If you didn't know, TraillWorks is celebrating its 5th Anniversary this year, as well as its grand reopening at 214 Spring Street in Newton. This past Saturday I threw a big bash to celebrate large with my family, friends, and supporters and hired my friend, photographer Rob Yaskovic, to shoot the event. He was kind enough to post a blog with some of the pics and wrote a flattering commentary on TraillWorks and me. Do read on . . . or follow this link: Yaskovic Wedding & Portrait.
I am pleased to announce the inclusion of jewelry to TraillWorks! I've always had an interest in unique, hand made jewelry, but never the space to sell it. With 1000 additional square feet and beautiful jewelry cases, I'm now able to do it. Meet my three jewelry artists below and stop in to see their gorgeous work in person!
Marty Traill Schaeffer, otherwise known as "mom" to me, graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in art education with a focus in metalsmithing. After a thirty-year hiatus, the artist is making jewelry again, with her debut at TraillWorks. While she is still experimenting with techniques and materials her interest lies in textured spheres, whether bowls, rings, or organic drops of silver, that accentuate natural stones and beads where incorporated.
From $20 - $110
Bernadette Blaney, owner and designer of Glassical, has been working and growing with glass for over ten years. Her work fuses Dichroic glass into exquisite pendants, brooches, earrings, barrettes and cufflinks. If you visited 214 prior to TraillWorks, you may know of Bernadette's work. She is the former owner of Radiant Essentials which used to occupy my location. She's known around Newton as "The Glass Lady". From $18 - $95
Liesl Carlson, of central Mass, took many classes in various forms of art and craft. She took her first jewelry making class in 2005 and then quickly joined the Professional Craft Studies Program at the Worcester Center for Crafts. Liesl then moved to Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton NJ, where she took jewelry workshops and worked for Judy Neugebauer. Liesl has been in many exhibitions including Craftforms and most recently New Jersey Arts Annual: Craft. She has appeared in many publications, most notably 30 Minute Earrings from Lark Books due out in July 2010. Her jewelry, influenced by the snow-covered New England landscape, focuses on the play of texture and reflection on the silver.
From $130 - $300
On Tuesday, I had a special visit from an 8-foot tall, cadmium red Empire State Building. My friend, Tony Lordi, visited my new studio and mentioned he was driving "The Empire, In Red" around Newton taking pictures so I invited him to bring it into TraillWorks for a photo op. He was thrilled; brought it inside in partitions, set it up in a matter of minutes and started shooting. Ringo happened to be there and found his way in a few pics.
The 8-foot tall, wooden construction painted in bright cadmium red is the focus of a new project he's embarking on. Tony has been working with The Empire State building since the late 80s when he had a wildly successful exhibit at Jack Gallery in NYC which was accompanied by major media attention and international opportunities.
He says of the project, "My intention is to install and photograph the piece in a series of settings, it's iconic image presented within various environments. The only common denominator among the otherwise disparate images will be The Empire, In Red. In essence, the building will serve to unite the otherwise unconnected environments as a sort of ambassador of cultural experience.
The first phase of the project will be a group show of the resulting photography. Ultimately, I plan to publish a limited edition book documenting the project and show. [One possible image is] The stage door of 'Jersey Boys'. Frankie Valli gazes up at The Empire, in Red with folded arms. The caption will read 'You’re just to good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you!'"
"The Empire, In Red" has left TraillWorks, but if you're interested in a photo op with Tony's sculpture, contact him at tonylordi@earthlink.net.
With TraillWorks' recent relocation, I decided it was time to freshen up it's branding. I was tired of my old logo and felt that it really didn't communicate who I was anymore. After a month or so of talking to several designers, I finally decided to work with my friend, Renie Garlick of Zhine-Studio, a very talented artist of many hats. She was fantastic to work with, not only because she knows me and my business very well, but she asked so many questions and made me think of things I hadn't thought of. After six revisions, here's the end result . . .
I can't wait to start using the new logo, but its rollout may take a little while as I'm focused on getting my new studio set up. Stay tuned for updates to TraillWorks at 214 Spring Street.
So I haven't gotten to blog as much as I would have liked to the in the past month, but I haven't had a moment free to get to the computer until now. Part of the reason for that was spending three days last week giving demos at SVA (School of Visual Arts) in NYC on behalf of Pebeo.
I've been using Pebeo paints since I discovered them in 2004 while working at Pearl Paint. It 
was there the I met one of the company's sales reps and have maintained a great relationship since. They invited me to give some workshops at SVA in tandem with the company's introduction of some new specialty paint lines within their XL Oil and Studio Acrylics (Dyna & Glaze Colors).The week was fantastic; an amazing experience to present in front of classes of twenty where all were interested in 
what I was sharing! I did five demos, in freshman painting classes, exploring the depth and breadth of the paint lines.Above are some shots of the demo, and a closeup of one of my current paintings using XL Oil Dyna colors. Thank you to painting professor, Conor McGrady, for taking such great shots during Friday's demo, to Anne Clark of SVA for her help and hospitality, all of the teachers and students at SVA, and to Pebeo for providing the opportunity!
Detail of In-Progress Painting, 27" x 72", Oil on Paper, Using Pebeo XL Dyna Colors, ©2010 Jennie Traill Schaeffer
Several years ago when I participated in a residency at Peters Valley, I kept an almost daily blog of my experience there - creating artwork, developing friendships with the artists, and the events we held. I'm now in the midst of another major change in my career; moving my studio, TraillWorks, to a larger space. So, since I had so much interest two years ago, I thought I would track my progress, sharing the changes of the space as well as the ordeal of relocating a business.Here's a taste of what's to come. My husband spent Sunday removing shelving so we would have more 
wall space to hang artwork. My son had a ton of fun running around the big empty space, playing hide and seek and trying to help Daddy. I'm hoping to get to 214 today in the snow to start spackling holes, so check back later this week to see my progress.PHOTOS:
From Top Left Down to Lower Right - My studio area, main gallery taken from the 
front, My son exploring mom's new space, View of the bay windows looking onto Spring Street
Yes, it's arriving quickly, my move to 214 Spring Street. I'm celebrating this weekend on Newton's 2nd Saturday with an impromptu sendoff party. Join me this Saturday with your Valentine to wish 135 goodbye before I pack up the studio for the big move. View the details of the day here.
SHOW YOUR SWEETHEART HOW BIG YOUR HEART IS . . .
You still have time to participate in my Wedding Cake Photo contest. Email me a jpeg of your wedding cake by Friday and you'll be entered to win 25% off your first Wedding Cake Portrait. In the email include your name, email address, and please keep the image size within 2 mb.
- 5% of all of your purchases will be donated to Friends of the Orphans in Haiti.
- Secret Sweetheart Specials throughout the gallery.
- Love Rocks and Heart Shaped Pendants by Kathy Morawski are still available for your Valentine.
Images:
Top Right, Wedding Cake Photo Contest at TraillWorks
Lower Right, Love Rocks and Heart-Shaped Agate Pendants by Guest Artist, Kathy Morawski
So I haven't gotten to blog as much as I would have liked to the in the past month, but I haven't had a moment free to get to the computer until now. Part of the reason for that was spending three days last week giving demos at SVA (School of Visual Arts) in NYC on behalf of Pebeo.
was there the I met one of the company's sales reps and have maintained a great relationship since. They invited me to give some workshops at SVA in tandem with the company's introduction of some new specialty paint lines within their XL Oil and Studio Acrylics (Dyna & Glaze Colors).
what I was sharing! I did five demos, in freshman painting classes, exploring the depth and breadth of the paint lines.
Detail of In-Progress Painting, 27" x 72", Oil on Paper, Using Pebeo XL Dyna Colors, ©2010 Jennie Traill Schaeffer
Several years ago when I participated in a residency at Peters Valley, I kept an almost daily blog of my experience there - creating artwork, developing friendships with the artists, and the events we held. I'm now in the midst of another major change in my career; moving my studio, TraillWorks, to a larger space. So, since I had so much interest two years ago, I thought I would track my progress, sharing the changes of the space as well as the ordeal of relocating a business.
wall space to hang artwork. My son had a ton of fun running around the big empty space, playing hide and seek and trying to help Daddy. I'm hoping to get to 214 today in the snow to start spackling holes, so check back later this week to see my progress.
front, My son exploring mom's new space, View of the bay windows looking onto Spring Street
Yes, it's arriving quickly, my move to 214 Spring Street. I'm celebrating this weekend on Newton's 2nd Saturday with an impromptu sendoff party. Join me this Saturday with your Valentine to wish 135 goodbye before I pack up the studio for the big move. View the details of the day here.
