New Artist Studio and Member at Marin MOCA

I have a new artist studio and became a new member at Marin MOCA, where I have posted images of my artwork.

CAFE - the "Red" Show at O'Hanlon Center For the Arts

Be sure and check out the O'Hanlon Center For the Arts this month for the new exciting, passionate "Red" Show. Juror, Painter and Alchemist, Toni Littlejohn, will be looking for what red means to you and how you optimize the color in your work. I will be submitting my fun dress, "Some Like It Hot", made out of red bubblewrap, and tempting everybody to pop the bubbles. After the Artists Roundtable and Show Opening, Tuesday, February 7, 4-6 pm, stop into the Loft Gallery for my Solo Show, "A Woman For All Seasons". I will be showing my recent body of work of plastic sewn and heat-fused wearable arts, made out of plastic, along with wall hangings made out of CD's and sculptures made out of packing tape filled to the brim with all of the non-recyclable materials, categorized as 5-6, along with signs created out of the throw-away table liners from O'Hanlon I collected on Clean Up Day. To be in keeping with the title of my show, I will also share my earlier works, including traditional Bargello quilts, eggshell mosaics and my beloved paintings of horses. There will also be live music and entertainment, of a different sort, with my improvisational performance where anything can happen, and red wine and refreshments.

Collective Actions Show at the Marin Community Foundation

Plexus Art Group has been selected to be part of the Collective Actions Show at the Marin Community Foundation in Novato, CA. My piece, "Northwest Passage", a kimono made out of vinyl, eggshells and watercolored paper, which was inspired by Pulp-Fashion artist, Isabelle de Borchgrave's kimonos made out of paper, showing at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, has been selected along with 144 works from artists in 11 other Bay Area groups including O'Hanlon Center For the Arts. I visited the installation at the Hamilton Field Hangar 5 with my friend Karin and took pictures. This piece will be on display during my Solo show at the Loft Gallery at the O'Hanlon Center For the Arts in February, 7, 2012.

Moving from the Gallery to the Stage

I was sitting with my friend Karin, when the call from Anna Schneiderman, Director of Ragged Wing, came through the airwaves. Anna was looking for help creating costumes for the stage for her upcoming performance, Inana's Descent. When Karin told Anna that she had a "plastic expert" sitting next to her, she handed me the phone and we had a lively conversation about how I could make a dress for their main character, Erishkigal, played by Celia Palmtag. Within a few days, I received the design, via email, and got to work. In fact, I had been making dresses out of plastic, but none of my creations were made for long-wearing on a stage, with 4 performances per day! So, that was the challenge of a lifetime for me, and I had to make the dress 3 times. Finally, I woke up one morning, and while thinking about how a woman would have to be able to move and BREATHE in plastic, I found the perfect solution. I used an old cotton sheet I found in the FREE BOX on my friend's dock in Sausalito to make the lining for the garment, then stapled the red and white bags to the garment. A simple gathering in the waist with elastic made the dress "one-size-fits-all", however, I had to fit the top to Cecelia's slender form. Working with a live model was a thrilling experience for me! I look forward to future opportunities to work with people on the stage and the runway!

PatchNews in Mill Valley Writes About Whole Foods Market Creative Reuse "Nickels For Non-Profit Award" Won by Elise Cheval For O'Hanlon Center For the Arts

Just in! Megan Wilkinson, Director of the O'Hanlon Center For the Arts, just called to give me the heads up that PatchNews in Mill Valley published the story about my Nickels For Non-Profit Award through the Whole Foods Market Creative Reuse Contest. Read all about it.

O'Hanlon Receives Check For NFNP Award

The check is in the bank! O'Hanlon received $521.32 from Whole Foods Market's "Nickels For Non-Profits" Award, from my Creative Reuse Contest-winning crafted jacket, skirt and handbag excess-ory!

Hot Off My Press in Alphabet Soup Show at O'Hanlon Center For the Arts

My plastic dress, made out of sewn and heat-fused New York Times bags, will be on display at the O'Hanlon Center For the Arts, September 6-29. I hope you can stop into the Main Gallery, 10 am to 2 pm, Monday through Friday, and check out the work by myself and two other NCWCA artists.