Lisa Myers Bulmash 3/15/19 Lisa Myers Bulmash 3/15/19

Saying goodbye to North Light Books

I’ve met some of my favorite people through books: real, live people who wrote the books that introduced me to collage and mixed media art. So I’m a little sad to hear a specialty publishing empire is crumbling. F+W Media, which owns North Light Books and several other imprints, declared bankruptcy recently. North Light published many art technique books, including Destination Creativity: The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat.

Ricë Freeman-Zachery and Earl Zachery in 2010, collecting material for the book Destination: Creativity — *Ric*ë *Freeman-Zachery and Earl Zachery in 2010, collecting material for the book Destination: Creativity*

I was lucky enough to watch Earl Zachery collect photos while Ricë Freeman-Zachery collected the words. And then Ricë turned around and included a comment from me in the book. (I still get a little thrill out of seeing the pull quote.) I’ve also become friends with her editor Tonia Jenny, who edited two books by another artist/author pal, Michael de Meng.

*Michael de Meng mugging for the camera during Artfest 2011*

Fortunately, none of these people rely on F+W to pay their bills anymore. But I still have their books in my collection, and I still keep up with some of their authors on social media, including MaryBeth Shaw, Crystal Neubauer and Gina Rossi Armfield.

*Making silly faces with Michael de Meng at Artfest 2011. Photo by Lana Guerra.*

If these artists keep writing, I hope Quarry Books scoops them up. (Quarry published three of the five books in which my art and commentary appear). I want them to help my artist/author friends keep blowing people’s minds. In the meantime… g’night, North Light.

Lisa Myers Bulmash 3/8/19 Lisa Myers Bulmash 3/8/19

Art exhibit: "One Nation..." heads to Texas

East Texans (and west Louisianans): I’m headed your way, y’all!

*Ledbetter Gallery, Cole Art Center. Photo credit: SFASU School of Art*

More specifically, one of my collages will represent me at the Texas National 2019 art exhibit, in the Cole Art Center. They’ve accepted “One Nation, Under Reconstruction” into the show, which opens April 13th.

*“One Nation, Under Reconstruction,” 2017, by Lisa Myers Bulmash*

Juror Michelle White, senior curator at The Menil Collection, chose only 51 works out of a thousand entries, so I’m immensely grateful to be included in this show. Looks like my “Made You Look” tactic won me a spot on the wall!

*Reavley Gallery at Cole Art Center. Photo credit: SFASU School of Art*

If you’re within shouting distance of Nacogdoches, Texas — say, Houston or Shreveport — this is your chance to soak up the art in person. Be sure to take photos and post them to your social so I can see you with the art!

Lisa Myers Bulmash 3/1/19 Lisa Myers Bulmash 3/1/19

Liberty Bank Building: be the first in the door

Remember field trip days when you were a kid? That break from the norm to go on an adventure?

*Curator Esther Ervin (wearing hat) leads Redmond,WA students on a Liberty Bank Bldg art tour. Credit: Jackie Peterson*

You can recapture that feeling at the grand opening of the Liberty Bank Building apartments — it’s only 22 days away! Details:

The event is free, kid-friendly, and open to the public, so I’m planning on arriving early. I may have said this before, but it bears repeating: unless a resident invites you to visit at a later date, this is your last and only chance to see the art in person. Mark your calendars!