STUDIO TOUR REFLECTIONS

Well, time has lapsed since my last post . . . my apologies for the delay. However, this is a follow up to my last post.
This Artist Studio Tour was another adventure in presenting ourselves and our work to our community. Here I am standing at the open barn doors during the early pre-tour hours. After completing our set up, we were all contemplating what the weekend would bring as 3 out of 4 of us had not participated in the Port Townsend Artist Studio Tour before other than our own Barn Sale previously this past summer in June.

Here we are witnessing the quiet before the storm, a view of my work after set up before the crowds arrived.

Here we are getting our signage all together so our visitors can find us easily.

The sun came out after a night of drizzle and a morning of cool fog. Walking into GreyBird barn was like walking into a gallery of sorts. We were, once again as with our June sale, very happy with our set up as it welcomed visitors into a very creative space.

If moving clockwise through the space my work appeared, then
Diana Cronin's wonderful, colorful pottery at the right and below.

This tour gave us the opportunity to show our process first hand as to how we create and answer questions visitors may have had. Above I am explaining my drawing and painting technique and the use of found elements.

Diana at work demonstrating painting glaze onto a piece of pottery and Shane documenting the affair. Shane's photo-etched metal narrative boxes and jewelry are on the panels behind her.

Here again you can see more of Shane Miller's work and in the foreground is the display of Diane Gale's earthy and imaginative ceramic works.

Diane had her wheel on site to give a hands-on demo of how she builds her various ceramic pieces and discussed the wood fire process.

Though I could not partake in these yummy looking goodies, I had to share this artful plate that was so generously gifted to us by our friend, Carrie. She baked these and much more for our tour guests. We were the talk of the town, not only for our great artistic barn presentation, but also for these delicious offerings.

My dear mom (90 years old! would you believe) and sister. They were 2 of our many happy guests warming up with hot cider that we also offered our guests.

Here we are. The troupe. From left to right is Shane Miller, Wendy Jarvis (our angel and my sister who helped us again with giving so much of herself during setup, the weekend and striking), Linda Jarvis (that's me), Diane Gale and Diana Cronin.

Over all we were very happy with the weekend, the 11th annual Port Townsend Studio Tour. The tour encompassed 47 different studios open to the public and again, Shane's GreyBird Barn turned out to be a perfect venue for the 4 of us to present our works to the community and out of town visitors. The turn out was fantastic with 265 visitors coming through during the two day studio tour. I also want to thank 2 out of town friends, one who I have known since kindergarden, who came all the way from Redmond.

We are looking to the future to next June on the solstice weekend for our 2nd Annual Artist Studio Barn Sale at GreyBird Barn. Stay tuned.

ARTIST STUDIO TOUR

Art Port Townsend's 11th Annual Studio Tour

I will be sharing studio space with 3 other artist friends, Diana Cronin, Diane Gale, and Shane Miller, at Shane Miller's GreyBird Barn Studio during the Art Port Townsend Studio Tour. We invite you to come by to visit the studio, watch us demonstrate and engage in conversation with us during this studio tour weekend. We each have artist ID numbers that will correspond with map 1 and map 2 and within the brochure and on signs directing you to the studio. I hope you can get by to visit.

Preview Show October 3 -11 at Northwind Arts Center
The Studio Tour Preview Show displays samples of artwork from most of the 47 plus artists in the studio tour. Come by the Northwind Arts Center to get your Tour map, and to preview the studios you can visit. The Preview Show will be open Saturday evening, Oct. 3rd for Gallery Walk, and will remain open with extended hours through the Studio Tour ending on Oct. 11th, Sunday. Pick up a brochure and plan your art studio visits! Northwind Art Center will be open Monday through Sunday, noon to 5pm for this special week.

The Eleventh Annual Artist Studio Tour is scheduled for October 10 and 11, Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 4 pm. The popular Art Studio Tour will be enjoying it’s eleventh year with forty-seven studios. Visit studios and see work in progress including painting, sculpture, metal casting, jewelry, furniture, glass, weaving, book making, printmaking, wood and more.

For more information, see artist images and statements go to the Art Port Townsend website

Linda Jarvis: The Open Window

Diana Cronin: Shot Glasses

Diane Gale: A Quiet Conversation

Shane Miller: Daedalus as a Boy

MOON BEETLE

MOON BEETLE is the last in the trio of pieces realized for the BUGS show. To learn more about this exhibit scroll down to the 3 previous posts.

While studying a borrowed book on the wonderful world of bugs and beetles my eyes fell upon a beetle that, in my vision, appeared to have moons within the patterns on its back. From there MOON BEETLE manifested when I followed my creative instinct to use that moon illusion I had pictured in my mind. I started with cutting out the beetle's body from masonite with a bit of carving and, of course, some sanding (personal note: my skin and eyes do not like the very fine dust that results.) Moving on . . . After 2 or 3 coats of black gesso the beetle birthed itself via acrylic paint and colored pencil. I had done a few doodles in my sketch book so there wasn't too much of a query as to how to apply this beetle, now in hand, to a piece. It felt only natural to follow through on my sketch and add a moon somewhere within the piece. Probing through my found object accumulations I placed my hand on a small sphere that was the perfect size to paint forming relief craters on its surface. It then took its place in a cut-out window on the back surface within a box fabricated to create depth beyond the background the beetle would rest. The legs of the beetle are emulated by using parts of dentist tools and the antennae are the tiniest of springs with alternating beads slipped onto a thin wire. Voila!

MOON BEETLE measures 9-1/8H X 8W X 3D. Click on photo for larger image.

BEEFRIENDING

BEEFRIENDING is the second of three pieces I created for the BUGS exhibit. As I view this piece I reflect on my approach to my work it seems I don't often know what is going to come forth creatively so I just let it show up with each moment. Then other works come from an illustration I develop in a sketchbook or I may go further with a simple study to get more of a sense of the piece.  BEEFREINDING came somewhat spontaneously. I first applied several coats of black gesso to the small, short-legged chair for a base ground to work on. Then after sanding and removing any residue I painted the imagery that came to mind.  Once or twice or more I go digging through and gather up a few of my various collected objects. I then added longer legs to the chair made from turned dowels plus the addition of the balls at the foot of each leg. Colorful discs were placed where the legs meet the chair giving them a more interesting transition as they connect. These were all treated with numerous coats of gesso, then acrylic paint and colored pencil. The child's block and all the attached elements on top as well as the spheres, discs and feathers on the chair's back risers were all embellishments I affixed to add further character and whimsy.

Here is a closer look at BEEFRIENDING. The occurrence of the bee landing atop the bird's head could have been one of annoyance or even an opportunity for a snack . . . hmmmm . . .  perhaps not. My feeling was that this could be a moment for a friendly and harmonious exchange, an instant for pause and tolerance.


BEEFRIENDING up close and personal . 

The chair stands 23H X 5-7/8W X 5-5/8D. Click on the photos for a larger images.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER

The image above is the full view of the cropped version of CLOSE ENCOUNTER I used to create the announcement for the BUG show posted previously, August 5th. I drew and painted the young coyote using graphite and colored pencil and acrylic paint on heavy, acid-free stock then cut it out with an Xacto knife. It is layered away from the background which I painted using acrylic paint, colored pencil and pastel over black gesso. The wonderful BUG creature sitting in the foreground "windowsill" is a handcrafted glass bee created by an artist friend. The entire frame and matt were also painted with several coats of black gesso then finished with a matt varnish.


CLOSE ENCOUNTER close-up

CLOSE ENCOUNTER measures 10-1/2H X 8-7/8W X 1-1/4D. Click on the photo for larger image.

BUGS

I am a bit behind on my entries, time has flown and life this summer has been busy, but here is a quick note to let you know of this BUGS show that opens Friday August 7 at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery.
If you are nearby please stop in for the opening evening or sometime during the shows duration, August 7 - September 1, 2009. Thank you for your continued support.

THE FIRST OF MANY

GreyBird Barn hovering in the calm before the welcomed storm.

In my previous post I mentioned that a group of five artists birthed the idea of an Artist Studio Sale at Shane's GreyBird Barn. After much preparatory work Shane's barn was transformed into an intimate gallery setting. The art-enthused visitors flowed through in a steady stream both days. We are all so pleased with the results of this event. It has grounded itself as the first of many studio sales we will present at Shane's GreyBird Barn. The weekend was full of art collectors as well as those who came to observe and offer their valued words of appreciation and praise. Thank you to all who stopped by over the weekend to help make our affair have a favorable outcome. AND to all who helped weave it all together and offered help throughout the weekend. There are not enough words to express our appreciation and gratitude.
A personal note of thanks and huge amounts of gratitude to my dear sister, Wendy, who was at my side helping haul, hang, and break down the show as well as making and bringing me lunch and preparing other various meals. Wendy, you brought lightness and laughter, love and support to a task that would not have been as much fun without you. THANK YOU from the wholeness of my heart.


Entering GreyBird Barn Studio/Gallery



My work, Linda Jarvis



A little bit of me (foreground left), Lynn Anju, Shane Miller and Diane Gale (foreground right)



Again, a little bit of me (foreground left), Shane Miller and Diane Gale



Diane (foreground), Lynn (left) and Shane (back)



Beverly Saito



The Artists - Me (Linda), Lynn, Silas (Beverly's Husband/the zen man), Diane, and Shane

STUDIO SALE @ GREYBIRD BARN

For a number of years now the artists in my artist support and discussion group have passed the idea around about having a studio sale with a few artist friends in Shane's barn. So finally a couple of months ago the topic came up again in our art group about really taking the steps to actually make a studio sale happen in her barn. We hope it can be the kind of thing where we could have it year after year on the same weekend and create a following. After a lot of organizing and a lot of work pulling it all together the sale will take place this weekend! A wonderful group of 5 talented artists will be gathered at Shane's GreyBird Barn to display and sell their work.

All the participating artists have contributed hugely . . . Lynn, Diane and Beverly were in charge of making the sandwich board signs . . . I designed and created the postcard, flyers and email announcements and everyone helped in distributing flyers, especially Lynn . . . Marilyn, a friend of Beverly's wrote an article for us and Shane did some final touches and tweaking plus the distribution to the various publications. These are just some of the efforts we have put forth to create this event. Many generous friends have helped make this affair possible . . . unexpected gravel shoveled into the ruts in her driveway . . . homemade cookies and lemonade for the duration of the sale . . . help with chainsawing up a bunch of logs that were in the way . . . and many hands helping make her property look presentable. Many heartfelt thanks to everyone.

If you are in the neighborhood stop by for some cookies and lemonade and a chance to see some exceptional art for your home and/or office and don't forget your gift list.

We are doing this event in conjunction with another group of artists in Chimacum at Egg & I Pottery. 8 potters in various disciplines will have their goods on display and for sale.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?

This is the seat of a chair I have created for this year's fund raiser, The Chair Affair, that PT Artscape puts on yearly which I have participated in for the last 3 years since it's inception. You can see previous chairs on earlier posts.


The inspiration for this chair, WHAT'S THE BUZZ?, came from many sources, but mostly from a dear friend, the late Suzanne Henrion, who loved vibrant colors, was an artist, art collector, art appreciator and aficionado. There were many of us who were fortunate to have known her. She gifted this little chair to me along with most of the added elements with which I embellished it.

I continue to give thanks and gratitude to Suzanne for the endless support she graciously offered to so many artists and their arts. This chair is offered to The Chair Affair in her memory.


This chair was constructed of plain pine. I gave it a black undercoat with black gesso - 3 coats, sanding in between, then painted it using acrylics and colored pencils. Then I added all the elements at the top and the spools and wooden balls and metal, ball-headed pins to extend the length of the legs, painted them after giving them the same black gesso undercoats.
The chair is approximately 19" tall. Click on the photos for larger images.

The Chair Affair will take place at the Mt Baker Building – 2nd Floor during Port Townsend's Gallery Walk, Saturday, May 2, 2009. Most of our Galleries will be open till 8 pm with some serving refreshments. Come join in the festivities of the evening and celebrate the opening of Art Wave, showing students work in various businesses throughout our town. Entertainment will be by the Bruce Cowan Trio.
Come and support our arts program. The redesigned chairs and side tables by many local artists will be for sale, and student work will be on display. The Arts are a fundamental component of a basic education for our students. The arts are a core subject in Washington State.

FIRST FRUIT

FIRST FRUIT is the fourth of four pieces I completed for the STREETS AND ROADS exhibit at the Bainbridge Island Gallery. As in the previous pieces posted I used the layering of 3 planes to create the illusion of depth in hopes to take the viewer further into the piece, further into one's imagination. I like working in this format though it makes the completion more complicated.

FIRST FRUIT measures 8-1/2H X 8W X 1-1/2D - rendered in mixed media.

Click on photo for larger image.

THE RED DOOR

This is another completed piece for the STREETS AND ROADS exhibit that utilizes the element I created and posted on March 1st. THE RED DOOR story is presented in layers taking you out to a world beyond Raven's refuge. This new format is something I am exploring. We shall see where it takes me...

THE RED DOOR measures 9-1/4H X 9-1/4W X 1-1/2D - mixed media.
Click on the photo for a larger image.

COYOTE DREAMS

A distant horizon against a starry night pull Coyote into a dream. Where might the meandering ribbon of dirt take Coyote? The dreams, if told, would tell.

COYOTE DREAMS was another piece created for the STREETS AND ROADS show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts gallery as mentioned in previous posts. It measures 8-1/4H X 8-1/4W X 1-1/2D rendered in mixed media. Click on photo for larger image.

THE OPEN WINDOW

If you remember, I posted this rabbit as a sneak peek a couple posts back. This is the finished piece, THE OPEN WINDOW, for the STREETS AND ROADS show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery in Winslow, WA. Existing as a pull toy, rabbit sits quietly on a shelf just inside the open window. But, does rabbit contemplate this as a favorable chance to slip out through the window and up a road to adventures beyond imagination? Or does contentment to remain within a familiar world sitting on a ledge suit rabbit just fine? Options presented, choices to be made.

All my pieces are done in mixed media. THE OPEN WINDOW measures 11-1/2H X 9-1/4W X 1-1/4D. Click on the photo for a larger image.

ELEMENTS & COMPONENTS

As you can gather from viewing my works in past posts it is made up of components and elements. This raven is part of a piece I have painted for STREETS AND ROADS, a show that opens this week, Friday, at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery. The blue bird below is also an element from a piece I have painted for the same exhibit. This is a new direction for me and I am rather absorbed by it. I am anxiously awaiting some cradle boards my sister is bringing to me this week. New works . . . This is always exciting and sometimes carries some uncertainty not knowing exactly where one will end up when finished. It has been a fun exploration. If you are not near this gallery to come to the opening or visit the gallery during the show's display, come back to my blog to see the finished pieces.

A SNEAK PEEK

This rabbit, in pull toy form, is part of a piece I am creating for a show in March at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery. I guess I don't want to reveal too much information at this point before it is completed so you will have to come back to see the finished piece in a couple of weeks.

My work, is again, continuing to shift so I am in a state of transition with it presently. But, it still carries with it an observable style with each manifestation. It seems to always be in a state of flux which I rather enjoy as there is always some form of progression. I like to act on the state of what is moving me from within. I hope you will check back to see the final piece and the inclination my work has moved in.

Click on the photo for a larger image.

SOME ARE QUITE COY

We have a small fish pond in our garden and while enjoying the tranquillity it brings to us my observations of the activities of the fish that live there inspired this piece. SOME ARE QUITE COY was part a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery titled BOXES. It has moveable parts thus making it an interactive piece creating the ability for the viewer to reveal the coy koi, as you will see in the image below. When the heavy wires at the sides of the box are pushed inward the hidden coy come out from behind the lily pads. The opposite result occurs when the wires are pulled outward sending the koi back into their hiding mode.


Click on the photos for larger images.

DECORATED DOE

DECORATED DOE is an older piece that I often come back to just to feel the essence of doe. They are so graceful and I always feel blessed and graced with a special visit when one tiptoes through our property. I once had a dream many years ago of walking on the soft, needle covered shore of a quiet, wooded lake where I encountered a doe. She approached me, both of us without fear. She came closer and I gently wrapped my arms around her neck, her warm body against mine with her head resting over my shoulder as if in an embrace. Her spirit felt so gentle and then it was as though we dissolved into each other's energy becoming one. It was most magical and has stayed with me ever since. I will never understand how anyone could take aim and bring one down. It is that angst and my love of wild things in nature inspires my work. Thanks for checking in.

Click on the photo for a larger image.

WINTER'S CHILL

The transition from 2008 to 2009 has been a cold and snowy one in our part of the world that began in mid December. I think about all the critters out in the wild that seek shelter, food and water during these times. This piece, WINTER'S CHILL, depicts the challenge of snow covered prairies and mountains for coyote. And what we all face during the colder months. The snow has been a way to slow us down with it's ice under foot and tire, but oh so beautiful in it's quiet presence. Happy New Year to you wherever you are. We have lots to look forward to with hope and gratitude in our hearts.

Click on the photo for larger image.

KING OF THE TOWED

KING OF THE TOWED is one of the three pieces that were juried into the Northwind Art Center's Small Expressions 7 now showing at the center in Port Townsend through December 29. You can read about the first trailer I constructed in a past post, I GO WHERE I'M TOWED. Both were created with help from my husband.

Update 12/22/08: Just thought I would share that I was awarded the People's Choice Award in the show. Thank you to those who voted.

Click on photos for larger images.

FIVE RAVENS, MANY MOONS

If you are a regular to my blog or have taken a glimpse through the various posts, you have witnessed my passion for crows and ravens, among the many other beauties of our wildlife. This piece was one of 5 pieces I completed for the The Gallery - Bainbridge Arts and Crafts exhibit, Function and Form: Art That Works. The mirror is on the top surface. I am pleased to say that this piece along with the Polar Bear Mirror found their new home at the opening reception Friday, Dec. 5th. See previous post.
(My apologies for the quality or the lack thereof of these photographs)

I AM YOU and YOU ARE ME and WE ARE ONE TOGETHER

I AM YOU
AND
YOU ARE ME
AND
WE ARE
ONE
TOGETHER
This piece is the first of a few mirrors I have created for a new invitational theme exhibit at The Gallery - Bainbridge Arts and Crafts opening Dec. 5th. The show is Function and Form: Art That Works. Some of the artists, including my friend and artist cohort, Shane Miller, have been asked to bring to being, mirrors. Here I decided to create a mirror where I altered the shape. My subject, the polar bear, is of course, one that is dear and important to me due to it's overwhelming need for the worlds attention. As you gaze into the mirror you see your self as one with the bear. I feel the title expresses it all.

This short video, PolarBearMan is, by far, the most extraordinary commentary on our global warming plight. It will leave you with chills, but hopefully strike within you a spark to do everything in your own power to help shift the devastation. It stars the talented Lee Pace of the delightfully fanciful Pushing Daisies, the wonderfully artistic The Fall and the short lived Wonderfall, among other productions.



And, of course, I can't close this post without mentioning that I am so very enlivened and filled up by the voices and actions of our nation and the enthusiasm of our fellow communities around the world on Nov. 4th - we are creating cohesion - this is certainly something to be thankful for.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone around the world and those of you therein who visit these pages, I am grateful for your interest and support.

Click on the photo for a larger image.

ATTRACTED TO REFLECTIVE THINGS


As all raven and crows are . . .

SHELL-TER


Beautiful backdrop is a Kimberly Morris, hand-dyed, hand-woven wool rug, also showing in this exhibit.

Click on the photos for larger images.

TRICKSTER

To my delight, I was recently re-introduced to a beautiful coyote named Charlie. After being away from the site for a while I came back with a heightened interest this time. Maybe because I hear coyotes a lot where I live and it triggered my fond memory of Charlie.

This illustration, TRICKSTER, I created some years ago now, but I was inspired to post it today because of Charlie and his friend, Shreve. You can read about them and their endearing story on their web-site which I have been following titled Daily Coyote. Charlie was orphaned and rescued as a pup and re-parented by Shreve, a talented and wise young woman living in Wyoming. This link will start you at the beginning of their connection, then you can move up to present day as you desire. I have always been amused and in awe of these wonderful wild creatures and to have such a close relationship with one must be a rewarding gift and, of course, not without challenges, from what I have read from Shreve's writings.

Remember the wild things and treat them with respect.

GATE

The Gallery, Bainbridge Arts and Crafts, is a wonderful artists' showcase in Winslow on the island of Bainbridge, WA where I have shown since spring of 2004. The executive team there, I call them my Three Artketeers, are always challenging their artists to wonderful theme shows. This current one is WORD where we had to explore a word, it's meaning or our relationship to it. The results are quite fun and if you are near this location I urge you to stop in and take a look. While there take the time to talk with the staff and volunteers, they are very friendly and forthcoming with answers to any questions you may have.

My entry was GATE. As usual I rummaged through my trove of various collected items and played with them until this is what resulted.


GATE closed.



GATE opened.

Click on photos for larger image.

TRYING TO FIND A WAY BACK HOME

Sorry to have been away for so long . . . where did the summer go? A lapse in time occurred somewhere and I got lost in it. It has been filled with much activity of all varieties, some filled with light-hearted pleasures and others sad grievings. But, we take the time out to do what the moment brings us and then move forward to find more joy that life brings such as friends, family, new adventures and new art projects.

A new piece of recent endeavor is this one that speaks of the plight of our arctic dwellers, the Polar Bears. TRYING TO FIND A WAY BACK HOME is a look at the devastation global warming has been having on our Polar Bear populations. If they are lucky they reach a large enough piece of ice to then maneuver a way back to unbroken "ground" . . . . others are not so lucky and end up drowning from exhaustion in an attempt to find a larger base of ice in hopes they might survive.



In this piece it is my vision that their efforts successfully bring them back home with a beacon of hope guiding them.

Thanks for continuing to come back to view my blog. To see the images larger click on the photos.

OPENING AT KOBO GALLERY

I am a bit late in getting a new post up telling of our opening, Three Artists, Three Women, Three Friends. It was a fun day and a fun evening. We arrived at the gallery mid-day to hang and arrange the show. We helped each other get set up and a friend, Kristi, came to take photos of us and our displays. Then we four went off to have an early dinner before the opening at a wonderful restaurant, Green Leaf, a few blocks away. Wonderfully fresh and delicious Vietnamese food. It was also Shane's birthday so there was some celebrating at hand.


This is one of the photos taken during the opening in front of Shane Miller's work. That is Shane on the left, Helga Winter in the middle and I am the one on the right. It was a fun evening and we all had a great time hanging out together and answering questions from inquisitive attendees. We even had friends come across the water from the Port Townsend and Bremerton areas.

It was a lovely day that ended with a beautiful sunset during our ferry ride across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island with the sun hitting the city of Seattle.

THREE ARTISTS, THREE WOMEN, THREE FRIENDS

Since my two dear friends and very talented artist comrades, Shane and Helga, and I hang out together regularly to talk about art, our careers and how to support one another we thought it would be fitting that we create a show as a trio. Our work compliments each others so well it felt like a natural. We came up with the title THREE ARTISTS, THREE WOMEN, THREE FRIENDS as it described our relationship so simply . We will exhibit at KOBO in Seattle's International District through July 19th with the opening reception on Saturday, June 21st, 6-8 p.m. You can read a bit about our work and backgrounds here on KOBO's web-site. KOBO has a very interesting history and I encourage you to read about it. We are looking forward to see many familiar and unfamiliar faces at the opening, so hopefully you live nearby and can come by and say hello.

PAINTING THE NIGHT SKY

This photo was taken at Childhood's End Gallery in Olympia where this piece was in a grouping of several I was showing. The theme of the show, as you may have read on a recent post, was Stories, Myths and Legends. It was a wonderful show full of exceptional work by very talented artists from around the region.
This piece has a story about an artist . . .

She lived near a small village at the edge of the thick woods on Constellation Lane. Being an artist of versatility, the notion of residing on a travel-way named after clusters of stars and planets inspired her to start painting the exterior of her house with her own constellations. Late one evening while she was painting, her brush slipped away from the side of the house and swept skyward into the black vastness . . . to her amazement new constellations began to appear. It was like magic or wizardry. She kept moving her brush against the sky like she was conducting an orchestra. Each stroke brought new stars to the life of the night sky and would forever remain.

Along with the other exhibitors were my two artist comrades, Helga Winter, with her sensuous, tactile turned wood vessels, and spheroids and Shane Miller showing her photo-etched metal, narrative boxes that will captivate you. Here are some examples of their extraordinary work.




PAINTING THE NIGHT SKY was created with foam chore board, dress pattern tissue, aluminum tubing, make-up brush wrapped inaluminum tape, hammered aluminum sheeting, mica, beads, tacks and o-rings.

BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON

Though the light of the beautiful silvery moon by herself will not be enough for the Ice Bears to find their way home, at the very least, they are now listed as threatened, but not necessarily protected . . . so, our work continues to do what is needed to keep their home land safe and free of the drilling rigs of the hungry oil-mongers. Learn what we can do to help. In tandem I will continue to hold onto a vivid image for a positive future for our arctic friends - that they all will dance again BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON. It is, however, up to us to make that vision true . . . thank you for your participation and support.

This magnificent being is created on heavy illustration paper with ink, acrylic paint and colored pencil. The silvery moon is hammered aluminum with metal pins, protected behind glass in a maple frame embellished with discs and beads and crowned with a maple wedge also embellished.
(click photo for larger image)

THE CHAIR AFFAIR AUCTION

I spoke about this fun event two posts ago (see below) and now the excitement is building. May 24th is the date of the auction and all, or at least a high percentage, of Port Townsend and the outlying communities will come to view and bid on these fun creations painted and/or made by local artists. The proceeds go to support great arts programs. To learn more visit PT ArtScape. If you live in the area please come by and join in the festivities. See you there!

THIS OLD HOUSE HAS MANY STORIES

As years pass and occupants come and go and family members move on in different ways, a house can gather numerous stories, on various levels, and store them within it's walls. If we are still enough we may be able to hear them or, as it is said, read the writings on the walls. What stories will your house tell?

THIS OLD HOUSE HAS MANY STORIES was built on and with metal gears, found objects, handcrafted paper, patinated metal, mica. An old wood stove element was used for the finial. (click on photo for larger image)

THE CHAIR AFFAIR

In the fall of 1998, a group of interested teachers, school administrators, and community members came together to apply for a grant from WSAC that offered funding for arts in the public schools. Visual arts, music, and drama were offered as electives only in grades 7-12. Limited levy funding supported one-shot arts activities in the elementary grades on a monthly basis. There was not a climate of collaboration between the arts specialists and classroom teachers, and arts lessons were not integrated into the curriculum.

The Consortium fostered a different kind of collaboration than had ever happened before. The Port Townsend Community Consortium, now known as PT Artscape, has transformed arts education in local schools through eight years of advocacy, programming and creative problem solving. The Consortium began to take shape almost a decade ago, when a team of arts advocates saw potential in linking local resources with the school district, and launched this effort with a Consortium proposal to the Washington State Arts Commission.

The annual fundraiser, “The Chair Affair” will be held on Sunday, May 25, from 5:00-7:00 pm at the American Legion Building in Port Townsend. Local Artists’ unique hand painted chairs will be auctioned off that evening. You can get a sneak peek at the chairs by visiting the businesses that showcase student work. All proceeds will support Arts programming in the Port Townsend School District, K-12th grade.

The 2007 event raised over $6,000 for the arts in the schools program.
(above verbiage is excerpted from the PT Artscape web-site)

ArtWave 2008 and Chair-Affair-ing began last night with Gallery Walk. Student art has been placed along with all the artists creations in 40 participating venues!

Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers who work so hard to make this happen for two years now and to the artists who have joined the fun to help generate funds for this great program. I had such a good time being a part of last year's event and I am participating again this year. The photo at the top of this post is of my 3 contributions. The 3 photos below are these chairs individually. (click on each photo for larger images)

CAN'T SIT STILL
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

AS MY MUSE MOVES ME


The following photo is of my contribution last year. This photo was taken before it was completely finished. I gave it the title of FIND YOUR ART. The winning bid went to a very nice couple I know in Port Townsend who are both professional artists themselves and have it hanging above a small cabinet in their home (bottom photo).

TOUCH for the last time

TOUCH once again and again and again

ALMOST to the end of the series, but first . . . from The Beginning. These three pieces above were the first in this series I've been posting below. I was cutting small glass pieces myself before I went to using glass slides. (click on photos for larger images)





I was going to post the various pieces from this series by number, but I have discovered that the numbers in my photo archives are not corresponding correctly, so I am just going to add a few now and then to this post without numbers. Some of these pieces are available at Raven Blues in Poulsbo so they are not in my possession to reference the numbers. If you can check back every few days to see what I have added to this post (they will be above all of this text) over a few weeks. Thanks for your continued interest. For more details about this series read previous post. (click on photo for larger image)

TOUCH

I feel Spring today!!! So much activity. The sounds and sights and energy of Spring are all around me, on my morning walks, especially. All the bird's love songs echoing through the trees and all their scurrying about busily in the process of nest making is such a gift to watch and be a part of. It is an experience that brings to mind a series of small pieces I made of young children's hands with birds resting on or near their fingers. These are pencil illustrations on watercolor paper fronted by found feathers or other fragments from nature. Then the bird is drawn on vellum and sandwiched between glass slides. I covered the mats with handcrafted paper. I gave them numbered titles preceded by the word TOUCH. Young innocent life merged with the liveliness of Spring's life force. There was a sweetness there that surged up, as hope and trust, compassion and our connectedness to the natural world and each other. This piece is TOUCH #5. (click on photo for larger image)

STORIES, MYTHS & LEGENDS

STORIES, MYTHS AND LEGENDS - This will be a telling exhibit. All works are created with a story, a myth or a legend that may be from the world's rich literature or creative narratives made up by the artist. My fellow cohorts and artist pals, Helga Winter and Shane Miller, will be accompanying me in this show with their inventive creations along with 8 other artists from the NW Region. It will hang from April 25th through May 31st. The opening reception for the artists is Friday April 25th. (click on photo for details)

This exhibit and many others will be part of Olympia's Spring Arts Walk, a 2 day event, that will stimulate your whole being. All of Olympia is in festivity with their biannual Arts Walk. Plan ahead and come enjoy the Arts of all kinds.

TIME SUSPENDED

TIME. How does one have a friendly and copacetic relationship with time. Can we stop time? I think when we are in a zone, like doing something we get lost in or is meditative we can suspend time as though it did not exist, where only we exist within that one moment, and then the next and the next...


Here time is put into a place of presence where it has no force or effect...TIME SUSPENDED...sits waiting within a structure of paper, metal street cleaner bristles, aluminum tubing, tacks, poly-board, vintage clock face dangling on threads, with a beautifully patina'd piece of metal for the back wall and other mixed media.

ROMANCING THE SALMON MOON

Does bear sing to the moon when she is full to lure the salmon to bear's feasting place? Only bear knows, as does the moon. But the salmon, do they know and simply gift themselves to bear so she/he may be sustained? All is in balance as it is until we try to balance it the way we think it should be . . . and what we are doing to them and to our planet, we are doing to ourselves. An insightful, profound and soul felt expression from our own wise man, Chief Seattle. He understood. They/we are all precious.

ROMANCING THE SALMON MOON is a window into a vignette where I use my illustrated salmon swimming in a sky of handcrafted paper and disc bead for a moon. Onlooking and singing is my illustration of bear all under glass, surrounded by a maple frame that I embellished with more flat disc beads and a wedge of maple wood. (click on photo for larger image)

WHERE I OFTEN FIND MYSELF

One could say, as we journey on, that we find ourselves somewhere that makes us feel at peace, a place where we often find ourselves to be. Or we become aware of ourselves in a place that feels like home, where we find our being, where one often finds one's self...That place of being connected to it all, to nature, to each other.


Imagine opening a door and all we find are stairs or a ladder that takes us to a place of calm, a place where we go to feel quiet and peaceful or to contemplate, somewhere we can frequent regularly just to be.


If we were to keep going we might find that place called nirvana, perhaps, where there is no myself. Hmmmmmmm
(click on photos for larger images)

MOMENTUM

MOMENTUM is another one of the three pieces for the DOORS show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. It started with a salesman's sample door that my husband brought home to me a couple of years ago. When I was asked to be apart of the DOORS show this miniature door came directly to mind. But how to use it. I covered it, as you see and the rest grew from numerous ideas in my sketch book. With the use of the pewter wheels I felt it needed the illusion of movement . . .
Slanting the house backwards was inspiring - how to do the rest of it . . .




A clock to me represented movement, not only in how it works, but the passing of time, being here and now with the knowledge and inevitability that we are moving forward to the next moment.


The egg in the nest is nurtured now as a precious life, right now, within. And the potential for a new life in a different form, what it is going to become. Nature, life, there is always momentum if we stop for a moment. This moment turns into the next. We move from this now, right now, to the next now, which is always, now . . . Momentum. (click on the photos for larger images)

BIRTH OF AN IDEA

When the idea of a small trailer (see previous post) came to me for the DOORS show, it was a vision in my mind's eye. Then I went to my sketch book where I plant seeds and started to doodle - I love to doodle - and played with shapes for this piece. The first one was a bit crude and I thought I would title it HOME GROWN, which is still on the "pieces to do" list. The second sketch was getting closer and the third one was drawn in photoshop to get the curves to transition smoothly. The next step was to scour my studio for materials I could use. Aluminum sheeting, yes. Wallpaper, I created in photoshop. Flooring, scraps of marmoleum. Wheels...hmmm. My husband went to a box of goodies in his workshop that had some parts from a very old radio...alas, there they were, tuning pulleys, the perfect wheels, down to the little "tire valve" to which I preceeded to add black paint to simulate a valve cap. And the rest evolved as I went along. Thus it was birthed.

By the way, the opening last night was a success. The exhibit was displayed beautifully. Once again, kudos to the staff at BAC. I GO WHERE I'M TOWED got lots of smiles and attention and happily found a new home to park itself. It is, often times, bitter-sweet to see one's creations depart, but much to my delight this piece is going to live with 2 dear people whom I know. They love it very much. So it remains in the extended family, so to speak. I hope you can get by to see all the wonderful and creative ideas that sprouted from the artists who participated...

I GO WHERE I'M TOWED

This piece is one of three from a show that opens tonight at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery. The title of the show is DOORS.
Having a love for vintage travel trailers I thought it would be a fun project to create a small trailer with a little door. Lost in the idea I didn't know how challenging it would be. I had to enlist the talents and strong hands of my husband to help at particular junctures while I put this piece together. I also had some help from my artist friend, Shane Miller, as we wrestled with her metal shear and the piece of metal we successfully cut that wraps around the circumference of the trailer.
While out on a travel about a year ago my husband and I came across a small tear drop trailer with the words I GO WHERE I'M TOWED printed across the back bumper. We had such a great laugh over it at which point were determined to use the phrase on our little pop-up trailer. That has not come about as yet, but once I created this piece there was no way I couldn't use it as the title.
Then came the task of what would be the surprise inside the trailer once the door is opened.


It took me a while, but Voilà! Of course, put a toad inside.Then came the search for a really appropriate toad. Nowhere in all my rummaging hither and yon, including the internet and letting my fingers do the walking could I find the perfect toad that fit the personality of this little trailer. Well, a local Port Townsend garden shop was out of small toads, but they graciously suggested I try a new shop downtown PT.


Sure enough they had the perfect toad, a Christmas tree ornament, that I gathered up, took home to my studio and proceeded to paint it to look realistic. Meet the perfect toad. He goes where he's told, I mean towed.
(click on photos for larger images)


Originally I had designed the graphics on the plate to look like a vintage plate, but my husband said, "oh no, you really should have it look like a Washington license plate", so I said, go for it, and he came forth with these graphics for the plate...perfect. You can't see it in this photo very well, but the date on the license plate is the date of the opening of the show. Then I proceeded to craft the license plate holder. More fun. More smiles.

THE RECURRENCE

I have often wondered if birds ever return to the same nest the following years to repeat their instinctual ritual of raising the newest generation. I have a feeling they do not from the various old and weathered nests I have found. I do, though, like to think that some may and with some research on my part I might discover that it does occur in some species. Or perhaps the dance of collection and the artful arrangement of the gathered materials is part of the internal process that begins the manifestation of new life. This piece, THE RECURRENCE, was my vision of a visitation that takes place every spring and/or more than once a year. A regular, a come and go resident with familiarity.

LUNA

Luna, she comes up so much in my work. It is of no wonder as she is so captivating. I was awed and transfixed by the moon the other night when she was shadowed by our earth. My husband and I went out in the cool evening and set up our tri-pod. He took some pictures and then, due to the cold air and being underdressed, he went inside. I, however, stayed out and captured most of the event on my smaller digital camera, which is better for common day and macro photography, but to my surprise and delight, it did a pretty good job on expressing what I was experiencing, nonetheless. I was grateful that is was a clear and crisp evening, so we could witness this magical event. Though it is not rare, it is always enchanting to see the shadow of our earth against our beautiful moon.


This photo was taken while the eclipse was beginning to wane so the orange glow was fading. We live in the woods so we were having peekaboo views which this photo illustrates. I hope you were able to see this alluring phenomenon.

MOON IN THE WINDOW

I hope you all had an opportunity to see the moon last night. She created the most beautiful shadows, inside and outside, and silvery stars that glistened on the Madrone leaves. The Olympics were aglow also. Perfect for a walk, to be in the energy of the night and still see everything in the dimmed light, (as stated in my dictionary - a book that I love - " the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible "). What a gift at the end of a spring like day.


MOON IN THE WINDOW is another older piece created using metal street cleaner bristles, rusted pieces of metal, beads, wire, handcrafted paper, original illustration of the moon. (click on photos for larger images)

TWIN PEAKS

What can I say about TWIN PEAKS. It just evolved like most of my pieces do. If I remember correctly it began with making the pebble finials. I wanted to use them together somehow so I built the double peaked structure and the rest just unfolded. I am fortunate to live where I have a view of the Olympic Mountains in their grand stature, so TWIN PEAKS, you could say, reflects my good fortune.

TWIN PEAKS stands tall using handcrafted paper, metal street cleaner bristles, pebbles, hammered aluminum sheeting and wire, mica, and other mixed media. (click on photo for larger image)

MOVING DAY

When it comes time to pick up and move, we gather up all that we give value to. In MOVING DAY the important and valuable items readied for moving are those that are precious and have potential for life.

MOVING DAY gets going on wings of hammered aluminum sheeting with handcrafted paper, feather, beads, polymer eggs, square nails, and other mixed materials. (click photo for larger image)

THE ROCK COLLECTOR

My assemblage work started by creating them under glass within frames. This piece is one of a few that grew from my creating them freestanding in a 3D, sculptural fashion. I've always loved and collected rocks and I thought it would be fun to make a piece that depicted the dwelling of a rock collector. Are the rocks on display or are they about to take over the house as it swells and they all spill out?

When I went to photograph this piece I loved the way the light was coming through the back of it so I decided to do one shot of it this way . . . this is the result.

The 3D work has since evolved into using larger dimensions in every direction which, of course, increased the size of the pieces.

THE ROCK COLLECTOR consists of handcrafted paper, small pebbles, mica, metal street cleaner bristles, hammered aluminum sheeting, beads and whatnot. (click on photo for larger image)

LOON'S MICA MOON

Those haunting calls of the wild echo through the silence like the moon's reflective light pierces through the darkness. The moon with the black night resting around it shines brightly on the loon as she glides gently through the water coming to rest in a safe shelter where the moon has cast protective shadows.

LOON'S MICA MOON has a background of woven grass wallpaper, with loon's shelter consisting of handcrafted paper, metal street cleaner bristles, beads, washers, wire, tacks, sitting within wavy corrugated board, with the light from a moon made of black washer, disc bead, topped with mica, all behind glass within an embellished maple frame. (click on photo for larger image)

THE PERCH HOUSE

While I was out for this morning's walk I was accompanied by an exhilarating symphony of songs offered by happy, melodious birds. Their joy for the day gave me a reminder nudge to refill my bird-feeders for the beginning onset of incoming travelers. It brought to mind this piece, THE PERCH HOUSE, a refuge for the winged things to seek shelter and nourishment.

THE PERCH HOUSE is stilted on metal street cleaner bristles, handcrafted paper, tacks, brass metal sheeting, with an original sketch on vellum of a visiting cedar waxwing. (click on photo for larger image)

WILDERNESS CAGED

This piece was my commentary on the state of our environment and the habitat that is being destroyed and taken from our wildlife. I feel it is our responsibility to preserve these creatures and the habitat they live in with integrity and good guardianship before it is too late.

WILDERNESS CAGED is captured with an augmented, reworked print from an original I painted of a grizzly bear fishing for salmon, handcrafted paper, corrugated cardboard, rusted flattened bottle cap, in a 3/4" inset surrounded by street cleaner bristles, and tacks, enclosed over matt board with glass within a frame. (click on photo for larger image)

MESSAGES FROM THE SKY

One of the first things I do every morning is take a walk in our woods with our dog, Kinta. It gets me connected to who I am and helps me get engaged with the day. Nature is a miraculous omnipresence that is a great source for my daily musing. One of the wonders of walking in nature is finding a fallen feather. They are such amazing works of engineering, functionality, and beauty. I like to think of them as little messages that fall to earth...a gift to ponder. I have an abundant collection of found feathers all of which awakened a creative impulse to construct MESSAGES FROM THE SKY.

MESSAGES FROM THE SKY imparts a view into a collection made up of multiple feathers, string, tacks, augmented photo of clouds, wire constructed nest holding a polymer clay egg, within a 3/4" deep inset surrounded by metal street cleaner bristles behind glass and matted frame. (click on photo for larger image)

THE FORGOTTEN OFFERING

What happens to a gift that is quietly offered, but is then forgotten. Does It sit in waiting gathering antiquity? To gaze upon this bestowal is somewhat spellbinding . . . what is this mysterious gift and how long has it been overlooked?


THE FORGOTTEN OFFERING appears as a mica box enclosing delicate white moth wings resting in residence on a chair made of metal street cleaner bristles and wire. (click on photos for larger images)

HIDING FROM THE MAGIC HAT

Those who know me recognize I have a strong aversion to the use of animals in acts like circuses or magic tricks, no tolerance for exploitation or abuse of any kind. Hence this piece was sprung. I thought I would make a piece that was colorful, with a sense of joy that illustrates the courage and skill the rabbit achieved to hide from the dreaded magic hat. Successful in his quest he sits quietly, somewhat timidly, yet happily, never to be found, never to enter that magic hat again. Aware of a safe moment, he scurries away using his own magic powers, disappearing into a new adventure where he will seek happier turf.

HIDING FROM THE MAGIC HAT is a perfect hide out of handcrafted paper, pounded aluminum wire, square nail, domino, beads, street cleaner bristles, augmented print from an original I painted of an arctic rabbit and other found objects. (click on photo for larger image)

THE TINDER BOX

This piece, THE TINDER BOX, was also a part of the Bainbridge Arts and Crafts BOXES show that I mentioned in my previous post.
It really speaks for itself. The structure starts with a hinged lidded wooden box with added elements I hammered from aluminum sheeting. I then made the roof, again, using hammered aluminum sheeting, pins, beads, on the peak made of foam core and handmade paper crowned with a finial made with a lipstick case and hammered aluminum wire to represent a chimney and smoke. It stands on stilts of porcelain insulators. The surprise inside, as you see in the photo below, is a small box I handcrafted using thin strips of cedar, added straw for tinder and a match. You can see how it fuels it's own voice. (click on photos for larger images)

SECRETS IN THE BASEMENT, TREASURES IN THE ATTIC

SECRETS IN THE BASEMENT, TREASURES IN THE ATTIC was part of BOXES, a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts and leaves much to the imagination veiled with a bit of mystery especially the secrets in the basement. What might they be and will they be revealed? After all secrets are secrets and who is going to tell, unless the burden becomes too heavy and the truth then be told. The treasures in the attic, on the other hand, are easily seen within view through the attic windows. Nothing concealed, open to the world with nothing to hide, except the revelation of the gifts held within the treasured eggs.

SECRETS IN THE BASEMENT, TREASURES IN THE ATTIC are housed in a lidded box covered in handcrafted paper, with hammered aluminum, metal street cleaner bristles, aluminum tubing and a roof made of poly board and foam core board, acrylic ring. Nest is wire, treasures are made of polymer clay.(click on photo for larger image)

WHERE THE MOON SLEEPS

I love our moon. I think it is so wonderful that we live on a planet that has a moon, a natural satellite. A luna to gaze out upon when she chooses to be seen in various phases as she peeks out of the darkness. I've always found a comfort in the bright illumination as it creates shadows. I love walking in and out of the dark and light spaces that are formed as the light filters through trees during a moonlit walk. But, I also muse in my imagination, where does the moon sleep? And in that phantasia came the inspiration that brought into being this piece, WHERE THE MOON SLEEPS.

WHERE THE MOON SLEEPS is shown within a structure covered with dress pattern tissue paper, hammered aluminum sheeting, metal street cleaner bristles, aluminum tape, aluminum tubing, beads, tacks, wire, and other found objects. (click on the photos for larger images)

HEART ON A STRING

Not only does this piece demonstrate the way we can put our hearts out on a string where it leads us to our heart desires, be it personal passions, love or just life, but it also gives a penetrating view into our hearts. An opening to see our true selves, to be vulnerable and truthful, to be transparent with an open heart in friendships, love and life.

HEART ON A STRING is offered up on metal street cleaner bristles, wire, washers, square nails, small reproduction of an x-ray, and a small silver heart on a string. (click on photo for larger image)

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

The plight of the Polar Bear is very visible in our lives today with the serious and devastating issue of global warming. With our positive actions and our hopes for a healthy earth and environment for these great beasts, we can keep them safe with A ROOM WITH A VIEW overlooking a vast frozen terrain.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW is occupied by an augmented print from my original painting of a Polar Bear. It is built using handcrafted papers, metal street cleaner bristles, bones, corrugated card board, beads, and an eye glass bridge pad for a finial. (click on photo for large image)

MOON COMES TO STEAL RAVEN'S TREASURES

Here again is a piece that repeats the theme of crows and ravens. They appear in my work frequently, as you have probably seen throughout my blog, an indication of my passion for them. The attraction of shiny objects is large in their appetite for mischief so collecting is one of their all time favorite pass times. Here raven protects precious treasures from the rising moon, as the goods are emulated making it all the easier to steal them.

MOON COMES TO STEAL RAVEN'S TREASURES is a collection of a silver cone, hair, beads, bee button, paper, metal street cleaner bristles, aluminum ring with vellum and an augmented print of raven taken from my original illustration. (click o photo for larger image)

THE CROW'S NEST

THE CROW'S NEST is one of my favorite pieces. I guess it is because it represents the wonderful world of crows and ravens, the intellects of our birdlings. Today I heard a raven in the distance. As he flew over me he sent out his throaty, gravelly call. I called back, pretty nicely I might add, but he kept going without answering. However, as he flew by, the whispers of his wings pushing the air landed so quietly on my ears it nearly took my breath away. So magical is that moment when that sound barely breaks the silence, but it is enough to make my heart race.

THE CROW'S NEST is stilted with metal street cleaner bristles, accompanied with handcrafted papers, horseshoe nail, scrap metal, pounded aluminum sheeting, beads, nails, wire. Nested within is my illustration of crow. (click on photo for larger image)