When old and new love stories collide

Dear blog readers, dear cyberspace, dear digital friends,

Through the kindness of two Brooklyn curators, Katherine Gressel and Kim Maier of the Old Stone House, my work will be included in a show opening this Wednesday evening, "Partners, Parents, Pets: Contemporary Portraiture."

The curators were most interested in my 2011 Brooklyn Arts Council sponsored Brooklyn Love Exchange project. Most of that work was sold, and we're showing a few remaining pieces. I decided to revisit old content—love stories people had emailed me, and I'd liked but was too overwhelmed to embroider. I ended up making two of those and an email collaging memories of an old love with a new, brief love interest. The piece below includes 30 years of memories.

Remembering the past can be wistful and also torturous. I am glad this piece is over. I finished it in time for the exhibit and can move on emotionally from some difficult memories.

If you happen to be in the New York area, please join us this Wednesday, 2/10, 6-9pm at the Old Stone House in Park Slope, Brooklyn at 336 3rd Street.

Digital Longings; Spiritual (be)Longings and beliefs

Sweet tooth

My  baby nieces are turning 1, and having a cupcake party. Makes me think of all the sweet words we use to describe the people we love...

You're my patch of grass...

More experiments with sculptural embroidery: "you're my patch of grass in an arid field." We've had so much precipitation this winter, it's hard to think of anything in New York being arid, but I think you know what I mean.

Chain stitch links us together

"we are links in the same chain"

Pyramid Scheme

I'm loving experimenting with sculptural embroidery. Here is a new piece, small in scale, about 3" high x 5.5" wide and deep. Cut fabric with embroidery on painted fabric.

"your heart is a pyramid scheme"

F train couple, New Year's Day 2014

Sometimes watching people (purportedly) in love breeds hope.

Thanks, New Year's Day F train couple. You made it worth the ride to a lackluster art opening.

Oh, Facebook. We never met, but...

"Visual assault of your Facebook
photos the morning after we
didn't meet. Your flimsy excuses
and unrepentant arrogance.

"Piecing him together from
Facebook and OkCupid photos.
We never met, yet I almost ended
up at his apt one night..."

Embroidery, watercolor, and
appliqué. 2013. 6" x 4.5"

Another piece for my December 13th show with Muriel Guepin Gallery. Stay tuned for opening reception and exhibition details!

Paint Stains...

Sometimes, a piece just isn't finished. I updated this over the course of 18 hours, starting last night and ending just a few moments ago...

Paint, paper, cut-outs, stitching

I'm in a place where memory meets current transformations. What better way to process this than through art?

Textile paint (which is basically acrylic) on paper with cut out and chain stitch. The chain stitch is supposed to represent the net we created...

Selfies, i.e. love in the internet age

Sneak peak for an upcoming show in winter 2013 at Muriel Guepin Gallery, recently of the Lower East Side (formerly Cobble Hill).

Spelling Lesson, by Kevin Kinsella

Poem "Spelling Lesson" by Kevin Kinsella. Embroidery by Iviva Olenick. 2013.

Tiger Tooth from Angela Meyer aka @candylecoque

Thanks to @candylecoque (Angela Meyer) for tweeting
this to me. Embroidery and appliqué on fabric. 2013.

#cantstopthinkingaboutyou

Spring renews.

#cantstopthinkingaboutyou. Embroidery and watercolor.
2013. Text by @EmbroideryPoems. 2.25" x 3.5"

A boyfriend for every mood...

Preview of my work for a 2-person show with one of my favorite artists, Nathan Vincent, coming up in December 2013 at Muriel Guepin Gallery - stay tuned!

#LovePermanence

Joyousness

"How to love him back to joyousness." Inspired by @melissabroder's "Google sex" comment (which I have since learned from a reliable source is not entirely accurate).

The latest from @EmbroideryPoems

Thanks to Elizabeth Rose Daly, friend and neighbor, for writing this poem.

Your Heart Unfolding into Mine...

Final image - "The gentle unfolding of your heart into mine..."

My Heart, again