SAGAG May Meeting

Date: Thursday May 28, 2009
Time: 6:30PM
Location: La Posada del Rey

in the Lincoln Heights Shopping Center at Broadway and Basse Rd.
Program: Visiting Artist Roger Thomas

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Roger Thomas is a world renowned glass artist who is known to glass enthusiasts for his varied and unusual fusing techniques. He is visiting San Antonio as a guest instructor at Wired Designs Studio and has graciously excepted SAGAG's invitation to participate in our May meeting. Please join us in welcoming Roger back to the Alamo city. Hope to see you there.

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Spend a Bit Time with Nature

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Kilnformed Soda Lime Glass

Close up of a bowl 19" in diameter

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Changing leaves typically conjure thoughts of Fall. However, here in South Texas the Live and Red Oak trees loose there leaves in early Spring, making way for new foliage which they will hold through the following winter. There golden shades lend themselves to the landscape of drought influenced grasses which sprout in the rich soil left by the previous years leaves in the crevasses of limestone which is the Texas Hill Country. I collected these leaves on a cool evening walk in early March.

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With my thoughts on nature, I turn to a book I have read several times in the last four months Nature's Chaos. The photographs taken by Eliot Porter are absolutely amazing and alone are worth every penny I paid for the book and more. Paired with an almost melodic text written by James Gleick, whose words seem to frame the photographs, the book becomes an experience. Take it outside and read it under the branches of your favorite tree.

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Tree stump photographed while on a walk in the woods. The spot I plan to seat myself the next time I want to read Nature's Chaos.

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Recent Coastal Adventures

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In the last couple of months my husband David has found a couple of days to sneak away from his daily activities at My Place and take the three hour drive with our Doberman and I down to the Texas Gulf Coast. During these little adventures I snapped a couple of photos, read a couple of books and made some new glass discoveries; bits of which I thought I share with you.
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Cameras in tow I figured I'd brush up on the drive down by perusing a copy of The Digital Photography Handbook, which I had picked in the bargain bin of a "super" bookstore several months back. I was pleasantly surprised with how user friendly and informative it was. Granted my expectations had not been high. And yes, some of it is very basic. The book does not assume the reader knows anything. I just breezed pasted the content I was comfortable with and stopped in sections I found interesting. The content is formatted by topic every 2 to 4 pages, so it easy to skip sections or pick up were one has left off. This format also makes the book a good desktop reference. Inspired by my recent refresher I snapped a few shots (few hundred is more like it, thank God for digital) including the following.

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The dunes on North Padre Island

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Dober, with a keen eye on the seagulls up ahead

Isn't he handsome

- The end of a long day of play at the beach

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While looking for things to do in the Corpus Christie area I came across an exhibit at The Museum of South Texas titled Glasswear: Glass in Contemporary Jewlrey. I was disappointed to find the exhibit had closed just a few days prior, but the museum staff was nice enough to send me a copy of the catalog for a very modest price. The catalog turned out to be a lovely hardbound edition. With the ability to flip though its' pages at my leisure I didn't feel I missed too much . The exhibit travels next to New York City, and will be at The of Arts and Design from July 15 through September 20.

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The Art of Family

The opening for the current show at the SAVA gallery, at Rivercenter Mall, is tonight from 6-8pm.The theme of this exhibit is the “Art of Family” in honor of Mother's day. The show includes some really inspired and unique pieces representing various generations of family members. I was particularly surprised and honored when SAVA's President Shirlene dedicated the show my mother, Ana Vachier, who is participating with me posthumously.
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Family Tree, 2009

16 1/2 x 23 1/2" framed

torch-worked and kiln-formed soda lime glass

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The design element which is the foundation for this piece was created by my mother originally as a piece of filigree crochet. Although not visible in the photograph, behind the glass in the top of the piece are exerts from devotional journals in her own hand.

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