Projects

I finished this little painting yesterday, and got a start on some projects that I had been putting off for a while due to not having enough time.
I've got a desk, a chair, and a coffee table that are all great/solid/sturdy and wonderful pieces of furniture, but all need to be refinished. 
This one just needs the top sanded down, a few small drill holes patched, and to be refinished.  The legs are in perfect condition.


And then there is this beauty - I found this chair on the side of the road in dire condition without a seat.

I think it was covered in years of swamp muck:

I am pretty sure I can get this chair back to a good place though. 
Last but not least, there is the Lane coffee table that I bought at the thrift shop for $5:

It is very well built, but was covered in nail polish (you can't really see it in this pic, but trust me, there is glittery nail polish smeared all over it). 
So:

Today I tackled the sanding of the coffee table:

Beginnings and Endings

I don't think it has quite sunk in yet that we'll be moving 10 hours away from here in a few short months.  Time has been racing by, and I feel like I need to slow it down and try to get some quality time with my friends and family.  Today and tomorrow are business days though - I've got to go into school and get some last ducks in order, and then head to the studio to organize and start packing up *sniff* *sniff*.  Tomorrow I've got to document and then de-install my work downtown.  It is just nuts how things have fallen into place though, we feel so thankful that Nate got his job, and that there's a possibility that I will be able to pick up a few classes as well.  At the same time there is a bitter sweetness about it as well because we've built up such a great friend group and really gotten involved in the art/music communities here.
So, here is to the beginning of new things, and the ending to others.
Beginnings:

Ceramic Rabbit - Thriftstore Abandonee - Graphite on Paper - 4x4" 

And Endings:

The Burning of an Old Life - A sculpture by Darren Houser - The last breath

And there we have it. 

Short Vacay

This last weekend Nate and I took a weekend trip to Galena for some much needed R&R.  Galena is one of our favorite little getaway places because it is so close and so beautiful.  Our idea of a perfect getaway is one where we can totally relax, eat good food, and walk around exploring. 
We stayed at the Farmers' Guest House - a B&B that we've been to three times now (the first time being on our honeymoon).  The owners Jess and Kathie are great hosts and wonderful cooks.

We had a great stay, and really enjoyed getting the chance to unwind after a hectic last semester.  

Our Room:

We were really lucky with the weather as well, as it had been cold and rainy the entire last week.  It just so happened that it got up to 90 and was sunny all weekend.

We had a wonderful time.

Cha-cha-cha-changes!

Hi all,
First off, some great news - Nate got the teaching position at Dakota State University that he interviewed for!  So, we'll soon be moving to rural South Dakota -- we are excited to get away from the busy busy traffic around Chicago.  Also, we'll be about 40 minutes from Sioux Falls, so there is still contact with the 'outside world'. 

So, to celebrate graduation, Nate getting his job, and my brother-in-law and his girlfriend being done with their school year, we went with them and Nate's parents in to Chicago to see Josh Ritter, and eat gluttonous amounts of food.  Maybe a drink or two as well. :)

If you are unfamiliar with Josh Ritter, go buy his CD now!  They just released the album So Runs the World Away, and my favorite album of theirs is The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter.  They are both amazing. 
Anyways, we had a great time, and they even got a chance to stop by the gallery downtown to see our Grad Group Show.  Tonight I am heading back into the city for our closing reception.  If you are interested, or in the city, come check it out!
It is @ 230 W. Superior St. in RiverNorth -- The second story of the building.

Painting Little Ceramic Bunnies

So, sometimes I just like to paint adorable little ceramic bunnies and deer.  There is no deep concept behind these, just CUTENESS.  So, I apologize to everyone expecting more from me - haha, sometimes you just have to paint sheer adorableness. 

These pics are the painting in progress, I'll post another pic when I'm finished.  This is 6x6" - Oil on canvas. 
Another progress pic:

And then I couldn't stay away from the cuteness.  This is a drawing I'm working on of a ceramic deer that my mother-in-law gave to me after she saw my small ceramic forest animal collection. 

Graphite on Paper - 5x4"
It has been nice to spend some non-stressful time in the studio this week between cooking and cleaning.  Even if it is just to paint and draw cute little animals.  

South Dakota

At the end of last week, Nate had an interview for a teaching position in South Dakota, and I tagged along to check out the town and university.  It was beautiful, and it was nice to get out of Illinois for a bit. 

The town that the university is located in is nice and quiet, which would be a good change of pace from here.  Keep your fingers crossed for us!

We also got to spend a few hours in Sioux Falls before flying back, and to be exceedingly original, we visited the falls!  All in all we had a great time, and met some really great people.  I can't handle the suspense!

NIU MFA Group Show 2010

Last week was the opening of our MFA Group Show that includes all of this year's graduating MFA students.  We still have our work up at 230 W. Superior in RiverNorth (Chicago) until the 21st - which is our closing reception --5-7pm.  The gallery is open 12-5pm on Fridays and Saturdays.  I hope if you are in the area, you get a chance to stop in!
Here are some shots of the opening:
Darren Houser, Myself, and Ann Flowers sitting around Ann's wonderful installation:

Some of my paintings in the show:

Darren Houser and his awesome piece:

And a toast at the very end, from left to right it is Ann Flowers, Brikena Boci, Myself, Darren Houser, Kevin Foy, FuChi Shih, and Jenny Ramos:  

It was a wonderful night and I was super-thankful to all who showed up and showed their support of our graduating class.  I may be biased, but I think the gallery looked really wonderful, and I was proud to show with a group of people who I love.  

We were there the days before for some very full days (all during our finals week, and just after my thesis show) and although we were all exhausted, it was so much fun working together to get this show up.  

A special thanks to Darren for driving and Ann for letting us use your big car to go back and forth to Chicago.  Those slap-happy drives may be one of the best times I had this semester, thanks!

Cassie Marie Edwards -- Thesis Exhibition

I've got some catching up to do on this blog.  First off, I am now officially an MFA graduate! Woo Hoo!  I have been in school solid for the last 20 or so years without  a break, and it hasn't really sunk in that I am finished.

Anyways, as I promised, here are some shots of my thesis exhibition for those of you who couldn't be there in person.

If you want to see more of the work in detail, I've got it all on my website here:
 www.cassiemarie.com

Nate and I:

My Family:

Nate, myself, Matt, and Amber -- of course we had to act like we were five and take a 'funny pic' :)

Special thanks to all of my friends, family, faculty, and students who came out to my reception, it really means a lot to me!

Good Morning!

I just found out one of my photos from my adventure out west this summer was featured on Ree Drummond's blog The Pioneer Woman.  For those of you unfamiliar, go there now.  She's amazing.  You will see why when you visit her blog!

The photo above was the photo chosen for the contest, and I'm really honored.  To take this photo I had to shimmy out on a ledge, and do some creative rock climbing.  It was taken in Arches National Park outside of Moab, UT.  Nate and I left before sunrise just to get that shot.  He and I had gone out west to do filming for his thesis film/recording project.  Here is a link to that project as well (I know I've posted it before, but it deserves a second post) -- be patient, the first few minutes are just music:

Nowhere. from Nathan Edwards on Vimeo.
Well, that is it for now! Hope you are all having a wonderful Saturday!
--Cassie