The Nature of Things

I'm attempting to present my artistic visions in a simpler manner. This is not always easy for me to do...want to add a bit here...and then there...before I know it I'm toying with the dreaded overworked issue.

My messages often revolve around thoughts of the past holding keys to the future, the continuum of life, renewal from ruin, etc, etc. Today I took one of my pod vessels, put it on top of an old wooden model of a beehive (very cool) and added 3 adornments only.

Hooray for me.

Guardian

An old drawer, a wooden spindle, some tracing paper wallpaper, a hand built - glazed - gas fired - over painted pod vessel and some linen string equal a new assemblage. Definitely part of the this whole memory keepers / secrets thing I've been doing lately.

Musings

At varioius time I consider myself an art quilter, a fiber artist, a pastelist, an acrylic abstract painter and a mixed media assemblage artist. Lots of mediums in which I try to voice what moves me, what inspires me, what speaks to me. I work to manipulate mediums so they allow me to express my fascination with disintegration, beauty out of ruin and the continuum of life. Of course the age old question rears it head from time to time...I get what I'm striving for but does the message appeal to others? In other words, are my artistic expressions successful?

Lately I have been creating pod type vessels that dance around imagery evocative of other worlds, ancient ruins, secrets and memory keepers. An online art friend who I have known (and actually met) for many years now hit the nail right on the head when she said my latest clay creations reminded her of Myst and Riven. I had no idea what Myst and Riven were until I did a bit of google researching. Take a look and see if you agree. Some of these images are so beautiful and mysterious they have already provided me with much inspiration. Game On!

Memories

I often find the unexpected thoughts of quiet memories to be the sweetest. I hold them dear to my heart and know that these help define our lives as much as the larger events that shape us.

This assemblage is comprised of fired, glazed and painted clay pods, an antique wooden pencil box and vintage nails. It measures 6" high x 9" wide x 3" in depth.

Start of The Pod Farm

This is one of the pods that came out of the gas kiln this week. I am certainly seeing this in an assemblage in front of that vintage, ethnic looking wrench Melanie brought me the other week. I have a blessed week off between Christmas and New Year's. A week that I usually fill with time spent seeing friends and family and....ART (hooray). I have visions of pods dancing in my head, also have an itch to pick up the pastels. Oh, how sweet anticipation can be.

Genesis

Besides cooking, cleaning and eating too much I am usually able to snatch creative time during the holidays. This is my first in what I hope will become a series based on imagery of pods. The pods in this assemblage are darker than they appear in this photo and have more visible texturing that I wasn't able to capture with the camera. They are created out of paper clay. The shelf objects are pieces are lava my daughter brought back from Hawaii for me. "Mom, can't you use these in your art?" Uh, huh. The 'shade' are altered pages from a National Geographic.

For another piece I plan to work on a larger pod made out of clay that will be glazed and fired.

Hope all of you are enjoying your days and filling them with something much more rewarding than going chain store shopping.

Life

It can hang by a thread, it can be enhanced by potions and brews, it can be as strong as steel or fragile as glass...but...we only get this one as we know it...so...here's to all of you who try to make it the best you're able and are able to shrug off arrows that may sling your way...and to those of you who have reminded me that the icky stuff just isn't all that damn important.

Construct or De-construct

Night photos being The Worst aside....this is the finished sculpture that was glazed and then fired over the weekend. If you click on the photo it will get larger and you can see some of the detail. Have I told you I love glaze? And the carbon that is created and fired into pieces when you place them at the top of the kiln? I do believe I will be making more clay assemblages....have an idea for one with a bottle....oh my...the brain is on over load!

A small portable Secret (5" x 2.5") to keep close throughout the day.

Homage and Continuum

Yesterday we went to an auction. A couple was moving to another country and needed to sell the contents of their home so I didn't feel as weird as I do when attending an estate auction. (Isn't it a bit unsettling to be purchasing the remnants of someone's life? I always have this feeling I am violating the person and try to pay reverence to that person even while winning something at a good price.) Anyhow, we bought 3 antique clocks at very reasonable prices...actually a bit too reasonable...but we will love and enjoy these clocks as much as their many previous owners have.

Pictured is an assemblage made from an altered antique box, antique nails, wooden gate image, brass found object, cobalt bottle, old wire and vintage watch part.

Yesterday I put some finishing touches to "Runneth Over" and brought it to the
Wallkill River School for display. This is the second assemblage I've put into WRS's gallery. Shawn (the director) told me kids are quite fascinated with them. Assemblages are such a unique art form that many people just can't relate or don't 'get them'. My friend Canace, an assemblage artist extra-ordinaire, has a posting on her blog for an assemblage give away. Please click on her name and see her work (and put your hat in the ring for the prize!).
I am most curious so I'd like to ask....do you - can you - relate to assemblage art? Why or why not?

Head Runneth Over

I am going through a difficult patch right now that involves making certain decisions that will have a significant impact on my life. No, I'm not contemplating a divorce (never, ever) but still; it is a choice that will bring a major change to my life. Trepidation of the unknown results once this choice is made and its path determined is the source of many sleepless hours, distracted daily living and endless internal questions to which there are no answers - at this point in time. Touche to the first lines of M. Scott Peck's book 'The Road Less Traveled'....
"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths."

The assemblage above was started last night at 1am. My cup runneth over and so does my head.

It's funky, it's fun and it's interesting - in person - it makes you look and look. Renaissance of Wonder. Made from a vintage cigar mold, secret potions in test tubes, paper images, Grolsch beer caps (yep, enjoying the contents of one now), antique wooden dowel and compass sphere. It looks very cool hanging on a wall. Maybe I'll bring it to my day job and put it in my office. Most everyone there doesn't understand me as it is....good to keep the mystery going.

In the Thick of It

Right now I'm coping with quite a bit of stress and turmoil that can be directly attributed to my day job. It is not fun and, after 5 years, I believe it's finally dawned on me that life there is not going to change no matter how idealistic and optimistic I choose to be. Soooo...while I'm figuring out what my next steps may or may not be...I began work on a very personal assemblage. While this is not finished, the guts have been decided. Was nice to spend a bit of time doing what it is I love to do.

Can you read the title of the vintage little leather book?

I-N-F-E-R-N-O.

Fine Tuned and Secured

Fini....someone I know is suggesting I make lots and lots of these...a collection...not sure what will happen once there is a collection but the joy just might be in the journey.

Passages

Sometimes too much of a good thing is - well - too much. I've come to realize that I have closets and drawers filled with art work. Some of it interesting, much of it mundane. I've also come to realize that while I may be a jack of all trades I'm not really a master of any. I think it's time to take an art break. Time to take stock of this art filled life and consider what is or what is not - worth it. I could use a bit of R&R.

Second Secret

Today a gallery in Warwick, NY was so incredibly validating of my assemblage pieces that it brought tears to my eyes. They WANT as many pieces as I can produce. They couldn't say enough about this art work...even The Husband Person (who lives with my flighty creative self so all this art stuff doesn't impress him all that much) was taken with how thrilled the gallery owners were about the pieces I brought in for show and tell.

Pictured above is "The Second Secret". It will be on display at the Collage Gallery in Warwick, NY in the near future. Oh...and...by the way....The Husband Person named this body of work I'm doing - "Reclamations". Perfect.

It feels like Christmas already!

The Newest Passion

Last night my totally awesome husband walked in the house with a gift for me....a new, top o' the line Dremel tool kit and work station. My very own power tool! What more can a girl want? Assemblage creation heaven, here I come!
This piece is a WIP (work in progress). The box is prepared but nothing else is secured or hooked together so changes could still happen!
Does anyone out there have a favorite assemblage artist? I'd love to hear whose work you find interesting.

The First Secret

I am a yard sale scout, antique hound and junk connoissseur. People sometimes look at me as I'm picking up old broken parts of stuff and I bet they're wondering something like "Is this woman crazy? Does she live in a small house filled with 43 cats?" Noooooo (well maybe a bit on the crazy part) but what does happen is these old items are realizing a new life in art land. This piece is called The First Secret. I already have ideas for The Second Secret and The Third Secret. Perhaps they will help me to discover the meaning of life....