International Artist Trading Cards

ATCs international theme Phillip Hoyle 2016

Last week I didn't make beautiful Artist Trading Cards although some had beautiful colors, others had good design, I liked some, but there were no flowers or peaceful images. "International" took me to maps and a look at the world in terms of borders and the transgression of borders. I traded most of the cards on Thursday so am showing the one no one thought to take plus one more I made since. 

I'm afraid my take on "International" is worried over conflict and fear, feelings probably related to it being an election year. At least I am showing emotion! Art needs that.

I enjoyed the ATC swap/make/and swap at the One Man Band Art Studios of Jerry Simpson. As usual the group of fourteen traders and card makers provided great entertainment, food, socializing, and inspiration. Hope you found some interesting art to brighten your life.

Denver, 2016

Storyteller

My favorite childhood storyteller: Grandpa
surrounded by his favorite listeners

Sometimes following Sunday dinner, Grandpa would go to the pie safe on the back porch and remove an old cigar box. He would dig through its treasures to find an item for a story. His cache included flint arrowheads, knives, and tomahawks he had picked up in the fields below the house. The box also contained rattles from several rattlesnakes he had killed over the years. That day Grandpa asked me to make a choice for the story. Of course I chose the largest set of rattles.

My sisters and I gathered around eager to hear Grandpa’s story. He told of a large timber rattler he encountered one summer day near a spring. Using a sharpshooter spade, he dug open the spring to fill a jug with its cold water to share with fellow harvesters. As he started walking from the spring, the snake struck but hit the shovel rather than Grandpa’s leg. Surprised and scared, he dropped his jug and tried to retreat, but there was neither space nor time.

Grandpa paused. We watched as he rolled up his sleeves and flexed the muscles of his arms. He said, “That old thing was as big around as my forearm and six feet long, and it was recoiling to strike again.” Grandpa’s arm moved quickly as if to strike us. Of course, we jumped; one sister screamed. He killed that huge serpent with the spade. “I threw the shovel like a spear,” he said, “and then cut off its head, and these.” He held up the rattles. I thrilled at the story and shivered when he shook the rattles, but I always felt safe walking around the fields and pastures with him. I knew Grandpa’s strong arms would keep me from harm.

© 2016 Denver An excerpt from "Milagro" prepared for reading at The Write Age Writers Workshop

Artist Trading Cards on Wood

Wood related ATC collages, 2016
Monoprints with collage

Although I used no actual wood in the ATCs I prepared for a swap meet last weekend at CORE Gallery, I did use a variety of wood images from a number of magazines, working them into designs that seemed to honor the given topic. I felt pleased with the results--at least most of them. 

On Friday evening I was reminded of the change of hours for the meeting at the gallery and sadly was unable to accommodate the time. I'll save these cards until the next swap and workshop and enjoy whatever "wood" items others have ready to trade. 

I read last week that the first display of ATCs was in an art gallery in Zurich, Switzerland. Three artists made the cards. An invitation went out to other artists to bring their own cards and trade. Thus the display kept changing due to the swaps and a world-wide movement began. The trade at CORE gallery was the first such event in the United States. 

"Wood" theme collages ATCs 2016

Denver, 2016

Jazz Festival

The Pavilion at Denver's City Park last weekend

Last weekend’s concert of City Park Jazz Festival ended the 2016 season of ten free to-the-public Sunday night concerts. I was pleased to have attended all ten performances. The weather has run from hot to chilly, from so dry as to parch one’s lips to dripping rain ( although we never did get an all-out rainfall this year as I recall it.)

The variety of bands met the usual high standard and this music was several times supplemented by short concerts from local high school jazz groups before the scheduled concert began.

Beautiful cloud formations add to the park's atmosphere.

I have again been reminded that music has permeated my family life. Dad was a church musician and played jazz standards with great style. He had played in a band that performed at a local hotel almost every Saturday night. On their off nights they would drive to other towns in Kansas to perform. Of course he would be at church early the next morning to play for Sunday school or a service. I grew up knowing hymns, anthems, service music, and jazz. Although I gave up my own work in music some years ago, I have replaced that with listening to lots of live music—mostly jazz—here in Denver. What a life in retirement! And sometimes I still hear a choral concert or symphony orchestra.

Long live music, and may I never lose my hearing!

Denver, 2016

Artist Trading Cards Some Gems

Artist Trading Cards by Phillip Hoyle 2016

I got an Honorable Mention for some of my ATCs at The Denver County Fair last weekend. Getting a ribbon was a first for me in a visual arts competition. I suspect it will keep me focused on the tiny art approach in the year to come. But my interest goes far beyond winning any kind of award. For me the rewards of ATCs has mostly to do with the good friendship I have been enjoying among artists I trade with and make cards alongside. 

I especially liked the judge's comments on the panel of nine ATCs that won the prize. According the the evaluation my sheet included several "little gems." The judge didn't indicate which ones, so in this post I'm showing the cards I judge to be my little gems. 

Maybe you could make your own gems and come trade the with me at CORE Gallery (2nd Saturdays at 10:00). Check online for listings of this and several other Denver ATC swaps and workshops. Join in the fun. You could even save your cards--some of the ones you make--and enter them into next year's county fair.

Artist Trading Cards by Phillip Hoyle 2016

Oh, sorry to be so late posting this. Thanks for looking and reading.

Denver, 2016