Signal Fire Residency: Cairn Village

I just returned from a week backpacking in the Arizona wilderness. I was on a residency with Signal Fire, a fantastic organization that takes artists into the wild to think about the relationships between art and nature and landscape. Each day, one participant led a “deep play” exercise for the group. When it was my turn, I invited everyone to collaborate to create a cairn village in the riverbed. The whole process was meditative and mindful. We worked in silence, and then surveyed our work. In the spirit of “leave no trace”, I tore it down once I got the photos. I was conflicted, because despite the ideal of leaving no trace I’m drawn to the comfort that cairns bring. A cairn represents other human interaction, coming upon one indicates that I’m not lost. Even though I might be the only person for miles, there is a kind of conversation that happens through cairns between strangers and over time. There’s something really special about that relationship. Stay tuned for more images to come. Mazatzal Wilderness, Tonto National Forest, Arizona, USA

Getting the Hang of the D800

I’m making a little progress learning the ins and outs of the D800. I have some good models to practice on! #photography #dogs #chihuahua #mutts #nikon d800 1 note

Inspiring Artist: Bronwyn Oliver

Bronwyn Oliver was an Australian #sculptor. Her lovely, intricate globes and organic shapes make me want to get back in the shop! #metal sculpture inspiring artist art

My Dog, Running with a Stick

I love this photo of my #dog, Kala! She loves her morning run/walk. #dog #dog walk #chasing sticks #running

Inspiring Artist: Ruth Asawa

Ruth Asawa's delicate-looking metal #sculptures are tugging at my heart-strings today. I love this dichotomy between a material as seemingly immutable as metal and her intricate, lacy forms that exude a sense of fragility. #Ruth Asawa #art #metal #sculpture #inspiring artist

Today’s Project: Shadow Play #01

Finally! After at least a month of non-stop rain, it’s #sunny! I’ve been collecting #shadow images of my #dogs for a while now. This is the first set of shadow #stencils from today’s work. Gotta try some different surfaces and color combinations. #shadow #art #sun #dogs #stencil

What I’m Working On: Steel Sculpture Ideas

I love #welding and #metals! 3-d #sketching for a new #sculpture. It's gonna be BIG. Stay tuned for progress reports. #art #design #welding #art #metal #sculpture #sketching #process #design 3 notes

Inspiring Artist: Danae Stratou

Desert Breath is a stunning earth work in Egypt, completed in 1997 by artist @DanaeStratou and her team. It’s pretty much just displaced sand piled into a spiraling pattern on the desert floor. What’s fascinating and surprising is that it has remained intact almost 20 years after it’s completion. I’ve lived in the American Southwest and also in the Northwest — one desert environment, and one mostly forest and water. It’s interesting how time affects each of these types of landscapes differently. It moves so much slower in the desert. Human marks can last decades, even centuries. But in the forest, all that extra water allows nature’s processes of decay and growth to happen much faster. Human imprints can be wiped out in a much shorter timeframe. #Danae Stratou #Land Art #Landscape #Art #Environment #Inspiring Artist

Inspiring Artist: Jang Yong Sun

Sometimes you’re just working away on your own stuff, and all of a sudden you come upon another artist who is doing exactly what you’ve got in your head. I spent a bunch of hours earlier this week slicing pipe so that I could create a honeycomb-like pattern and weld together a hollow, steel sphere. And then this morning, I came across Jang Yong Sun's work. Un-flipping-believable! It's so fantastic, I think my eyes might just tear up a bit. You’ll find me in working at my welding table this weekend! #art #welding #steel #sculpture #metal #contemporary art #inspiring artist

Sketches for My Next Drawing Device

As always, I have a ton of ideas spinning around in my head… I met with glass artist Amanda McDonald yesterday about the vessels we’re going to make for my next drawing device. If all goes according to plan, it’s going to be ahhhhmazing! We’re doing a test run in a few weeks, then (fingers crossed) we’ll go into production. My show in June isn’t going to make itself! #madewithpaper #glass art #installation 5 notes