ArtAwake: "Rochester in Rubber"

ArtAwake is another one of those shocking events for me. Let's role play for a moment. I am pitching an idea to you. Here's the idea: I want to have an art event that shows fine art, interactive art, and musicians, all from the Rochester community, and I want to find some old abandoned spaces in the city to use for the event, and I want to get dozens and dozens of student groups to sponsor it, some that have very little to do with art, and I want to throw this incredible party. Oh yeah, we'll throw some food and drink in there too.

Sounds crazy. Sounds unlikely. Sounds brilliant. This is Artawake.

This is the fourth ArtAwake. I was a spectator at the first, and I have to say, I was blown away. I couldn't believe how many people were there. And not just students. There was a real cross section of the Rochester Community there, wandering around this old warehouse, looking at art, dancing to music. It was nuts.

So when the idea floated my way to enter some art this year, I got kind of jazzed to do it. I got accepted, and "Rochester in Rubber" was born.

What is "Rochester in Rubber?" I tried to take some images that are iconic to Rochester, and capture them in a rubber stamp. I have created a display of those images, and some of the stamps. Images include Susan B. Anthony, the Kodak Tower, a lilac. To go along with the visual, we have an interactive component. We have a big rubber stamp of a front of a postcard that says, "Greetings from Rochester: ArtAwake)." You can stamp this yourself, and take the postcard home with you as a souvenir of the night. Attach a stamp and mail if you want.


When I heard about a week ago that I couldn't mount anything to the wall, I rushed to make a display that could be self standing, and luckily my savior and friend Brian came up with a design and helped to execute it with his Valhalla of power tools. Of course, this took hours and hours of time to assemble, and I owe the luxury of this time to my wife Laura for helping keep everything else a float last week. Big hugs and kisses!



So, I hope you can come and check out ArtAwake on Saturday, April 16th, from 3 pm to 1 am in the Alliance Building, 183 E. Main St., Rochester, New York.

Review of Bears and Brews

First, I should start by saying that Bears and Brews was truly AMAZING!  It was held on April 1 at Crocus Clayworks in the wonderful Hungerford Building in Rochester, NY.  It was part of the First Friday series, an ongoing tradition of artist galleries and studios staying open late on the the first friday of the month for special exhibits and showing.  I was selected by the amazing potters known as Sabre, Jennifer, and Marie at Crocus Clayworks. 

I am taking a guess that we had over 200 people, but it was hard to count, since there was people coming and going the whole night.  I stayed busy talking to people and explaining how I make rubber stamps, and taking custom order inquiries.

Lucky for me my sisters Ellen and Angela,  from St. Lawrence Chocolates, and my wife Laura, were there to help pour beer, wash dishes, and keep the supply of goodies on the table!

We had beer from Custom Brewcrafters, Rohrbachs, and Rogers Pale Ale, as well as A&W Root Beer (which used to be made in part in the Hungerford in its earlier life).  Ellen and Angela made Guinness Truffles, and Maple Carmel Creams, and my mother-in-law Sandy made six dozen mini Guinness cupcakes with Bailey's frosting.  Needless to say, all the sweets were totally gone by the end of the night, and only a little beer was left over.

Big THANK YOU's to all my friends and family who attended.  It was a real special night and I really couldn't have pulled it off without everyone who helped me out!

(Photos by: Dick Beery)

Review of Shreve Migration Sensation 2011

What I love about Shreve Migration Sensation is that you always get more than you expect. Shreve is a small rural Ohio town where things don't change too much. If you go to something in the elementary school gym, you might not expect all that many people or extraordinary events to occur.

Shreve Migration Sensation defies expectations. This was my second time displaying and selling stamps here, and it still surprised me! The weather was cold, but sunny, so the participants came out in great number (early estimates were 1200). I noticed a lot more activity in the vendor market place than two years ago. I had increased sales, and met some really wonder people.

Dick Beery of 3 Oaks Enhancements again shared a booth with me. I can't say enough about Dick's work, and I am a huge fan of his bird photos in particular. It is really wonderful sharing a booth with someone too, because you get to hear some great compliments from complete strangers, which is always a feel good warm fuzzy. You also have someone who can watch the table when you want to check out the work of others, or go get of slice of Pecan Pie.

I was very impressed by BeeOlogy. David and Ellen are real class acts, and my wife got some of their products and was raving already about them. I'll be working on a custom stamp for them, as well as some other custom orders from the show.

Greg Miller was on hand, and I got to get his autograph. Greg is a local of the area (Holmes Co.) and was featured a few years back in a book called "The Big Year". This October, the book is being made into a movie, and Greg will be played by Jack Black.

I don't usually eat much at a show, but this wasn't the case when the best amish restaurant in town is the booth across the aisle from you, and the boy scouts are doing a chicken bbq outside. Cinnamon roll and pecan pie are not part of the approved diet, but sure are good.

Well, these are just a few of the highlights (did I mention that there are birds to see!) and I hope I can do it all again next year.

Bears and Brews

When I sit down to have a cold beer, I want one that is different.  I want one that is crafted in small batches.  I want one with unique flavor.

This is how I look at my hand carved rubber stamps too.  I want to have different stamps, that are unique, and made in small batches.  I want to make them with my own two hands.

What better way to celebrate them both than  at "Bears and Brews" on Friday, April 1 at Crocus Clayworks studio in Suite 225 in the Hungerford Building at 1115 E. Main Street in Rochester, NY, from 5-9 pm.

I got an email in January from the fine potters at Crocus Clayworks asking me if I would be interested in being their featured guest for one of the the First Friday openings that they have each month at their studio.  A one man show, now how could I say NO!  I met with Marie, Sabre, and Jennifer and worked out the details.

What can you expect when you come to the show?  First, you get to explore and shop.  The Hungerford Building is an amazing place of artist studios, and just wandering the halls is an adventure in itself.  But at Crocus Clayworks, you will find me, all my stamps for sale, all of the wonderful pottery from Crocus Clayworks.  Secondly, we will have beer!  I'm a big proponent of trying to buy local, and I try to drink local beer when I can, so expect different beer from a local brewer (no Bud for me).  There will also be some light snacks, something sweet and something salty, and a raffle for a prize basket.

Those who have been to one of the craft shows I have been at know that my stamps range from a flock of birds, to portraits of historic Rochester figures.  This year, I'm putting a real effort into making stamps with masculine qualities: Man Stamps!  I think "Bears and Brews" will be the perfect place to debut some of these new designs.

Can you tell how excited I am about this event?

Back to the swamp!

I am quite excited to be back at the Shreve Migration Sensation on March 26th, 2011 in Shreve, Ohio!

I set up with my father-in-law Dick Beery two years ago, and we had a great day of meeting birders from the area, and getting a chance to talk about our passions.

I got to carve lots of bird stamps, and will be doing the same this year!  Dick (3 Oaks Enhancements) got to display his wonderful photography and he has even more bird photography to share this time around.  Dick won some of the photography contest categories last time around too.  We will be sharing a booth, so we will have a blast no doubt.

If you haven't heard me talk about Shreve Migration Sensation before, know this, it is a great day to watch birds, or people!  The fine people at Shreve Elementary school help to sponsor the day with many other outdoor organizations.  They have workshops, speakers, and experts set up at viewing areas all around the area.  The draw is migrating birds to the wetlands of Killbuck Marsh and nearby Funk Bottoms.  This year, Greg Miller, who was one of the birders featured in the book, "The Big Year" who will be played by Jack Black in the movie of the same name this year, will be the keynote speaker.

The only part of the day I don't like?  That I'm inside and not watching birds!  I'm sure Dick and I will sneak out on Sunday morning to see what we can see!