Friday, May 1, 2009

"Not Sleepin'---Sonoran"

I've seen bumper stickers lately that have this statement and it made me think how long I've been away from posting. You might think I've been snoozing. Not so. We've had to have some major repairs and upgrades done for the old fort. While I have been in the studio, I've not made any new works. I've been finishing the edges on several paintings while.... Oh. My. Goodness. I received the most beautiful email from the curator of the Tucson Museum of Art. Let me repeat. Oh. My. Goodness. After ten years of dreaming and submitting work to the Arizona Biennial, my painting, Sabino Hill on a Snowy Day, was accepted into the upcoming exhibit along with other Arizona artists. As those of you who have followed this blog for awhile will remember, I've worn the t-shirt of rejection, with great pride, on previous years.
  So, see, I'm not sleeping, I'm jazzed, floating on air, getting the house ready for the heat of summer and daydreaming about the opening reception for the exhibit. And, I'm ecstatic that my work is going to hang on the very same walls that Fritz Scholder's, Jasper Johns', Maynard Dixon's, Chuck Close's, Ernest Blumenschein's works, and so many of my favorites have hung. Oh, yes, I'm dreamin.' That's fer sure. If a video of the show is made, I'll link it here as soon as it is uploaded. The exhibit will be from July 11th through September 26, 2009. Wishing you all a magnificent day in the studio. Words for today: Mirabile dictu: A pedibus usque ad caput...I am euphoric!

26 comments:

laura said...

Oh how wonderful, Melinda--thank you for sharing your (palpable) excitement! Your painting is beautiful--an Ur-landscape of perfectly balanced shapes and colors.

Melinda said...

Thank you so much, Laura. I can hardly wait until July. And, thanks for stopping by!

loriann signori said...

A hearty congratulations to you Melinda! Enjoy the euphoria!You deserve it.

Barbara Muir said...

I am so not surprised Melinda. You belong there in my opinion. How thrilling!!!!

Yipeeee!!!!

xoxoxoBarbara

susan hong-sammons said...

Congratulations!!!! You and your painting so deserve it.

Marian Fortunati said...

Melinda!!! FANTASTIC!!! We're all dancing the happy dance with you...
I can tell you I've worn that same T-shirt many times and it feels sooooooooooo much better to shout and sing with excitement when you get "THE LETTER".

Way to go... can't wait to hear more about it!

Edgar said...

happyhappyhappy... "Gone are the clouds that had me blind."Congratulations, Melinda: you've got talent... and it's about damned time the establishment took a notice.

Melinda said...

Thank you, Loriann! You're very kind.

Melinda said...

Thank you, Barbara! I'm so happy that this is a better year artistically and, well, in every way.

Melinda said...

Hi Susan,
Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, I'm still floating. It's great to have this kind of validation.

Melinda said...

Hi Marion! So nice to have you drop by. Wow. Thank you for such an enthusiastic response.

It's really great to share the good news with such a wonderfully kind group of artist peers!

Maybe this will be a breakout year for all of us art bloggers, yes?

Best wishes with your endeavors too.

Melinda said...

Yeah, "I can see clearly now, the rain has gone..."

Thanks, Edgar.

Guess I best keep moving so's I don't freeze up, eh?

Karen said...

wow, wow, wow!! SO thrilled for you. I laughed at the rejection t-shirt...I too have worn (ugh, will still wear) that damn thing many times!
But for now, who cares, put it in the back of your closet with your winter flip-flops.

Joan Breckwoldt said...

Dear Melinda,
CONGRATULATIONS!!! You deserve the honor! And I love that you're so excited and daydreaming about the show, how nice to have something 'real' to daydream about (as opposed to my imaginary scenarios), enjoy every minute of your daydreaming too!
Joan

Anonymous said...

YAY!!! I'm so excited for you Melinda! Your persistence and artistic vision is starting to pay off. If you don't get a video I hope you can at least take some pictures for us. That way we can live vicariously through your success.

Wow, Fritz Scholder and Chuck Close. I'm a fan of those guys too.

Have you got "Sabino Hill" framed yet? I have a great place to refer you to. Not a huge selection, but what they have is gorgeous yet clean and elegant. Not too pricey. I order on-line.

I don't understand your Latin phrase. Do all of those words mean, "I am euphoric"?

Melinda said...

Hi Karen,

Yes, wow, wow, wowza! You made me laugh about the t-shirt thing. I promise to put the shirt in the closet right next to the winter flip flops, hoping that I won't have to wear it too often in the future.

I hope that for you too.

Melinda said...

Hi Joan,
Thank you! I so appreciate your comment. It can seem like a lifetime between acceptances, followed by lots of thank-you-for-entering notices.

Keep honoring your dreams because you are building a fabulous portfolio that will be acknowledged. You do great work!

Melinda said...

Thank you so much, Silvina! Each day I smile that my work is going to be in the museum. I was all set to be in the Dinnerware's Rejection Exhibit--and looking forward to it! Now, well...

I first saw Fritz Scholder at his retrospective at the Tucson Museum of Art in 1981 and his monotypes were so powerful that I quit my stained glass commission work and went back to school just so I could learn to make monotypes like him! On two other occasions, I barely got up the nerve to ask him to autograph copies of his books.

Recently the museum had a Maynard Dixon exhibit and I remember viewing his work and dreaming that I wish I could have one of my paintings where his had been. wow.

I promise to upload photos and info about the event. They usually have an opening reception and a video segment in the local show, Arizona Illustrated. Don't know if my little piece will show up in the video, but I can dream... ;)

I would love to learn of your link to good framing. I don't know if I should frame it, but I'm open.

Ah. Translation for "Mirable dictu": Wonderful to relate. And, for "A pedibus usque ad caput": From feet to head.

More smiling.

daviddrawsandpaints said...

Excellent, Melinda!!
Well done - great little painting (love the colours, btw). The Museum obviously has good taste after all.
But don't pack away that t-shirt... there's someone over here greetin' in his beer once again and in deep need of solace :o{

Melinda said...

Uh oh. David, wa ur ye sae sad? Yoo've got a strang sense ay style an' yoo're dedicated....I'll have to perambulate on over and see what's going on.

Thank you so much for your kind words. I really think I should have more than one of those t-shirts. Maybe I should start a t-shirt business with the rejection phrase and cater to all of the wonderful artists who sometimes don't get chosen.

Anonymous said...

What comes late comes very very sweet. Hearty congratulations- indeed it is good reason to float and feel the joy.

Is it possible to be so excited that you can't concentrate on painting!!

Well deserved, this piece in it's simple elegance is beautifully stated.

Melinda said...

Hi Bonnieluria!
Thank you for you kind and insightful words.

You've succinctly written exactly what has happened. I'm a bit frozen right now, but hope to be back soon.

Pam Holnback said...

Congratulations! May this be the next of many!

Melinda said...

Thanks so much, Pam! And, thank you for stopping by. I hope your words become history!

Linny D. Vine said...

Yipppeeee and Congratulations, Melinda!!!

Melinda said...

Thank you so very much, Linny! I'm still floating...