Penny the Documentary Festival News

PENNY screening at the Interdence Film Festival in Denver (Penny's hometown), Saturday, June 27^th in the 6-8pm screening – I’ll be there so if you will be in Denver or know someone who will – c’mon out and join the fun!

Interdence Film Festival Open Media Foundation / Denver Open Media Studios 700 Kalamath Street, Denver, CO 80204

SAVE THE DATE – PENNY screening in the Port Townsend Film festival September 25-27^th. I’ll be there too – so plan a trip to “Sundance on the Sea” and join me there.

Port Townsend Film Festival Port Townsend, WA

April Art and Film News

JUST COMPLETED!! 7 Days in Otranto, artist book based on my time as a Fellow at Bau Institute in Otranto, Italy last summer. The book re-imagines my experiences of Puglia (the heel of the "boot") in words and sketches.

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Still time to see Transitions at Marin Community Foundation Offices. I am honored to be exhibiting with these terrific artists.

January 21 through May 15, 2015

Marin Community Foundation Offices, 5 Hamilton Landing, Suite, Novato, CA

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If you are in or near Albuquerque, NM on Friday, April 17th at 8:30pm, please go see my film Stalls. It is included in Experiments in Cinema.

Experiments in Cinema Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

PENNY Screenings & News

OFFICIAL SELECTION at Athens International Film + Video Festival 2015Sunday, April 5th at 3:15

If you are in the neighborhood or have friends who are tell them to come on down.

The Athena Cinema 20 S Court St, Athens, OH 45701

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PENNY awarded Certificate of Merit at the Rochester International Film Festival for its high technical quality, artistic merit and strong cinematic qualities!

PENNY Festivals and Screenings

 

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 - 4:30 Screening and Q & A with Elizabeth Sher and Penny Cooper Room: KN 100 at USF School of Law Sponsored by: Professor Shatz, Criminal Law Society, Pride Law, and Women's Law Association

February 24 - March 1, 2015 PENNY at the 37th Big Muddy Film Festival in Carbondale, IL

February 4

Elizabeth Sher is the featured filmmaker at Bay Area Documentaries, Michael Fox’s class at OLLI.   Screening PENNY, Bella Bella and a short preview of Rituals of Remembrance – the art of mourning (made with Maggie Simpson Adams).   With a discussion of the practical, creative and ethical aspects of crafting documentaries, from initial conception to broadcast and distribution. Must be enrolled in class to attend.

Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704

January Art Exhibitions

Passages

January 10 - February 1, 2015

Reception: Saturday, January 10 from 6 to 8pm

If you find yourself in Portland, or know folks there, I will be there for the opening.

Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, 3014 NE Ainsworth St, Portland, Oregon 97211

Transitions

January 21 - May 15, 2015

Reception: Wednesday, January 21 from 4:30 - 6:30

Honored to have 3 pieces in the show - hope to see you at the opening!

Marin Community Foundation, 5 Hamilton Landing, Ste 200, Novato, CA

Honored to have a my artwork, “ Arbres arrencats d'ametles,” selected for inclusion in the West Marin Review's Vol. 6, planned for publication in late 2015.

Selections were based on each piece’s particular attributes: its excellent technique, the imagery it evokes, its originality or perspective, and its ability to affect each one of us in some meaningful way.

Watch for updates for Spring PENNY screenings at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and several Bay Area Law Schools

November News, Reviews & Screenings for PENNY

Meet Penny Cooper – trailblazer, celebrated criminal defense trial attorney, art collector, philanthropist and all around “fabulous” (her favorite word) trailbrazing woman.   30 minute documentary by Elizabeth Sher

PENNY reviewed in CineSource ! excepts here CLICK HERE for full review.

Penny: Champion of the Marginalized.  Produced and directed by San francisco Bay filmmaker and artist Elizabeth Sher "PENNY" is a documentary biography of celebrated trail attorney Penny Cooper.  In the films 30 minutes Sher provides and outline of Cooper's life and reveals both her struggles and triumphs....Cooper survived and thrived using her intellect, wit, strong sense of humor - and , in my opinion, her spirit...Sher's film is fun, fascinating, and (with) Cooper's sense of humor, thoroughly entertaining.  Don Schwartz

Upcoming Screening November 6, 4:30-6 PM, 110 Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley, CA followed by Q&A with Penny Cooper and Elizabeth Sher.   Co-sponsored by Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law,  Boalt Hall Women's Association, Board of Advocates, Queer Causuc, Women of Color Collective, Youth Defender Clinic, Post-Conviction Assistance Project, First Generation Professions.   Looking forward to a lively discussion!

Upcoming Screening November 9 - 11:15 AM, OUTrageous Film Festival, UCSB Multicultural Center, Santa Barbara, CA.  Panel following the screening with Elizabeth Sher in person.  There's even breakfast first!  PENNY is an official selection.  So if you're in the neighborhood or have friends who are tell em to c'mon down.

PENNY reviewed on BlogTalk Radio. Listen here. Excerpts from the Show:

"Elizabeth Sher is an amazing visual artist and PENNY is extremely well edited.  The film is like a good book, it's a page turner!  You are glued to it.   She creates a strong connection between Penny Cooper and the audience in the first 2 minutes.  Keep watching thorugh the credits roll or you will miss another great story while they roll."   Carole Dean, From the Heart Productions"

"Penny Cooper's strong sense of humor reminds me of the late Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas".   Don Schwartz, author Telling Their Own Stories: Conversations with Documentary Filmmakers

DVDs and Posters for sale! Only $10 (plus shipping) in our website store, the PENNY Store.

Please visit our Facebook page, Penny the Documentary – like us and tell your friends! Don't do Facebook, visit the website, www.pennythedocumentary.com - you can tell us your Penny story there too.

PENNY the Documentary NEWS

Meet Penny Cooper – trailblazer, celebrated criminal defense trial attorney, art collector, philanthropist and all around “fabulous” (her favorite word) trailbrazing woman.   30 minute documentary by Elizabeth Sher

Super successful Indiegogo Campaign – we more than reached our goal to get PENNY out to community groups, orgs and schools to inspire the next generation of ground breakers.   You can still donate to help us do an even better outreach. If you have contacts or ideas please send to reachpennydoc@gmail.com

Upcoming November 6 - Screening and Panel - Boalt Hall, Berkeley Law School

Screening Sept 7 at BAM/PFA - cast/crew/donor celebration and screening was an SRO event – thanks to all who helped make it a success and of course to our cast, crew and donors – and most of all to Penny Cooper without whom there would be no film.   Everyone wished the film was longer which I take as a huge compliment.

PENNY reviewed on BlogTalk Radio. Listen here. Excerpts from the Show:

"Elizabeth Sher is an amazing visual artist and PENNY is extremely well edited.  The film is like a good book, it's a page turner!  You are glued to it.   She creates a strong connection between Penny Cooper and the audience in the first 2 minutes.  Keep watching thorugh the credits roll or you will miss another great story while they roll."   Carole Dean, From the Heart Productions"

"Penny Cooper's strong sense of humor reminds me of the late Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas".   Don Schwartz, author Telling Their Own Stories: Conversations with Documentary Filmmakers

DVDs and Posters for sale! Only $10 (plus shipping) in our website store, the PENNY Store.

Please visit our Facebook page, Penny the Documentary – like us and tell your friends! Don't do Facebook, visit the website, www.pennythedocumentary.com - you can tell us your Penny story there too.

Art News

Upcoming - October 18 - 25 - COLLECT! Exhibition and Silent Auction Fundraiser, Berkeley Art Center

Silent Auction/Fundraiser: Saturday, October 25, 5-9 pm VIP Reception 5-6 pm Auction Main Event: 6-9 pm

Purchase Tickets before they run out.

Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St, Berkeley, CA 94709

Upcoming - October 24 - November - Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Portland, OR

Reception: Oct 24^th 4-6,  if you are in the hood

Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, 3014 NE Ainsworth, Portland, OR

June 12 - July 25 - Bibliophoria III at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts

Arbres Arrendats d’Dmetles and Tangled Dreams (produced with Brooke Holve) were selected for Bibliphoria at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts in Sonoma Country. CA

Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S High Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472

August 28, 2014 - January 11, 2015 - “Rauschenberg: Connecting and Collecting,” Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

Untitled (Bruce Conner taking pictures at a Johnny Rotten press conference, San Francisco, early March 1980) included in the online catalog.

Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 2001 Campus Drive, Durham, NC 27705

June 28, 2014 - Group Exhibition, Studi D'arte Nel Castello Aragonese di Otranto

Bau Institute, Otranto, Italy

June 15 - July 1 - Artist Fellow, Bau Institute, Otranto, Italy

Bau Institute, Otranto, Italy

Upcoming Events (Note revised Dates)

Two Events Coming Up On Saturday

Sat. Nov. 2nd at 1 PM - REVISED DATE - My documentary BELLA BELLA is screening as part of Bella Feldman's 50 year retrospective at the Richmond Art Center.  Q&A to follow.   DVDs available at special discount price.

November 1 through December 31  

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL at the Bay Model in Sausalito.

Sat. Nov. 2nd from 12:30 - 2:30 - Opening Reception

Bay Model in Sausalito, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965, with ART Contemporary Marin. info@artcontemporarymarin.org

Had a great panel last Saturday, but you still have a chance to see the show. New Media Combinations  at Berkeley Art Center, through November 16th.

SAVE THESE DATES!

Sat. Oct. 19th at 1 PM - my documentary BELLA BELLA is screening as part of Bella Feldman's 50 year retrospective at the Richmond Art Center.  Q&A to follow.   DVDs available at special discount price.

Sat. Oct. 26th at 4 PM - New Media Combinations Panel Discussion at Berkeley Art Center.  Q&A after.   Come with your questions about integrating digital tools into your studio practice - or just hear how we do it.   

Opening This Week

September 19 – November 8

Art in the Time of Climatological Catastrophes , an exhibit presented by WEAD (Women Environmental Artists Directory) and juried by Suzaan Boettger

Opening Reception: September 19, 5 -7pm

Thoreau Center for Sustainability Gallery Presidio Building #1014, Lincoln Blvd. & Torney Ave., San Francisco, CA, (415) 561-6300

September News

September 7 - November 17

New Media Combinations Showcasing compelling work by contemporary artists investigating multiple solutions to mine and combine the potential of traditional and digital technologies with arresting results.

Participating Artists: Kim Anno, Rebeca Bolinger, Lia Cook, Don Farnsworth, Bella Feldman, Rupert Garcia, Talia Greene, Jeannie O'Connor, and Elizabeth Sher.

Opening Reception: Friday, September 6, 6-8pm

Artists Panel Presentations: Saturday, October 26, 4pm

Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA 94709

September 19 - November 8

Art in the Time of Climatological Catastrophes , an exhibit presented by WEAD (Women Environmental Artists Directory) and juried by Suzaan Boettger

Opening Reception: September 19, 5 -7pm

Thoreau Center for Sustainability Gallery Presidio Building #1014, Lincoln Blvd. & Torney Ave., San Francisco, CA, (415) 561-6300

Upcoming Shows & Publications

Elizabeth Sher - Evolutionary Processes at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts

April 4-May10, HOPE TO SEE YOU at the Reception April 4 6-7:30 PM, 

OR drop by during Gallery Hours Tu-Fri 10-4, Sat. 1-4

OR come hear Sher in Conversations with Sonoma County Artist Brooke Holve Sat Apr 27 4:30-6 discussing the lasting power of residencies on their process and artwork.

3 Books featured in Lark Crafts Publication 500 Handmade Books Volume 2 

I am pleased to announce the inclusion of 3 of my artist books in the upcoming Lark Crafts Publication, 500 Handmade Books Volume 2.  The book will be released to the bookstores in  September of 2013.

Blog, a daily record of my residency in Can Serrat in Spain housed in a handmade wooden box fabricated  by Peter L'abbe.    

Arbres Arrencats d'Amethles is based on images of upturned almond tree roots made at Can Serrat Residency, Barcelona, Spain with text by Maw Shein Win.

Tangled Dreams is one of several projects on which I collaborated with artist Brooke Holve

February Musings and Doings

Had a great time at the de Young Friday with my friend painter Rodney Artiles.   The Girl with the Pearl Earring is a sight to see.   However, when Rodney saw it in Holland it was not under glass and was lit from above through sky lights so the beautiful blue around the edge of her face was actually visible.   Here you had to know it was there and crank your neck this way and that to see it at all.  Still the glass allowed visitors to get up close and personal which was especially great for all the Rembrandt etchings. Well worth the inspiring trip!

Note: When we were discussing the differences between engraving, etching and dry point, a crowd gathered to learn about printmaking. Maybe I should become a docent - heh heh.

Kala Art Institute will be exhibiting some of my artists books at the CODEX International Book Fair.  CODEX is one of the premier Book-Arts fairs in the world and will take place Sunday, February 10th through Wednesday, February 13th at the Craneway Pavilion, 1414 Harbour Way in Richmond, CA.

Codex is an amazing bi-annual book fair and a must see.  Be sure to stop by Kala's table where you will find my books and others by prominent artists from the S.F. Bay area.

Making a Move

I am making a MOVE - also making a movie - BUT I am moving my studio as of 10/1/09. This is huge for me as I have been in this one for almost 2 decades !!!! But the clean white walls are inspiring me to fill them. Stand by for lots of new work - and a really good place to see what I have recently made in person.

Finally ! (or soon)

I am finally working on my new, improved and far more aesthetic website. Please stay tuned!

On the art front I have been in group shows at the Alameda Museum and as a 2008 Berkeley Public Artist Selection at City Hall (see jpgs) and have been making new work. Also completed 3 more artist books (see jpgs).

On the film front have begun videotaping interviews with film partner Maggie Simpson on our documentary Rituals of Remembrance which will look at the ways other eras and other cultures proceeded through the grieving process. We have completed some great interviews with Victorian mourning expert Maureen De Lorme, artist/writer/psychologist Dr. Amalia Mesa Bains, and artist Darren Waterston.

New Books

My newest book is Beetlemania, a revisiting of one of my etchings. It will be in the upcoming CODEX International Book Fair & Symposium, February 8 - 11, 2009, along with another new book, Myths of the Andes. 

Another recent book is Pandora's Recipe Box, featuring images from Perfectly Normal: Chnaging Bodies, Growing Up, Sex & Sexual Health by Robie Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley. I have chosen to honor the book, author and illustrator, as well as children who deserve the information to feel comfortable with their bodies and make responsible and appropriate choices as they move into and through their adolescent years. 

Myths of the Andes will also be at ArtRead, February 9 - 16, 2009 at the Oliver Gallery at California College of the Arts.

Politics as Usual (not)

When Nixon won, the late NY Times film critic Pauline Kael said, "How could he have won? No one I know voted for him!" And so it was last night - actually I do know one person who voted for McCain. This fall in my Digital Drawing & Painting class at CCA we did political art pieces - part of the assignment was to plan how to publish or exploit the work. Some posted them around school, some emailed them just to friends, and some used the internet. Anything possibly considered political was fair game. Here are my two pieces. The Waiting Room is from one of my triptychs. The War Bride appropriates Nina Berman's amazing photograph which in my opinion says it all about this war.

Starting to Blog

Welcome to my new blog, a place to share new artworks and the ideas behind them, responses to shows - mine and others, and how being a grandmother, mother, wife and professor informs my work.