Welcome!
the art and life of fiona avocado, artist, educator, and writer.
Thank you for being here!
After several years (ha!) of talking about having an online newsletter / space off social media to share more in depth about my art practice, adventures, and life, I made the plunge and started a Substack. I will post semi-regular updates (Monthly? Semi monthly?) about my art practice, and I will write about my upcoming Fulbright in Argentina, starting in March 2024 (more on that below).
but first:
a belated 2023 re-cap
2023 was a long year, but also a year full of adventure and abundance.
In short: I did two visiting artist gigs, organized the second Itty Bitty Print Exchange, made several new screenprints, served as co-President of the Pittsburgh Print Group, I was on TV, I vended at several artist markets, I’m going on a Fulbright, and my online shop is closing in March. Grateful that I did all of these things, but I aspire to hone and focus more on my studio practice and research in the near future and beyond.
Visiting Artist Residences
I did my first visiting artist residency post grad school at University of Northern Colorado in February. (thank you grad school friend and amazing ceramicist Bri Murphy for inviting me!) I lead a 3 hour printmaking workshop with undergraduate students, where they created collaborative, large scale screenprinted monotypes. The students also collaborated on drawing designs on canary paper that they screenprinted printed on top of the monotypes. The result were two layer screenprints that were exhibited in the UNC Gallery.
While this is not exactly my normal kind of work, I do enjoy teaching how to embrace experimentation and spontaneity with printmaking, particularly on a large scale, and what possibilities that can open. Big shoutout to Heather White and the teens at Youth Open Studio at Artists Image Resource here in Pittsburgh for their inspiration for this workshop.
I also did a visiting artist residency during the first week of October at Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood, PA. I worked with a cohort of five students on a self published comics anthology. Each participant created a 4 page comic, and collaborated on a cover design that was screenprinted at my studio, Lavender Estero, in Pittsburgh. I also visited several arts classes and gave lectures about zine making, my art practice, and selling your work. The week ended with an artist market where students had the opportunity to sell their artwork and wares.
I am very open to doing more visiting artist gigs and residencies! If you would like me to come do a project, workshop, or give an artist talk at your university, company, or institution, please reach out!
New Screenprints
2023 was a big screenprinting year. I made everything at my studio, Lavender Estero.
Public Appearances
My friend Kelly AH of Visceral Jewelry, Mac from the Union Project, and I were on Talk Pittsburgh in December to represent the Queer Craft Market. You can check it out here.
Artist Markets
If you frequent Pittsburgh Artist Markets and / or follow me on Instagram, you already know that I was very busy vending my art at markets this year.
Some places/markets I vended at (all in Pittsburgh!)
Crafts and Drafts, East End Brewing
Handmade Arcade (first time, hopefully not my last!)
Pittsburgh Botanical Garden
Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media Spring Market and Holiday Market
JellyFest at Spirit
Workshop PGH Indie Mart, Summer and Fall
Northside Music Festival / Artists Image Resource
Queer Craft Market Pride and Holiday markets
Necromancer Brewing Krampus Eve Market
You won’t see me vending at another in person market until 2025…
…because I’m going on a Fulbright!
For nine months, I will be in Argentina on a Fulbright doing research as an independent artist. My project, “Quilting Transfeminist Narratives: Stories from Womens and LGBTQ+ Movments in Argentina”, will explore the contemporary political landscape and queer, trans, and feminist resistance movements in Argentina and their local, regional, and global impact on women’s and LGBTQ+ social movements. My research will be presented as a body of artwork incorporating, printmaking, textiles, and visual narratives. Given the drastic shift in the Argentine political landscape with the recent inauguration of Javier Milei in December, it should be an extra interesting time to be in Argentina. I will also be working on my Spanish, hopefully I will be fluent-ish by the end of my 9 months in Argentina.
I will publish in depth updates about my research and adventures here on my Substack. Please stay tuned.
Meanwhile:
If you are interested in supporting my work, my online shop will be open until mid-March, and then I will not be selling my work for the rest of 2024. Currently I am having a 35% off sale for my 35th birthday, use the code BUENVIAJE35 at check out until February 28.
Thank you for supporting and following my work. It means the world and keeps me going. More soon.
💜💜💜 Fiona