15 Second Sculpture at SFMOMA

The challenge by artist Erwin Wurm was public participation to create a one-minute sculpture with props set out in a corner of SFMoma. I took the challenge in a 15 second version. Sticking my head in the wood refridgerator was much easier than the other two balancing acts (5 fruits with head, chest, and legs against a wall, or three brooms in a crucifixion pattern).

Can I add "Sculpture in SFMoma" to my resume? Ha!

Something a Little Larger

This piece took shape over the past couple of weeks. I started with a definite form in mind, but as it went up in my pinch/coil methods, it took on a life of its own and came out like this. This is about 4ft tall before the drying/firing shrinkage. Think it may be destined for woodfire but am already making a sister piece that will probably be fired with layers of underglazes high fired so they scinter a bit.

Warm Studios

With the weather cooling off even more, I thank the builder of our home for putting in steam radiator heat 50+ years ago. My studio is in the basement and even though the thermostat turns down the heat, the pipes keep it a pretty nice temp most of the day.

I've been listening to "DUNE" on tape this week... Sandworm pots?!?

Here's another porcelain vase with a jaunty jig figure. A little taller so maybe it will get even more ash as it flows over the stream of pottery.

Back in the Saddle

After the Fall Festival hubbub, wrap-up work and post event vacation, I'm finally back in my basement studio slinging clay. I'm working on a sculpture for the Corvallis Arts Center's Chocolate Fantasy Auction, and making pots for salt and wood firing. Feels good.

This Mt Hood Porcelain vase turned out pretty nice: chubby fullness, off kilter pose. The flames should lick around it nicely. Still just greenware 10" tall-NFS.

Speaking of vacations...In October we spent some time eating and drinking our way through the South of France, and with a little over 24-hours in Paris, also visited the wonderful Nikki de Staint Phalle fountain again. What a delight. The engineering to keep it going is mind boggling. Stravinsky Fountain:

Fall Festival Week

The gallery view of "Dream Tree". Yes, resting on my laurels another week because this is the week all heck breaks lose with orchestrating the Corvallis Fall Festival -- my day job in arts administration. The 36th annual this year and it's hard to turn off my brain with all the details to deal with.

Most of the time artists are my best friends, comrades and mentors. This week they are a royal pain in the patooey as they cancel our show, call with myriads of questions that should've been asked weeks before or whine... It's all part of life, though, as we are all getting older with aging bodies and parents who are failing and brains that don't always remember as well as they should. So really, I'm not complaining because sooner or later the shoe will be on the other foot and I'll be that whining, forgetful artist.

Here's hoping to get back in the studio soon.

August Musings

It's been a few weeks... My arts admin job has beat out my studio time by a mile. Did manage to squeeze in time to work on this collaboration with Jerri Bartholomew that we'll be showing at Art in the Pearl over the Labor Day weekend. "Dream Tree" is our first experiment together. It may take a few of these to get the hang of it.

Week Nine

Sometimes we're asked to be philanthropic and sometimes it's fun--sometimes. "Tro-PIG-al Postcard" is my submission for the Old Mill Center's "Skinny Pig Out" fundraising auction. Skinny was a dear friend from the school and so I couldn't say no... Been awhile since I picked up paint brushes and this had some definitely "less than pretty" moments.