I had a great time at Sonoma Cellar with all who showed up for the lovely reception, and there is still time to go see the art through November 20th. So if you’re out and about in Old Town Alexandria, definitely go check out the establishment and the art. Most of the art is up stairs, and all you have to do is just walk right up!
Hi Everyone, with the school year in full swing, I can finally get back to announcing shows and sharing some works in progress. It’s been a busy end of summer!
First! If you haven’t made it out to the New Deal Cafe, I still have art exhibiting in it’s restaurant space. It’s really a sweet spot, so if you can make your way around the beltway in the next week, you won’t regret it. They often have musical acts and of course fresh food and great beverages. I hope you can get out there!
Here are a few images from the opening, about a month ago.
After I deinstall at the cafe, my work heads on over to Sonoma Cellars in Alexandria, VA. It’s a lovely place for fresh Californian-style cuisine, and of course lovely wines. Here is a flyer created by their team:
2017 Sonoma Cellars Kate Fitzpatrick
It’s been a great year of so many different kinds of exhibitions. Please check out my Instagram feed to get a peek at the work I’m doing as a part of my graduate program at George Mason University. I will be adding updates for some group shows I may be a part of in the next couple of months, so be on the look out
In the last couple of weeks I’ve started a new series. I was inspired by letters! Someone posted a really interesting diagram on one of the social media outlets I am on, and -Bam- and idea! I decided to use this diagram as a way to create these “Topographic Frequencies”. I’m really interested in data, it’s all around us and I want to find ways to make art out of these kinds of charts and figures we see all the time. As a teacher, I am familiar with the use of all kinds of data, every district and school wants to see a variety of data that relates to student output, but I thought this would be a great way to explore the idea of using data without feeling bogged down by the numbers, graphs and ideas.
These topographic frequencies, are an extension of my desire to create pieces that take information, change it around, and turn it into new information. In this case, I’m just using lines. The variety of lines and the placement of them change with each name of place. These are not actual topographic maps of the physical places, but the letters that make up the names of these places.
On top of all that, from now through the end of the December all profits made from these “Topographic Frequencies” will go to ArtLight Global to help fund the very first workshop in Bangalore, India. I also am willing to take suggestions of frequencies you would like to see. Or, feel free to commission me. Contact me if you would like more information on the pieces. Below are some examples of this series. Thank you for your support!
July has zoomed past me, and I realized I didn’t post any pictures of the finished mural. It was a pleasure to work on, I had the best time. The heat was hard to beat at times, but with some lovely shade near by, I was able to find moments where I could rest, drink water and start again. I can’t wait until the next big project!
Most of you know that when I got back from my Fulbright in India many opportunities opened up for me allowing to work on other projects I was passionate about. I am excited to share this blog post that we were asked to write for the Global Partnership for Education organization . What an amazing opportunity for us to share our mission with a broader audience and really highlight why the work we are doing is important. I hope you will follow ArtLight Global as we continue to grow and offer more workshops. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us .
I’ve made some great strides in the mural, adding on different landmarks and symbols. Take a look. Keep in mind, it’s not finished, there will be changes, additions and details. This is so much fun.
I have made a few murals, but nothing compares to doing them outside. It’s a whole new game for me. I’ve been lucky these past few days – no rain, nice weather, shade. I can’t complain. This mural is being completed in a beautiful backyard in Washington, D.C. Of course it features the water bodies that surround DC and run through it – the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, as well as Rock Creek. This mural will also feature many landmarks and symbols that are important to the people who live here. Here’s a little bit of my process, I can’t wait to show you the finished piece!
Stay tuned! More to come next week.
If you have time and you’re in DC, I have a piece up in the Hill Center Galleries . It opens this Wednesday, and the show runs through September. It’s a really sweet spot, next to Eastern Market! The piece that is on view is called “Meander”. See a picture of it my gallery .
It’s sad to say goodbye to a place that has afforded me so much opportunity in the last year. I never would have expected to feel so connected to a place in such a short amount of time. Maybe it’s because it was truly a transition year for me. There was a lot of breaking down walls, forgetting the reasons and excuses I could not practice my art in the past, and begin at making it a practice again. To me that is just what art is. A practice. I was lucky enough to produce a lot of work, have opportunities to exhibit, and try out new techniques and work on some extreme projects. All because I had space and time. I’m so happy and grateful that I had the opportunity to connect with the community in a different way. Not to mention the relationships that have come from this special place. I feel extremely lucky that I was able to have the space and opportunity to be at the Workhouse and delve more deeply into how and why I make art.
This fall I’ll be heading back to school to attend George Mason University to pursue an MFA degree in painting. I’m so excited and thrilled to be able to follow through on a something that I’ve been thinking about doing since I was an undergrad. After 16 years of being a full time teacher I thought it was time to take a step back and become a student again. I’ll be teaching part time, just like I have this year, but I’m spending more time on my art. I know that this program will be rigorous and demanding, but I know I’m up to the challenge.
So, enjoy the summer, I’ll be posting from time to time. I’m still working at the Workhouse Arts Center through June, then it’s back to my home studio until I make the move over to GMU. Hope that you’ll follow me on the next part of my journey! Thank you as always for your support!
This is just a quick note to let you know what I’ve been working on with some fellow Fulbright Alumni. We launched our non-profit organization, Artlight Global! We merge the fields of art and mathematics to improve learning and motivation for minority students! Check us out and share! 
Kate Fitzpatrick