...And so we say goodbye.

It is true, I cant keep up anymore. I must say I enjoyed posting and keeping this visual/written journal both for you and for me but I am finding that I rarely post anymore. It seems it is time to say goodbye. Websites being the way they are these days, it seems I can do everything on there with more ease then on the blog. I find it quicker and easier to pass on images and information on my webpage so I am directing you all to visit me and my work on my website ALVAREZ ART. Notice, the same name, just to make things easy!

Please come visit often. It is updated much more frequently.

You can follow the links to my work at the Gallery, Art Classes- I offer after school art and portfolio development as well as some adult workshops from time to time, Blog - where you will find some of my art videos and short clips from art classes , Upcoming Events - for all the stuff I am up to and more!

So, that being said.....'til next time

Sincerely yours,

Heidi Field-Alvarez

Uptown Gallery Fiber Workshop

Hello everyone, please click the Alvarez Art link to find out about my new workshop at Uptown Gallery, Richmond, VA. All participants 8yrs. old (accompanied by adult) and up accepted! Please come and join me to find out some of my mixed media secrets.

Fiber and Technology

Quick post today. Here are some links on Fiber and Technology.

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

Zero1 The Art and Technology Network

Build Your Own World Biennial

Digital Arts, New Media - Tim Hawkinson, Theo Jansen

Exploring Fiber and Film

I don't know whether it is a good idea or not to add something else to my plate but too many things regarding fiber and film have caught my attention lately so I am feeling a need to research how and where these to things collide. This will be the place where I will post my findings. It is a method of collecting all the stuff I want to see in one place. It is my media journal. I will give it the tag, Fiber and Film so if you ever want to find and see all the items I've collected it will be right there at the touch of a button!

So keep in mind that it will be a totally random collection at first. After a time I will probably come back and try to organize it in some way. Warning: I am not a very organized thinker so dont expect too much.

This is a link to a podcast I just found today called, filmandfiber's Podcast
Another great podcast hosted by LibSyn.com.

This is a good article on photographing fiber in Fiber Arts magazine. If any of you have tried doing this you will know that it tends to be very difficult. I would suppose this is especially if you are not a trained photographer.

Oh, and please note the new change in design. Blogger is getting up to speed on a few things it seems. Also notice the important link buttons at the bottom of each post. You can mail things or link to Facebook etc! Use them, they are fun!!!

Well, I am out of time today. Hopefully, I will have some images for you next time.

New Video Work

Metamorphosis

New Portraits

Here are the young ladies I was just commissioned to paint with their portraits and then the portrait. Such a fun experience!

Slideshow of Features Fade

Here is a the piece Features Fade I just hung at artspace, Richmond, VA. It is a hand stitched and strung free-floating embroidery. It is embroidered on a special fabric and then melted over a period of time in this kind of water fountain frame I created. It is my version of a sand mandala. It is about the process of letting go and also, in part, implies the necessity of letting go of notions of a particular beauty as we age. Thank you to D and G Plastics for helping me with all my special needs in the plastic department!

Featuring new work at ArtSpace

The first image is my take on a baby quilt. I have been working with whites and textures. I have been enjoying what I can do with both paint and fabric and the color white. The next images are a piece called Features Fade. This piece is a type of water fountain. The stitched portrait in front dissolves over time as the water drips onto it.

artspace, Richmond, Virginia
Suzanne Foley Gallery -
"Stitched Together"
Heidi Field-Alvarez and JoAnna Hickman
http://www.artspacegallery.org/


Main/Frable Gallery-
"Pushing The Limits"
http://www.artspacegallery.org/2010/exhibits/
pushing_the_limits/index.htm
Curated Invitational Fiber Exhibition coinciding with Minds Wide Open: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts Exhibition dates: May 28 - June 20, 2010

Art Class - Kinetic Sculpture

I run an after school art class. I run the class a bit like an adult class would be run but, with alot of flexibility so each individual can work at their pace and in their own style. Currently my students range from 6 to 10. I usually will take students anywhere from age 4 on up to adults. The videos posted here are of a kinetic sculpture class that will run eight weeks. I believe we are on week six here. The students in this class are ages 7 to 10. I chose the type of project based on the interests of the group and then try to make as many materials available as possible. We look at many kinetic sculpture artists including Tim Hawkenson, who's work I just love. His work got them VERY excited! I will do another post of our inspiration artists but just wanted to get this one out there. Hope you enjoy. If anyone is interested in my classes you can visit ALVAREZ ART which is my website and it will give you information about my Art Classes.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Thank you to everyone for coming out to the show and supporting me in the process. I can use all the help I get :) It was a great night, tons of people and wonderful weather. A success in my book!

A Stitch Through Time by

Heidi Field-Alvarez

at Main Art Gallery

Opens April 2nd

Main Art Supply, Framing, and Gallery

1537 West Main Street

Richmond, VA 23220

Hours: Mon-Fri, 9-6; Sat, 10-5

mainartsupply@earthlink.net

Toll-free: 1.877.MAINART (624.6278)

Art store: 804.355.6151

Framing: 804.359.3499

Gallery: 804.355.6151

Please click to visit Main Art

STITCHING AGAIN...THE SET UP

I

Okay, so I'm experimenting with my uploading my movies to my blog again. A bit boring I know but a glimpse into my set up. Seems like this computer stuff takes alot of time. I should rally be stitching on a piece for my upcoming show, "A Stitch Through Time", at Main art next month but here I sit.

THIMBLES





Okay. lets talk about thimbles. I had to take a break from sewing because my fingers hurt a little to much to push my needle through my quilt sandwich. I am thinking the basting spray I used has made it a bit tougher so that is something I wanted to talk about. Also, I am disappointed with some of my thimbles. So here are my questions. If you have any thought about this PLEASE comment. I need some help!

1. Does basting spray make it harder to get through the layers?

2. What have you found to be the best needles to go through think layers? I seem to have on that I return to over and over. It is old! I got it from one of my grandfathers kits and have no idea what it is. It is longer then a quilting needle. Thick and very sharp. I love it because it does not bend and pierces all the layers very well but I am afraid I will loose it and want another. Suggestions?

3. I love my leather thimble but the small seems too big. It slip around. I love that it is long and hard at the tip and one side. Looking for other suggestions.

WORK IN MOTION

This is a clip of me creating one of my suspended, floating embroidery pieces. I am working with the nearly invisible mono-filiment that I use to suspend my pieces.

This is the finished piece. I am trying to capture the unraveling of time.

Moving Art by Heidi Field-Alvarez

I have been experimenting with video and embroidery. I like the idea of taking modern technology and using it with a very old technique. My intention is to begin fusing or entwining these two mediums more closely. We shall see what happens.

Heidi Field-Alvarez
Mixed Media Artist

Happy New Year to you! I hope that everyone is refreshed and energized to start off a new year. I am ready to roll and am excited for a new set of classes. I am sending the reminder that I am now having a Wednesday class from 3:30-4:30 in addition to the Friday class 3:30-4:30. Like always, you do not have to worry about bringing anything to class but might want to dress the children in clothes you are not to worried about. I am making a slight adjustment in the payment schedule. In hopes of simplifying payments, I would like to go to an eight week installment program. Therefore, the length of the sessions are eight weeks. Every eight weeks is a new installment. The schedule is below.

Classes are for students ages 6 - teenagers. Also available for portfolio consultation.

Please call with questions! 740-9302

Each Eight Week Installment is $120.00 per child

Installment I
January 6 - February 24th
January 8 - February 26th

Installment II
March 3- April 28
March 9 - April 30

Installment III
May 5 - June 23
May 7 - June 25


Summer Camp (tentative)
July 5 - July 9
July 19 - July 23

Breaks

March 31st April 2- Good Friday, June 30th

Mark your calendars!

500 Art Quilts

Young Catherine, 12" x 16", mixed media

Smoke. Ode to Fragonard, 28" x36", wall quilt of satin, canvas and lace

I have two art works that will be included in Lark Books, 500 Art Quilts. It will hit the market soon. Run out and buy yourself a copy!