Update: Endings and Beginnings

Implants, 2016, 8 x 10 inches, ink and graphite on paper, SOLD

I have been enjoying a bit of a break as far as art shows go--the last one of 2016 was in November and I will not be showing until February* 2017 at Verge PDX.  I install on February 2nd and there will be a reception on Thursday, February 16th. I am excited to wrap up some projects including a commission for a friend I've been putting off, an on the fly commission for a white elephant gift (above), and a piece I've been strangely paralyzed to begin for Catherine Haley Epstein's Coloring Project (below).

It's strange because I felt so freed from the "Inktober" drawings featured in my last show. Working on that series helped me rediscover my imagination and remind myself not to be too precious about things. But here I am, being too precious with this--however, to share this, I've accomplished Step 1: take drawing out of plastic sleeve. Catherine so thoughtfully hand-picked this image for me--taking in consideration the death of my mother when I was 25 and also my printmaking background by choosing Käthe Kollwitz' striking imagery.  The deadline is January 7--stay tuned for updates.

I'm also excited to announce that I've been accepted on the Board of Directors for Public Annex and have been acting as their Social Media/Communications Director. In addition to this, I'm working on my very first syllabus for Experimental Drawing--a class for Public Annex's first term!

I'm filled with gratitude for Jesse Reklaw who, along with his constant encouragement, challenges and kindness, sent me his own syllabi from the past and shared with me Lynda Barry's Syllabus and What It Is for me to glean from. The first term of classes run from January 23rd - April 6th. Experimental Drawing is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am - noon at Taborspace on Belmont. One of many details I've snagged from Lynda Barry--anyone who wishes to take this class need not have any artistic talent or drawing experience.  I'm thrilled to meet my students, and I hope I can help people fall in love with drawing.

Until Next Time,

Rachel

*This was edited from it's original post on 12/19--I confirmed mentally but not actually for March, but Verge kindly reserved a slot for me in February instead. Thanks Alanna!

First Thursday Reception @ 77 Salon

I am delighted to share with you my latest #inktober inspired works for my final show of 2016 at 77 Salon in NW Portland. Mark your calendars for First Thursday, November 3 from 7-9pm for the opening reception!

To celebrate the end of this incredible year, my dear friends Magnolia Bouvier and DDDJJJ666 will be slinging new wave/post punk for us to wiggle to and the salon will provide booze and light snacks!

All of my work is hot off the presses--an exciting departure from this year of satisfyingly time-consuming and intricate works, these fun drawings are all 8x10 inches, framed and ready to hang and will all be priced at $77 in honor of 77 Salon! Such a thrill to unleash myself in my art for a change.

Also exciting, the Outline Scarf from LUXE + LENS will be available for sale (you don't have to wait/pay for shipping!) and because Portland-based nonprofit Public Annex is in the midst of their Kickstarter campaign, instead of only $10, for each scarf sold $20 will be donated directly to them!

Hope to see you there!

77 Salon

1100 NW Glisan Street

Portland, OR 97209

First Thursday, November 3, 2016

7-9pm

Free! All Ages! Booze for 21+

First Friday Opening Reception: October 7th

Hey Portland!

Top-Heavy, 2015, typewritten ink on paper,
11 x 14 inches

I'm pleased and honored to announce that I will be the Artist of the Month at Tiny's Coffee.

This show features my obsessive drawings, ranging from typewriter-drawn portraits to family photos and other imagery recreated using single direction lines, hand drawn triangles, and more.

In addition to original art and limited edition prints, I'm delighted to share that the exciting collabo between Luxe + Lens and myself will be available for purchase during the night of the event! For each scarf sold, $10 will be donated to Public Annex!

Jesse, 2016, archival ink stamped on
paper, 14.5 x 20 inches

And speaking of Public Annex...since Tiny's generously waives their commission fee, I will be donating 10% of all of my art sales from this show to this amazing organization as well.

Jamond, 2015, typewritten ink stamped
on paper, 10.25 x 14 inches

Come snag a beverage (adult or otherwise) and snack and hang out with me on October's First Friday--hope to see you there! RSVP and stay tuned here.

On view October 7 - 31, 2016
Hours: M-F 6am-7pm, Sat + Sun 7am-7pm

In - Progress: Kara + Powell's Opening Reception

wip: Kara, 2016, archival ink stamped on paper14.5 x 16 inches

I am so excited that one week from today, I'll be celebrating my solo exhibition Typewriter Drawings & Other Obsessive Methods which will be on view at Powell's City of Books on Burnside in the Basil Hallward Gallery.

Come see me next Thursday, September 1 from 6:30-9pm--the gallery is located upstairs in the Pearl Room, adjacent to the Rare Book Room and the Art Books section. RSVP and more details here!

So pumped to share my new work with you! Kara, featured here, was made using hand-carved diamond-shaped stamps (polymer erasers are amazing for stamps FYI!) and archival ink on paper. Inspired by the four-color CMYK printing process, I considered color in quantity and intensity working from a photograph by layering just one color at a time: yellow, magenta, cyan and then black.

I love the way that the image gradually emerges--though I didn't work with color much in my chromophobic college printmaking experience, I did enjoy the magic of the drastic evolution as each new layer was added. Though less instantaneous, this process evokes a similar transfomative reveal.

In other exciting news, Luxe + Lens will be slinging our hot-off-the-press collaboration:

meta self-portrait--me swathed in my own face...

My typewriter-drawn self-portrait Outline has been transformed into a gorgeous limited edition silk scarf.  Powell's has kindly offered to waive their commission for the scarves for this event, allowing Luxe + Lens to sell directly on the night of the opening, which means that for each Outline scarf sold, $10 will be donated to my favorite non-profit Public Annex! This organization means so much to me and I'm so happy to have another great opportunity to give a little bit back to the community I so cherish.  

Hope to see you at the opening!

Luxe + Lens Limited Edition

I'm pleased to announce another special collaboration this year! My self portrait Outline, has been selected by the incredible Luxe + Lens as their latest limited edition silk scarf--and they are on pre-sale now!

Beautiful friend, beautiful model: Nele Red

I'm also thrilled to have another opportunity to share with Public Annex, a nonprofit and community dear to my heart. For every Outline scarf sold, $10 will be donated directly! Public Annex is an organization here in Portland that works to break down systemic barriers that prohibit marginalized populations from inclusivity by building a community around accessible farming and art programming for people with developmental disabilities.

I'm especially grateful to team up with such talented and brilliant ladies, Rachael and Nele! Rachael (owner of Luxe + Lens) has such a passion for what she does and has been a dream to work with.  She works hard to make a beautiful product while working to support and elevate other artists. I owe Nele (and Wildwood & Co.) for connecting us in the first place and of course for her epic modeling skills.

Each 36" square scarf is 100% silk, hand hemmed, and printed using environmentally friendly machines.  These babies will be shipping by September! Enjoy!

Outline, silk scarf 36" square by Luxe + Lens

Solo Show: Powell's City of Books

I'm absolutely elated to share my recent works at Powell's--what an honor!

Located upstairs in the Pearl Room, the Basil Hallward Gallery at the downtown Powell's has been a personal oasis since I moved to Portland 7 years ago.  Adjacent to the rare book room and in the realm of their collection of art books, I am beyond thrilled to share my work here.  Also, typewriter drawings in a bookstore? Yes!

Detail of the collaborative piece made for The Lab PDX at Holocene at the end of July. This piece debuts at this show!

Please mark your calendars for First Thursday, September 1 from 6:30-9pm and join us to celebrate Typewriter Art & Other Obsessive Methods, a collection of my latest works from typewriter drawings to my most recent large scale works using a variety of media.

Featured in this exhibit: Duo, 2016, CMYK sharpie on paper, 30 x 30 inches

Hope to see you there!

Misaligned

I'm pleased to announce that I've completed this drawing today--just in time to unveil it along with its cousins at The Lab PDX tomorrow at Holocene! This event is going to be a wild combination of art, music and performance.

Misaligned, archival ink stamped on Rives BFK, 29.5 x 37.75 inches, $800

In addition to sharing these works, I'll be hosting a typewriter-drawing party, recreating an image one 4x4 inch square at a time.  I have borrowed a small herd of portable manual typewriters (an Olympia, Olivetti Lettera and Hermes 3000) from Ethan Jewett--one of the typewriter experts of Ace Typewriters--that we can draw with together!

C2 in progress--come make your own 4x4 inch square tomorrow with a typewriter!

A former typewriter-monogamist, it's been a treat to learn how to draw with other typewriters, discovering their strengths and weaknesses and even some proper functions I didn't know about! What magical machines.

There will be a host of other artists and performers involved, as well as live music from Lorna Dune, Sleeping Wolf and The Pearls. Tickets are $8 if you buy them in advance today or $10 cash at the door. For more info/details/tickets, click here.

Hope to see you there!

In-progress of the collaborative piece we'll be making and installing together tomorrow at The Lab PDX!

The Lab PDX: Invitation To Draw With Me!

 Collaboration:

My very first typewriter drawing was made up of 158 five-inch squares. Though I remain fond of using a grid, it's been about two years since I've worked this large, and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to share this process with the public on Thursday, July 28th, at Holocene during The Lab PDX! This one-night-only curated evening of creative expression features an exciting array of visual art, performance and music.

I will be using the above image, a lion statue I fell in love with on a recent trip to Seattle, along with several manual typewriters and YOU to replicate this as a large scale drawing made up of multiple squares to be completed, installed, and shared during this one night only event.  Though I typically use my machine to explore and convey the wild undulations of value, and this image certainly presents a wonderland of shading and line, I want to play with the many different ways marks can be made or images can be recreated. Despite the control/obsession inherent in my own practice, I do enjoy the variety and freedom in the act of drawing and am really excited to unleash others' ways of depicting what they see and/or how they use the machine to make an image! I am so pleased that the egalitarian nature of printmaking is finally making its way into my practice--which often feels so isolating and self-centered.

Typewriter-drawing tutorial/collabo with some of my favorite ladies during the Portland Correspondence Co-Op (PDXCC) meeting--it's every 3rd Tuesday at IPRC and it's FREE! 

I will be borrowing several typewriters courtesy of typewriter-enthusiast/expert Ethan of Ace Typewriter & Machine. He's offered three adorable portables: A Hermes 3000, an Olympia and a Lettera 32!

I can't wait to draw with you--get your tickets here--they're only $8 if you get them advanced!

Event Details:

I'm thrilled by the list of incredible folks involved in making this event spectacular, but I'm super-delighted to finally share the stage, so to speak, with my talented cousin Lorna Dune who will be performing some new dark motorik experimental dance! 

Here are just some of the other talented folks/groups involved: Adam and Rosalynn Rothstein, Megan McKissack, Sue & Shawn, Jenn Steigerwald, Sleeping Wolf, and The Pearls. 

Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.
Buy tickets here or get mored deets/stay tuned/RSVP here!

Sign-Up To Draw:

Since this drawing is quite an undertaking, I will have a substantial amount completed beforehand so that we can install and finish it during the event! It will be helpful to know who/how many folks wish to be involved, so if you are interested, please email me: redlumlehcar at gmail dot com (It's just my full name backwards).

Looking forward to the future!

First Thursday Opening Reception

I'm pleased to announce that my work will be on view at Santé Bar in the Pearl--please join us to celebrate on First Thursday, July 7 from 6 - 10pm.

Since Santé generously waives their commission fee, I will once again be able to donate a portion of my art sales to my favorite burgeoning nonprofit, Public Annex.  Public Annex is a community of people working to break down systemic barriers of marginalized communities through art and farming. 

In addition to framed originals, I will be selling affordable prints, too.  Hottest off the press are these five portraits based on typewriter-drawn originals.  They were screen printed here in Portland by Seizure Palace and there are only 50 available of each signed, editioned print.

Left to right: Avery As A Rectangle, Self Portrait I, Erica, Dominic, Madeline, 8x10 inches, $40 each.

RSVP here and hope to see you there!

International Typewriter Day: Limited Edition Screen Prints

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow!

The typewriter was on June 23rd in 1868, by Christopher Latham Sholes of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the official date of International Typewriter Day!  I had no idea this important moment in history was so close to home--read more about it at the Typosphere.

During Oblation's annual International Typewriter Day Type-In this Saturday, June 25th, I'll be releasing these limited edition prints (screen printed by Seizure Palace):

From left to right: Avery As A Rectangle, Self Portrait I, Erica, Dominic, Madeline

Each print is 8 x 10 inches and is $40 (plus shipping)--only 50 of each!

*  *  *

Thrilled about all of the festivities, I'm most excited to participate in the Type-In by drawing my friend, official Sparkle Princess Alex Simon, with my trusty old machine.  As this magical creature deserves, replicating her likeness will require all of my typewriter ribbons: pink, green, blue, purple, red and black.  Since I lack yellow ribbon (for now!), below is a shot of the prep involved for tomorrow's live-typing session.  I'm using yellow carbon paper taped onto the paper, with the separated yellow CMYK layer of the photograph I'm working from, and my red ribbon so that I can see where I've already marked the yellow in.

Ouch!

Thankfully tomorrow this will transform from gore to glitter!

In addition to good company and refreshments, there will be a selection of Oblation's own typewriters for you to use as well as complimentary stationary, envelopes and even postage so that you can send type a letter yourself--and there's a raffle to win your very own typewriter.  Hope to see you there!

International Typewriter Day!

I'm so excited to team up with Oblation Papers and Press (516 NW 12th) again!

On First Thursday, June 2nd, I had the pleasure of setting up shop in their beautiful space and drawing Wilma, the beloved cat I share a house with.

Photo cred: Jennie Velazco

Detail of Wilma using my Sears Citation II manual italic typewriter and the following characters: + / * % "

Join us to celebrate

 International Typewriter Day

Saturday, June 25

1 - 4 pm

RSVP here!

So excited to be a part of all the fun and to celebrate this coveted machine!

Oblation will be providing refreshments for the afternoon of fun which includes:

Letter typing stations where you can use their beautiful machines to type your own letters on provided stationary, envelopes and even postage!

Limited edition prints by yours truly--featuring a digital print designed by me specifically for Oblation and this special day!

Raffle to win your very own typewriter!

Can't wait to celebrate with you!

Hot Off The Presses

Clockwise from top left: Carissa, Top-Heavy, Vessel, Outline, Kyle, Precious Cargo

I'm so excited to debut this very limited edition run of blown-up typewriter giclée prints during my opening reception at Bare Bones on Belmont!

Each 20 x 24 inch digital print is on Canson Edition Etching Rag using archival inks.  $120 each.

Remember, 30% of my art sales will be donated to Public Annex as Bare Bones generously waives their commission fee.  

First Thursday + First Friday in June

First Thursday at Oblation Papers & Press

Come see me this Thursday, June 2 at Oblation from 4 - 6pm, where I'll be drawing with my Citation II manual typewriter and you can utilize their Public Typing Station Yourself!

See how I work, keep me company and snag a flier for the June 25th festivities, where I've teamed up with Oblation to celebrate International Typewriter Day!  Stay tuned for details.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 25th, 1 - 4pm!
#publictypingstation

First Friday at Bare Bones Cafe

Join me and DJs Lorna Dune & Keith Sweaty as we celebrate my opening reception at Bare Bones Cafe on Belmont, this Friday, June 3 from 6 - 9pm! I'm thrilled to share works from 2014 through last week, as well as limited edition prints.  

Most importantly, I will be donating 30% of my art sales to my favorite fledgling nonprofit, Public Annex--this is an organization very close to my heart, with an aim to break down systemic barriers that prohibit marginalized populations from inclusivity by building a community around accessible farming and art programming. 

Just a few of the available prints for sale this Friday! Counter-clockwise from left:
Vessel, Kyle, Top-Heavy, Untitled, Automatic, Your Shadow's Shadow, Valentine, Empath

I will be running a sale on some of my small prints and will be sharing hot-off-the-press large-scale giclées of my latest typewriter-drawings.  I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to support my colleagues and this essential organization. Many thanks to Bare Bones for generously waiving their commission fee.

First Friday at Café Lulu

This is the part where I wish I could tear myself in two! The epic June Bayview Gallery Night also falls on Friday, June 3 and my large scale stamp and ink drawings as well as large-scale giclées of my typewriter drawings are on view during the night of the celebration (and beyond to mid-July!).  So Milwaukee, let me live vicariously through you and check out all of the artists and venues participating in BVGN 2016! I'll be there in spirit.

Café Lulu 2261 S. Howell Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207

In Progress - Brönwyn & Avery

Cranking out some new work for my show at Bare Bones Cafe, on view this June.

I've said it before, but now that I've got to draw a child for the third time, it's really fun and challenging to work around making a kid look like a monster.  However, I owe my gratitude to Jenny and Jason for sending me a photo of their sweet spawn with an already ridiculous expression, granting me license to make this super goofy drawing:

I also have the privilege of borrowing the face of this lovely drawer of grotesque and unabashedly gooey creatures, Brönwyn Lorelei, using my pink ribbon from Ace Typewriter paired with typed-on yellow transfer paper.

Mark your calendars for the reception--a week from today!

Opening Reception

Typewriter Drawings & More

Friday, June 3rd, 6 - 9pm

Bare Bones Cafe

2908 SE Belmont Street

Free event + refreshments available for purchase

Songs slung by DJs Lorna Dune + Keith Sweaty

*Reminder that 30% of my art sales will be donated to my favorite nonprofit Public Annex*

Gearing Up For International Typewriter Day!

Detail of my fun collabo with Oblation!

Did you know that June 23rd is officially International Typewriter Day? I didn't either until Oblation Papers & Press found me!

Thanks to my show back in February at Darling Press, I was able to connect with Oblation and they've invited me to be a big part of this special celebration.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 25th!

We're still hammering out some of the details, but here's a short list of the fun to be had:

* live typewriter-drawing by yours truly
* limited edition prints for sale
* letter-typing station with Oblation's own handcrafted paper, envelopes and stamps provided
* raffle to win a typewriter

I'll share the flier ASAP!

Please email your mailing address if you'd like one sent to you: redlumlehcar at gmail.com

I'm really looking forward to this! Hope to see you then!

First Friday Opening Reception at Bare Bones Cafe

Hello again everyone!

I'm thrilled to announce my work will be on view June 3 - June 30 at Bare Bones Cafe on Belmont!

This is going to be a very special opening reception--as Bare Bones graciously waives their commission, I will be donating 30% of my art sales to my favorite fledgling non-profit, Public Annex!

Find out more and donate directly here!

Public Annex (PA) is special to me because I am so spoiled and honored to know the community of hard working people hoping to lift this phoenix off the ground--from my former supervisor, Carissa Burkett, these are her beautiful words about this amazing and necessary nonprofit:

I am very excited to publicly announce a major project that I have been working on alongside my incredible colleagues and friends.

The state of Oregon along with federal changes are cutting funds going to incredible programs that support adults with developmental disabilities. We have formed a new non-profit called Public Annex, that will work within/outside/around/above the systems that limit access. Our goal is to provide accessible urban farming and arts programming, focusing on inclusivity of artists and farmers with developmental disabilities.

Our mission is to break down systemic barriers that prohibit marginalized populations from inclusivity by building a community around accessible farming and art programming.

Come celebrate with me and help me support Public Annex! There will be originals and prints available for sale, to accommodate most budgets.

In other exciting news, Lorna Dune and Keith Sweaty, two of my dearest people and super fun DJs, will be slinging tunes during the reception! Of course, there'll also be tasty snacks and refreshing beverages from Bare Bones!

Can't wait to see you there!

On Not Screaming

Just finished, scanned and shipped this to Eloisa Amezcua; one of these images will become the cover illustration for her chapbook On Not Screaming, to be published by Horse Less Press in August of this year.

Again, I'm super thrilled and honored to have been asked to be a part of such a wonderful project and to collaborate with such a gutsy, talented writer.  Thank you Eloisa!

3 illustrations for On Not Screaming by Eloisa Amezcua
typewritten ink on paper
7 x 12 inches

In Progress - On Not Screaming

Earlier this year, I was ecstatic when I received an inquiry from Eloisa Amezcua about whether I would be interested in drawing the cover for On Not Screaming, to be published by Horse Less Press.

Her visceral writing places us in a potentially mundane backdrop, like waiting in the car as a child or watching a woman primp, but this setup amplifies the quiet rage, pain, femininity,  and heartache in these poems. I can't wait to get a copy later this summer! Stay tuned and follow her here.

It's been nice to be get back to the typewriter--it'd been awhile since this Spring was spent on my larger works for my show in Milwaukee. What a thrill to incorporate text and to work with this wildly talented, badass-lady!

Who Were You, Who You Were - Gratitude!

Though it was a short trip, I had a great time in Wisconsin and was so grateful to have spent time with a handful of wonderful people I love and adore.

Café Lulu is always my first stop in MKE, and as always, I'm so delighted to see my extended/chosen Lulu family. Again, I'm so thrilled to show my work in a space that means so much to me and is filled to the brim with people I care about.  Thank you for still making perfect rhubarb pie, and special thanks to the bartenders for maintaining my bloody mary intake and helping us with the install.

Check out Ash's fabulous learning kits for the young'uns: Little Goat Learning

I'm extremely grateful to my dear pal Ash who helped me install (twice...we hung it too low the first time) and for my dad who helped on the second install.  What on Earth would I have done without you both? Another special thanks to Anna & Bill (and Theo) and Jessica for being great and wonderful sleepover hosts.

Installation view

A special message to Rina, Waldek, Leslie and Lynn: I can't express enough how grateful I am for your attending my opening reception.  You have had a powerful influence on what I do today, as you introduced me to printmaking itself through intaglio, drawing, book arts, color theory, and lithography. Thank you for still being a part of my life and for your kind words and advice.  I'm glad to know you.

I'm just astonished by all of the incredible people in my life who continue to support me and therefore my art. I'm forever in your debt and I love you.

The three achromats in this show, made using permanent marker and a slow build of hand-drawing triangles, the center one accompanied by rubbing alcohol.

If you were unable to make it to the reception, the show runs through mid-July, 2016.  Please see Café Lulu's site for hours, menu, and more information.  If you are interested in purchasing any of these pieces, please contact me directly: redlumlehcar at gmail dot com

Until next time, Milwaukee!