Growing Down

Growing Down is Moving!!

2009-07-17T21:40:00.007-04:00

I am moving my blog - it is still growingdown.com AND for all those people using Google Reader you can still subscribe. If you are having problems, my new address is cmbarbera.wordpress.com. Growing Down now forwards there.

I am still moving things around, redoing some things and learning more about Wordpress so you may see posts repeat
themselves. Thank you for baring with me during this change. I hope you enjoy!

Port of Leith

2009-06-25T21:06:00.002-04:00

Here is something I've been working on - a belated birthday gift for Bill - I was a bit delayed picking a specific scene. This is a drawing based on multiple pictures of Old Leith in Edinburgh. It needs a few finishing touches but I am pretty happy with it. Hello grayscale. I guess I am used to it with B&W photography. Now I need enough courage to use color.

Also I am working on moving my blog so things might change or repeat itself. Please bare with me during this process. Cheers!

Dragon

2009-06-15T20:22:00.002-04:00

Another drawing for the 5 pager...I think I might redo the bear. We'll see though. I was originally trying to make it look like a real chinese parade dragon, but I just wasn't working as a whole so I made it a little more classic.

Salt is a Flavor Enhancer

2009-05-07T17:34:00.002-04:00

My friend, Justin, from work has an obsession with salt - he calls it a flavor enhancer when I think too much just takes flavor away (although I do quite like salty foods). This salt fascination inspired a quick doodle from me after the style of awesome comic artist/illustrator Tom Gauld. Anyways, I hope you enjoy.

Wolf

2009-04-06T13:56:00.001-04:00

Again with the Totem references...I like the folklore of the wolf: Loyal, family oriented, protective. I also read that when whales come ashore they turn into wolves.

Whale, Wolf, Raven

2009-03-18T08:59:00.002-04:00

Here is a new Totem. I think I am gonna try some coloring on it. I am trying to make move away from the sketch and toward more finished pieces.

Eva

2009-03-16T20:29:00.003-04:00

I took this photo on the beach in Coney Island almost a year ago exactly. I cannot believe how fast time passes and still so much can happen in so little time. I am trying to design a book, but I am having an issue with theme. I have all my artist process photos and all the other ones that I take while out and about. I love them both and I don't want it to look like the same photo over and over again. Any suggestions?

Mountain Range

2009-02-27T20:13:00.003-05:00

I took this photo over Thanksgiving and just had it developed. It was on my way back from Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains.

Fisherman

2009-02-13T17:28:00.004-05:00

I've been thinking about the ocean a lot lately.

This is obviously influenced by Japanese prints. It is also my most recent attempt in digital coloring.

"the honest abe"

2009-02-04T09:53:00.002-05:00

This is what I have been working on for the Abe Lincoln show. It still needs some finishing touches. I was surprised that I even came up with something...so sure I wouldn't be in the show. Well the hanging is today folks and hopefully I did something that you enjoy.

Do you ever think Lincoln just had to dance sometimes when he was alone? Maybe to blow off steam or happy when something went right?

more art museum inspirations

2008-12-19T15:51:00.005-05:00

The mustached man is taken from a helmet in the armor section of the Philly Art Museum. I combined some of the stuff I found in the Japanese Craft section. Thus, the happy fish.

Side Note: It is amazing when I watch movies I loved as a child how much I was influenced by them. All of my characters are completely derivative of these films...but I like it that way. It makes them a bit nostalgic.

Shields

2008-12-18T16:22:00.004-05:00

Hello Folks! Happy Holidays. Lindsy and I recently visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art (on pay what you can Sunday) and was able to spend a lot of time looking at things I do not normally have time to see. We first spent time in the armor exhibit where I got a lot of inspiration for patterns and craft. I have been feeling that a lot of contemporary 'higher' art doesn't really make me feel good about the art world so I decided to go back in time. It is so worth it. Hope you enjoy the doodles. By the way...new website in the works!!

Playing with Words

2008-12-08T14:13:00.006-05:00

Click on the image to enlarge.

I have been reading a lot of Hand Job, one of the books I used to sell at Amble, and it is a great source of inspiration. My friends from Thieves in Suits have asked me to work on stuff for their album. Honestly, I am a bit timid about doing stuff like this although I enjoy it very much. I don't have too much experience designing and I know so many people that are so talented that I tend to feel inadequate. So here is my attempt at doing some design without worrying about whether it has been done before, but whether or not it looks good. Oh, and these are the two most colorful pages of my sketch book! I hope you enjoy it.

Apples and Oranges

2008-11-25T10:49:00.002-05:00

No really just apples. Lindsy and I went apple picking, something she enjoys more than me. I don't like bugs you see, especially spiders and there were a lot of bugs. There weren't many apples left for the season but we were able to pick a bit too many for eating (Lindsy was the only one who ate them too).

Seeing things in Color!

2008-11-18T15:24:00.003-05:00

These look like pinhole photos but they are really just my holga. I haven't shot color in a long long time. It is a nice change, but I am still partial to B&W. These images are from David Galletly's Jaggy Nettles show at Amble this past May. His partner in crime is Andrew Ferguson.

Just Keep Dancing

2008-11-17T17:53:00.002-05:00

Does this person look familiar to you?

My good friend Mr. Bob Dix was giving me advice on my newly found free time. He told me to go back to the basics, and that of course is my personal work. I've wanted to create art since I was three and knew it would be my future. So here I am going back to the basics. Plus I just put in 5 rolls of film for developing so more soon on that front too!! In the meantime, just keep dancing!

Playing Hands

2008-10-10T13:55:00.003-04:00

I drew this a month or so ago. Sometimes I start a drawing and it turns out to be nothing like what I planned. I guess that is the essence of a doodle then.

Have a Dance Party!

2008-09-21T21:48:00.002-04:00

Been doodling a bit lately. This is my first update since the redesign!! There are a couple more new images in the Illustration section under Drawings. Also, I am picking up some new negatives (well old kinda negs that haven't been developed till now) tomorrow! So, there is a lot more to come this week!

INFO

2005-01-02T14:19:00.020-05:00

My name is Concetta Barbera. In college, I majored in photography where I focused on more abstract work. However, my focus changed while residing in Edinburgh for my Masters Degree. I fell in love with the process of the exhibition, the interaction of artists and the things that inspire them. I found myself more invigorated by their drive. I decided to put together a collective for my dissertation called My Blog. I organized the show and the artists. For the most part, they created work in the space I gave them. I documented their process and found that I wanted to continue putting together exhibitions. Tell Tale had a second show entitled Wanderlust in Philadelphia after I returned from graduate school. Soon after, I began planning Amble Gallery and Books with Megan. Now that Amble is coming to an end, I am hoping to continue organizing exhibitions in addition to focusing more on my personal work and getting some shows of my own.

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EDUCATION
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2007 MSc, Contemporary Art and Art Theory
Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, UK

2005 BFA with Honors, Photography
University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
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EXPERIENCE
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April 2007 - Present
Owner, Amble Gallery and Books
Philadelphia, PA

October 2006 - December 2006
Traditional Photography Tech, Philadelphia Photographics
Philadelphia, PA
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EXHIBITIONS CURATED
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2008
These Colors Don't Run by The Love Movement*
Photo from Bob & Barbara's by Jim McGorman and Richard Henkels*
Deck Heads, Group Show*
Jaggy Nettles by David Galletly*
Here from There by Nigel Peake and Ephameron*
End Times Boogaloo by The Little Friends of Printmaking*
Built by Chris Garvin*
A Thousand Miles Not Longer Than One by Gregor Louden*

2007
Where the Buffalo Roam by Rosi Dispensa*
Witch Wagon by Will Barras and Dave Anderson*
The Pee Wee Martini Show by The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society*
Wanderlust by Tell Tale Collaborative, Subocto Gallery, Philadelphia

2006
Tell Tale Collaborative, Patriot Hall, Edinburgh, UK**
Blurring the Neatline, Embassy Gallery, Edinburgh, UK**

*Amble Gallery and Books, Philadelphia
** As part of Postgraduate Degree
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EXHIBITIONS SHOWN
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2007
Wanderlust, Subocto Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2006
Complete Control, Flesh Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
Tell Tale Collaborative, Patriothall, Edinburgh, UK
Rouge, Flesh Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
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Hair

2005-01-02T13:00:00.028-05:00

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DIGITAL
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DRAWING
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PAINTING
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Blurring the Neatline

2005-01-02T13:00:00.026-05:00

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FLYERS
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Amble Grand Opening

2005-01-02T13:00:00.025-05:00

Amble Poster

2005-01-02T13:00:00.024-05:00

Tell Tale Collaborative

2005-01-02T13:00:00.023-05:00

This is Music

2005-01-02T13:00:00.022-05:00

DESIGN

2005-01-02T13:00:00.015-05:00

Links

2005-01-01T13:00:00.005-05:00

Interesting Places:
Amble
Amble Blog
Tell Tale Collaborative
Analogue

Friendly Folks:
Becky Paquet
Carrie Maginn
Dave Anderson
David Galletly
Elph
Ephameron
Gregor Louden
Iain Laurie
Lindsy Kiely
Matt Pattinson
Megan Miller [Rest in Peace]
ModArt
Nigel Peake
Philly Cartoonist Society
Rue Five
The Love Movement
Will Barras