hApPy NeW yEar!- Bringing in 2012

Satisfied customers keep coming back to Ballard Road Art Studio

In the more than 30 years of running an art studio it has been my pleasure to enhance many clients ideas through metal and paint. But this couple, repeat clients are my most recent tickle or prize. When they picked up the airbrush painted, ford truck tailgate,  up she cried that night she e-mailed me to say-

“I just wanted to thank you again for the most BEAUTIFUL tail gate EVER!!!!!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH..... I never in a million years thought it would be soooo beautiful. I know your work is amazing,...but this was way over the top. I love it so much it was simply breath taking,..literally.. I was so shocked of how beautiful. You are one amazing artist MICHELLE- thank you,- thank you, thank you --GOD BLESS!”  SHARON

Happy Holidays!

miChelle m. Vara extends a big thank you to all the collectors , dealers, and individuals who have commissioned and worked with her at the Ballard Road Art Studio, Wilton NY and will in the New Year and years to come.

On the horizon Vara has a new and exciting set of sculpture, canvas, mixed media; offering a fresh expanded dialog from her interior to expose for the New Year. She looks forward to the conversation and opportunities to come and as always welcomes visitors from around the country to visit the studio gallery.

Peace-

North Country Art Juried Show At Crandell Park on 12-6-11

We invite you and your family/ friends to interact with the artist at:
Crandall Public Library's Friends Gallery in Glens Falls, New York. This year's show runs from Tuesday, December 6, to Friday, December 30, 2011, with the opening reception Thursday, December 8 at 6 p.m. Look forward to seeing you there!

Troy Top Soil wants to develop FOUNDING battle site into rock quarry-

Troy Top Soil wants to develop battle site into rock quarry-

Post Star published today that officials are going to look again at the application for quarry on Battle Hill in Fort Ann NY. To read the story please follow link- http://poststar.com/blogs/the_wash/lost-battle-site/article_cd5a3880-1c39-11e1-8472-001cc4c03286.html
Sorry they have moved the story this is just some summery. I'll post the news papers (November 28th in Local/ Region) vershion when I get a chance to write it.

So Thank you all for responding to this important issue. But Do not Stop as its not over yet! Keep your ears to the ground and keep after officials call me with any new news and I'll pass it along to every one who is interested!

Thanks again! KEEP UP THE GOOD Community Work!!!

Detail of sculpture depicting General Knox bringing supplies towards Saratoga Battle Field. Vara used the great painting “Noble Train of Artillery” by Tom Lovell 1909 as reference.  The sculpture its self is much larger and can be seen in person on rt4 in Schuylerville NY.

An Artist Thanksgiving creed-!

Im thankful for -

 I am thankful that I am not one of the majority of people in this world that wakes up every morning, goes to a job they hate, just to come home and do it all over again.

 I am thankful that I am my work, living all my passion and expression every day at my studio.

 I am thankful that when I am away from my studio, my ideas come with me, they keep me company everywhere I go.

I am thankful for my life full of experiences.

 I am thankful that I have a mind that cannot sleep, I have never been bored.

 I am thankful that there is a part of my life that nobody can control, except me.

 I am thankful that no one in the world can ever take this gift from me.

 I am thankful that I am brave and strong, it takes courage to pursue my gift full time.

 I am thankful that I am never satisfied; it forces me to move forward, change and grow.

I am thankful for my life mate, friends, family, collectors and peers.

I am thankful for you, the ones who help me reach and grow artistically offering me opportunities beyond words.

Thank You All and I wish you have a happy day with those who make you – you!
Peace!

One Brown Crafter -Article on Vara’s sculpture

http://onebrowncrafter.blogspot.com/2011/11/artists-showcase-michelle-vara.html

Americans our Country’s Founding History

 is in Danger of being deleted-

Battle Hill in Fort Ann NY, is the site of choice

 To be Mined by Troy Top Soil. 

The site is where French and Indian Revolutionary War occurred on July 1777.

Currently:          Troy Top Soil clear cut every tree and

Plans mining the entire hill.

DEC has not yet issued the mining permits but intends to in the next short days. This historic site offers archeology on the events, July 8, 1777 and grave site to soldiers.  American history is waiting to be unveiled.

We need people to call-

 Richard Spidel at the DEC office 518-623-1286

(Leave a message with name and contact Number. Anonymous calls don’t count.)

You +1'd this publicly. Undo

U.S. Congressman Chris Gibson 20th District of New York ....

gibson.house.gov/

Office 136 Glen St. Glens Fall, NY 12801 T (518) 743-0964 F (518) 743-1391 ...

And the sign petition, it has not yet been released but will follow in the next few days.

Voice Your Support to Preserve American History!

There will be more information to come, please feel free to contact-

miChelle Vara-518-587-8706   www.michellevara.com

Historian: Dale Grinnell, Fort Ann NY -518-639-8633 -Book: Fort Ann 300 Years of History

Thank You!

Professional Photographers' Society of New York State - PROJECT 9.11

   Vara is included Thanks to Jim McLaughlin.

Link for newly released October Sculpture

to see all the pictures please click on the link below-

https://picasaweb.google.com/michellevara09/MiChelleVaraSMetalSculptureOctober12011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

5th Annual- D.V. Awareness moth

Please Join us in-

 1- PurpleNight Lights™- residents are encouraged to purchase a purple light bulb and display it on their porch or in their window throughout Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Organizer Sandra Becker from the H.E.R. Shelter says the porch and window light bulbs are available in two sizes and for just a few dollars. The goal is to bring awareness and support to victims and survivors of domestic violence and to send a strong message that “Domestic Violence Has No Place in Our Community.”

2- the Shirts of Awareness

Hang a shirt at the 6 Ballard Road Art Studio Wilton, NY
In remembrance of someone or just to support awareness.
Anyone is welcome to bring a tee shirt to hang and write on.

3-B.J.S. ARTWORKS Show,
10-8 to 10-31-2011, - Opening reception is Saturday October 8, 4 – 6 pm
    Meet the artists and enjoy the acoustic inspirational music by Pam Barker.
miChelle Vara .com is showing metal sculpture-
This body of work is called- “The Soul Perceptible”
“My life nothing more than an investigation left in metal and paint”
The artist mission is to make the soul capable of being realized by the mind or through the senses. Visionary art encourages the development of our inner sight. To find the visionary realm we use our inner intuitive eyes. All inspiration originates here. The visionary embraces the spectrum of imagined space.
I believe best known for this is artist Alex Gray.
Poet William Blake called it “The Divine Imagination.”

In Loving Memory of my friend Dawn Bove Roberts, who lost her life in 2007.

Awareness is the only opportunity to stop this silent epidemic in all communities.
This epidemic is not gender specific so all are welcome to participate.

Sincerely , miChelle M. Vara

The 911 event ceremony Upstate NY Sculpture

My words cannot begin to extend how the entire evolution of this process touched me in a way that has never happened before. The power of individuals joined through tragedy, all with personal stories, has forever changed me as a person.

 All I am left to say is THANK YOU for allowing me to be part in such a strong and unique community.  Thank you all for sharing.

9-11 sculpture outline, or the artist's visual symbolization.

“As an artist it is invigorating to have been given such an eminent opportunity”…….

The sculpture piece I call “Respectful Remembrances” (50” X 57” h) is meant to reflect the unity of Americans’ in all walks of life, offering an uplifting sense of healing and forward progression, on the home front horizon, without forgetting the past.

 I have outlined in words, a highlight of my visual symbolization.

·       The I Beam

Is an actual piece from the World Trade Center events.
 You can see the sever duress the iron has been through by the bends that are in it.
It encapsulates immense spirit and energy.

 ·       The arched rusted piece of Angel Iron –

On 9/11 the scene of countless people walking orderly across the Brooklyn Bridge towards safety, left a mark in my mind’s eye.

 The events as they happened in real time. 
The rise and fall. 
The bending of Strength but still holding.
The metal piece was from a fire escape removed from building in Glens Falls NY.

 ·       ¾ inch Round down post-

This piece intentionally bent, wavy and rusted showing inconstant information coming from the ground level. 

The Questions that remain un-answered about the disaster.

·       The small Off Shoot of ¼” Flat stock-

“fractional pieces”- of stories,  ideas,  thoughts,  energy.

Made as a support in the supporting of each other, human being to human being.
The holding up or up lifting.
Rising.
Each small part played is important to the big picture.

 ·       The circle -

The circle is of inexhaustible implications.

Unity, all encompassing, beginning, end, strength, connection.
The sun and moon, work, human culture, concept of all-inclusive.
All the forces (medical, fire, rescue, military, etc,) that work together so hard in collective efforts.
Polished metal is the representation of the light and opportunities.

In closing-
The remembrance of life lost, given and shared, the innocents of a nation changed and our troops on the front, even now, are also meant to be implied in the over all of this piece.

 In overwhelming gratitude,

miChelle M. Vara

Sept. 11 Monument Sculpture to be ready in Time

Post Star 8/27/2011

Wilton Sept. 11 monument to be ready in time for anniversary

Read more: http://poststar.com/news/local/wilton-sept-monument-to-be-ready-in-time-for-anniversary/article_b3e45b74-d02b-11e0-82aa-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1WF7BhkTG

WILTON -- When officials with the Wilton Fire Department received a long-awaited piece of the former World Trade Center, they weren't exactly sure what to do with it.

So they took it to an artist.

Michelle Vara, a sculptor in the town for 25 years, went to work on the twisted section of a steel I-beam the department had requested roughly four years ago.

"They said, ‘Use your judgment. Make it a sentence. Make it a statement,'" Vara said.

The sculpture - and the metals she added to it, each with its own meaning - will be displayed at the firehouse on Ballard Road in time for the coming 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

It's smaller and less controversial than the towering metal sculpture Saratoga Springs officials recently backed away from displaying in front of City Hall.

Vara, who operates 6 Ballard Road Art Studio Gallery, said her piece has a different feel. She said it's one of "positive retrospect," and that she was drawn to the unity she saw after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"Some really awesome things came out of an awful event," she said. "The camaraderie of human existence is mind-blowing - how people took care of their neighbors."

While most of the metal in the sculpture was deliberately rusted by Vara, one piece was not: a piece she bent into a circle. It stands out with a silver shine in the sculpture.

"The circle represents unity, how everyone came together and how people worked together - people from all walks of the Earth," she said.

One of the legs is wavy and inconsistent with the others, which she said represents the questions that remain unanswered about the disaster.

Firefighter Ray Bailey, who requested the piece of metal years ago when he was the department's president, got a glimpse of it for the first time Friday.

"I think it's wonderful," he said. "I think it's very expressive, and I think she did a good job conveying the energy and the emotion."

He said it was a meaningful coincidence that, after waiting years to find out if the department would receive the metal - and then a few more to actually get it - it arrived just months before the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

When it's put on display, the department plans to incorporate a multimedia showing of a decade-old project called "Through the Eyes of a Child," Bailey said. It consists of letters written by young children of firefighters in the department reflecting on the attacks shortly after they happened.

Many of the children who wrote those letters, Bailey said, are now firefighters.

Posted in Local on Friday, August 26, 2011

911 metal sculpture in Saratoga NY

“As an artist it is invigorating to have been given such an eminent opportunity”…….

The sculpture piece I call “Respectful Remembrances” is meant to reflect the unity of Americans’ in all walks of life, offering an uplifting sense of healing and forward progression, on the home front horizon, without forgetting the past.

 The remembrance of life lost, given and shared, the innocents of a nation changed and our troops on the front, even now, are also meant to be implied in the over all of this piece.

 In overwhelming gratitude, to Rick Bailey for his trust.

 miChelle M. Vara

News Artical for Sculpture called "the Guide"

Adirondack Museum acquires new artwork with an old flair

WILTON - Artist miChelle M. Vara used the Adirondack Museum’s logo as inspiration for “The Guide,” a one-of-a-kind sculpture designed and made specially for the museum in Blue Mountain Lake.
The sculpture is intended to capture Adirondack history and the relationship between the wilderness and a guide’s life.
It is 12 feet tall, 15 feet long and five feet wide. It is made with re-thought metal, colored in translucent paint and finished with clear.
Vara has done many historical pieces using recycled metals, funded through grants and the private sector. She chooses metal for its past history to tell a story by way of unconscious perception.
The sculpture was released to the museum July 30.
http://www.hamiltoncountyexpress.com/News/08242011_artwork

Reception- Aug 26th, “NEW YORK Narratives”

Juried Exhibit "NEW YORK NARRATIVES"
Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Center, Glens Falls NY

Jurried Exhibit in compliment to the Hyde Collection’s
“New York, New York”the 20th Century~
Reception: Friday August 26th, 5-7pm
Show ends- September 23rd 2011

Snacks & Music by: Jonathan Newell