It's All About Perspective

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I had a conversation with someone recently about the weeds, dandelions to be precise, in their lawn which they are trying so desperately to rid themselves of. It reminded me of these photos and how excited my niece had been each time she encounter a dandelion on one of our walks in the woods. A nuisance to some, an absolute delight to others all depending our one's perspective. There's a lesson to be learned here I'm sure.

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Stop... and take things one step at a time

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I'm quickly approaching one of those moments were if I don't stop and remind myself to take things one step at a time I will lose my mind. In addition to repeating the phrase "one thing at a time" to myself every 15 minutes, the best thing to do is to work on something that requires focus on process. It's time to build a book. 

When "building" anything one must focus on the steps required to complete the task. This isn't purely about creativity. It is about process. Not following each and every step accurately can lead to devastating results; so one must follow a checklist and review one's work to ensure quality. Not a bad exercise for someone who needs to regain some focus. My current exercise in sanity is a 9x12" half leather book with five cords. To date I have; torn down and folded paper into 15 signatures; punched holes in each signature and sewn them together around linen cords; formed, rounded and smoothed the spine; created and attached headbands; and attached 98 davey board covers to the linen cords. It is as this point a fully functioning book.

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Above, the text block prepared and ready for covers, is being used to select the  best leather and paper options for the book's cover. This weekend, I will finish dressing the book with black leather and a Japanese marble paper and end by adding a contrasting leather doublure to match the headbands. This book will be similar to the one made last October, only even bigger.
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Tip Toe Through the Texas Wildflowers

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For the last three years I have lamented over the loss of our seasonal wildflowers to the drought. I didn't realize how ingrained they were in my physical calendar until they where gone. Just as I was beginning to forget how beautiful a Texas Spring could really be... BAM the perfect conditions for a fabulous wildflower season. The drought that disturbed me so much killed back the grasses that typically compete with the wildflowers for space. Combined with a cold and wet winter we are about to have one of the biggest wildflower seasons in quite sometime. So, giddy with excitement, this Easter weekend I hopped in the car and headed just South of San Antonio where the warm weather has started the wildflowers off with a bang.

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The landscape looks like God took the tips of his fingers and sprinkled enamels dense with color  across  pastures, along roadsides and on the oilfields. Our state flower the Bluebonnet along with countless other wildflowers are already making a strong showing in the South. They talk of the colors of an East Coast fall, which I hope someday to see in person. But it's the colors of a Texas Springtime that are in my blood.

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Entire fields are carpeted in the coral color of  Indian Paintbrush. The bright yellow of a Slender Stem Bitterweed making an occasional appearance. This is a beautiful sight that if you have an opportunity to see this year I would not miss.

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A Little Work, A Little Play, A Little Magic

Today was one of those days where what must be done and what you want to do coincide beautifully. I was scheduled for a visit to Artisans at Rocky Hill in Fredricksburg, Texas. The perfect opportunity to turn my back to the city and enjoy the fresh air, scenic drive and a little of adventure.  To start with there is nothing so relaxing as a morning drive along the Perdernales River with a good cup of coffee and a view of  the rolling hills. First stop a visit with Anne who selected some shiny new pieces to add to the Artisans at Rocky Hill gallery. These iridized glass items display a brilliant metallic shine reflecting a rainbow of colors that stop you in your tracks.

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Now it would be a shame to have driven all this way and not explore a bit while I had the chance. So, I hit the streets for a little adventure. It wasn't long before the camera came out of the bag. Many of the shops on Main Street have fabulous basements (a rarity in Texas) and patios, full of magical surprises and visual texture. All of this lead me to Rather Sweet where I enjoyed a healthy lunch. Followed by an amazing piece of carrot cake (this counts as a vegetable right?) which rivaled the one I had a Papa Hydan's while in Portland last June.

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Last stop before leaving was Showcase Antiques. An amazing display of cut, pressed and cast glass antiques. Sure there was silver, china and other items but who cares. I was looking at the glass. Standing in a small room that sparkled with the reflection of light off of hundreds of cut and faceted surfaces it was difficult not to  be amazed by the brilliance. I could imagine the various skilled craftsmen who confidently took their crystal to the lathe with perfect execution  as the repeated patterns over and over again. The staff at Showcase Antiques was only to happy to share their knowledge and talk about individual pieces. This place had the reverence of a museum and the excitement of a candy store.  It will hard not to think back on this experience the next time I'm standing in front of the lathe with a piece of glass in my hands.

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This all came to an end with a meandering drive down farm road 1346 through the small town of Sisterdale before turning east toward Kendella and US HWY 281S which brought me home. I'm already looking forward to a return visit in several weeks by which time I imagine the wildflowers will have made their appearance on the Hill Country Landscape.
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Understanding Ana

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 Understanding Ana

12 x 9.5 cm framed, soda lime glass and enamel

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Understanding Ana is comprised of two pieces of glass each 8.5cm x 6cm x 3mm in size. Each piece of glass a separate idea inspired by two very different memories of my mother.  These are not new ideas. They are concepts I have already been using in other pieces but they come together here in a new way for me. 

For example, the background piece of glass includes a floral pattern symbolic of both my mothers passion for gardening and her fine filigree crochet work. This is representative of my mother's creative side. I began using imagery inspired by my mothers crochet when asked to do a piece for the SAVA Gallery show the Art of Family which opened in May of 2009.  Since then these images have continued to show up in pieces like My Mother's Garden and some clear glass functional work. In Understanding Ana this imagery is hidden behind a layer of clear glass. The texture of the granular imagery visible but not accessible to the touch.
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The foreground layer of clear glass contains a random segment of text taken from a piece of prose I wrote after driving to work on a cold winter morning. The text was carved from the glass using sandblasting techniques and back-filled with black enamel before firing. It was written after a moment of epiphany. For the first time I felt I really understood a certain aspect of my mother, her sadness. For that moment I could truly empathize. On the glass the words are run together, no capitalization, no punctuation, no intention that they be fully read or understood. So for your benefit the original text is below.

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Empathy

This morning I slipped on my coat and I put on my mother’s gloves

I walked out into the crisp cool morning keys in hand

I drove watching my hands on the wheel detached as I once watched her’s

Turning the corner, adjusting the mirror, both hands on the wheel

I realized I had grown like her, through age and maturity

The things that as a youth I had despised with an ignorant disregard

I now understood having been exposed to life’s harsh reality

Her loneliness, the depression she battled, the sadness behind her eyes

I rubbed my hands along my face, to feel her touch in my own movements

The notes of Elgar’s cello in my mind’s ear repeating in endless loops

The hands inside her gloves were mine

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The completed piece brings together the pretty picture in the background with the cold mechanical type scaring the surface much like reality. Together I hope they make something beautiful here just as these conditions can in us. Because of its' small size in order for it to be displayed as part of the San Antonio Calligraphy Guild's (SACG) Spring Show, I framed the completed framed piece.

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You can see this along with the works of other members of the SACG on display at Crumpets Restaurant. The opening reception is today from 4:00 to 6:00 Pm and the work will be on display through May 3rd of 2010.

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Invitation Calligraphy and Design by Joanne Pacelli

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Who Could Refuse This Face

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I really should be loading the kilns, which tonight would mean first scrapping and priming the shelves. But having already spent the day away from home I am having a hard time not succumbing to the sad puppy dog eyes that keep saying “pet my head, pet my head”. Who would not surrender to this gentle giants request for a little affection. After all isn’t that what we all want, a little love.

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Besides the alternative, scraping and priming kiln shelves, will still be there tomorrow.

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