Bennett Sculpture Carmel

It's been almost a year now since the doors opened at the new Bennett Sculpture gallery in Carmel. Last summer I spent the first part pouring my heart and soul into a brand new body of work for the gallery, working with my step mom and her business partner to make everything perfect!

This is a family gallery with a rich creative family history started by my father and my uncle. Thirty years ago they opened a gallery in this exact location. My father passed away 10 years ago but his strong creative energy lives in his life's work. I was lucky to have him as a father and lucky to have him as a teacher. I arrived in Carmel in early June and there was only empty pedestals in the building waiting to be filled with bronze and lots of empty wall space. I could feel my dad all around everyday...my days would start around 7AM and I would paint until around 7PM. I became so involved in my work and the dialog in my head that at times I felt it was hard to mingle outside the studio. I was totally lost in the space, lost in my heritage and pouring myself onto canvas. My mom was busy picking up sculptures from the foundry and my uncle and cousin were gathering and creating bronze for the new gallery. Everyday it looked just a little bit different. I could feel myself finding a part of me that had been lost, repressed, that had little faith turning into a strong and confident artist creating in my style and using my gift just as it was intended. Remembering that fear is just a word. Knowing I can always start over and that everything I create is not for me. It is for someone else. It is an unspoken language between the artist and the viewer a reminder of something deep inside us.

The gallery is located on San Carlos between 5th and 6th in Carmel California. Tho I live in Utah I am so lucky to work and have my work in Carmel displayed and shown with my family with my roots.

Image Reborn

This was my fourth year working with Image Reborn. A non profit that host no cost retreats for women who have breast Cancer. The retreats are held in Park City UT and last summer they hosted their first in Eden UT. This was the first pendant that I created. It was inspired by my good friend Eileen who sits on the board. This group is full of so much love transforming the spirit of the women who have been touched by cancer helping them feel feminine again. Out of this experience something new and beautiful  grows and the friendships that are formed last a life time. I feel blessed to have created this small piece that holds so much meaning for so many!

Here is a picture of me and the amazing women that took the painting home that I donated to last years gala in Park City. To find out more information about this awesome non profit go to www.imagerebornfoundation.org

Time to start catching up....

Hello, I just realized that is has been about two years to the day since I have looked at this blog. A lot has happened in the last two years so I am going to try and catch up on some of the high lights.

 Highlight number one: I would like to say that we did finish the Art & Soul Movie. I am really proud of it and even tho it did not make it in to any film festivals I feel the idea still has a place in the world. As soon as I figure out how to get it on here I will....

Highlight number two: I would like to talk about working with the non-profit Women for Women-IPRAS this is an amazing group of plastic surgeons that volunteer time and medical supplies to do reconstructive surgery on acid burn victims in third worlds countries. I was lucky enough to go to Canada and represent the organization and then to New Orleans. I designed two pendants for them to help raise funds. I also designed a sculpture that was given to the founding member Marita Eisenmann-Klein, MD.

This is a photo of the "namaste" pendant that I designed with the thoughts and energy of the surgeons. This is the most common gesture given when the lives of these women are transformed. Meaning my soul recognized yours. Thank you Christine Grogan for the introduction to this group it has been an honor working with them!

To Learn more about Women for Women-IPRAS check out their website http://www.womenforwomen-ipras.org Tomorrow I will catch up on some other great art adventure that has come my way in the past two years

Art and Soul Tour Documentary - Taos Part 1

Title

Today we stopped at Ends of the Earth gallery outside of Hatch, Utah. The Dali Lama wrote the forward of one of the artist's book. The interview left me inspired, humbled, and amazed at what we are about to unfold in this film. GREAT FIRST DAY on the road!

For more information on the gallery -
www.endsoftheearthphoto.com

Art & Soul Tour - A unique and inspiring art tour that will unfold into an exciting documentary.

Ashley Bennett Stoddard has a vision; she sees people learning and experiencing art in a nurturing environment and having the confidence in their opinion of art – she believes that everybody is an expert when it comes to art.

This documentary will follow artist Ashley Bennett-Stoddard and her friend, Mickell Smith, as she tours across America’s small and high-end artists’ communities. While touring her own work, Ashley will be stopping along the way to visit up and coming artists, small town co-ops, galleries that feature only the masters, galleries that feature fine art, installments, street art, sand carvings in beach walls, and cornfields. While traveling, Ashley will be asking the questions; how and why does art talk to each person? and What makes art, art?
Ashley Bennett-Stoddard has been deeply involved with art her entire life. She is the daughter of the late, world renowned sculptor Bob Bennett. Growing up in the Placerville home of her father, Ashley Bennett-Stoddard was exposed to art throughout her childhood and inherited her father's artistic talent and strong feel for lines and design. She has combined this with an incredible sense of color and shape to create her own unique, unmistakable style. Ashley lives and works out of her home in Eden, Utah and is currently involved in Placerville's Bennett Gallery with other members of her family. In addition to the Bennett Gallery, her work is exhibited in galleries and private collections throughout the country.
If you would like more information regarding the Art & Soul Tour, please e-mail the artist at Ashley_stoddard@yahoo.com or visit us at www.ashleybennettstoddard.com