New tool for the studio...

Although the big round, green bump looks scary in this picture, it comes in quite handy in the studio. I've found that my belly conveniently turns the banding wheel while working. All you have to do to create this tool is...well, you know. Yet another perk to being pregnant (sorry guys, you can't have this tool). What am I going to do once it's gone?

This past weekend

Brian was away this weekend at an Appalacian Service project (putting 6,000 sf of metal roofing on their volunteer housing in Chavies, KY), so I had the house to myself. Friday evening was perfect outside- one of those "Carolina blue" days, so I sat out on the deck and ate dinner. I felt like a little kid because I would take a bite of food, lean back in my chair and stare up at our beautiful pin oak while chewing. This picture hardly does justice to this tree. It's massive and creates a canopy over much of our front yard. I was able to get a good bit of work in the studio- preparing for the Barn Sale this coming Saturday. Here's a few items ready for stamping and handles.
A few dessert plates drying...
Hopefully I'll finish up most of this work today and tomorrow. I won't have much time after that in the studio due to teaching all day Wednesday and Thursday, a demo at Cabarras County Arts Council Thursday night and friends coming in town Friday for the RADIOHEAD!! concert. Not that I'm excited about that or anything. This baby needs to hear some good music before he/she meets the world.

More at Garinger High School

Yesterday and today marked the start of one of the clay projects with the Garinger students. We're currently working on personal tiles that each student will complete for themselves. We're using several techniques: an acrylic gel medium resist, stamping, and constructing additive sculptural elements. The students seem to really be into working with the clay- can't blame them!- and two of the young ladies even already completed 2 tiles! Here's a student wiping with water over the gel resist. It leaves a subtle relief on the surface.
Next week we'll start working on the actual mosaic prototype while the students are finishing up their own projects. I'm a little nervous about coming up with a united idea among all the design ideas, but I'm sure we can pull it off.

I have a crazy Friday evening ahead of me: time in the studio! I'm gonna throw pots for the first time in a while (two weeks or so), so it'll be interesting to see how much my belly gets in the way. We'll see.....

Something a little different

Recently, I haven't been spending as much time in the studio as usual because I've been working on a special project. The Arts and Science Council here in Charlotte commissioned me for a public art project (see Central Ave.) that will take place in 2 phases: phase one is a 6 week artist residency at Garinger High School going on right now and phase two is creating and completing the actual artwork.

More on the actual project: The ASC and another organization, the Knight Creative Community Initiative , have deemed the stretch of Central Ave. from Eastway to the Briar Creek Bridge as the "Eastside International Corridor." There are many different cultures that live, work, own businesses, etc. in this area, but it doesn't have a cohesive "identity or brand" that would represent the area as a whole. I've been hired to work with the students at the local high school in the area (which happens to almost be in my back yard, so it's really exciting to be working on a project in my immediate community) to help with coming up with design ideas for the identity of the area. The actual art making, for me, will happen this late summer/fall when I start working on completing tile mosaics for all the public trash receptacles along this corridor- 12 in all. There are also plans for a large mural and maybe some cut metal banners for the light posts in the works. Overall, this project will add much beauty to the area.

So, in the classroom, we've been working on several projects- a drawn design idea, a paper mosaic to emulate what the mosaic design may look like on the trash cans, and we're starting a clay project today. As a group we'll decide on a design and complete an actual ceramic mosaic prototype that will be installed at the school. Here's a picture of my paper mosaic example I used in class:
This is one of the student projects. I'll post more when they complete them.
While the ultimate design is up to me, I'm excited to have some input from all these students. They've been great to work with and have come up with some nice ideas, as it's a challenge to come up with one image that represents such diverse cultures. I'll be excited to be surrounded by images of their work in my studio to be inspired by.

This and that

In the studio today I've been working on finishing up a teapot for another teapot show- the 2nd Annual Invitational at Craftsman House Gallery in St. Petersburg, FL. This guy will go in the bisque kiln tomorrow if it's dry enough. I've been told before that this form reminds people of a 50's toaster oven.(?) My Pop asked me to post images of the finished owl vases, so here are a couple. My favorite was the triple in the 2nd picture. It was the last one I completed- I like the raised base, so I think when I make more they'll be like that.

This year our roses have completely exploded. I cut a few and put them in my favorite vase by one of my favorite potters- Katheryn Finnerty, who makes amazing earthenware pots. I got this last year at the Minnesota Potters Annual Tour and sale that happens over the weekend of Mother's Day. My friend Julie and I have traveled up there the past 2 years to help wrapping and packing pots at host Bob Briscoe's house. It's a great sale and a very good time- worth a road trip for sure! But, because of my preggy status, I don't get to go this year. Ron's filling in, the lucky bum!!!

Current exhibitions

I have a few pieces at a couple of exhibitions currently: a teapot show in St Louis at the Craft Alliance called Infusion 10 x 10. There's a great online catalog with many sweet teapots. I couldn't figure out how to put the images on my post, so check out the website slide show if you can.

There's also a show in Rock Hill, SC that I'm participating in with a group of artists that were also affiliates at the McColl Center for Visual Art. We've shown together in several other settings, and this came together to be a good show.

Inspiration

I recently was awarded a very exciting commission through the Arts and Science Council here in Charlotte as an artist in residence at my neighborhood high school. I'll specifically share more about the actual project in the near future. Today I start my residency with a large presentation that includes talking about my work, which got me deliberately thinking about what inspires me. While I've definitely thought about this before (almost everyday), especially when writing an artist statement, I've never really compiled images. I also realized that there are a LOT of things that are inspirational to me. Here are a few:

Patterns in fabrics:Quilts (not my cat, neccessarily):Construction:Oribe pots:Repetition and pattern in nature:

Gathering of friends and family:

And, of course, obnoxiously decorated funfetti cake:

On a personal note....goodbye old friend

No, we didn't lose one of our pets, and a close friend is not moving away. Brian and I made our first ever "real" furniture purchase today: ie- something from an actual furniture store, not used, borrowed or from a flea/antique market. Our old guest room was recently turned into the baby's room, so we needed something to continue our B & B, revolving door of friends and family and guests tradition. So we're now proud, adult-like owners of a new hide-a-bed! So, goodbye so ugly it's lovely couch with the rounded front and way too squishy cushions, sniff sniff: Hello new couch that will soon feel like home.

Upcoming sale and belly update

This Saturday is our spring Circle of Eight Sale at our house. Hopefully the weather will cooperate- it's only supposed to rain overnight Friday night and a little in the morning. We've been blessed with beautiful weather every other sale, so hopefully that will continue. This time we have two great guest artists from the Seagrove area- Blaine and Laura Avery. They'll make a good addition to all the work that the Circle will have for sale. More detailed directions and info below:

Here's a little (actually big) belly update- complete with an almost a double-chin: very flattering. Brian thought it'd be funny to get a dramatic angle. Ha ha. Ha. I swear I'm laughing. Yikes, I just looked back at a prior belly posting and realized just how much bigger I am....

Back to work II

Today was a good day in the studio- I finally had a good, long work day to catch up on making things for the Circle of Eight sale at my house this weekend. I had the flu all last week, which pretty much kept me on the couch (not fun, except for all the basketball I was able to watch!) and out of the studio.

I had to make a decision whether to make some of my regular stoneware (of which I am very low on stock) work for the sale, or to spend time with the earthenware. Well, the new earthenware work won over. I've had some ideas I really wanted to work on, such as continuing with those crazy owls. Here's a bunch of halves waiting to be put together:

These guys were turned into bud vases. I did them in groupings of 2 and 3- I think they turned out pretty good; they're a little cooky.