A Square Deal

 H.M. Craig, Peony series

This peony series was painted for A Square Deal which is based in Philadelphia.

From the ASD website:

All art work shown is executed on 20cm (7.8 inches) square masonite panels prepared distributed to the artists by A Square Deal.

The work is varied in style, genre, and medium, including paintings, collage, graphic art, photography and mixed media. These original works are then placed in group exhibitions, primarily in non-gallery venues such as cafes, restaurants, salons and other retail establishments in the Metro Philadelphia region. Read more in WHO WE ARE.

...
The cost of work ranges between $40 and $400. The money made from purchased squares is divided among the artist, ASD, the venue at which the piece is sold & a charity of the venue’s choosing. To date, ASD has given gifts to a civic association, a local community arts group, and a small respite center serving HIV/AIDS-affected families.

Quote

"When you're in the studio painting, there are a lot of people in there with you - your teachers, friends, painters from history, critics... and one by one if you're really painting, they walk out. And if you're really painting YOU walk out." — Philip Guston

found here

Ready to Begin

H.M. Craig "Ready to Begin", 40x30", acrylic on canvas

Who isn't ready for Spring?

I know some of you are already bathing in sparkling sunshine and are ankle deep in tulips, but we New Englanders are still waiting our turn for our little piece of earth to explode in flowers.

Art Hunt- Flowers Around Boston

Free Art for Everyone, if you can find it
 
One of the paintings to be given away "How I Wonder", 12x12", acrylic on panel

In celebration of the nicer weather, in anticipation of flowers, and a nod to this weekend's Boston Flower Show, I present to you... free paintings! You can find out more about my Art Treasure Hunts by clicking here.

Sunday, March 20^th, starting at approximately 11:30 am, I will be dropping off more than $1,000 worth of artwork at locations around Boston. Yes, an original painting for free if you find one.

Hints and clues to their general locations will be tweeted when they are placed.

Twitter.com/paintsflowers

Good Luck and Have Fun!

A few guidelines:

1.  If you get your hands on one, please let others get a chance to find one.
2.  If you find me, say hello, and then give me a head start of at least 10 minutes so I can get to the next location.
3. The paintings are 12 inches by 12 inches. They will not have anything covering them.
4. The paintings will be outside.
5. If you have found artwork, Congratulations! It is now yours. Please contact me through email and tell me about it. (HMCraigArt at gmail dot com)

 

An example of a hint would look like this (note- not an actual hint):

“Molasses on the bocce courts”

meaning the location would probably be Langone Park, in the North End, where the Molasses Disaster of 1919 happened.

Thank you to Nate, for giving me the material to make this happen! :)

Quote

The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogues with him through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms, Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs towards him.

-Auguste Rodin

photo by tanakwho on Flickr

An Open Letter To My Brain Injury

The Hours "Ali In The Jungle" music video - Directed by Jonas Odell from FilmTecknarna on Vimeo.


I ran two miles today. This is the first time I have run since my accident on Easter '09.

But, you knew that. You orchestrated the overwhelming fatigue that washed over me when I tried and failed to do basic household chores (dishes, laundry) and tedious paperwork. You made me sleep for 15 hours a day. You steeped me in anxieties and fear, and you tore apart my self esteem. I clung to my small victories, those minute glimmers of promise.. and you would retaliate in another way, dragging me back and reminding me that for every small parcel I reclaimed, there are a hundred more pieces of me that you had in your possession.

Today, it was different. As the golden hour hit Boston and set the December trees on fire, I pushed up a hill... and then I pushed up another. Emboldened by the lack of fear (of falling), my strides became longer and quicker. A whisper of a meditation of hope turned into a war cry.

I may be slow right now, but I am determined. And I will overcome you. And while I know I still have to play by some of your rules, know this....

It's on, you miserable son of a bitch.

.....
further proof of asskickitude (click for larger):

Quote

Flowers never emit so sweet and strong a fragrance as before a storm. When a storm approaches thee, be as fragrant as a sweet-smelling flower.
-Jean Paul Richter

photo by floresyplantas.net on flickr