Complex Universe - the SpungusBlog

Happy New Year

2009-01-03T17:04:00.001-08:00

Well it's the new year and the bottle caps are starting to come in again. The holidays were great but it's time for me to get back to work. Lots to do and it's all very fun, scary and exciting. First on the agenda is apply for a grant. I'm seeing if I can get funding for this little art project of mine.

As for the bottle caps, yesterday and today I received another 1,600 or so along with word that another 2,500+ are "in the mail." Yowza! Back to sorting. Oh well, it's fun and fortunately I still seem to have people willing to help me with that. Weirdos!

Website Recommendation of the Day: Beer Caps Game

One of the fine people who have sent me bottle caps emailed me a link to this website. It's a pretty fun game even if you aren't obsessed with bottle caps like I am. Is it strange that I am familiar with all of the bottle caps pictured? Nah.

Peace At Last, At Least Until The Next Package Comes In The Mail

2008-12-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I finished sorting all of the bottle caps that have been given to me so far. Woo-hoo! It was a pretty thankless task but fortunately I had lots of help so that made it A Lot easier.

I can't say exactly how many bottle caps I have since I Am Not counting them but I guesstimate that I've got at least 23,000. Crazy (whoops, forgot that I decided I am Not Crazy), I mean, impressive, is it not?

More are on the way, though. So, it's really just a little reprieve before I'm back into it again. But it does feel good to be caught up and organized.

Yeah, back to the whole I Am Not A Crazy Person thing. It has been determined that I am Ambitious. Okay? Not Crazy. Okay? Right.

So, here's an image of bottle cap that I like. I actually like a lot of the bottle caps I have but I just so happen to have a jpeg of this one. Enjoy!

Video Recommendation of the Week: Prop 8 - The Musical.

Have you seen this yet? I think it's pretty funny.

I Am Not A Crazy Person

2008-12-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I finished punching holes in all of the bottle caps that will make up the back wall of the Bottle Cap Bar. That is a total of 4,140 bottle caps. And I punched holes in a few hundred more then that because I decided mid-way to make some minor design changes which meant that I had punched holes in some bottle caps that will not be used in that wall and then needed to punch holes in some different bottle caps. No biggie. Those extra ones will be used eventually. Work I would have to do later anyway. It took me about three weeks of some pretty intensive hole punching sessions. But all in all it was not a bad experience.

I have all of the pieces ready for assembling the back wall now which I will do after the first of the year. Gonna take a little time off during the holidays. Plus I've got a bunch of bottle caps still to sort so there's some other tasks to complete.

In a previous post I said I was a crazy person but I want to retract that. I was defining myself as crazy in relation to my Bottle Cap Bar project and all of the work involved with making this thing happen. But I don't believe that anymore.

I think that I was saying I was crazy as a way to protect myself when I talked to people about my Bottle Cap Bar. My assumption was, and still is to some degree, that when people heard that I want to make a bar out of tens of thousands of used bottle caps for the primary purpose of displaying it at Burning Man their immediate response would be You Are Crazy. And I have, in fact, received that exact response from some people. So, I figured, well, if I prefaced it with "I know I am crazy...." then they couldn't call me crazy first. Ha! Gotcha.

But that does not matter to me anymore. The more that I have devoted myself to this endeavor the more I realize this is absolutely the Right Thing for me to be doing Right Now. This is what I have been working up to. This installation is gonna be Awesome. You can quote me on that.

I Love working on this project. It is absolutely satisfying. I cannot wait to see the end result. There is no doubt in my mind it is going to be a complete success.

The best part has been the involvement of so many other people. First and foremost is the help and encouragement that I have been getting from my family and friends. Their contributions have been great. But then there are all of the other people, mostly in the Burning Man community, who have been helping in their own way as well by sending me bottle caps. These are people who are really excited about the project. They are part of the process; active participants in making this happen. And they've never even met me.

How awesome is the knowledge that every single bottle cap that will make up the Bottle Cap Bar will have been touched by at least two people. The most important person being, of course, the first person that removed the bottle cap and then made the conscious decision to Not Throw It Away. I love that! This, to me, is more important then even the idea of making sculpture with recycled materials. This is collaboration at its best.

So, I no longer think that I am Crazy to be embarking on this journey; I believe that I am Brave for making the decision to devote myself to the creation of this piece. 'Cause I know that there is a lot of work ahead of me. Lots of hours and labor will go into this project but it will all be worth it in the end. Just you wait.

Holiday Gift Idea of the Day: Time

You know all of that time that some people spend shopping trying to find a gift to give someone? Maybe it stresses them out a little bit feeling like they have to spend some money buying and then wrapping up some Thing to give to some person all 'cause that's What You Do.

Well, here's a great gift idea and it doesn't require a trip to the mall or even scotch tape and ribbons. Give the gift of your time. Spend some of it with that person. Do something special, something you both love. Maybe it's just quality time talking or a nice dinner out, whatever. But all of that time spent shopping could be time spent with loved ones. Just a thought. Happy Holidays!

The Dead Sculpture Garden

2008-12-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

A couple of weekends ago I did something that I've been wanting to do for a while - I set up my Dead Sculpture Garden. This is a display area for all of my stone sculptures that are either abandoned works-in-progress or so old that I don't really consider them part of my "portfolio". Also one was made by Eric many years ago.

We have this spot along the back side of the house that I have attempted to grow shade-loving shrubs in but the problem has always been that Jasmine likes to burrow herself in that area which uproots the plants and is very unsightly. I mean, jeez Jasmine, how many burrows do you need? She's got three others in various spots in the back yard! So, we took out all of the plants there and removed some of the soil and then covered the area in rocks that are scattered around the "dead sculptures.

I really like it. Normally these are sculptures that I would not choose to display. But as a whole, it looks quite good, I think. See for yourself. Try to guess which sculpture is Eric's.

On another note, I found out recently that Spiral 2 made it into Sioux Falls SculptureWalk 2009. I won't be going out this time, however. Too expensive. I'll be shipping the sculpture instead. That will be an adventure; I've never shipped a marble sculpture before. Stay tuned for how I manage to do that next April.

Bottle Cap Quantity Update of the Day: Received as of 12/14/08 - approximately 15,500.

Zen And The Art Of Bottle Caps

2008-12-07T16:02:00.000-08:00

I just recently finished reading a book called "The Mindful Brain" by Daniel Siegel. It was really interesting, although sometimes the science stuff went over my head and I skimmed some of the last chapters that seemed to be directed toward teachers and health care professionals. But all in all I found it very informative. Using scientific research and personal experience, the author writes about how activities that focus on mindfulness, such as mediation or yoga, can actually change the make-up of our brains and help create a sense of general well-being and happiness. His definition of mindful is "being aware, of being conscientious, with kindness and care." I can get behind that.

Anyway, in my own life I have lately become interested in the practice of meditation and find it to be, while challenging at times, a wholly pleasant experience. And, in general, I am trying to be aware of being mindful, as defined by this book.

This past week I discovered in interesting activity that seemed to really tap into mindful awareness. As you know, I have been working on this Bottle Cap Bar project of mind. The technique that I am using to make the walls is basically to punch four holes into each bottle cap that are then connected to each other with a grid of wire. Check out these photos of a sample piece I made back in October.

Since the walls are going to be 10' wide by 7' high you can imagine that I'm gonna be punching holes in a whole lot of bottle caps. I have already designed the back wall and just this last week started the construction of it by, you guessed it, punching holes in the bottle caps.

Here's where the mindfulness comes in. In order to punch the holes in the correct place so that they are all at approximately 90 degree angles from each other I count the ridges on the sides of the bottle caps. I developed a method of doing this so it's consistent. I'm kind of detail-oriented that way. Anyway.... the thing about the counting is that I can't think about anything else or I lose track of what I am doing. Thus, the mindfulness.

I can take in information, like I listen to music or books on CD or podcasts, but I cannot respond to the information. I can't talk or think any thoughts other then the counting. I do this for a couple of hours straight and I really think it is doing my mind some good, much in the same way as meditating.

I thought that it would be a really boring chore, doing this repetitive activity thousands and thousands of time, but it's actually pretty fun. Books on CD helps A Lot. I am finishing up the Series of Unfortunate Events which I started a few years back driving out to Colorado. I begin Book 13, the final book, this week. It's been a great way to "read" some things I have been interested in.

This was the best discovery I've made in a long while. Who knew my crazy art ideas would actually be good for my soul?

Check Out This Photo of the Day: Here's Progression Structure #8 as part of the Uptown Columbus Sculpture Walk in Georgia.

My friend Julie (pictured) checked it out for me last week on a road trip with her sister from New York to Colorado. Since I am not planning on going out to Georgia to see it myself, it's nice to see that the sculpture made it there safely and was installed with no problems. Cool!

I Am A Crazy Person

2008-11-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

Oh god. What have I done? This bottle cap thing is out of control. But I am loving it. It is insane, my Bottle Cap Bar project, and yet I so have to do it.

So, I have all of these thousands of bottle caps that have come to me in the past few weeks and right now I am in the process of sorting them. It's horrible. But I know that it will make for a much better project if I am able to make designs on the walls of the bar instead of just having them randomly placed. Besides it just wouldn't be me if I didn't attack this project in a time-consuming, anal-retentive kind of way.

But I am not stupid. I have been asking for help. Yesterday, four suckers, er I mean friends, came over to my house to help me sort. I bribed them with pizza and beer. We worked for about four hours and it was pretty exhausting. But we made a good dent. Here are some photos from the afternoon.

All the bottle caps waiting to be sorted.

Hard at work.

What was left at the end of the day.

Fortunately, my friends didn't seem to think that this was a crazy way to spend a Sunday afternoon. They really helped me get a lot of work done. I still have a ways to go but I cannot imagine how long it would have taken me if they had not been there to pitch in.

Anyway, I really need to get back to work. Sorting, sorting, sorting. It's a short work week for me because of the Thanksgiving holiday and all. And I had a bit of a vacation last week. I flew out to New Jersey with Eric, he was going for work. I stayed with a friend in Brooklyn and she and I played in NYC. It was great! But now I must put my nose to the grindstone.

New York City Museum Exhibition Recommendations of the Day:

1. Pipilotti Rist: Pour Your Body Out - MoMA - through February 2, 2009

2. Alexander Calder: The Paris Years 1926-1933 - Whitney Museum of American Art - through February 15, 2009

Both exhibitions were incredible. Completely inspiring. Reminds me of why I do what I do.

Bottle Cap Update

2008-11-13T17:51:00.000-08:00

The bottle caps are starting to roll in. I picked up my first batch last Friday from someone in Sebastopol. I estimate he gave me around 400 caps that he had personally collected. I didn't count them before I integrated them into the rest of my collection so I am not sure.

I realized that if I want to keep track of my progress I need to have some way to estimate quantity so that I don't have to actually count every single one. It's time consuming enough to sort them. So, I now know that 1 pound is about 190 bottle caps.

Yesterday I got two packages in the mail. One was from Novi, MI. The gal who sent me these bottle caps is part of the Wine and Cheese Project. Here's what she wrote about it:

The Wine and Cheese project originated at a catering company. As is frequent with any businesses, they do not recycle. A few employees decided to take action. Usually recyclables include beer bottles, bottle caps, wine corks, and wine, champage/liquor bottles. At this time, The Wine & Cheese Project has gifted over 9,800 bottles this year, 8,000 wine corks, 300 plastic tubs and 0 beer bottle caps. Lamps, tumbled glass cabinet handles, mosaic glass vase, a wine bottle wall, are some of the artistic re-uses W&C has faciltated.

Cool, huh? I got close to 2000 bottles caps from her.

The other package was from a guy in L.A. who had been saving bottle caps for his own project but decided to give them to me instead. He sent me around 760.

Also, last night I picked up caps from a someone who lives in the Outer Sunset district of San Francisco. He and his girlfriend made a bottle cap dress in 2007 but hadn't stopped collecting them after the project was complete. I got a little over 1100 caps from them. They were grateful I was taking them off their hands.

Today I made two pick-ups in Berkeley. The first was a women who has been, as she put it, "saving bottle caps for a long, long time." I got over 4000 from her. Whoa!

The other guy gave me around 1700. He had accumulated his collection over a six year period.

And this is all just the tip of the iceburg. As of today I estimate that I have 17,400 of the 20,874 that I need. That last 3500 should be a piece of cake at this rate. Now I really have got to get to work!

I don't think I am going to need to worry about having enough bottle caps for future art projects, either. Be careful what you wish for, I guess. It's funny - after I finished the Bottle Cap Tree I swore I would not make art with bottle caps ever again. Never say Never.

Cool Bottle Cap Art (That's Not My Own) of the Day: These came in a couple of the packages of bottle caps that I recently received.

Wow.

2008-11-06T19:14:00.001-08:00

When I first got involved with Burning Man back in 2007 I knew there was something about it that felt right to me. First, there is just the immense appreciation and encouragement and support that I have continued to receive from the community of my art. That is huge and I am incredibly grateful for it. It helps keep me doin' what I do!

Then there is all of the remarkable people that I have had the pleasure and privilege to have gotten to know during the past couple of years. Not to mention the awesome things that everyone contributes and adds to make Black Rock City such a wonderful place to live, if only temporarily.

All of that right there is enough to move me. But something happened today that just blew my mind. I didn't think that I could get more impressed with the quality of people that are what make up Burning Man. But I did.

See, I put out a modest little post request to the Burning Man email newsletter Jack Rabbit Speaks a while back asking for help with bottle cap collecting for my Bottle Cap Bar project. That post was included in the the newsletter that went out today. Literally, within an hour of it being sent, my email inbox began to be flooded with messages from Burners wanting to help: offering to give me bottle caps that they currently have or to begin the collecting process on their own, etc. Fantastic! I am touched. Truly.

This gives me new hope that Bottle Cap Bar can be a reality for 2009! What a dream. I started to get so overwhelmed with the magnitude of the project that I didn't think I would be able to do this for next year but now it actually feels possible.

I really did not expect the response to be so large or so fast. I am overjoyed and grateful. Thank you Burning Man Community. You are part of what this is for and what makes this possible. See you at the Bottle Cap Bar!

Realization of the Day: People Care!

I Have A Plan!

2008-10-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

So the past couple of months have been a little bit difficult. First of all, our house fell out of escrow because of difficulties with the buyers getting the loan they wanted. I won't get into the details as I just want to put this behind me. But this was really a long (six months) time coming. You could say that some of the trouble was a result of our current economy but there were also problems related directly to the buyers. Whatever. It's over and done. But then so are we. Eric and I have absolutely no desire to re-list the house at this time. We are just going to put our plans on hold for the time being. Regroup and rethink our strategy.

Also adding to the mix was the fact that I have stopped making art behind my friend Chris' barn. Most of the reasons why were out of my control. Basically changes had occurred at the property that made it not a good place for me to continue to work. It's disappointing because 1) I really liked it up there and 2) I am studio-less now and trying to work at home which has been a challenge for me in the past. Having a space to go to, to call my own, really helps me focus. But I am going to figure out a way to make this work for me because it is saving me a lot of money working at home since I don't have to pay studio rent (I didn't at Chris', though) and I don't have to drive to get there (20 minutes one-way to Chris').

Basically I am just trying to make the best of my new situations. I haven't been doing much in the way of artmaking since I got back from Reno in the beginning of September. Oh sure, I made Pink Lady but I haven't moved forward on my wood spirals idea or started carving on the new marble block that I have set up and ready to go in my backyard. I have been really distracted by Life.

I have, however, been putting some energy into my new bottle cap sculpture idea, Bottle Cap Bar. I am actually really excited about this but also have been feeling overwhelmed. As I have been designing the sculpture I have come to realize that this is going to require such a large number of bottle caps and so many labor intensive hours just to build it. I would probably not be able to put any effort into my other art ideas. And I was starting to feel a little bit stressed out about that.

So, here's the idea: It is a ten foot by ten foot by seven foot high enclosed (except for a door and three windows) space. The walls and ceiling are made almost entirely of bottle caps and wire. Inside of the space is a wooded bar and two stools that will be covered in bottle caps. See it's a Bar! And people can go inside and hang out and sit at the bar and have a drink (during operating hours, of course). And, ideally, almost all of the bottle caps come from actual bars. But we are talking about tens of thousands of bottle caps that I will need to punch holes in and string on 10 foot wire lengths and, well, you get the picture: Time Consuming.

And of course my grand plan was to do this for Burning Man 2009. Oh yeah, and apply for an art grant to help with the expense. And basically just devote the next ten months of my life to this thing. A little overwhelming.

So, I came up with a plan. 'Cause I tell you what - the Bottle Cap Bar will exist. I just think it would be more feasible to plan for a 2010 unveiling. Here's the plan. I will finish up with the design and schematics. I'm almost done with that anyway. Then I will get to work on making the back wall of the structure. I already have more then enough bottle caps to make that and have sorted them out according to the back wall design that I have drawn.

I will also design and make the wooden bar and stools. I have more then enough bottle caps right now to cover the bar and stools. I would love to take this to Burning Man next year, maybe get another alcove in the Cafe. It could be a great spot for people to sit at, drink their coffee, write in their journal, watch the Cafe entertainment, whatever.

And I will get moving on my bottle cap collecting. I figure if I extend out the time-frame for this project it will cut out the number of bars that I need to recruit into saving bottle caps for me. This will save me a lot of time and work. If I just have a few bars collecting for me over a longer period of time I should eventually have enough bottle caps for the entire project - hopefully by the time I apply for a grant for the following year. Oh yeah, and I could set up a bottle cap depository box with the bar at next year's Burning Man for anyone that brings bottled beverages to the playa. Maybe get people excited about the idea of the Bottle Cap Bar for 2010. This is much less stressful. And also this will allow me to work on my other art projects simultaneously. Yeah, I feel better already.

You know, I really cannot believe that it is the end of October already. Time goes by so fast and I have no idea where it goes! I am looking at November 1 as being my "get your ass in gear" start date. It's time to instigate the Plan! What am I waiting for?

Bottle Cap Request of the Day: I need 'em!

So, if you work in a bar that sells bottled beverages and would be willing to save them for me (or knows someone who does), let me know. Or maybe you and your friends want to start saving on your own. Whatever. The collecting is on! If you would like to help you can contact me at kittyg@kittygsculpture.com. Metal caps only please. Thanks!

Marble Spirals

2008-10-27T08:24:00.001-07:00

Here are images of my two marble sculptures from this summer that I posted to my website last week.

Spiral 1 - front view

Spiral 1 - back view

Spiral 2

Spiral Statement of the Day:

The spiral is, literally, a universal form. It expands by self-accumulation and is a sign of growth and transformation through resistance. If you look closely enough you can see the spiral everywhere. It is in our bodies (the heart, the inner ear), nature (seashells, whirlpools) and the universe (galaxies, planetary rotation). It is a major form in our world. The spiral can also be seen as a symbol of mankind’s journey through life, the path of the soul. I believe that people are instinctively drawn to the spiral because of the fact that it makes up so much of what is all around us as well as within.

Meet Pink Lady

2008-10-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Eric and I went to Reno to participate in their regional Decompression. We brought Spin 'Em! and my newest Bottle Cap Bike, Pink Lady. It was for the daytime part of the party that was held at the Mangrove. I really enjoyed being able to expose my bottle cap art to the community and to get people excited about the things they could do with bottle caps. I had instructions on how to make bottle cap flowers and also gave a couple of demos. You can learn how to make your own bottle cap flower here.

It was really satisfying seeing people enjoy my art, especially Spin 'Em! People just love to play with that piece; it's great. The same thing happened at Decompression in San Francisco the weekend before. I especially love that kids seem to have a lot of fun.

Check out some photos from that day.

Me on Pink Lady with Bottle Cap Tree in the background.

Pink Lady up close. Dig the personalized plate?

Kids investigating the base of Bottle Cap Tree.

I really love that children seem to like to walk right into Spin 'Em! to play with it.

Here's Eric putting caps on the spokes of a spare bicycle wheel.

Eric had a lot of fun riding around downtown Reno on Pink Lady.

I have a new bottle cap sculpture that I am currently designing and planning. I am really excited about it though not sure if I'll be able to collect enough bottle caps for it. But I am working on it and if I pull this off I think it'll be my best piece of bottle cap art yet. Stay tuned and save your bottle caps. All donations excepted and appreciated.

Art Explanation of the Day: Here's a little bit of back story on Pink Lady.

I brought home from Burning Man a cruiser bike that had been abandoned on the playa after the event was over. My Trek mountain bike was on its last legs having survived ten years of riding that included going across Ireland and two trips to Burning Man. I was looking for a fun replacement and this cruiser seemed like the perfect fit. So, I stripped my old bike of its bling and I took off the front wheel to keep as a souvenir and loaded the "new" bike into my truck.

After I got the bike home I cleaned it up and tricked it out. I put on new pedals and handle bar grips; added bottle caps to the bike spokes; installed a basket and decorated it with bottle cap flowers and safety tape; and attached bottle cap flowers and pink stripes to the frame. I think it came out great. The gears need a little adjusting but other then that it's all ready for cruising around. No hills though. Despite its seven gears, this baby handles better on flat road. Perfect for the playa!

Mangrove Press

2008-09-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

Burning Man art on display downtown - by Geralda Miller

Burning Man playa takes root in downtown Reno - by Krystal Bick

The Mangrove: Burning Man art in Reno

Burning Man Photos

2008-09-12T10:33:00.001-07:00

Eric helping me load my truck the day before I left for the Playa.

Lori putting the finishing touches on the installation in my alcove at the Center Camp Cafe.

The Man atop his tower with flags from all over the world.

View of the city from the Man tower.

Art Car

Leaving one of the many, many bars in the city.

Checking on my sculpture one afternoon I found this little guy having a blast.

My friend Michelle recycling aluminum cans at Recycle Camp. The can crusher was bicycle-powered.

The End, located at, um, the far end of the Playa.

Side view of The End.

View from The Temple (aka Basura Sagrada).

Close up of the Temple.

Sunset at camp.

Briefly I will say that this year's Burning Man was a wonderful time full of hard work, fun, friends and, of course, a few challenges. All in all it was a very satisfying experience for me made all the more so as I continue to define and understand what Burning Man and Black Rock City means to me and why I continue to be attracted to this unique event.

Most likely I will not be writing about my specific experience this year just because it really is hard to put into words what goes on there. I might have been able to do that if I had kept a journal while there but I didn't so there you go.

Immediately upon my return home I went to Reno to install my Bottle Cap Tree in the Mangrove downtown. I will write about that weekend in a later post. Meantime, you can see an image of that installation here.

Music Recommendation of the Day: David Byrne and Brian Eno's Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.

This album is currently available exclusively on-line. You can stream it as well. Definitely worth a listen.

Marble Recap, Part 2

2008-08-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

I think the best part about my recent time in Marble was realizing how much I have learned about the spiral in the past year. I couldn't see it at the time, but all of the spirals that I was hand carving in alabaster were the study pieces and building blocks to the two spirals I carved in Marble this past month.

Last year at this time I knew two things. One, that I wanted to focus on the spiral and figure out how to carve that form in stone. Two, that I wanted to carve alabaster with only hand tools. And that is exactly what I spent about 8 months doing.

But while I was doing that I was plagued with questions and self-doubt. I didn't know what these little alabaster sculptures were for exactly. What was their purpose? Was I going to try and sell them, exhibit them or what? Were they just going to end up shoved into my storage unit when all was said and done? Why was I making them? Honestly, that did have a tremendous impact on my carving and very often made it difficult for me to continue making them. But I just kept plugging away at it. By the time I left for Colorado I had made 6 spiral sculptures.

When I got to Marble I knew exactly what I wanted to carve and I knew exactly the challenges I wanted to face. I wanted to figure out how to carve the spiral going into itself. I was inspired by the shape of the ammonite. I love that the spiral curls into itself and that there is a symmetry on both sides.

All of my previous spiral sculptures have had the spiral either being pulled out of or pushed into a plane surface. That surface was either the back of the sculpture or the bottom of the sculpture. Either way, there was a lack of complete three-dimensionality. I wanted to break free of that restraint and make a spiral that was truly in the round. Carving a spiral that was based on an ammonite seemed like a good place to start.

My first sculpture started out that way but the stone had other plans and so it came out a lot different then my original intent. But that was actually okay because it presented me with another challenge that I needed to overcome. I pushed the spiral into the stone on one side and then pulled it out through the other so instead of there being a flat back like many of my previous spirals it was in the round.

The day that I pulled the spiral out through the back side was Not Fun At All. In fact, I avoided it by taking a day off from carving the day before I actually did it. I was plagued with self-doubt the whole time. I didn't know how to do this without potentially screwing up the sculpture. And that is the basic, underlying fear for most carvers. That We Are Going To Fuck Up. But you cannot let that stop you from trying even when it is uncomfortable. And believe me, it was Incredibly Uncomfortable. But I did it! And that felt/feels awesome.

The next sculpture I made I focused on the spiral curling inward and again the day I had to do the "other side" was awful. I felt so clueless and out of my comfort zone. But I had to do it. I had to figure this form out.

Overcoming those two obstacles was the best thing I've done in a long time. What made it easier for me to focus on those two challenges was the fact that I knew how to do everything else without even having to think about it. I knew what to cut and where. I knew exactly how to get the spiral going. I never questioned what I was doing because it was so clear to me.

And I owe all of that confidence and comfort to the spirals I had made in alabaster. Had I not done those, what I now call, study pieces I probably would have wasted a lot of time just trying to figure out the one-side spiral and forget about being able to take it to the next level that these two sculptures have come to represent.

So, if those alabaster sculptures ultimately end up in my house or my storage unit (fortunately I have had the opportunity to display most of them in various small group exhibitions this year, however) I will totally be okay with that because I understand their purpose now. They helped me get to the point of being able to carve the two marble sculptures I made in Colorado. They were part of the process; not the end result. What a discovery.

But as I was carving my first sculpture I started to understand another obstacle that I needed to overcome. And actually still need to overcome although I have begun that process with the second sculpture I made in Colorado. See, most people there, as they saw the spiral form emerge saw what I was carving as a shell or nautilus. And though I see the similarities, that is not what I felt I was making. I was making a spiral - not specifically a shell. Yes, a shell is a spiral; but not all spirals are shells.

The reason I have been carving spirals and why I want to study them is because they are literally universal. The spiral, if you look closely enough is Everywhere. It's in our bodies, in nature, in the universe. It is a major form in our World. I think people are instinctively drawn to this shape but don't understand why. I think we are drawn to the spiral because of the fact that it makes up so much of what is around us. The shell is easy to understand and identify as a spiral, I will admit. But it is not the only spiral out there.

So, I have started to ask myself: How can I make sculptures that are spirals and not have people automatically see shells? First, I think it is important for me to study more the things in the world that are spirals but are not shells so that I can use these forms as inspiration. Admittedly I was using shell fragments as starting points for my sculptures so no wonder people were seeing shells. Duh!

The second sculpture I made in Colorado I based on the spiral that a fern makes when it is growing.

I think I was more successful this time at making a spiral that is not so easily recognized as something else. I think that this is what I am going to focus on doing more of in the future.

Also, I've decided to switch mediums. Another reason that I think people see a shell so easily in my sculptures is because the look and feel of the stone mimics a shell, to a degree. Making spiral sculptures in other materials like wood and metal would definitely break me free from that. Also, there is only some much I can do with subtractive sculpture. I think it would be fun to start building up forms and creating the spirals that way instead.

So, after I get back from Burning Man and after I do the finish work on my two marble sculptures I am going to switch gears and start working in a different way. It should be fun and full of new challenges. At least I hope so otherwise, what's the point?

Fun Challenge of the Day: How many spirals found in our natural world can you identify?

I'll give some examples in my next blog. Look around. Spirals are everywhere. Especially in nature.

Marble Recap, Part 1

2008-08-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

I arrived home safe and sound from Marble, Colorado last week. And it was a great time, as always. I did the usual. Camped, hiked, swam, hung out with friends. Ate, drank, talked about life and art. I even fished and caught my first trout ever. Oh yeah, and I carved marble too. More on that in Part 2.

The place really brings out the best in me. I wish that I could be like that all of the time, all year round. I just get into this great mind-set. It's like I totally allow myself to see how it good it can be when you don't let life's little worries and distractions get you down.

When I am there I embrace the idea of slowing down and achieving balance. I always give myself plenty of time to appreciate the surrounding area. I hike pretty much every morning and never fret about what time I start work. I only carve when I feel strong mentally and physically. I listen to my body and my mind. I do what I want when I want. I enjoy social time with my friends, most of whom I only see once a year at that place. I allow myself to enjoy and even revel in pleasurable experiences. It's quite the utopia.

It's not real life, I know that. But I know that if I can apply even a little bit of that mind-set to my regular, every day life I will be a happier and more joyful person. If nothing else, it gives me a great re-charge and always helps me feel excited and motivated about art.

How can you not feel joy in a place that looks like this?

I was also fortunate to be able to visit my friend Krista in Moab for a few days between sessions. It was a wonderful break from the mountains. The area surrounding where she lives is gorgeous. It is so important to take time to appreciate natural beauty. I was overtaken.

Anyway, it is nice to be home. Sleeping in my own bed feels really good. Also, so does a hot shower. Although it is fun to bathe in the lake and my solar shower does a pretty darn good job of getting me clean. Still, I couldn't be a Mountain Girl year-round. The thunder storms can be a challenge.

The best thing about going to Marble every year is that there is always something new to discover. And I am able to do that by giving myself the time to explore my surroundings and enjoy myself. I challenge anyone, myself included, to incorporate that into their daily lives. It is completely worthwhile. Life is only what you make it. There is no better time then right now to be thoroughly and completely happy and enjoy life to the fullest. Why wouldn't you?

Joyfulness Tip of the Day: Do what makes you happy!

Ready For Marble

2008-07-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

I am leaving tomorrow morning for Marble and I am so ready. It's gonna be great. I can't wait to get there and have some quality time where I can focus and carve and just Slow Down. It's a great place for me to re-charge, re-motivate and re-aquainted myself with how much I love to make art.

It definitely will be a good chance for me to get my mind off of other things like the on-going sale of my house (still in escrow, currently in month four!) and all of my preparations for Burning Man. I am excited about going to Burning Man again but I need to stop thinking about that for the time being and just be in the Marble Mindset. I will have two weeks after I get home from Colorado to focus on Burning Man and finish my bicycle wheel sculpture, so nothing to worry about. Everything is under control.

Anyway, I won't be posting for the next four weeks as I will be completely removed from the world of the internet but I will write about my upcoming adventures when I get back. Meanwhile, I have posted an image to my website of my latest completed alabaster sculpture, Growth Emerging. Check it out.

See you next month!

Road Travel Tip of the Day: Books on CD.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: books on CD help any long distance drive go by really, really fast. I've got all kinds of CDs ready for this year's trip. Fortunately, I'll have company on the drive out so that will help a lot to pass the time. But when you are alone, nothing beats the books.

Getting Over Myself (A Very Hard Thing To Do)

2008-06-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my last day working at the winery and even though I have some mixed emotions about leaving I am glad I will have more time for my art this summer. I leave for Colorado in two weeks and then I am pretty much traveling most of the time until the middle of September. It's going to be really fun.

I'll be doing my usual thing in Marble, going for two sessions which I really missed doing last year. Then I am home for a couple of weeks which gives me just enough time to prep for Burning Man and I am off again. Immediately after Burning Man I will go straight to Reno to install the Bottle Cap Tree as part of a public art installation, Mangrove, that will be up until the middle of December. Finally, I will be spending a week in Waco, Texas working as a visiting artist for a new stone carving symposium there. Whoo. I'm tired just writing this. But, really, I can't wait.

I am really looking forward to being able to work in the studio much more between now and when I leave for Marble on July 12th. I have a lot of work to do repairing the Bottle Cap Tree and creating my new bottle cap sculpture Spin 'Em! as well as just generally getting ready for Marble.

I am having so much fun right now making Spin 'Em!. It's such a simple project but gives me enormous amounts of pleasure. I hope it will do that for others as well. The title says it all. It's basically seven old bike wheels decorated with bottle caps that are mounted on steel posts and people can walk up to them and give them a spin. The bottle caps make a cool clickety noise and also the caps themselves make a neat design as they spin. These photos give an idea of what the wheels will look like.

In addition to the sculpture itself I have the opportunity to decorate the alcove area that the sculpture will be displayed in any way I see fit. So I am going to incorporate a couple of other wheels that won't be spinable and some lighting and bottle cap flowers as well as a way for participants to add bottle caps to their own bike wheels. I am truly proud of this overall idea and really think it's going to come together nicely.

I just love that the piece speaks for itself; no underlying Big Idea. It just Is What It Is. I am not going to have any statement attached to it because what more do you need to know besides Spin 'Em? It's about experiencing the art.

So often with my other artwork, especially my stone carving, I have this whole concept tied in. And to me the concept is very interesting and I get frustrated sometimes when people don't take the time to try and understand the bigger meaning of my work. They just enjoy the art aesthetically and, really, what the heck is wrong with that?

I have realized in the last few weeks that I just need to Get Over Myself. My art should be Fun, not Heavy or Deep. It can be appreciated any way one sees fit. Sure it's cool for me to have concepts that make the work more meaningful for me. But in the end no one cares so why should I? This is all very liberating.

Last week was the beginning of Summer and I think that it is also the beginning of my Summer of Fun. Watch out World, here comes the Fun!

Side Note of the Day: Look at my website for a list of Upcoming Events.

In addition to all of my travel I have some various art exhibitions that I am participating in. It's all listed at kittygsculpture.com. Check it out, if you get a chance.

One More Thing

2008-06-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Oh Yeah. I was going to post images of Sayulita at SculptureWalk after I got back from Sioux Falls last month. I've been a little distracted lately (see previous post). Anyway, here ya go.

Getting My Focus Back

2008-06-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since I have worked on my art. I was really losing my motivation and focus there. Mostly because of things going on in my personal life. It was really making it completely impossible for me to even think about going to my studio or anything. Quite troubling. I was actually only a day or so left from finishing my latest alabaster piece (this was back at the end of April!) and I couldn't even fathom doing that.

But I think I'm better now. Yesterday I spent some time in the afternoon repairing my Bottle Cap Tree and that went really well. It felt good to work on my art again. I was repairing the tree because it needs to be back in good, structural shape for the upcoming Reno Mangrove. I have been asked to be a part of a small recreation of the Mangrove from last year's Burning Man that will be on display along the River Walk in downtown Reno from September to November. I am pretty excited for my tree to have a chance to be on display again even if it means a little work on my part getting it back up and running. It sure got beat up at Burning Man and then even more so being hauled back and forth from various places last year.

It may or may not go to this year's Burning Man and be on display there. I am not sure if I want it exposed to those nasty conditions again. But I am definitely going to Burning Man this year. I am in the process of putting together a sculpture for display in the Center Camp Cafe. It will incorporate bottle caps and used bicycle wheels and I am very excited to start working on it. I think it will be a really fun piece. More details on that later.

So, I've got a lot to do right now. In addition to the above I also need to focus on getting ready for Marble/marble and I really do want to get that unfinished alabaster piece completed. I have been working extra days at the winery until I leave my job at the end of this month. So, some of my usual studio time is not available but every day that I can between now and July 12th I am going to go to the studio and work. I am finally motivated again. What a great feeling!

It's weird how art-making definitely has ebbs and flows. You just have to ride out the slow times and not get too down about it. And then try and get as much as possible out of the high times; just run with the momentum. I feel like I am just about to catch a wave right now. Time to hang on.

Quote of the Day: That's the secret to life... replace one worry with another.... - Charles M. Schulz

Scenes From The Road

2008-05-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Wyoming

'Nuff said

Rawlins, WY

Somewhere in South Dakota

Awesome!

"Remind me why we're wearing short."
"I have no idea."
Actual quote. It was in the low-50s.

Sitting Bull Memorial

Rapid City, South Dakota

Need a job? Sioux Falls, South Dakota

On the road in South Dakota

Prepare to be A-maize-d! Yes, that is all made out of corn.

Way better than the real thing. Wall Drug. Wall, South Dakota

Wall Drug. What a bargain.

On the road in Wyoming

On the road in Wyoming.

On the road in Nevada. What a sky-scape.

Are You As Frustrated As Me?

2008-05-15T11:20:00.001-07:00

If you read my earlier post complaining about the high ticket price and fees associated with the upcoming Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, then you know that I am categorically against seeing any live shows with tickets sold by Ticketmaster, et al.

My latest frustration stems from a three-day run at the Filmore scheduled by a great band called Spoon that I have seen live once before and would love to see again. Ticket price: $25. Fees per ticket (two tickets purchased): 11.93. The fees are almost half of the ticket price! Outrageous. Sorry Spoon. Can't make it.

Here's a good on-line article written on the subject. Too bad it won't do any good.

You Get What You Pay For

2008-05-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Just got back earlier this week from my trip out to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where I picked up Progression Structure #8 from last year's SculptureWalk and dropped off Sayulita for this year's SculptureWalk. I have never driven that far in such a short amount of time before. It was quite an experience.

I learned something out there, and this is important for all of you living here in the Bay Area and other places where the cost of gasoline is sky-high right now: Not All Gas Is Created Equal. Eric and I discovered that in South Dakota.

We had been cruising along fairly well for two days getting not exceptional gas mileage in the truck but not too far below the normal crappy 19-20 mpg I get at home. We were pulling an empty trailer after all. But then something alarming happened about 35 miles outside of Sioux Falls. We were almost out of gas!

How could this be? We had filled up only about 120 miles earlier. The truck has a 16 gallon tank. You do the math. We were lucky to find a little gas station off the highway in some random Amish town (Yes, that's right, there are Amish people in South Dakota. Who knew?) and made it to Sioux Falls safely.

We felt like something serious must be wrong with the car for this to happen so suddenly. The truck was due for an oil change anyway so the next morning, after my sculpture installation at 6:30am, we took it to the Toyota dealership to get the oil changed and to have them check things out. According to the dealership the truck was running great.

So, what was the problem? Because we experienced this kind of mileage for pretty much the rest of the drive home. It did get a little better as we cruised into California. Hauling 700-plus pounds in the trailer didn't help but this was ridiculously bad mileage. Around 10-11 mpg.

Some people we talked to in Sioux Falls suggested it had to do with the ethanol added to the gas. We began to notice, as we drove home, that many stations in Wyoming and South Dakota had gas that contained 10% ethanol, or E10 Ethanol. I am fairly certain that this was our problem. We had gotten bad ethanol gas at some middle-of-nowhere gas station in South Dakota and it was taking the whole trip home to get that gas out of the truck's system.

I did a little "research" on-line and found other people having this same kind of experience with E10 gas so I do not think my theory is far-fetched. Let's just say that now that I am back home in the Bay Area the truck is running great and back to it's regular gas mileage. It's a relief to know that it's not something that needs to be serviced or repaired.

So, here's the thing. I will definitely pay more at the pump if it means I can go farther on one tank of gas. It was interesting to see that E10 gas had a higher octane rating than "regular" but it was cheaper. You get what you pay for.

I know, I know. Ethanol is awesome because it can lower our dependence on foreign oil. But there are other foreign companies that supply gas to the United States that are not in Arab nations if that is a concern. Arco is great for that.

Other than that, everything went smoothly during the trip. Lots of driving but books on CD helped a lot. And we drove through some very nice scenery. Wyoming was quite beautiful, actually. But you couldn't pay me enough to live there. The winter alone would kill me.

Stay tuned for images from the road. We saw a good amount of Americana and tried to capture that as much as possible.

Book On CD Recommendation of the Day: Holes by Louis Sachar.

We had seen the movie and knew the plot already but hearing the book anyway was great. A really good listen or read. Highly recommended.

Weathering The Storm

2008-04-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

My most recent sculpture, which I'd really like to have finished by tomorrow but will most likely not complete until after I get back from Sioux Falls next month, looks the most like a sea shell since I began my series of spiral sculptures.

I don't mind, really. I never set out to carve shells but since most of my inspiration comes from shell fragments I find at the beach it's inevitable that the sculptures will resemble this very recognizable shape. I really love the spiral in general. It can be found in nature in a lot of different ways besides the nautilus shell. But that is the most remembered.

Anyway, I was thinking about shells and more specifically about weather-worn shell fragments yesterday while carving. To me the shell fragments are really interesting shapes. I thought about how after being worn down by water and waves and sun and wind this shell was not destroyed but transformed. How fascinating that this object could take such a beating and come out even more interesting than before.

I wish I could have that kind of experience. I am currently under the most stress I have ever been in my entire life. Things are more challenging than anticipated in regards to selling my house. It is over-whelming and all-consuming. I am not, to be perfectly honest, handling it well at all. I just cannot wait to get through this. I feel like I am in the middle of a hurricane with no exit in sight. It sucks, actually.

But the end result will be worth it. I just have to weather this storm. And hopefully, like the shell fragment, I will come out of it transformed and intact. And better than I was before. Only time will tell.

Sincere Wish of the Day: To sleep through the night.

I have not been sleeping well lately and the one thing I want most right now in the whole world is one night of eight hours of uninterrupted, restful sleep. Anyone got any tricks?

How Our Possessions Can Possess Us

2008-04-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

So, I am in the process of moving out of my house. And I am also in the process of downsizing my world.

See, Eric and I just sold our three bedroom, 1500 square-foot house with two-car garage and a nice backyard. Yeah. Lucky. I know.

And in two weeks we need to be completely moved out and all of our things placed into a nice little two bedroom townhouse with, thankfully, a garage. No backyard.

As you can imagine not all of the stuff that's been accumulated during nine years in a three bedroom house is gonna fit into a two bedroom townhouse. We are attempting to get rid of some of it all. This has not been very easy.

I do not mean it's not easy because of any particular attachment to any of these things. It's just not an easy task to accomplish. Getting rid of stuff takes time, effort, sometimes even money. Not everything can just be thrown in the trash.

Some stuff, the Big Stuff, takes quite a bit more work than that. Finding someone to buy or even just take it away is tough enough. Then, how do you get it out of the house?

I can see why people don't ever move and then one day they die amid mounds of stuff and suddenly the stuff becomes someone else's problem and the cycle of being controlled by our possessions just keeps going on and on.

What is a lot of this stuff anyway? What is it for? Sure, it adds a bit of comfort and/or joy to our lives. But then soon or later this stuff becomes a burden. Something to constantly deal with, to maintain. We work for our stuff; it does not work for us.

Now believe me I am a long way off from not being controlled by my things. But I am trying to eliminate it a little bit. It's a slow process.

One thing I do know for certain: the huge entertainment center that is currently in my family room is no way coming along with me in my next phase of life.

Getting Rid of Excess Stuff Tip of the Day: Use it or lose it.

If you've got something packed in a box in the back of your closet and it's been there, untouched, for over a year, you probably don't need it.

There Is Always A Possibility That Your Art Will Get Damaged

2008-04-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

I learned a good lesson today. Art can, and probably will, be damaged in some way when you allow someone else to transport it. I had that happen to me last month and today I just conceded that the damage is not repairable. I am totally bummed.

What happened is I lent one of my toothpick pieces, Field, to a model home where it was displayed for about three months this winter. It was removed from the house last month and during transport it got broken in several places.

Now, this is a very, very fragile piece and has already withstood other minor breaks and repairs. But this time was just too much. I have to accept the fact that this piece has reached the end of its life.

Which is a real shame because it was my favorite of the series. But what would I have done with it anyway? It was going to go back in storage and sit there until when? It's okay for some art to be ephemeral. It doesn't have to always live forever.

Doesn't make it hurt any less, though. But at least I know that from now on I am going to be a lot more careful in regards to how my art is handled.

Correction of the Day: Inner Balance won Third Place at the MSA Open Craft and Sculpture show, not Self-Accumulation.