Saxapahaw Art Gallery

Have you heard about Saxapahaw? Read this article in the NY Times about this unlikely little hot spot. I live right down the road so I was excited to hear about the Saxapahaw Art Gallery.  It is in an old storefront, hardwood floors, old brick walls and a meat locker room with a secret patio out back that is going to be turned into a bar and coffee shop.
So I am happy about having my work represented there. Such an easy drive and a cool place to hang out. Here are a couple of the works at the gallery.

Owl Platter, 16" diam. Cathy Kiffney

All the Hemispheres, Ceramic wall piece 24" high, Cathy Kiffney

Hummingbirds

Well, my version...here are a few from my last flock. Two of these are available on my Etsy site. Happy Monday! Here is a haiku to get you started.

Creativity,
and the lively hummingbird,
can be illusive.  

--Bonnie Best

Hummingbird ceramic wall bird, Cathy Kiffney

Hummingbird ceramic wall bird, Cathy Kiffney

Hummingbird ceramic wall bird, Cathy Kiffney

Tidewater Gallery

It is so nice when a gallery owner comes to my studio. NO shipping, yay!! And I  get to meet them, and they get to pick out exactly what they want, win-win!!

If you are lucky enough to be going to the Crystal Coast of North Carolina take a trip to Swansboro, NC. It is a sweet little village right on the Cape Fear river.  Look for Tidewater Gallery in a beautiful historic house and look for my work! Say hi to the gallery director, Ray for me. Here are a few of the works they have.

Bluebird and Red Roses, Large wall platter, carved. Cathy Kiffney

Bird, wall piece. Cathy Kiffney

Jumping Rabbit wall hanging teapot. Cathy Kiffney

Red Rabbit and Dandelion, Cathy Kiffney

The Making of a Mural part one

I have been commissioned to make 4 large wall panels, a commemorative piece for a very sweet collector.  After many consultations to gather her ideas and wishes I did a sketch for us to use to further refine her ideas.  She has a beautiful garden, absolutely amazing with all kinds flowers and very peaceful.  We are trying to capture the essence of that.

Then the clay started. I call this the cave man stage--- whack with mallet.

 

Make some slabs, these will be approximately 23"x12"

 

Smoothing--Action shot!

 Side borders

 

Making the border sides, this is the back side join the slabs.

 Forgot to get a few pictures of the stages before this, but it was layout, underpainting and carving. She wants it full of beautiful flowers, lots of  butterflies birds and her sweet little dog friend, Lillie Mae.

 More painting and carving. Owl and rabbits, doves, roses.....

  Here is the half finished mural. Up to this point this is about a month of work. Now it will dry and then be bisqued fired. Then more glazing and detail work and into the kiln again, with fingers crossed!

I will post pictures as I continue this project.

Black Rabbit - White Rabbit

Black Rabbit - White Rabbit, ceramic wall diptych, 1997. Cathy Kiffney

From the archives, 1997 is my best guess.
2 part wall piece, 36" long x 14" high.
I think I was thinking about opposites and our dual nature, subconscious-conscious, positive-negative, black-white, left-right, night-day.

This was one of my first multiple part pieces and still  one of my favorites.  I showed it at Tyndall Galleries when the gallery was still in Brightleaf in Durham and I was pleasantly encouraged because it sold right away.

We had a great weekend show!

To the garden art show

Part of Luna's garden, what a beautiful day!

Our Mother's Day weekend show was a great success. The weather was beautiful and Luna Lee Ray has a wonderful studio and garden, just perfect for an open studio show and she is a delight to work with.  LOVE her paintings!  You can see more of her work at Frank Gallery in Chapel Hill.

Luna Lee Ray, paintings

Luna Lee Ray

I got to know the other two artists during the weekend and we had a fun time! Micheal Lupa just moved to the area from New York with his super smart and beautiful girlfriend who is going to Duke Nursing School on  a full scholarship. He used to work at  Polich-Tallix Fine Art Casting Foundry in New York. They work with many of the leading sculptors in the world.  He has his studio at Liberty Arts in Durham

Michael Lupa

Michael Lupa ceramic sculpture

Michael Lupa

 Gretchen comes from a textile design background and her art is beautiful--mostly solar plate etching. Gretchen has her studio near Hillsborough, and is a member of Artspace in Raleigh.  Her and her husband are avid sailors and had just spent a week sailing in the Bahamas.  They also have a HUGE vegetable garden at their place outside of Hillsborough. Very talented woman!

Gretchen Morrissey

Gretchen Morrissey

Cathy Kiffney

Primrose in a ceramic slipper, Cathy Kiffney

my mom loved her Mother's Day vase

Blurry Vase, with Primrose

Woodthrush Platter, Cathy Kiffney

Gardens at Luna's

Kiffney's bird bath in the horsetail

Lupa sculptures

The weather was beautiful, thanks to the 200 + who came out! See you there next year.

Mother's Day Weekend Show and Sale

In the garden of natural delights

Mother's Day Weekend

May 12 and 13th

Saturday, 11-5

Sunday, 12-5

 

Luna Lee Ray, Gretchen Morrissey, Michael Lupa and Cathy Kiffney

exhibiting paintings, ceramics, etchings, prints and more!

A great opportunity to support local artists
and go home with a fantastic
piece of art or a great gift for someone special!

The show will be hosted by Luna Lee Ray
in her garden and studio
conveniently located near downtown Carrboro.
Please join us!

101 The Hollow , chapel hill, 27516
Although this is a Chapel Hill address,
the studio is located near
downtown Carrboro, NC
(off Hillsborough Rd. Carrboro)

A Secret Garden and Hummingbirds!

Hummingbird Platter, 16" diam.

 While out in my garden reading this book a familiar sound was heard, the hummingbirds are coming back!
Is it a little early for them to be back?

 If you find yourself in an ill humor I recommend reading the book--it will set you right. Find yourself a mossy spot under a tree, or anywhere in a garden and enjoy this enchanting story of hope and trust.

view across the garden to the studio

“However many years she lived, Mary always felt that 'she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow'.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Comet in the Clover

Comet hung out with me, his favorite spot in the clover. I threw out some clover seed last fall it it is growing beautifully.

Piedmont Craftsmen - Things with Wings

Things with Wings, May 4-26, 2012 
Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery
Winston-Salem

Upcoming show at the gallery in downtown Winston-Salem.  This is an all members show with the theme of wings. The opening reception will be part of the downtown gallery hop on the first Friday of the month, May 4th from 7-10pm. We hope you are able to attend. 

Magpies in Magnolia, hand made wall hanging platter, 12" diam. Cathy Kiffney

 This platter is from my return to slip painting, rather than carving and glazes.  I'm not giving up the carving just yet.  I have so many more ideas with this, I hope to have more time this summer to pursue this series.

An Evening in Paris

Imagine...you area strolling around Paris on a warm spring evening. You stop by a little cafe and enjoy delicious local fresh food prepared by talented chefs. Checking out the art shows in the galleries... you can do that tomorrow evening in Paris--the Paris of the Piedmont--Carrboro! Stop by and say Hi, I'll be at the North Carolina Crafts Gallery, 6-9pm