"Thoughts of the Mind, Interpretations in Indigo"
                                             http://youtu.be/E_65DQDYVko

                                      Olive Hyde Gallery, Fremont, California
                                      Exhibit on view through April 26, 2014.

Bonnie J. Smith's textile indigo installation "Thoughts of the Mind, Interpretations in Indigo" was selected to be exhibited at the 46th Annual Textile Exhibition at the Olive Hyde Gallery in the Redwood Gallery, 123 Washington Blvd., Fremont, California. Exhibit dates are March 16 - April 26, 2014. Opening reception is March 28, 7-9 PM. www.bonniejofiberarts.com .

This installation was created 100% using the indigo dye bath method tells the story of religious segregation my family endured for many years while I was growing up in the Mid West of the United States.

I want to give a big thank you to the curator at Olive Hyde, Gloria Kim what a great job she did installing the installation.  If you get a chance to drop by Olive Hyde this is the best installation of the "Thoughts of the Mind, Interpretations in Indigo" I have had yet of the artwork!
 

My fiber art work "17 Mile Drive" is currently being exhibited in "Our Natural World" at The Twin Pines Art Center, 10 Twin Pines Lane, Belmont California. Gallery hours are 12 - 4 Wednesday through Sunday. Opening reception is February 9, 2014 2 P.M. - 4 P.M. http://www.belmont.gov/subContent.asp?CatId=240001579. SOLD. Contact bjs8934@gmail.com

This artwork was created after many wonderful drives along the 17 Mile Drive in Carmel, California. While driving along you feel nature is teasing you with the wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean, first you can see a tiny bit of ocean than a little more than finally a vista opens and you can see the ocean in all of it grandeur, I feel nature always decides what we will view along this drive.  The drive really is a must do if you are ever in the area.

Polk State College Lake Wales Arts Center

Through my fiber art series "Swimming Upstream" I was able to fall head long into the world of championing the rights of individuals disabled on the job but it has sent me on a journey of self exploration!

My thirteen piece exhibit Swimming Upstream" (and growing) will be exhibited at the Polk State College Lake Wales Art Center. October 7-24.  The artist opening is October 10, 2013, 5-7pm.

I will be giving a gallery talk about the series and also twelve pieces of my California Series that will also be in the exhibit.

Please try and attend if you can as this is also the first exhibit in the renovated art center.  This is a big night for all! bjs8934@gmail.com.

 Any questions just email me at bjs8934@gmail.com

UniteWomen.org

My artwork "Suffragettes" was juried into UniteWomen.org's exhibit "Women's Rights: An Artist's Perspective".  The artwork can be purchased by clicking on the link below.

http://www.entrythingy.com/www.unitewomen_gallery.org#BonnieJ.Smith

I created this artwork after a lot of research on specific women, Harriett Tubman, Cady Stanton and Myrna Loy.  Myrna Loy was the women I knew absolutely nothing about and was surprised to learn what a prolific feminist writer she was of her day! Then while visiting the L. A. County Museum one day I looked up and hanging on the wall was one of the very few art pieces she ever created.  Made me proud! First, that I had found her on my own through research and secondly to see her artwork hanging in such a wonderful and important museum.

Fiber Art Installation - Thoughts of The Mind

My fiber art installation will be exhibited at the Foundry Art Centre in the Ameristar Gallery! The installation deals with the discrimination I lived with as a child growing up in a very small town and being a member of the lesser accepted church congregation.

The exhibit will be from February 8 - March 22, 2013. The Foundry Art Centre is located at 520 North Main Center, Saint Charles, Missouri.  This is very exciting for me to get this installation out into the world.

Andy Warhol he most definitely left his mark.  So many years after his death and Campbells Soup has reissued the tomato soup can that Andy made iconic!  As soon as I learned about them I rushed out to Target to get myself a supply here are a few that I have sitting on a shelf of my credenza!

 Back to Big Sur!  Ok, it was our anniversary and after going to Santa Barbara for my birthday we decided to go for another trip and this time to Big Sur! It is a breathless location in California.  This picture is of about forty miles of coast line.  Whew, I have had the best BD and Anniversary, I feel blessed. We also explored several parks and I think we are going back soon to camp, yes I said camp at Limeklin State Park.

Home Gallery

                                    Series of "Control Works" and various other fiber art works.

                                           "Thoughts of the Mind, Interpretations in Indigo"

Today on the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) yahoo group, the question came up about purchasing property one can work/gallery space and live from.  I have exactly that kind of living arrangement.
Our downstairs and also street side in San Jose, Ca. has 900 square feet and the upstairs has 1900 square feet.  The entry way has a room that is 18 x 16 feet and that is used as my gallery.  What I really love is I always have somewhere to bring people where my work is staged and I can stage new projects that I am working on.  Also the lighting is wonderful because of the overhang I receive no direct sunlight so my photographer also likes coming to my home to photograph my work and I also welcome him to use it for photographing others artwork also.  We purchased a hanging system that now goes all the way around the room offering me quick up and down hanging of my work so I can always see exactly how my finished work will look.  The entry door is the same style of door one would find at a department store all glass with side windows also in glass.  Any passerby can easily see what my next creations are at all times. 

I do keep the doors locked and have a by appointment sign prominently placed and yes people do want to stop, come in and look around and sometimes make a purchase or just contemplate what is gong on with my work. When friends visit this is always the first stop in the house to see what I have been up to lately.  I do not work downstairs in the other rooms as I prefer working upstairs always keeping a distance from the area but I have been thinking lately of moving my studio to one of the lower level rooms.  In the past I have been approached by other artist to use the exhibiting space but I am pretty selfish about my little gallery and how I can always be changing the gallery and exhibiting new artworks..

Jean Ray Laury-Quilt of the Month

            at the International Quilt Study Center

Click on image above to view a larger image and detail.

Persephone’s Spring

Another great art day! Today the MOMA.  So much to see and I tried to take it all in but went into overload.

I am attaching a picture of Frida K. A self portrait I do not think I have ever seen before, it was magnificent! Frida painted herself as a strong confident woman.  The color and details were wonderful.  What a life and what a woman!  Please take a close look at the frame.  Also, at the MOMA was Rivera's work like I have never seen before.  The installation was a artists dream in that they had his drawings for many completed murals.  I have never been a fan of his work but seeing the process turned me around!

Well another great day of sightseeing!  I am showing you a picture today of a artist who creates installations using dishes.  This was large very large about 30 feet tall.  Don't you just marvel at the work others do!

Today was the best at the Museum of Art & Design in New York. Glasstress New York: New Art From The Vinice Biennales is not to be missed! I was in that building for about three hours and dreaded leaving as they always have the best and most exciting exhibits.  I will post pictures later as I am just beat today!

Great Chocolate Bobka today!

Finally, my challenge is finished.  Karen Musgrave put out a call for a challenge using this wonderful 50's fabric that I used in the Cafe Curtains.  I also used the reverse side of the fabric in the background. The idea behind the work is to highlight what advertisers suggested would be wonderful gifts for women for the holidays especially those that made her life easier. Really!
Well, what to say about that?  Love this challenge!

Also, no that is not Pat Nixon in the photo, some of you are just to funny and I get it!

"Momentum", Women's Caucus for Art, Los Angeles Art Association/Gallery 825
      February 17-March 2, 2012, Artist Reception February 24, 2012 6-9 PM

Yesterday was the best day for me.  I went to see the Richard Serra "figure eights" at the Cantor Museum in Palo Alto, California.  What a wonderful site to see!  I could have stayed inside those walls all day. Yes, I could create a living space inside the "figure eights".

Ok, my fabric has arrived and I love it.  I have a stash of 30's to 60's fabrics so it is right for my creative spirit.  My problem is I create abstract and  social consciousness artworks so yes mine I have a feeling will say Bonnie J. Smith all over it!
Thank you for sending the fabric Karen and creating the challenge.

Karen Musgrave has a new book just out "Quilts In The Attic".  My copy has been ordered and I can not wait.  Like those who create dreams with needle and thread I love reading and learning others stories.  I ordered my copy from Amazon.com.

My friend Karen Musgrave has a wonderful indigo artwork she created this weekend on her blog.  Like Karen I am star struck by indigo, pictured above is a detail of a new work I created using rope and natural indigo. Pictured below is the artwork.

                                                        "Rope of Life"

"The paintings are all a reflection of Joan." (Joan Brown and Manuel Ner...