Happy new year

My year has been a roller coaster ride of artistic opportunities I didn't think were possible a year ago. Starting in the spring I spent 3 weeks traveling Italy painting and teaching sketchbook development. The summer was spent off to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Maine studying bookmaking, etching, drawing and painting. I spent a good portion of the year living in my sketchbook and out of suitcase. (I gave my travel alarm clock a heck of a workout) These opportunities influenced me every step of the way. In addition to seeing and living in new places, meeting heaps of new people, seeing and hearing about all different types of artwork, and loving every minute of it - I now look at what I'm making and can see shifts in the artwork and the approach. As if all that information finally started to sink in...

What will the new year bring? It's difficult to imagine it can top this past year but I'm certainly open to it! And planning for it. I'm a big believer in the idea that if your write it down it has a much better chance of happening. (you should see my lists) This years list includes (but isn't limited to) teaching a new sketchbook class at the Corcoran and one at the Rehoboth Art league, studying with Katie Dell Kaufman, Andy Saftel and Dolph Smith, an assistant position, continuing the search for a new gallery, hoping to see my sketchbooks published, and develop enough new artwork for a solo show in the next year.

This coming year I aspire to take all the information that I collected over the past year and push my artwork in new directions. Mix it up. Experiment. Try new things. Let loose. I'm going to jump start this process with a self-inflicted art-making boot-camp in January to get the ball rolling.

Happy new year - hope it's filled with good health, good friends, family, bubbly, art, sunshine, laughter and fun, fun, fun!

Opening night at Nevin Kelly Gallery

Someone asked me what I liked best about art - I said the openings! Does that count? We had a great time last week at the opening. If you missed it, scoot over to the Nevin Kelly Gallery, the show will be up for the next few weeks. The highlight of my evening was meeting the other artists who I have long admired, and having a chance to talk with Nevin the gallery owner. Seeing my artwork hanging next to theirs was the icing on the cake! Here's a shot of me with a fellow artist visiting from NCY Rodney Durso. We met last summer while studying drawing and painting at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

The show was curated by Gallerina Julia Morelli. (I can imagine that it was no small task to arrange the diverse pieces in this show) She has an amazing eye for detail. In addition to help running the gallery she also maintains their gallery blog. The last time I checked I was the topic of the day! For a non-printmaker she has a crystal clear understanding of the techniques I've used. Click here to read more about my approach and her glowing review of my artwork on their gallery blog.

December is off to a great start

I am delighted and deliriously happy to announce that I'll have artwork included in the new show at the Nevin Kelly gallery this month. It's a beautiful hip gallery downtown on U street, near Adams Morgan. I've been there a couple times to see previous shows and can't wait to see the new show with my work included. The holiday opening reception is this Saturday, December 9th, from 4 to 7. Please stop by and check out the show.

All kinds of good things happening this week - the Corcoran has uploaded it's course schedule for Spring 2007, and the sketchbook class that I'm offering is listed under drawing. It looks like I'll also be offering a sketchbook workshop in Delaware at the Rehoboth Art League this summer (close to the beach) and it's my parents 37th anniversary. Life is good.

Opening night at the Corcoran Galley of Art

Opening reception for the faculty show at Corcoran College of art and design was last week. Here's a shot of me with Katie Dell Kaufman, the collage instructor, standing in front of my piece in the gallery. It's a wonderful group of artwork including sculpture, paintings, metal, furniture, textiles, and a post-it note installation (which you can also see in this photo). I selected my assemblage titled Growth to include in the exhibit, shown here. It's a hand constructed box form including gloves, a washer head, wire, dirt, paper, cutter blade, paint and other surprises. I am thrilled to be part of this show. It's open to the public and will be on display until December 30th. If you're interested in taking a class next semester at the Corcoran, this is a great way to get a peek at the faculty's work. I've gone in the past to see what instructors I might want to study with.

And speaking of... I'll be teaching a class called discover —record — sketch — book A sketchbook development course offered Thursday's from 3:30 to 6:30. It's a seven week course starting March 1st, at the Georgetown campus of the Corcoran. The course number is DR0865. We'll cover how (and why) to keep a sketchbook or journal as well as making your own books and how incorporate alternative materials. Open to all levels. Details to come. Please contact me if you're interested in hearing more. mphackmann@comcast.net