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 illuminated 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 on the 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)

JUST PASSING THROUGH

This piece, JUST PASSING THROUGH, was inspired by the steady and constant rhythms of migration. The ever moving flow of our animal kingdom returning to take up temporary residency fascinates me. Their instinctive drive to move from one region or habitat to another, regularly according to the seasons, is a wonder of nature that will never cease to amaze me.

JUST PASSING THROUGH is created using handcrafted paper, copper, feathers, metal street cleaner bristles and other mixed media materials. (Click on photo for larger image)

A NEW ANEW

With this new year laid before me, I see an open field of possibilities for numerous creative processes and experimentation awaiting exploration. The new year always gifts me with renewal and a freshness that is like a huge blank canvas ready for me to jump in. The excitement and creative juices flow through me rapidly as do the thoughts of contemplation as to where new creative energy will take me and how to best use it.

Yesterday was the first meeting this new year of our trio of art mates. However, we are missing our dear fourth member who passed away from us in November. But her spirit still gathers with us each time we meet. Our topic for discussion was time management and organization. It was one of our most productive meetings thus far. One of the pluses yesterday was having the company of my dear sister, Wendy, who offered some great ideas from her own experiences dealing with time management and getting organized, all of which she says has profoundly changed her life. Her input was very well received, welcomed and of great value. Thank you Wendy. All of us contributed great ideas and set personal goals to work on for the month. We will check in with each other as to how we are progressing.

Below is an excerpt from a great article that I shared with the group, Time Management for Creative People, Manage the mundane - create the extraordinary by Mark McGuinness. My husband emailed it to me with "because I care" in the subject line. He sees where I have areas in my daily life and art life that could use some help-removing obstacles that prevent easy forward motion. My work space can get chaotic after a push towards a show, but to me, that is how I work...no matter how many times I clean and start anew, it always ends up looking disorderly. However, I do know I need to do some purging in all aspects of my life. So back to this snippet from the article...I had to share it as I imagine lots of us creative types may relate as I do, although I do not get up at noon nor do I work in a dressing gown, but as for the chaos, that seems to be my feed.

"I’m not suggesting that all artists and creatives need to be ‘organised’ in a way that would satisfy a corporate boss. You might get up at noon and work at home in your dressing gown, in a pigsty of a living room. You might check into a different hotel room every day and work on the bed. Your creative process and working habits might look like total chaos to an outsider, but if they work for you, that’s all that matters. And there will be some method in the madness – patterns in your daily activities that are vital to your creativity. These are the things you need to do to keep your imagination alive – whether it’s sitting at a desk by 6am, using the same pen, notebook or make of computer, hitch-hiking across America, putting rotten apples in your desk so that the scent wafts into your nostrils as you work, or sitting in your favourite café with a glass of absinthe."

read more here: http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/12/03/time-management-for-creative-people-free-e-book/

CLOSED FOR THE WINTER

All the artists that show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery were invited to create and donate an art piece on an 8" X 8" canvas, which they provided for us, for a benefit show titled Whodunit? which also commemorated the 60th birthday of this wonderful non-profit gallery. The idea was to not reveal to the public who the artists were. This was achieved by not signing the front of our pieces so it became the game of Whodunit? All the artworks were priced at $350.00 with all the proceeds to benefit BAC's new art program, Art After 60, which will bring art to senior citizens. The show opened this past Friday evening with a gala reception while the artists wore masks so as not to reveal their identity, as such . . . all for fun. The exhibit will run through January 29th.


My offering was CLOSED FOR THE WINTER. As you see in the photos it is a coolish piece that evokes stillness and vacancy while a space sits quietly during the winter months, perhaps with a sting of loneliness or even the sacred sanctuary of solitude. All created with aluminum wire, sheeting, and tape, as well as tacks, pins, brads, vellum and hair.(Click on photos for larger image)

IN ALL DIRECTIONS

This piece, IN ALL DIRECTIONS, is the third of the three pieces in the "Small Expressions VI" show at the Northwind Art Center in Port Townsend. I like the small, tall and slender stature as a format for this piece. Tall windows on all sides. Giving the ability to the momma bird to come and go from any window or the unborn to fledge in any direction, N,S,E, or W. Life moves in all directions. Where we go is where we are pulled.

A feathered fishing hook is fashioned as a finial for the structure atop a pounded aluminum roof. Aluminum window frames, street cleaner bristles for the stilts, wire nest, and polymer clay egg all come together to help complete this piece.

WINGED MOON EMERGING

WINGED MOON EMERGING, also part of the "Small Expressions VI" exhibit, comes into view housed in a veil of fog. As she moves, flying in and out of the clouds we see revealed, a face of well-being that shines over us with a sense of safekeeping. (click on photo for larger image)

Her face is of carved bone, window of fog from vellum, poly material for roof, feathers, beads, tacks, street sweeper bristles,
and other materials compose this piece.

WHERE THE STARS LIVE

This was a recent commission piece I created for a client in New York. Ladders are of great interest to her so I came up with a
ladder that was unusual and quirky. They can often conger up the sense of imagination or symbology. The ladder travels up through the bottom of the structure so one can climb up, sit down and be WHERE THE STARS LIVE. Being that the piece was so tall and the handcrafted paper I used on the outside of the structure looked to me like constellations, I felt it called for it's given title. (click on photo for larger image)

WHERE THE STARS LIVE stands tall in the skies on stilts made with steel street cleaner bristles. I made the ladder using these same bristles, metal washers and wire, not to mention a lot of patience and perseverance. Handcrafted paper, pounded aluminum sheeting and found objects make up the structure WHERE THE STARS LIVE.

SMALL EXPRESSIONS VI JURY EXHIBITION

JACK IN THE BOX is one of three pieces that will be a part of Northwind Arts Center’s annual “Small Expressions VI” juried art show. This year’s juror is David Sessions who is the Exhibition Director at the Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery on Bainbridge Island where this piece made its debut in a show titled BOXES back in August. David has had a varied career as store designer, event planner, and landscape designer.
The selected works in this annual show have always been diverse and interesting. The small size often challenges the artists to think out of the box, inside and out in the case of JACK IN THE BOX.
The artist reception is Saturday, December 1, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm. I invite you to come in to see the entire exhibit and, of course, my other two small expressions. I hope to see you there.
(click on photos for larger images)

POSTCARDS FROM THE SKY

Yes, you can guess, POSTCARDS FROM THE SKY is another piece from the afore/below mentioned show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. I was so inspired by the theme of this exhibit that I created nine pieces. POSTCARDS FROM THE SKY imparts the idea that these gifts in the form of eggs and ultimately winged creatures, are messages, postcards, from the sky. The message can be whatever speaks to you or touches your heart, whether it be the magnificence of the feathers, the air of their song or something more ethereal. Nature offers us many wonders and the feathered friend is one. (click on photo for larger image)

POSTCARDS FROM THE SKY is an interactive piece. The wire that carries the bird can be moved left or right to simulate it's flight. Within the boxed vignette is a real nest sent to me by a friend in Alabama. Within the nest are eggs I created from polymer clay. Also used are street sweeper bristles, rusted bottle cap, flat and brass beads, vintage post card, postage stamp and cancellation images, copper, handcrafted paper, walnut and maple woods.

HAVE NEST WILL TRAVEL

HAVE NEST WILL TRAVEL is another of my works from the "Bird Abodes: Birdhouses and Nests" like the two previous posts. This piece tells the story of a traveling nursery of sorts, a nest that is available for hire. I liked the idea the that nest could have mobility and recyclability, to be reused, providing a service. One of the three eggs resting within the nest is real and the other two I created from polymer clay with added paint to match the real one. All of them ready and waiting to transform into another phase of life, perhaps when they are ready, their paths will cross the same traveling nest they were cradled in. (click on photo for larger image)

HAVE NEST WILL TRAVEL moves on wooden wheels. On these wheels sits an open front box adorned with tacks, scrabble tiles and an embellished finial. Housed inside is a real nest that rests nestled in grasses and reeds. A carved, wooden bird flies above topping the finial made of various beads and found objects. This sits on a maple wood base, fronted with another egg I created using polymer clay and paint.

PRECIOUS CARGO

PRECIOUS CARGO was also part of the "Bird Abodes:Birdhouses and Nests" show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. Bird eggs are poised between strong shelled and delicate or fragile. Every nest carries it's own precious cargo and is vulnerable to the elements and predators. Our wild bird populations are also teetering on a delicate balance so, to me, every egg that supports life is precious. In this piece, PRECIOUS CARGO, I wanted to create lightheartedness that played with the idea of something having great value that is treated with care. I thought putting it on wheels gave it an element of whimsy. (click on photo for larger image)

PRECIOUS CARGO moves carefully on pewter wheels connected to a base that carries the house of handcrafted paper, aluminum sheeting, wire, and tubing, feathers, gold leafed polymer egg, more wire, found objects, and steel street sweeper bristles.

NIGHT TRAVELER

I am fascinated by animals and their behavior, especially Crows and Ravens, two of our more intelligent species. They are so entertaining to observe, especially while they solve problems by coming up with ingenious solutions. NIGHT TRAVELER was one of numerous pieces that were part of a group show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts entitled "Bird Abodes:Birdhouses and Nests". I like to create quirky, playful or odd situations within each piece that are out of the ordinary. Obviously, this Raven's house was built for mobility and, as you can see, he moves in style, at night, among the moon and stars. Where is he going? Only he knows of his destination, but then again, maybe he is on an unplanned adventure. (click on photo for larger image)

NIGHT TRAVELER travels within a maplewood frame measuring 12 X 15. Using a painted background, corrugated paper, fabric, my illustration of a Raven, spring, hair, beads, tacks, nails, and gears... the journey unfolds.