Happy School Year to all of you parents and grandparents! School started this week and we’re off to a running start with all of the little artists at Ford! After about five minutes of reminders of classroom expectations combined with the “stinky cheese” look (that’s my stern teacher face) each grade level dove into their first project. The little artists are on a deadline, too. We have our Square One Art fundraiser project and our Cobb EMC Card contest both due in October and we’re starting off fabulously! The start of school means that Ms. Dunaway (soon to be Mrs. Cyr) no longer gets to enjoy her few weeks of summer as a full time artist…
Thank goodness for the summertime… Re:Visit (my new series) is opening at the Strand during the September Art Walk! Re:Visit showcases mostly old cars but also includes old signs and buildings. The theme developed this past Spring as I reminisced on photos and scenes I have yearned to paint for the past two years and have not had the time to do so. The original plan was to include landscapes as well as cows and horses but as the series came together “Re:Visit” started to take on the meaning of visiting literal things of the past. Therefore the landscapes, horses and cows will wait for another time.
Re:Visit will open during Art Walk on September 2nd at the Earl Smith Strand. There will be a private reception (to which all of you are invited!) from 5-6pm on the second level. From 6-9pm I’ll move up to the 4th floor to paint live during Brew with a View. It’s going to be a fun night! If you would like to attend the reception from 5-6pm just RSVP to the Strand at friends@earlsmithstrand.org or 770.293.0080 in order to put your name on the list. The Brew with a View portion of the evening is open to the public and you do not need to RSVP for it. The show will be up for the month of September; you are welcome to see Re:Visit during gallery hours.
My lovely marketing specialist / webmaster / public relations manager / manual laborer / fiance encouraged me to participate in the Marietta Streetfest once again on September 17th. It was a wonderful experience last year and the first few hours of the event occur in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market. This event will showcase screen-printed baby and kid clothes (a few adult tee’s too), canvas earrings as well as hand-pulled signed and matted prints. Jason is the powerhouse behind this event and I appreciate him so much for it. Did I mention that he is the wedding planner, too?
On August 10th I was honored to be a guest on the blog radio show of Marie Pijanowski (Center for Social Connections). I went from being a nervous wreck (with a squeaky voice and nonstop giggling) to feeling calm and collected with Marie’s wonderful interview and conversation style! It was such a fun experience. We focused mostly on my path to being an artist and art teacher and my thoughts on creativity, connecting, and growing a business. Find it here.
Do you like Charity Fundraisers? Who doesn’t?! Here are three great ones coming up. Tickets are still available and each event will have a Dunaway original painting to bid on in addition to some amazing silent auction items! Swordman’s Ball benefiting American Cancer Society is this Saturday evening, August 20th. They have a 16 x 20 inch mixed media flag up for auction. Hopeful Hearts Animal Rescue is having a wonderful fundraiser in Atlanta on the evening of August 27th. An 18 x 18 inch yellow lab “Marley” will be up for bid that evening. Finally, the March of Dimes is having their Signature Chef’s Auction on September 29th. My amazing brother-in-law Tom McEachern of Ray’s on the River is one of the feature chefs! Two 12 x 6 inch sushi paintings will be a part of the silent auction that evening.
As always, thank you for your support!
Here are some of my new pieces for the show at the Strand next month:
