Other people's houses

I was thinking about how cool it would be to have a series of exvotos to hang in my house. While I've been working on the paintings, I set them around and they look so good. I was curious about how they would look in other people's houses, so I got out a glue stick and set to work.

I printed out little images of paintings I've done and then I ripped some pages out of magazines. I cut and glued, playing around with different ideas.

I remember doing a similar project in my high school interior design class, making a scrapbook of super rad eighties design ideas. I wonder if my tastes have changed. I'm joking of course, I sort of remember and yuck! Anyway...

Gluing was fun and I think the exvotos look good just about anywhere. Now I need to decide, if I were to do a small series to be reproduced as a limited edition, what subjects I should cover. Please feel free to share your ideas with me on this....
and if you have any desire, grab a glue stick and play around a little. It's so fun.

Mothers

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
-Abraham Lincoln

There never was a woman like her. She was gentle as a dove and brave as a lioness.

-Andrew Jackson

The love of a mother is the veil of softer light between the heart and Heavenly Father.

-Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Exvotos for sale at Heritage Gallery starting Friday, April 30 for $400.

As I thought about painting mothers/motherhood some months back, it seemed like it would be a nice thing to do. I knew that I would get interesting, heartfelt stories that I'd enjoy painting.
What I didn't realise was how valuable it's been to me. It's kind of like I've been taking a class on what makes a great mother and painting is how I study. I have read and reread stories of the unselfish sacrifices, of women who never complained about their duties (what?!) and of young mothers whose hearts are bursting with love and gratitude.
I can't help but be very aware of my own mothering responsibilities. Those stories are a lot to try and live up to. I've learned that when I'm avoiding complaining, I'm much quieter. I had better keep studying!

ExVotos

Thank you to everyone who has sent me a story to paint. I've been reading each one over and over again, letting images float around in my head until I start to get a picture in my mind. I take little notes then look for scrap of the symbols I want to use. While I'm looking through books in the studio, I often come across an image that works for another story. All of the stories are thoughtful and touching and I feel good while I'm painting them.

Invitation for Collaboration

I've been wanting to... so I'm doing it, a project inspired by Ex-Votos. In Spanish exvoto means 'votive offering.' These little tin paintings depict stories, explaining why the giver is giving thanks. They are personal stories, hung in public to share and inspire.

I think 'motherhood' is an appropriate subject, especially this close to Mother's Day.

So this series of little devotional paintings is to be offered and dedicated to mothers and motherhood. If you have a story that should be painted and shared, send it to me at cassandrabarney@gmail.com.

There is going to be a special, private unveiling of these paintings at the Spring Unveiling at Cannon Beach at Heritage Gallery. I'll post more about that soon.

I've been working on getting the tin plates ready today. I'm shooting some video in the studio too. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

Dreaming of the Coast

My lips and my blood have a blueish tint. This season is good, a hibernation. About now though, I want to name it, acknowledge that I'm feeling slightly depleted and make plans. One of my happy places, where I feel my spirit replenish is Cannon Beach.
The first couple of times I went to Cannon Beach I was confused. Dan Barney grew up near there and he immediately would get this sense of calm and happiness where I would be wondering where the sun was. In my childhood vacation memories, beach meant sun. I loved the time we spent on the Oregon Coast, catching slugs, searching through tide pools and quietly eating chowder with a view of the water and I eventually I felt it too.
Now when I visit, it's a warm place where I love everybody and everybody seems to be feeling that same calm. I think that feeling is captured well in the video we made early one morning. I'd like to make another one.

I'm going the weekend of April 30 for my show at Heritage Gallery. I'm staying at The Cannon Beach Hotel where the manager, sassy little Lisa Fergus is manager. She is the queen so ask for her if you call. Maybe we can make a new video!

I haven't talked to the gallery yet but I have an idea. I really want to do another ExVoto prompted project. I'm also thinking that since it's right before Mother's Day, maybe it should be this project should be about mothers, being one and having one. So be thinking about your stories and I'll call for those soon. Right now I'm going to start travel plans. The hotels fill up that weekend so come on....

Kayo Gallery

177 East Broadway, SLC, UT

www.kayogallery.com

Please join us for an opening reception Friday, June 19 from 6-9pm

Paintings for this show are posted on my website

www.cassandrabarney.com

If you are interested in purchasing work contact

Davina or Shilo

One of the tin paintings I am doing is for someone who wrote about wanting protection from water. She actually lives in New Orleans and has had to deal with real threatening water situations. I live in the desert but with all this rain we've had, I'm thinking I'd better paint one of these for me too. This feels more like Vancouver than Utah.

I'm smack dab in the middle of this series, partially finished paintings are everywhere. My dad visited my studio and said that he thought the retablo/Ex-votos were wonderful and should be a book with their accompanying stories. We'll see.

I was talking to Dan Barney this morning about what makes these different from how and what I usually paint. The biggest difference is that I'm working with someone else's story. I'm also painting them totally from my imagination, meaning that I'm not using visual references. That makes them a little odd and corky which is so fun.

I really have wanted to keep them between $200 and $400. Somehow I'd like to give those who donated stories first refusal. I'll work that out in a couple of weeks. Right now I just want to paint.

I'm currently working on my Ex-Voto/Retablo project. The show at Kayo Gallery is coming up quickly (opening: June 19) and I really want to paint every story that was sent to me. I'm enjoying it ever so much.

This little tin painting, executed in the spirit of a retablo or ex voto, is a story about a little miracle for which I have gratitude. (Thank you Carrie for asking.) There have been a few instances in my life where I honestly believe that events were altered by other forces. Those moments or situations were unexplainable.
This particular story took place in front of my parents house on a summer afternoon. Littlest kitten was a new, fragile, little thing. I was carefully carrying her when I tripped. I remember the scene in slow motion as my brand new baby, still in my hands, landed out in front of me on the cement. I saw it. But like an angel had wrapped her hands around my baby and kept her safe from the fall, she didn't wake up or have a scratch on her little tiny perfect body.

Art Access invited me to teach a one day class at in Salt Lake this March. If anyone is interested in more information, I'll post the details when I get them. This class will be a good one for any skill level. How fun to paint together for a whole day!


ILLUMINATED GRATITUDE
taught by Cassandra Christensen Barney
Saturday, March 14th, 9a-5p
After the style of Mexican Retablos and Ex-Votos, art makers in this workshop will create their own little narrative acrylic painting on tin, using the language of symbols and self-portraiture. Retablos and Ex-Votos are colorful, folkloric paintings usually depicting stories of gratitude.

Today I was on the best vacation, at least it felt like a vacation. I painted all morning and then when the kittens came home, Dan Barney said, "hey, you should keep painting." Those words are gold. Thank you Dan Barney. He made cookies and put a fire in the fireplace too. Aaah...the life of a queen.

I've been painting your stories and I feel honored. I can't wait to share. Maybe paintings really do have powers. I've been thinking about that today too.

Good times, good days.

A studio painter by day, but by night...

a retablista.

I save it until the end for dessert. I ponder then I paint. Thank you for sending your churnings and burnings.

Tell me about something you have gratitude for, like an answer to a prayer. Or give me a request for what you would like to be protected from or what you thirst for. Send it to me via email cassandrabarney@gmail.com or to this blog and I might paint your wish in a retablo or ex voto like style.
All requests must be sent before October 4.

The requests I've received so far are FANTASTIC. Thank you!

The painting above was inspired by this email:

"My husband is for me, a perfect match. When I am flighty, he stays grounded. When I forget he remembers. When I am weak, he is strong. I love him dearly. I am grateful for him every day of my life. Ever since we tied the knot..."

Your idea could be painted here.
Tell your friends.

Send photos of objects (thanks Mike for that idea)

Put it on your blog...(thanks Deanna) I want lots of good stories!

Invitation for Collaboration

Sometimes I wish paintings had powers. I wish they could right what is wrong.
I was talking to a girl the other night who had a streak of bad luck with fire. In my mind I painted her with fire in one hand and water in the other, wishing to give her balance.
I’ve carefully picked out each object depicted in a painting I’m working on right now in my studio. I’m doing this painting for someone specific and I thought of it as a blessing for her life. I want to paint blessings. I also want to paint my gratitude for beautiful life, for people I love.

I remembered Ex-votos I’d seen. I imagined myself a retablista, painting offerings of thanks. Ex-voto short for ex voto suscepto, "from the vow made" or in gratitude or devotion.

I could paint about my gratitude, but I’d like to paint for others.
Then I thought…I have a show coming up in one month actually and if others would related to me the event and circumstances which he or she would want portrayed, then I’d paint it, inspired by the idea of ex-votos.

So if you are interested, send me your idea. All submitted emails will be considered up until October 4, 2008. Tell your friends. I'll be getting the metal plates ready.
I will post more information about the show which with be displayed at Brigham Young University in November.