Carolyn Currie at RGA

Carolyn Currie '86 at
"Art in the Park" at Ballard Park
Sponsored by Ridgefield Guild of Artists

ART after WESTERN
Jobs/Shows/Event Opportunities	Campus shows and events	Alumni shows and events	Faculty shows and events	Western Art Faculty

Carolyn Currie '86 at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists Art in the Park August 17, 2003 Ballard Park, Ridgefield	Carolyn arrives at Ballard Park at 7:15 am to unload her van. The week before she was in Mystic, CT. She has a show every weekend until Thanksgiving. As it gets colder in the New England area, Carolyn and her friend and fellow artist, Dennis Stuart, start moving south. They have shows in Virginia and Florida coming up this fall.
All the tent materials and artwork is ready to be put up for the daylong display. This is her fifth year doing outdoor shows but her first time in Ridgefield.	The tent frame is unrolled. Carolyn has two different tents - this is the smaller one for a one day show.
The white water resistant cloth is tucked into the corner of the frame.	The seven foot panels are lined up for proper placement.
The panels fit snugly onto the frame and are clamped into place.	They are then shimmed to make sure the paintings will line up properly.
Carolyn adds an extra bracket to stabilize the display. She told me of the time in Roanoke that her tent fell over during a thunderstorm with 65 mph winds.	Two types of hooks are used for hanging.
The layout for the pictures are decided on paper before the actual hanging. She has a few less to show this time because the Premier Gallery in New Hope, PA called and asked her to ship four pieces to be hung.	Placement mat change once the paintings are hung, depending on size. Carolyn explains that each artist is in competition with the other for clients but have all become friends as they follow the circuit.
She orders her frames from a place in Florida.
Once all her paintings are hung, Carolyn changes her clothes and adds the finishing touches. She hangs a list of upcoming shows, puts out the guest book and unwraps the corners of the frames.
Carolyn works both plein aire and by using photographs. The photos help her paint in the studio because her subject matter, the sunsets and sun rises, change so quickly. The actual painting time varies from picture to picture.	As part of the setup, Carolyn writes down all paintings on display and marks the ones she has sold. This is the first step for her record keeping.
The boxes that carry the paintings to each show are stacked behind the tent and covered with a tarp as Carolyn waits for the 10 am opening.	Carolyn Currie is now ready to greet the viewers. She adds, "There is so much chaos in the world that she hopes to give people some peace and calm."
Carolyn also has a degree in fashion design but she has been painting since she was 13.
Many people stop by to look, often to comment on the quality of work, sometimes to buy.	Carolyn is pleased that her son, Scott stopped by with his girlfriend Mary Ellen, for a hug.