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Category Archives: Apprenticeships

open studio at red dirt studios

Written on November 14, 2011 by Susan Lomuto in Apprenticeships, Featured

Yesterday I attended Open Studio at Margaret Boozer’s Red Dirt Studios. Boozer is one of the artists I interned with last winter as part of The Apprenticeship Project.

Margaret Boozer

It was about more than the art. It was about community and the families we build; about conversation and connection; about celebration and validation. It was about life; life as an artist. The large turnout, testament to the fact that Margaret is not only a forward thinking artist and gifted mentor, but also an all around generous soul, was attended by family, friends (new and old), neighbors, collectors and artists supporting artists.

Here’s a little of what what I silently witnessed on a warm November Sunday in the DC area.

C’mon in. . .the cider is hot and the art is hotter

Elle Brande

The cutest kid EVER

Susan O’Brien Ceramics

There was a whole lotta hugging going on

Even the cutest kid EVER needs a nap

The other cutest kid EVER

Tetyana Wittkowski

Friend and neighbor, artist Alan Binstock deep in conversation

Barry Goldstein

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damuse is talking ’bout a revolution

Written on October 19, 2011 by Susan Lomuto in Apprenticeships

I’m starting a revolution. Want in? A $1 pledge is all it takes to join the revolution. $1. One. Uno. If you read DAM you are likely an artist, art student, art lover, art educator, art collector or someone who loves me. All good things. C’mon, let’s go – I only have 40 days to get this revolution started. I’m thinking BIG and I need artists everywhere (and everyone who loves me) to help me grow the revolution.

My revolution educates the public about what artists must do every day to move their ideas from sketch to finished artwork. The whole DAM(N) truth. If you’ve been following Daily Art Muse for awhile you know about The Apprenticeship Project - and many of you have helped me bring it this far (thank you!), but did you know I’m starting a revolution? Watch the video. Yup. There’s a video.

daMuse Launches Kickstarter Campaign

Told from the perspective of a beginner on the inside, The Apprenticeship Project shares what it takes to make art – to live and work as an artist today. Potential customers, collectors, gallery owners and DAM(N) near everyone needs a better understanding of what artists really do every day so that you can be compensated fairly, in a way that celebrates the importance of the contribution you are making to society.

I Am An Artist. This Does Not Mean I Will Work For Free. . .

This week on Facebook the quote on the tee shirt pictured below went viral. I am one of many people who re-posted it and watched as it struck a nerve. The reaction to the quote made me realize that The Apprenticeship Project needs to be a revolution.

You can do the passive thing and buy the tee shirt for TWENTY dollars or you can get involved in a revolution, pledge ONE dollar to my Kickstarter campaign and help me correct misconceptions, inform and educate everyone about art and art making.

But What Can One Dollar Do?

Imagine if every artist, art collector, art student, art teacher and art lover pledged just $1 – then it’s no longer one dollar, it’s tens of thousands of dollars. Those dollars send me all over the country to work as an apprentice to artists, document the experience through books (stories and images) and share with the world a myth-busting look at what it is like to work and live your passion.

The TAP artists to date

Let’s not just IMAGINE how big the revolution can be, let’s MAKE this revolution happen! You have the power to make the project go viral. Put your dollar in the hat, pass along the project link to everyone you know and keep The Apprenticeship Project alive. The Kickstarter campaign goal is modest – it will take me through one more apprenticeship – let’s exceed that goal with our revolution and send me to work with artists all over the country; help me tell more of the story – YOUR story.

Susan Lomuto, aka daMuse, aka The Apprentice

Together, we can show the world how valuable your contribution is to society and change the way people look at and value art. This project is for YOU! Join the revolution today.

Got More Than A Dollar?

Got a Dollar? Get in on the revolution. Got more than a dollar? There are some great Backer Rewards – including pre-orders of the books, art work donated by participating TAP artists, a really special unscripted photo shoot of you at work and play, a workshop led by me for up to 25 people (if you and your guild members need help with your websites, get your guild to back the project at this level and I will help you get your websites in shape so that you can show the world your art), and more.

Cast Glass Shoe by Tim Tate
A collection of four is one of the Backer Rewards up for grabs here

Talking ‘Bout A Revolution

Here’s something to think about: Over the last five years I have looked at more than 200,000 artist websites searching for great art to share with you. If every one of those artists gave one dollar this project would be HUGE. One dollar adds up when thousands of people are throwing that dollar in a hat. One dollar can make a difference, will make a difference, does make a difference.

I’m on my way to Washington, DC for a follow up visit with the artists I worked for during the first phase of The Apprenticeship Project and will post from there for the next few weeks.

Spread the news about the revolution. We can do this!

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dina varano: nesting in connecticut

Written on June 17, 2011 by Susan Lomuto in Apprenticeships, Featured, Metal

When Dina Varano invited me to the opening of NEST, a group exhibit featuring Varano and two other Chester, CT artists I was quick to RSVP. What intrigued me most about the show, besides giving me an excuse to catch up with Dina, was that this show marked a departure from the jewelry she has become known for. Varano spent months making sculptural objects – no jewelry – for NEST.

While studying at RISD, Dina dabbled a bit with sculpture and although she has often thought about taking her work larger, NEST is the first time she explored the idea fully.

“I create a mantra during the process and in the end, those delicate lines build a strong structure – an ordered chaos that has purpose and grace.” Dina Varano

Varano was invited to participate in NEST by gallery owner, master printer (monotypes) and encaustics painter Lori Warner, who also included prominent Connecticut ceramic artist Pat Smith to study and interpret the concept of nest in a collaborative spirit.

For several months the artists met weekly, expanding ideas and developing a shared vocabulary. The collaboration resulted in three separate bodies of work that are closely related, yet decidedly different – each aesthetically pleasing and compelling.

“The concept of nest has been a recurring theme for me. In the past, I’ve created individual pieces represented simply as a series of lines that make a nest like form. I’ve always wanted to expand upon the idea. It is a beautiful subject that meaningfully crosses over to different media.” Lori Warner

There are many things to think about here, including the importance of collaboration in art and life; the endless interpretations of a universal theme; the importance of creating a body of work with a common thread.

However, because I worked closely with Dina last fall as part of the apprenticeship project and saw first hand the amount of time, energy, education and resources that she has invested in her career as a jewelry artist over the last twenty years, let’s focus on the thing that brought me out to see the show to begin with – she was stretching her artistic capabilities. Exciting. Using many of the same materials she utilizes to make jewelry, she successfully broadened her scope with the bowls, sculptures and wall hangings in the NEST exhibit.

Something to think about today – how can you stretch and grow as an artist?

P.S. – The opening was very well attended – with people spilling out onto the sidewalk most of the evening – many of whom were speaking animatedly about the beautiful work inside. Do go see NEST if you are in the area – click on Lori Warner’s link below for dates and times.

Dina Varano
Lori Warner Studio and Gallery
Apprenticeship Project

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dc apprenticeship: a visit with elissa farrow savos

Written on May 17, 2011 by Susan Lomuto in Apprenticeships, Featured, Polymer Clay

A highlight of my last week in Washington DC was a sculpting lesson with Elissa Farrow Savos. Novie Trump – who seemed to know me before she knew me – set this up before I came to town. I hopped on a train to Novie’s house in Virginia and then she drove us about an hour further out to Elissa’s home studio.

Elissa Farrow Savos and Novie Trump stand outside of the gallery

Elissa is as generous as she is talented. She spent the better part of the afternoon with Novie and I, sharing her extensive knowledge about sculpting the human figure.

Farrow-Savos in her studio

With a small gallery space at the front of her beautiful home and a tiny studio across the foyer from the gallery, this busy mother of three juggles her passions and responsibilities with grace and ease.

this bridge called my back, polymer clay, found objects

Farrow-Savos uses polymer clay and found objects to tell stories, explaining that each sculpture is a narrative of “some woman somewhere, and every woman everywhere.”

the slow and careful earning of trust, polymer clay, found objects

Standing in the gallery and studio, surrounded by her work, I could feel the stories of these women: proud, humble, heroic, deeply sensitive, scarred, determined, and full of life.

Take a look inside her studio and see if you can feel it too. Many thanks to Elissa and Novie for a wonderful day.

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dc apprenticeship: people of the city

Written on May 4, 2011 by Susan Lomuto in Apprenticeships, Featured

I’m still out of town, but wanted to share my latest slideshow from the DC internship - the people of Washington DC (part one).

Crossing Over

A few sounds of the street, a little chatter from the scene, a little bit of silence and all DC. I fell in love with the faces, shapes, joys, sorrows, sounds, stories, attitude and resilience of the city’s main asset. I think you will too.

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I will catch up on email later today, and yes, the site is a bit mixed up, things are missing – it will all come together soon – promise! For those who have written letting me know that you can’t find your favorite posts, I’m working on it. Things are changing. . .all to bring you a richer experience here at Daily Art Muse.

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