UPCOMING CLASSES

I'm excited to announce that I will be teaching at this Shake Rag Alley, in Mineral Point, Wisconsin in September. That's only two months away!! 

If you haven't been to Shake Rag, you are in for a treat. This arts and craft school, resides in a cluster of small historical buildings nestled along a babbling spring.  Built along the hill side on 2.5 beautifully landscaped acres these little structures house a Blacksmith shop, Jewelry classes, Fiber Arts and Mixed media programs, youth arts education and a small performing arts stage. 

I'll write more about Shake Rag and it's history in an upcoming post: But if you want to wet your appetite click here to check out their website and see what's creatively in-store for you at this magical location.

I am teaching of two of my most requested classes

SOUL HOUSES
an introduction to mixed media assemblage and process orientated art making

September 12th 

10 AM -5 PM

click here for the link to sign up. 

and......

BOOKS UNBOUND
begin your journey into altered books

September 13th 

10 AM -5 PM

click here for the link to sign up for Books Unbound.

Space is LIMITED - I recommend signing up soon.


























It's going to be a beautiful weekend of art-making and memory collecting. Won't you join us?

The Two Donnas

There's a tiny little town just west of Dodgeville. Last census has the total inhabitants at 173. There's really not much to it- sort of the place if you blink, you might drive past it. Lucky for me, I didn't blink as I was driving through on my way to Prairie du Chien. I stumbled upon the most wonderful junk shop- called the Two Donnas. I'm actually not sure if that is really still the name. The wonderland of thrift is now owned by two men from Madison. who periodically open their doors to peddle their curiosities and vintage items.

This shop has a flea market, yard sale vibe. We some super cheap prices to boot. The kind of shop that might be featured in Mary Randolph Carter's book American Junk. Carter's book, is an fantastic survey of year's of collecting. She's been doing the "shabby chic" and "flea market decorating" long before it was mainstream and cool. This is one of my favorite books about collecting.

The Two Donnas are only open every third week of the month. Or on the off occasion, the "guys" feel like trekking 50 minute out of the capital.


No matter, I'll be there next time they open their doors, I had great fun digging through it all, spent $13 and came home with a bounty of "stuff" to make more art with.

Heaven.

Wandering..Prairie Farm

     We discovered a  land preserve not far from our house, that we have started to explore on the weekend when we take the dog out for his run. There is a small creek that runs along the property, lined with low brush. The red-wing black birds sing their familiar songs and remind me of the marshy-wet land spaces we left behind in Vermont.

     The colors here are so different though- the spring slowly awaking, not yet green. So, now the raw umber contrasts against the clear blue sky. But as the clouds move  overhead the light can shift rather quickly. 

     

 The monochromatic, dry vegetation inspiring and lovely, I am left thinking about how the sound of the wind in the grass reminds me of the ocean. There is a calmness that comes over me. I need that replenishing force of nature.It leads me to think about a book I read in my final semester at VCFA, Wanderlust, A history of walking, by Rebecca Solnit.   There is a lot to be learned from the land.

the light here

the light here - has a certain quality at the end of the day- when the sun is going down. maybe it is the way it stretches out over the horizon. even a drive home from shopping can be magical.

Settling in

I can't believe the weather here in Wisconsin this week. The temperatures have gone from 17 degrees 10 days ago, to a balmy 65 degrees today. I've swept the front porch, opened the windows and have been basking in the warm sunlight drinking my morning coffee. 

As I still here, dog at my feet, listening to the birds, the wind and the occasional passerby.  I am thinking about what it means to be here. As in here in Wisconsin. Little by little the boxes have been unpacked. Our home in Vermont rented, our new lives in the Midwest starting to take root.  

Getting back into the studio after the whirlwind of graduating from VCFA and moving has been challenging, to say the least. There are still plenty of boxes that need to be unpacked. Lots of materials that need to be purged. Things that need to find their right space. My new studio is up on the 3rd floor of this old 4-square we've made home. I'm not crazy about the old paneling, but the finished attic looks out on the neighborhood and offers a quiet place to be by myself and work on my art. 

Opening boxes and shifting through all "the Stuff" has definitely been inspiring. I've finished a few new pieces and mended a few that were damaged in the move. There's new work on the table. My old style mixed with a new sensibility informed by 2 1/2 years of grad school. This is something I just cannot escape-the resonance of crits and reviews by my peers and faculty. The endless defense of the work you make and the "why's" associate with it. It took a long time for me to open a jar of gel medium and start working on assemblage again.  

Finally, I feel like I am getting my mojo back. It's not as if it really left me. More like it was taking a long nap. Winter finally breaking into Spring, has opened a mental door for me. I am excited about the months to come. 

So, readers, if you will allow me, I am back to provide you further musings on Art, Life and Making. I hope you have been well. It feels like it has been an eternity.  I know it sounds cliche, but a new chapter has started. 2015 is going to be a fantastic year!