THE STUDIO OF NICOLE MERKENS

 So this pandemic has me longing for long late night garden dinner parties with my artsy friends. Since there seems to be no urgency to get art "out" ( two of my galleries have closed due to Covid's restrictions) I have been making work for myself; which is a luxury when you get on the train to make specific art for an audience. I imagined these ladies ( I call Goddesses) to be center pieces on my outdoor tables- all lit up or surrounded with candle light - just watching and listening to the intimate conversations happening around them. The little "fresh" butter dishes would keep perishables safe from any unwanted insects or night air. So I made these creations with the hopes of someday once again enjoying parties with loved ones and hoping this pandemic leaves our planet very soon. Much love to you. -xoxo Nicole "Pink Goddess of Light" 18"h x 19"w x 9"d "Goddess of Protective Energy" 24"h x 18"w x 11' d "Fre

  I haven't posted in quite some time- Ive been sulking under a protective rock like many during this scary pandemic. I worked from my home studio for most of the summer and now feel ready to venture back out to my studio on Atlanta Street and work on larger pieces again. I still do not have a sense of urgency and really felt the affects of this virus on my livelihood. Two of my galleries I showed in went under during this horrible time. The building next to my studio has offered me and my studio mates a space that we can hang our work. The Atlanta Street Gallery is now open at 408 S. Atlanta Street, Roswell Ga 30075. Here is a little walk thru of the show hung this past Friday. I have "up" days and I have "down" days. Depression has been really hard to navigate thru. With true sadness for this world I am trying to keep an optimistic outlook but there is so much grief out there right now and a real lack of humanity towards our fellow human beings. Please be kind

"She Sees Orbs at Night" My opening of "My Haunted Basement" is only two weeks away. By day I'm working my tail off finishing firing the work. By night, I am documenting the process with my personal stories that go along with the work on my new website, www.myhauntedbasement.com  . Follow the journey and ghost investigations and learn about my haunted basement. Join Me on Friday March 13, 2020 from 6pm- 8pm at Roswell Art Center West to witness the thinning of the veil and experience the spirit manifestation 1355 Woodstock Road Roswell, Ga 30075

It was a typical week night when we decided to have a “dance off” in the basement. “Dance Central ” was our go to game of choice to show each other who had the moves. The babysitter was here and she was willing to dance with us on the X-Box 360 kinect.  We kicked off our shoes and made our selection , “Fire on the dance floor” by Sean Kingston. My sister, the babysitter and I began to dance. We stood in our “boxes” that the screen told us to stand in. There are four boxes on the top of the tv screen. No one was able to stand in the first box due to the coffee table sitting in the real time space. So we took boxes 2, 3, and 4. Each of our outlines were illuminated on the screen in our allotted boxes. We each had a different colored outline- no faces visible only our body outlines in our assigned colors. The music started and we began to dance only to be joined by a new outlined figure who was standing in box one’s space. Our outlines were moving and dancing on the screen but this

I'll be working the annual Works in Clay Holiday Show today from 1:30-5pm. Come see some amazing work by many artists and get your holiday shopping done! Two weeks until Christmas and only 5 days left of the show . Roswell Art Center West 1355 Woodstock RD Roswell, Ga 30075 770-641-3990

Dropping off these babies and a few more tomorrow to the Creative Mill Art Exposition.  The Opening will be two nights: Oct 10 and 11th from 5-9pm  at the Randall-Paulson Architectual firm in the historic Roswell Mill. I was invited to participate in honor of the National Arts and Humanities Month.  The space is magical and I am thrilled to be apart of the show. Come out and say hello! http://www.creativemillexpo.com Historic Roswell Mill 85-A Mill Street Roswell, Ga 30075 770-650-7558