Artist Interview with Wendy Hannaford ~ TWC RePURRposed Gallery

Wendy was the first Artist I met outside of the RePURRposed Gallery. She and Kira had arrived early, we waited with excitement until we were welcomed inside by Brittany, one of the talented event organizers and our contact person. Although my sister Karen and I only traveled 3 hours to New York from Baltimore, it felt like a long journey to me until Wendy said she flew in from California. Here we are just inside the gallery space, our excitement is VERY contained! :0)

How did you hear about the Together We Can project?

I heard about the Together we can project with the casting call on the Friskies site.

Where did you travel from to attend the gallery event?

I traveled from Carlsbad California to attend the event.




Has your art been in a gallery show before?

Yes My art has been in a Show, but not in NYC!

Had you previously used recyclable materials in your art or was this a whole new medium for you?

Yes this was a whole new medium for me, but I have been wanting and thinking of doing this for a long time (I just didn't think it would be Cat food cans!! SMILE)

How many cat food cans did you use to create your piece?

I used About 38 cans.

I'm a big fan of anything symmetrical. Wendy's use of the repeated flowers in a symmetrical pattern  is easy and relaxing on the eyes. It's so pretty! and I love the embellishment with feathers and rhinestones. They really add a royalty spoiled feel to the white cat.

How did you choose the idea for the art you submitted?

I wrote out about four pages of idea's to start, but as I started to lay them out in different configurations, I just loved the flower's, and thought it was perfect since the idea is to preserve and protect nature by recycling the pet food cans "Leave only Paw Print's".

What other efforts do you make to decrease your carbon footprint?

I recycle, reuse, re-purpose everything, buy used when ever its appropriate, have a mulch pile in my garden, buy local at the farmers market when I can (or grow my own). I have energy star appliance's, and energy fluorescent light bulb's in my home. I would love to have solar panels and an electric car, but haven't gotten there yet!

What are your current adventures as an Artist?

Right now I am writing a book on Nature and Fantasy crafts.

Describe yourself using 5 words.

ME using five words? Creator, designer, heart, mind, soul.

Who or what influences your art?

The earth, all living things and ecosystems, beauty, fantasy, colors, joy and spirit. Sometimes its a message.

How has this experience affected you?

I loved the Together We Can  experience from start to finish. I will do more recycled art, and do some of the things I thought about before. I also think I will make some recycled art for my home!! Starting with a cat food can art piece for my living room above the fireplace! And I will add some recycle choice's into my book as well. I was raised in the Sierra club, hiking camping, canoeing, kayaking in the mountains and on the beach. I hiked the entire John Muir Trail by the time I was 12. I was raised with "Leave only foot prints" When you spend a lot of time outdoors you really realize how your actions affect the animals and nature.

It was  a real pleasure meeting and talking with you Wendy, and thanks so much for allowing me to interview you. Good luck with your book, be sure to let us know when it's published! I am certainly interested in reading it, as some of my art leans toward fantasy, and Nature is a very prevalent muse. I look forward to and hope you share any future art you create with cat food cans! :0)

Interview with Camille Olive ~participating Artist in the Together We Can RePURRPosed Gallery

Camille Olive's Mr. Kitty is captivating! Every time I looked at it, I saw another detail I hadn't seen previously. When I look at any art, I ask myself, "How did they do that!?"  Mostly I can figure it out, but Mr. Kitty had me stumped and left me with more and more questions. Questions I was too excited to think of asking at the show, but questions we all now have answers to here in her inspiring interview!


How  did you hear about the Together We Can project?

I heard about the Together We Can project from the Friskies' website and signed up. (I never thought that I would be chosen to do a scuplture out of cat food cans)

Where did you travel from to attend the gallery event?

I traveled from North Central Pennsylvania - Lewisburg. Bucknell University is located here.

Has your art been in a gallery show before?

I have never had my art in a gallery before, perhaps because I do it as a hobby only, not a serious career venture.

Had you previously used recyclable materials  in your art or was this a whole new medium for you?

I use recycled materials in my sculptures as often as possible, last year I made a dragon costume for my son, the paper mache head was fashioned from a shoe box, old newspapers, two ping pong balls, plastic bottles, and insulating foam. His body was left over green material I had laying around the house. I re-use boxes, plastic bottles, and old newspapers in nearly every project . The dragon came with a ten foot tall castle fashioned from a refrigerator box complete with a working drawbridge with faux wood grained planks!

What other efforts do you make to decrease your carbon footprint?

We turn our heat down to 56 degrees at night in the winter - 64 degrees during the day. We recycle plastic store bags - they are a petroleum by product after all. We have a recycle drop off that takes old computers, cell phones, clothing and textiles, as well as plastics, glass, metal - including old refrigerators and stoves. We always give the usable cast-offs to the Salvation Army for resale in their stores - they use old plastic grocery bags too. I also design and send out a Christmas cards to the President at the White House - I have done this four times, and have received an official White House Christmas card and two signed letters in response.

I also recycle newspapers, vegetable peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds and filters, into my compost pile in my garden. Banana peels do wonders for flowering shrubs!

How many cat food cans did you use to create your piece?

I used over fifty cat food cans for my piece - mostly the labels though. I may have used at least twenty Friskies and Fancy Feast cans combined. I donated over thirty cans to the local SPCA and two bags of dry Friskies food to complete the ensemble.

How did you choose the idea for the art you submitted?

I had to look at my beginning sculpture - an empty plastic milk bottle, and a one liter soda bottle for a week or so before I "saw" the sculpture within. I nearly glued my self to the piece on more than one occasion. I was thrilled that someone actually liked my "Mr. Kitty" sculpture, it made my day, my week, and maybe even my entire 2010.

I have painted an ocean scene on all of the walls in our bathroom. Sea turtles glide across the blue swirls, with a group of seahorses and grouper fish following after. Sea weed tendrils rise up off of the "ocean" floor where a wiley crab waits. Our downstairs bathroom has a bas relief tree trunk and leaves, with grass lining the bottom edge of the floor and a flower garden sprouting out of the green blades. A robin's nest in one of the upper branches. My art reflects my mood at that moment, which is why it is always unpredictable. I have dabbled with the craft since I was a small child - spending many summers in art classes while my friends went to the pool.

Describe yourself using 5 words:

I would describe myself thusly - adventurous, witty, willing to take a chance - with some limits of course, compassionate, and sometimes a perfectionist to a fault.

Who or what influences your art?

Sometimes it is good to go back to the basics and study the old masters to get a real free for the craft.

How has this experience affected you?

Being chosen for the Friskies RePURRposed Gallery project made me realize that I still could produce something akin to art if I just made an effort to allow my creative juices to flow unrestricted. Most people would not guess that I submitted a design for both the World Trade Center Memorial and the Flight 93 Memorial competitions - I wasn't selected to design either site but it was still a tremendous honor to participate.

How can someone find you online if they are interested in finding out more about your art?

I can be found tooling around facebook if anyone has any questions for me.

To bid on Camille's "Mr. Kitty" follow this link.

RePURRposed Gallery (part 3)

As other Artists, Guests, and Celebs arrived, we went to each piece of art and viewed them with amazement in our eyes. So many different techniques, and creative vision went into each. In the packets snail mailed to us there were a few guidelines, and coupons for several dozen cans of free Purina brand cat food. We could use 10 of any size or combination of cans so long as they were Friskies or Fancy Feast.

I used exactly 10 cans in my piece and a few label parts, but some artists used many of both labels and cans. Like Camille Olive's piece and one of my favorites! I just love all the detail and her use of the labels. Camille resides in Pennsylvania, and was there with her charming daughter who lives in NYC. Had great conversation with both of them.

For the fur, she cut the tin in strips and curled it. This must have been very time consuming and really shows how much care she put into creating this adorable fishing cat.

The gallery event was so much fun! The Friskies team had a bunch of surprises and really went above and beyond to make it extra special for us Artists who participated. Here the Friskies & Fancy Feast teams share that each Artist will get a gift basket and a $200 American Express gift card! We could choose between a FF or Friskies basket. I chose the FF basket with the glass Christmas tree topper inside. The Friskies basket had flip flops and note pads, and both baskets were filled with cans of cat food. We were also given a green gift bag with the Purina brand logos printed on the front, with MORE FREE cat food coupons! and an adorable cat toy inside.

My cats Simon & Jaz thank you for the toy and all the yummy delicious food! My sister even got a bag too! My cats never like me going away and always have a bit of an attitude when I return, so bearing gifts this time sure remedied that! :0)

I exchanged cards/contact information with several of the Artists I mingled with throughout the evening, and we've since connected on facebook. In a conversation sharing our mega fun experience, Wendy Hannaford said, "I feel like Purina took such good care of us, I feel so SPOILED!" I must agree with you Wendy!

Everyone involved was so friendly, and obviously very talented and dedicated to organize such an amazing event. It was a real pleasure meeting Brittany and a few of the other people involved after emailing and talking with them on the phone. I met so many cool people! Kahi Lee from HGTV's Design on a Dime, hosted the event and even participated with her own art from cat food cans. My camera battery pooped out before she arrived so unfortunately I didn't get any photos of her or her cool Dr. Suess-ish lamp. Google, there are pics of the event all over the place :0) and tomorrow selected works will go up for auction on Ebay! Money from the sales go to KAB (Keep America Beautiful). Read the full press release here.



More about this awesome event Coming Soooon!

RePURRposed Gallery (part 2)

My sister Karen and I took a taxi part of the way toward SoHo where the event was being held. I've never visited New York as an adult, so we did a LOT of walking so I could really experience the city up close. Hell on the feet but WOW! SoHo was such a cool area, I knew instantly that one day I'll have to return and explore it more!

Part of me wanted to linger and take photos, peek in the interesting shops along the way, yet at the same time I wanted to speed walk right to Mulberry Street. I've been SO excited for weeks now in anticipation of this event, I just couldn't wait to get there! Brittany really upped the excitement when she called to confirm our attendance and teased that there would be some surprises!

We knew we had arrived as soon as we saw the chalk paw prints on the sidewalk out front of the building. Such a clever idea! They really did think of everything!

We arrived about fifteen minutes early, just enough time to sit around the corner and change out of our sneakers. I wondered the whole time I was there HOW women can walk around NYC in high heels and not break their necks!??  While we waited out front we watched the activity inside. Photographers taking photos of the art, last minute details being put into place, and THERE! just down the steps on the next level, in the middle I saw MY CATS! They are so brightly colored they loudly meowed, "Here I am!" 

Outside we met a few of the other Artists participating in the gallery. Local Artist Kira Alexis Kuck accompanied by her Dad, and Wendy Hannaford who traveled all the way from California! We snapped a few photos by the window display, and before we knew it, Brittany Allan was greeting us and we were going inside.

Here I am with fellow participating Artist, Wendy Hannaford just after we put our name tags on. Posing in a respectable manner was difficult when what I really wanted to do was jump up and down and yell, "OMG! I'm really here!" All the composure really disguises the incredible amount of excitement that has built up over the weeks leading to this day. 

My art has never been in a gallery before, other than the student shows I was forced to participate in during my college years. It's never fun for me doing things that don't hold importance. Like the name I use here for my blog, facebook, and Etsy shop; Cher's Passion. Art and any cause aimed to improve people's lives or our environment, are things I can freely apply my passion to. This is living a good life to me, making a difference, is meaningful and well worthwhile.

My crazy cats have made people laugh and that alone is an accomplishment of doing something meaningful. Laughter IS the best medicine. These cats hold hints of my real cat's personalities, but some of mine too. They show how silly I can be sometimes, and boldly state how much I love color. Irregardless of how "Hilarious" they are, they also tell a personal story of hardship and dreams, perseverance and love.

More coming soon! 

:0)

Friskies RePURRposed Gallery Event (part 1)

There is SO much to share, and so much to catch up on after being away for a few days, so I'm going to do it in medium sized chunks :0)

In the meantime, I've uploaded photos of the event on my facebook fan page, a few videos too. One video is still processing and I've a few more to upload yet.

Keep checking back for more updates!

Friskies Photo Booth

My sister Karen and I at the RePURRposed Gallery event in SoHo New York on April 14th. SOOOO much fun!

------>More updates on all the fun at the gallery coming soon!