Blazing Star Herbal School:March 2022 Edition
Month in Recap
(Care- Guide by Artist Tina Louise)
Happy Pride Month everyone! There are so many ways to support Pride Month- remembering that originally Pride honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising (in Manhattan) when police raided a gay bar in New York City and its patrons fought back. In the weeks that followed LGBTQ+ activists (primarily trans women of color, like the Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and many others were at the forefront of these riots, demanding justice. As Pride celebrations pop up everywhere, I think it is important to remember its somber roots.
If you are looking for an organization to support this month May I suggest the LGBT Asylum Taskforce out of Worcester MA. Please take a moment to learn about this amazing organization.
We had a successful May DayCraft Fair. Thanks to all our amazing and kind vendors, wow you all inspire me! Thank You also to our combined communities who came out and supported us and socialized on the beautiful sunny May Day we were handed. Wow! What a gift. Finally, Thank You to our hardworking volunteers Anne Kaplan and Rebecca Clemente! I Appreciate you both!
Please continue to support artists and small local businesses, It's a tough world out there.
Misa Chappell Artist @misachappel
Joanna Gabler http://naturetransfigured.com
Helene Uprichard @uprichardhelene
Jennifer Goodheart @violet.hill.botanicals
Nancy Haver @nancyhaverart
Leslie Chaison @Peoplesmedicineproject
Megan Smithers Owl Studios @megansmithers8
Lainie Burgess @Virago
Nola Snyder @oakandroseherbal.
Emmy Howard Winding Path Herbs
Jim Markham Summit Sound Health
A.T. Gibson Claywork https://atgibsonclaywork.bigcartel.com
Lilian Jackman wilderhillpress.com
Carolyn Walker www.CranberryHillHealingArts.com
Leslie Chaison. @peoplesmedicineproject
Denise Beaudet https://www.facebook.com/denise.beaudet/
Nathalie Lewis Handmade Books
Amy Solidago Botanical Arts
And we already have a date for 2023 Sunday APRIL 30th - hope to see all of you there! I have some extra surprises brewing!
The 22nd cycle of the beginner / intermediate Apprenticeship is now under way! Here are a few of the apprentices connecting with their sense of wonder on a cool and wet spring day! (photo by Razz)
Have a great month and support your neighborhood queers!
Green Blessings
Tony(a) Lemos
https://linktr.ee/TonyaLemosArts
Cyanotype 101
A One Day Workshop
Sat June 11th
11-4 pm
$160 (including all materials)
The cyanotype (Prussian-blue image on a white background) also known as ferro-prussiate or blue print process or simply sun prints, was invented and named by Sir John Herschel in 1842 and is one of the oldest photographic processes. It was popularized by Anna Atkins, one of a handful of women working in photography in the mid-1800s. Atkins also had the first published book (in1843) using images made with the cyanotype method, called 'Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, Cyanotypes of British and Foreign Flowering Plants and Ferns.'
It is one of the easiest printing techniques you can do at home without expensive equipment or a photography darkroom. The chemicals needed are easy to find and inexpensive (because there are no precious metals involved) While this was a very popular printing process for engineers well into the 20th century, it is becoming increasingly popular with photographers and artist wanting to expand their creativity with printing.
In this workshop participants will make dry cyanotypes from found plant material, and digital negatives* as well as experiment with wet cyanotypes using suds and kitchen spices. At the end of the we’ll also discuss toning and staining cyanotypes, and how the process can be adapted to other surfaces.
Who is this workshop good for?
Any creatives – who want to jump into the world of alternative photographic printing techniques. This is one of the easiest printing techniques for photography. All levels welcome
Cyanotypes are amazing for making one-of-a-kind prints and collage papers for mixed media art. Sometimes results are predicable, sometimes they are not. We will work with the sun as our UV light source, and the sun and weather at the time will determine the intensity and sort of cyanotype prints we produce.
NEW DATE! NEW DATE! NEW DATE! NEW DATE! NEW DATE! NEW DATE!
BOTANICAL ART IN-STUDIO PROGRAM
beginning on Friday May 20th
Course covers:
Basics of eco-printing (paper and fabric)
Botanical Dyeing
Botanical Paper Making
Intro to Printing (monotype/gel/relief)
The language of plants
Creating herbariums
Alternative processes in Photography (Anthotypes + Cyanotypes)
Seed and Earth Art
Getting + Staying creative (practices)
The Art of Seeing
Finding and developing your unique style
Finding inspiration from the world around you
Learn "new" ways to connect with the magic and medicine of plants. Our ancestors drew health, strength, nourishment, and meaning from their relationship to the natural world, and yet today most of us have lost that vital connection leaving us ungrounded and lacking a deep sense of place. There is such healing when we connect materials to place, I use found materials from a particular place to help establish a relationship with it. The result has me feeling more grounded, content and spiritually freer. We will explore a series of ideas working with nature—in its widest sense—to nurture our creativity, inspire us, make us more sustainable as artists, and breathe back energy and flow when our artistic streams run dry. The study of nature through art allows the “student-artist” to experience, observe, value, analyze, synthesize and express their understanding of, and relationship to, nature, the environment and elements.
Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world," says Christianne Strang, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Alabama Birmingham and the former president of the American Art Therapy Association."Anything that engages your creative mind — the ability to make connections between unrelated things and imagine new ways to communicate — is good for you," says Girija Kaimal. She is a professor at Drexel University and a researcher in art therapy, leading art sessions with members of the military suffering from traumatic brain injury and caregivers of cancer patients.In 2010, the American Journal of Public Health published a review titled, The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health The creative process relieves stress, encourages creative thinking, boosts self-esteem, and provides a sense of accomplishment.
This is a journey to find new creativity through our connection with the natural world and is suitable everyone who is curious about the world around. No prior herbal experience necessary.
Studio Class Dates: (monthly class with opportunities for studio time) One Friday per month beginning Friday June 17th (8 classes total + 9th for show and tell of final projects)
Class times: 10am-4pm
Cost: $850 (plus $80 materials fee payable in cash on class 1) Deposit of $200 holds your spot.
For more info BOTANICAL ART IN STUDIO PROGRAM 2022
Please to announce that I will be showing my latest art work in North Adams in August!
"Local Wonder: An Ode to Rachel Carson"
Selected new works by
Tony(a) Lemos
The Nook
Common Folk Artist Collective
North Adams, MA
August 5th - September 2nd 2022
Opening Reception
Sat August 6th
More details in the July Newsletter!
CLASSIFIEDS:
****** All past apprentices are welcome to send in related classified ads. We love to grow our community*****
Save the date!
We are looking for a few vendors for this day long music festival celebrating the IMA and their community! If you feel like you are a good fit please contact me. The fee is $20. The audience is heavily teens and families!
Thanks for reading!
See you all next time
xoxo Tony(a)