#giftsofgratitude

TOMORROW...June 11, 2022 my long awaited solo show opens at ARTHOUSE GALLERY on R Street in Sacramento, CA. This exhibition has been 6+ months in the making including an unexpected 3 month interruption to recover from an unfortunate knee fracture. I am very excited to have it come to fruition and have the opportunity to welcome all those able to attend the opening reception this Saturday evening from 5-8pm. Be sure to get all the details by clicking the "What the Crows Brought Me" tab in my Linktr.ee found in my bio. Swipe left to see what extra gift the Ladybug tin has when hinged open. Change Always Comes Bearing Gifts, 14” x 14” x 3”, $500 June 11 - July 5, 2022 What the Crows Brought Me - A solo exhibition by Dianne Hoffman ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA Opening Reception: Saturday June 11th 5-8pm #whatthecrowsbroughtme #crows #covids #giftsofgratitude #foundobjects #reliquaries #vignettes #murderofcrows #changealwayscomesbearinggifts #crowskull #smartbirds #birdskull #articulateddoll #kupiedoll #secretcompartment #changeisagift #crowgifts #artistmuse #assemblage #assemblageartist #assemblageart #diannehoffmanart #arthousegallery #sacramentoartshow #savethedate #sacramentogallery #soloshow #sacramentoartscene #sacramentosecondsaturday #ladybug (at Arthouse on R) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeoKdeyrksX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I've been asked recently how I know that the birds that frequent my backyard and neighborhood in San Francisco are in fact Crows rather than Ravens. Two big differences between Crows and Ravens are their size and sounds. Ravens are the larger of the two, with wingspans around 45 inches. Crows have smaller wingspans, with bodies around the size of pigeons. To distinguish a crow from a raven listen to their calls. Crows most often have an even caw, caw sound, while Ravens have a deeper, throatier, croaking call. Also, Ravens have fluffier feathers around their head and especially at their throat. They also have thicker beaks than Crows, with more of a curve to the end. A Crow's tail feathers are all fairly even in length, so their tails will have a fan-shaped appearance during flight. Ravens have differing lengths of tail feathers, so their tails appear diamond-shaped. Typically, Ravens soar, while Crows flap and Crows usually walk, while Ravens will do a combination of walking and hopping. While there are plenty of Ravens that soar the cityscape of San Francisco, it is a Murder of Crows that wake me up every morning and have become the namesakes for my upcoming solo show opening THIS SATURDAY EVENING in Sacraemnto, CA...... June 11 - July 5, 2022 What the Crows Brought Me - A solo exhibition by Dianne Hoffman ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA Save the date for the Opening Reception: Saturday June 11th 5-8pm #whatthecrowsbroughtme #crows #covids #crowsvsravens #giftsofgratitude #foundobjects #crowgifts #reliquaries #vignettes #murderofcrows #citycrows #blackbirds #smartbirds #artistmuse #diannehoffmanart #arthousegallery #sacramentoartshow #savethedate #sacramentogallery #thingstodoinsacramento #brainybirds #clevercreatures (at Arthouse on R) https://www.instagram.com/p/CejBagprcx1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"If beings knew the results of giving and sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of selfishness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared, if there were someone to receive their gift." —Itivuttaka 26 A Gift Without the Giver is Bare, 14” x 14” x 3”, $500 June 11 - July 5, 2022 What the Crows Brought Me - A solo exhibition by Dianne Hoffman ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA Save the date for the Opening Reception: Saturday June 11th 5-8pm #whatthecrowsbroughtme #crows #covids #giftsofgratitude #foundobjects #reliquaries #vignettes #murderofcrows #agiftwithoutthegiverisbare #crowskull #skull #crowgifts #smartbirds #artistmuse #assemblage #assemblageartist #assemblageart #diannehoffmanart #arthousegallery #sacramentoartshow #savethedate #sacramentogallery #sacramentosecondsaturday #creativereuse #foundobjectart #clevercreatures #givethegiftthatkeepsongiving (at Arthouse on R) https://www.instagram.com/p/CegcS5bL_jB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A keepsake is a small item or relic kept in memory of the person (or bird) who gave it or originally owned it. Reliquaries are the containers that store and display relics. This one is created from a hinged box initially designed as a travel kit, perhaps for a plein air painter, to contain a small pallet, brushes, knives, solvents and oils. I have repurposed it to house a crow's fictitious findings as a reminder to treasure the small moments with great gratitude. I’ll Keep This Moment Here, 13” x 11.5” x 1.5”, $500 June 11 - July 5, 2022 What the Crows Brought Me - A solo exhibition by Dianne Hoffman ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA Save the date for the Opening Reception: Saturday June 11th 5-8pm #whatthecrowsbroughtme #crows #covids #giftsofgratitude #foundobjects #reliquaries #vignettes #murderofcrows #momenttomoment #gratitude #giftsofgratitude #crowgifts #keepsakes #itsthelittlethingsthatcount #paintersbox #putabirdonit #smartbirds #artistmuse #assemblage #assemblageartist #assemblageart #diannehoffmanart #arthousegallery #sacramentoartshow #savethedate #sacramentogallery #soloshow #creativereuse #hingedbox #sacredtreasure #momentstoremember (at Arthouse on R) https://www.instagram.com/p/CebdyZxlwLV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

For my upcoming solo show, this is ten of twenty and is set within a vintage sewing drawer to abstractly relay a line from a specific nursery rhyme about counting crows. This is also perhaps my favorite. The camera does not capture the subtle details but to see it in person you would be transported to a sun bleached, carefree afternoon shared between youngsters at a water's edge with toy boats and tadpoles....quietly observed by a curious murder of crows. Ten for a Time of Joyous Bliss, 12.5” x 3.5” x 3.5”, $425 June 11 - July 5, 2022 What the Crows Brought Me - A solo exhibition by Dianne Hoffman ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA Save the date for the Opening Reception: Saturday June 11th 5-8pm #whatthecrowsbroughtme #crows #corvids #giftsofgratitude #foundobjects #reliquaries #tenforatimeofjoyourliss #murderofcrows #smartbirds #artistmuse #assemblage #assemblageartist #assemblageart #diannehoffmanart #arthousegallery #sacramentoartshow #savethedate #sacramentogallery #crowgifts #soloshow #foundobjectart #creativereuse #sewingdrawer #makeawish #sacredofferings #foundobjects #itsthelittlethingthatcount (at Arthouse on R) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeZALzVl_3q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

For this new series of assemblages relating to crows, I forced my figurative imagination to work more abstractly than what I am typically comfortable with. Abstract art has a unique voice that permits both the artist and the viewer a sense of expressive freedom. Despite its spontaneous appearance, it can possess distinctive structure. Crows would not recognize an object they may pick up in the same manner as I would. By placing small random items that I thought a clever bird could carry in their beaks, I attempted to convey a visual language of shape, form, color and line to create compositions that may exist with a degree of independence from visual references of the human eye. Swipe left for close up detail. Blessings in Disguise, 21” x 13.5” x 3”, $500 June 11 - July 5, 2022 What the Crows Brought Me - A solo exhibition by Dianne Hoffman ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA Save the date for the Opening Reception: Saturday June 11th 5-8pm #whatthecrowsbroughtme #crows #covids #giftsofgratitude #foundobjects #reliquaries #vignettes #murderofcrows #blessingsindisguise #clevercreatures #smartbirds #artistmuse #assemblage #assemblageartist #assemblageart #diannehoffmanart #arthousegallery #sacramentoartshow #savethedate #sacramentogallery #soloshow #inspiredbycrows #abstractart #foundobjects #creativereuse #expressivefreedom (at Arthouse on R) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeWdmOUJ_EJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Yesterday was Packing Day of the entire 24 assemblage piece solo show 'What The Crows Brought Me' that I'll be taking to @arthouseonr gallery next week for my opening on June 11th. I prepared them for transport a whole week early because this evening I plan to fly to So. Cal. to attend the highschool graduation ceremony of my brilliant and talented niece Allison of @whatsallymakingnow. Check out her IG page and the cool things she creates for sale! I've made some custom orders of her jewelry beading that I love so much and I wear them everyday. Her mother (my sister) is my favorite person on the planet. She is also creative in heart, mind, and soul-- notably in mosaics. But I have to say her greatest creation is the solid foundation she has built with her kids. I am so proud of all of them. And I am excited to throw my arms around their now very tall necks and give them hugs and Aunt D kisses. Nine for a Kiss, 12.5” x 4.5” x 4”, $425 June 11 - July 5, 2022 What the Crows Brought Me - A solo exhibition by Dianne Hoffman ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA Save the date for the Opening Reception: Saturday June 11th 5-8pm #whatthecrowsbroughtme #crows #covids #giftsofgratitude #crowgifts #foundobjectart #foundobjects #reliquaries #vignettes #motherlylove #AuntD #family #allisonmatthews #graduationgirl #proudaunt #nineforakiss #smartbirds #artistmuse #assemblage #assemblageartist #assemblageart #diannehoffmanart #arthousegallery #sacramentoartshow #savethedate #sacramentogallery #birdsofafeather #creativegenes #loveisthegreatestgift (at Arthouse on R) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeRHydDlhZa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I’ve been invited to present a solo show this June at ART HOUSE gallery in Sacramento titled “What the Crows Brought Me”. Through a series of staged vignettes a story is told about a flock of crows and the sacred treasures they offer as gifts of gratitude. Ten of the twenty new pieces for this series are set within vintage sewing drawers to abstractly relay a line from a specific nursery rhyme about counting crows. Eight for a Wish, 14.5” x 5” x 3.5”, $425 June 11 - July 5, 2022 What the Crows Brought Me - A solo exhibition by Dianne Hoffman ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA Save the date for the Opening Reception: Saturday June 11th 5-8pm #whatthecrowsbroughtme #crows #corvids #giftsofgratitude #foundobjects #reliquaries #eightforawish #murderofcrows #smartbirds #artistmuse #assemblage #assemblageartist #assemblageart #diannehoffmanart #arthousegallery #sacramentoartshow #savethedate #sacramentogallery #crowgifts #soloshow #foundobjectart #creativereuse #sewingdrawer #makeawish #sacredofferings #foundobjects #itsthelittlethingthatcount (at Arthouse on R) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeMCcqxlO2S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=