Tempus Fugit

Time is flying people. I feel like I just got here and now I am starting to think about cleaning up my work area and packing up my personal things. I am outta here on Monday.

Today I finished up my last sculptures. That's it. I am done.

Here's what's occurred since my last post. First of all the stomach thing passed. Had to deal with a sore throat and stuffy nose for a few days after. But I made it to a wedding in Santa Rosa last Saturday. And I poured bronze here Sunday night.

That was a blast. Now, I've poured bronze before but always as Deadman, not the actual Pourer. I tell ya, it's a lot more exciting when you have such a personal investment in the pour. Of the seven molds poured, six were mine. The other was this gal Diane's, a Tuesday night open studio regular. We pretty much did everything besides turn on the furnace for the crucible, Diane and me. When time came she was Deadman, I poured. It was a great feeling, pouring my own bronze.

Not to get all Spice Girl/Girl Power on you (I really hate that crap) but the Ladies Rocked the Sculpture House. Oh yeah! We did Good.

I spent Monday and Tuesday cutting and grinding and chasing. Today I welded the parts together and applied patina. I've got some pictures of one of the sculptures in process. So you can see some of the steps to completion. But not all of the images are on my laptop. Some are at home so you'll have to wait until next week to see them. Unfortunately I don't have any shots from Sunday night's pour. I'm sure if I did, though, they'd look great.

So, in the last two months I have completed: one medium-size welded steel sculpture, one large-scale welded steel sculpture, four small bronze sculptures, and one other welded steel piece, in-progress. And I only had to pay for new steel for the big sculpture, some miscellaneous hardware and tool accessories, and two months' apartment rent (less than my studio rent, which I sub-letted). A pretty good deal for what I am taking home.

The only bummer was no one was around this afternoon when I officially finished. No one to yell Boo-Ya with or some other exclamation that translates to: I Kick Ass. Instead, here I am, up in my room, drinking a nice glass of wine and writing this in my Blog. Alright, since you're all I've got.....

BOO-YA!!!

Heh heh. Okay, got that out of my system. This weekend is going to be great; it'll be a time to Celebrate, Relax, Revel in my accomplishments. Eric and Jasmine are coming up - tomorrow night, hopefully - and we are going to enjoy the holiday weekend. The forecast calls for no rain, maybe sun. I see lots of exploring, playing, eating and drinking as well.

So, what have I thought of my experience as a Resident Artist at the Mendocino Art Center? What have I learned? Well, right off I'd say that my confidence level as an artist has risen. By coming into a situation where I did not have a lot of on-site, daily support, I was forced to rely on my own skills and experience to get the job done. And friends, I do have both, I know that now. Not that I could have done it all without Tommy Brown, sculpture department co-coordinator. He's got a full time job as a tile setter in addition to giving his time to the Art Center (for peanuts). If it weren't for him, I would not have four new bronze sculptures. He was Great.

I also learned, or at least reinforced my understanding, that I am not an isolate-myself-in-the-studio-please-leave-me-alone-while-I-do-my-own-thing kind of artist. I am definitely a likes-to-be-around-other-artists-hey-what-are-you-working-on-wanna-beer kind of artist. I know that I need to look for artistic situations that give me that kind of experience. I met some great folks at the Tuesday night sculpture open studio. Someone even gave me a going away gift. And remember when I was worried I wouldn't make any friends?

I also realized how inspired I am by nature, especially the ocean. Of all the things that make me contemplate the Universe and What Does It All Mean it's the wonder, the beauty, the power, the emotion that comes from Water that is first in my mind. I just love it, so drawn to it, I don't even know why. This place, the North Coast, Mendocino, it's just magical. I'm still a City Girl at heart so I'm not ready to give up the fast life just yet, but I could live here. I definitely could.

Well, everyone. This is probably the last post I'll make before I'm back at home next week. Thanks for tuning in to read about my Mendocino Adventures. Further Adventures to come.

New Music Recommendation of the Day: The Raconteurs' "Broken Boy Soldiers"

Loving It!

Progression Stucture #8 - Image

Progression Structure #8

Welded Steel

Height = 5'4"

Notes From the Bedridden

Let me just begin this post by saying: Never Take Your Digestive System for Granted. When it's working right, that is. Oh man, I got the worst case of Stomach Flu sometime around 1am Monday and have not been well since. When I went to bed Sunday night all was right in the world, then suddenly I was awakened by the worst stomach pain. I have definitely seen better days.

Monday was ruined. Spent all day in bed. Yesterday I got a lot of work done but by shear force of will only. I wanted to make sure I got my waxes sprued and investment molds made to be ready for pouring bronze this weekend. Took a twelve hour work-day and big-time help from Tommy, one of the Sculpture Department Coordinators here but the molds are now ready to be loaded into the kiln. Then I will have all of next week for chasing and finishing before I pack up and head out of this town.

Honestly, I am not usually sick this much. Strep throat, stomach flu - all in less than a two month period. Not the norm. I am hoping that's it for a long time. I am not very good at being ill. I become a big, whiny baby. And I don't really slow down, unless I am incapacitated, so I don't give myself a chance to heal well.

Ok, enough complaining. I am just looking forward to being able to eat a full meal again. Oh man, is that gonna taste good.

Music Tip of the Day: emusic.com

Check it out. Just for trying their service out for two weeks you get 50 free downloads. It's more independent bands than mainstream but to a music junkie such as myself, not a bad deal. But don't delay. I hear the deal ends at the end of this month.

What's Going On

Hola Amigos! I know it's been a long time since I rapped at ya. Okay, I cribbed that from Jim Anchower's column in the Onion. But it has been a while. Positive things have been happening here, chief of which is that the sun has been out in it's full glory for more than a week. It's been most excellent.

Anyway, think I'll give you all an update on some of my happenings. First up: Progression Structure #8 is complete. Unfortunately the battery in my digital camera died so I can't post any images until I go home this weekend. I left my spare battery and charger there. I am really happy with the end result. The method I came up with to bolt the two pieces together works and the sculpture is able to stand on it's own.

And when it's broken down it fits in the back of my truck. So, aside from the artistic aspect of it, all of the important things are taken care of - structure, transport, and installation. The only regret I have is that some of the bolts holding the top and bottom together are visible. If I had thought it through better I could have welded one of the brackets in a less noticeable spot. But now I know and can learn for the next one. I'd really love to make more of these if I can.

I just felt really satisfied and proud yesterday morning as I sat in the sculpture yard looking at it. I began designing this piece a year and a half ago and now here it is, sitting before me. I Made It Happen! The last month has really been about the construction of this piece and a lot less about the creative side of it but I really love Process so it's been a lot of fun to make.

Now that this piece is finished I am focusing my energy on the bronze castings. Last week I gated and sprued one of the five sculptures and poured the bronze last night. Because of the complexity of the piece I cut it in half and poured each one separately in its own investment mold. Unfortunately, one of the molds blew out in the pour. So I only got one half. But the important thing is that I know that the waxes will cast successfully. I can now get all the rest gated and sprued up and cast ASAP. I am not upset that I only have half a sculpture because I can work with that. I do not consider it a loss. In fact, maybe I'll find I like them better in halves and end up with nine sculptures instead of four and a half. Who knows.

But I do know I have a lot of chasing and finishing work ahead of me. No slacking during the next two weeks. And that's gonna be hard if this nice weather keeps up. Who wants to go to the Beach? Man, it's been so nice soaking up the rays. I've got color on my face!! Woo Hoo!!

I have continued to explore Glass Beach, definitely my fave beach to visit. I've been collecting more little metal pieces/sculptures. They are becoming an inspiration. I have been making some clay models of forms based on them. I'd love to carve these forms in marble. I'm looking forward to doing that in July in Colorado. It would be a whole new body of work for me. Though I do not consider it to be very far from my current artistic concepts. While these forms are not derived from my number systems and interest in Chaos Theory, I do believe that they come from the Underlying System and the Universe. Again, I am not the Creator as much as a Facilitator bringing these forms into our Visual Space. They already exist, I just allow them to take form.

Wow, the ideas just keep on coming. But then that's never been a problem for me in my art practice. I am usually plagued more with issues relating to construction, adequate work space, lack of tools and equipment, time, and money. To tell the truth I am actually looking forward to taking some time off next month from artmaking. Even though I will be working on the mundane tasks of documentation and applying for various art opportunities. Being narrowly focused on artmaking and little else, like I am doing here and when I go to Marble, CO, can be physically and even mentally exhausting. But it's awesome and exhilarating so I am definitely not complaining.

Well, I suppose that concludes the updating for now. Gonna hit the sack soon. I want to be up and at them early tomorrow. Art Awaits.

Beach Observation of the Day: The color of the ocean up here is such an awesome series of shades of blue.

Really, I can't get over it. It's just super gorgeous, it's like that even on a cloudy day. I don't know why it's so much bluer here than at home. And the contrast with the rocky coastline - beautiful. Seriously, what is it that makes the ocean look a certain color? I've never really been a science-type, so I have no idea.

Progression Structure #8 - Almost Complete

I finished welding the bottom half of the sculpture this afternoon. It went very well. I was able to turn it right side up and that inspired me to try again to turn the piece from yesterday.

Go Muscles! I got it. Who needs other artists around? Okay, I totally do. To all of you out there who have worked on art with me before: thanks. It's great to have other artists around. Not just to add an extra pair of hands and some muscle. But for the moral and artistic support.

However, Yeah Me! I managed anyway. Here's some shots. The top picture is the top of the sculpture, the middle picture is the bottom of the sculpture, and the bottom photo is both with me to give some size perspective. Those first two pictures make the pieces look way bigger then they are. They are only 32 inches tall.

Can't wait to stacked 'em up. Heading down tomorrow to pick up my engine hoist.

I'm Getting Old Awareness Moment of the Day: I just can't take the sound of the teenage boys jumping around on their skateboards at the High School across the street from the Art Center. All that scraping and rail-grating. Ohhh, it gets on my nerves.

I've Got The Skills

To pay the bills? Hmm, not sure about that one as I have yet to sell any of my art. But I am slowly coming to see that I Can Do Stuff.

For instance, welding. It's been almost three years since I last welded, at Franconia. And even though I took that brush-up class at the Crucible, I've never thought I was terribly talented with the welder. I can stick two pieces of metal together, sure. But I've always known that I have a long way before I'd consider myself a Really Good Welder.

Yet, I have improved since I first learned at CCAC. I know that my welds look fairly nice and for the most part they are strong. I have been getting some compliments regarding my welding skills here at the Art Center. Someone will say, "you're a pretty good welder" and I'll say "thanks." But in my head I am more likely to think, "eh, yeah, I'm okay, I guess."

Then a strange thing happened yesterday. I was working down in the sculpture studio when a woman came in to "look around." Turns out she was thinking about taking a sculpture workshop this summer. She hung out for a bit and then one of the sculpture coordinators came by and he started to talk to her about the class she was interested in taking. She said she wanted to try welding and next thing you know he's telling her about Tuesday night open studio and then I'm offering to show her how to use the MIG.

Then suddenly, "D'oh!" What was I thinking? I've never taught anyone how to weld. In fact, I've never taught anyone anything. Which is why I work at a gallery as a way to support my art, instead of going to grad school and becoming an instructor. Not really my thing. You know, she probably won't even show up and then I'll be off the hook.

Come that night, there she is. So, okay, I get out the MIG and show her how to use it. I start by giving her the usual spiel, rattling off all the things others have taught me. Then, it's occurring to me that, hey, I actually know quite a lot about this welder. I give her a quick demo and then let her loose. Her welds were awful, just terrible. But they are no worse than anyone else's first time, myself included. She messed around with the welder for about an hour while I did other work. Then she left.

And I'll tell ya. I felt kind of proud of myself. You know what? I'm a Pretty Good Welder.

* * * * * * * * * *

On another, related, note: I finished welding the top half of my big sculpture today. Tomorrow I will complete the bottom half. I decided to make two separate pieces that are bolted together to make it easier to move and install.

Here's what the top half looks like. It's at an angle, on it's side because I welded it upside down but then was unable to put it right side up because there was no one around to help. It's 32 inches tall.

It's so satisfying to see this come to life. I can't wait to put it all together and see the final result. It's very strong and solid and I really hope it stands on it's own. The model did.

After this I plan to bronze cast five wax sculptures that I made earlier this year. I've already started gating and spruing. It's complicated to say the least. (What a surprise!) I am wondering whether they will successfully cast. But it will be fun, not to mention cheap, to try while I am here.

And that should pretty much get me to the end of the month. I may work here and there welding some scrap pieces. But two steel sculptures and five bronze castings should be a sufficient showing of work. I'd love to do another large metal sculpture but I'm concerned about the cost and, more importantly, what I will do with it. I already have one large sculpture to contend with.

Question of the Day: What are you Pretty Good at?