April Shows and News

This April I have been blessed with an abundance of opportunities to show my work this month.

My big news this month is two of my pieces (left) were selected by the Art in Embassies Program as a part of the exhibition at the U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay in the U.S Embassy Residence in Asuncion. There is nothing like the honor of being recognized as an artist by a government agency.

Universal Unitarian church in Topeka will be displaying my Kansas Wildflower work in their sanctuary for the next couple of months.

The Topeka Art Guild has arranged a member show at the Fairlawn Classic Bean for March and April. Then I also have two new floral pieces in their continuing "Rites of Spring" show.

At The Collective Art Gallery, they are featuring Jeremy Mohler in "Storytelling", and I will showing a couple new pieces there this month as well.

Feminine Desert Series continues to show at Sun Resorts Tanning and Fitness at Gage Center though the busy months of March and April. So if you haven't been in to see these shows please hurry in and let the staff know what you think! Also, the floral show at Gorham City Hall in Western Kansas continues through April too.

The Mulvane Art Museum Gift Shop continues to carry many of my products as well.

All of the Topeka shows will be open for First Friday Art Walk on April 3rd. Please let me know if you have been out to see any of these events. Feedback is so fun to hear and is important to me. Details below...

I have an ongoing campaign to promote my "Stroke of Genius" game. I have had the opportunity to introduce several people to the game and have had great feedback, some which can be found on a Facebook page dedicated to the game Stroke of Genius. If you are on Facebook please check it our and become a fan. (Facebook Pages can be seen without a Facebook account, but to interact you'll need an account. Please log on and join me online and share with friends.)

I am very excited to find out that The "Artist's Way" group at the Topeka Art Guild will be playing the "Stroke of Genius" game at their meeting on April 11th. Special thanks to Cynthia Stotlar for making it part of their plans. I hope to stop in and get some photos and discover their reactions.

I also want to mention again, I joined Etsy.com to sell my various handmade products. You can find me there at LeivanOriginals.etsy.com. There you can find my new Stemware Charms sporting my Kansas Wildflower Series paintings. You can find them locally at Ice & Olives at the Thunderbird Shopping Center and The Kitchen Gallery in Fairlawan Plaza.

Other links for my social media are:
Twitter:@michelle_leivan
Facebook Profile: Michelle Leivan
Facebook Page: Michelle Leivan Original Paintings

Stroke of Genius Facebook Page: Stroke of Genius Game

Rites of Spring
Location: Topeka Art GuildEvent Dates: 4/3/2009 - 5/31/2009Reception: 4/3/2009 · 6:00 - 8:00

"Rites of Spring"
Art Guild Gallery Topeka Art Guild, Inc. 5331 SW 22nd Place Topeka, KS 66614 Phone: 785.273.7646

Member Artists reveal their own concept of "Rites of Spring"

The Topeka Art Guild has also has members showing their work in April at the Classic Bean two of my Kansas Wildflower works are also a part of this show.

Classic Bean
2125 SW Fairlawn Plaza Drive
Topeka Kansas
Phone: 785.271.5005The "Artist's Way" group will be playing "Stroke of Genius"Topeka Art Guild. game at their April 11th meeting 9 - noon at the TAG classroom.

The Art Guild Gallery, located in the west end of Fairlawn Shopping Center, Topeka, KS, is staffed by volunteer members. It is free and open to the public.

The Collective Art Gallery 3121 SW Huntoon St. Topeka, KS 66604-1662 ph: 785.234.4254

New Hours!
Tues-Fri 10:30-5:30PM, Sat 10:30-3:30PM

Shown Left: Apollo in Delphos Facing the Morning Sun one of my pieces showing this month at the Collective.

The Collective Art Gallery presents:
"Storytelling" by Jeremy MohlerJeremy Mohler is a professional illustrator whose work has been featured in comic books, on album and book covers, text books and trading card games. He earned his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. See more of Jeremy's work at www.jeremymohler.comOpening reception is scheduled for Friday April 3, 2009, 5:30-8:30PM in conjunction with the "First Friday Art Walk!"Show runs through April 30, 2009.The Collective Art Gallery has joined Facebook! The Collective Art Gallery on FB

Featured Artist

Location: Unitarian UniversalistFellowship of Topeka
Event Dates: 4/3/2009 - 6/30/2009

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka

4775 SW 21st StreetTopeka, KS 66604785-272-9233

Sun Resorts Tanning and Fitness

Location: 1301 Gage Topeka, Kansas

Show Extended! Event Dates: 1/2/2009 - 4/30/2009
I continue to have a solo show of my Feminine Desert: Paintumentary at Sun Resort Tanning and Fitness, open for First Friday Art Walk March 6, and April 3, 2009
This show has also spurred the completion of my second self-published book Feminine Desert: Paintumentary, available online under my "Book" link on my website.

Wildflowers Invade Western Kansas
Location: Gorham City Hall
125 Market StreetGorham KS 67640
Event Dates: 12/1/2008 - 4/30/2009

This month my Kansas Wildflowers are invading Western Kansas! Several pieces will be on display and for sale in Gorham City Hall through April 30th. Ok, so I know the mayor - that's how it happens! If you get a chance to stop in say Hi! to Mayor Martinson for me!

For more about Gorham Kansas go to http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Gorham

Art in Embassies Program Accepts Kansas Wildflower Artwork

I am so excited! Two of my Kansas Wildflower Series paintings were chosen for the Art in Embassies Program. They will be a part of the exhibition at Ambassador Liliana Ayalde, the U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay in the U.S.. Embassy Residence in Asuncion. It will be on loan for the next 3 years. The pieces "Apollo in Delphos Facing the Evening Sun" and the "Apollo in Delphos Facing the Morning Sun" were both selected.

It is amazing how serendipity plays a part in life. I work two days a month a the local co-operative gallery Collective Art Gallery of Topeka. This month, I swapped work days with a fellow artist, this is common when we discover conflicts in our schedules, just seemed like a typical day at the gallery. I received a phone call from a gentleman from the Art in Embassies Program and he inquired about member artists who have sunflower pieces. He was putting together an exhibition for the Paraguay Ambassador and sunflowers where a connection between the two countries. He had called the gallery because he knew there had to be an artist in Kansas who painted sunflowers.

Being caught of guard by the call, not a single artist came to mind... except my own. I stuttered and hemmed a second or two and said "At the risk of sounding self serving, I paint Kansas wildflowers and have several sunflower paintings, but I could make some calls and see if our other members have sunflowers they'd like to submit."

He asked me if I could send him Jpgs of some of my pieces and I told him he could have instant access on my website. We disconnected, I made a phone call to help my foggy brain, gathered a list of fellow sunflower painters.

A short time later, he called back and was very complementary about my two Apollo in Kansas paintings and requested to send them on to the curator. Making a long story short, they were accepted by the curator and off we go on the adventure. These pieces will be more world traveled than me! How exciting!

Had I not been working for someone else that day, would my pieces have been suggested or selected? All I can say is WOW! You can never predict what a day will bring you.

I didn't know about this program and I am pleased to discover it. The Art in Embassies Progam also accepts submissions.

About the Art in Embassies Program:

Established by the United States Department of State in 1964, the ART In Embassies Program is a global museum that exhibits original works of art by U.S. citizens in the public rooms of approximately 180 American diplomatic residences worldwide. These exhibitions, with art loaned from galleries, museums, individual artists, and corporate and private collections, play an important role in our nation's public diplomacy. They provide international audiences with a sense of the quality, scope, and diversity of American art and culture through the accomplishments of some of our most important citizens, our artists.

ART's curatorial team develops thematic exhibitions in collaboration with each ambassador, taking into account the host country's artistic traditions and cultural mores. They recommend artists and works of art, negotiate all loans, and propose placement of the art within the embassy residences. After all loans are secured and the art insured, ART's registrars coordinate with professional art handlers for the assembly, packing, crating and safe shipment of each exhibition to post.

Art in Embassies Program

Stroke of Genius Game - "Transportation" in play

Sample of play and fun with the Stroke of Genius Game. Our juror has difficulty with what direction a plane should be drawn and then ends up with the boot! Who knew "Transportation" could be this much fun!


Watch Stroke of Genius Game - "Transportation" in play  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

March Newsletter

March certainly is beginning to prove the adage "In like a Lion..." I have been blessed with an abundance of opportunities to show my work this month.

First of all I am the featured artist at the Topeka Art Guild for the month of March. I am very excited to be exhibiting a number of my Kansas Wildflowers. The Topeka Art Guild has arranged a member show at the Fairlawn Classic Bean for March and April. I have submitted work for this show as well. Then I have two of my figurative abstracts in their continuing "Art of the Abstract" show.

At The Collective Art Gallery, they are featuring all member and associates in "Out of the Box" and the show at Gorham City Hall in Western Kansas continues through April of this year and a number of my products are available at the Mulvane Art Museum Gift Shop.

There is a couple of show extensions, Flower Power 2 at SouthWind Gallery is extended through March 10th. And due to positive response of her customers, I was asked by Christine at Sun Resorts Tanning and Fitness to extend the Feminine Desert Series through her busy months of March and April. So if you haven't been in to see these shows please hurry in and let the staff know what you think!

All of the Topeka shows will be open for First Friday Art Walk on March 6th. Please let me know if you have been out to see any of these events. Feedback is so fun to hear and is important to me. Details below...

Not only do I have my paintings available, I continue to develop new products. One brand new product is my "Stroke of Genius" game. I have been using my new social media addiction to promote this new venture. I announced it just last Sunday and have had wonderful response to the game. I have a Facebook page dedicated to the game. Stroke of Genius if you are on Facebook please check it our and become a fan.

Facebook Pages can be seen without a Facebook account, but to interact you'll need an account Please log on and join me online and share with friends.

One last thing, I joined Etsy.com to sell my various handmade products. You can find me there at LeivanOriginals.etsy.com. There you can find my new Stemware Charms sporting my Kansas Wildflower Series paintings. You can find them locally at Ice & Olives at the Thunderbird Shopping Center and The Kitchen Gallery in Fairlawan Plaza.

I am Looking forward to seeing you online and in the galleries in 2009!
Michelle

Other links for my social media are:
Twitter:@michelle_leivan
Facebook Profile: Michelle Leivan
Facebook Page: Michelle Leivan Original Paintings

Featured Artist
Event Dates: 3/6/2009 - 3/31/2009Reception: 3/6/2009 · 6:00 - 8:00 Art in Abstract
Location: Topeka Art Guild
Shown Right: "Memories of Smoky Hill" one of my pieces showing this month as Featured Artist for this month at the Guild.

Still Running:
"Art in Abstract"
Art Guild Gallery Topeka Art Guild, Inc. 5331 SW 22nd Place Topeka, KS 66614 Phone: 785.273.7646

Member Artists reveal their own concept of "Art in Abstract"

The Topeka Art Guild has also arranged this month for members to show their work in March and April at the Classic Bean two of my Kansas Wildflower works are also a part of this show.

Classic Bean
2125 SW Fairlawn Plaza Drive
Topeka Kansas
Phone: 785.271.5005

The Art Guild Gallery, located in the west end of Fairlawn Shopping Center, Topeka, KS, is staffed by volunteer members. It is free and open to the public.

The Collective Art Gallery
3121 SW Huntoon St. Topeka, KS 66604-1662 ph: 785.234.4254

New Hours!
Tues-Fri 10:30-5:30PM, Sat 10:30-3:30PM

Shown Left: Apollo in Delphos Facing the Morning Sun one of my pieces showing this month at the Collective.



The Collective Art Gallery presents:

"Out of the Box"Members and Associates present their work on the theme "Out of the Box"Opening reception is scheduled for Friday March 6, 2009, 5:30-8:30PM in conjunction with the "First Friday Art Walk!"Show runs through February 28, 2009.

http://collectiveartgallery.org/

Flower Power 2
Location: SouthWind Gallery at Framewoods of Topeka
Event Dates: 1/16/2009 - 3/10/2009Reception: 2/6/2009 · 6 pm - 8:00 pm

Show Extendend!
SouthWind Gallery http://southwindgalleryoftopeka.com/
785.273.5994 3074 SW 29thTopeka KS 66614
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am - 6pm Sat 10am - 4pm
Sometimes working at a gallery has it's advantages - I am showing two new works at SouthWind Gallery at Framewoods of Topeka in the Flower Power 2 group show. The show features floral works by regional women artists. I am honored to have my hung work with all of these excellent artists.

Feminine Desert: Paintumentary

This will be open March 6th during March's First Friday Art Walk.
Sun Resorts Tanning and Fitness

Location: 1301 Gage Topeka, Kansas

Show Extended! Event Dates: 1/2/2009 - 4/30/2009
I continue to have a solo show of my Feminine Desert: Paintumentary at Sun Resort Tanning and Fitness, open for First Friday Art Walk March 6, and April 3, 2009
This show has also spurred the completion of my second self-published book Feminine Desert: Paintumentary, available online under my "Book" link on my website

Wildflowers Invade Western Kansas
Location: Gorham City Hall
125 Market StreetGorham KS 67640
Event Dates: 12/1/2008 - 4/30/2009This month my Kansas Wildflowers are invading Western Kansas! Several pieces will be on display and for sale in Gorham City Hall through April 30th. Ok, so I know the mayor - that's how it happens! If you get a chance to stop in say Hi! to Mayor Martinson for me!

For more about Gorham Kansas go to http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Gorham

Stroke of Genius Game
A wacky creative drawing card game, conceived, designed and handmade game by Michelle Leivan.
Declare yourself an Art Genius!
Learn More!


Kansas Wildflower Stemware Charms
Jewelry for your Wine Glass!

Kansas romance in its finest form can be found with these stemware charms featuring a print of a wildflower from the Kansas Wildflower Series, handmade, dated and signed by artist Michelle Leivan

Brighten your next wine tasting, luncheon or dinner party with these beautiful Kansas Wildflower Charms for stemware. Sets feature six different images creating a festive way to individualize glasses. Included is a gift envelope for gift giving convenience.

Available on LeivanOriginals.etsy.com
or

A variety of set styles
Available Locally at:

Ice and Olives
Thunderbird Shopping Center
3627 SE 29th St # 104

Topeka, KS 66605

785.215.8460


The Kitchen Gallery
Fairlawn Shopping Center
5331 SW 22nd Pl., Ste 26
Topeka, KS 66614
785.273.6436