Just wanted to let everyone know that I have donated a piece of my work to the Penn State University Liberal Arts United Way auction. You can view the auction (and BID) by following the directions below. Enjoy and have fun.
The Annual United Way On-Line Auction sponsered by the Liberal Arts United Way Steering Committee. Bidding begins this morning at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 21, 2008. We have exciting items again this year, all of which were made possible by the generous donations from Liberal Arts departmental staff and faculty. If you would like to view any of the items, you can do so from 8:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. in 101 Sparks Bldg.
To begin bidding, you must register by going to the auction web site at: www.lionauctions.com. Once you have registered, you will receive an email with a link to the site to confirm your registration. You will be able to bid only after you have confirmed your information. If you have any questions, please contact Tanya Hockman or myself by phone at 814-865-2545.
Please share the site with family. friends, and colleagues!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
New Art In State College!
On Monday, November 3, 2008, I will hang 10 new pieces at Happy Valley Optical at 206 South Allen Street. I am happy to return to this unique gallery space offered by Dr. Robin and Mr. Scott Dutt. My work was first displayed among the new glasses in June 2007.
Robin and Scott, when they opened the optical shop, decided they wanted to give local artists the opportunity to show their work. Artists receive great exposure to a wide variety of clients. . . . more people need glasses then art. . .maybe. Well, it depends who is deciding. And the Dutts never get bored of the decor.
I am happy to show two completely new baseball inspired pieces and six new pieces which have never been seen outside of the studio. You can stop by anytime the shop is open (Monday 9am to 7pm; Tuesday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm) and take a look around. I am grateful and thankful for this opportunity to share my work in my hometown.
Monday, October 6, 2008
15 Seconds. . . of Fame
This article appeared in the Williamsport (PA) Sun Gazette on Thursday, October 1, 2008 as part of their featured artist series. I think I sound a bit crazy. . . but. . . maybe. . .enjoy. You can also read the article on the Sun Gazette's website. Thanks to Jessica Beaver for her time and effort on this article.
When strolling downtown Williamsport, stop in at Julie's Coffee, 33 W. Third St., and check out the array of artwork created by Valerie A. Jarrett, whose artwork is on display through mid-October.
According to the artist's Web site, Jarrett is an "original visual artist, exploring the beautiful marriage between life and art."
She mainly creates abstract oil paintings on canvas with multimedia collages. Her collages are inspired by other people's words, lyrics, poems and speeches; thus, her tag line is "original art inspired by words."
"I do a lot of cutting of magazine letters, almost like a kidnapper who constructs ransom notices, except I don't kidnap or create ransom letters," Jarrett said.
She added that she also is exploring the use of recycled materials in her art, which means she is using whatever her neighbors are trying to throw out. Currently, she is cutting up antique doors and painting them.
"I really like the change of medium," Jarrett said.
Jarrett, 37, of State College, has lived in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Telluride, Colo., then back to Washington, D.C., and now has found her way back to her hometown of State College.
She is a largely self-taught artist, and although she has dabbled in crayon and paper as a small child, she truly believes she has always had an eye for space and color.
She has been creating art for fun since 2000, but has been doing it professionally since 2004, and has obtained a bachelor's degree in secondary education (social studies) from Penn State University in 1993.
When she was living in Pittsburgh, she met Martha Chaney Ball, an accomplished portrait painter who gave Jarrett her first oil painting lesson and helped her sew on her "artist wings." She said that she is grateful for Ball's trust in her and added that, over the years, she's had amazing opportunities because people trust her.
Jarrett said she creates art because "it feeds my soul. Without it, I am nothing."
She loves to go to art museums and look at the way other artists capture light in their work, but she doesn't have a favorite artist because she likes to learn from them all.
"We are pretty much all in the same artist boat," Jarrett said.
Jarrett is inspired by her parents, who provide an amazingly "thick rope net while she swings around on the trapeze of life." Her brother told her that she was good early on and bought supplies for her, so she could get a jump start into the art scene.
She said, "with all that backing, how can I not be inspired?"
Jarrett's artwork ranges from $50 to $300. Her best works are commissioned pieces where the client gives her a quote or pictures and a price range and they go from there. Her work is personal so working one-on-one with a client provides that special touch.
She has works of art all over the country. Jarrett first started doing pieces for friends when they got married. Needless to say, she has plenty of friends scattered all over the place. But, she's not living off her art and calls herself a starving artist, so she also works for a restaurant (The Allen Street Grill).
This summer, Jarrett had pieces of art in shows in Iowa, Minnesota and Oregon. A piece of art titled "Take Me Out" won first prize at the Centre County Grange Fair in Centre Hall. She also is working on combining her love of baseball (she worked as an usher for the State College Spikes this summer) with her art. She would like to do a baseball art show at a baseball stadium.
"It is not what you know but who you know," said Jarrett as to why she decided to display her art at Julie's Coffee.
She met Britt Hostetler, who is the liaison between artists and Julie's Coffee, this summer. Jarrett has known Hostetler's husband for about two years through her friend Clay. Hostetler saw Jarrett's work at her friend Clay's house and asked Jarrett if she would be interested in showing her artwork at Julie's Coffee. Also, Jarrett's boss (Bryan Bausinger) at the restaurant is a Williamsport native and his mom eats at Julie's often, so through about three degrees of separation "who needs six degrees and Kevin Bacon" said Jarrett, she was in.
Jarrett said she's been around the block; name the job and she's probably done it. She added that she knows that she has to feed her soul and would rather work a job that allows her the time and energy to pursue her art than anything else.
"Art is always being created in my head. I don't really have a choice (to do anything else)," Jarrett said.
Julie's Coffee is open 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
When strolling downtown Williamsport, stop in at Julie's Coffee, 33 W. Third St., and check out the array of artwork created by Valerie A. Jarrett, whose artwork is on display through mid-October.
According to the artist's Web site, Jarrett is an "original visual artist, exploring the beautiful marriage between life and art."
She mainly creates abstract oil paintings on canvas with multimedia collages. Her collages are inspired by other people's words, lyrics, poems and speeches; thus, her tag line is "original art inspired by words."
"I do a lot of cutting of magazine letters, almost like a kidnapper who constructs ransom notices, except I don't kidnap or create ransom letters," Jarrett said.
She added that she also is exploring the use of recycled materials in her art, which means she is using whatever her neighbors are trying to throw out. Currently, she is cutting up antique doors and painting them.
"I really like the change of medium," Jarrett said.
Jarrett, 37, of State College, has lived in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Telluride, Colo., then back to Washington, D.C., and now has found her way back to her hometown of State College.
She is a largely self-taught artist, and although she has dabbled in crayon and paper as a small child, she truly believes she has always had an eye for space and color.
She has been creating art for fun since 2000, but has been doing it professionally since 2004, and has obtained a bachelor's degree in secondary education (social studies) from Penn State University in 1993.
When she was living in Pittsburgh, she met Martha Chaney Ball, an accomplished portrait painter who gave Jarrett her first oil painting lesson and helped her sew on her "artist wings." She said that she is grateful for Ball's trust in her and added that, over the years, she's had amazing opportunities because people trust her.
Jarrett said she creates art because "it feeds my soul. Without it, I am nothing."
She loves to go to art museums and look at the way other artists capture light in their work, but she doesn't have a favorite artist because she likes to learn from them all.
"We are pretty much all in the same artist boat," Jarrett said.
Jarrett is inspired by her parents, who provide an amazingly "thick rope net while she swings around on the trapeze of life." Her brother told her that she was good early on and bought supplies for her, so she could get a jump start into the art scene.
She said, "with all that backing, how can I not be inspired?"
Jarrett's artwork ranges from $50 to $300. Her best works are commissioned pieces where the client gives her a quote or pictures and a price range and they go from there. Her work is personal so working one-on-one with a client provides that special touch.
She has works of art all over the country. Jarrett first started doing pieces for friends when they got married. Needless to say, she has plenty of friends scattered all over the place. But, she's not living off her art and calls herself a starving artist, so she also works for a restaurant (The Allen Street Grill).
This summer, Jarrett had pieces of art in shows in Iowa, Minnesota and Oregon. A piece of art titled "Take Me Out" won first prize at the Centre County Grange Fair in Centre Hall. She also is working on combining her love of baseball (she worked as an usher for the State College Spikes this summer) with her art. She would like to do a baseball art show at a baseball stadium.
"It is not what you know but who you know," said Jarrett as to why she decided to display her art at Julie's Coffee.
She met Britt Hostetler, who is the liaison between artists and Julie's Coffee, this summer. Jarrett has known Hostetler's husband for about two years through her friend Clay. Hostetler saw Jarrett's work at her friend Clay's house and asked Jarrett if she would be interested in showing her artwork at Julie's Coffee. Also, Jarrett's boss (Bryan Bausinger) at the restaurant is a Williamsport native and his mom eats at Julie's often, so through about three degrees of separation "who needs six degrees and Kevin Bacon" said Jarrett, she was in.
Jarrett said she's been around the block; name the job and she's probably done it. She added that she knows that she has to feed her soul and would rather work a job that allows her the time and energy to pursue her art than anything else.
"Art is always being created in my head. I don't really have a choice (to do anything else)," Jarrett said.
Julie's Coffee is open 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Blind Men DO See!
Finally! I got the call last night. After several days of frantic phone tag, my best friend Kristin announced that she was engaged!
In the Summer of 2007 I created the piece, Blind Men See (on the sidebar--oh, I know it is a horrible picture. Ironic that this picture got this piece into a juried show!) as an engagement gift from me to Kristin's boyfriend, Michael. Bold, I know.
Michael and I had several conversations that summer pertaining directly to the fact that EVERY one in the world (including the blind men) could see how much they were in love, except for him. I know that love can make you blind (and deaf and dumb and stupid) but without it, I am not sure why the world should continue to spin. This piece was supposed to be Michael's wake up call. I sent it from a juried show in Houston, Texas to Charleston, South Carolina--Michael's current residence.
But Kristin got nervous. The painting was left boxed and hidden in the back of a closet. And like all good things, hard questions were asked. And time went by.
All the quotes on this piece come from my romantic collection. Where my heart really beats. Songs and quips gathered from my readings and movie watchings and listening to bands in smokey bars. Jonathan Raymond and David Wojnarowicz write the most touching and beautiful words I have ever read in their book, The Half Life. I am thankful I finally created a piece worthy of their writing. I think, deep down, these are all the words I wish someone would say to me. I was just trying to give the words to someone else that could really use them--like Michael.
Earlier this week, while celebrating their anniversary of their real first date (Pittsburgh Pirates verus Chicago Cubs in PNC Park was their first non real date in September 2005), my best friend of twelve years was proposed to by my former McLanahan's Deli customer (corned beef EVERY DAY! at 11:15am) Michael. What started as nice conversation about mustard or mayo. . .by paying attention to the people around me. . . .has now provided a link for eternity. . . .
Meet me at the deli. I think we all need some corned beef to celebrate!
Congrats Kristin and Michael! I love you both more today than yesterday.
In the Summer of 2007 I created the piece, Blind Men See (on the sidebar--oh, I know it is a horrible picture. Ironic that this picture got this piece into a juried show!) as an engagement gift from me to Kristin's boyfriend, Michael. Bold, I know.
Michael and I had several conversations that summer pertaining directly to the fact that EVERY one in the world (including the blind men) could see how much they were in love, except for him. I know that love can make you blind (and deaf and dumb and stupid) but without it, I am not sure why the world should continue to spin. This piece was supposed to be Michael's wake up call. I sent it from a juried show in Houston, Texas to Charleston, South Carolina--Michael's current residence.
But Kristin got nervous. The painting was left boxed and hidden in the back of a closet. And like all good things, hard questions were asked. And time went by.
All the quotes on this piece come from my romantic collection. Where my heart really beats. Songs and quips gathered from my readings and movie watchings and listening to bands in smokey bars. Jonathan Raymond and David Wojnarowicz write the most touching and beautiful words I have ever read in their book, The Half Life. I am thankful I finally created a piece worthy of their writing. I think, deep down, these are all the words I wish someone would say to me. I was just trying to give the words to someone else that could really use them--like Michael.
Earlier this week, while celebrating their anniversary of their real first date (Pittsburgh Pirates verus Chicago Cubs in PNC Park was their first non real date in September 2005), my best friend of twelve years was proposed to by my former McLanahan's Deli customer (corned beef EVERY DAY! at 11:15am) Michael. What started as nice conversation about mustard or mayo. . .by paying attention to the people around me. . . .has now provided a link for eternity. . . .
Meet me at the deli. I think we all need some corned beef to celebrate!
Congrats Kristin and Michael! I love you both more today than yesterday.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Julie's Coffee
Kevin Bacon has the strong hold on six degrees of separation. . . .in State College, Pennsylvania, there are really only three degrees of separation. That is just how it works here. I don't know if it is because this is my hometown. . . but I am sure that helps. You can never get too far away from anyone. This can be bad or very good.
This summer I met Brit. She is married to my friend Jordan who is a friend of my friend Clay (did you get all of that?). Brit is an amazingly talented artist who sets up shows (in her spare time) for other artists at local restaurants, coffee shops and gallery spaces. Brit was at Clay's house and saw one of my pieces that I did for him last year. When I met her on the concourse of the ballpark at a State College Spikes game, she connected my art work with me. . . her usher.
Oh, the weavings of a small town.
She had an artist cancel on her so she asked me if I was interested in showing my work in Williamsport--a town about an hour down the road. I said, "Of course." And several weeks ago I installed (along with great help from my parents! Thank you!) my latest work in Julie's Coffee Shop close to the corner of Market and Third Street. If you get arrested in Williamsport, know that Julie's Coffee is RIGHT across the street from the court house. Handy!
I'll be up in Julie's until the middle of October. Stop by if you are close!
This summer I met Brit. She is married to my friend Jordan who is a friend of my friend Clay (did you get all of that?). Brit is an amazingly talented artist who sets up shows (in her spare time) for other artists at local restaurants, coffee shops and gallery spaces. Brit was at Clay's house and saw one of my pieces that I did for him last year. When I met her on the concourse of the ballpark at a State College Spikes game, she connected my art work with me. . . her usher.
Oh, the weavings of a small town.
She had an artist cancel on her so she asked me if I was interested in showing my work in Williamsport--a town about an hour down the road. I said, "Of course." And several weeks ago I installed (along with great help from my parents! Thank you!) my latest work in Julie's Coffee Shop close to the corner of Market and Third Street. If you get arrested in Williamsport, know that Julie's Coffee is RIGHT across the street from the court house. Handy!
I'll be up in Julie's until the middle of October. Stop by if you are close!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
FDR War!
One summer evening, while guiding students through the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC, I was struck by thhis quote chiseled into the wall of the monument, "I have seen way. . . . I hate war." In the light of the current Vietnamesque conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, I knew I had to say these words again, with President Roosevelt.
This is what else he said on August 14, 1936 in Chautauqua, New York. "I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men coughing out their gassed lungs. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen two hundred limping exhausted men come out of the line--the survivors of a regiment of one thousand that went forward forty-eight hours before. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war."
Not a very pleasant thought but if we (that is the collective you and me "we") don't continually hold up the horrors of war and recognize that it is not really the opposite of peace; we will never not know war. I would like to erase it from our vocabulary.
Let's start changing the way we think.
Franklin Hates War.
Oil on canvas with cut paper collage.
16 x 20
March 2005
Price: $150
Albert Counts!
While living in Telluride, Colorado in the winter of 2004, I stumbled across this Albert Enstein quote while nestled deep in the community library just off Main Street. Al says, "Not everything that can be counted, counts. Not everything that counts can be counted." My favorite Aunt Elaine said of this quote, "That is one you have to think about. . . ."
Over the years, I've had ample time to collect numbers (the base of this painting) but also time to contemplate what really does count. I "saw" this painting in my mind's eye, one night while lying in bed thinking about the things that can be counted.
I've created this painting twice. The first one was my first painting ever sold (pictured)! The second one is hanging in my doctor's house. He did some amazing surgery on me last year and as an artist, it is really the only way that I really thank someone. May you find important things to count.
Albert Counts.
Oil on canvas with cut paper collage.
16 x 20
original in September 2004
Let's Eat Cake!
Oil on canvas with cut paper collage in found vintage frame.
36 x 20
November 2005
SOLD!
From an old Diesel Jean ad, this quote comes from a larger statement. . . "Freedom is the feeling you celebrate with the world. Let's make cakes not weapons. Let's visit the plastic surgeon and replace your arms with wings. This may cost a lot of money." I'm not sure how many pairs of jeans were sold with this ad, but at least it made the rest of us think.
Lately, I believe that America needs to invest in more pies, more cakes and more donuts and less tanks, less weapons of mass destruction and fewer bombs. And it seems like we need to send the plastic surgeons over to Iraq to do some arm repair. . . .
Culinary school starts in the morning.
Fred Sings!
I've been together (dating? married?) with Penn State since before I was born. . . .I am pretty sure that I was conceived while my father was a graduate assistant at the Mont Alto branch campus (although my parents still won't give up the real story). One of my earliest memories includes Joe Paterno. When I was wee high, my parents took me and my sister to the annual Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium. It was back in the day when after the game you could go on to the field (gasp!) and take pictures with The Lion and The Coach. I vividly remember the 1982 National Championship team riding down College Avenue on a snowy, cold January Saturday. As a daughter of a professor, me and my siblings really do bleed blue and white.
This piece (and others to follow it) grew out of my childhood memories and my appreciation for the institution that has taken care of my family for many, many years. Fred Lewis Pattee wrote great words in March 1901. The lyrics to the Penn State Alma Mater run through the middle of this piece. Alums and fans sing them proudly. It is an honor to remember them and sing them in my head. Can you hear it in your head, too?
This collage is oil paint on canvas (each canvas in this photo is 24 x 36) with numerous P, S, and Us affixed using glue. Since this first Fred Sings piece created in the autumn of 2005, I have recreated it several times. Most of the pieces have been auctioned off at charity events to raise money for good causes and are hanging in Penn State rooms around the country. One piece is available for viewing at The Fraser Street Deli on . . . hmm. . . . I'll let you figure out which street it is on but right here in State College, PA. Just make sure you come in the door to see it. It is hanging from the ceiling. Thanks to Josh for taking care of it.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Slave To Freedom.
Slave to Freedom
18 x 24
Oil on canvas with newspaper clippings and photos and cut paper collage
Summer 2007
On loan from the private collection of U.S. Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH).
During my almost seven years living in Pittsburgh, I became friends with an extraordinary man whom I watched become the youngest ever Ohio State Senator and later be elected to the United States Congress. CSPAN is much more exciting when you are watching your friends.
This piece (pictured at the top of my blog) grew out of the deep places of pain while I've watched lives be changed as we have been at war with Afghanistan, Iraq and ourselves. Articles from the Washington Post make up the base of the flag and the words, Slave to Freedom come from a song by my favorite band, Good Brother Earl (Pittsburgh, PA). My first chance encounter with Tim Ryan was leaning against the back wall of the Horseshoe Bar (Warren, OH) listening to the soulful voice of our mutual friend, Jeff Schmutz.
May we never forget.
May we always be a slave to freedom.
18 x 24
Oil on canvas with newspaper clippings and photos and cut paper collage
Summer 2007
On loan from the private collection of U.S. Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH).
During my almost seven years living in Pittsburgh, I became friends with an extraordinary man whom I watched become the youngest ever Ohio State Senator and later be elected to the United States Congress. CSPAN is much more exciting when you are watching your friends.
This piece (pictured at the top of my blog) grew out of the deep places of pain while I've watched lives be changed as we have been at war with Afghanistan, Iraq and ourselves. Articles from the Washington Post make up the base of the flag and the words, Slave to Freedom come from a song by my favorite band, Good Brother Earl (Pittsburgh, PA). My first chance encounter with Tim Ryan was leaning against the back wall of the Horseshoe Bar (Warren, OH) listening to the soulful voice of our mutual friend, Jeff Schmutz.
May we never forget.
May we always be a slave to freedom.
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