"Form & Fancy" and Valentine Goodies!

Form and Floral paintings by Michelle Anderst, Zanetka Kralova Gawronski, & Kelly Rae Cunningham.

Michelle Anderst is a formally trained painter specializng in anatomical and botanical masterpieces. The daughter of a sonagrapher, Michelle spent many hours pouring over her fathers medical books. The intricacies of these organic structures weave their way elegantly throughout her paintings and remind us of something very familiar.

Zanetka, originally from Slovakia is a well seasoned painter who also evokes nostalgia in the viewer. "By juxtaposing recognizable imagery in believable settings, [she] hopes to evoke a sense of quiet reflection in the viewer, perhaps tickling past moments they may have forgotten." Zanetka's paintings are foggy fantasy worlds grounded in the settings of realistic place.

Kelly Rae Cunningham's paintings are highly influenced by her previous training in ceramics, utilizing the "same tools to apply, layer, and scrape away paint. [her] paintings employ layers of color, boldly worked with palette knives and brushes."



SHOW OPENS: Thursday, February 9 from 6-9PM during West Seattle Art Walk!

Show Closes: Friday, March 2nd

OUR BLOG HAS MOVED!!

Please visit us here from now on:
http://www.twilightart.net/blog/

THANK YOU!!
TwAC

CALL FOR ARTISTS!!

Sell your handmade wares at West Seattle's Summer Fest 2011!!
July 8th, 9th & 10th

Want to sell your fabulous art/craft/coolness at the West Seattle event of the year but can't afford a booth? Come hang out with other local artists in the Art Dive tent. Six foot tables in this art bazaar style tent are only $125 for the whole weekend! This is our fourth year and it's just getting better and better, so don't miss out on this opportunity!

Here's a link to the application: ART DIVE APPLICATION

Tax Free Day For All in West Seattle Saturday April 16th!

It's "Pretend You Live In Oregon" Day in the West Seattle Junction on the 16th! That means you get to shop, eat and drink at participating businesses with out having to pay the man! Get out there and flex your tax free muscles.

There's a list of participating businesses HERE.

SEE YA THERE!

CHERYL'S GOING TO JAIL!!!

Hello TwAC enthusiasts! It's finally happened, Cheryl's past has caught up with her and she's off to jail, but for a good cause! On April 7th she'll be heading off to the lock up for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and she needs help raising bail. So if you can find a few extra coins or bills to help her get out, here's the link for direct donations to this great cause.

Cheryl's BAIL

Thanks in advance!
xo
TwAC

Valentines Day Art!

Welcome to Day Two of the Twilight Artist Collective Valentines Day exposé. Today we're talking fine art- Twilight has a great selection of local art that is perfect for a priceless Valentines day gift for yourself or one of your loved ones. Here is a very small selection of the work we currently have available, with a focus on affordable and adorable Valentines day art:

Valentines Day Jewelry!

Valentines day is coming right up and so we thought we'd give you a review of some of the great gifts available here at Twilight. And really, what could be more appropriate for Valentines day than jewelry? Here are a few of the pieces we think would make lovely presents, so if you see something you like, then come down to Twilight and have a look:

Call For Art

Attention artists, we've been asked to pass on info on this year's call for art from ArtsWest to all of you!



"ArtsWest is now accepting submissions from Pacific Northwest visual artists who wish to be considered for inclusion in 1 of 12 exhibitions. Two to three artists will be featured in monthly exhibits beginning September 2011 through August 2012. All submissions must be received by March 11, 2011."

Go here for details and to download the forms!

Art Attack with Staci Graveley!

Join us for a one night only, Twilight curated solo show at Stables on February 12th! Staci Graveley is putting on a solo show of paintings.

The 12th also happens to be Seattle's 17th annual celebration of Neighbor Appreciation Day and, in the neighborly spirit, Georgetown Brewery is hooking us up with some donated brew. Stop by between 6 and 9 PM for some snacks, drinks, and artwork during this month's Georgetown Art Attack! RSVP on facebook.

From the artist:

"As Gustav Klimt once said "Whoever wants to know something about me, must observe my paintings carefully and try to see in them what I am". I feel the same way. I have been told that my pieces are really moody or that it is hard to believe that one person did all of them. Most of what I do, I do because that is how I'm feeling at the time. Creating art is many things to me but mainly it is the best way I know how to express myself. I grew up in rural Montana and moved to the Seattle area in early 2002. Even with them being almost opposites, I feel that both have influenced my work. I work mainly with cattle markers, oil pastels and acrylics."

-Staci Graveley

Hey there, I'm one of Twilight's new interns! My name is Sara and I'm from Lancaster PA. I'm working at Twilight for two months, and this is my first time in Seattle. So far it's been great.



One of the projects the girls at Twilight have me and their other intern Ellen working on is re-doing their window display. We're going to design a couple of displays for the upcoming months and then build as much of them as we can in advance so that they can easily be installed when it's time. For valentines day we're making a bunch of wax paper hearts to catch the afternoon sun and accompanying them with a suitcase full of handmade paper roses. Ellen and I did a couple of days of research looking for the best tutorials on paper rose making, and let me tell you, it was slim pickings. There's lots of beautiful pictures, but as far as instructions go, one seems to have a choice between paying for good tutorials or struggling through mediocre ones.

We eventually chose the latter and, as a bonus, have decided to share our new knowledge in our very own tutorials. Here is my interpretation of the paper rose; look at Ellen's version also.

2011 LINE-UP

Here is our 2011 line-up!
Mark your calendars, our openings are every second Thursday!

January: Pamela Davis curates "Dwelling on the Past", an embroidery show
February: Lisa Geertson presents "A Show of Hearts", a solo blacksmith show
March: DameBuilder curates "A Full Slice of Pie"
April: John Osgood curates "The Birds"
May: Dean Walsh, Nicole Linde and Alisa Star show us what they make in PDX
June: Becky Lydon curates a utilitarian ceramics show
July: W3 Collective curates
August: EGO curates
September: Robroy Chalmers solo exhibit
October: Solace Wonder solo exhibit
November: Lisa Geertsen and Andy Blakney present "NW Anvil III", a blacksmith group show featuring members of the NW Blacksmith Association.
December: TBD.

Dwelling on the Past

Embroidery show, Dwelling on the Past, curated by Pamela Davis opens this week!
Opening Party is this Thursday 13th, 6-9PM during West Seattle Art Walk.
This is an extra special event, as we'll also be celebrating 6 years in business. Come all, and let us eat cake!
Featured artists include Pamela Davis, Cathy Pitters, Lyndsey Baldwin, Johnny Murder, Allison Manch, Beth Murphy, Carla Madrigal, Dixie Darling, Penny Nickles, Emily Katz, Iron Pony, Kristen Rupp, T.J. Sabatini, Marilyn Artus, Mary Woodring, Cindy Steiler, Mike Wurn & Moxie.

HOW THE TWAC DID WE GET HERE?

Coming up on our 6th year anniversary, I thought it appropriate to write about how Twilight Artist Collective all came to be.

Erin, Cheryl and myself (hi, it's me, Mary!) were all independently headed to this place for years before we even met. Cheryl had studied ceramics in Arizona and had been living in Seattle, expanding the funk of her wardrobe and learning about bizness via her years of work at Carmelita and her personal business venture as a commissioned chalkboard artist for a number of years.

Erin, after growing up with art all around her, continued her lifelong pursuit and studied visual arts at the University of Washington. Erin's grandfather was an amazing painter and her mentor, Kal, taught Erin how to express herself artistically from a young age.

I had always dabbled in art myself, but it wasn't until I was in college that I actually started thinking that I need to pursue art seriously. Simply because I had an overwhelming desire to express myself and make. Falling into the sculpture program, however, was circumstantial. I fancied myself a self taught painter, but when I couldn't get into a painting class I took a class from Norm Taylor who was then head of the UW sculpture program. I realized that I needed to most certainly spend $30,000+ learning how to make molds, melt metal and turn my ideas into 3-d.

In 2003, Erin and I both applied to the UW studio art program in Rome. Previously, Erin and I did not know each other, but it wouldn't take long for us to be bonded in our new ancient home. In our program we traveled North and South throughout Italy. We saw abandoned cities, breathtaking structures, the new built atop the old. Our minds and hearts were expanded. Our job was to make art!

Upon our return in December we continued to meet for our daily cappuccinos and reminisce about the world we had left. I began a little business producing goods from my then studio in the Fenpro building in Ballard. I was essentially making purses all day and then selling them at the various markets. That summer, I took on a gig working for the Special Projects team for One Reel. Cheryl had worked for One Reel in the past and came on the crew as a veteran member of the Bumbershoot SP production team. I had noticed Cheryl but we didn't actually meet until the week of the festival when we both got in the elevator together. I made a ridiculous comment and with Cheryl's response I knew we were from similar planets. We proceeded to spend the next few weeks joined at the hip. Daily, after we clocked out, we would hit the local bars and talk and talk and talk about this place that we needed. We spoke about the harsh reality artists face after school ends and you find yourself trying to make the same caliber of art in your basement, with limited tools, all ALONE.

meanwhile...

Erin was still getting coffee with me and wondering who this new friend of mine was. I think it would be accurate to say that Erin was even a bit jealous of my new friendship.

and then...

a gentleman named Mischa who Erin and I had actually met in Rome (he was our professors husband) approached me with some very interesting news. Mischa had been selling my purses in his Pike Place Market shop for about a year and he had decided he wanted to sell his business and focus on a film project. I listened with interest and bit my tongue. Five minutes later I called Mischa back to tell him that I would like to buy his business with some other artists and that as soon as I figured out who these folks were, he'd be the first to know.

AND THEN....

12 people became 3. I approached several people about buying the business and running it as a collective together. During this process Cheryl and Erin met for the first time, we talked, we talked, we talked. The other interested parties opted out. Three weeks later, in January of 2005, Erin, Cheryl and myself, signed various documents and checks and BAM!, just like that, we were business owners.





THEN WHAT?

Well this is where TwAC began. We realized that the business we purchased was not what we needed it to be and so we threw it all out. We changed our name to Twilight Artist Collective, we asked for a new website, we painted the walls and we played new tunes. In these early days we were ELATED when we sold $60 worth of goods in a day. We didn't know what we were doing, but we were doing it because we knew it was right.

And well, that's how it's continued to play out. I think it's safe to say that we now know what were doing and I think we do a pretty good job, but really we don't feel like the choice is ours. We need more places filled with things that are made with thought and care. We need more places that help support the folks that choose to create, inspire and communicate ideas visual.

SO in answer to the question, HOW THE TWAC DID WE GET HERE?, the answer is faith, desire, trust, alcohol, community, and perhaps good luck.

Thank YOU for being a part of our lives and supporting Twilight and the greater artist community. We are grateful.

Love,

Mary + TwAC

Twilight's Toy Drive for TreeHouse ends THIS SUNDAY DECEMBER 19TH @ 5pm!!!

This Sunday is the last day of our Toy Drive for TreeHouse. Get you're toys in here by 5p.m. to get entered for a $50 Twilight gift certificate just in time for Holiday shopping!!
For more info check out our previous post here.

December show 2010: The Twelve Days of Christmas

Thanks for coming everyone! TACKY and festive was splattered ALL over TwAC last Thursday ~ and an extra special thanks to our featured artists for a solid show. HO HO HO, YO. http://westseattleblog.com/2010/12/tis-the-season-for-creativity-west-seattle-art-walk-report-1

The show is up until January 7th.

Shop Late on Thursdays and finish up the night with a Christmas Cocktail for charity!!

Twilight, as well as a great list of other businesses in the Junction, are staying open till 9p.m. every Thursday till Christmas to help out those holiday shoppers with busy schedules and anyone else who likes to do things late at night.

So get yourself to the West Seattle Junction to get your holiday shopping done and after wards check out the list of great West Seattle bars who are spotlighting special Christmas Cocktails! A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the special drinks will go to helping the West Seattle, White Center and South Park food banks!

Drinking for charity, what a brilliant idea!!

Roll out the green turf. Twilight is in print!

That's correct folks! We have rolled out the astro turf in honor of our inclusion in the 2011 CRAVE Seattle book.





















"CRAVE Seattle innovatively connects urban gals to the sassiest, gutsiest, most inspiring people they need to know in Seattle. Our modern marketplace of soirees, gatherings and online networking serves as your ambassador to everything there is to CRAVE about the Emerald City.
Please come get your copy from Twilight and learn what women entrepreneurs have created here in Seattle!" ~Crave


TWO THUMBS UP!

Linus in da haus.

Last month, I was lucky enough to be contacted by the hilarious and talented Linus Von Moos of Switzerland, via couchsurfing.org, where I have been a participating member for a few years now. Couchsurfing is awesome! It is a network for travelers enabling them connect and share resources. Specifically, a place to sleep.

Linus is a visual artist and during the week he has been staying at my house in the CD, he has completed 3 paintings and learned to play the clarinet. This go-getter volunteered to paint this mural on our storefront over the past few days! He wanted to give back and also thought it might help his international celebrity status. Click here for the WSB video interview with Sir Linus

Have fun in Hawaii, Linus. Seattle will be a little less sparkly without your completely ridiculous comments and contagious excitement!

Love,
Mary, TwAC and Casa de 939

Kick off for Twilight's Toy Drive for Treehouse TONIGHT!

2010 Holiday Toy Drive at TwAC!

The holidays especially can be tough for foster children - many who face the season without relatives, siblings, even parents. Sometimes the BEST gift is simply to wake up and find a gift with your name on the tag. Please join us in our effort to help Treehouse provide countless local foster kids with new toys and warm clothes this holiday season!

EACH TIME you make a donation to our Treehouse bin at TwAC in West Seattle you're name will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate and goodie bag from Twilight Artist Collective! Give a little, get a little... spreading cheer is the name of the game.
Our Holiday Donation Drive will kick off on Thursday, November 11th (also Art Walk, 6-9PM) and will officially close at 5PM on Sunday, December 19th so we can get the loot back to Treehouse for Christmas. Please see the attached wish-list for donation gift ideas.

For more information about Treehouse check out: www.treehouseforkids.com
"Treehouse programs offer kids in foster care what ALL children so desperately need: a safe place to dream".

PLEASE help us make this holiday season truly count!
With love and warm wishes,
Twilight Artist Collective
www.twilightart.net

Twilight's November show - NW Anvil 2

SHOW: NW Anvil II: A survey of Contemporary Northwest Ironwork,

WHERE: TWILIGHT ARTIST COLLECTIVE / WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION

WHEN: Opening Reception during the West Seattle Art Walk, November 11th, 6 to 9PM! Show runs thru December 5th, 2010.

WHAT: A compilation of contemporary ironwork by members of the NWBA ~ Northwest Blacksmith Association, curated by Twilight’s own, Andy Blakney and Lisa Geertsen.

The Northwest Blacksmith Association's membership spreads through Canada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and beyond. For over thirty years, its members have been committed to the pursuit of education and preservation of the craft, passing on their knowledge to others to create this large group of talented smiths. This show is a small representation of the membership, but it includes some of the most talented smiths in the Northwest and even the country. Our goal for putting this show together is to bring awareness to the community the possibilities that lie within the art of forged metal.

FEATURING: Bill Apple, Elija Burnett, Jeff Holtby, Jorgen Harle, Larry Langdon, Dave Lisch, Andrea Lisch,Peggy Gudgell, Scott Szloch, Bart Turner, Rick Wintch, Mark Manley, Bruce Crittenden, Erica Gordon, Dean Mook, Rick Crelia, Kayla Blincow, Ben Czyhold, Hunter Dahlberg, Joe Elliot, Ken Mermelstein, John Paul, Ries Niemi, Alan Flashing, Jack Frost, Gary Eagle, Darryl Nelson, Lisa Geertsen, Andy Blakney

These people and the NWBA have been the largest inspiration to our pursuit in this art form and we wanted to share their talent with you. ~ Lisa Geertsen