Brave New World Exhibit at the World Trade Center in Baltimore

Brave New World art exhibit by Tracey Grumbach at the World Trade Center in Baltimore

The following press release was just sent to local Maryland news outlets and I am pretty excited about this opportunity!

 

BALTIMORE, MD−August 20, 2019−Harford County artist, Tracey Grumbach, is currently showing 46 pieces of digital art in a solo art exhibit titled “Brave New World” at the World Trade Center in Baltimore.  The show runs through September 13, 2019.

This is the largest collection of Mrs. Grumbach’s work shown to date and features work from several of her latest series including Faceless, The Beauty Myth, and Growth Mindset, which examine human nature and the influences of the technical age on the human psyche.

Tracey Grumbach states, “This collection of art is my victory call because it was created over a period of several years out of a need to express myself during my battle with Chronic Lyme Disease. I felt silenced, not only from the effects of aphasia, which was caused by the disease damaging the language section of my brain, but also by the doctors and hospitals who didn’t believe I was suffering in such a severe way. Art was my way of reconnecting with a world that I didn’t trust anymore, thus the title of the exhibit, Brave New World.”

Mrs. Grumbach’s artistic practice is focused on combining traditional collage with photography and digital art, creating a unique look that each of the other disciplines can’t achieve on their own.

Mrs. Grumbach will also show her art in New York City at the prestigious LymeMIND Conference on October 19, 2019.

About Tracey Grumbach (www.nineacresdesigns.com)

Tracey Grumbach teaches art and photography classes at Harford Community College.  Her artwork has been seen in venues throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania, and has been published in national and international publications. She is also a member of Harford Artists’ Association. 

Tracey Grumbach in front of the Brave New World art exhibit at the World Trade Center in Baltimore

If you happen to swing by the exhibit, take a picture of yourself in front of the art and send it to me to be entered for a chance to win a free print!

I am so thankful to God for these opportunities to get my art and my story out into the world. 

Baltimore

Anyone can love a perfect place. 

Loving Baltimore takes some resilience. 

~Laura Lippman

This view is a beloved one for me. For eight years my husband and I have had season tickets to the Hippodrome in Baltimore. About once a month, on a Friday night, we would venture down to the city, have dinner and enjoy whatever show was in town at the time. This view is from one of the upper floor windows of the Hippodrome. I loved arriving early and walking around the interior of the Hippodrome, admiring and being inspired by the architecture. I can't count how many hours over the years I have stood at those upper level windows gazing out onto the Baltimore streets and buildings beyond...sometimes bathed in golden sunlight, sometimes covered in cottony snow, and sometimes drenched in rain. Regardless of the weather, it was always beautiful.

I am a people watcher. I could easily sit in silence and watch the activity on the street, the birds roosting on the buildings, or the clouds gathering high above the harbor in the distance. 

Unfortunately, we have decided that we are not renewing our tickets this year, so I won't be able to see this view as frequently as I have in past years. I am sure we will get individual tickets to some shows, but we won't be going once a month. I'm glad I have this art piece to remember the fun times I've had there. 

This art piece is not in print yet, so if you would like to pre-order one of the limited edition prints, please use the contact button and let me know. I will be sure to order one for you.

Once You Get to Know Them

Weeds are flowers too,

once you get to know them.

A. A. Milne

You know the weeds in our lives...those people or events that just seem to cause trouble and won't go away? Well, I believe they are in our lives for a reason. Those thorny people and occurrences are there to teach us a lesson, and if we don't learn our lesson the first time around, those kinds of people and events keep popping into our lives for our own good...so we can learn and move to a higher level of being human. So, actually, with a very small paradigm and attitude shift, we realize that Winnie the Pooh was absolutely right...weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. They are gifts from a higher being who is trying to teach us something.

This past weekend I had quite the weed sprout up in my life that I unknowingly sowed myself. I made a huge mistake and it involved a lot of tears and a lot of beating myself up on the inside before the grace and kindness of the person I wronged set me free and taught me that I need to forgive myself. 

Many of you may not know that in the past months I have given up real estate photography and have slowed down posting on this blog, slowly stopped doing so much art, and haven't been very visible lately. The truth behind that is I have not been well again and I don't have the health, heart, or energy to pick up my camera, stay up late to practice art, or to run a business. I have cut everything out of my life, pretty much, except homeschooling my children and doing things with my family due to health reasons. Whatever energy I have I want to save for those two most important things. 

So, about 10 days ago I had a request to shoot a sport's team during a game at Ripken Stadium complex. I was so excited because I love sports action photography, so ignoring the latest condition of my health, I said yes. I knew WAY in the back of my mind that it was a long shot that I would be physically able to do this job, but despite hearing the whisper of warning, I ignored it and told this friend/client, yes.  Yes, I would shoot this game.  In my head I had convinced myself that if I rested all week I would be able to do the job. Dates and times were set and I was locked in. 

This weekend, as I was struggling to even walk the distance of my driveway and back, I realized what a horrible mistake I made in booking this job. There was no way I would be able to do this job in a manner that I would be proud of. There was no way I could be out on a sports field carrying a camera and lens that weighs upwards of 15lbs. when I could barely walk my driveway and back. In addition to ongoing Lyme related treatment, I had a recent fall that injured my hand (on which I will have surgery Thursday) and caused a previous painful shoulder to become frozen. What was I thinking?  I thought resting for a week would let me gain all of that back enough to do this shoot? I had lost my mind. 

So, I decided the best thing to do was explain to the client that I had actually lied to myself and him that I would be able to do this job. I had to come clean. I wrote a very painfully embarrassing email to him explaining what I did and what my current medical condition was and asked for forgiveness. I felt terrible for putting him in a bad spot with this team and couldn't forgive myself for being so stupid and short sighted as to believe I could do this. I was sure he wouldn't, shouldn't, and couldn't forgive me because I threw him under the bus. I cried and cried and cried. Not only in anger that I couldn't fulfill my promise, but in humiliation that I had let him down.

Until...until I got his email back. It simply stated:

"...don't feel bad. I completely understand. I'm so sorry you're going through this. If you need anything please don't hesitate to reach out to (us). But don't feel bad, we need you feeling better."

And then I cried all over again in thankfulness of what a wonderful friend he was. Treating someone with chronic illness with such grace, kindness, and understanding means more than you will ever know unless you too suffer from a chronic condition. Once I got his email, I had to make myself forgive myself and stop feeling like a bad person. I made a mistake. I learned my lesson. I won't commit to anything from now on without first being sure I can follow through. No more lying to myself about my condition.

So, this weed that I planted myself turned into a flower right in front of my eyes. I learned two important lessons...don't commit to things you won't be able to fulfill; and most importantly...treat yourself with the kindness, grace, and forgiveness that others show to you.

xo

Beauty

This beautiful scene was taken at the Walter's Art Museum in Baltimore. The sculpture in the middleground is L'Amour et l'Amitie´, which translates to Love and Friendship. To read more about this sculpture, feel free to visit Walters Art Museum website.

My new fix lately has been listening to the podcast TED Radio Hour. Since I have 4 kids and a job that requires me to be in my vehicle a lot, I have become hooked on listening to audiobooks or podcasts via my iPhone hooked into my SUV speakers. It sure beats listening to most of the music stations in Baltimore which repeat the same 15 songs over and over and over again. But I digress. TED Radio Hour has so many interesting topics and I love the way they integrate many TED talks spanning years into one radio show united by a particular topic. If you have not had the opportunity to try it out, I highly recommend it.

One recent topic of the TED Radio Hour podcast was Beauty. It was fascinating to hear varying opinions about what beauty is, how we define it, and whether beauty is essential to our survival. These podcasts really open my mind and guide me to view topics from different views. Here is the podcast, Beauty, for your listening pleasure.


After listening to this podcast, which referenced the movie, The Soloist, I went to my local library and borrowed the movie. It was a very powerful movie based on the true events of an LA Times journalist becoming friends with a homeless man who was a Juilliard trained violinist. This movie, as well as the podcast, reinforced and opened my mind about the meaning and importance of beauty in our lives.

I hope this little peek inside the Walter's Art Museum brought a bit of beauty into your life today. Have a wonderful weekend.  xo

Adornment

Femininity is the divine adornment of humanity.

~James E. Faust

As the year draws to a close, I am glad I was able to carve out some time to create this one last piece in 2015. This week promises to be a busy one with wrapping up some real estate shoots, submitting a whole new set of pieces to go to the printer, wrapping up Nine Acres Designs, LLC end of year number crunching, and spending some family time. 

I had a nice break from homeschooling and loved spending time with my mother while she was in town for Christmas, but I am a creature of habit and crave the daily routine that keeps me sane. To be perfectly honest, Christmas is not one of my favorite holidays...the stress is overwhelming to me and the month plus of preparation that is over in a half day is disappointing and frustrating. On top of that, I desperately miss my grandparents, uncle, and father at this time of year. So, I am happy to be flipping the calendar to a new year and getting a fresh start.

Each January I come up with a word for the year instead of declaring a New Year's resolution. I don't believe in resolutions, so I will be thinking this week to determine a word for 2016. Productivity keeps popping into my brain, but I am not sold on that, so I will have to do more thinking. 

I hope everyone had a great holiday and I am wishing you all a wonderful and safe New Year. Keep your eyes out for information on limited prints coming soon of Adornment and other pieces.  Once I decided what will go to the printer, I will put out an inventory.  Hugs!

Pearls on a String

We are worth more when we work together to create something that is greater than ourselves. This premise keeps resurfacing for me this week. First, I took the twins to a homeschool class at Walter's Art Museum in Baltimore this past Thursday. Their lesson was on an exhibit called Pearls on a String and the concept behind the exhibit is that when people work together and pool their individual talents, it creates something even better than a single person could create; or basically, that a string of pearls is more beautiful and valuable than a single pearl. They learned about patrons, writers, and artists and how they all work together to create art, inspiring each other and enhancing each other's work. The exhibit focused on art from the historic Islamic regions of the world, which is why the sign to the entry of the exhibit, features Islamic writing. The tour guide gave the parents a tour as well and she told us that the words cut out of glass say Pearls on a String and then the artist created other words about humanity inside the glass like "compassion" and "giving. The kids enjoyed the exhibit and their time at the Museum.

Today I had the opportunity to join in with two of my friends to deliver Christmas presents. We pooled our money and were able to purchase gifts for two families that would not otherwise have had much this Christmas. It was the same concept at work...if we pool our resources and work together, we can make something bigger than ourselves happen by providing a Christmas for others and pass on some blessings and happiness along the way.  Pearls on a string...

If you have an opportunity, I recommend you stop in to the Walter's to see this exhibit. It was quite interesting, especially in a historical context with the events happening in today's world with tensions in that region.

My mother arrived in town today and will be spending the week with us, so if I don't see you all before Christmas, please know I am sending my warmest thoughts and wishes for a beautiful and blessed holiday.

Sending peace and love to all.

Merry Christmas!

xo

Life Is Not a Spectator Sport

Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you are wasting your life.

Jackie Robinson

Saddle up, folks!  For the first time in a long time I feel like I have the reins back on my life and just like this cowboy above, I am gently guiding it along the path I want it to go. While I am not a spectator in my own life, on the contrary, I am actively working to make things happen that I want to happen, I have trusted God that if I am quiet and listen to my heart, my life will take me in exactly direction that is right for me.  I can not wait to see and experience the beauty that is waiting just ahead!

May your day be filled with the light of joy today, and may you saddle up your horse (or fish) and gently guide your life where you want it to be. Trust your inner voice. Trust the whisper of God.

Have an amazing day.

xo

Pleasure Girl

I had a wonderful weekend...hoping you all did too.  I was very excited to be accepted into a new gallery that will start showing my work.  I will have three pieces hang in the month of April and I hope to have more in the future.  It is always nerve wracking putting your work out there in front of a jury to be scrutinized.  I am so glad it worked out!  More information will be forthcoming later in the week about what pieces will hang and when the opening of the show will be...stay tuned!

In addition, I found a new printer I will be working with to print some high quality giclee prints of some of my new work.  They accepted me into their artist program and I am excited to start this new relationship with them!

On Saturday I had the opportunity to shoot a local band, Soundtown Baltimore, doing a St. Patrick's Day festival at a near-by venue.  It was great to meet the band members and work with different lenses to grab some images for them!  I still need to edit them, but I am sure I got a few images they can use!

On Sunday I had a great day with the twins as we took them to a friend's birthday party at a skating rink.  The twins were excited to use their new rollerblades they got for Christmas and did an amazing job of staying on their feet!  I was super proud of them.  My oldest daughter got her learner's permit at the end of last week and has been learning how to drive with my husband.  She is doing great, having fun, and learning a lot.  My oldest son got his cap and gown already and when he tried it on, I teared up!  I can't believe my first born is graduating!  Crazy.  I love all 4 of those kids beyond measure.

This week will be packed with real estate shoots...heading out for one now...and editing!  So happy that I am well enough to keep up with all the wonderful blessings flowing into my life!  The doctor switched me back to a previous regimen I was on that was successful and I hope to see continued improvement with this combination of herbals.

Have a blessed week!