Negret Wine Company Art Fair

Flower Essence series, the Laughing Lotus, and Pagka-pinay series on display at Negret Wine Co. Art Fair, June 11 &12.

Negret Wine Company in Hudson Wisconsin, hosted a two-day art fair exhibiting local artists from the St. Croix River Valley on June 11 & 12.  Anna Koosmann's Flower Essence series and her new version of Hersley Casero's Ha? project, Laughing Lotus, were on display.  It was a wonderfully warm summer weekend to share in art, wine, and friendship at Negret.

Laughing Lotus, Anna Koosmann's latest version of Hersley Casero's collaborative art movement, the Ha? project.

This video shows the transformation of Anna Koosmann's Laughing Boy portrait created in 2014 at Art at the Heart in Hudson, WI into the Laughing Lotus portrait 2016.  The process is about re-creating your story, transform the old and out-dated into something new - Create to Elevate!

Vincent Negret, owner and wine maker, holds up his new Ha? project t-shirt.

Pagka-pinay "being Filipino" at Global M.A.D.E Gallery 120

Pagka-pinay series: Saging (banana) and Balloon series paintings beyond

It was a cold and brisk evening for May during Artful Friday's opening at Global M.A.D.E Gallery 120 in River Falls, Wisconsin last Friday.  We all managed to warm up inside among the colorful display of artworks created by local artists in the St. Croix river valley.  I was one of five local artists to exhibit the architecture work and paintings created in the Philippines.  It was great to see the works up on the wall and share the adventures with everyone who came to the opening.  I was reconnected with so many faces from my childhood that night, and many new faces from the local community.  Artworks are up and for sale through May 31, 2016.  Get down to Global M.A.D.E if you haven't, it's a fun store to check out all the fair trade arts and crafts from around the globe.

Pagka-pinay paintings are Koosmann's visual story as a foreigner living and working abroad for nearly two years in the Philippines (2012-14).  The term pagka-pinay means "being Filipino". The series has been exhibited in galleries around the Philippines, including Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues V-day event and art exhibit entitled, Herstory, on February 14, 2014.

Balloon paintings are meditations in art making which unveil layers of colors and shapes by removing paint from the canvas.  Debuted at Qube Gallery Cebu, Philippines for the Mientras Tanto, or "in the mean time", group exhibit September 2013.

Pagka-pinay paintings displayed among Estudio Damgo architecture photographs highlighting four community projects in the Philippines.

Balloon series displayed brilliantly on a complimentary orange wall at Global M.A.D.E. Gallery 120 River Falls, WI.

It was nice to have friends and family show up for the event.

And to meet new faces to hear about their adventures in the Philippines.

In the news - "...Koosmann's Philippines community-architecture odyssey"

Featured on the front page of Hudson's Star-Observer Feb. 18, 2016, article by Chuck Nowlen

 R E A D the A R T I C L E

Walking into Hudson's butcher shop today to pick up this week's Star-Observer, I was surprised to find my face, in color on the front page.  I chuckled to myself as I tucked it under my arm, and strolled over to RJ's meat counter for tonight's dinner.   In that moment, I felt familiarly at home standing in front of the glass display and looking at the meat selection, in the same family-owned butcher shop I knew as a kid, when Hudson was still a small river town surrounded by farmland.

I enjoyed sitting with the journalist last week to share my experiences.  Chuck Nowlen wrote the feature playing on the adventurous title and relating it to Homer's Odyssey.  Reading the article and reflecting on my time in the Philippines, it was like being on my own odyssey, lured by a Siren's song, staying on longer in Dumaguete City, Philippines and the Estudio Damgo program than originally planned.   The Philippines is just one chapter in community architecture and public interest design.  I think about all the places that led to this international experience.  Starting in Milwaukee's architecture program and volunteering for Habitat's 10-day Collegiate Challenge for Pueblo adobe homes in Taos NM.  Moving onto the "White City" and impassioned by Chicago's flamenco scene.  Then, out West for grad school and awakening my spirit in Yakima's central valley tribal nations and Seattle's Tent City encampments.  I've moved residencies at least 18 times since high school.  But just as Homer's protagonist makes his epic journey, eventually Odysseus does find his way home.  Now, After 18 years and many adventures to exotic landscapes, I find myself nestled in the St. Croix river valley at the head waters from where it all started. I'm back home - for now.

The Star-Observer's feature article continue, by Chuck Nowlen.

Balloon Series - "I hear you, I see you, I feel you"

The Balloon Series painting, "I feel you" now on display at Negret Wine Company Hudson, Wisconsin. - Photo courtesy of Eva Branson

The Balloon Series paintings, "I hear you, I see you, I feel you" are on display at Negret Wine Company downtown Hudson, Wisconsin.  I'm so grateful to the wine maker and tasting manager, Vincent Negret and Harout Doghradmadjian, for opening the doors and welcoming the balloons into their new wine production space.  Negret Wine Company is a great addition to Hudson's main street.  It was timely to display the balloons for the Hudson Hot Air Affair over the weekend and I enjoyed getting to know the wine maker and hearing the Negret family legacy in wine making rooted in Columbia, South America. 

Pictured with wine maker Vincet Negret and the Balloon Series paintings at Negret Wine Company Hudson, Wisconsin. - Photo courtesy of Eva Branson

Negret Wine Company tasting room with Harout Doghradmadjian.

webs: www.negretwinecompany.com

In the News - SuperCharge! Foods

Photo credit: Sharon Vanonry courtesy of SuperCharge! Foods

A + w o r k s  is pleased to be a longtime supporter and friend of SuperCharge! Foods which is now opening their new production, juice bar, and community space in Madison, WI this June after five years of launching their business in micro-greens.  Pt Bjerke and TJ DiCiaula are pioneers in quality of food standards with "SuperCharged" micro-greens locally produced in Madison, WI.    A + w o r k s consulted with SuperCharge! since September 2014 on the permitting, furniture, equipment and finishes for the new space.  It's been a great opportunity to be involved in such a meaningful project.  A + w o r k s supports businesses that elevate the standards in how we work, live, and connect.  Learn more about the good things happening with SuperCharge! Foods in the Isthmus review by Amelia Cook Fontella, "Drinks Shoots and Leaves".

Links:
http://www.superchargefoods.com/wp/
Follow SuperCharge! Foods on Facebook.

In the News - "The Other Expats"

R E A D it H E R E

Just two years ago I took a leap abroad to pursue my passion in architecture in the Philippines.  A life changing decision to say the least, and I'm grateful to have had the courage and the support to take a risk in my career and change to my Pacific Northwest creature comforts, to follow my heart's path.  After living and working abroad for 20 months, I returned back to the Midwest to be near family and to establish myself in the States as a licensed architect.  I continue to stay in touch with friends and loved-ones in the Philippines and to follow the progress of the third Estudio Damgo project, which was just launched this week and featured in the local paper.  To my surprise, in a separate article, I was pictured along side Hersley-Ven Casero and Larissa Gutsch in the report entitled, "The Other Expats" by John Stevenson.  The picture was taken over a year ago by Stevenson (who is also an expat) at a poetry reading held at the Bean Connection, one of my favorite coffee shops in Dumaguete City.  Reflecting fondly on my days living in the "City of Gentle People", it warms my heart to feel a reciprocal bond shared between the community and myself.  It was a hard decision to leave Dumaguete City, because of the close ties I had made through my work, the community, relationships, and partner.  Dumaguete and its gentle people sink deep within my heart, and in a humbling way, the article tells me Dumaguete might miss me a little too.  As they say in Visayan "Balik-Balik" and "Kitakitz"! And if John Stevenson's words are true, I do wish to return someday soon. - Dumaguete Metropost Newspaper photo courtesy of Hersley-Ven Casero