Friday, April 11, 2008

Must Brag!


I must brag about one of my "students". I put that in quotations because I learn sometimes more I teach.... Mr. Hickman is one of my private students. He is retired and has an eclectic background, spent many years perfecting calligraphy in his spare time. Well his attention to craftsmanship pays off as this is his first sawing and piercing exercise. The pierced copper is riveted to a patina'd piece of copper. Very nice....

Gutsy Ladies




Here are some photos from my Artfest '08 Gut Instincts class. The fantastic gut cicada was made by Jim Sorenson. Jim and his bug have inspired me to design a class where we work on insects! Should be cool...stay tuned!

Post Artfest Blues


Well, we are home luggage-less of course, as are 150,000 other bumped American Airline passengers. In fact it is kind of a miracle luggage ever gets on the right flight! So we are hopeful. Odd the things you begin to realize are in your bags, like my favorite Swanstrom ergonomic, expensive pliers, Robert's silver repousse belt buckle, etc. Post Artfest blues have set in. Robert keeps saying,"We're not in Port Townsend anymore, Toto!" If your reading this and attended one of my classes thank you! I had three fantastic groups this year. I think all went home recharged and revved up. I too learned so much from my students and feel renewed creative energy. I have a sketchbook full of ideas! I made these cairns Monday after Artfest on the beach at Deception Pass on Whidbey.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Planes, Trains and Automobiles


So here I still sit in Chi-town. I said to Robert last night, "I am SO glad you aren't John Candy". Looks like we're sleeping the airport tonight. We even talked to the airline about renting us a car.... we should have done that last night I guess. But then again there'd have been no Malibu rums served by an older gentleman with an eastern European accent in a cheesy Holiday Inn bar, while bad 70's ballads played. We pretended we didn't know each other. Maybe we'll find out how much to go downtown today to the Art Institute.... Robert's never been...

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Composting Good and Evil: Redesign for Sanctimonious Sinner

Well Artfest is over and I sit in a slightly shabby, lonely Holiday Inn in Itasca Illinois. Our flight home was cancelled.... so in an effort to entertain myself I give you the virtual exhibit by Ethical Metalsmiths "Composting Good and Evil: Redesign for Sanctimonious Sinner"
This image is great! It's A men's suit made from recycled potting soil bags
"A totally 60s, totally groovy suit made from organic potting soil bags. Dr. Earth's colorful bags leant themselves so naturally to trash fashion! An orange striped fitted coat, over a frilly white shirt made from vanilla-scented kitchen trash bags. The straight-leg pants give the ensemble some real flower power!"
Designed by Prima Debris (Kathi Griffis).