"Key West Bound" Exhibit at Spotlight Gallery

I am honored to have recently been a featured artist at Spotlight Gallery, the official art gallery of the Vermont Arts Council. An interesting fact: Vermont has the only state-funded arts program in the country! This is just one of the many reasons why Vermont is such a special place. My exhibit, Key West Bound was on display this summer from July 1st to August 31st. You can now view the Key West Bound series of prints, on my website. Please visit:
http://caseyblanchard.com/inner_portf_keywest.html

The Vermont Arts Council described my exhibit as "bursting with color and texture. It's a treat for art lovers, nature lovers, and anyone who simply loves beauty." The Key West Bound Series is about sense of place and Key West's fragile yet insistent ability to thrive. Key West's rich interconnected web of life is bound by her location set out in the sea, the hurricane and weather patterns, and all manner of visitors - human, flora and fauna. The diverse manifestation of life and beauty make me appreciate the vibrancy and joy of being alive. In creating and sharing these images inspired by Key West, I hope to slow people down, so they really notice, connect, and take care of this special and unusual place.

The Spotlight Gallery is open to the public Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and is located in the corridor and conference room of our offices at 136 State Street in Montpelier.

Key West Bound 77, 2010

16 x 21 mixed media

$895

Art Hop 2013: Casey Blanchard Studios - Open Studio & Juried Show Featured Artist

Burlington, Vermont is a haven for artists all year round. However, the end of summer signals the annual South End Art Hop, a special weekend event (September 6 - 8, 2013) where studio artists open their private studios for the public and local galleries display countless beautiful, inspiring and intriguing creations by Vermont artists. We invite you to visit Casey Blanchard Studios on 266 South Champlain Street. The studio will be open Friday from 3 to 10pm and Saturday from 10 to 4pm. In addition, Casey has artwork which has been special selected to appear in the Juried Show (see art image below). To learn more about the details of the Juried Show, please click here.

To view Casey's profile as a participating artist in the 2013 Art Hop, please click here. (She is listed under 48B).

Casey also participated in the Art Hop in 2012 as well as several years ago.

 

Core 1 - Monoprint. Framed - $795.

Chihuly Exhibit at the Montréal Fine Arts Museum

Photo by Casey Blanchard.

Earlier this summer I made a special trip to the Montréal Fine Arts Museum to see an exhibit by Dale Chihuly, "Mille Fiori". It was fantastic and truly a feast for the eyes. This dazzling exhibit is on display from June 8 to October 20, 2013 and is not-to-be-missed!

Who is Chihuly? Born in Tacoma in 1941, Dale Chihuly is regarded as the "Tiffany" of our day and has been exploring the plastic potential of blown glass for over fifty years. With fire, gravity, breath and centrifugal force, this accomplished master plays with colours, reflections and organic forms, using repetition, accumulation and layering arrangements of modular and singular elements to create unparalleled rhythms and visual effects. (Quoted from the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts exhibit page for the Chihuly exhibit: http://www.breathtaking.ca/)

For more information, please visit the following sites:

http://www.breathtaking.ca/

http://www.chihuly.com/

Quoted from Chihuly. Photo by Casey Blanchard.

Photo by Casey Blanchard.

Photo by Casey Blanchard.

Photo by Casey Blanchard.

Julia Luckett and Nick Pierce. Photo by Casey Blanchard.

Dan Cox and Casey Blanchard. Photo by Julia Luckett.

Julia Luckett and Nick Pierce. Photo by Casey Blanchard.

Akua Water-Based Inks: The Safer Choice for Printmakers

Image - courtesy of http://www.akuainks.com/

I recently took a printmaking class through New England Arts at Bennington College to learn how to use Akua water-based inks. I absolutely loved the class and learned so much. More importantly, I will soon be switching over to these nontoxic, water-based, easy to clean inks. Over the years, printmakers have been faced with the dilemma of being exposed the toxic printmaking ink chemicals in the name of creating art. Thanks to Susan Rostow & William Jung, creators of Akua water-based inks (now a part of the Speedball family of products), artists no longer need to sacrifice their health. This is such an excellent product and I'm excited to start using it!

Visual & Performing Arts Center (VAPA), Bennington College, VT. Photos by Casey Blanchard.

Featured Cover Art and Article for Coffee Talk Magazine - July 2013

I am thrilled to have the featured cover art for the July 2013 issue of Coffee Talk Magazine, in addition to an accompanying article about my coffee cards!

Coffee Cards by Casey Blanchard

Photo by Julia Luckett

Fareed Zakaria said, in order to understand the world, you have to travel and see the world, with your eyes and mind wide open. Experiencing the world of coffee has done just that by introducing me to one of the most humanly engaged, diverse, and vibrant businesses on the planet. Visiting coffee farms and meeting the workers, managers, and owners in dozens of countries, attending SCAA, NCA, CQI conventions and board meetings, and volunteering for Grounds For Health in the remote regions of Mexico has been transformative. The perspective I have gained from my husband, Dan Cox of Coffee Enterprises, has been invaluable. I have been inspired by the commitment of so many to survive and thrive.

While so many in the coffee industry experience challenges, they also have the determination to solve their problems and ultimately put coffee in the cups of consumers. However, there is a part of this industry, possibly the most important, that has the fewest resources to ensure their survival: the very families we count on to grow the coffee. Within those families are women, the very backbone in their communities, who are desperate for opportunities to ensure their basic needs are met. They are the same women that are last on everyone’s lists. I have seen women receiving precious drops of helpful investments and turn it into buckets of thirst quenching solutions. It is powerful and inspiring!

The coffee world has supported my family and friends in so many ways, now I want to give back at the source, to the women and families that bring us coffee. How does this artist give back? I have created coffee note cards for coffee companies to use for retail or as Thank Yous for their clients. The idea is to sell the cards, donate a portion of the sales and help ensure the continuation of valuable programs: Grounds for Health, Food 4 Farmers, and The International Women’s Coffee Alliance.

Please go to my website to learn more about these important nonprofits and to purchase the note cards: http://caseyblanchard.com/giving_gallery.html

Sincerely,

Casey Blanchard

casey@caseyblanchard.com

www.CaseyBlanchard.com

PO Box 777

Shelburne, VT  05445

(802) 985-3037

Coffee Art & Cards, a Gift that Keeps on Giving!

To purchase coffee art and cards click Here

 

My coffee art was inspired by a desire to give back to the coffee community, especially the families at the origin countries that are growing the coffee. After traveling to dozens of countries that produce the coffee beans and volunteering for Grounds for Health, my world view of agriculture and its social and economic community has been drastically altered. My husband, Dan Cox, his company, Coffee Enterprises and our many coffee friends, all along the coffee chain have been catalysts for positive change. Under every sip of coffee are important human stories.

Any sale of coffee art or cards will generate a donation to Grounds for Health, Food4Farmers and International Women's Coffee Alliance to help fund their valuable programs. Make life better for coffee families and feel good about drinking that wonderful cup of Coffee!

To learn about these not for profit organizations please go to their websites below:

Grounds For Health
International Women's Coffee Alliance
Food 4 Farmers

To purchase coffee art please go to:

Casey Blanchard Coffee Art Link

National Coffee Association, 102nd Conference held in San Francisco, California

                                                             National Coffee Association

       

So many wonderful memories, walking in the glorious Redwoods in the Mill Valley and visiting our friends, the Baldwin’s in Glen Ellen wine country (founder of Starbucks).  Yet, the highlight of the NCA convention for me was the International Women’s Coffee Alliance and guest speaker, Grace Hightower De Niro, ( yes, the wife of  Robert De Niro).

Grace told her compelling story about growing up on a farm in Missouri in the 50’s and 60’s and years later being in NYC at a fundraiser that lead her to the coffee lands of Rwanda. The connection and Grace’s desire to improve the quality of their lives, was powerful enough to evolve into her own brand of fair trade coffee that is currently sold at Whole Foods supermarkets. From actress, singer and Mother, to a successful coffee philanthropist!  Grace’s love and dedication to empowering women worldwide led her to launch Grace Hightower & Coffees of Rwanda, with the mission of enhancing the lives of the Rwanda people by providing opportunities to market their unique products to the world.