I received a nice feature on Juxtapoz magazines blog for my current show in Chicago at Firecat Projects.
Thank you again Juxtapoz magazine, one of the largest circulating art magazines in the world, for your ongoing support!
Category: News
Mural commission Chapter 24 Vineyards, OR
Just back from OR + got the full experience of my mural! Thank you Chapter 24 Vineyards who make the wonderful pinot noir wines : FIRE + FLOOD
Thank you Wine Enthusiast for the nice mention : “Your Wine and Fine Art Fixes”
“The tasting room is the permanent home to artist Cathie Bleck’s evocative “Infusion: Chaos, Change and Emergence,” a dynamic mural depicting the geological formation of the local soil. Soak it up while sipping infusion-method wines by Willamette Valley vet Mark Tarlov and Burgundy-trained consultant Louis Michel Liger-Belair.”
New US postage : Fanciful Flowers Stamp
I am honored that my forth postage stamp, the lily was released this summer. I think this may be my favorite because of the vibrancy of the colors and composition and it was inspired by my love for my garden. It also speaks to the spirit of new life and transformation! You can find out more about ordering these HERE.
Happy Summer!!
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October 11th 6-9pm :: “Rarely Home” + Craft Beer Event
by Peggy Roalf
Thank you DART newsletter for the shout out on this weekends event : last week to see our show!
DART Subscribers in the news: Otober 11, 6-9 pm
Join Cathie Bleck and fellow artist Amy Casey for an artist’s reception and party to celebrate their dual exhibition, Rarely Home. This is also a celebration of the first anniversary of the host gallery, Maria Neil Art Project in the Waterloo arts district of Cleveland, Ohio.
Cathie sent several articles detailing the transformation of this 10-block stretch of Cleveland’s warehouse district through the collaborative efforts of arts organizers and like-minded developers keen to the symbiosis that can take place with the right mix of intention and hard work, here and here.
The exhibition features Cathie’s signature Kaolin clayboard linework, with imagery inspired by her love of nature [Information]. Rarely Home includes fourteen black and white pieces, three dimensional color pieces, as well as journals from the past few years cascading over a dimensional waterfall of kaolin and blue pigments painted doors, a light box and as an antique Samsonite suitcase which holds a small illuminated dimensional diorama which can be viewed through a peep hole.
Amy Casey, whose work was recently seen in New York at Foley Gallery, is showing a group of paintings that might have sprung from an imaginative reading of Calvino’s Invisible Cities.
The event this weekend promises to be a real party, as the organizers have teamed up with Edible Cleveland, Portside Brewery and Sterle’s food truck for an evening of art, craft beer sampling, live music, food and fun.
Rarely Home, works by Cleveland-based artists Cathie Bleck and Amy Casey, continues through October 19 at Maria Neil Art Project, 15813 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, OH. The neighboring Gallery One Sixty, at 16008 Waterloo Road, has collaborated on hosting this open house event. Admission is free but proceeds from art and beer sales will benefit ARTneo (formerly the Cleveland Artists Foundation. Rarely Home was recently featured in Juxtapoz.
“Rarely Home” : Cleveland @ Maria Neil Art Project : Cathie Bleck + Amy Casey
I recently opened a new exhibition called “Rarely Home” on Sept. 5th, 2014, sharing the space with the amazing talent Amy Casey. Neither of us exhibit in Cleveland regularly but were thrilled to be part of all the excitement going on over in the New Waterloo Arts District at Maria Neil Art Project. My portion of the show features over 13 black and white works, several works in pigments and an illuminated diorama inside of an old suitcase as well as a laser cut lightbox. Several journals are also on display. It was a real honor to show with Amy Casey and we had a very successful opening reception with a near sellout. Juxtapoz Magazine featured our show on their international website as well. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported us! The show runs through Oct.19.
The gallery is celebrating their first anniversary with a closing reception and Craft Beer event, scheduled for Saturday October 11th from 6-9 pm. Amy and I look forward to raising a glass with you before the winter hits before our show closes Oct. 19th.
“Luminescence” (Light-box), 8”x10”Laser cut clay board with carving, Light-box and maple frame (sold)
“Weather” , 4”x8” Inks on clay board panel (sold)
“Golden Hour”, 4″x8″ Inks on clay board panel (sold)
“The Lagoon”, 4″x8″ Inks on clay board panel (Available)
“The Arrangement”, 7”x7” Inks on scratchboard Archival mount on maple panel (sold)
“Adventureland” 10”x12” Inks on scratchboard Archival mount on maple panel (sold)
“Virtually Home” 6”x7” Inks on scratchboard Archival mount on maple panel (sold)
“Divine Inspiration” 6”x7” Inks on scratchboard Archival mount on maple panel (available)
“Hometown 1” 6”x8” Inks on scratchboard Archival mount on maple panel (available)
“Red Dog”, 9”x12” Inks on scratchboard , Archival mount on maple panel (available)
“A Curious Case” :: Peer inside the peep hole :: diorama of laser cut clay boards with LED lighting
Here are some shots of Amy Casey’s great works::
Here is a closeup of Amy Casey’s exquisite intricate painting ::
U.S. Postage Stamp Release 2014 “Tree stamp”
This is the second in a series of nature stamps that I have done for the U.S. Postal Service in collaboration with art director Ethel Kessler. One of my personal favorites! It comes pre-posted to a postcard. You can order them here.
Have a happy summer of writing and sitting under a big tree!!
Thank you Juxtapoz Magazine for the nice lil feature on your website on my recent lithographs and this tree stamp.
Small Bhutan Paper Paintings @ Packer Schopf Gallery : Chicago
It was heartwarming to greet so many friends and family that came out to support my show at Packer Schopf Gallery in Chicago. I had an amazing time that whole week planning the artworks in the intimate space along with the masterful eye of Aron Packer. The space was perfect with the raw and cave like sensibility, perfect for displaying historic materials.
I have been exploring the use of ancient papers and created 48 small works on Bhutan paper, a form of papyri in addition to the larger papyrus works mounted on wood panels. All of the materials I utilize are from the earth; utilized for centuries : Clay, Papyrus, Inks, and graphite. A very important part of Bhutanese culture and tradition is handmade paper making. Historically paper has been made to provide Buddhist monasteries with paper for woodblock and manuscript books, and for writing prayers and mantras. Today handmade paper making continues to preserve and promote this age-old tradition, as well as to create many other products, such as stationery and greeting cards. One by one, Bhutanese paper is created by hand beginning with a wooden frame and bamboo screen filter, then dipped into a vat of pulp and starch mixture, which is whisked around to allow a thin layer of the mixture to spread out evenly over the screen, and then transferred to a table to dry whereby the screen is carefully removed to result in a single sheet of Bhutanese paper. I love the sensibility of these papers which take on a three dimensional feeling with added clay and inks.
Each one I made was a response to an event in my life, creating a visual journal in a large grid. This one below was inspired by a fascinating essay I had read by art historian Dr. Marianne Berardi on the Dutch flower painter Rachel Ruysch.
There are still a few Available at Packer Schopf Gallery in Chicago
New Print Release :: Stone Lithographs
Available in a very limited Edition of 20 :: $450.
Printed on Rives BFK Off White, Artist signed, numbered and stamped/chop by Master Printer, Karen Beckwith TMP
Allow 1-2 weeks for shipping via Fed Ex Ground, securely packaged.
PURCHASE :: “The Rescue” (Heron)
LITHOGRAPHS :: “The Chamber” (Owl) and “The Rescue” (Heron) were generated on one run. Working on a limestone slab with Korns pencil, crayon and Charbonelle high grade tusche in a Limited Edition of 20. Additionally a Bon a Tirer of 1,CIA Archive Proofs of 2, Printer’s Proof of 0, Artist Proofs of 2, on Rives BFK Off White, Artist signed, numbered and stamped/chop by Tamarind Institute trained Master Printer, Karen Beckwith TMP
Dimensions: The images are 11″x14″ with a 2″ border on 18″ x 15″ with deckled edges
+ If you are interested in PURCHASING these exclusive and small editions at $450. EACH (see Paypal link next to images)
For further questions or acquisitions of these Lithographs please email Karen Beckwith at lithogds@yahoo.com or 216.280.6109. Since it is the holidays, if you have difficulty reaching Karen, please feel free to email cb@cathiebleck.com as well. (click on images to enlarge)
DETAILS ::
DETAIL : The Chamber 
DETAIL "The Rescue" 
Detail from "The Rescue" Public lecture on Wed. November 20th at 2 PM at Aikins Auditorium at The Cleveland Institute of Art and the prints will be on display.
PRINTMAKING RESIDENCY @ CIA
I was invited to collaborate as an artist in residence with The Cleveland Institute of Art’s printmaking dept. CIA is of the finest art schools in the country known for their comprehensive program and master teachers. It was a rare opportunity to work in the historic practice of stone lithography in the company of such excellence and perfection. An edition of 20 will be released and available for acquisition by December 3rd.
I began my long awaited residency in the Print Department of the Cleveland Institute of Art about 2 weeks ago, working alongside the director of the department, artist Maggie Denk and working closely with Master Printer and artist Karen Beckwith (who trained at the well respected Tamarind Institute in NM – she will be printing the edition). This collaboration of working with such talented and skillful print makers in such an amazing facility in the company of students has been a very rewarding exchange thus far. I remember learning stone lithography in college, but never remember having the kind of attention these two teachers give their students. The first day Karen Beckwith prepared two stones for me to practice on. Prepping the stones, or graining is something that requires skill, muscles and patience. It must be done in a way that the surface of the stone remains perfectly level for optimum printing. Here is a video clip of Maggie in action as she instructs a student on the task. You can find out more on the elaborate process of lithography here.
VIDEO :: Maggie Denk preparing the stone for drawing and printing surface
The above are my experiments with tusche (Lithographic drawing ink which is a combination of grease, soaps and pigment) as well as using the litho crayon which picks up the grainy surface of the stone, something that I have an affection for even though I loved carving through the blackness of the tusche, mimicing strokes in my work, but ultimately was seduced by the marks one can only pick up from the grain of the litho stone-the most perfect surface for drawing. Below are marks that Karen prepares and etches after observing my marks on the practice stone. She uses this for a guide so she is able to capture the correct density in the drawing. Also posted a few movies to get an idea of this tedious yet thrilling process.
Below : In the studio, I discovered Karen Beckwith’s incredible work while she was about to erase it from the stone (see image below which you can enlarge to see detail by clicking once on image) Those clouds especially inspired me as I put my crayon to stone, had to find an area to create some smoke! Karen’s print (on the stone below) won an award from the MAPC (midAmerica Print Council) and will be on exhibition in Denver at Banshee Press, so check it out if you find yourself in Denver, CO this winter. Otherwise, you can catch her pretty much everyday doing demos for students or working on press.
Maggie Denk chairs the departement of printmaking at CIA and has been teaching over 15 years-a woman that gets things done while producing exquisite work and mentoring one on one with the students. Took a quick snapshot of her work in the faculty show currently on view across from The Cleveland Museum of Art @ Reinburger Gallery
Karen Beckwith artist, image on stone lithograph 
Print by Artist, Maggie Denk This week I spent 2 days completing the image for my first edition. The title is “The Chamber”. Here are some early progressions on the stone under the observation of Karen Beckwith-a real honor to be collaborating with her! You can view some reference nearby (I create a rather large wave of reference around me- I am very messy when I work so Karen kept her eye on me making sure I did not touch the stone with the oil from my skin and set me up with some tracing paper under my hand while I worked). You can see the Onyx conte tracing in red I made from my sketch which will not print in the finish-it only serves as a guide. Below on right is Karen on press. We worked together pulling “The Rescue” I kept the stone wet constantly in the all day process of inking and printing each print. Only the best prints make it into the edition, in this case 20, 2 Artists proofs, a BAT print, and 2 that remain at CIA, 25 in total. The rest are destroyed as well as the image on the stone.
DETAILS FROM THE DRAWING ON LIMESTONE SLAB :
“The Chamber” drawing on the stone.
The drawing is completed and ready to be prepared for a printing proof. Karen masked the edge of the stone to avoid me marking it up as I drew. I held tracing paper over the stone so as to not touch the stone with imperfections caused by my touching the stone. The image is created in reverse.
This image was inspired by the piece “Through the Wing” Inks, clay on papyrus from my frAGILITY series in Chicago @ Packer Schopf Gallery Nov through Dec. 2013
“frAGILITY” NEW works on Papyrus CHICAGO Exhibition : NOV 1 – Dec. 28, 2013
PRESS RELEASE
CATHIE BLECK / frAGILITY / New works on papyrus
Contact: Aron Packer 312.226.8984
PACKER SCHOPF GALLERY : 942 WEST LAKE STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60607
Event Date: Artists’ Reception: Friday, November 1st, 5-8 PM
Exhibition Run: NOV 1 – DEC 28 , 2013
Cleveland artist Cathie Bleck presents a new collection of emotionally charged paintings entitled, “frAGILITY”. Cathie Bleck closely examines the delicate ebb and flow of life’s circumstances juxtaposed with her affinity for detail and personal relationship with nature. As a young girl, Cathie grew up on a tree farm just outside of Chicago, an environment that moved her to examine the changing seasons. Each season embodied feelings of both renewal and readiness while visually inspiring metaphors for transformation. Bleck will present twelve new illustrative works, carved onto clay and through ink adapting to the surface weaves of Egyptian papyrus; a material with inherent strength and resilience through time. Her medium and choice of materials are emblematic of the dualities explored in this series, the contradictory yet beautiful tension between frail and strong. These works were inspired by several trips to Egypt over the past five years, where Bleck created journals influenced by the anthropomorphic symbols of the ancient visual language. This ongoing series also includes journals, large scale scrolls (one included in this show) and miniature drawings on handmade papers from ancient cultures and serve as a precursor for a larger body of works which study the origins of the vullnerable nature of the human spirit and its immense resilience in the face of adversity.
Stay Tuned for Cathie Bleck Full Preview of works the week before Nov. 1st opening.
For Acquisitions contact Aron Packer @ 312.226.8964
ALL WORKS ARE COPYRIGHTED, PLEASE ASK FIRST! CB@CATHIEBLECK.COM
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
+ ALSO EXHIBITING A WALL OF THESE SMALL WORKS 4″X6″ , INK, CLAY ON BHUTAN PAPER FROM NEPAL
A FEW DETAILS:
SCROLL PROJECT : ONE SCROLL ON VIEW
“March” convivial
Graphite, clay on Stonehenge paper
55” x 170”
“The Rise of Man” 15″X18″ Framed
Ink, graphite, clay, vellum on paper
A Few pics from hanging the show today:
U.S. Postage “Deer Stamp” Release 2013
This is the second stamp commissioned by the U.S. Postal Service. As someone that still enjoys writing and receiving a sweet letter from a loved one or friend, I am elated to continue creating artwork for the USPS. They have a cool blog that features stories behind all the stamps you might want to check out.
Here is a link to an INTERVIEW on designing this stamp.
To find out how to order this Forever stamped card or a collectable First Day of Issue card click HERE
If you would like me to personalize your card, send me a pre-stamped envelope with your address and the First Day of Issue Card @
2270 Chatfield Drive, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106.
If you want to check out my first Pineapple Stamp here are the details
