oopsy!

Geez, I forgot this blog - where have the last FIVE years gone?!?!? Being realistic and the worst blogger ever, this will most likely not be used much, HOWEVER (even though I recently read "The Circle" by Dave Eggers) I do DO social media, and the best way to catch up with me is my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/jennifer.a.reis Also, my web guru just updated my sorely out-of-date web site, so you can visit www.jenniferareis.com too. He put a nifty header just for upcoming events especially workshops, so you can check those out (they are also listed on the Facebooks). FINALLY, there is a e-mail subscription newsletter via MailChimp that goes out a few times a year highlighting special workshops/events - if you'd like to be added to that, just shoot me an e-mail at jenniferareis@gmail.com Take care, Jennifer

Workshops & Exhibition Updates

It's been a busy few weeks with workshops and the like.

I was able to teach at Byzantium in Columbus, Ohio, the first weekend of February. Two previous students attended the class (repeat offenders!), and one of them brought a piece they worked on in a weekend class I taught

Artist: Andrea Von Raabbe


"All About Eve" was included in an exhibition at Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, and my fiancé and I went to see the show - here's some pics.

Winter Wonderland

Besides being house-confined between ice storms and snow white-outs, I've been pretty busy making some work, both beginning to paint again and doing some embellished textile pieces.

Craft Alliance is still featuring some of my small pieces (see Queen of the Harpies below), and they're selling - I'm nearly dumbstruck!



Workshop season is starting again - last weekend I did one at our local book store, CoffeeTree Books, in association with a book signing (Creative Quilting with Beads), and this weekend I'll be teaching again at Byzantium Beads in Columbus. I'm really enjoying teaching at for-profits, something I thought wouldn't be workshop venues, but have worked out really well! In April I'll be at the Society for Contemporary Craft again in Pittsburgh for a weekend workshop, which I'm really looking forward to.

Admittedly, I haven't been blogging much. The terrible truth is . . . I will soon by moving my entire web site to Wordpress.org, with my domain name. I even have Wordpress for Dummies in my possession! Since the major activity I do with my web site is blog anyways, I thought it would make sense. We'll see if it does! This probably won't happen until Spring Break at the earliest, because judging by the book itself, it'll be a complicated transaction....

another image, exhi

In the throes of the most hectic part of the fall semester, but as soon as the faculty show is up (opening - Wednesday, 11/12, 6 - 8 pm) @ MSU, things will

s l o w d o w n!

Here's a new piece.......

Watch Out Sweetheart


That one and four others are in St. Louis, MO at the Craft Alliance for an exhibition (www.craftalliance.org).

I'll be in another exhibition @ WomanMade Gallery in Chicago, this time in a show called "And You Think That's Funny?", January - February 2009. I'm really going to use this as an opportunity to get out of town, as the last show I was in, I didn't see it.

There's two more workshops scheduled for the spring - both V-Day Postcard 4 - 5 hour workshops. One's at Byzantium (best bead store with sweetest staff on the PLANET), Saturday, Feb 7 (tentative), and on January 31 @ CoffeeTree Books as well.

Looking forward to hearing back from Mesa Art Center's Contemporary Craft exhibition . . . here's hoping!

Finally, I'm about to move my studio from the temp location to the more permanent one this weekend and next. And, realistically, this project will continue on into winter break as well. Since I've been hoarding (instead of organizing) beads and costume jewelry, it'll force me (that's what it will take) into getting my act together.

artwork & workshop updates

Been working on a few small pieces that will be going to the Craft Alliance in St. Louis at the end of this month.....


Title: "The Committee", 4 x 6", to be framed


Title: "Strange Fruit", 6 x 4" (unframed)


Title: "Deer in the Headlights", 5 x 3" (unframed)

They'll go retail for $200. We'll see!

Lately, been doing a lot of workshops - have one coming up in two weeks @ Byzantium (that place has been keeping me VERY BUSY!!!), this time a weekend one. After that, I will only have a book signing @ CoffeeTree Books in November, and then won't have a workshop until February, which will be a nice break. But, a heads up - I will be doing CraftSummer in 2009, this time with "sequential textile art", aka fabric books or some alternative of that. It will be exciting to teach something new!

Kinko's is becoming my new friend, as I'm really getting into using laminated images into my pieces quite a bit.

Zen Gallery Exhibition, Workshop & Exhibition updates

The first exhibition of the season is UP! The show is called "I'm Not That Innocent" and features work that delves into childhood themes. Here's some opening receptions shots from last Wednesday....




Kira Campbell and I spent Sunday of this past weekend on a marathon of a road trip to drive to Morgantown and back to install an exhibition opening this weekend at Zen Clay Gallery - all total, about a 14 hour trip. Needless to say, I spent Labor Day in true rest from that work.

Here are some images . . .


A gallery wall shot with our works.


My diptych, Two Gothic Vessels with a piece by Kira underneath.


Detail of one of Kira's pieces....


Some small pieces - if they don't sell here, hopefully they will be at the Craft Alliance in October.


There will be more images of the opening to come.

I'm getting ready to apply for another Artist Enrichment Grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women. It's amazing how this deadlines creep up on you suddenly.

And, I did go ahead and apply to Quilt National - last time I did it, it was in 2004, and didn't get in - not surprisingly, because my work wasn't that strong. Now, I will be very interested in what happens this time, since (an assumption!) my work is stronger - but, as a gallery director who's worked with a lot of jurors, it's all subjective. This summer has been focused more on making work and doing workshops, and the exhibition and other workshop proposals weren't a priority - which they are definitely going to be in September!

The workshop at CoffeeTree Books in Morehead on Saturday, Sept 13 from 12 - 4 still has one or two slots open - $50 buys the "Creative Quilting with Beads" book and all supplies. It's a deal. The max head count was set @ 10 - I think we're up to 8, so it should be a good turn-out.

Finally: took the "big girl" photos of new pieces with my fancy new lighting equipment.

Upcoming & Previous Workshops, New Work, and the Artist's Life of PAIN

Summer is about over, and it's been a good one. I've enjoyed being back in town, being able to have a newly painted, well-lit studio, the big front porch, and riding my bike for errands. Now that I'm back to school, I'll enjoy the 2 minute morning walk to the office the most yet.

Upcoming workshops: CoffeeTree Books of Morehead, Kentucky, our fantastic local & independent bookstore, will be hosting a workshop and book signing on Saturday, September 13th from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. (workshop) and 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. (book signing) in association with the book I am featuring in, "Creative Quilting with Beads", published by Lark Books. The cost of the four hour workshop is $50, and includes all supplies & the book (retailing @ $24.95). Call 606-784-8364 to register or for more info, and/or visit www.coffeetreebooks.com and *click* "events". I'm very excited about this opportunity - besides this being a local event since I rarely teach out in my region, the Fuzzy Duck, our local coffee place, is literally in the building, and anyone who knows me, knows I need a steady and reliable source of coffee at all times.....

Students will make a piece like this, approx. 4 x 6"


Other scheduled workshops: Byzantium Bead store in Columbus, Ohio is hosting me again (they have been FANTASTIC to me and will be helping to pay my MRI bill - see below) on Sept 20 from 12:15 - 5:15. The class is very comparable to the one @ CoffeeTree, and the piece to be created is a similar size, do-able in an afternoon. If you are interested in a more intensive workshop re: the embellished textile assemblage techniques, Byz is also hosting a weekend workshop in October that I will post more info on later. Visit www.bigbead.com or call (614) 291-3130 - they are located @ 1088 N. High Street just north of the Short North (fun place in C-Bus).

Way, way off in the future: I will be back (like Arnold) at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh for a weekend workshop April 4 & 5. Pittsburgh is a great town, and Laura Rundell, Education Programs Manager, does a wonderful job as mastermind of the educational programming. Last time I had a blast walking around the neighborhood/business district surrounding SSC, including PennMac, which has to be one of the best Italian grocery stores in the US. You can e-mail thestudio@contemporarycraft.org or phone 412.261.7003 for more info about educational programming @ SCC.

Final workshop news: the weekend workshop @ Craft Alliance in St. Louis was a terrific time, with great students and terrific publicity and support from Luanne Rimel, Senior Director, Education & Exhibition Programs. One of the students, Carlene Fullerton, was an amazing host, running what I consider the Artist's B&B of choice. The Craft Alliance is located in "The Loop", an arts district with lots of good restaurants and fun stores - always a good thing when I have a little stipend burning in my pocket. Beyond the workshop, other benefits gained: I will be included in the pre-holiday art exhibition @ Craft Alliance with my smaller pieces, and will be exhibiting at Forest Park Community College in Sept/Oct 2009, conveniently when St. Louis's city-wide event, Innovations in Textiles, will be happening. Bad news: schlemping work and supplies around airports, etc., in association with Craft Alliance was the tipping point for a C-Spine injury that I'm currently nursing. Lots of visits to the chiaropractor and being careful should reverse it. Ah, the artist's burden.

Images from Craft Alliance:



Two finished pieces recently. The first one is part of the Appalachian Altars series, This one is called "Appalachian Altars #1: Fertility", and is about 12 x 11". There will be others, about crows, atvs, etc.

Here's a small 6 x 4" one - this one and its cousins are for sale for $200 framed, and are available through me or Craft Alliance during their upcoming October/November exhibition.


Soon, Kira Campbell and I will be heading up to Morgantown WV for our two-person exhibition called "A Ribbon Tied Around a Bomb", at Zen Gallery Gallery, which will be up for the month of September and part of October. Go to www.zenclay.com for more info. Cream of the Crop, at the Southern Ohio Museum just came down, and I have a slew of exhibition submissions to get to in the next few weeks. Fall is here and time to get back to business!