First Seattle Art Show-Ok Gallery-August 7th 2008

(me with Journey, acrylic collage on canvas, 18x24,2008.)

(me with my other paintings: Surf Till Sunset, oil on canvas, 30x40, 2008, Frayed, acrylic collage on canvas, 9x12, 2008, Dino, acrylic collage on canvas, 6x6, 2007.)

Last Thursday, during the 1st Thursday Artwalk in the Pioneer Square district in Seattle, I displayed some of my recent artwork! It was my first showing in Seattle. The show is a group show on display at Gallery OK till the end of the month. It is an old hotel, turned into Gallery. The opening was quite successful, from the number of attendees. I was happy to see people looking at my work and reading my artist statement. This exhibit was my first exhibit in which I showed some of my less-than-representational work. Lately my artwork has been taking more of a collage form in sketchbooks. I have been trying to transfer this sketchbook method onto canvas. The surf painting was inspired by my first ever surf experience. The other paintings are abstract narratives of my emotional train of thought.

I'd like to thank everyone who attended the opening and all of you who wished me luck. Thank you for supporting my artistic endeavors.

(Petra with my paintings.)

(artist statement)

Photography was the means by which I started making art. I view my experience with different media as a transition from the mechanical to the creative. Soon after I began developing my own prints, I became interested in drawing; it allowed me more freedom. Drawing led me to working with inks on paper. Quickly thereafter I began painting with acrylics and oil on canvas. Painting allows me to express myself in color and texture, which was not so easily done in my photography. I enjoy this medium because of its versatility and flexibility. It allows for revision and experimentation. This is currently the medium I use to make my art. Most of the subject matter used in my paintings is taken either directly or indirectly from photographs I have taken. In this most recent body of work, I have been using leftover materials, such as fabric, colored palette sheets and paper to collage onto the canvas. Recently I have consciously tried to use and reuse all supplies, sketches and drawings that I have. Collage lends itself fabulously to this method.

In January I moved to Seattle from Chicago. Both of these urban environments, as well as places I have traveled have greatly influenced my artwork. The act of painting allows me to use my emotions to make art and represent what is happening inside. I paint to relax and to concentrate on my thoughts. I believe that I am expresseing through my work, a portrait of myself.

-Brigid Blume, 2008

08.08.08

Happy 08.08.08!

Twenty years ago today the Chicago Cubs played their first night game with lights!

Go Cubs Go!

My trip "back east"

So a few months ago, my mom gave me her final answer about Clifftop. She was definitely going, so I decided to purchase an airplane ticket to fly to West Virginia and meet her. It was pricey, flying from Seattle(SEA) to Charleston(CRW) on over the weekend in the middle of the summer with gas prices soaring through the roof, I was expecting a high price. At least I received mileage for the flights.

Anyways, I had purchased the ticket sometime in June and had been telling everyone about my trip, explaining to them that it would be worth it. This music festival, colloquially known as "clifftop", officially named the "Appalachian String Band Music Festival" has been going on for 18 years in the rural hills of West Virgina. I first started going as a child, I think I was 11 when I first attended, which would have been back in 1994. The last year my family went was 1998. I believe it was then that I stopped playing banjo. Two years ago, a good friend and I drove down to Clifftop. It was that year that I rediscovered the magic that happens there. Last year I was unable to attend. This year, however I met my mom there, it was her first time back at Clifftop in 10 years. She bravely entered the clogging contest. Below is a photo I got of her mid step.

Many friends here in Seattle referred to my trip to Clifftop as "going back east". I thought it was funny how any time someone travels east of the Rockies, they are going "back east". It's as if we have all traveled "out west" on the pioneer trail, and now are heading back to where we came from. I guess this is true in my case and in the cases of many other transplants.

So, wondering why I don't have any photos of people playing music? I was too busy clawing my banjo and indulging my hearing to the wonderful sounds. Clifftop is probably the best jamming festival I have ever been to. For a week musicians come from all over the world to play tunes non-stop. It's absolute craziness how many tunes are played in this short amount of time. Intense music from people who can't get enough.My mom and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and time we spent together listening and playing.

Clouds are sometimes beautifully captivating. Especially when they are not looming over you.

SUMMER

What can I say...the Pacific Northwest is really the BEST place to live in the summer. The days are usually between 70 and 80 degrees, and the nights cool down between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Perfect.

Plus, this is the land of berries; raspberries, strawberries, marionberries, and blueberries. I bought 4 lbs of blueberries after work today, at $5 per lb. how could anyone not!! I will freeze most of them. My roommate claims there is a cherry tree a few blocks from us that one can stroll by and munch on Rainier cherries(for those of you who are not familiar, they are the light colored yellowish ones from this region, also the pricier ones). I'll have to take a walk, as soon as my foot heals a bit more.

About 4 weeks ago, I was running and all of a sudden, there were shooting pains in my left ankle. I immediately stopped running and started walking. Even that was excruciatingly painful. My ankle did NOT swell up as sprains usually do. I iced it, elevated it, rested it and compressed it in an ACE bandage(RICE). After three days of this, I was worried, so I bit the bullet and went into the emergency room to get Xrays taken. All the Xrays showed was that it was not broken. I had about 8 different professionals caring for me and all I got was a "it's just sprained" response. We'll see how much the bill will be for that one. In the meantime I have been resting it, wearing an air cast when I walk, and going to acupuncture treatments. Those are so relaxing. This has been the first time I have tried acupuncture. Down in the Beacon Hill neighborhood there is a community clinic that offers treatment on a sliding scale. I sat in a huge comfortable reclining chair while they stuck needles into specific nerve points on my wrists, ankles and neck. It's fascinating how everything is somehow connected.

Other than resting my sore ankle, I have been partaking in a music festival almost every weekend. Banjo playing does not require the use of ankles. The weekend before the 4Th of July, I hitched a ride with two musicians going out to Port Townsend, WA for the Festival of American Fiddle tunes. It was hosted at Fort Worden, an old army/air core base just outside of Port Townsend on the Olympic peninsula. My days there consisted of helping out at my friend's music store, where I sold cds, strings, and repertoire books. Every morning there were numerous workshops going on. I was able to attend 2 amazing banjo workshops. They were both taught by members of the band Backstep, a band from the Round Peak region of North Carolina. This banjo style is very notey and follows the fiddle almost exactly. Many banjo players from this region play fretless, for easy sliding purposes. I was happy to find out that they'll be camping at Clifftop this year!

I just returned this past weekend from a similar but different festival in North Plains, OR. Just outside of Portland is a farm in a canyon called Horning's Hideout. Every year they host the Northwest String Summit, a bluegrass oriented music festival. It's in the woods, and people camp close to one another. A few friends and I drove up Thursday to get a good spot. We had three tents and three hammocks hanging between the trees. The music at this festival was less traditional, more experimental, but nonetheless amazing. Yonder Mountain Stringband was the headliner along with Keller Williams. It definitely had a hippy feeling to it, glow sticks, hula hoops, bare feet and tons of psychedelic smells drifting through the forest air. The best way to describe this festival was a magical party in the forest.

Above is a photo I took from my hammock. These trees are amazing.

So this is summer, part I. More to come.

7Eleven

So I guess you could've gotten a free slurpee today, if you'd have known.