Lots of Changes Coming

...including a NEWSLETTER!

So let's start there.  Sign up for the Krissi's Art Studio/Skelekitty & Friends newsletter and you won't miss out on any sales, giveaways, events or announcements.

What kind of announcements, you ask?  Well, for example

As I mentioned in a recent post, my online shop will be making some major changes in the next few months.  

• I have decided to reopen my Etsy shop (krissi.etsy.com) with a limited inventory.  For right now, it just has select ready-to-ship art jewelry and the new Lotería greeting cards.
• I will continue to keep my ArtFire shop (skelekitty.artfire.com) open, but will be phasing it out as my "primary" online shopping presence because of some recent service problems.
• In the meantime, the URL skelekitty.com will take you to my main shop, wherever it is hosted.

I have also greed to start selling certain items in two local Sacramento shops.  I don't usually sell through retail stores, but these two businesses are so awesome, I didn't DARE say no!  Since that's still in the works, I'll be saving that for the newsletter!

There are some great contests coming up, as well as some new tutorials and a few pretty spectacular collaborations that you won't want to miss out on.

I hope your Halloween was spectacular and that you will enjoy your Day of the Dead and remember friends and family past.  

Much love,  Krissi & Skelekitty

p.s.  With the holiday gift giving season approaching, please remember, you don't have to buy from me, but when you give...

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First Solo Show: Día de los Muertos at Little Relics

Spirits' Journey & Soul Searching
16x12" mixed media on canvas panels

Howdy everyone!

I realize I've been noticeably missing in action here on 'teh interwebz' for the last few months as I prepared for my very first solo show.  My nose-to-the-grindstone attitude has definitely paid off, as I was able to build a collection of  both new and "classic" Day of the Dead themed paintings and gift items for everyone.


I am thrilled to be showing at Little Relics Gallery & Boutique, located in the heart of Midtown Sacramento, and to be working again with that gallery's owner, a talented jeweler and artist in her own right, Susan Rabinovitz.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos

with

Krissi's Art Studio, home of Skelekitty & Friends

 at

Little Relics Boutique & Gallería

908 21st St. (between I & J)

Sacramento, CA 

2 Sides of Skelekitty & Siren Song
11x14" acrylic/mixed media on cradled hardwood panels

Skelekitty and I are in excellent company with Susan's masterfully crafted jewelry, original artwork by cartoonist Eric Decetis, an amazing collection of gifts and cards and a special Día de los Muertos shrine by the amazing Margaret Griffin Arnold.  (Wow, I'm feeling a little star-struck here!)

Red Catrina & Flamenco Dancer
12x16" pastel on canvas panels

As usual, Susan has some wonderful events planned throughout the month!  You can drop in any time during gallery/boutique hours, but we would love to see you at one of these free gatherings:

Fri, Nov 2: Día de los Muertos celebration and show opening reception 6pm - 9pm

Thur, Nov 8: Artwalk preview 6-9pm

Sat, Nov 10: 2nd Saturday Artwalk noon-10pm

Skullerfly mini trinket boxes - acrylic on wood
(other sizes and images available)

If you aren't local (and I know many of you are not), or if you cannot make it to the show, you can still snap up some of these goodies by contacting Susan via e-mail or calling her during gallery hours at 916.716.2319.

Love & Death 12x16"
acrylic on cradled hardwood panel

Little Relics is located at 908 21st Street in Midtown Sacramento between J & I (just a few doors down from Body Tribe!)  Store hours:
Monday:  12 to 6

Tuesday: 9 to 6

Wednesday: 12 to 6

Thursday: 9 to 7

Friday: 12 to 5 (by appt 5-7)

Saturday:  11 to 7

Open late for 2nd Saturday Artwalk until 10

Special Events 6pm to 9pm

Sugar Silly Skullies
7x7" mixed media on wood plaques

Read more ...

Out There - stuff not indoors (an art show)

I haven't done much in the way of gallery shows for about two years.  I submitted a piece here and there, but for the most part, exhibits took a back seat while I focused on honing my skills and finding my style.  After a year of selling online, I started to lose interest in getting back into the galleries, so I stopped bothering to follow calls for art.

In December, an opportunity presented itself that I could not pass up.  I am not certain precisely how long I have wanted to do an art show with Sacramento artists Allyson Seconds and Nicole Roberts, but I'd guess it was around three to five years.  Now, this Spring, that desire is about to be fulfilled!

Not only am I rejoining the land of real-life exhibits to show with Al and Nicole, but there are two new-to-the-second-saturday-scene photographers joining us AND we are showing in one of my favorite venues!  Body Tribe has offered up their walls to all of us after a two year hiatus!  By the way, if you haven't visited Body Tribe Fitness before, you should.  It is Midtown Sacramento's answer to an indoor dog park, gym, art gallery, meetup space and the best place to hear good music & corny jokes.

I've been working on a new and very different-for-me series of paintings for about 5 months, and they will be exhibited for the first time at this show.  They are all nature-inspired and there is hardly a skull to be found (unless you look really hard). Admission is free and all of us welcome folks to just come on by and say howdy, meet some folks and take a look around.

Saturday, April 14th; 6-10pm

920 21st Street, 

Midtown, Sacramento 

Body Tribe presents:

Out There - stuff not indoors

a nature-themed event showcasing the creative works of five Sacramento artists, each with a love of the natural world and who express it with their own individual sense of fun

ALLYSON SECONDS

retro-inspired, macro and urban landscape iPhonography prints

NICOLE WEBBER ROBERTS

large and colorful canvasses utilizing graphic shapes and flowing lines

KRISSI SANDVIK

bright, bold and translucent layers of acrylic glazes and mixed media on wood 

and introducing the photography of

RUBEN REVELES

story telling photographs with a dream-like quality

and

ALEXANDRA F. WILLIAMS

the elements in abstract

It's going to be a fun night!

PLEASE HELP US PROMOTE BY DOWNLOADING THE OFFICIAL FLYERS HERE

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Marketing Tidbit: We Want IN-formation! (You won't get it!)

I'd apologize for the über geeky reference in the title, but let's face it.  We all know I'm not sorry.

I received an artist call the other day.  It was forwarded to me by a friend of mine, who received it from a friend of a gallery owner.  The theme fit one of my paintings perfectly and I was very excited to submit a piece to a gallery I had never worked with before.  Word of mouth is a great way to find out about shows, don't get me wrong, but I just spent an hour trying to track down information on the gallery.  By the time I finally found a useful link, I was almost past caring.  Almost.

So, here are a few tips to folks helping to promote shows.  Whether you represent a group or gallery or, in this case, are a friend trying to spread the word to help out, you must include as much of the following information as you can gather.  If you don't, you're doing your gallery/friends/artists a real disservice because the best and busiest will give up.

Name of the gallery - Use the full name (i.e., Joe's Gallery or Joe's Art Palace or whatever - not just "Joe's").  When you provide the name, please make sure it is spelled correctly.  One of the reasons I couldn't find this gallery was that I only received the first name and it was misspelled.


Location - It's nice to know where the gallery is, generally speaking.  If you are forwarding information from a small group where everyone knew the location, add that little tidbit of info on when you forward.  It helps (especially when other information is missing and one can't simply Google for a quick answer).

Theme - It's no fun to submit a painting and find out after you spent time on the application that there was a theme.

Deadlines & Timelines - That's pretty self explanatory.  When is the show?  When must the art be delivered?  Is it a one-night show or a month long commitment?

E-mail addresses and links - please make sure they are correct.  Links are always better than e-mails since an artist, if they're worth their salt, will find out what they need to know about a show before they bother the curator.  The link I followed today went nowhere.

Basically, if you're going to help your friends by promoting their gallery or shows, you need to provide the above information or provide information that will lead people quickly and easily to that information.


You know what else we need to talk about?  How an artist should approach a gallery/show.  Yep.  That's on my list for the next tidbit.


See all the Marketing Tidbits

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Yesterday's Progress - photo blog (is that, like, a "flog?")

Well, first:

This doesn't look like the results of an entire afternoon of printing,
 sealing and trimming, but it is.  Next step,
what I do best: "gluing shit to other shit."

OK.  Now I have glass tiles with little
pictures glued to them.

Here's what they look like dry - these still need the backs glued on
and then have the sides and back sealed with resin

These are all finished - they just need final polishing and bails, then
they'll be going to new homes (or joining me at Art Bazaar & Bizarre Art in
Midtown Sacramento on Saturday night!)

But then:

Hey!  This is new!  1" rings!

So you take your glass tile with awesome art glued to the back...

... and you pop it in (with the help of a little E6000 adhesive).
These little goodies will be premiering on at Art Bazaar & Bizarre Art
on December 10th (5-8pm) in Midtown Sacrament OR you can order
them from my ArtFire shop (contact me for a custom listing for now).

And just because:

YAY!!!! HANK IS HOME!

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Shipping and Order Status Information

"I'm too pretty to work." ~Skelekitty

Hi everyone!  Things are much busier than usual here in my studio, but as usual, Skelekitty is being a lazy bum, moving from sun spot to sun spot without lifting one bony paw to help!  Darned cat.  I've been so overwhelmed with orders for the Help Hank fund that I'm running a little more behind than usual. Mind you, I am NOT complaining!  My heart is absolutely full to bursting with how people have come together for that dog. 

So.  Updates.  I haz dem:

SHIPPING PROCEDURE: 

When I print your mailing label, you will receive a notification e-mail from USPS tracking, however, there is usually some lag time between when I print the label to pack your order and when the package is picked up by my super-awesome mail carrier. When the package actually goes out the door, you will receive an e-mail from ArtFire* saying that your package shipped, and one with your shipping confirmation number again. Oh, and shipping on original art and pendants ALWAYS includes insurance, so if you have any difficulty with your package, we've got it covered. 

* if your order ships in separate packages, you will received the ArtFire "shipped" confirmation only after all items have shipped.

ORDER UPDATES:

Prints:  All prints in orders placed before December first have been packed & shipped, and USPS Track & Confirm notices have been sent.  These shipments include orders for prints placed with jewelry or original art (prints and jewelry/small art ordered together always ship separately because of the different shapes and sizes).  Print orders placed after 12/1 will ship later this week - probably Thursday, maybe earlier if I stay focused!

Jewelry:  Turnaround time for jewelry orders is usually 7-14 days.  Yep, it takes that long for me to make them since they involve lots of little steps with 12-hour drying times in between.  With the increased number of orders (and my aforementioned alter ego being a bum), I'm estimating a minimum of 14 days for jewelry now, just to be on the safe side.  Anyway, since the prints are out the door, I am spending today working on finishing up earring and pendant orders and making some extras for the show Allyson and I are doing on the 10th in Sacramento.

My sincere apologies for the extra wait time.  All orders already placed WILL be to you well before Christmas!  I promise.  And if anyone has some extra elves they want to send my way, I wouldn't refuse 'em!

Do you have a question that wasn't answered in this post?  The fastest way to get a response is to e-mail krissisandvik@gmail.com.  Facebook posts/tags/PMs, ArtFire messages and other contact methods are hit and miss at best.

Thank you again for the awesome response to the Help Hank fund!  I do still have some in-stock and ready to ship pendants, so if you're in a hurry for a gift, check 'em out.  More will be added on December 11th.

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Marketing Tidbit: Make 'Em Put A Ring On It

Winter art and craft festival time is FAST approaching, so this little tip is for those of you gearing up for the crazy weekends to come.

You've probably been there - you're at a festival or art/craft fair and a customer asks you to hold an item, ostensibly to find their husband/wife/holder of money.  You want to make the sale, but you know there's a very good chance of them never returning. Festival-induced ADD is the main reasons I would never hold items for people.  There's nothing more frustrating than turning down the next customer who wants that item - except maybe being the next customer who is turned away! Chances are you won't be seeing them again, either.  

My new-found collague, Kattaztrophe Arts' has a simple, but brilliant solution:  include a small deposit in your hold policy.   Base it on a small percentage of the price of the item, which is refunded/applied toward the final cost.  With a deposit in your coffers, you don't completely lose out if the person doesn't return.  I think you'll find that anyone who refuses to pay a deposit wasn't really interested and those who do will come back more times than not.  If they don't have cash on them and they really want the item, they'll move pretty quickly to find their other half!

Here are some extra Krissi-tips on the side:

• post your hold policy and deposit requirement (with amount or %) - never make people ask
• remove any item on hold from public display immediately (don't tease customers with what they can't have) 
• keep order forms on hand and have a proper system for accepting customer orders (with payment or a deposit, of course)

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Sweet Relief!

That phrase, sweet relief, has a double meaning for me today.

Firstly, my California sales tax return is completed, filed and paid!  Woo Hoo!  (I'm riding a high, so we won't mention the income tax return preparation yet.)  As my eyes swept over ALL of last year's activity on a single page, I realized that my art sales finally hit the tipping point in 2009.  There were two noticable jumps - the first happened around April when I moved from MySpace to facebook.  Coincidentally, this first jump happened four years to the month since I started working full time on my art.  The second jump happened in August when I moved my online shop from Etsy to Artfire.

And while I have been working diligently (read as 'whoring my art out') and using social networking to the fullest extent I can, the bulk of the thanks goes to others.  Namely, to my very supportive husband, Ron, Skelekitty and, of course, each and every one of you whether you have purchased art, gone to a show, read a single blog post or even just mentioned me to a friend.  Without you, none of this would have happened, so THANKS!  Oh, and Skelekitty says to take the rest of the afternoon off (she's a troublemaker, that one).

Secondly, "sweet relief" reminds me that the Let Me Count The Ways art exhibit at Sacramento's VOX Gallery is fast approaching on Saturday, February 13. This event will feature and art exhibit, music and a raffle to benefit for (wait for it...) Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, which provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.

Music will be provided by Kevin Seconds, The Kimberly Trip and David Houston (and I have heard a reliable rumor that Allyson Seconds may also be singing that night).  Raffle tickets are a mere $5 each and get you a chance to win original art, jewelry and prints (like a photo of The Clash taken by Sacramento photographer John Muheim).  They will even be raffling off an iPod Touch preloaded with music by our own Kevin Seconds.

And of course, since VOX is a gallery, original art by over 35 artists (wow!) will be plentiful and available for your viewing and collecting pleasure.  I'll have several pieces there, but I'm particularly excited about my newest piece called Old Growth.  It is an 18x24" pyrography & mixed-media on cradled hardwood artist panel, which is the largest piece I've done to date. 


If the price tag of an original piece isn't in your budget this month, you can always order a print from my Artfire shop or pick one up at the show.

DETAILS!

Let Me Count The Ways art, music and raffle to benefit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
VOX Sacramento
Saturday, February 13, 6 - 10 pm (opening reception)
@ The Urban Hive Building
1931 H Street on The Grid in Midtown
Sacramento, CA

I sure hope to see you there!  Oh, and if you win one of my prints, ask me to sign it for ya!

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Two Finished Pieces and One in the Works

Here is a picture of the painting I created in almost record time (less than a week) for Allyson Seconds' birthday this -OK, technically last- year.


Allyson is a singer/musician and loves bats, hearts and milagros.  She is also my personal trainer, but aside from the heart itself, that imagery will be saved for another painting.

"A Girl and her Cat" is a piece I seem to have been working on FOREVER.  It gave me quite a bit of trouble since I kept going after I should have stopped.  I ended up sanding the background down and building it back up again.  What a nightmare.

Anyway, my skele-likeness and Skelekitty are now on their way to Atlanta, GA and the "Not You" self-portrait show at the MINT Gallery curated by my pal and fellow artist, Travis "Mr. Purty" Smith.


Finally, as many of us mourn the loss of David Tennant as "The Doctor," I offer you a little piece of cuteness in progress from the 2008 season to help cheer you up.

I've decided to sell this painting of an ADORABLE little fat cell on Artfire when he's all finished, and I fear that there may be something of a scramble when he finally gets listed.

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Putting It Out There

This thread-painted art quilt of my Oscar, the Military Macaw, was the very first piece I ever put in a group "art" (i.e., non-quilt show) show - the January 2006 "National Bird Day" art show in Sacramento, CA.



Since that first night, I gradually increased the number of works in group art shows.  First I showed just with The Scary-Art Collective at Body Tribe where I nervously listened to criticism (positive and negative, but all constructive).





By early 2007, I had started showing at other Sacramento galleries like Side Show Studios and the former 24th Street hot spot, Cool Cat (R.I.P.).




I tried some new techniques and played with new mediums while I continued to find my voice. 









In the last half of 2009, I finally submitted some pieces to out of town (actually, out of State) shows to a positive response.

Now, with four full years of group show experience (not to mention the long list of commissions I just completed), I feel confident enough to consider a solo show.  So I'm putting it "out there" that I'm ready to put it out there - you know, putting it in writing as a promise to myself and so y'all can keep me accountable.





I've already started working on a "theme" involving hearts and skulls with various things growing from them, and we'll see where this leads me. 
So far I'm planning on doing most, if not all the pieces using my pyrography and acrylics on wood techniques.

While I'm working on the pieces, I will also be looking around for a gallery to host this currently imaginary solo exhibition.  Oh, the joy of cold calls, how I look forward to it!   I have a short list of places I'd LOVE to show, a medium sized list of places I'd seriously consider (both of which I'm keeping secret to avoid jinxing myself) and a blank list of places I haven't even thought of yet.

If you have a gallery and would like to talk to me about the possibility of doing a solo show, please contact me with your list of demands.

Wish me luck and inspiration and I'll send some right back to you (I'll send you some anyway).

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Heart Song (donation)

Heart Song (donation)
Originally uploaded by
Skelekitty (Krissi Sandvik)

This piece was finished in a record three days (that's like a land speed record using my usual painting techniques), but it was totally worth it!  "Heart Song" has been created for Vox Gallery's November 2009 (Sacramento, CA) "Urban Landscapes" show to benefit the Byron Blackburn memorial scholarship fund.

Saturday, November 14th, 6-10pm
(music @ 7, drawing @ 9:45pm)
Vox Gallery
1931 H Street
(inside The Urban HIVE)
Sacramento, CA
This event is free and open to the public

This 9x12" pyrography & mixed media piece on wood is valued at $100, but  anyone could win it for as little as $5!  There will be a "wish bowl" for each of the donated services, goods and art.  You decide how many tickets to purchase and how to distribute them (or just put them all in one bowl!)  So show up, buy some tickets and cross your fingers!


For those who are unfamiliar, Byron was a local musician, great guy and husband of a good friend, Sacramento artist, Kathy Blackburn.  Byron passed away on September 18, 2009, following a long and determined battle with sarcoma.

Shortly after Byron's death, musician and artist friends got together and asked what they could do to remember his life.  Due to the combined efforts of Sacramentans Ross Hammond (jazz, soul and rock guitarist), Evie Turner (visual artist and marketing professional) and Kathy Blackburn (artist and teacher), with help from many others,"Byron Blackburn, A Celebration of Life" raised nearly $3,000 at Beatnik Studios in October for a scholarship fund created in his name. This scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis to a deserving music student from the Elk Grove Unified School District where Kathy works.  The hope is that the memorial scholarship fund will eventually become self-sustaining.

Art and services for Saturday's event have generously been donated by Jared Konopitski, Jill Allyn Stafford, C!nder, Evie Turner, Krissi Sandvik, Trina Drotar, Michael Majestic, Ilsa Hess, Jim Vetter, Mariellen Layne and more.
Live music from local musician Tyson Graf begins at 7 p.m.


During the evening, VOX Sacramento will also hold their Urban Landscapes art show. Artists will include Justin Delacuesta, Cinder, Kelly O'Neill, Dylan Wells, Elizabeth Wocasek, Tom Spaulding, Dawn Blanchfield, TJ Lev, Jill Allyn Stafford, Matt Brown, Diyosa Christal, Robert Love, Curtis Carlson, Terry Tyson, James Collins, Lauren Martin, Alyson Murphy, Amy Fort, Jennifer Erin, and Luciano Noble, II.  The art on display for the Urban Landscape show will remain hanging through the end of November.


I hope to see some of you there on Saturday. Best wishes & hug your loved ones.

Additional donations can be made to the Byron Blackburn Memorial Fund at Bank of the West on J Street

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Crafty Chica's Tips for Handmade Vendors

It's that gift-giving time of year again! The handmade movement and the downturn in the economy have paired up and attracted more and more holiday shoppers to craft fairs. People are looking for special gifts for their loved ones rather than just spending a large dollar amount.

For those of you who sell your handmade lovelies at this or any time of year, our pal Kathy Cano-Murillo offers you some tips for making your customers' shopping (and your selling) successful!



Diary of a Crafty Chica: Tips for crafty vendors this season!


Do you have a favorite tip that isn't included on her list? Post it here and best of luck to all of you!

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Alice in Wonkaland - 2009

Alice in Wonkaland - 2009
Originally uploaded by Krissi Sandvik

During our travels, Ron and I stopped by the Spooky Lane Manse to visit with Traci (arteest & curator extrordinaire) and got a chance to preview the art submitted thus far for the Alice in Wonkaland show opening July 2nd (reception on July 18). Boy, is it going to be one unbelievable show:

An art show inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, featuring the artistic talents of Randy Lane, Von Munster, Traci "Spooky" Lane, Nicolas Caesar, Temple Terkildsen, Cinder, Gus Fink, The Creep, MaS Design, Frankie Babylon, Airn LeBus, Norma Soluet, Tamara Wade, Krissi Sandvik (that would be me), Frankie Teardrop, Bax Turbine, Just Sam, Lupe Posada and many, many more talented artists.

Oh, and, appropriately, there will be CANDY GALORE (free, of course).

I have two pieces in this show: Painting The Roses Red ($140) and White Rabbit ($65). PSSST! Because I love you, I'll let you in on a little secret: if I have to ship them home after this show, the prices will be going up at least 50% - if you NEED a piece but can't make it to the show, contact Traci directly at spookylane1313@yahoo.com.

However, if you ARE on or near California's lovely central coast, please check out the show and the cafe (and get some free candy)
at
MUDDY WATERS CAFE
508 E Haley St.
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Reception: Saturday, July 18 @7pm
art on exhibit through the month of July

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Did I Mention...

that I actually finished "Painting The Roses Red" some time ago?



This highly detailed mixed-media work will be in the second annual "Alice in Wonkaland" art show at Muddy Waters Cafe in Santa Barbara starting on July 1st (curated by the lovely and talented Miss Traci "Spooky" Lane). It is is 12"wide x 24" high on birch wood and $140 will send this baby home with you for keeps.

Here are some of the details that are difficult to capture in photos (clicky click each pic for a super close-up look):

Cheshire Cat:


Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat...


Cards and key:


Lawn:


My favorite bit:


and again (drip...).


If you are in or near Santa Barbara, I hope you'll drop by this show as it promises to be the host of some pretty darned incredible Alice, Willie and hybrid pieces of art.

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National Bird Day 2009 - Call for Artists and Call for Donations!

Hi everyone!  There are two art related events going on for National Bird Day  this year that I KNEW would be right up the alley of a few of you.    In short, NBD is a day to reflect on the beauty of our native wild birds, but especially to think about how we treat birds in captivity (as a human companion to two "used" macaws, this is very close to my heart).  If you are not in Sacramento for the art show, check out the website for art shows in other cities!

1.  Art Show. 

Sacramento Call For Artists – The Bird Show – January 2009
The beauty, songs, and flight of birds have long been sources of artistic inspiration.
Ironically, today, nearly 12 percent of the world's 9,800 bird species may face extinction within the next century and millions of captive birds lead miserable lives languishing in cages.
Born Free USA works to improve the lives of birds living in captivity, to end their exploitation by the pet industry, and preserve their rightful place in the wild. As part of this effort, Born Free works galleries and art venues around the country to raise awareness of the plight of birds through art.

In the Sacramento area the 2009 National Bird Day art show will once again be held at Body Tribe with opening reception on January 10^th (Second Saturday).

Born Free is looking for artists who would like to be submit work to be included in the show. Donating a portion of sales to Born Free USA is welcome but not required.

All art must adhere to the general bird theme ...all bird species welcome. We are however, particularly interested in pieces that reflect the plight of captive birds.

If you would like to be part of the show or would like more information contact Monica Engebretson at monica@bornfreeusa.org or (916) 447 3085 x 210

More about captive birds:
Even when bred in captivity, exotic birds are not considered domesticated animals, and all their inherent behavioral and physical needs remain intact. Sadly, when it comes to birds, deprivation of their natural behaviors (to fly and flock, for example) is an inescapable component of their captivity.
Each year thousands of birds are sold into the pet trade to individuals who are under the mistaken impression that a bird will make a perfect pet. Eventually, whether due to frustration, disinterest, or concern, many people attempt to rid themselves of the responsibility of caring for their birds. Unfortunately, few of these birds will find a loving home, and most will spend their days isolated and confined to their cages. Others will bounce from home to home as their caretakers tire of them, and some may be abandoned at local shelters and birds rescues, set free to fend for themselves or euthanized.
Images of trapped birds, captive birds, and "bird mills" (massive breeding facilities) can be seen on the the National Bird Day myspace pages at http://www.myspace.com/nationalbirdday
More information can also be found at www.nationalbirdday.com

2. Online Auction!

As part of the National Bird Day Celebration beginning on January 5, 2009, Born Free USA will be hosting an online auction to benefit our work which of course includes protecting birds from cruelty and exploitation.


If you would like to donate an item to the auction please visit our auction staging page at: http://flyfree.cmarket.com


We are particularly interested in items that reflect the theme of National Bird Day - birds, flight, freedom, beauty - you get the picture.


Your donations are tax deductible.

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Blogging and Implied Obligations....

Hey all!

I know that most of us like to think that we blog without obligation, but as a blogger and blog reader, I know this just isn't true! Therefore, I'm letting you all know that I'm off for an entire week.  So except for an occasional phone pic, you probably won't hear from me (though I'll have my "crackberry" with me and will be reading a few e-mails here and there).

We're heading once again for Mammoth Lakes in the beautiful Sierra Nevadas to hike and celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary (10th together, 22nd or 23rd since we met).  It's the perfect time of year to be outdoors and watch the leaves of the birch trees turn an incredible amber/gold color.  Here's a photo or two I took on our last trip there in 2005:







So I hope to see you all on Saturday the 11th at Body Tribe and Side Show Studios for the annual Scary Art Collective spooky halloween shows!

Best wishes,

Krissi

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