People’s Choice Award

People’s Choice Award from the Wailoa Art Center in Hilo, HawaiiImage of painted and sculpted portraits on paintbrushes
People’s Choice award from the Wailoa Art Center in Hilo, Hawaii
I was so pleased and honored to receive the People’s Choice award for my artwork. Thanks to friends and fans who voted for my mixed media sculpture I entered into the surrealist show.
From Wailoa Art Center:
Hoʻomaikaʻi e Abbie Rabinowitz!
Her piece, “Board Members”, featured here, won the People’s Choice for the Hawai’i Surrealist Exhibit!
Rabinowitz shares this about her captivating piece, “As a painter, I often hold onto ruined brushes—those too stiff or frayed to be used for painting—believing they might still serve a purpose one day. Although I don’t typically identify as a surrealist, the theme of this show prompted me to revisit these discarded tools and explore new ways to give them life. Initially, I considered painting small portraits on them, but this idea quickly evolved. I began sculpting miniature clay faces onto the brushes, transforming each into a unique character. Now, they stand together, gazing out at the viewer in their afterlife, carrying memories of the strokes and paintings they once contributed to, yet now animated with a spirit and attitude of their own.”

Award-winning painting

I was pleased to have all five of my paintings accepted to this year’s juried en pleinair show at the Wailoa Art Center in Hilo. It was also an honor to receive my third-place award for my painting Red Road at Makakau!

In addition, my painting Mango Canopy was placed on its own pedestal at the front entrance, where visitors see it first thing when they enter the show. Mahalo to the juror and Wailoa Center staff for presenting my work with so much respect.

It’s a wonderful thing to receive an acknowledgement for the work it takes to be an artist, especially the time spent practicing my art. As an artist, the magic for me is in the actual creation of a piece, especially en pleinair painting where I am outdoors and completely immersed in the breeze, colors, light, and sounds of nature. Receiving an award or selling a piece of art is the icing on the cake. Yes, it’s sweet, but the making of the art is the cherished experience itself.

Kahilu Theater Juried Show

Abbie with Fissure 8 painting
Waimea, Hawaii
On March 14th, I was present at the art opening for the Kahilu Theater’s 4th annual juried exhibition. I was honored to have my painting “Transmutation” selected to be part of this fabulous juried show and hung in a beautiful venue.

I was inspired by the daily view from the street where I lived in Hawaii, just 3 miles from the flow. The view was the gigantic plume from Fissure 8 that towered upward and filled the night sky each day with it’s fiery glow. It flowed for several months while I was on island.

Amazing heartfelt artwork was on display by artists who shared artistic interpretations of transformative destruction/creation experiences in their lives, many who were displaced by the volcanic eruption and many who lost their homes.

The show is free and open to the public Mon-Fri 9am-1pm and during all performances. It will be on display at the Kahilu Theater until April 27th.

Visiting island artist at Hui No’eau, Maui

To be able to travel, paint and teach art has been a goal of mine for quite some time.
So being invited to teach art in Maui at the Hui No’Eau is truly a dream come true.

Just a few months after moving to the Big Island of Hawaii last year, I was contacted by Hui No’Eau to come teach my workshops there as a visiting island artist. The school is a nonprofit, community art school in Maui, situated on one of the historic Baldwin estates. It has a view of Haleakala to one side and the distant coast to the other side. It’s upcountry, surrounded by rolling hills, lush vegetation and meadows. The school itself is set on 22 acres with a variety of buildings for arts and craft disciplines. The main gallery shows work by contemporary artists and the classes are well attended.
Yes.. it’s real. I taught my first workshop this weekend at Hui No’Eau called Tropical Expressions using Watercolor and Collage. It was a full class and so much fun to teach. Sharing my knowledge and inspiring others to tap into their creativity is truly my ultimate dream. Next weekend I teach abstract painting using acrylics on paper.
During the week my plan is to reconnect with island friends and paint, paint and paint. Maui is first island of the Hawaiian islands that I visited and first island I loved. The Big Island is where my soul lives now but Maui is still one fabulous place to visit.

Hui No'Eau photo

 

CALM art opening

CALM art opening

My painting group had a wonderful art opening on June 26th in New Haven at the New Haven Public Library, Ives Gallery. Our group that we call CALM is named after the first initial of our first names: Clay Fried, Abbie Rabinowitz, Laura Levine, and Mark Patnode.

We all went to art school together nearly 40 years ago where we studied together with the same teachers. Several years ago we got together after many years apart, and started painting together. We are pleinair painters and enjoyed finding locations in the CT area where we could meet, paint, critique, and inspire one another. We had discussed having a show together and finally found our venue when we were accepted to show in New Haven at the Ives Gallery as a group. Inspired by nature, we titled our show Nature Calls for CALM.

Juried show in NYC – January 2016

Juried show: January 5th – 30th
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 7th, 5-8pm

I’m excited to announce that my painting “Remember” has been chosen for the annual juried show at Blue Mountain Gallery in New York City scheduled for January, 2016, juried by Stanley Lewis.

Exhibition features the work of thirty-four artists selected from over a thousand entries! Stanley Lewis will attend the opening reception on January 7.  His career spans more than four decades, beginning with his studies at Yale and leading to a successful career as an influential painter and teacher.

Click to see chosen artists at Blue Mountain Gallery.
530 West 25th, 4th floor
New York, NY 10001

Remember, 21″ x 16″, oil on linen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mural is up!

It’s up and it’s colorful!
My commissioned mural was painted entirely indoors, and later installed on the outside of it’s new home last weekend. I’m happy to report that it looked even better than I had hoped. The design the client and I worked out looked beautiful and added a lot of color to the neighborhood. Thank goodness the neighbors like it as well.
Here I am showing off my mural to my mother. If you’re driving on East Broadway in Milford, CT, see if you can spy it just off to the side, heading toward Silver Sands State Park. Please contact me at abbie@abbiesart.com if you are interested in having a mural done for either an interior or exterior placement. See more of my installed art.

Kiki and Abbie in front of the mural

Kiki and me admire my mural outside the house

Abbie facing mural

Checking things out before installation

 

Open Studios in New Haven

October 24th & 25th
Erector Square / 
315 Peck St., New Haven, CT
Building 3, 3rd floor, Studio B
You’re invited to my Open Studio the weekend of October 24th and 25th.
Come by to see my latest piece.. a large 8’x8′ mural while it’s still on the studio wall. I will also be displaying watercolor and oil landscapes, along with portraits from my MFA thesis series.Stop by for a visit and also check out other talented artists in their studios at Erector Square complex. Original artwork will be offered at reasonable prices. Hope to see you there!
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Opening night at my NYC art debut!

Arriving in style at the Blue Mountain Gallery for my NYC exhibition debut!
June 18th-July 3rd.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11AM – 6PM
530 West 25th, 4th floor – New York, NY 10001

Works are from my MFA thesis: a portrait series of my elderly parents expressing their enduring love. I’ll be showing again in the Blue Mountain Small Works Invitational show: July 7th-July 25th

MFA Thesis show

A few pics from opening night at my MFA thesis show at Western Connecticut State University. The show looked great. My parents actually made the trek to Danbury to be at the opening. Here they are posing in all their glory in front of some of their portraits.

Sonoma Holistic Center & Spa ~ current exhibition

Now showing in Sonoma Holistic Center & Spa,  525 Third Street West, Sonoma, CA
Landscape paintings and floral studies currently on display and available for purchase.

Just returned from a fantastic visit to sunny California! There I connected with old friends, including Barbara Bailey and owner of the Sonoma Holistic Spa in Sonoma. She asked if I would display my work on her beautiful spa walls. How could I resist displaying my paintings in a healing environment where the art of relaxation and beauty are practiced?
Enjoy my art while receiving a relaxing and rejuvenating massage or ayurvedic treatment in Sonoma, CA.

Anthurium Rhythm

My paintings are up!

Good news! My paintings are in an exciting local gallery in San Rafael in Marin County.

I’m excited to join an artist collective at the Aurora Artists Studio located on 4th St and D St in San Rafael, CA. We are a group of figurative painters and photographers.

Come visit and check out some of my pleinair and still-life paintings. I have some gorgeous floral still-life paintings on display in the main gallery.

Aurora Arts Studio is open to the public Tue-Sat, 11:30 -5pm.

We’ll be participating in Second Fridays Art Walk in downtown San Rafael. Come on by. My paintings are priced to sell!