is it finished?"--deciding that is always difficult. I guess when I can no longer add or subtract anything that will improve it, I am done.

EA: What thoughts go through your mind when you start to work on your creations?

NW: For me, the face is the most important aspect of the piece. Even if you have a great concept and flawless execution, if the face is wrong, the whole thing won't work. So, that is the first task--sculpting a face that I like that shows some kind of quality that will be important for the whole piece to work.

EA: Do you have a doll collection, exclusive of your doll creations? If so, what kinds of dolls do you collect.

NW: I have a very eclectic collection. I prize my brother William Wiley's dolls that I still have. Also, I like old, folk art type dolls, more primitive looking made of wood or cloth. And also I collect friend's dolls.

EA: What is the most important thing you would like to say to doll collectors who view your work?

NW: I would like collectors to know that I am dedicated to my work and that I always try to create something surprising about each piece. I also like to think most works have a subtext, that if you keep the piece for a while, the more layers of meaning you will notice.

EA: Nancy thank you so much for spending time with us.

NW: Thank you.

Visit Nancy Wiley's website and discover the world she has created with her extraordinary dolls. Nancy has a wonderful video of her work on the Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. Share this with friends, family and other doll collectors and enthusiasts.

Photos are courtesy of Nancy Wiley

via examiner.com

Posted via web from rob's posterous

A wonderment; an interview with doll sculptor-painter, Nancy Wiley - part II

Add to favorites Examiner Bio

October 27, 6:25 PMNY Doll Collecting ExaminerElizabeth de Almeida

Previous Next

Shadows and lights are distinguished through Nancy Wiley’s brush stroke technique and style of painting which she combines with her creation of doll artistry and designs. She sculpts dolls of paperclay with a precision and with intricate detail, which gives life to the dolls she brings forth. And when the dolls are brought to full fruition; an eminent effect seems to take place; an effect of an appearance of which a memory has been captured in time; an effect that she has formed into an innovative path of purpose for her doll making. An effect that can be seen through the pages of the newly released original classic of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland; A classic of which Nancy created a whole new world of dolls as illustrations to aid a timeless and trilling tale.

In part I of the interview with Nancy Wiley, there was an exploration of her work; the study of the conceptual imagery of a dreamy type quality to her doll artistry; And how she applied her artistic skills and abilities in ways that would take doll sculpting-doll painting to a greater level. In addition to her doll making, Nancy is an accomplished painter, Doll collectors will find her work mesmerizing and will see the many techniques she uses to communicate

her style, gift and expertise. In part II of the interview, Nancy explains the challenges in describing her work to others who are new to her artistry and originality, and how the goal is to bring an understanding of her unique type of doll creativity; Also, the interview zeros in on what she thinks and feels about her doll creations and what is important to her when she shares her work for the world to see.

EA: What do find the most challenging as a doll artist?

NW: The most difficult thing as a doll artist is communicating about this art form. I need to have visuals to help explain, because people have vivid preconceptions of what a doll is to them. So if I just say "I make dolls" that could mean anything from Raggedy Ann to Barbie or anything else people associate with the word "doll". However, I haven't come up with a better term. Sometimes I will say "doll sculptures"--I don't know if that is really any better.

EA: What do you demand of yourself, when you create?

NW: The question I ask myself is "How do I make this work"? I usually have an idea in my head and it is always an adventure to see if I can make it work in three dimensions. But also the hardest question is "Is it finished?"--deciding that is always difficult. I guess when I can no longer add or subtract anything that will improve it, I am done.

EA: What thoughts go through your mind when you start to work on your creations?

NW: For me, the face is the most important aspect of the piece. Even if you have a great concept and flawless execution, if the face is wrong, the whole thing won't work. So, that is the first task--sculpting a face that I like that shows some kind of quality that will be important for the whole piece to work.

EA: Do you have a doll collection, exclusive of your doll creations? If so, what kinds of dolls do you collect.

NW: I have a very eclectic collection. I prize my brother William Wiley's dolls that I still have. Also, I like old, folk art type dolls, more primitive looking made of wood or cloth. And also I collect friend's dolls.

EA: What is the most important thing you would like to say to doll collectors who view your work?

NW: I would like collectors to know that I am dedicated to my work and that I always try to create something surprising about each piece. I also like to think most works have a subtext, that if you keep the piece for a while, the more layers of meaning you will notice.

EA: Nancy thank you so much for spending time with us.

NW: Thank you.

Visit Nancy Wiley's website and discover the world she has created with her extraordinary dolls. Nancy has a wonderful video of her work on the Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. Share this with friends, family and other doll collectors and enthusiasts.

Photos are courtesy of Nancy Wiley

via examiner.com

Posted via web from rob's posterous

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland-Books of Wonder

via booksofwonder.com

Pick Your Country

US Shipping ONLY $37.99 Non US Shipping $49.99

Award-winning doll artist NANCY WILEY will present her brilliant version of Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at Book of Wonder Nov 7, 2009 noon to 2 PM

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Nancy Wiley Doll art Slideshows

via examiner.com

View the entire slideshow at

http://www.examiner.com/x-18713-NY-Doll-Collecting-Examiner~y2009m10d27-Wonderment

Posted via web from rob's posterous

D & C Ontario County Life October 23, 2009 MATT WITTMEYER staff photographer

via democratandchronicle.com

Nancy Wiley, an artist in Canandaigua, hand paints "Alice" dolls from her new book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

From the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester NY

Posted via web from rob's posterous

Canandaigua Comic Con. Oct 18 at Inn on the Lake

This fun event was organized by Mike Churchill of Pulp Nouveaux Comix of Canandaigua. All kinds of comics, book and art was displayed for collectors to buy. Appearances by Star Wars and other popular cartoon characters made for a lively day. Its turned out that many comic collectors love Alice as well. (nice work Mike!)

The local paper did a very nice write up to promote the event. Thanks L. David Wheeler !!

Another Nick Gurewitch cartoon

via pbfcomics.com

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Cartoon by Nick Gurewitch

via 4.bp.blogspot.com

Nancy & I met him at the Canandaigua Comic Con and bought his book. Its soooo funny.

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Dirty Car Art Gallery/0008

via dirtycarart.com

Please dont wash me.

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Craft In America | PBS

via pbs.org

I caught a bit of this last night. Wow. a glimpse into artists' heads and hearts. Makes you want to quit your day jobs.

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What makes a place cool?

Ever wonder why certain places have a vibe that other places don't have? Why are some urban areas are not happening and some are. 
If your into creative culture, cafe culture, art, downtown living, the art scene, cutting edge technology, work for yourself or always wanted to, you should check out this site. Its call CoolTown Studios. 

Richard Florida coined the name "creative class". He said "I define the core of the Creative Class to include people in science and engineering, architecture and design, education, arts, music and entertainment, whose economic function is to create new ideas, new technology and/or new creative content."

Below is his book from Amazon.