I want Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio to be known for its support for its local artists. I also want it to be known for a place to hang out and learn about art – ceramic arts and fine arts. Lastly, I want Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio to be accessible to its community.

If you haven’t seen our website lately, take a look.
www.firebrickgalleryandpotterystudio.com

Today I own an art gallery and studio located on Main Street in Downtown Rochester. My fondness for downtown Rochester has grown even more. I am getting to know the merchants, Dowtown Rochester Development Authority, residents, and patrons.

The other “downtowns” we enjoy going to and it doesn’t take far for us to get there. It takes us at least 15 minutes or 30 minutes, depending. For example, we live near a couple major expressways: M-59 and I-75.

So, let me list the downtowns that we go to when we can:

• Downtown Royal Oak
• Downtown Birmingham
• Downtown Romeo
• and  . . . Downtown Detroit (midtown area)

There are others, like Downtown Plymouth which is beautiful, Downtown Auburn Hills, Downtown Northville, Oxford, Lake Orion, Clarkston, and Clawson, just to name a few.

Why am I bringing up Downtown? Downtown is composed of local business owners. Mind you, we’re small business owners. Most business owners are local residents. We tend to live close by where our business is. Many of us are passionate about what we do and we love where we are. We enjoy our customers and have fun with them.

We need you, to shop locally. Support your downtown merchants. Support your downtown restaurants. Support your downtown development authority. So, instead of going to the big stores, go to the small stores. Instead of going to a chain, go to a small restaurant. Support your downtown development authority by being part of their activities, committees, and get to know them too. Your Mayor and the council are pretty accessible. They are there for you and your downtown.

Here’s what we’ll provide you that you won’t get at the big places:

• Personalized service
• One of a kind products/services
• Value
• Accessibility/Approachability
• Knowledge

So. You may already live near a downtown. Isn’t time you went?  Try going every day. Shop locally.

Art evolves, artists evolve. We have to keep up with the times in order to keep up with our customers.

Let’s look at excuse number one. “I don’t have the time.” When there is something important, such as paying the bill, we make the time, don’t we? If you knew that having an online presence makes a difference in establishing a sale to bring in revenue, you would make the time, wouldn’t you? Granted, it requires commitment and consistency for the online presence to pay off. Just putting up a website, not bothering to respond to e-mails, not bothering to post anything interesting on Facebook or update your product pages, it is not going to pay off. However, there is plenty of proof for those who do put in the time and commitment to their online presence and social media, that it pays off.

Excuse number two: “I don’t have a computer.” According to Nielsen report in 2009, more than 80% of Americans have a computer in their homes. Get a laptop. Take a class at community school and learn how to use your computer. The future is pointing the way ~ which will be the computer, or actually, laptops, the tablets, and hand-held devices (cell phones). Microchips are getting smaller and smaller and it won’t be much longer, that our devices will be communicating with one another. What devices you ask? Your phone might communicate with your thermostat at your house. Your medicine cabinet might communicate with your pharmacist to let them know that you’re low on a certain prescription. Who knows, someday a customer may order your artwork through their phone while they are on their way to work. You certainly would want an online presence at that point, wouldn’t you?

Excuse number three. “The gallery is promoting me.” Yes, the gallery is working very hard at promoting you. However, you should be promoting the gallery too while you’re promoting your work. It should be a two way partnership between you and the gallery for long term success and sustainability. To think that the gallery is going to do all the work is a terrible excuse.

Excuse number four: “People who know who I am and know where to find me.” It is nice to have a following. You have certainly worked very hard to earn that following. But we’re always looking for new prospects. Your regular customers aren’t always buying from you. Their network of people aren’t always as vast nor as willing to purchase artwork from you. So, you need to find new customers and always be on the lookout for new customers. In addition to the gallery helping you to find new customers, your online presence can help you find new customers. How would they find you? They could be on their computer, using search engines, searching for certain types of images or artwork for their home or offices. . .

Excuse number five: “I am not good at this.” It takes practice. Like everything else we do, it takes time, practice, and finding what works and what doesn’t. I also hear, “I’m an artist, not a business person, not a marketing or sales person.” Well, yes you are if you want to make money doing what you do. Or you’re going to have to hire a representative. And wait, don’t think that once you build a website, the customers will come too. You still have to market your art work. You still have to sell. You still have to handle the bookkeeping, the invoicing, taxes and all the good stuff. Like it or not, when you decide to make a living as an artist, you have just decided to also to become an accountant, sales person, marketing person, packing and shipping person, and whatever else that comes along in order for you to earn your revenue and keep your customers happy.

Excuse number six. “I can’t afford it.” WordPress is free. You can establish an online presence for free by using WordPress or Blogger. Now, if you want to be able to do e-commerce, then get on ebay or etsy. However, there are fees involved if you decide to sell your artwork through such sites. Don’t forget to take that in consideration while pricing your pieces. WordPress offers tutorials on how set it up, to post and upload pictures. There are some books and classes on how to use WordPress. Like everything else, it requires computer, digital camera, photo editing software, willingness to learn and time. Last word: you still have to market your site. How? You have to drive traffic to it using your e-mail, Facebook and word of mouth. You can put it on your business card too.

There’s excuse number seven: “I don’t know where to start.” It is so overwhelming. Surely it is. Break it down to manageable chunks. You don’t have to conquer the Internet world in a day. The beauty of the website is that it is adaptable, flexible, and it evolves with you and your art. If you are a photographer for an example, you can feature only your fine art photography to start with before showing off your portrait photography work. The fine art photography images can be broken down to landscape and still life as an example. Do a little bit of research on the Internet, see how your peer artists are setting up their online presence, what are they putting up. What is it that you like or don’t like? Then sort of sketch out your website. That is a good start.

The last excuse: excuse number eight: “I really am computer illiterate.” Then in that case, you might want to consider making an investment in having someone do the work for you. Creating the online presence. Maybe the gallery can help you. Maybe a graphic design student can help you. Maybe there is someone you know. But you do need an online presence.

The Internet and technology isn’t going away. Ignoring it is not going to benefit you.

If you would like more help, I offer workshops on how to use WordPress, Photoshop Elements, and how to be a successful artist using social media and marketing.

Utilizing social media is a way to share and promote ideas, knowledge and experience with the readers. Readers who are, or may be my customers or patrons. By sharing my ideas, knowledge, experience as well as a bit of me elevates me to the readers in stature. It also makes me more real or accessible.

People do things with people that they like or know. Hence, the reason why I blog, tweet post, and e-mail.

I use WordPress to do my blogging. You can also find me blogging on Rochester Patch, at www.rochester.patch.com. Rochester Patch is an online local community news source for Rochester and its surrounding communities.

I tweet on Twitter. The challenge to have something meaningful to say in 140 words or less. It is ideal if you can re-tweet or have a dialogue with another “tweeter”.  Just tweeting for tweet’s sake isn’t worth anyone’s time or effort. What do I tweet about then? Other than what is happening at Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio, I tweet about what is happening around downtown Rochester, downtown Detroit, in the art world here in Michigan, and bits of my personal life as well. That is enough.

I post on Facebook. I have two Facebook Pages. One for me (personal) and one for Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio. Again, on Facebook, it allows me to post immediate news or images about Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio that I want to get out quickly and I do this in tandem with twitter.  On my personal Facebook – I might post about my husband’s cooking, my daughter’s time at college, or my time in classroom at College for Creative Studies or U of M Flint. My personal Facebook doesn’t always necessarily have anything to do with Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio.

Lastly, I email – using Constant Contact. I try to send out an e-mail news letter at least once , no more than twice a month to my subscribers. I have three sets of subscribers. One for my patrons, one for my network of artists, and one for my studio members. Each one is different since what i have to say to each member is not the same.

There is time vested in this. Is there value in this? The answer is yes. I know it works. I have seen it work. I hear it all the time. I like it because it is targeted for the most part and it is reaching out to most of the people that I want to reach out to. I know that my e-mails are forwarded to people who may be interested in what I have to offer or in what I am about.

The relationships I have or am developing are a result of my social media efforts as well. My reach and connections continue to grow. My resources continues to grow. I am growing professionally since I am learning through my patrons and peers.

Therefore, that is why I blog, tweet, post, and e-mail.

What about you?

Glass is an art medium with seemingly endless technical versatility and a rich, long history.
In the world of glass, we have:
Cold Glass – sand blasting, engraving, cutting
Warm Glass – fused glass, slumped glass
Hot Glass – glass blowing

Hot Glass:

In the gallery, we featured Michigan artists, Andrew Wu and Chris Winn, both who specialize in blown glass. Andrew finds his inspiration in the ocean and in music when comes to creating his pieces in glass.  Andrew is a violinist. He plays for the Detroit Opera Symphony as well as for the Rochester Symphony.  Chris Winn creates glass for the gardens and his inspiration comes from the flowers that bloom. By day, Chris is a medical Chiropractor and at night, he is a glass blower and instructor. He teaches glass blowing at his studio in Mt. Clemens.

In the gallery, also featured are young emerging blown glass artists, Brad Devries and Matt Cattanach. You can catch Matt at the upcoming Deck Art 2011 Event on May 20th. He is donating his skateboard art to Paint a Miracle.

Warm Glass:

Warm glass is also an extraordinary medium. It is an art glass that is formed in a kiln. Artists can use this technique to create jewelry, sculpture or practical items like vases, platters and bowls.

At Firebrick Gallery, you’ll find Hana Sakura Designs jewelry pieces made of fused and dichroic glass. Lea Pfeifer of Toasted Sand creates plates, coasters, and bowls with fused and slumped glass. Mary Brombach creates whimsical characters and pet blings of warm glass.

Upcoming Items:

Jewelry Mixer at Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio on May 5th from 5 to 9 pm (yes, it is also Cinco de Mayo). Come, meet, mingle, and try on jewelry pieces from the following jewelry artists:

• Janet Prusik of Sweetpea Cottage Pottery
• Kristin DeVries of Northfire Studio
• Patricia Zabreski Venaleck of PZV Glass
• Virginie Rolland of A Heart for the Earth

May 7th – Downtown Rochester Farmer’s Market opens!

May 7th – catch me at Funky Frog Children’s Resale Shop, doing recycled flower vase and a simple flower bowl for Mother’s Day craft activity!

Deck Art 2011 – May 20th. Opening Reception at South Street Skateshop AND at Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio, 6 to 9 pm.  Check out the 53 Skateboard Art Entries and the 11 Skateboard Art Silent Auction Pieces!

Call for Entries: 

Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio – Recycled Art for the month of June. E-mail firebrickgallery@att.net for details.

City of Warren – Warren’s 31st Annual Art in the Park. Here is the link to their application.

Starkweather Art Center has call for entry out for Historic downtown Romeo’s Peach Festival. Titled, “Peachy Keen Art Scene.”

Yes, plural. I have two studios. One at my home and the other at my place in downtown Rochester. My place in downtown Rochester is Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio. Right now, at 6:12 pm, Thursday night, my studio is noisy and full of people. Upstairs is the intermediate wheel throwing class. Downstairs is the drawing and painting class. Also upstairs are some of the studio members hanging out with the students while the class is going on.

This studio at the gallery is a “community studio”. I have heard those two words used over and over again by the students and studio members. I didn’t make it happen, they did. I just encouraged and fostered it. Sometimes it can get pretty noisy. Sometimes it is pretty quiet.

Studio members work quietly or collaboratively. They share their ideas or frustrations. They help one another in clean-up or lifting one another. A new studio member gets immediately accepted into the group and the rules of the “community” – such as we all help or clean up after ourselves. We ask before we borrow. Apologize immediately. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Put the toilet seat down.  If you break something, try to fix it or let me know. Don’t hide it.

Everyone gets along. For the most part.

My studio at home. I haven’t’ been to that studio in a while. I miss it. I don’t know if I am dreaming if I can try to re-create it at the gallery/studio by converting the office into a office/studio space. But at least I can try. We’ll see. I hope to work on that space sometime in May or June.

Anyways,

My studio at home. It was my favorite room. It is my favorite room still. It is painted in cinnabar color. Big front window with dogwood bushes in front. This is where I can see chickadees, cardinals, or bluejays perch. I have my easel. Desks, shelves full of books, and space for paint, materials, and etc. My studio walls had in-wall speakers that played music from satellite stations. Clock. Stool while I painted at my easel. My comfortable chair for when I sat at my desk. Quiet when I wanted it to be. Full of music when I wanted it to be.

My desk had my laptop, and printer. No phone. Did not like to be bothered by the phone while I was working or painting or getting inspired. It is the most annoying thing in the world is getting interrupted in your thought process. I have a very nice desk. Probably my favorite desk of all time.  As a matter of fact, I love my office and studio at home. The other part that I enjoyed about my studio at home were the “kids” – the two oriental cats that we have. Brother and sister named Moshi and Nuri. Nuri is definitely a studio cat. She likes to lie quietly and watch me paint or draw. Moshi however does not lie quietly. He would rather chase or bat after my hand or brushes as they move.  They provide the ‘breaks” one needs while working away at a project.

Studio. Studio.

One that is community based. One that is mine. So, if I were to share/show my studio . studio ~ I think I just did.

When I sit and ponder by my studio window during a rainy day, watching the rain come down, the song, “Send the rain” plays in my mind.  Often I see little messages of things to come in the future or tomorrow.

Rain . . . coming down from the clouds above to wash away the dirt, the pain, the weariness.  With clean air from the wind, and the warmth of the sun that would rise after rain, comes the renewal.

Rain, renewal. What is renewal? The dictionary says to Renew is :” to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection. To make new spiritually. To make extensive changes in, to begin again,  to become new or as new.”

Send the rain. . .

fill me with your love . . .

Then I looked up the word, change. “to make different in some particular. Transform. To replace with another.  To pass from one phase to another. To undergo transformation, transition or substitution.”

What does the rain or the word renewal have to do with change?  While watching the rain come down and fall to the ground, often you see the dirt transforming into mud, which ends up flowing down the sidewalk or driveway.  In my backyard, there is a creek which overflows with water when the rain comes.

Send the rain . . .

Heal my heart . . .

Over the years, the creek has undergone some changes through erosion.  The little tree that once stood at an edge of the creek is now into the creek. Erosion has taken its root ball and sunk it into the creek. The tree continues to bloom every spring and the leaves continue to fall every Fall. Perhaps the creek is merciful, still sustaining the life of the tree.  One day, it will be too much, the tree will topple and fall.

As the droplets fall, there is renewal and transformation that takes place. In each drop, the plants and creatures among the plants are replenished. The dead plants and creatures are washed away.  Transformation takes place after the rain, thirst and hunger fulfilled, they continue their work as providers of the ground. Flowers bloom and re-bloom. Butterflies and bees take in the nectar and seeds to transplant elsewhere. Birds and other creatures also reap in the benefits that come from the rain,  the sun. and the wind.

Send the rain . . . take my soul . . .

With change comes the time of mourning.  Mourning of what has been, what could have been, or what is not to be.  The past begins to fade way. Old dreams or nightmares no longer play in sleep.  Then not long after, comes acceptance and hope for what is to come.

Oh come, rain. My arms are open wide. My face and eyes are upward, seeking beyond the clouds. My heart is open too.  Wide open, Oh, my heart is wide open, and it begs for mercy and renewal.

Send the rain . . . send it like a flood, let it flow . . .

After the rain, the dark beastly clouds part and lets the sun out. The sun comes with its long arms, sends its rays of warmth and love . . .

What was dirty and dead is now gone, replaced with new and fresh life.

The winds blow and whisper,

Hope for today and tomorrow.

Cover me, clean me and renew me.  The revival has come from above.

Send the rain . . .

Oh yeah, Friday night . . . (song from Bell & James, “Living it Up (Friday Night)

Friday night at Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio – it isn’t a quiet night, that is for sure.  A group of women signed up to join me in “action painting” or paint like Jackson Pollock this past Friday. (March 25, 2011)

What is action painting?  Action painting sometimes called “gestural abstraction”, is a style of painting in which paint is spontaneously dribbled, splashed or smeared onto the canvas, rather than being carefully applied.^[1] The resulting work often emphasizes the physical act of painting itself as an essential aspect of the finished work or concern of its artist. (source: Wikipedia)

Below are some pictures: (many thanks to these lovely women for their time and company) ~ click on the image to get the bigger image.

March Wind

March wind is a jolly fellow;
He likes to joke and play.
He turns umbrellas inside out
And blows men’s hats away.
He calls the pussy willows
And whispers in each ear,
“Wake up you lazy little seeds,
Don’t you know that spring is here.
~ Anonymous

This Saturday,(March 5, 2011) judges John Leyland and Chrys Lewis Bonnay are coming to Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio to look at the wonderful teapot entries. Have received 20 pieces thus far, from 10 Michigan artists. Make sure you take a look at the online exhibition button on this blogsite to see the images of the teapots submitted.

Next Friday, (March 11th, 2011) will be the opening reception for the teapot exhibition. Stop by and mingle with the artists who participated in this juried event. Hors d’oeuvre and beverages will be provided.

Then on Saturday, March 19th, Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio is hosting Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth Art Show Gala Benefit for the Deaf Arts Festival. This special fundraiser event will feature paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints and photographs by deaf children and other artists.

It is a semi formal event starting at 7 pm. Tickets are available at the door ($75 per person). Hors d’oeuvre and wine will be served. An art auction is featured that evening. I am donating one of my paintings to the auction. The proceeds of the ticket sales and art auction will go to support the Deaf Arts Festival, to be held September 17, 2011 at Holley Family Village, Brooklyn, Michigan.

On a last note, this month’s featured artist is Don Wieland. You can learn about him and see images of his work at Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio. Check out the featured artist button on this blogsite.