100 Bowls of Compassion Gala at the National Building Museum

Join us Thursday, May 14th from 6-9:30 pm

at the National Building Museum for our

8th Annual 100 Bowls of Compassion Gala!

I'm happy to have 3 pieces in the silent art auction and even happier to contribute to this terrific event to help raise funds for Miriam's Kitchen. It's a beautiful event, please join us!

Tickets are $250 and will serve as your gateway to a night of gourmet cuisine, an open bar, live music and unique auction items.

If you've been to Bowls before, you may fondly remember the Lobster Purses, the Lamb Tagine or even the Black Eyed Pea Cakes. Lucky for you, these attendee favorites are making a comeback as we celebrate the Best of Bowls. Guests at this year's gala will feast on gourmet selections from each of the past 7 years, making this a can't miss event. View this year's menu!100 Bowls of Compassion is our largest source of revenue. In fact, we raised more than $300,000--nearly a third of our budget--last year! By leveraging in-kind donations and our dedicated volunteer base most effectively (the evening's meal is prepared and served by our volunteers, and much of the serving equipment and table linens are donated to us by Ridgewells), we are able to keep our costs for the event very low.

" Compassion is like the moon shining on one hundred bowls of water, so that there are one hundred moons, one in each bowl. This is not the moon’s design nor was it designed by anyone else. But for some strange reason there seems to be one hundred moons in one hundred bowls of water.”- Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Tibetan Meditation Master

Bridget's Bird Blog

On her very lovely bridbird blog, Bridget Farmer says the following:

"I've been looking into the myths and legends of crows and ravens for my new exhibition happening in September. I want to create a new body of work based on the positive beliefs about these birds rather than the ominous. I'm looking into subject matter such as two crows seen on your wedding day signifies an auspicious marriage due to the fact that crows mate for life and are very loyal. Also how the cry of the raven sounds like the latin word for 'tomorrow' which is 'cras' and therefore the romans interpreted it as an expression of eternal hope."

In addition to my 'Thinking Bird' above, learn more about the ravens and crows currently inspiring Bridget Farmer here: http://bridbird.blogspot.com/

My Favorite Thing About Washington, DC

.....the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin. Quite possibly, I've never experienced anything more beautiful than being surrounded by the puffy little pale pink blossoms surrounding the Jefferson Memorial. I've enjoyed both early morning sunrise picnics and late evening champagne celebrations on the banks of the Tidal Basin during peak blossom week. I look forward to it every year and plan to walk down there (from Woodley Park) several times over the next week. If you go - don't drive, it's impossible. Take metro - or cab it as close as you can get and walk the rest.

For more about this image: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20109561

Thanks to Sara Christine for including my photo on her blog! It's pretty fantastic and you can read it here: http://sara-christine.blogspot.com/ Have a great time in NYC!

Inspiration DC

Notes on design, style, entertainment

and anything else that inspires -

both in DC and across the country.

http://inspirationdc.blogspot.com/

Thanks very much to Inspiration DC for the feature of me & photos of my work on their fantastic blog! Inspiration DC is: "a graphic designer living in the wonderful city of Washington, DC. I am always finding so much inspiration by the life that surrounds me...." Click on the link above to see the beautiful posts.....Cherie

Design Milk & Monoscope

thanks so much to design milk and monoscope.com for recently featuring some of my works on their fantastic sites: http://design-milk.com/page/2/ & http://www.monoscope.com/

collageprints on wood...

Archival pigment prints of my original collages on recycled wood.

Outfitted with brass hooks on the back - ready to hang!

New Pieces Jan/Feb 2009 ||| Mixed Media Painting/Collages

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

All are large scale, mixed-media painting/collages on canvas or paper.

Reproduction quality shown here is ok but lacks proper color and texture detail.

Working on a Series.....

(sold)

One of many new original collages with a vintage feel...will post more as I finish!

This is a beautiful, beautiful blog. Check it out to brighten your day! Was happy to find one of my DC pics amongst a collage of beautiful images of Washington, posted for last month's inaguration.

find it here:

http://theenglishmuse.blogspot.com/2009/01/week-ahead.html

Just came across this very nice blog entry with a few of my pics & info about some works. Love the blog created by two design enthusiasts here in DC! Check out their site when you have a chance.

it's here:

http://primed4design.blogspot.com/2008/10/cherie-lester-photography-mixed-media.html

On Vastu's Blog....

Image from Vastu's website. The store is located at 1829 14th Street here in Washington, DC

Thanks to Vastu, the very cool furniture store on 14th, for featuring me in their blog this week. Pictured are photos of Bertoia chairs I took in NYC @ Moma. (below)

check out the article here: http://blog.vastudc.com/

Recycled Wood Photoprints on ArtsyRubbish

montmartre, paris, www.cherielester.etsy.com

www.cherielester.etsy.com

Thanks to Tess for the mention on her blog - http://www.artsyrubbish.com/ . Her fantastic blog includes art pieces created using upcycled, recycled and repurposed materials. Shown are my mini photoprints on wood - wood I've salvaged, cut, sanded and re-used as a substrate for the mini photos and collages. They are so fun to make and were a great project last November.

I'll be showing at the Downtown Holiday Market for 6 days in December. It's a fantastic, lively event in the (new) heart & hot spot of downtown DC in the Chinatown/Penn Quarter area. We'll be on F Street, NW between 7th and 9th Streets, directly across from one of my fav spots - Hotel Monaco. It's especially beautiful at night with lots of beautiful holiday lighting, hot beverages and live music. Last year, visitors to the Downtown Holiday Market were amazed by such a fantastic grouping of local artists and artisans and were reminded of previous visits to many outdoor European art markets. It's a great way to feel the spirit of the season.

I'll have lots of new work, including photoprints on wood, framed travel images and lots of new originals - paintings, collage and mixed media. Two entirely different kinds of work depending on what you are looking for.

The "Gallery Place" metro is just steps away. Rain, snow or shine. Noon til 8pm. Please feel free to email me with questions: cherielester@prodigy.net . Here are the dates I'll be there:

12/11 - thursday

12/12 - friday

12/18 - thursday

12/19 - friday

12/20 - saturday

12/21 - sunday

Hope to see you there,

Cherie

new work....

MPAartfest this Sunday, Oct 5th

This coming Sunday, October 5th, one of the finest art shows in the area, the MPAartfest at the McLean Project for the Arts takes place. Please check out the MPA website (below) for details and be sure to check out this amazing art show.

Their info:

McLean Project for the Arts presents a community art festival Sunday October 5, 2008 10 am to 5pm in McLean Central Park

On October 5th, 2008 MPAartfest will transform McLean Central Park into a lively landscape of mini art galleries showcasing and offering for sale the work of a diverse group of more than 40 juried artists.

about McLean Project for the Arts

MPA/Corcoran, an educational partnership, offers art classes for children and adults taught by instructors from the Corcoran College of Art + Design. MPA also presents the Art Reach program for area schools, gallery talks, and day trips to area museums and galleries.

The mission of McLean Project for the Arts is to exhibit the work of emerging and established artists from the mid-Atlantic region; to promote public awareness and understanding of the concepts of contemporary art; and to offer instruction and education in the visual arts.

Much more show info is available at: http://www.mpaart.org/index.php

this coming Saturday, Oct 4th!

recent works

sold

sold

New mixed media collage paintings. Sold the bottom left piece on Saturday but am working away on many new pieces for MPArtfest (see below for info) which takes place on Sunday 10/5. Will continue to upload quick pics as works are (semi) completed.

622press.wordpress.com

Thanks so much to Kristen, printer extraordinaire, from 622press in Madison, WI for featuring me and my work in her blog. Check out her very nice entry here: http://622press.wordpress.com/

Her past features are great, but the best is her own story about obtaining a press (pix and story are in the blog) and setting up a studio. Be sure to read her "About" section. I love seeing original, handmade work created in its pure, original form. Thanks again!

Come Visit Me in September at Arts on Belmont in Adams Morgan, Washington, DC

Come check out this fun show on Sunday, September 14th from 10am - 7pm, held on Belmont Street between 18th and Columbia Ave in Adams Morgan, Washington, DC. There will be an amazing collection of exhibitors, musicians, events and great food to choose from. I'll be in space #26 located on Belmont Street. Lots of photography & lots of new collage work. See you there!

I'll be showing at this great art show in September...

43rd Street Festival of the Arts

Saturday, September 13th, 2008

10am - 5pm

Art & Fine Crafts

fine, funky and functional art

65 of the region's finest artisans

Live Music and Great Food

Located at the corner of Forest Hill Ave

and 43rd Street, Richmond, Virginia

Summer Shows Over.....Back in September

Yes, summer shows are over for now - but please feel free to contact me via email ( cherielester@prodigy.net ) for a studio appointment. The studio is located in Woodley Park, just off of Connecticut Ave in Washington, DC. I have lots of framed photo-prints and matted, original, abstract works to see.

Check back for info on 4 upcoming shows in mid-Sept/Oct in Adams Morgan, Richmond, McLean and Alexandria.

I'll be showing a piece at the following:

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities would like to invite you to join us for the FY2009 Visual Arts Applicants' Showcase.

Opening Reception: July 16, 2008, 6:30 PM
Exhibition Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Saturday
July 17 - August 1, 2008

Katzen Arts Center
American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
(Take Metro Red-Line to Tenleytown/AU Station)

For more information call (202) 724-5613

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Purchase

I'm very happy to say that the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities purchased two of my collage pieces from the Art-O-Matic show. To say the least, it's very exciting to be adding my works to the wonderful collection of art owned by the District of Columbia.

On a similar note....stay tuned for upcoming info on a DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities 2009 Fellowship Applicants group show I'll be in. It will be held on July 16th at the Katzen Arts Center on the American University campus. It's free and open to the public. I'll be entering one piece - - which I haven't made yet! Better get busy........

Two Great Shows in Lewes, Delaware

I'll be in Lewes, Delaware for the first 2 Saturdays in July to participate in a couple of favorite shows - the St. Peter's Art Show and the Lewes Historical Society Craft Show. Both are held in downtown Lewes and take place on Saturday, July 5th (9am-4pm) and Saturday, July 12th (10am-4pm). Both are outdoors so participation is weather dependent.

check out their links for directions:

http://www.stpeterslewes.org/Artshow.htm

http://www.historiclewes.org/visit/find.html

Art-O-Matic Marketplace this Saturday!

c. lester 2008

Thought I'd let you all know about the upcoming Art-O-Matic "Marketplace" happening this Saturday, June 7th, 2008 from 12pm-5pm. It'll be held on the 1st Floor in the Cabaret Stage area. I'll be showing a little bit of everything including photography, collage and new works.

In addition to the marketplace, there are 8 more floors of local works to be seen by almost 800 participants, live music, art-related workshops, fantastic city views and a bar/lounge on most floors. Art-O-Matic is a city-wide, non-juried event and is free and open to the public. It runs Wed-Sun from May 9th through June 15th (check their website for hours). It's located in the new, fast-growing NoMa area of DC and is located across from the New York Ave red line metro stop. More info can be found at http://www.artomatic.org/

more.....

The outside of Art-O-Matic in NoMa.

my space on the 12th floor.

2 more pix i took last night. one is of the exterior of art-0-matic the other is of my finally finished display. lots of people came through last night and it was great to see such a turn out! with 12 floors to visit, many people will be back to take a closer look.....cherie

new artomatic photos 5/6/08

very cool sculpture backlit by the sky facing west

one of the cool west elm lounges w/great capitol views

couple of pics from artomatic 2008. i took them last night (tues) while there installing my new lights. i still haven't hung (or finished!) my works but will by the end of the day as tonight is the last night for "install". the big opening is in 2 days - - friday, may 9th.

Artomatic Pix - Under Construction on 4/30/08

Here are some pix of the 12th floor of the new Artomatic space. In one short week it will be transformed! BTW - the views of Washington, DC are amazing - day or night. And, the 12th floor (as high as you can go) is the best place to see them. I'm on the 12th floor, NE, D3. My space is the last picture shown (with the white wall) before I paint it "Le Chateau" which is Glidden's way of saying brown.

See my previous Art-O-Matic post for a directions link. And don't forget to save the date for the big opening on Friday, May 9th!

100 Bowls of Compassion at the National Building Museum

I'm happy to say I'll be donating 3 framed photographs to this amazing fundraiser at the National Building Museum in May 2008. I enjoyed it so much last year and look forward to attending again this year. More info on attending the event can be found below.

100 Bowls of Compassion
Come celebrate the beauty of compassion, and support the expanding work of Miriam's Kitchen at The Seventh Annual 100 Bowls of Compassion!

Thursday, May 8
6:00 - 9:30p.m.
At the National Building Museum

"Compassion is like the moon shining on one hundred bowls of water, so that there are one hundred moons, one in each bowl. This is not the moon’s design nor was it designed by anyone else. But for some strange reason there seems to be one hundred moons in one hundred bowls of water.”- Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Tibetan Meditation Master
~ ~ ~
Over 500 people attended The 6th Annual 100 Bowls of Compassion event and raised $265,000 to support Miriam’s Kitchen’s programming. The night’s festivities included gourmet food, live music, live and silent auctions, and an open bar. The beautiful National Building Museum was the perfect backdrop to this elegant event that was staffed by Miriam’s Kitchen volunteers. More than 50 talented potters from around the world contributed a wide range of beautiful bowls, platters, and vases for last year’s auction. Also, dozens of individuals and businesses donated gifts and services for the live auction.

If you are interested in sponsoring, hosting, donating, or purchasing tickets to this event, please contact Ashley at 202.452.8926 x.04 or at ashley@miriamskitchen.org.