artomatic @ frederick - my top 10 picks

artomatic frederick has opened up to the public and i had the pleasure of visiting the other week. normally i participate in AOM, but due to time constraints and not enough new work to show, i decided to opt out this time around. nevertheless, i think everyone should check this show out if they are able. 

there are lots of artists displayed at F-AOM, and in true AOM fashion, a few are superb, and many are mediocre at best. however, i didn't really see anything revolting or so terrible that it left a negative impression on me.  due to the fact that AOM is an open exhibit (meaning not juried, so anyone who wants to exhibit is able), this is quite a feat in my opinion.

i did jot down a list of the standouts (again, my opinion only), and will share them with you below. if you plan to attend the exhibit and / or festivities at some point before the close date on november 6 be sure to check out their spaces. in no particular order, my top 10 of F-AOM artists that you should definitely not miss are:

1.  jeff and kristin bohlander - www.jeffbohlander.net
     installation of wonderful mixed media paintings by jeff and fabric vessels by kristin
2.  krissy downing - krissydowning.com
     large scale stylistic illustration-like paintings that are awesome!
3.  jamie gerhold - jamiegerhold.theartistangle.com
     a fellow savannah college of art & design grad who works in mixed media painting
4.  cinnamonopteryx press - cinnamonopteryx.wordpress.com
     illustrations of strange hybrid creatures - fascinating...
5.  kristin partridge - kristinpartridge.com
     alternative process photos - the real deal!
6.  megan kreh - megankreh.com
     very eerie photographs that captivate the imagination
7.  katie giganti - studiosegue.com
     large scale digital photographic based collage
8.  annie & linda lunsford - annielunsford.com
     illustrations that are quirky and amusing
9.  jenn rinaldi - no site listed, but i found her here: https://plus.google.com/117603612166960552214/posts
     a fellow holga shooter with a good eye for composition and details
10. michael auger - arty4ever.com
     offbeat artwork that features black light activated displays!

see the full list of participating artists HERE.


the majority of the artwork i've purchased has been a result of my visits to artomatic over the years. the displayed work is incredibly varied, and often extremely affordable. if you crave decoration for your abode, consider supporting local artists - they rock!

related: be on the lookout for a post coming up listing the artists whose work i've acquired, and who is on my scope for my future art purchases. ;)

adventures in artwork packaging

it never fails that when i receive artwork back from an exhibit in another part of the country, the box looks like it's been through a war zone. i always start out with brand new, never before used boxes to ship off the artwork, and end up with something that barely resembles a box when i see them next.

i recently found this on my doorstep - a package of 10 matted and framed holga artworks that i had sent to a gallery in indiana for a show there.  luckily, the interior of this box contains not only the bubble wrap you see peeking out of the rather large gash in the box, but also several smaller boxes that have even more bubble wrap and the artworks inside.

i am happy to report that not a single artwork was harmed in the shipping of this package.  Here's to careful and what-seems-excessive-but-not-really packing. :)