Mission Statement

Raising awareness and educating the public through high fashion made from recyclable materials.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

"AIM HIGH" in Momentum Show Catalogue in Los Angeles, February 17- March 2, 2012.

Check out the catchy art and music video on YOU TUBE  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgKJbPo1tNU featuring artworks, including my dress, "Aim High", made out of recycled plastic Target bags, in the upcoming MOMENTUM SHOW, 2012 National Juried Exhibition, presented by the Women's Caucus For the Arts' 40th Anniversary Exhibition, Juror Rita Gonzalez, Curator, of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, at Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, from February 17 - March 2, 2012.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

"Northwest Passage" in the Elements Show at Artworks Downtown



My first piece of my kimono series, created with vinyl, eggshells, and watercolor, was selected out of 400 entries by Juror Maria Medua, Director of the SF MOMA Artists Gallery and will be on view at Artworks Downtown in San Rafael, from March 9 to  April 27, 2012.  The Opening Reception will be on March 9, during 2nd Friday Artwalk.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

"Some Like It Hot" takes center stage at O'Hanlon Center For the Arts during the Red Show

My dream has come true.  Toni Littlejohn, juror for the Red Show, picked my work, "Some Like It Hot", made out of red bubble wrap, and it was chosen by Jeromy Thornton, for display, as the centerpiece in the Main Gallery in the O'Hanlon Center For the Arts. The artwork will be on view, along with more plastic trashion, in the Loft Gallery, through February 28.


Elise Cheval in her performance, A Sea Odyssey:2012, on YOU TUBE

For 5 years, I have been working on creating an improv piece about the oceans!  Finally, it is here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-LJUjKQsjw&list=UUjeqXrALHs59AsMERRPU9mQ&index=1&feature=plcp

All of the artwork, I am wearing, and in the background was created to raise awareness about the impact of plastic pollution on human health and the environment.  Please pass it on to all of your friends, and help me reach my goal of 1 million viewers in 6 weeks!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

"A Woman For All Seasons" a Huge Success at O'Hanlon Center For the Arts

Check out the video my husband Georg made before Guests arrive to my Opening Reception.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNNvvdEXECw&list=UUjeqXrALHs59AsMERRPU9mQ&index=1&feature=plcp

Many THANKS to Karin Mortensen for helping me through the duration of this show and sticking it out until the end, to Georg Roth for his devotion to "kitchen" duty and footing the bill for the food and accoutrements, to Louise Maloof for the beautiful bouquet of pink Stargazer Lilies that finished the food table perfectly, to Suzanne Rogers for taking photos of setting up the show and during my performance, "A Sea Odyssey:2012", to all of my colleagues from Plexus who came to support me, to my neighbors Jim, Jeanie, and Mary Ann who watched the heap of plastic grow in the garage until there was no more room for my car, to the new folks who came and I look forward to connecting with in the future, especially to Christin Anderson, who I will be collaborating with on our new recycle runway project with youth of Marin County, to my friend Gretchen Kucerka, who supported me with her undying ear of support, and to the O'Hanlon Center For the Arts Membership for their attendance and to Robin Elliott and her crew, Rick and Jennifer, for her ethereal Bleffert instrumental music, which lent the perfect contrast to the material world of plastic and its impact on our health and environment.


Sunday, February 5, 2012

The Marin IJ article is a HIT in Marin County!

On February 2, I woke up to a slew of emails commenting on the article written by Vicki Larson, in the Marin IJ, about my work and upcoming show at the OHanlon Center For The Arts. Alan Dep, my photographer, took great pictures for the story, "Dressed to Kill", where Vicki informed Marin County about my intention for making plastic dresses in order to make a statement when I walk into a room in the obnoxious, noisy crunching of my classic suit, Wake Up Call, made out of Whole Foods Market vinyl banners. I wanted to have enough copies for family and friends, so I drove all over San Anselmo, Mill Valley and Novato looking for the paper. They were already sold out! I managed to get 10 copies, so that should be enough to share my fame. I went to work, filling in for Megan at O'Hanlon, while she's on vacation, and enjoyed seeing folks at the Gallery coming to drop off their works for the Red Show. They had looks of recognition and were full of acknowledgement, saying, "I read the article in the paper!" After that, I enjoyed walking into Benvenuto to have my hair done for the big night on Tuesday, and Robert, the Receptionist and the Owner, congratulated me on my achievements! So much fun getting your name in thhe paper. Today, I rounded out the week, dropping off my piece, "Some Like It Hot", for the Red Show and attending Cayan's Personal Creativity Workshop. Today, I learned about Matisse and how he said that "color trumps form", and finally I understood his flattened jewel tone images! Plus, I am almost finished with my sea dragon painting, using the tissue paper to fill in as "kelp", with the wonderful overlapping looking like the ribs and veins. I love the transparency against the acrylic background. I will post photos tomorrow, when I return to Cayan's Monoprinting class, and finish with some more fun on plastic! http://www.marinij.com/lifestyles

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Aim High in Momentum Exhibitions Catalogue and Video on You Tube




Just in - Our President Janice Nesser for Women's Caucus For Arts posted our new video for the Momentum - 40th Anniversary Conference in LA, coming February 23-26. Check it out on You Tube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgKJbPo1tNU&feature=youtube_gdata_player - Aim High is a testament to how far women have come in 40 years!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The aloes are blooming in my garden!



I am having so much fun with all of the metaphors related to heat.  I couldn't resist having my picture taken today in front of these impressive "torches" blooming in my garden.  I love the patterns on my friend Karin's scarf and how beautifully they go with my new hat.  Speaking of my hat, on Monday, I walked down to Safeway to get a salad and met a young woman who was making a video for a contest at the Academy Awards.  She invited me for an interview, asking me to pretend that I had won the Academy Awards for "Best Hat".  When the news reporter asked me to help her with her Project, I asked her if she would like to have a Singer.  I sang a few bars, filling Jackson Street near the Embarcadero, and I could be heard in the Safeway Store!  I won "Best Song", and sang for the camera!  Who knows, maybe the video will win the contest and I'll have my picture broadcast on TV.  You never know...  in LIFE, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!

NEW Art Studio in Marin MOCA!

Elise in front of her new studio at Marin MOCA

East facing window!

My storage area... new shelves coming!

I love red!  I rescued this canvas
from the trash and added the white horses!

Armed with a slew of canvases, my backpack chockful of oils and my paintbrush  -- I'm launching my career as a Painter and saying, "Au revoir" to incandescent pthalogreen oil paint on my carpet at home.  With an East facing window, I look forward to early morning light before I head over to Indian Valley Campus to paint with my Mentor Chester Arnold.  This semester, Chester is generously teaching us how to make ink out of the numerous oak galls laying on the grounds with an old rusty horseshoe.  Stay tuned for my newest direction in wearable arts with my hand-painted canvases turned into beautiful jackets and hats.   My newest Project is taking shape -- I'm going into my SELP course at Landmark Education, where I will learn how to enroll folks in my new Community Project.  Plus, I will be using the website,  www.kickstarter.com to create my own fundraiser program to generate the funds for my new career as a Motivational Singer, donning my own wearable art creations.  Look for my video, which I predict will go viral, after my Solo Show, "A Woman For All Seasons", at O'Hanlon Center For the Arts, on February 7, from 6-8 pm.