Exciting Updates

It is has been a while since I posted any news - so I thought I would do an update, things that are current and upcoming...

Currently, I have pieces at some great Holiday shows:
Homer Watson House & Gallery, end of season group exhibit and sale in Kitchener, Ontario.
I will be teaching there again in the Winter, on Friday Jan. 25th 10-4 and then again in the Spring, April and May 2013.
Strata Gallery , a fun new, funky, quirky gallery, worth a visit in the heart of Elora, Ontario.  I am pleased to announce that my solo exhibit, "Spirit House"  will be opening there in March 2013.
UpTown Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario.

I will be showing at the TORONTO ARTIST PROJECT (TAP 2013) February 21- 24th for the first time this year..and I am very excited to join this fine event.

"Me, Myself and I - In Pursuit of Meaning", Encaustic Mixed Media & Collage, 30 x 26 

Recently sold at UpTown Gallery, Waterloo.

Danse Macabre Opens Today at Strata Gallery, Elora

Opening Reception tonight, at Strata Gallery, 62 Metcalfe Street

Elora ON N0B 1S0, 1-226-384-5454

Come for a dance....visit, mingle and be merry.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Great Opening tonight of "Beyond the Cover, A book arts exhibit" at Whitestone Gallery, Guelph, ON.

It was so lovely to celebrate with Patrice Baker, our first two person showing of 'things that open', "Beyond the Cover, A book arts exhibit", running until September 27th, 2012 at the Whitestone Gallery, Guelph, ON.   Here are some more photos of the exhibit..I hope to get some of the gathering that attended..it was a lovely opening with so many supporters, friends and family..thanks to ALL OF YOU for attending...

Above By Patrice Baker

"Oracle", Encaustic Mixed Media Book Assemblage by Supria Karmakar

"The Broken Bud", Encaustic Mixed Media Book Assemblage By Supria Karmakar

"House of Numbers", Encaustic Mixed Media Book Assemblage By Supria Karmakar

" Maitri, Loving Kindness", Encaustic Mixed Media Book Assemblage By Supria Karmakar

"Time Traveller", Encaustic Mixed Media Book Assemblage By Supria Karmakar

Above and Below: By Patrice Baker

Above and Below: By Patrice Baker

Beyond the Cover, A Book Arts Exhibit - A Two Person Show Patrice Baker and Supria Karmakar, Opening Reception Thurs. September 6th 7-9 p.m. at the Whitestone Gallery, Guelph

Patrice Baker and Supria Karmakar invite you to a two person exhibit "Beyond the Cover, A book arts show", Opening Reception is Thursday September 6th, 7-9 pm. at the Whitestone Gallery, 80 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON.
Exhibit runs from September 1- 27th, 2012

Cycles of Time, Altered Book, Encaustic Mixed Media, 2012

Artist Statement

Beyond the Cover, a book arts exhibit  is a show of works that open, using old books, either in their sum or their parts.  In this series, the concept of ‘home’ is explored; where home like structures are created using book parts, found objects and collage materials with encaustic medium.  The structures are created to symbolize the notion of things that make up ‘home’ on a spiritual and/or emotional level.  

The ‘home’ symbolizes the ‘self’ of deeper consciousness outside of the ego center.  During a time in my life where great change is unfolding, the identity of self is questioned, explored and being reckoned with.  Places where we might feel a sense of brokenness, also opens the doors to a place of “Maitri”, loving kindness to self and a place where new stories to live by can be written, or created to be a guidance, such as in the “Oracle”.

In my artwork, I use found objects, antique findings, Bengali letters, personal iconography to explore visual narratives about life’s ever changing experiences and tell them here as stories, in a book, with chapters paying most attention to the spiritual aspects of life, feminist politics and cultural concepts.  The process and practice of visually creating allows me to delve into the mystic, experience intrigue, find solace, comfort and connection within my day-to-day human experiences.

Happy August 1st - Congratulations to Queen B 2 U

Happy August 1st....My draw for "The Wax Book: Altered, Repurposed, Remade" catalogue announcement for today goes to Queenb2u.....Congratulations on winning this great catalogue which showcases thirteen incredible artists working in the book arts and encaustic medium.

Email me to let me know your contact information, so that I may send it out by snail mail to you.

Congratulations again.  For more details about this great exhibit and catalogue visit this post.

email: supria@supriakarmakar.com

August 1st give away for "The Wax Book" and New Website....

In my last post, I asked for your comments or feedback regarding what you like to see on blogs - what keeps you coming back....in return for your comments & feedback, I will draw one name from the pool of those that left comments/feedback and the winner would receive the new "Wax Book, Altered, Repurposed, Remade" catalogue.

I will be making this draw August 1st..so there is still time to leave your comments on what you like to see or read about on art blogs....and what you might like to see from this blog site.

Also, I wanted to announce my new website is up and running www.supriakarmakar.com  check it out and let me know what you think.   I am grateful to 'Trademarksdesign' for their design and working on this with me.

Give to Get on Your Blog - I found a great resource today, that I would like to share with you.....

Today, I got reading a friend and colleague's blog, Rita Vindedzis' - a Toronto based artist.  Her blog post from Wednesday June 27th, was a valuable blog post for me ..and got me connected to Alyson B. Stanfield's Artbizblog --   I too would highly recommend Alyson B. Stanfield's blog, it has a wealth of information, on the business of being an artist..she covers so much....Particularly, what hit home for me this round, was the blog post Give to Get on your Blog, got me thinking about my blog...For a while now, I have been seriously reflecting on how I can revive my blog...

I have often thought the place to begin, to start this process would be to ask you, the readers, what it might be that you want to see on this blog?
Are you interested in techniques?
Looking for resources?
What keeps you coming back, or what would support and encourage you to come back?   I would love to hear from you.  What would you like to see on a blog, and specifically my blog, what is meaningful to you???

I look forward to your comments and for your time and feedback, I will send out a signed "The Wax Book, Altered, Repurposed, Remade" exhibit catalogue to one commenter.  I will draw one name from the pool of comments made..for more information on the catalogue being offered, visit these two links:  June 14th blog post  and on Blurb. com
Thank you to all for your time.

The Wax Book, Altered, Repurposed, Remade

 A Catalogue of 13 Artists working in the book arts medium

Terra Incognita

Encaustic Mixed Media Altered Book, 2012

By Supria Karmakar

One week away - Art in the Yard, Visit me at Booth #47

One week today, July 7th and 8th, Art in the Yard will be here again, 10th year anniversary.
Come visit me in booth #47, I will be doing demonstations on the encaustic mixed media, if you want to learn more about it.  Sat. July 7th 10- 8 p.m. and Sunday July 8th 10- 5 p.m. BOOTH #47

Nesting Heart, Encaustic Mixed Media & Collage, 8 x 14, 2012

The Last Harvest - Paintings By Rabindranath Tagore at the McMichael Gallery

I am so excited about this exhibit at McMichael gallery on Rabindranath Tagore, a famous Bengali, poet, philosopher and artist.  His art work has been brought here and it is a must to see...can't wait....if anyone is familiar with his writings..you might really enjoy his art work too...or why not visit to learn more about an extraordinary visionary of his time....

Summer Newsletter - Link below

Here is the summer newsletter

Above: " Me, Myself and I, In Pursuit of Meaning" Encaustic Mixed Media, 2012

30 x 24

Come see me at Art in the Yard, July 7th & 8th, 2012, Booth Number 47 - Demonstrations will be happening...

The Encaustic Conference (C6), year 6 was a hit.....here are some highlights for me.......

After some hard but enjoyable work in curating "The Wax Book, Altered, Repurposed, Remade" exhibit...the sweet little Gallery X at Truro Center for the Arts, MA...was set up with the works of thirteen artists working in the book arts format....This was really a highlight for me to see it come to fruition and see it all together, as part of the Encaustic Conference Year 6....Below are some photos of that exhibit, that ran from May 31st to June 7th, at the Truro Center for the Arts at Castlehill, Truro, MA...the exhibit lives on in book format with a catalogue that is available ....if you want a copy let me know..only a few remain or you can get it straight from Blurb.com

The Wax Book, Altered Repurposed, Remade, Front book cover, designed by Sarah E. Rehmer

Above are the group of 13 artists in the exhibit, from left to right - Photo courtesy of Deborah Kapoor:
Sherrie Posternak, Catherine Nash, Julie Shaw Lutts, Christine Kyle, Supria Karmakar, Nancy Natale, Corina Alvarezdelugo, Patricia Dusman, Sarah E. Rehmer, Deborah Kapoor, Milisa Galazzi, Deborah Winiarski, Neverne Covington

Above: Nancy Natale's piece: Lift and Separate; Christine Kyle's work, Lost Lists and Deborah Winiarski's work, Wild Lupine and Lines Written
Detail or closer views below

Above: Nancy Natale's Lift and Separate

Christine Kyle's Lost Lists

Deborah Winiarski's Lines Written above and Wild Lupine below

Above: Sarah E. Rehmer's Forbidden and Looking Back,
Catherine Nash's Carrying the World,
Julie Shaw Lutts' Lepidopterous Journey
Supria Karmakar's Terra Incognita

Above: Sarah E. Rehmer's Looking Back
Below: Sarah E. Rehmer's Forbidden

Catherine Nash, "Carrying the World"

Julie Shaw Lutts, Lepidopterous Journey

Supria Karmakar, Terra Incognita

Above Right: Corina S. Alvarexdelugo's Pangaea 20
Below: Closer view of Corina's work

Deborah Kapoor's Bloodmilk

Supria Karmakar, Catherine Nash, Julie Shaw Lutts, Collaborative Panels, Mapping 1-9

Julie Shaw Lutts, Mapping Panels

Catherine Nash,  Mapping Panels

Supria Karmakar, Mapping Panels

Neverne Covington, Inviting Pleasure

Above, Milisa Galazzi's None Dare Call it Treason

Patricia Dusman, Braille on the wall and Bark next to Milisa's piece

Milisa Galazzi's None Dare Call it Treason

Patricia Dusman, Braille

Patricia Dusman, Bark

Sherrie Posternak's Pulp Fiction and Pulp Non-Fiction

Some other highlights were the Gallery walk - I loved seeing all the exhibits...it was so much fun to gallery hop.  The other highlighs were the book signing event, it is inspiring to me that so many artists have produced books of their work or highlighting a theme/concept...I was busy preparing the final steps for my demonstration on "Altered Books, Wax and Mica" that I didn't partake in the Hotel Fair, but I heard it was a wonderful event...and I will look forward to it again I hope...I loved the Post Card Fundraiser..I walked away with two Milisa Galazzi's and a Cathy Valentine....

I loved spending two glorious days with 6 students working in the Altered Books 2 day Post-Conference workshop....

Here are some beginning images of work being created in this workshop: