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Pierce Ball Gallery hosted the Second Annual Artsy Girls Show – A Common Thread with an opening on Saturday that drew a steady stream of patrons plus a slew of Artsy Girls. I’m sitting on a bench in this jewel of a gallery space along with Naiad Einsel, illustrator, Meredith Gray, fashion stylist, and Laurie Klein, photographer.
We’re seated below gouache illustrations from Marisabina Russo’s children’s book Always Remember Me and a collage by Leslie Mueller.
The exhibit features original art in a variety of media from a couple of dozen of our members, including yours truly. Liz mounted my decorated eggs and jewelry in a way I wished I had back in the day.
I was touched to see a photograph from our youngest Artsy Girls member, Nicole, who has been an apprentice with Laurie Klein for several years. Below is an image of Nicole visiting the exhibit with her family.
Liz Ball curated the show, hosted it, created all of the press around it and also exhibited her extraordinary photographs. The Artsy Girls owe her a debt of gratitude for putting us on the map in such an elegant manner.
Twenty intrepid Artsy Girls found their way to an inspired evening hosted by Malene B (bottom row, center) last night. Malene invited our group for its quarterly dinner party after being a cherished member for eight years. Fifteen of us drove through the puddles and rain to get from Fairfield County, CT to Brooklyn, NY. I can’t say for sure, but my hunch is that it may have been a first border crossing for some.
Touring Malene’s hand-crafted and personally supervised renovation was the highlight of the evening. We all removed our shoes and put on slippers to preserve the aqua- and lavendar-stained, wooden floors. We admired the wrought iron railings based on linear patterns created by Malene, the elegantly tiled bathrooms and kitchen and the inspiring office area with lucite bins holding gloriously colored wool samples she uses for her custom rug designs.
In addition to giving us a tour of her brownstone, Malene also regaled us with her plans to exhibit at the upcoming ICFF show (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) at Javits, her magazine coverage including mention of a piece planned for New York Magazine’s May issue and treated us to a sampling of her rug designs on hand.
We left, full of a delicious meal, the joy of being around so many accomplished women, and the inspiration of one woman’s journey shared.
The Artsy Girls met last night at the home of Cynthia Steckel, aka Cynthia Victor, author extraordinaire. In addition to the joy of being in each others’ company and hearing what great feats these creative women are up to (book contracts, new showrooms opening abroad, major acknowledgments from a toy company, etc.), we had a secret mission to honor Liz Ball.
Liz, the owner of Pierce Ball Gallery, has been hosting the first annual Artsy Girls Show–A Common Thread since early October. The show features a wide range of media from painting, photography to sculpture and quilts. There’ll be a special opening this Sunday, December 13 from 1 – 5pm. Liz announced last night that several mothers have called asking if it was appropriate to bring their daughters who were aspiring artists. The answer was a resounding, “YES!”
We Artsy Girls wanted to do something to thank Liz for her generosity of spirit, not to mention the time and talent that went into assembling, curating and hanging this exhibit. Liz’s company, TFI Envision, was serving as a drop center for the St. Luke’s LifeWorks 20th Annual Holiday Gift Collection. Unbeknownst to Liz, we decided to each bring a toy for a child, fill up a couple of vans and deliver the gifts to the cause.
After telling Liz our plan, we walked her outside to see what had been collected. There wasn’t a gift certificate in the world that would have meant as much as seeing all the presents being donated in Liz’s honor. Thank you, Liz, from all the Artsy Girls and all the boys and girls blessed by your caring spirit.
My good friend Cookie sent me an article clipped from the NYTimes. It was from the obituary column–the ones written by family and friends to honor the deceased, not one of the separate articles written by the Times as a tribute to the luminary.
Her note said, “On Saturday evening as Whitney [her husband] and I were on the train to the city, he was reading The Times and came across this. He tore it out and gave it to me to read. ‘What does this remind you of?’ he asked. ‘Artsy Girls!’ And then Whitney said I should send it to you.”
After reading it I had goosebumps and a full heart. The tribute was from The Wednesday Ten and said:
It was over 50 years ago that Bill got the idea of bringing together a group of young men who had come to New York to build their careers. The “rules” were simple: we would meet once a month; …we would tell one another about our work and our lives; we would teach one another about the world as we saw it and the opportunities it presented. From that humble beginning sprang a group who continued to meet together…right up to today. It bred lifelong friendships, much learning of the ways of the world and produced a host of successful people.
Cookie (aka Marisabina Russo- pictured left with two of her illustrations at the exhibit) and I had spent the better part of last Friday afternoon at Liz Ball’s Pierce Ball Gallery on the first day of A Common Thread, the exhibit featuring work from 26 of the 50+ Artsy Girls. I formed this group nine and a half years ago with less of a lofty intention than William Safire’s. I just wanted my creative friends to all meet one another and to bask in the glow of their reflected achievements. But over the years as we have continued to gather and now exhibit, the impact of this talented collection of women is inspiring. To be mentioned in the same breath as William Safire is humbling.
Our show attracted terrific press. There was a beautifully written article in The Hour the day before the exhibit started. Then, while several of us Artsy Girls (pictured above) were at the exhibit, the Norwalk Citizen was delivered with our show as the headline news on the front page! It was like receiving a rave review for a Broadway opening–the ‘cast’ assembled to celebrate the moment of recognition.
I told everyone there that I was having an out of body experience. I was so filled up by the excitement of the moment that my mind was rushing way ahead. “I’m already casting the movie,” I told them. I want Natalie Portman to play the younger version of me. Sigourney Weaver can fill the role of the mature Jane. Any other suggestions?!
(Illustration by Maggie Swanson)
Today is the opening of the Artsy Girls exhibit at the Pierce Ball Gallery in Stamford. The Hour, my local newspaper, gave us an incredible write-up with illustrations in yesterday’s paper.
I’ll be at the gallery today from 1 – 5 pm. As I clicked through the images on the Pierce Ball Gallery website, my heart filled up. Each image brought to mind my relationship with the artist:
- Meeting Maggie Swanson the first time almost 30 years ago when I wheeled 2 year old Robert to her home a mile from mine to talk about quilts.
- Cookie (Marisabina) Russo and I met at Camp Chinqueka in the 50′s, re-united as studio art majors at Mount Holyoke College in the 60′s and have been close friends forever. BTW, the Artsy Girls covers more than CT. Cookie is from NY.
- Mary Ellroy, Gamebird, was brought into my Mastermind Group about 15 years ago by another member. I was mesmerized by her creativity and imagination. Her most recent game Pickles to Penguins produced by Imagination Games will be on display.
- I wrote to Terry Capuana in the 80′s while she was the Crafts Director for Woman’s Day Magazine. We re-connected years later and have remained friends since. Terry’s work isn’t on display, but her influence in the group is palpable.
- Dawn Hutchins heard me speak in Central Connecticut years ago and contacted me about coaching. She’s been in several of my Mastermind Groups and spoke at an Artsy Girls event blowing us away with the delicacy and beauty of her stitched masterpieces.
I hope I’ve whetted your appetite with these images and tidbits. I could go on for a couple dozen more, but really want you to come to Stamford and see for yourself.
I am so proud to know these women. So grateful to Liz Ball for making this a reality. I’m clear that wealth is NOT measured by dollars. No one is richer than I am today. I own the world!
Liz Ball, an extraordinary women in many ways, is among other things the owner of the Pierce Ball Gallery. We sat down together last spring to talk about the idea of exhibiting the work of the Artsy Girls, of which Liz is a member, in this beautiful space.
Working with Liz is a pleasure. We selected a date, held a meeting of the Artsy Girls to get as many of these creative forces on board, and ta-dah! The show is slated to open the weekend of October 2-4.
As I looked at the gallery of creations on the Pierce Ball website (click link above), I marveled at the talent of this group and that I personally know and cherish each of the artists. I feel like the mother hen clucking over the work of her progeny.
Please come! I plan to be there on opening day, October 2 and hope to greet you then.
Since last Monday I have gathered with twelve different groups, five of which I created. I call this walking my talk because I believe it’s vitally important to spend more time than ever in the midst of positive people. The group pictured above was taken Monday night at an Artsy Girls event. These are all women who have been nationally recognized for their creativity. Our hostess was Liz Ball who makes entertaining 30 women look easy.
In addition to this Artsy Girls dinner party I began two different sections of my new offering: Transformation through Transition. They were both exciting and energizing for me and the participants.
Last Thursday a group of 30 women gathered for a special networking program. I heard today from one of the attendees that she already has two follow-up appointments with people she met there that night. I love that!
Although these all take a lot of time and effort on my part, I come away feeling totally energized and satisfied. I hope I’m convincing you to create a gathering or two. It’s good for you and for your business.
I’m also curious to know what other kinds of offerings you’d like to see. One of my favorite clients (and friends) put in a request for a Mastermind Group for business partners to attend together. I love the idea. What would you like to see? Or, is there a better time or day for you to attend?
One of the most joyous things I have done in my life/work is founding the Artsy Girls–an organization that celebrates and supports nationally recognized creative women. The criteria for selection include:
- national recognition for creativity (published books, magazine coverage, museum selection, national awards, etc.)
- earning a living in the art form (surface design, illustration, crafts, choreography, calligraphy, etc.) and
- an attitude of collegiality, support, kindness and affection
Monday night we recognized three of our members who were inducted into their own industry’s Halls of Fame. What a thrill to share their successes and honor them. From left to right they are Jinny Avery–the one and only person to be inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame in 2006, Naiad Einsel (whose work is on display right now at the Westport Public Library) who, with her late husband Walter, was selected by the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame (in the company of Norman Rockwell and Maurice Sendak to name a couple of other past honorees) and Mary Ellroy who was selected by the New York Museum Toy Hall of Fame for her contribution to the field through her inventions and creations.
Every woman in the Artsy Girls is outstanding and had the opportunity to share a recent success with all of us. That evening as we went around the room–hostess and designer Beverly Ellsley‘s amazing ballroom/dining room– one after another woman revealed gems of success, optimism and joy.
We have all been fortunate enough to find careers and lives that allow full self-expression. The world economy has an impact, but will not dampen our thriving internal economies. Especially when we get together to celebrate.
