Last Chance to See The Jennifer Rooms

My latest solo exhibition, The Jennifer Rooms, is on the walls at aka gallery through April 26th. Catch it while you can! Contact the gallery at (405) 606-2522 for hours and other logistics.

Maraca Fists, acrylic on canvas, 10 x 10 inches, 2014 by Sarah Atlee Photo by Charlotte Bell Photography

The Jennifer Rooms opened just in time for First Friday on the Paseo. Oh, what a time it was.

Just a few of the mini-cupcakes from Sara Sara Bakery.

My lovely assistant helping set up romy owens' final photobooth.

Photobooth accessories - we were such pretty princesses.

Bracelets for your besties!

If you're not in the OKC area, The Jennifer Rooms series will soon be up on this website.

Women's Works 2014

That's When I Knew, acrylic on unstretched canvas, 2013 by Sarah Atlee. Some rights reserved.

I'm very pleased to announce that my painting That's When I Knew will be on display as part of the 27th annual Women's Works show at the Old Court House Arts Center in Woodstock, Illinois.

This juried exhibition, showcasing work by female artists, is mounted every year by the Northwest Area Arts Council of McHenry County, Illinois. Visitors to the show can also see Little Women's Works, a show by artists aged 6-17.

There will be an opening reception Saturday, 22 March 2014, from 7-9 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

The show runs from 13 March to 27 April 2014. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday 11:00-5:00, Sunday 1:00-5:00. For more information, contact the Old Court House Arts Center at (815) 338-4525.

My thanks to the exhibition's jurors for their consideration and all the people who work hard to make Women's Works happen.

Milagros for Boston

Chicago community artist Guillermo Delgado is collaborating with second-graders on a spontaneous project they're calling Milagros for Boston. Photo by Guillermo Delgado. Used with permission.

From the artist:

"Milagros for Boston is a tribute by 2nd graders to all the people affected by the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013. Students will create an art installation made of tin milagros (running shoes, hands, and legs) and display it in the storefront window of a local running shop."

Photo by Guillermo Delgado. Used with permission.

If you're not familiar, a milagro  is a small charm, usually made of metal, used as part of a prayerful offering. From Wikipedia:

"[Milagros] are used to assist in focusing attention towards a specific ailment, based on the type of charm used. Milagro symbolism is not universal; a milagro of a body part, such as a leg, might be used as part of a prayer or vow for the improvement of a leg; or it might refer to a concept such as travel. Similarly, a heart might represent ideas as diverse as a heart condition, a romance, or any number of other interpretations. Milagros are also carried for protection and good luck."

Photo by Guillermo Delgado. Used with permission.

The artist commented on his Facebook page that "I was inspired by the conversations that I had with my own children yesterday. It's difficult to have these kinds of conversations, but I think we need to. And I couldn't start this morning's class with 2nd graders and teachers without addressing it. Fortunately, they embraced it! The project developed like lightning: ideas, emails, and phone calls. It's a true community collaboration!"

Photo by Guillermo Delgado. Used with permission.

In an email, Delgado told me that "In my twenty years of teaching: this was one of the most powerful and meaningful experiences I have had in the classroom and with children. The teachers agreed too; we were all super into it! It was an amazing experience for all of us."

You can read more about Guillermo Delgado on his website, and keep up with the Milagros for Boston project on Flickr.

Photo by Guillermo Delgado. Used with permission.

The Art I Won't Show You

Shhh, it's a secret! No, not these. The two paintings pictured here are from last year's Money Talks, Art Walks benefit auction at IAO Gallery in Oklahoma City. You can't see my 2013 contributions yet.

Francine, acrylic on paper, 2012 by Sarah Atlee.

Aww, but I wanna!

In this show of sculptures and works on paper, all 8.5 x 11" or smaller, the artists' names are hidden. People attending the show may purchase tickets for $100, $75, or $50, and when they do so, their names go into the hat. When a name is drawn, that person has 30 seconds to pick out the piece they want to take home.

The $100 ticket holders get to pick first!

Inappropriate! acrylic on paper, 2012 by Sarah Atlee.

You have to show up to see the new paintings.

What: Money Talks, Art Walks: A Different Kind of Art Auction

When: Saturday, March 16, 2013, 7-10 pm

Where: IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan, Oklahoma City

How Much: Regular admission is $10, then it's $100, $75, or $50 to take home the art.

Why: Other than because it's wicked fun? You'll be supporting one of the best contemporary art venues in Oklahoma, and you'll get to take home an original work from one of scads of talented Oklahoma artists.

See you there.

The Lady Victory - Poems by Jane Vincent Taylor

Ennis Quadrangle, Patron Saint of Honne and Tatemae, acrylic and collage on stonehenge paper, 2009 by Sarah Atlee. Some rights reserved.

I am pleased to announce that my friend Jane Taylor has a new book of poems available, published by Turning Point Press.

The Lady Victory is a wonderful collection imagined within the walls of a home for unmarried pregnant girls. This is the setting for Jane's poems, but that tells you nothing of the warmth, love and humor to be found among the pages.

Jane chose my painting Ennis Quadrangle, Patron Saint of Honne and Tatemae for the book's cover. She and I talked about things that go unsaid, either because they are forbidden, or maybe just thought of as dangerous words. I can imagine many things going unsaid inside Victory.

See my previous post to learn more about the meaning of Ennis Quadrangle.

Here is one of my favorite poems (reproduced here with permission):

- - - - -

from Part II: Dear Little Flame the Love Letters of Sister B.

26

Dear little wind behind the rain,

I wonder if you received the crocheted hat I made for you. I should have saved it for your birthday, but my favorite is Thanksgiving. They probably think these gifts come from your mother. She would have sent you pink but I thought purple. She would have dressed you in leotard and tutu. Little violet, your mother loved to dance. She had all the Victory girls doing the Pony on the screened-in porch. I secured permission for her to stage a mini Oklahoma. Mother S. insisted they leave out Ado Annie's song - Can't Say No. In my three year stint at Victory only your mother knew what to do with guilt and shame. She made everybody love her. If you ever feel like dancing, you best not fight against it. Everybody's born to something.

Born to write to you, Sister B.

- - - - -

The Lady Victory is available at Full Circle Books in Oklahoma City, or from Amazon. Jane is the featured author and will read selected poems at Full Circle's Final Sunday Poetry Reading on 24 June, 2012. (See Full Circle's Events page for details.)

Later this summer, Jane is teaching a writing course titled The Poetry of Home at Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center. There are still spaces available - I wish I could go.