Festive / Festival

The Festive Tree

I thought I had more time... It was about three O'clock today after shopping with my children all day, when I realized that the deadline for Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday had to be posted by tonight! Good lord it's my first project with the group, and I hadn't done anything.
What was I going to do? It was a quick dash downstairs to my studio were I found a linoleum print done in my Studio Art class last week. I grabbed a few pastel pencils to add some color and Ta...Da, The Festive Tree.

The Christmas Portrait & Behind the Scenes Photos

With great anticipation we await the coming of Christmas
and the sharing of friendship, family and the real gifts that God has given us.
Happy Holidays to all...

The Christmas Chocolate Box

My son, Gian-Patrick made this amazing chocolate box for me!

The snow flakes are chocolate.

All those wonderful candy's were made by him...

Can you believe those eggs?

My husband, Chris Maggio the professional photographer of the family
documented Gian's creative genius.

For those of you that do not know our son, Gian-Patrick is a first year pastry student
attending Johnson & Wales in Providence, Rhode Island.
He arrived home Thursday for the holidays. He drove home with a friend carrying the chocolate box gingerly on his lap for the entire six hour drive.
Gian made me try a small chocolate filled with caramel that night, it melted in my mouth.
I can't bring myself to try the other pieces its just to lovely.
Thank you Gian,

The Winners are...

The winners are Barb S and Virginia!

Will you both please send me an e-mail ASAP,

with your address, and the color bulb you would like .

I'll run to the post office tomorrow and hopefully they will arrive before Christmas.

Being in the spot light is hard work!

It's an honor when Andy Warhol immortalizes you into Pop culture.
My phone didn't stop ringing.

Someone actually wanted to paint my portrait.

Vogue wanted an interview.

Even Edward wanted to be seen with me.
How cool is that!

It's amazing the places your blog can take you. Last week while visiting Lemoncholy's flight of fancy , she posted pictures using Photfunia, a photo editing website.
The pictures were so fun I had to check it out.
It may be raining in Rochester today, but I'm in the spot light even if it is only in blogland.
Make sure to check out Photfunia. The site is free and its sure to bring a smile to your face.

My first give away...

I've had so much fun making these graffiti tree ornaments!
So much so I don't know what to do with them all.
Tis the season, I decided to have a give away.
Leave me a note about your favorite holiday adventure by December 16th.
I will choose one randomly and another based on the most creative response.
If your not a blogger and can't post the response just send me an e-mail.

Tea Time

Tea Time

I had so much fun creating this new painting.
The image of the woman in the center is from an old glue print made many moons ago.

I reprinted it using oil based ink and once it was dry the fun began. I added collage, carved a new stamp and glazed many bright colors of acrylic paint.
The painting just brightens my day every time I look at it.

Happy Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything thy goodness sends.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Santa's Workshop

The recycled papers were hung by the chimney with care,
(There actual is a fireplace behind the lockers)

The art books were nestled all snug on their shelf,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their spines.

While the artist with pen in hand,
was busy creating fantasy fashions to include in her journal.
The above post was inspired by Raph's Ramlings. He suggested I show my studio, and when I saw all my papers hanging on the wall "The Night before Christmas" came to mind so I had a little fun. Hope you enjoy.

Tis the Season

I can't believe I haven't posted in almost three weeks.
Would you believe I didn't know what to say? Does that seem to happen when you hit the six month mark of having a blog? Not sure what has gotten in to me. I've been creative but nothing seemed post worthy.
Last weekend I decorated my studio with Christmas lights and started painting graffiti bulbs and making my holiday gift wrap using recycled newspaper.
Stephanie, of Rodriguitz Style mentioned a book that she was reading that looked interesting, so I am now reading Eliot Pattison's Water Touching Stone. Thank you Stephanie, it is wonderful!
My son Gian is coming home from college Saturday, I can't wait to see him. :)
Hopefully he will be making us tasty deserts.

Three more Shrines

Samantha's Storytelling shrine

Nicole's Addiction shrine.

Maria's Hands of support shrine.

A few months ago I read about Dia de Blogandia. Dia de Bloglandia is a global event for Artful bloggers to celebrate the tradition of Dia de los Muertos by creating shrines and offredas. The cigar box shrines would be donated to Rebecca's Shrine Auction, raising funds for the Street Children of Oaxaca, Mexico.

My first thought was this would be a wonderful opportunity for my International Baccalaureate Visual Art students.
The International Baccalaureate Visual Arts program is a two year course that I teach.
It is a wonderful program that is designed to develop and encourage students to connect areas of global study and the human experience through a body of artwork.
With all that said the above are three shrines created by my first year IB Art students.

Happy Halloween

My favorite Performances Arts teacher, Linda

Edgar Allan Poe stopped by with my studio crow, Eleanore

One of my favorite seniors, Hector.


I had a great time today as a living Catrina.
The students got a kick out of my version of the famous skeleton.
My International Baccalaureate students turned in their cigar box shrines today and the shrines are AMAZING! Check back Sunday to see them.
Happy Halloween!

Virginia's Shrine

Inside

Back

"Originally, the cigar box was decorated with a Spanish theme, so I just went along with it.
I decided to title it "Carmen's Garden" because of the flowers; it just suits it."
Virginia is a junior in my painting class.

Cigar Shrine in Memory of Marlene

Front and Back Cover

Inside

Detail of the Front Cover
The love of learning.

Detail of Back
In loving memory of Marlene Scott
artist, teacher, mentor and friend.

Art History
Jose Guadalupe Posada, Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and Frida Kahlo

In memory of all the great teachers
that inspired, motivated and opened our eyes to the importance of knowledge.

Four students and myself have been busy creating cigar box shrines that we will donate to Rebecca's Shrine Auction. The auction will be raising funds for the education of street children in
Oaxaca, Mexico.
As an educator I decided to create a shrine to honor my inspirational teacher/friend, Marlene Scott. She was an accomplished fine art artist/teacher that I am proud to say made a difference in my life.
All this week I will be posting my students' shrines.

First Semester Pastry Creations

Our oldest son Gian-Patrick is a first semester pastry student at Johnson & Wales.
During the past two months he has proudly sent us photographs of his creations.
This week he e-mailed us a few more and warned ME that he had better see his pictures on my blog.
You are probably thinking "hey mom why haven't you posted his work?"
Story be told Gian has been taking pictures of his work using his cell phone and for some reason Johnson & Wales doesn't have a food stylist hanging around to accessorize and glamorize. I must also tell you that Gian comes from a family of prestigious photographers. For some reason he forgot to take the necessary equipment to light the shots. With that being said, his father and I with the help of photoshop, spent three hours this morning trying to enhance his work for all to view.
We are VERY proud of Gian and look forward to Thanksgiving when he comes home.
We are planning on buying him a camera and a book on food styling. Ha ha
Hope you enjoy.

La Calavera

My husband Chris is lending his cigar for the affect.

My skeleton (calavera) is the symbol for the circle of life in the Day of the Dead celebration.
He is all dressed up and is the presenter of our first Day of the Dead poster.

Mrs. Maggio's Art Room presents:
Dia de los Muertos, A time to celebrate family history.
2009

Dia de los Muertos

The other day I was at the craft store getting a few things for my cigar box shrine that I'm doing for Dia de bloglandia when I saw a bin full of these plain paper-mache skulls.

Two days later nothing was done on my shrine, but I had these great Dia de los Muertos inspired skulls.

I am always going off in different directions but somehow manage to come full circle.