i created this two piece in my first years in Pittsburgh "long gone" is a two part piece art work included in a group show titled "Rust Belt Ruminations". (Painting & embroidered handkerchief) i am madly sentimental and enjoyed playing with the idea of our history. (cont below)

I excitedly studied things of Pittsburgh history after first moving here 15 years ago The paintings edge holds images of demolished buildings and areas once in Pittsburgh Most often, these were wonderful places! Vibrant lower Hill District, Luna Amusement park, Marketplace in Allegheny City (northside) ...etc painted in a swirl of steel mill smog , that although shockingly grotesque to us, I tried to capture my imagined its moody brooding beauty . all in a swirl.

Ironically, the art gallery this showed in is gone now too ;)

This painting was made in spirit of things that belong somewhere, yet still don't.
In my new venture as full time artist, I feel finally in my right place again. Yet sometimes I feel it looks something like this. Sure a ship belongs in water, but not all bodies of it.

I grew up at the oceanside, where Tall Ships came the summer I turned 10.
My father was a translator for the ship from France! As a perk, we went aboard their ship and attended a evening party under a tent filled with band music (and drinks, merriment). It is the only time I ever saw my parents dance together. They moved like the gliding of Fred and Ginger. A secret talent revealed! I will never forget it, even when everyone else has.
Have you ever heard a ship creak?
The painting title is a play on words ;)
Im positive a tall ship in this creek would creak.
xo

It can feel to be a mind game to dig deeply and give thanks when things have not gone well, but practice gratitude as if everyday is a "thanksgiving". It turns things around!
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leaving this done added Sweet peas my late Aunts favorite flower, which grows wild in the bee garden xoV.

Here is an image of the painting I created to donate to the museums auction. If you are not familiar with the faces, they are Dolly Parton and Porter Wagner. The song they are singing is "Just Someone I Used To Know". 
It's a pretty sweet heartbroken ditty that stuck to me.

As you can see, I chose to place the horseshoes as similarly found in Porters famed Western "Nudie Suits" with sparkled icon designs.  

The MF Garden Party theme this year was Wild West. 
To me, none more Wild than the frontier of love. ~Victoria

Mattress Factory Art Museum gave artists two horse shoes to incorporate into their piece. 

Here are the ones they gave me.

I'm lucky!

I was asked to donate my artwork for the art auction in the annual Urban Garden Party that Pittsburgh's Mattress Factory Art Museum creates. Only given two horse shoes, I was left to ponder what kind of painting I could fit on them...

The idea I came up with was more personal and yet fitting for their Wild West theme. 
(images to follow in next post)