Newton’s Apple / Gravity Installation

I worked on an apple installation this morning. I started small to get to know my materials better. I realized that the narrow rods are very bendy under the weight of the apples. I want them to be narrow so that they’re both nearly invisible and they don’t destroy the fruit. I want to do a much bigger one. I need to figure out how to create an armature that can withstand the weight without being too visible. I also want a little more blue sky, is that too much to ask?! The apples do look great in the environment, and I appreciate that they’re the state fruit of Washington where I live. Of course, there is tons of conceptual baggage to deal with, with apples. Right now I don’t really care about that!

Sunday with the D800 in the Country

#NikonD800 practice on a sunny Sunday afternoon roaming around in the country. I like that my favorite images from the day all kinda have a similar color palette.

Waiting Around in Tacoma

I had to drive down to Tacoma yesterday to pick up some giant cardboard sheets for my next gallery installation. I took these images while I was waiting for the forklift guy to bring my order around. A couple weeks ago I was talking to the photo tech at UW about my camera setup and the struggles I’ve been having learning the Nikon D800 — especially the fact that a lot of my photos come out slightly blurry. I know the standard rule of thumb is 1/60 shutter for handheld shots, but he told me the D800 is much more sensitive than that. I tried these images at 1/80. They look fine low res on screen, but I think even 1/80 is too slow for the D800. Next I’ll move up to 1/100 and see if I can get crisper images on that setting.

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

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

Ellen Sollod: Studio Visit

Ellen Sollod is an amazing, thoughtful, and generous Seattle #artist. I had a fantastic studio visit and lunch with her today! Learned all about the trials and tribulations of working in the world of public art. #publicart #studiovisit

Drawing in a Friendship Garden

I created this afternoon intervention in the park today. I loved the meditation of walking around and around this tree to envelop it with my attention. Then the meditation continued afterwards as I walked around the tree an equal number of times to disassemble the piece. #contemporary art #installation #nature #landscape 9 notes

Winter Holiday on the Olympic Peninsula

Third Beach at La Push, Washington

Last week, Matt and I took a few days to visit the Olympic Peninsula’s rainforests and beaches. We stayed about 20 minutes north of Forks, Washington (yes, of Twilight notoriety!) at the Cabins at Beaver Creek, on the banks of the Sol Duc River.

 

 The boardwalk trail (about 3 miles) through the rainforest to 

Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the lower 48 states.

We were pleased that it didn't rain the entire time we were there, although we did come prepared with all our rain gear and provisions! I was really inspired by the new and different color palettes in this environment. All the different greys, greens, and red-browns are simply stunning.

 Some of the ferns in the rainforest were as tall as me!

On Christmas Day, it was snowing 

at the “higher” elevations (800 feet!).

The sun peeked out for about an hour or so one afternoon. This old moss-covered bridge was near our cabin over Beaver Creek, near its confluence with the Sol Duc River. There was so much moss everywhere, it gave me some new ideas on things to make with my twine obsession!

Now, back to the studio at Anchor Art Space to keep making more art work!

Anchor Art Space: My Residency / Part 1

Yesterday was the start of my 5-week residency at Anchor Art Space in Anacortes, Washington. Anacortes is a small fishing town located at the north end of Fidalgo Island in the northern end of the Puget Sound. The gallery is a beautiful space, in an historic building erected in 1891, the same year the town was incorporated.

The space is welcoming and ripe for my creativity! I'm planning to explore the symbolic metaphor of the “curtain” during my time here. I’m interested in that knife-edge of time between innocence and knowing. There is also an element of healing that will take place here, I hope.

Yesterday, some friends and I held a Shamanic ritual ceremony here to cleanse, protect, seal, and bless the space in preparation for my work here. We all set intentions for what we hope will take place during my time in the gallery. I was overcome with emotion upon receiving the love and support of my friends.

This symbol on the floor is designed to attract and catch what I will need during the next few weeks: peace, time, healing, inspiration, motivation, and love.

I will keep this small altar in the space as a reminder of all the positive energy we created and the love that surrounds me!

EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists

 Point Wilson Light at Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, Washington

Last week, I attended the EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists in Port Townsend, Washington. Getting an invitation to participate was competitive, and there were sixteen of us chosen to come together for a week of intensive learning at Fort Worden State Park.

What a gorgeous place to stay for a week. I practiced sun salutations on this bluff above the Puget Sound before class started each day.

We had class outside one day to make the legaleze a bit more bearable! I don’t think there’s much a person can do to make contracts interesting, other than sitting outside in the sunshine to talk about it.

We learned a lot about how to run a business as artists... apparently this is something many artists tend to avoid or procrastinate about. We learned about marketing plans, business plans, and legal issues, as well as how to best get the attention of gallery directors, write grant proposals, prepare portfolio packets, develop artist statements, and a lot more... in just eight days. One person compared the experience to sipping water from a fire hose. Hilarious, and true!

The Port Townsend Leader featured our group in the Arts & Entertainment section.

On our last day together, we gave a public presentation of our artwork at the Cotton Building in downtown Port Townsend. Everyone’s presentations improved so much from our rough go-round earlier in the week. It was so inspiring to see all the work together, and to support each other in public.

I’m so inspired by all the people I met this week, and look forward to supporting their creative endeavors for years to come. Thanks Artist Trust!

Campfire Series 2012: Three Nights in Okanogan National Forest, Washington

Campfire Series: May 25, 2012, Okanogan National Forest, First Butte Fire Lookout, North 48.61934 West 120.10805

Matt and I spent the holiday weekend camping in Okanogan National Forest on the east side of the North Cascades in Washington State.

I’ve always loved campfires. Watching a campfire is a great meditation that blurs boundaries, releases old mental patterns, and opens the mind to new ways of seeing.

 We camped at the bottom of First Butte Fire Lookout.

Campfire Series: May 26, 2012, Okanogan National Forest, 8 Mile Creek, North 48.73785 West 120.28925

Each night, we camped at different sites, and I became enamored with the different characteristics of each fire, the placement of the wood, the sparks, the glow... the dance.

Campfire Series: May 27, 2012, Okanogan National Forest, Andrews Creek Trailhead, North 48.78430 West 120.10781

Our third night out, we stayed in the Chewuch River Canyon. My heart was nearly ripped out when we read the interpretive signage describing the Thirtymile Fire that occurred in July 2001. The fire started in a campsite; a camper left his fire unattended and it spread, went out of control, and killed four firefighters within 24 hours. Eleven years later, we could still see evidence of the fire's devastation throughout the canyon, and we plan to hike up the river canyon into the Pasayten Wilderness on our next trip there. Needless to say, we made sure our fires were dead-out before we went to sleep.