fall-winter journal 2012

artsy thoughts, art projects, artful living, art news and updates
 

 


light

December 21 marks the darkest day (least daylight hours) of the year. Now the days will gradually become more light as we head toward spring.

Yes, I still have spring on the brain. To me, Spring is a tangible metaphor for hope. When it arrives each year, life bursts forth in bloom and hope is fulfilled.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

A happy end of Fall... to you.
Winter is officially on,
and Spring is coming.

 

 

living artfully

 
Lately, I'm intentionally taking note of my artful living - ways I see and think and act which may be a bit unusual, and wonderful. I'm celebrating the extraordinary discovered within the common. I made a collage of recent random acts of artfulness that are simply a part of how I live. Read and see more...

 

 

  

 

experimental glass

I continue to collaborate with Seattle glassblower Jim Flanagan to create gently abstracted imagery within colored glass. Click here or on the photo at right to see more (and scroll down, as the newest work is near the bottom).

seeking sites

I'm currently seeking suitable sites to employ my new art glass. It is striking viewed from a distance and is visually engaging up-close. I envision it in mid-sized architectural spaces - from residences to restaurants, or in offices, hospitals, or churches. Its glowing colors are at once invigorating and soothing.

I'm enjoying it temporarily resting in my home-studio windows.

 

 

commission a silk scarf

Want a scarf in specific colors or with a particular favorite image, flower, or motif? Commission a wearable silk painting for yourself or a friend.

It's not too early to plan for upcoming Valentine's Day, birthdays, or for a "just because" one-of-a-kind gift.

 

 

 

large scale artwork

My family tells me that my first large artwork was a mural in crayon - on the living room wall, above and behind the sofa. I don't remember it, but apparently I stood on the back of the sofa and colored as high as I could reach. It sounds like fun. it's no wonder I still enjoy scribbling with crayons.

 

In fact, I recently started a "crayons only" scribble sketchbook. See more...

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

silk dye-painting classes?

Maybe...if my projects and commissions all line up right, I'll block out some time in spring for a silk dying workshop. I'd love to do one before Valentine's Day but I think I'm dreaming as I'll be in the middle of my WSAC project. So maybe after that project is complete. Please contact me if you're interested. See Classes link in top bar for more information.

 

 



 

current art commissions

washington

We're now entering the fabrication-stage contract. We have completed the "proposal" stage of the public art commissioning process with WSAC Art in Public Places Program and the Bethel School District - for Liberty Junior High School in Spanaway, Washington. If things move smoothly, I should begin creating the large silk artwork mid-to-late January.

As the architecture and art theme is a "canyon," I kayaked Gorge Lake to Gorge Creek to experience, photograph and sketch inspirations of "canyon." My very short (24 hour) North Cascades solo expedition was wonderful.

And I returned this summer to Gorge Lake and beyond to Diablo and Ross Lakes also. BEAUTIFUL!

My proposal has been accepted by the committee and I now await the fabrication contract. Then concepts will become material art - over three hundred square feet of dye-painted silk suspended from the canted wall, and a light effect like sunlight up-bounced off of a rippled water surface.

A key component of the artwork in this space (Liberty Junior High School) is the metaphor of passage and change - like a river moving through a canyon, the students are passing through these formative years. They shape the place and the place also guides them. And so the students are as waters flowing through.

Here is a 3 second video clip showing that very movement. Special thanks to Cre8tv for this shot and editing wizardy.

The project is sponsored by The WSAC Art in Public Places Program in partnership with the Bethel School District.

 

alaska

I was selected among many semi-finalists competing to create artwork for Kodiak High School. KHS is a rich and diverse school on the "Emerald Island" of Kodiak. Having lived in Alaska for years and visiting often, I have yet to visit Kodiak. I hope to soon.

Update: I was not selected as a final commissioned artist for this project. I'm grateful to have been in the first two rounds of review. This is an exciting site with great potential.

more alaska possibilities

I have applied for two other public art commissions in Alaska; one in sublimation-dyed fabric, and the other using my new glass and silk laminated between glass. Both are exciting spaces with wonderful public art potential. My concepts for the spaces are strong, so I'm optimistic - while realizing the competition will be high for such nice sites. We'll see...

and more

I'm intentionally selective as I apply for various calls for art. Another local call for art has my eye. I visited the site and am doing some planning. We'll see...  

 

featured links

 


Tree of Life

Commissioned for a thriving church in the town of Dunwoody, near Atlanta, Georgia.

 

 

 

 

Discovery

This mural in dye-painted silk was commissioned for Katchemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College of the University of Alaska. Discovery was installed in Homer, Alaska, in June of 2012. Read more...

 

 

Generations: Incubation

Kenai Peninsula College etched mouth-blown glass public art installation

Click here to read about Generations.

Here is a link to KPC installation photos

 

 

 

stone impressions - watch the art-making process on video

People often ask me how I create a stone lithograph. It's hard to explain in words so I have a short video that shows the process.

Click here for photos and video on stone impressions.

 

 

 

 

2011 nest images on cotton paper

Click here to see photos of ten new images completed in January 2011

 

 

 

song project - upward call

Read about our spring 2011 kids' pop song project at upward call. Or click on the photo at right to listen to the song or buy it...

 

 

 

silk rivers

Check out my recent river silks inspired by and modeled after the beautiful Fremont antique glass we used for the Kenai Peninsula College installation.

 

 


i bloom

My Grandma's name, Florence, means "I bloom." And 2012's flowers were an explosion of color. See photos in her memory...

 

 

past journals