Above is the awesome logo that Chad Kouri designed for our forum Beyond Walls, Nontraditional Ways of Making a Living as an Artist.

I am super excited (and a bit nervous) for my first Artist at Work Forum hosted by the Chicago Artist Resource. The workshop will open up with introductions from three Chicago artists and myself where we will be talking about how we sustain a living beyond the traditional brick and mortar gallery system. During the second part of the event there will be an audience discussion including myself and the following artists:

Lynn Basa creates works that adapt in setting and scale from intimate studio paintings to site-specific public art commissions in terrazzo and mosaic. She is the author of The Artist’s Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions.

Lee Tracy, is an artist who explores many mediums and formats of expression to make varied points that resonate from one voice.

Local insomniac Chad Kouri of The Post Family is a freelance illustrator and Art Director of Proximity Magazine.

If you are in the Chicago area next week, feel free to drop by to say hello! The event is being held Downtown at the Chicago Cultural Center on Thursday, August 20th between 6-7:30PM and is located at 78 E. Washington, Chicago , IL 60602.

[ UPDATE ]

I promised a follow up to the panel presentation and am delighted to be able to share this information as part the of Design*Sponge’s Biz Ladies series.

You can read the article [ right here ].

The above image is from a workshop that my husband and I took with Ken-ichi Utsuki-san, a third-generation master indigo dyer who uses an all natural fermentation process. Through a delicate balance of indigo, lye, limestone, wheat and sake he is able to achieve an incredibly vibrant, saturated and resilient blue hue.

The technique is 100% safe for your health in which Ken-ichi Utsuki-san demonstrated by dipping his finger in the dye vat and then into his mouth! He seemed to be perfectly fine minus the fact that he had temporarily dyed his teeth blue.

Literally a dying art form, this method has been replaced by synthetic and chemical processes which are extremely hazardous to the environment and our health. If you ever visit Kyoto, Japan be sure to visit Ken-ichi Utsuki-san for a one-on-one dye workshop at his amazing studio and home.

Also, I cannot wait for this to arrive by Loraine at Grijs.

And listening to this podcast about Reconsidering Craft recommended by Rob Walker.

And just read BUYING IN: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are.