moving on

I’m moving to wordpress from blogspot. Why? Because blogspot can’t seem to handle videos without getting buggy and that just won’t do. Also, wordpress is prettier to look at and wordpress appeals to my sense of nostalgia for a time when words like these might well have been physically pressed.

With that, I welcome you to venture over to: counsellangley.wordpress.com

Oh, and to celebrate I’m going to begin by posting every video I have ever posted on blogspot. Enjoy.

2 sides to Every Story

I'll be heading to Seattle tomorrow to attend the opening reception for Two Sides to Every Story which is now on view at Gossamer Collective. I'm showing a large body of new and recent work in Laurie Kearney's gorgeous space (just wait til you see the ceiling). In an interview with Scene in Seattle Kearney names me as an artist who "has what it takes to go the distance with their career." Thanks Laurie! From the interview:

• SIS: Of all the artists you are working with right now. Who do you think has what it takes to go the distance with their career?
• Laurie Kearney: The only way to keep this answer short is to pick a medium and run with it: Painting- Currently, I'm showing work by Port Townsend artist Counsel Langley at Gossamer. Counsel has such a unique and authentic approach to her work, and isn't afraid to put her training to the test, which I really admire. I experience real joy watching the development of her meticulously explosive style, and I see her going farther than she might expect. I also see powerful artistic strength and growth in Cait Willis, Natalia Czajkiewicz and Adriana Phillips, to name just a few (really difficult to narrow it down!).

Check out the interview in its entirety at www.sceneinseattle.org --Go to "Interviews: Ghost/Gossamer"

Approach, 2009, acrylic, ink, glitter, 30 x 60"

2 Sides to Every Story
Opening Reception Friday November 6th from 7pm to 10pm

Gossamer Collective
1406 18th Avenue (corner of 18th and Union)

Show is up now through the end of November

Gossamer's hours:
TUE-SAT 11-12pm-7pm or later (general)
BY APPOINTMENT SUN-MON
(206)323-7199

toasted harddrive and otherwise occupied

Well, my harddrive bit the dust. May I just say, I recommend backing up your files. Also, I've been busy with things like this:

Very Frightening Snacks
ingredients: Black olive hummus, red pepper hummus, goat cheese, avovado, olives, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, carrots, romanesco broccoli, rice crackers, with dried apple frame.

Tigger and Demeter admire their jack-o-laterns

In art news, I had a successful Studio Tour in mid-October. Kathie Meyer of the PT Leader wrote this in her follow-up article Artists go all out to make studio tour special:

"Ya, know I didn't want to like this," said one visitor who couldn't help but be seduced by painter Counsel Langley's effulgent,* geometric paintings.

*I love the words seduced and effulgent! Granted, I did have to run to the dictionary for effulgent, where I discovered its awesome meaning: shining forth brilliantly; radiant. Sweet!

Also, I've been asked to have a solo show at the Castle Key Lounge in the Fall of 2010. I will create a body of site-specific work for the space and am looking forward obsessing over the contrast between the modern, geometric aspects of my work and the lush, Victorian style of Manresa Castle, where the lounge is housed.

And finally, I am honored to have been invited by Northwind Arts Center to have a show in 2011.

CHANGE OF PLANS!

THE OBSERVATORY HAS HAD TO SADLY AND SUDDENLY CLOSE ITS DOORS . . .
BEST OF LUCK TO THE OBSERVATORY FOLKS IN FINDING A NEW HOME!

My new and recent work will be shown at Gossamer Collective in November.


2 Sides 2 Every Story
opens Mid-October and will run through Nov. 30th.

Opening reception
November 6th, 7 to 9 p.m.

Gossamer Collective
1406 - 18th Avenue
Seattle, WA

www.gossamercollective.com

Encounters

Opening reception
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 6 to 9pm
with live music by Passenger Pigeon (Levi Fuller)!!

Show runs through October

DWG

DWG: A Look At Contemporary Mark Making
I am looking forward to being a part of this show at OHGE Ltd. Alex Ohge has brought together a great group of artists who all have a distinctive take on how to go about making a great drawing. DWG goes up at the end of the month and will run through Sept. 26th.

Participating artists:

Timothy Cross
Linda Hutchins
Counsel Langley
Peter Foucault
Kevin Haas
Scott Kolbo
Gala Bent

August 29th through September 26th
Opening reception Saturday, August 29th, 6 - 9pm

OHGE ltd. 831 Airport Way South, Seattle WA (next to Lawrimore Project, Downtown)

WHITE WINTER HYMNAL

FIRST EVER CHINATOWN ID ARTWALK

Tonight! Canoe Social Club is serving as the home base for this artwalk. Canoe is exhibiting my B-Sides along-side work by Ellen Forney and Ryan Ketchum.

Determination, 2008, acrylic, zircon, glitter, 5 x 5"

Click here to read what the Seattle Times has to say. Thank you Marian Liu, Seattle Times Staff Reporter, for the recommendation!

Sat July 18 (and the 3rd Saturdays: Aug 15 and Sept 19)
5 - 8 p.m. Free!
Visit www.SCIDpda.org for more details

It's going to be sunny this weekend, so come down to the Chinatown ID and enjoy the art walk! This free event features 25 venues, over 30 local artists and great food specials!

Click here for a list of featured artists & for a walking map

Restaurants featuring Art Walk Specials for $5 and under!
Fortuna Café - Chicken or BBQ Pork Boxes
Gourmet Noodle Bowl - Braised Pork w/ Spring Roll
Henry's Bento - Pork Chop, Tofu/Chicken Bento, Taiwanese Lunch Box, Beef Noodle Soup
J Sushi - All Appetizers!
Kaname - Art Walk Happy Hour, 5 - 6:30pm
Kau Kau BBQ - BBQ Pork, Chicken Wing, Veg. Rice
Pacific Café - Hong Kong Kitchen - Salted Pepper Chicken Wings, Veg. Pork Dumplings

Phnom Penh - Battambang's Favorite Noodle, Beef Noodle Soup

Unicorn Crepes - Banana Custard Choco Whip, Strawberry Custard Whip

NEW WORK

The Flesh is Very Delicate and Easily Bruised, 2009, acrylic, ink, glitter, 16 x 32"

Brand spanking new pieces from my Two Sides to Every Story series.
visit www.counsellangley.com for details.

Meeting by the Pond, 2009, acrylic, ink, glitter, 12 x 24"

SUMMERTIME

I am loving summertime and the theme of this show. I take it as validation of my desire to sit back, straw cowboy hat squarely on head, gin-and-tonic firmly in hand--a desire I am not thwarting. Juan Thorp was kind enough to ask me to send this piece down to Bunny Gunner located in Pomona, CA to be included:

Cityscape 27 (At the Park), 2007, acrylic, ink, glitter, 12 x 12"

Check out this preview of Summertime --lots of great stuff!

SUMMERTIME
Bunny Gunner's 2nd Birthday!

June 11th - August 4th
Opening Reception: July 11th, 6pm - 11pm
Last Saturday Reception: July 25th 6pm - 10pm

Bunny Gunner
266 W. Second St.
Pomona, CA 91766

SAGE

My fantastic photographer friend, Joshua Sage (who happens to be father to 50% of Nanda), is making his annual return to the Northwest and will be doing portraits while he is here. We make it a habit to do a shoot with him. The photos we get are gorgeous, unique and capture much more than physical presence.


Contact him now to schedule a shoot with him--Don't be slow, you don't want to miss out on this!

Here's a note from Joshua:

"Hello to you all,

Kirsten and I will be spending some time in the Northwest this summer and I will be available to shoot photographic portraits.

Sitting for portraits is something we often don't take the time to do, even though well done portraits are appreciated for years and years. They can illicit feelings and memories with every viewing. Family pictures are those things we think of taking with us if we only had one suitcase to take to our desert isle.

I only use natural light and generally shoot in black and white or duotone. Color is possible.... let's talk. Price for a sitting starts at $85.

If this is something you would truly like to consider, click on the link and take a look at the slideshow of portraits I have taken. Don't hesitate......... "

PORTRAIT SLIDESHOW

CONTACT JOSHUA: sageland@olypen.com


IMAGES: A few of last year's portraits by Sage of my two daughters, Emerald & I (top), Dare (middle) and Emerald (bottom).

LOVE.

Love, 2009, acrylic, ink, glitter, 60" x 36"

I just returned from the most moving and artful wedding I've ever been to. A friend of twenty years has found the woman of dreams he didn't even know he had. I made them a painting. This was their wedding gift from me and thinking about these amazing individuals and their commitment to each other freed me up to do something I've not done for years: place actual, specific humanity in a painting. Last time that happened was 2002 in The Wait.

The Wait, 2002, acrylic, ink, glitter, 20 x 48"The Wait DETAIL

Here's some details from Love (the profiles are theirs and the word "Love" is copied directly from their invitations):

Seattle City Light Portable Works: Part 1

View 42 artworks by 26 emerging Northwest artists--including paintings, prints, photographs, ceramics and sculpture--in Seattle City Light's Portable Works Collection. The featured artworks are part of a larger recent purchase by City Light totaling 86 artworks by 56 artists. The purchase was made possible with city 1% for Art funds. The rest of the artworks will be on display in a second exhibition from October through December.

Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery
700 Fifth Ave., Level Three Concourse
July 1 - Sept 29, 2009

Artist Reception
Tuesday, July 14
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Remarks at 5:45 p.m.

Artists included:

Justin Beckman
Leo Berk
Gabriel Brown
Christopher Buenning
Jesse Durost
Tia Factor
RoseAnne Featherston
Geoff Garza
Kevin Haas
Kristina Hagman
Stan Hammer
Ben Hirschkoff
Jenny Hyde
Etsuko Ichikawa
Margo Knight
Scott Kolbo
Counsel Langley
Fulgenico Lazo
Julie Lindell
Hugo Ludeña
Steven Miller
Fred Muran
Melody Owen
Chauney Peck
Jamie Potter
Kinu Watanabe

B-Sides

Cityscape 14 (Resources), 2007, acrylic, ink, glitter, 36 x 36"

During the month of July Seattle's Canoe Social Club has a group of early and experimental pieces, most of which have not been shown in Seattle before. A chance to see where I've been and some of the in-between steps leading to my current work . . . . Think of it as an exhibition of B-Sides.*

Hosted and Curated by Victoria Lahti.

Opens Thursday, July 2nd at 5 pm
Free and open to the Public!
Show is in the gallery through August 5th

Canoe Social Club
International District, Seattle
409 7th Avenue South

* By the way, as a huge music fan I have always adored the b-sides. Brings to mind a peek into something more personal and exploratory than a big hit, a chance to hear (or in this case see) something closer to the artist's raw thought process.

New Noise

Uncharted

Four pieces from a new series, Uncharted. The moment of first encounter with the unknown is exciting, stunning, overwhelming, fascinating, frightening, invigorating.
Visit www.counsellangley.com to see details.

my baby's on the level

Mithun Installation Views

Cityscape 17 (Start Over), 2007

Yesterday, with the help of a dear friend, I installed work at Mithun. It was a long day of driving with our trusty Hood Canal Bridge closed for a major rebuild. I wasn't able to stay for the party, but I am happy with the way my work looks in the space--here's a few shots. The furniture and gorgeous bits of wood you are seeing are by Meyers | Wells.

Waterfront I & II, 2009

Uneasy Heavens Await Those Fleeing, 2009

System I, II, III & IV, 2009

Untitled, 2009

FLUID/STRUCTURE

Waterfront I, 2009, acrylic, ink, glitter, 30 x 30"

Mithun, an architecture firm located at Pier 56 on Seattle's waterfront will be hosting several new and recent paintings from May 21 through July.

Also on exhibition MEYERS | WELLS furniture with modern roots

Mithun Architecture, Seattle Office

Pier 56, 1201 Alaskan Way, #200 Seattle, WA 98101

T 206.623.3344 F 206.623.7005

Call for Participation in the Artist Selection Panel: Port Townsend, WA

Port Townsend Arts Commission
Public Art Committee

Call for Participation in the Artist Selection Panel
For "Downtown Urban Streetscape and Waterfront Area" Project

The City of Port Townsend is currently engaged in a major capital construction project in the downtown Water Street area. The City has adopted a downtown urban streetscape plan that includes the enhancement of existing open spaces, the adaptive reuse of established architectural and design elements, the addition of new and the augmentation of existing community meeting places, and the use of landscaping that invites public engagement. This revitalized waterfront area, stretching from the Northwest Maritime Center at Point Hudson to Quincy Street, will celebrate the intersection of our historic and commercial cityscape with accessible seascape. Public art will be sited within this location, creating an area of public focus for activities which complement our maritime connection, public markets, special events, and community gatherings.

According to the Art in Public Places Policy and Procedure, each public art project requires the appointment of an Artist Selection Panel to develop the scope of work and call for artists. The Panel includes members of the Port Townsend Arts Commission Public Art Committee, one project architect or engineer, one project manager from the lead Department, representatives of other boards, commissions, committees, or public agencies (as appropriate), an at-large artist with specific relevant expertise, and two community members from the area in which the artwork will be located.

The Public Art Committee is seeking interested community members from the designated waterfront area (Point Hudson to Quincy Street) to serve on the Panel. Interested parties should submit to the Arts Commission a letter expressing interest, a description of his/her connection to the outlined site, and a bio or summary of experience.

The Public Art Committee is also seeking individuals to serve as the artist at-large. Interested parties should submit to the Arts Commission a letter expressing interest and a bio or summary of experience.

Postmark deadline for application is May 15--materials should be sent, or hand-delivered, to the attention of the Port Townsend Arts Commission (PTAC) at City Hall, 250 Madison Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368.

Strait Art Installation Views

Jake Seniuk, Director of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center and Curator of Strait Art, just sent me these gorgeous installations views.

Wolf Like Me

Time for another musical interlude.

Erin Sherry Makes Awesome Clothes

I've brought you good food, great music and now (it's about time) for some hot clothes. Erin Sherry is one of my dearest friends, meticulous with needle and thread, and a brilliant clothing designer. Here's a sampling of her latest collection, shot on location in San Diego by photographer Kat Woronowicz.

Pinky red cotton, burgundy piping, front pockets, cream hand stitching, button back

Erin makes clothes for women with bods of all shapes and sizes. Everything is impeccably made, sexy-cute, and made with the premise that true gorgeousness is always comfortable.

You can see my particular attraction to her work is in the details. Lines of piping, shining dots of the snaps laid out in a unique 1, 2, 1, 2 . . . pattern. Wonderful!

JUMPSUIT! fine wale midnight blue corduroy, red piping, pears snaps, front fly

Organic cotton woven sweater, burgundy piping, front pockets, pearl snaps.
Skirt, purple cotton, cream hand stitching

And, now, drumroll please . . .
The Best Pants in The Universe:

Organic cotton woven sweater, burgundy piping, pearl snaps
Fine wale midnight blue corduroy pants, pockets, front fly

This sweetheart of a dress is one of a kind . . . go searchin' for rad vintage bed sheets . . . Miss Sherry will make you one!

Vintage wilderness scene bed sheet, fully lined, white piping, front pockets, vintage trim straps

Erin has a website in the works, I'll be sure to tell you all about it as soon as it is up and running.

For now you can reach her this way: erinsherry@yahoo.com

Uneasy Heavens Await Those Fleeing: A Celebration of Art and Armageddon

I am so excited about this event!

Uneasy Heavens Await Those Fleeing, 2009, acrylic, ink, glitter, 30 x 60"

Jennifer Borges Foster is bringing together writers, musicians, dancers, painters, photographers, performance artists and more to re-interpret the title of her first completed poetry manuscript, Uneasy Heavens Await Those Fleeing.

This project is made possible through the generous support of the Mayor's Office of Art & Cultural Affairs and 4Culture.

Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 7:00pm

Canoe Social Club at Theater Off Jackson

409 7th Ave S

Seattle, WA

Admission:

Free to Canoe Social Club Members

$5 for Non-Members

Note: Full Bar available.

This event is 21+

Contributing Artists:

Music

Sean Nelson

David Nixon

Jose Bold

John Ackermann

Rick Miller

Erin Jorgensen

Sunday Service

Dance

Amy O'Neal and Mark Haim

Zoe Scofield

Poets/Writers

Rebecca Brown

Matt Briggs

John Olson

Roberta Olson

Doug Nufer

Kary Wayson

Arne Pihl

Linden Ontjes

Brian McGugian

Kate Lebo

Elizabeth Colen

Carol Guess

Koushik Ghosh

Karen Finneyfrock

Peter Periera

Bob Redmond

Brangien Davis

Amy Schrader

Art/Installation

Elizabeth Bisegna Gaston

Counsel Langley

Kim Drake

Erin Shafkind

Jennifer Zwick

Jed Dunkerley

Paul Larned

Karen Rudd

Costume

Chrissy Wai-Ching