Jori and the J. Bird

2010-04-05T21:39:00.004-05:00

Here is information about the current show I am participating in! The show is made up of 20+ talented, local women artists. I'll give you a sneak peek of my painting but you should visit the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center to see it fully....it's up through May, so you have plenty of time! ;)

Thanks Kevin Dowd for the photo!

Group Exhibition

Dates: April 2nd through May 28th, 2010 (April 2nd & May 7th First Friday)

Title: “Her Art: Who Does She Think She Is?”

Location: Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, 2012 Baltimore Kansas City, MO 64108

Artists: (All Kansas City Metro Area Artists) Jaime Aguirre, Antonia, Hadara Bar-Nadav, Philomene Bennett, Nedra Bonds, Bonnye Brown, Lori Buntin, Jori Cheville, Maria “Mariaurora” Creyts, Nicole Emanuel, Jennie Frederick, Shea Gordon Festoff, Christel Highland, Lesley Jannsen, Sonié Joi Ruffin, Richie Kaye, Renée Laferriere Cinderhouse, Jenny Mendez, Yvette Morton, Holly Swangstu, Dana Swedo-Bernal, Kati Toivanen, Bernadette Torres, Arzie Umali, Liz Van Verth, Maria Vasquez Boyd, Sherry Whetstone-McCall, Marcia Willman.

Medium: Various: Including ceramic, painting, fiber, sculpture & photography

Description: This exhibit brings together a diverse group of Kansas City’s most talented women artists working in a variety of media. Artists were asked to submit works that answer the question: “Who Does She Think She Is?” The intent is to create a collection of autobiographical works that are evocative and emotionally charged, yet personal and narrative.

peace and love.

jori

2010-03-02T22:55:00.007-06:00

Some big news…well at least for me it is! I have applied to the Visual Arts Graduate Program at the University of Kansas. My application materials were due February 1 and they said I should hear an answer within 6-8 weeks. I am really satisfied with the images I submitted and the statement I wrote, not to mention how thankful I am for the wonderful people providing references for me! I chose to apply to the sculpture department. My bachelor’s degree is in ceramics and my current work, although mixed media, is heavily based in painting.

I think to gain a wide range of knowledge in different mediums is going to be crucial to my growth in my work. In the sculpture department I will have the freedom to do so.

So I will definitely be writing again in the near future to let you know if I am a Jayhawk or not :)

A few other exciting things going on right now, I am helping a painter, Wilbur Niewald, for a few months. I mentioned his work in a previous post and it is a pleasure to be working with him. Maybe I'll brush up on my oil painting skills in the process.

I have new paintings in progress soon to be seen in Kansas City. First at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center in April… the show will be up through May. And in June, my work will be shown at The Foundation, located in the West Bottoms. I will have all the information you need posted here closer to the dates of the shows.

Thanks for checking in and come back soon.

peace and love,

jori

A peek at my new studio...

2009-10-11T23:09:00.005-05:00

...which is now located in my apartment! Slightly cramped but I can make it work. The paintings shown here are now finished and are currently up at Mildred's Coffeehouse 1821 Wyandotte in KC,MO 64108 until the end of October. Come by, grab some good coffee (needed in this COLD weather!) and maybe add to your art collection! ;)

peace and love,

jori louise

2009-04-23T13:48:00.004-05:00

April 24 - 25, 29 - 30
May 1 - 2, 6 - 9
Just Off Broadway Theatre
3051 Central
Penn Valley Park
Kansas City, MO 64141

I have been missing in action from this blog but for good reason!! I am in a musical and I have been rehearsing for about 8 weeks. Finally, opening night is tomorrow and I am nervous but I know it will be a success! We have an amazing staff and cast that have taught me so much...considering it is my first time acting, I had alot to learn. We have 10 performances lined up over the next 3 weekends. Please join us on our "trip" back to 1968!

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.mindseyetheatrekc.com/ .

peace and love,

jori louise

Kansas City as Subject Matter...

2009-02-11T16:12:00.006-06:00

I recently had the opportunity to judge a juried art exhibition for the first time. My dear friend and mentor, Holly, and I took a day trip to St. Joseph, MO to judge the show at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. It was a lovely day filled with driving, talking, viewing art and blackberry cobbler with ice cream :)

On this trip I picked up a book that is a retrospective of Wilbur Niewald, a familiar painter to Kansas City, but somehow I have managed to live here for 9 years and never hear of him. This is surprising considering that I graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute, as did he, and he was also a professor in the painting department for 43 years! Niewald is known for his cityscapes and landscapes, which depict hills and urban vistas familiar to many Kansas City area residents. Since the 1970s, he has created landscapes, portraits and still-life paintings directly from observation. I was specifically drawn to the painting shown below ( Kansas City, View of the River 2007 by Wilbur Niewald ) because if you look closely, in the far distance there are some grain silos.

I see those exact grain silos up close almost everyday right outside the windows of Songbird Cafe! I work at the cafe but it is also my favorite hangout, primarily because it is owned by my best friend, Courtney but it does serve the best coffee in town.

To view these beautiful silos up close yourself and enjoy some coffee at the cafe...Join us this Friday, the 13th, from 7-9 for the showing of photographs by Hannah Huffman. Songbird Cafe is located at 1315 Fairfax Trfwy, KCK 66115. We are also open weekdays from 7ish to about 3 :)

Hope to see you Friday! Until next time...

peace and love.

jori

Almost Christmas...

2008-12-22T10:36:00.005-06:00

Oh my! I certainly have been absent for a while since my show. It was a much needed break after long, hard days of work, sleeping in studio and eating Ramen. Now I have been getting plenty of rest and eating real food :)

Just two days til Christmas! I am in Atlanta with my family and thoroughly enjoying the company. I am anxious to get to work at studio. I have so many ideas floating around in my head and I am terrible at documenting them. So they eventually float away if I don't put them to use.

I started a new painting, a self portrait... I am a bit uneasy about venturing into this subject matter but every artist goes there eventually and I figure now is a better time than ever! I will post the finished piece as soon as it's done. I haven't decided if it will have tiles. I think I need to work on my painting skills...I want my paintings to be able to stand alone as successful pieces and then the tile work would just be an added bonus to make my work stand apart from others.

I also have been commissioned to tile a fireplace in Kansas City, KS. It is a freestanding fireplace that has a very retro feel to it...very cool! (similar to the one below) I will be tiling the wall behind it.

It should be finished near the end of January!

That's all for now...once I am back in the swing of things in studio I will post lots of pictures and keep you updated on all the happenings. FYI: we have a studio available for rent at J.Bird! Please let me know if you are interested or if you know anyone who may be. Thanks.

Happy Holidays,
jori

My First Solo Exhibition

2008-11-12T17:11:00.003-06:00

Sneak peek...

2008-10-15T19:41:00.008-05:00

Broken Sticks and Stones, 49X49, ceramic, acrylic, wood, 2008

This is the first piece that I finished for the show. It is on display at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center now to help bring attention to my upcoming solo show in November.

My dad, Jon, was visiting this last weekend to help out around the studio. He stayed for four days and I must say he has quite the precision tile cutting skills :) Thanks dad...love you.

If you would like to receive information about my show and events at J.Bird Studios please email me at joric.hebert@gmail.com .

I have three weeks until my show opens...there is much work to be done!

Until next time...

jori :)

J. Bird Studios presents...

2008-10-09T19:54:00.005-05:00

. suspension and pause .

illuminated porcelain installations

by Cara Long

October 10 - November 7

You're Invited!

Opening Reception: Friday, October 10 6-9pm

*catering by Nosh

J.Bird Studios

516 Kansas Avenue

Kansas City, KS 66105

913.207.1971

joric.hebert@gmail.com

Grinder's West

2008-09-22T09:13:00.006-05:00

I was chosen, along with about 20 other local Kansas City artists, to create original artwork to be used as tables for Grinder's West Restaurant. I finally finished mine this last Friday and it was great to see what other artists had created. Some of the tables are interactive! You can visit www.myspace.com/grinderskc to find out more (they have awesome food, full bar, and a concert venue. What more could you ask for!?)

Here are some pics of the table in progress and finished. I chose to do a mixed media painting with ceramic tiles attached.

Now it is time to focus ALL my attention on my upcoming solo show at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center.

Have a great week :)

jori

Paintings by Holly Swangstu @ J.Bird

2008-09-18T14:46:00.005-05:00

Paintings by Holly Swangstu
at J. Bird Studios

Open House
Saturday, September 20 12-5pm
Evening Reception
6-9pm

J. Bird Studios
516 Kansas Ave, Kansas City, KS 66105
Gallery Open by Appointment Only
Contact Jori Hebert at 913.207.1971 or
joric.hebert@gmail.com

A day in the studio.

2008-09-07T17:58:00.008-05:00

So my schedule is packed with all sorts of wonderful things to get done... and I am reminded how lucky I am to be able to do what I love all the time.

Currently I am working on a table top for Grinders Resturant in the Crossroads. They will be rotating the tables periodically to showcase Kansas City artists and I am in the first round along with my dear friend, Holly Swangstu. After this round, the tables will be auctioned off.

This last week I finished a new mixed media piece (shown below) that was commissioned by fellow artist, Janay Andrews. She is a clothing designer here in Kansas City and is preparing to open a shop in Martini Corner. Check out her blog to view some of her beautiful designs http://www.moderngown.wordpress.com/ and her etsy account to purchase items!! http://www.abstractpretty.etsy.com/

Next up, I am preparing for my solo show in November. I figured out alot of stuff for it this weekend and I am so anxious to share with you....you'll have to check back to find out more ;)

Bye for now.
Jori

Don't Blink...

2008-08-12T17:47:00.003-05:00

I saw myself on TV the other night and wanted to share it with you! It's fast so pay attention...I'm right after the "art"section.

My 0.5 second of fame ;)

jori

Birds of a Feather

2008-08-10T08:57:00.013-05:00

To say goodbye to July and hello to August, J. Bird Studios and Songbird Cafe shared a booth at the Wyandotte County Fair. It was certainly the hottest week to be at an outdoor fair with a heat advisory of 105 degrees! The heat did affect the turnout but we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.

Courtney and me.
I was selling handmade porcelain jewelry, coasters, and artwork. Songbird Cafe, owned by Courtney Wasson, was selling jams and jellies and had also created awesome party baskets.

Songbird Cafe is an artsy coffee shop located in the Fairfax District of Kansas City, KS. They have great coffee and tasty baked goods along with unique lunch specials made from scratch! For more information about Songbird Cafe visit http://www.songbirdcafe.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you to everyone that helped us and who came to visit our booth to show your support! It was greatly appreciated :)

* Doug and I clowning around...

* Rachel and I enjoying the festivities! Except for maybe the "Power Surge", a ride that defies gravity and my head...not recommended. Lovely Cari was with us but she's behind the camera.

Until next time... cheers, jori

J. Bird Studios

2008-08-02T00:13:00.007-05:00

The creation of J.Bird Studios began in September 2006. My husband, Doug, and I chose a building in Kansas City, KS because of the opportunity to provide affordable artist studios. Remodeling took eight months and we had our first opening reception July 2007. We currently have seven artists in residence and the gallery rotates shows every couple months.

Our August show is featuring woodcuts by local artist Heather Marton. Her opening reception is on Friday, August 8th 2008 from 6-9pm. The band, Yellow Lab, will be performing around 7pm and there will be light refreshments. Come visit and hang out!

J. Bird Studios is located at 516 Kansas Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66105. Contact us at 913.207.1971 or joric.hebert@gmail.com