Silent Song, the third piece in the series called "Melody of Light", was selected by jurors Gerald Boyd, Cara Weston, and William F. Wilson II, for the Carnegie Arts Center's 2016 Arts Showcase. I'm thrilled to be participating in this event for the second year in a row. This is an amazing venue that showcases new work by artists working in a variety of media in the central California region which includes the Central Valley, Foothills, Yosemite, Bay Area, Napa Valley and the Central Coast.

An artists’ reception, including the announcement and presentation of awards, will be held on Friday, April 1, from 5-9 p.m. concurrently at both galleries.

Central California Arts Showcase
Carnegie Arts Center
250 N. Broadway, Turlock, California
April 1 - May 27
Please come to the reception!
Friday, April 1, 2016,  5:00-9:00pm

Unknowingly challenged by my neon professor Christian Schiess, I have begun a series called "Melody of Light" which couples vintage radio/music equipment with neon.  At present, I have completed three pieces in this series.  Pictured is a vintage Philco 84B cathedral tube radio backed by mirror with a whimsical neon filled tube mounted inside its chassis. Titled "84B and Me", I am beyond excited to work on the next pieces.

I work at Stanford University and every year over the Christmas Break, the university shuts down for it's Winter closure. What this means is that I have a couple of weeks to do the things I love most in life... spend time with my family and make art.  This year my Winter Break project was a large stained glass installation for my home.

My husband is my number one and is often found helping me execute my vision whether it be with a sculpture intended for the gallery wall, or something I'm creating to beautify our living space.  He is an amazing wood worker but is perhaps the most capable handyman I've ever met. As he says, "I'm not afraid to screw it up." The project did complete, here Dave is installing the first of four windows and below is the finished window quadriptych. 

There's nothing more rewarding for an artist that observing others taking in your work in a FANTASTIC facility. The Blue Line Arts show "Extra Parts" was a great opportunity as they drew a nice crowd and I am honored to exhibit in a facility like this one. It's also quite nice seeing five of my sculptures side by side (and not in my house).  Thank you Tony and Blue Line! What a great show!

What a fantastic exhibition at Sun Gallery's Transformations 2: Upcycled and Recycled show. The space was tastefully hung with lots of breathing room for each piece which helps you truly take it all in.

A special thanks to my family who attended this event to support me!

I'm absolutely thrilled to have five sculptures in The Sun Gallery's Transformations 2: Recycled and Upcycled Exhibition. It was a bit hectic because my husband and I were heading on a European vacation and I didn't have much time to submit for the exhibition and make it all work; not to mention we were going to be out of the country during the designated drop off dates. 

Dorsi Diaz was so accommodating and willing to work with my schedule. When we finally dropped off the sculptures, she was breathless and said, "You photographs don't do your work justice, they are just beautiful." and then... I was breathless! I love it when my art evokes that much emotion.

Transformations 2: Recycled and Upcycled
Sun Gallery
1015 E Street Hayward, CA 94541
June 18 - August 1
Please come to the reception!
Saturday, July 11, 2015,  1:00-4:00pm

While this has only happened twice, there are times where I'm unable to make it to the artists reception. The Contemporary Woman Show at Chico Art Center was one of those shows I missed.  However, I am extremely fortunate to have a friend who lives in Chico who was willing to check out the show and take pictures of my work in the context of the other works. While I'd have much preferred to have been there in person, I think my friend Mark Mellis did an incredible job capturing my work, Mitre Saw, hung alongside the works of other women in the Contemporary Woman Show at the Chico Arts Center. Thank you Mark!

In September I got a lovely email from Tony Natsoulas at the Blue Line Arts facility in Roseville, California. 

"Do you know Jeffery Beckerleg? He is a good friend of mine. He told me about you."

It just so happened that Jeffery told Tony about my work and Tony was planning a show for June called "Extra Parts: Recycled and Found Object Art". I'm thrilled to be one of 10 artists showcasing 3-5 pieces in this showcase artists who not only make beautiful objects, but are helping keep the environment nice.

I emailed Jeffery Beckerleg to find out how he found my work and most importantly, to thank him for referring my work to Tony. I can't wait for this show!

Extra Parts: Recycled and Found Object Art
Blue Line Arts
405 Vernon Street, Suite 100 Roseville, CA 95678
June 5 - July 11
Please come to the reception!
Saturday, June 20, 2015,  7:00-9:00pm

I'm so Oakland that I'm having an Oakland giraffe painted on my house by the most amazing and talented muralist, Dan Fontes. You've probably seen his 'Giraphics' work under the overpass at Harrison Street or "Grand Performance" under 580 overpass near the Grand Lake Theater where Dan worked along side Dan Galvez, Keith Sklar and others.

Dan and I met in a neon class at The Crucible more than a decade ago.  When one of my pieces won "Best of Show" in the Carnegie Arts Center of Turlock 'California Arts Showcase', I decided to pay it forward and hire Dan to create a Dan Fontes original on my house.  Read more about Dan and how he helps beautify Oakland  here.

I'll be adding pictures to the slideshow below as Dan works.

Life is short.

Two years ago (almost to the day), I embarked on the journey of re-entering the art community. I had taken a bit of a hiatus from exhibiting my work so that I could focus my attention on my home and my career. For almost 20 years,  I have been compensated quite well to lead large technical implementations for companies and now it was time for me to lead a very different sort of project...

Project Anne Pinkowski

Art makes my heart go pitter patter. I knew from a very young age that communication through form (and communication in general) was a gift given to me. Making art made me happy and the creative process was one that fed my soul and just felt right. I pursued my education in Fine Art and then was tasked with the challenge of building my life as an independent. How will I support myself? Where will I live?

I focused on my career in technology while still continuing to make art and contribute creatively in life - taking classes at The Crucible in Oakland, collaborating with other artists, making mosaic murals on my house or just working on my house (I bought a fixer as it was the only way I could afford my neighborhood). 

In January of 2013, I came to the realization that my career and my home were stable and I had now earned the privilege of being able to focus my time on art and project Anne Pinkowski.  I built this website. I photographed my work, gave thoughtful consideration to my purpose and contributions and put pen to paper (or fingers to keys in this day and age) and so it began. My site launched in April of 2013 and in that same month I began submitting my work for exhibition.

It's been 2 years since I started on the journey and I am happy... and dare I say...  PROUD. I'm doing great work and receiving recognition by way of exhibition acceptances and awards. I submit to all the shows that I could possibly qualify for (and logistically deliver my work to). I get rejected... but I also get accepted and that is very validating. If only I had more time to pitter and patter. I do what I can and I dream of the day when I can pitter and patter all day - unencumbered by demands of modern day life.

One day.... :)