the accidental retailer

Since my open studio (see previous post), I’ve thrown myself back into finishing up Doomed Queens. Though my deadline is July 15th, I need to finish everything by July 7th — a vacation with nonrefundable plane tickets awaits.

On the art end, I’ve six more full page drawings to go, out of fifteen. Most of the spot drawings are finished or can be filled out with old drawings and woodcuts. (Did I mention that I’ve included period art in Doomed Queens? These pieces range from medieval manuscript paintings to Victorian etchings. I think they give the book a rich playfulness.) Of these last six drawings, five of them are started (ie: sketched and transferred onto watercolor paper); one awaits a last piece of photo reference before I can start on it.

On the text end, my editor just sent me second page proofs. These mainly consist of moving a comma here, a sentence break there. In other words, we’re very close to the end and are just burnishing the manuscript to a sheen.

And what of the open studio for Kris Waldherr Art and Words, my little storefront studio-gallery? Well, it’s apparently engendered a lot of buzz in the ‘hood. Those who attended the open studio seemed stunned by what they discovered here and lingered a while to drink in the atmosphere. I guess Arts and Crafts-style ataliers aren’t run of the mill, even here in hipster Brooklyn. A typical comment: “I would have never expected to find this here. But then I would have never expected to find this anywhere. It’s so beautiful.” Based on others’ recommendations, people have been knocking on my door to view art, to buy books, ask questions about my work, solicit advice about publishing, and more.

This has forced me to consider what I intend for my studio-gallery. Do I want to be in retail? Not in the traditional sense — I don’t want to be a storekeeper or gallerina. But I do love the idea of creating an environment to share my work with the public, where the art and books on display just happen to be for sale. I also love the idea of hosting events where I can create experiences that offer beauty, wit and wisdom, especially if they inspire others to go forth and do good in the world.

In a much smaller, rudimentary way, Kris Waldherr Art and Words (the storefront) is my Red House. I intended it as a physical place where I could explore ideas about beauty and environment. The reason I chose to rent a storefront, instead of a private studio, was because it offered more opportunities for sharing with the community.

So toward that end, Kris Waldherr Art and Words will be officially open to the public Saturdays 12 to 4pm. In the autumn, we’ll start presenting events such as readings, a film series, even a tarot night or two. Click here for more information and a small preview of what we’re planning.

• Filed under art and words, be-mused, events, studio and gallery, the art world, the world around me | No Comments

two NYC events

It’s a very busy time here at Art and Words. If you live in the area, I have two events coming up:

1. Sunday, October 20th at 3pm:
Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra concert

St. Ann’s Church
157 Montague Street (corner of Clinton)
Brooklyn, NY 11201

ENESCU – Roumanian Rhapsody #1 in A
BRAHMS (Orch. Schoenberg) – Piano Quartet #1 in g minor, Op. 25

Suggested admission is $15 or pay what you wish. After the concert, there is a free reception for the audience. To learn more or for directions, visit www.brooklynsymphonyorchestra.org.

Some of you might know that I play cello in the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, a community-based orchestra. Founded in 1973, the orchestra, a mix of talented amateur, semi-professional, and sheer joy of the experience. The music for this program is filled with lively, gypsy-inspired melodies — it should be a lot of fun!

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2. Wednesday, October 24th at 7 pm:
Goddess Inspiration Oracle signing

East West Living
(formerly East West Books)
78 Fifth Avenue @ 14th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-243-5994

Since it’s been such a busy fall, I have not planned an “official” publication party for the GIO. So this will be the next best thing!

Hope to see some of you at one or both of these events.

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Save the date - and a review

I know October is not so close, but just in case any of you are in the NYC area and want to plan ahead . . .

What: Goddess Inspiration Oracle signing

When: Wednesday, October 24, 7 pm

Where: East West Living
(formerly East West Books)
78 Fifth Avenue @ 14th Street
New York, New York 10011
Phone: 212-243-5994.
Email: bookpos@eastwestnyc.com

Also, a very nice review of the Goddess Inspiration Oracle is up on Julie Cuccia-Watts’ blog; Julie is the creator of the Maat Tarot and The Ancestral Path Tarot as well as a co-sponsor of WATTS (Wisconsin Area TriState Tarot Symposium), which recently took place and was very successful. Her succinct verdict:

“I give the Goddess Inspiration Oracle a thumbs up for content, multicultural, the feminine divine and art.”

Read the entire review here.

Learn more about the Goddess Inspiration Oracle here.

• Filed under events, goddesses, recent publications, reviews + press, tarot and oracles | No Comments