Fireworks Art Exhibit at SIABC

I submitted some of my eye mandalas for this exhibit, taking a chance on an open minded juror. For me fireworks are about the patterns created in the sky, branching out from the center like the mandala patterns. Douglas La Tourette the curator accepted them and put together an interesting assemblage of work at the SIABC Gallery on 73 Wave Street. The show is up June 27 to August 3, 2015.

My favorite piece in the show is a small painting by Tiffany Porcu. The fireworks are painted after their glorious moment, when the leftovers are melting to the ground, looking like hair or multi-fingered hands. I looked up Tiffany Porcu but didn't find much besides her FB page which didn't have any other artwork. Hoping to see more of her paintings in Staten Island exhibits in the future.

SWAN Day 2015 Staten Island

Elaine Mendez-Torres has brought a great event to Staten Island- SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now)

It is, according to the WomenArts and Chicago’s WITASWAN groups who started it, "an international holiday designed to showcase the power and diversity of women’s creativity." Some of the places this years events were held included Burundi, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Turkey, New Zealand.

Elaine held a SWAN Day event in 2014 and felt it was so very successful that she started organizing for this year the day after.

Her 2015 Staten Island efforts included an exhibit during March, "UPCLOSE", a photo exhibit of present day Staten Island female artists in Hormann Library at Wagner College, for which she also produced an accompanying book.

For the designated SWAN Day- Sat. March 28, Elaine produced an event at the SIABC Main Gallery (73 Wave St.) an afternoon of exhibited work, readings, performance and an open mic for announcing upcoming projects. We were entertained by Christine Dixon performing part of her Harriet Tubman monologue and the Deep Tanks Butoh Dancers.

A raffle was held to start funding next years Staten Island SWAN Day! YES! We need this event to celebrate the accomplishments of our local women artists, and I'm hoping to see even more women participate next year.