Community Mural :: Concord Arts Market

sketch done!, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

This is the sketch I did for the upcoming Halloween version of the Concord Arts Market. I painted it on a 7x8 foot piece of canvas this afternoon .. I didn't have a lot of time, just a lot of ideas and well, it's a guide for the community to go with!
The idea is based on a night garden, late autumn, with a little day of the dead thrown in there along with my imaginary marshmallow on a stick flowers. Hopefully, everyone will have fun in the painting process on Saturday and I will be sure to get lots of process photos and the final product too!

Big Install ... part one

Installation of work by Bruce Andrew McKay, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Here are four big cathead portraits from Bruce Andrew McKay in an installation at our local hospital.

*side note: Bruce made an incredibly cool commercial for Ford of Canada - check it out here *
We sold these works to our local hospital for their new 88,000 square foot addition (wing is really too small of a word for this four story improvement) . These hang in the children and womens' waiting room.
I took some quickie snapshots at the invocation this morning, but I plan on going back later this month to give a much better documentation of the large body of work which is there - I just didn't have the time to get proper shots today with the groups of people there.
Here's to a grand weekend for everyone - enjoy the delights of summer!

Community art projects

the original plan was to have them horizontal,
then we found out the space was vertical... no problem!
Community art projects are part of my life. Since 1997, I have been helping groups of people make art. Sometimes it is to display in a public place like a library or public building, other times the participants take home the art to keep. This summer I worked with around 40 people, all with special needs, to create a piece of work for a new pediatric clinic in a local hospital here. The space was being designed by a company in the midwest and all I had to go by was two color chips (online!) and a couple of photos of chairs which were being purchased for the room.
A challenge to say the least! If you have been reading this blog for awhile, you may remember the original drawing for it posted here. (on May 21st)

the artwork, finished, not installed
We attached them to the background and Voila! My design and their work was complete. We installed it last week and got a quick shot of it. I was floored at the beautiful interior that our piece was living in. The project managers are thrilled with the piece too! The cloud above the droplets was a complete and utter bonus, don't you think? I am always happiest when projects like this are in process, however with this one, the end product was really something to write about! I apologize for the low quality photo below. Professional photos will be forthcoming after October 1 from the press release. I am planning to use my design again in personal art work as well as another piece which I am planning for another public location.

installed in the clinic