"Minimal Taxonomy" photographs and paintings by Courtnye Koivisto

Courtnye Koivisto
"Minimal Taxonomy"
April 12 - May 15, 2011
Reception: April 15, 2011 6-10pm




Artist Statement:

Since I was a child, the natural world has always intrigued me, and I found that different art mediums have allowed me to explore this interest. My work mainly focuses on the subtle and uninterrupted existence of nature, both flora and fauna, and attempts to capture it without the imposition of extraneous meaning.

There are cycles of life, death, and rebirth that occur everyday, yet go unnoticed within our own isolated cycles. Each photograph is a portrayal of the modes within these cycles, thus allowing the viewer to witness a fleeting moment that would otherwise be lost. By meditating on the individual embodiments of life and death in my work, we encounter the unique forms of nature that act without our influence or interference.

While my photographs focus on the natural world as metaphor, my paintings center on birds as portrait subject in an attempt to present them as beings with which we share the world, but may not fully understand. The birds in my paintings are individuals, deserving of recognition; yet, they are representatives of their species as well, perhaps as a symbol of what we do not consciously recognize in the fellow inhabitants of our environment.

More of Courtnye's artwork can be found at: http://courtnyekoi.tumblr.com/

Interview with John Maneval

John Maneval's "Jaw Mandible", an exhibition of screen prints and paintings, will be on display at the gallery from March 15 to April 10, 2011. A reception for the artist is on Friday March 18, 2011 from 6-10pm.
















When did you start making art?

When I was a little kid I used to draw monster trucks. I had art class through high school. I didn't really like art class. Then I started getting more serious about 6 years ago. I started painting more on my own.

What is appealing to you about screen printing and printmaking in general?

I like screen printing because I like the process. I took it in high school so I could make shirts and I kind of fell in love with the process of it. Then sometime later I started doing posters. When I learned screen printing, I didn't realize you could do posters and now that's pretty much all I do with it. I just like the thickness and boldness of the colors. I like the feeling of picking up the screen and seeing what you've created underneath. It's actually kind of a long process to get your image onto paper. I like that about it.
I worked at a screen printing shop in Mechanicsburg printing t-shirts for people's family reunions and pizza shops - boring stuff like that. Then I didn't really do it much for a few years until I decided to start doing posters and started doing it at home. So that's where I'm at now.

I read in another interview that you have your studio set up all around your house and not in a specific room. Do you still work this way? How's it working out? Would you rather have a dedicated studio space?

I would rather have a dedicated studio space. I'm going to be moving soon and I'll have a more dedicated space. Right now, yeah, it's all over my apartment. I expose my screens in the bathroom. I actually print in my kitchen. My dining room isn't really a dining room anymore. It's sort of just an art table where I draw and paint. When I spray paint I use the exhaust fan on my oven to get the fumes out. Yeah, I'm not going to have a security deposit, I don't think. Whatever.

I also read that you use your bathtub to clean up.

Yeah. I've actually gotten really good at cleaning my bathtub, so I'm not too worried about that.

It doesn't have a purple ring around it, does it?

Yeah, it's pretty gross. Magic Eraser and CLR can clean it up pretty well.

What's CLR?

It's some kind of spray cleaner.

Is that specific for screenprinting?

No, you can buy it at Giant.




















When did you start drawing creatures and monsters?

I'm not really sure. Maybe when I was a little kid, but I really don't know. At some point in the last few years I got really obsessed with them. I don't have a really good technical skill set when it comes to art. I can't draw something and make it look like what it actually is. At some point I just quit trying and now I make bloppy little monsters.

What were you like growing up? What kinds of things were you into?

Umm…mostly just monster trucks. I liked reptiles a lot. I still like reptiles a lot. I was kind of a shy little kid. I remember feeling overwhelmed a lot as a kid. I don't know why. I don't know. I think I was just a really small version of what I'm like now. Probably not as vulgar. (laughs)

Any inspirational monsters? cats? creatures? worms?

I think I have a cat print which will be in the show that is a song lyric to a Weakerthans song. It's pretty inspirational to me. There's a lot behind the print that makes it my most inspirational piece.

What's the song?

It's called "A Plea from a Cat Named Virtue". The lyric I used is " I know you're strong". But, if other people find something else I do inspirational, that's awesome and I'd be happy about that. But for me, that's the most inspirational one.



In your show description you state "Somehow the hardest things to say in life are easier if we let little creatures do the talking". How do you use these creatures to express "the hardest things to say in life"? Are they stand-ins for events or people in your life?

Some of them are. Some are more generic and some are just general things I think everyone deals with. Some aren't specific to things that have happened or people in my life or things that I want to say or have had to say that have been difficult. I think generally though it's just sort of… it's the same way where people might say something as a joke when they're really serious just because they can't bring themselves to say it seriously.

Tell me about your cat, Panda.

She's black. She's great. She knocks everything onto the floor. It's easy to find things, because I know it's always on the floor. She can be a total pain when it comes to making art. She just wants to sit on whatever I'm working on. But, she's great.

How old is your cat?

She's six.

I saw the commercial you made for the Black Thorn Gallery that Panda stars in. Do you often use your cat as a model for your artwork? Does she get treats out of this?

No. Well, I guess the cat print is sort of modeled after her. And the fact that it's a black cat... then I do have one painting is sort of her. But other than that, not really. She doesn't get treats. That's sort of just her job. The Black Thorn Gallery commercial was just sort of a funny thing. It's the first thing I thought of.

Does your cat make that weird face when she smells something weird or pungent? Can you draw this?



You've said you get inspiration from google image searches. Anything you've searched lately that you've been inspired by?

Um. Not really. I haven't been doing it as much lately as I used to. Honestly, for this, I've been going back through my sketchbook and using ideas that I never got around to using.

Are there any new skills you'd like to learn?

Ice skating so I can play hockey.

Any screenprinting you are inspired by? that could be certain artists, an era or genre.

I like a lot of the gig posters of artists currently around. I do a lot of posters for bands . I like a lot of those artists. Drew Millward is one of my favorites. Jay Ryan and also Leia Bell.

Do you generally only print on paper? Do you use other surfaces or mediums?

I've only done paper at home. I would consider doing shirts, but it doesn't interest me as much.

What about graffiti?

I've dappled in it. I don't do it as a habit. I'm kind of inspired by it. I like the fact that it's just there and no one has control over it. It's just there. There aren't gallery or museum people who pick what you see. It's whatever the artist wants you to see. I also like that there's an element of time. The Mona Lisa looks the same as it did 50 years ago. But street art is only there for a while. It might weather. It might get painted over.

Do you listen to music while you work on artwork?

I don't have anything specific. Pretty much whatever I'm listening to at the time. There's no specific genre or artist that I listen to when I'm working on art. I listen to a lot of indie rock, punk rock and a lot of old country stuff. Some of my favorites are Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, The Promise Ring, The Lawrence Arms, Jawbreaker, The Weakerthans.

Are you reading any books? magazines? any good websites?

I'm reading a book that's a collection of old articles on sideshows.

What about websites? any that you go to every day?

well, Facebook! Who's not inspired by Facebook.



Any places you'd like to travel to?

I'd like to travel pretty much anywhere. I really like traveling. I'm going to Montreal soon. I'm really excited about that. I'd love to go to Europe at some point. As far as the United States goes, I'd really like to go to Chicago and Minneapolis and San Francisco.

Any places you've been that you'd like to go back to?

I'd really like to go back to Salt Lake City. I've been there twice. It's awesome! I was to Denver recently. I'd like to go back there.

Have you ever been to a cat show?

(laughs) No, but I'd love to go to one!

More of John's artwork can be found at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jawmandible

"Jaw Mandible" Screen Prints and Paintings by John Maneval March 15 - April 10, 2011

"Jaw Mandible"
Screen Prints and Paintings by John Maneval
March 15 - April 10, 2011
Reception: March 18, 2011 6-10pm

The Yellow Wall Gallery at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore is pleased to present “Jaw Mandible” an exhibition of paintings and screen printing by John Maneval. Images of monsters, cats, worms and Bigfoot are used to aid in the expression of the far ends of the emotional spectrum. Through the use of these creatures in a manner influenced by street art and cartoons, Maneval is able to communicate the feelings and emotions that are not always easily spoken or expressed.

John Maneval currently resides in Mechanicsburg, PA with his cat, Panda. John is a fan of the screen printing process Spray paint and acrylics are his favorite painting media. Many of John's recent works depict fictional beings struggling with human problems.

You can find more of his work at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jawmandible

An interview with the artist will be available on the gallery's blog yellowwallgallery.blogspot.com during the exhibition.
Also, here's an interview on the blog Printsy: Printmakers of Etsy
http://printsy.blogspot.com/2010/08/john-maneval.html


The exhibition will be at the gallery March 15th through April 10th, 2011. A reception for the artist will occur on March 18, 2011 from 6-10pm at the gallery. Light refreshments will be served.

Interview with Chris Bavaria

Chris Bavaria's "Around the World in 17 Days", an exhibition of photographs from his trip to Japan, China, Egypt and France, will be on display at the gallery from February 15 to March 13, 2011. A reception for the artist is on Friday, February 18, 2011 from 6-10pm.

When did you start photographing?

I always took the family camera on trips. I didn't really start concentrating on photography until I was about 14 or 15.

What is it about photography that appeals to you rather than any other medium?

I suck at drawing, so it was the easiest thing to pick up and still be able to express myself.

Your work is primarily documentary, and especially of street photography. How do you reach the "decisive moment" (as made famous by Henri Cartier-Bresson)? Is this something you are consciously looking for or is it something you stumble on and hopefully you have your camera with you?

It’s definitely the latter. I just try and walk around and find moments. Hopefully I have my camera with me. I was taught to always have my camera with me for stuff like that. I’ve definitely come across situations where I wish I had it and didn’t. I try to just let moments happen and hopefully I’m there to catch them.

What camera do you use? Do you prefer digital or film?

Right now, I’m shooting with a Canon 5D. That’s digital. I use that pretty much out of ease and expenses. I would ideally like to shoot film. Going on an around-the-world trip and carrying around hundreds of rolls of film is just not practical though.

What’s your favorite lens?

I have a 50mm 1.4 which is the classic street photography lens. This whole series was shot with that.

The title of your show reflects your journey, “Around the World in 17 Days”. You went to Japan, China, Egypt and France. Why only 17 days? That’s crazy!

Partly because of expenses. Partly because I am crazy. Partly because I went with another friend of mine and had to be back for work.

How did you choose to go to those specific places?

We pretty much just picked the four places we wanted to go to the most and that’s what we came up with.

Could you talk about your travel partner?

My travel partner was my friend Al, who is….I don’t even know where to start.

You know Al. How would you describe Al?

Well, I know he likes kittens and keytars.

That gives a good visualization of Al. Kittens and keytars. We’ll leave it at that!

Can you share your favorite story from the trip?

Oh man. There are a lot. My favorite….oh man. Some are really long!

Oh man. Going to Egypt was crazy, in general, especially because of what’s going on right now. Looking back on that…and we were just there….

Some brief highlights:

Al getting hit by a guy riding a horse with his horsewhip. Not on accident.

Bribing police to have a child tour guide.

Riding the only subway in all of Africa

Going through 5 metal detectors to see the Egyptian Museum, which was not all that it was cracked up to be.

What country / place had the best food? What was it?

I’m vegan, so my food options were limited in a lot of places. I would have to say China was the best. They had a bunch of all vegan Buddhist run restaurants that were awesome. One in particular was called Pure Lotus. It was one of the fanciest restaurants I’ve ever been in. We had an 8 course meal and it was about 13 dollars.

What’s your favorite subject to photograph? I know you shoot a lot of bands too.

I haven’t done that in a while. I primarily used to shoot a lot of band photography, but not so much any more. Now I pretty much just shoot people and environmental portraits.

What subject matter would you like to photography but haven’t yet?

That’s a good question. Just more interesting people. I’d love to travel more and meet people in different countries.

What kinds of things in a scene cause you to photograph it? Is it the design? The absurdness? Emotions (either the subjects or your own)?

All of those, really. For a lot of the street scenes, I definitely gravitate towards geometrical shapes and patterns, but also a person’s expression or someone doing something ridiculous too.

Any new skills you’d like to learn?

I’d like to learn how to surf.

Any places that you’d like to go next or go back to?

I’d definitely like to go back to Japan and spend more time there.

In each place, we only had around 4 days, give or take. So, having more time in Japan would be great. As far as going somewhere new, I really want to go to South America. That’s my new next adventure.

How do you feel about this trip being so quick? I can imagine there would be moments that you’d just like to stay in one place and immerse yourself into it, more than just an observer or tourist.

Al and I didn’t want to leave and go to the next place. We were excited to go to the next place, but we were just getting into the swing of things after four days. So having to get up and leave again kind of sucked. We wish we had only picked, maybe, two places and then just spent more time in each.

What was the best part of the trip? The worst part?

The worst part was probably some of the crazy stuff that happened in Egypt or Al getting his phone stolen in France.

The best part was seeing new things that I had no idea existed. And totally immersing yourself into cultures that you know nothing about is really exciting.

Did you have a goal to achieve by the end of your trip? A certain project in mind to photograph?

Try to have as much fun as possible and take lots of pictures.

I didn’t really go on this trip as a photo trip. I just wanted to go on this trip and the photos came second hand.

How many tattoos do you have?

Oh no! A lot! I lost count.

When did you get your first one?

When I was 18.

Any favorite tattoo artists?

Ryan Spahr at Black Thorn Gallery in Mechanicsburg

What music are you listening to lately?

Currently I have a cd demo from this band called Reservoir from York. They just put out the demo and they’ve played one show. It hasn’t left my cd player for a week.

Are you reading any books? Magazines?

I’m currently in the middle of about 5 books. I always find new books and start reading them, then I find new books and don’t get to finish the other ones.

I’m reading this one book, it’s called Straight Edge and Radical Politics. It’s about living a straight edge lifestyle, which means you don’t drink, don’t do drugs or smoke, and having that mindset while participating in radical politics. It’s a pretty interesting book. It has a lot of interviews with people from all over the world.

You’re vegan. Do you like to cook? Any recipes to share?

I love to cook! Yes! I make a really good soup.

Super Awesome Soup!

• 32oz vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 box ditalini pasta
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 tsp sugar
• Pepper and Nutritional Yeast to taste!

Do you have any other hobbies besides photography?

I play in a few bands and tour around the country a lot. It kind of goes hand in hand with my photography.

What was it like being in San Francisco to go to school for your MFA in photography?

It was really great! I wish that I still lived there, especially when it’s this cold outside. I’m going back in March to visit and I can’t wait.

What’s the art community like there?

The school art community was good. I found it really hard to get involved in the more professional aspects of it. It’s such a big place and there are so many big names. So, it’s hard to get your foot in the door.

What’s your five-year plan?

My five year plan is to go to as many new countries as I possibly can, go to the two states I haven’t been to yet (North Dakota and Alaska), and try to get a teaching job teaching photography.

View more of Chris's photography on his website: www.chrisbavaria.com

"Around the World in 17 Days" Photographs by Chris Bavaria February 15 - March 13, 2011

New Exhibit!
"Around the World in 17 Days"
Photographs by Chris Bavaria
February 15 - March 13, 2011
Opening Reception February 18, 2011 6-10pm

Artist Statement:

Around The World In 17 Days documents a rather spur of the moment trip that took me to Japan, China, Egypt, and France in only 17 days. It was quite ambitious to absorb it all in such a short period of time. But the photographs embody the feelings of utter stimulation and unprecedented gratification that took place. This series is a proposition to everyone to step outside of their comfort zone and go explore new places.

I photograph everyday people and places. When you walk by them you might not even give a second glance. We always seem to be in such a hurry, we never have time to stop and really observe our surroundings. Quite often there is a lot going on beneath the surface and first appearances can be misleading.

That being said, I like to focus on subjects that may be neglected or have a common-like connotation to them. The mundane can easily transform into something beautiful. Everything has a story and I try to tell it through my photographs.

Bio

Chris Bavaria is a photojournalist based out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He received a BA in Art from Millersville University and an MFA in documentary photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

You can see his work on The Travel Channel, AOL, Brooklyn Vegan, Fight Magazine, Effort Fanzine, and Caveat Lector Bi-Annual.

www.chrisbavaria.com

Interview with Beth Rice

Beth Rice's "Sewn Stories", an exhibition of hand embroidery and textiles, will be at the gallery from January 18 to February 13, 2011. A reception for the artist is on Friday, January 21 from 6-9pm.

Why did you choose to create artwork using fabric and embroidery?

I always really like seeing embroidery. I like how it looks. It can be art, which it is, but it's not the traditional painting. I enjoy doing it because it's relaxing. You don't have to worry "oh, did I paint that right?", whereas with stitching you can just rip it out if it doesn't look right. I always liked fabric, old fabric and vintage fabric. I think fabric and thread can tell a good little story.

When did you learn to sew and embroider? Was this something passed down to you?

It was not passed down to me. My mother cannot sew at all. I learned a little bit in home ec in school. My husband Kinsey actually taught me how to sew right when we started dating. So, I’ve been sewing since 2004. With embroidery, I first learned in my crafts class in high school. My teacher saw an article on embroidery and said “Oh! We should all start stitching!” So, I started stitching and I really enjoyed the process of doing it.

How has nature inspired your work?

In a lot of ways ….I’m more of an outdoors person. I like the outside. I like being in the woods and by the coast. That’s always something I’ve liked doing. I’m inspired by the shapes in nature. You can draw a tree just by thinking of a tree, but a tree that you draw will never look like a tree that you see. There are so many different directions the branches go and how it all looks. I just love trees.

I know you and Kinsey go to Maine a lot. When did you start going to Maine and why did you decide to go there?

We went to Maine for the first time on our honeymoon in 2007. We never really thought about going to Maine, but Kinsey’s friend and his wife went to Maine about a year before we did and they said, “Oh! You should go to Acadia! It’s really nice!”. We thought, “oh, maybe we will someday!”. We looked it up and saw that it was everything we like in life. So, we went there and we’ve been going back every year since. We love it … a lot!

Your artwork is very nostalgic for the past. You use handmade techniques that are traditionally passed from generation to generation; you incorporate imagery from children’s books that perhaps remind of you of your youth; and you are illustrating, through embroidery, hand-drawn maps whereas most people have GPS devices now. Can you elaborate on the use of nostalgia in your artwork?

I tend to be drawn towards older types of things. I’m not big on technology. I don’t really like computers. I certainly don’t have a GPS. For me, I would never do an art piece that involved computers. I tend to do things more nature-oriented because that’s who I am. That’s what I enjoy.

As far as the childrens’ books, I can’t really remember certain childrens’ books I had as a child. I remember I’d read the Berenstain Bears, things like that. The drawings in those books, especially in the ones that are a bit older, they seem to be more simple. Simple lines, simple colors. That’s the type of stuff I enjoy, the simple line drawings. It’s kind of similar to what I do when I stitch. It’s a simple line and I’m just adding a little color to it. I’ve always liked simplicity and things that look like they’re hand-crafted, handmade or passed down. A lot of the fabrics I use are fabrics that I buy at a second-hand store or they’re my grandma’s old curtain material, which, I just cut and use that. I like using things that may have had a past life or things that are a little bit older and not just a brand new thing.

What were you like when you were growing up? What sort of things were you into?

Growing up…..umm…..when I was very young I was kind of a shy person. Then when I hit 6^th grade I was a very talkative person. I always enjoyed art. I always took the drawing classes. During the summer they would have special art classes that I would take, so I was always doing stuff. I was very interested in nature back then. I was in Girl Scouts for a few years. I went on the camp outs, learned how to tell the difference between trees, how to make a fire… I’ve kind of always done the nature thing. Art was a major part too. I read a lot, which might be why I like the older childrens’ books. I remember reading them in my room. I played with Legos a lot, which explains the making part. We had a big tub of those and I would build all kinds of ships. Ships are actually a thing I do a lot of now. I don’t know if there’s a connection….

How is your artwork presented here in the show different from your craft business, Tributary ?

I think it has the same feeling to it. If you would see my craft and my art, you could tell it’s the same person. I like doing the show here because I can work on a bigger scale whereas before I’ve been restricted to a smaller area. I use [embroidery] hoops and the biggest I’ve ever used is 10 inches. So, when you’re working in a 10 inch round circle, you can’t quite go into as much detail as you can with a 16 by 20 inch piece of fabric.

At first I wasn’t sure what direction it was going to go into, but then I started to do a lot of things with people in them, mainly kids and girls. In my craft I don’t really have people in it too much. But, for the show I wanted to make a narrative. So, there are people and silhouettes of people. I think it’s different in that aspect, but it’s very much the same style, the same nature; sea, Maine, cabin in the woods…

How did Tributary start?

It started just because I was making a lot of stuff. After a while there’s only so many bags and clutches that one person needs and all of your family is sick of getting the same things. So, Kinsey introduced me to Etsy. It was really, really excited and I couldn’t think of a name. We just though of Tributary for some reason. I’m not sure how. We started selling on there and then I started doing shows. I started just so I could see if people would buy my stuff. I remember I first I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to buy anything. I think it took about two months before my first sale on Etsy, which was a pair of earrings. I started out making earrings and necklaces. I kept with it and then I neglected it and then started it up again. I think it’s been good for me. I prefer doing craft shows, though, and actually seeing the people who buy my stuff. It has been fun.

Where does the line between art and craft blur for you?

I really think they are the same. I don’t really think that I do just craft and I don’t think I do just art. I know some people thing craft is all about selling your goods and it’s not really art. With my work for the show, it’s meant to be hung on a wall, whereas in my craft, I make coasters. It’s not really a piece of art but it kind of is. You’re still choosing the fabrics, putting them together, you’re sewing them….not everybody can make coasters. So, I think art and craft really, to me, are the same thing. It just depends on how you present something. Doing crafts is just as difficult as doing art. It’s the same process, just different tools you use to accomplish it. I’m using fabric and thread instead of a paintbrush and paints.

What music are you listening to now? What books are you reading? Are you following any craft blogs or websites?

Music… I listen to a pretty wide range of music. I like Sigur Rós, Matt Pond PA. I also like different Christian music too… Tenthavenuenorth and Chris Tomlin. I can listen to classical music too. It depends on my mood.

Reading…. I’m reading a biography on the coast of Maine. It’s by Louise Dickinson Rich. She lived in Maine all her life, so she writes a lot about Maine. It’s an informal history about the coastal towns, which I enjoy because I’ve been to most of the one’s she’s talking about.

Blogs and websites…. I spend time online, but I try not to get too involved with certain websites just because I’m afraid I’d waste time. But, I do enjoy looking at DesignSponge and also a website called younghouselove.com. It’s about a husband and wife who live in Richmond and they do renovations on their house such as install a new bathroom or other household projects. Kinsey and I are kind of like that too. We like doing things around the house.

How does Kinsey, your husband of three and a half years, influence your artwork? He’s an artist, as well, and a musician. Does he help with your projects?

He does for some of them. He’s more into photography, does collages and pen and ink drawings. He’s more of a flat-based artist whereas I do functional things. He does help me with ideas. We are both very alike. We both like the same exact things practically. We like being outside a lot, we like nature, we like Maine. We have a lot of the same things in our work.

In fact, just the other day, he was in his room drawing a picture and I was in my room drawing sketches. Then I walked into his room and realized we both had drawn almost the same exact thing. It was a stack of logs. His logs were being pulled by a truck and mine were being pulled by a horse. It was the exact same thing but we never had talked about it. We both do very similar types of work, but the style is very different. He does inspire me for different designs. He’ll show me different websites or books that he thinks might be something that I like. He’s very helpful.

Gardening is a big part of your life. How did you get into that? Is there a favorite part of the process for you?

I got into gardening through my father. He always used to have a big garden at our house. I always remember him having a garden and picking sugar peas. When I grew up, I would still have a garden at my dad’s hose, but it got hard because it was a 20 minute drive to get there. When Kinsey and I bought our house in 2009, it was nice because it was the first time we had a garden of our own. But, it didn’t turn out that well. Our plants contracted diseases. It was still fun to do.

My favorite part of the process is at the beginning of the season when I get to pick out seeds. When I was living in our apartment, I had every windowsill covered with seeds. I think the most seeds I started were 60 pots at once. Yeah, we take it pretty seriously. We start them and then plant them. I like going through and picking out what kinds of things to plant. There’s so much more than just orange carrots. You can get purple carrots! My second favorite part is the harvesting of the fruit. I enjoy eating it too.

How about cooking? Who did you learn that from? Do you have any favorite recipes to share?

I guess I learned a little bit from my mom. I was never really a good student. She would try to show me how to cook, but I never really paid too much attention. So, I think for the most part I’ve learned just through practicing and doing. I just picked different recipes that I liked and learned how to do it.

I enjoy cooking a lot. I’m more of a baker. I like making fruit bread and zucchini bread. I recently got into making candy. I make chocolate, truffles, carmels and toffee. I just got a plastic mold set to make candy bars. I’ve been trying that out….melting dark chocolate and adding cranberries, almonds and salt on top.

Do you have any samples here [at the bookstore]?

I don’t have samples here. But I will make sure you, Lisa, do get some.

But, I’m into making candy right now. It’s nice to make it instead of running to the store to buy it.

Do you have any upcoming craft shows?

Not scheduled. I usually do one in Richmond, Virginia. It’s the third weekend in April. It’s called Spring Bada-Bing. I’ve been doing that for the past three or four years. I’m looking forward to doing that again this year. It’s the only one coming up. I’m just kind of taking a break to work on my stock before I start doing more craft shows.

Beth Rice "Sewn Stories"

The Yellow Wall Gallery at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore is pleased to present "Sewn Stories", an exhibition of hand embroidery and textiles by local craft artist Beth Rice. Beth presents a collection of hand embroidery on fabric that are inspired by old children's illustrations, maps and nature. Lush forests, rocky coasts, stitched forms, and a cabin in the woods are often featured in the work. The resulting imagery presented with fabric and thread is creative and often dream-like. Also, Beth Rice is the bookstore and cafe manager at Midtown Scholar Bookstore and Famous Reading Cafe.

The exhibition will be at the gallery January 18, 2011 through February 13, 2011. A reception for the artist will occur on January 21, 2010 from 6-9pm at the gallery. Light refreshments will be served.