Peace

photo of a brick wall taken in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania July 2009

-

As my brother leaves for yet another tour in Iraq, I consider all the of the time, money and many impacts cause by these struggles. Would it not be so much easier if we could all direct this energy, in actions small and large, toward the purpose of peace. It could not possibly be any more difficult to love, respect or at least tolerate, then it is to hate. And if we all were to view the world from this perspective, could we not find resolutions to avoid violence. For if violence is what got us here, it can not possibly be the sole solution. Peace is not just the result. It is the way of life for each of us to embrace daily. Let peace be your inspiration, not just Thursday but everyday.

-

Joy

-

Joy...
It comes from within

and gives voice to our actions.
It should be shared

and in doing will multiply.

-

12x12" sandblasted and kinformed float glass

echoes & reflections

The completion of another intermediate seminar as we continue to increase the depth of knowledge and wealth of glass artists in the San Antonio area. Join Gail Stouffer, Nina "Sam" Hibler and myself as we celebrate the success of these students and the work they accomplished during this nine week adventure.

Mad For Plaid

-

It seems like this fall everyone is just mad for plaid. Although typically I am not one follow trends, this one was hard for even me to miss. All this talk of tartan patterns reminded me of a simple and fun way to achieve this same crisscross effect in glass. So here it is, a 4x4" glass sushi plate, perfect as coaster for a glass of scotch or small appetizer plate.

-

Protecting Your Prize Possessions - Continued

If you didn't get enough of my rant on gloves the first time, I have more. I know, you were hoping I would.

-

In addition to the pair of superstar HexArmor 9010 gloves I originally purchased, I recently received a pair of Magid Kevlar Armor gloves. A seamless knit glove with a level 5 of out of 6 rating on the ANIS scale for cut resistance they were just under $9 on magidglove.com, safe and affordable. Although I only used them briefly, I was not a big fan. I felt encumbered by them, lost behind the thick barrier of knit Kevlar. They'll work great for pulling sheet glass from the crate but not so great of anything more detailed.

-

On the flip side, Cleo my 10-month old Doberman Pincher conducted her own test. Like so many puppies, Cleo is skilled at destruction. I should have known when the house was quite something was wrong. When I found Cleo she had one glove in her mouth and the other on the floor next to her. I'm gonna guess she had been working at them for a good 10 minutes. Nothing she has picked up has yet to survive far lesser periods of time alone with Cleo. These gloves, however, did not have a single snag. That's pretty amazing. Made of Kevlar Armor they are three times more cut resistant then standard Kevlar. Based on Cleo's incisors, I'm gonna say with confidence they are not just cut resistant but puncture resistant gloves too.

-

Just a few last words before I step off my soap box. If you are going make the effort to find protective gear, get the right stuff for the job. Otherwise you set yourself with a false sense of security which can only disappoint. You're not wearing them to look pretty after all.

-

Okay, I'm done now...

Iron Spine

Where my imaginary line

Bends square in woods, an iron spine

And pile or real rocks have been founded.

And off this corner in the wild,

Where these are driven in and piled,

One tree, by being deeply wounded,

Has been impressed as Witness Tree

And made commit to memory

My proof of being not unbounded.

Thus truth's established and borne out,

Though circumstanced with dark and doubt-

Though by a world of doubt surrounded.

- Beech by Robert Frost

-

11x9" torchworked and kilnformed glass with metal

-

Robert Frost being one of my favorite poets, this poem came easily to mind when I was making this piece. So from this poem I acquired the phrase which now services serve as it's title, Iron Spine.

-

Spanish/English Flash Card

Print from a linolium carving

My mother gave me a valuable gift when she decided she was going to not just encourage but require me to speak Spanish at home. In a family where Spanish was the first language of both my parents, it was a natural and easy skill for me to acquire. Her true dedication and discipline became evident when she decided I needed to learn to read and write in Spanish as well. So in the evenings and on summer vacations my mother would sit me down to learn the alphabet phonetically, review flash cards and read books aloud. At the time I thought it was a cruel type of punishment. Now I see it for the priceless gift it was. Quality time alone with my mother, the opportunity to connect with family and friends old and new, and a wider/deeper perspective on the world we are all part of what I found in those flash cards.
-
Mi mama me dio un regalo valioso cuando decido a requerir me que hable español en el casa. En una familia donde la primera idioma de mis padres era español, era una habilidad natural y fácil aprended español. Su esmero y disciplina llegaron a ser evidentes cuando ella decido que también necesitaba aprender a leer y escribir en español. Por las tardes y las vacaciones del verano mi mama se centava con migo para enseñad me el alfabeto fonético, trabajar con tarjetas de destello y leyó libros en voz alta. En esos tempos yo pensé que era un castigo. Ahora lo veo para el regalo que era. El tiempo de calidad solamente con mi mama, la oportunidad poded hablad con familia y amigos viejos y nuevos, y una perspectiva más amplia/más profunda del mundo eran toda parte de lo que encontré en esas tarjetas.