Entry #6 What I Did On My Summer Vacation - Fuzzy Bowl

 I have been using the white coffee filters for papier mache, in addition to the yo-yo pieces. Here is the first bowl. I got the bowl for free. I liked the shape and the slight foot. I was not sure if it would work because of the foot, but thought it was worth a try.  I covered the bottom with Vaseline and then used the torn coffee filters and papier mache paste to construct the bowl. I lost track of how many layers I put on, but after about three layers I felt it was strong enough and I cut it off the bowl with a utility knife, and then patched the seam with several more layers of papier mache so the seam does not show. It is quite strong, yet also slightly translucent, especially around the inside of the bottom where the foot is. I find it interesting that the one area that I thought might create the problem ended up being my favorite part. I was sitting on the back deck while working on the last layer when drifting cottonwood fluff caught my eye. I gathered some up and applied it with paste for the final inside layer.

Entry #5 What I Did On My Summer Vacation - Anti-Oxident Art

Anti-Oxident Art

I have gathered some more intriguing parts, but for the time being I am continuing to work with the coffee filters. I dyed some more with tea and also dyed a batch with pomegranate juice. I looooove the color they came out. I am making another yo-yo piece with the pink ones and will post it when it is finished. Meanwhile I am enjoying the way they look while drying. I like to use old things as tools and implements whenever possible when making art, and these antique bottles were just the ticket for drying the little coffee filter discs. In the pomegranate coffee filter photo my boxed-up studio can be seen slightly out of focus in the background. It is a little out of focus for now, but that is ok.

Entry #4 What I did On My Summer Vacation - Coffee? Tea? Art?

Coffee? Tea? Art?

A week or so ago I found a package of coffee filters. I knew they had great potential so I took them home. I have been working on several different pieces with them, but the first one is finished so I wanted to share it. I will post the others when they are complete. I tea-dyed the filters to give them a mottled sepia look. I then hand stitched them into the yo-yo form that I have used before in textile artwork. They are quite strong and flexible and are a pleasure to work with. I love sewing on paper by hand or machine. The only things I used from my studio were tea, needle and thread.

Entry #3 What I Did On My Summer Vacation

A big part of the “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” series is the picking experience itself. There is the drive, short or longer. There is the accompanying loud music played on the car stereo, and the stops at local bakeries for sustenance. But equally important are the conversations, both the ones I participate in, and the ones I overhear.

This week while visiting a particularly fertile hunting ground(i.e. – a local dump), I was joined by several others who were happily picking away. Two of the women seemed to know each other, and were chatting about this and that. A man came in that one of the women knew and they exchanged greetings.  Then the first woman, I will call her Alice, said to all of us present, “did you know that George here was the one that saved that baby’s life a couple of years ago. He was written up in the paper and was on the news and everything.” “Yes”, said George proudly, “that was me alright. It was June, 2008.” Then Alice proceeded to tell us about George’s valiant deed. Apparently, there was an infant with her mother out at a public place somewhere. The baby stopped breathing suddenly and was starting to turn blue, and no-one knew what to do. George stepped up and said, “ I know CPR, let me try.” And sure enough, he did mouth to mouth resuscitation on that baby and saved its life. While this conversation was taking place I was listening and also continuing to look at the objects that were displayed. Just as I was picking up a figure of Mary and baby Jesus from a discarded Crèche scene, George spoke again. “Yes”, he said. “The Lord wanted me to be in that exact place at that exact moment.”

Mary and Baby Jesus came home with me that day.
When I got home I did a little research. See link below.

http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Act-of-kindness-saves-babys-life-/1212846421.html

Entry #2 What I Did On My Summer Vacation/Gathering Number One - After

Entry #2 What I Did On My Summer Vacation /Gathering Number One - Before

Already I am thinking of changing the title of the series to Precious. This word and concept is in my mind a lot these days.

In the studio flooding I lost some things that were precious to me. Not a lot of things, and I am well aware that so many have lost so much more right here in Vermont with the astounding flooding this spring, so I am not complaining, just explaining.

As a collector of vintage items these objects do seem precious to me in some ways. They are precious because they are filled with memory. They are precious because they embody history.

When I gathered for the first grouping in this new series I found vintage greeting cards. I did not want to cut them up. They seemed too precious. But how was I going to make collages out of them without cutting them up? Usually I would scan them so as to still possess the originals. I decided this time I was not going to do that. I was going to fight my feelings about their preciousness and make some art out of them. When I began to cut them apart the words inside the greeting cards grabbed my attention as well as the imagery. One of the words was “precious”.

In this series I am not going to make any distinction between art and craft. I might make a collage, an Art Textile, a fashion accessory, or a home décor item. This is another way of addressing the issue of precious-ness. Are only art works that have no practical usage precious, and can only those art works enter into the rarified realm? Can objects made from humble materials rise to the rarified realm of art? Can useful creations be art or just artful?

Here are the before and after pictures of the first gathering.

The only thing I used from my studio was mat board, scissors, and rubber cement.

Entry #1 What I Did On My Summer Vacation

It has been two months since my studio was flooded out of the downstairs. Two months of my collections and supplies being boxed up, and stacked up, awaiting a new home.  I have not been myself. I am twitchy. Crocheting is not doing the trick. It took me a few weeks to learn how to make lemonade from these particular lemons. I finally realized it is the perfect time to begin a series that I have been pondering for a while. I am not sure what to call it but “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” is a good working title. Here is the plan – I go out hunting and gathering on the weekend, or during the week depending on the weather.  I gather a few items that may or may not seem related. I make art with just those items. I then move on to the next gathering phase for the next piece or pieces. I want to do something that has parameters and structure. I want to challenge myself in this way.

Here are my guidelines/rules:

-gather the parts/collection

-get as many materials as possible for free or cheap

-photograph the parts/collection before using them

-make something out of the parts/collection

-photograph the piece(s) when complete

-I do not have to complete one piece before gathering for the next, but do have to keep materials for each batch separate. One piece may take several weeks to complete and one might take one day.

-this rule may change

-for that matter any of the rules may change

-I cannot use other materials I have around even if they seem like the perfect addition – I must stick to the materials gathered for that piece(s)

-I can use basic ingredients that I already have like background paper, mat board, glue, thread, scissors etc.

When I had pondered this series previously there was a photographic component to it. I am not sure where this will come in yet. I had envisioned documenting the yard sale where the parts came from and perhaps the seller if he/she is willing. This aspect may need to wait.

I have gathered three batches already and almost completed the first grouping of art from the first batch. It has been interesting to see how items that are like-minded seem to appear on a given gathering phase. Or am I just noticing those items because I have decided to go a certain way with the collection?

And so I begin it.

The Cowgirls

The Cowgirls

Recently when there was a precious break in the rainy weather I took a short drive. I came upon these girls lying about in a field. As I calmly walked up and down the road to photograph them they followed me with their eyes but continued to recline in their bovine repose. They brought to mind the classic odalisque.