New Work: 'o Danny Boy

There's something about titles that can tend to be difficult. Sometimes the name came be so elusive. You don't want the title to give away too much, but you don't want to waste the meaning either.

This piece might have spawned out of one too many nights in the studio watching Outlander. Although not Scottish,the tune has been stuck in my head for weeks now. I even tried watching old 27th Lancers videos to get passed it. As the work began to come together on the table there was no second guessing it. 'o Danny Boy it would be.

Whatever the influence, this box assemblage come together rather quickly.There's something different and new about the work that have been coming out of my studio the past few weeks. I'm excited about how things are coming together. More photos (and more work) to come- I promise.

New Work
'o Danny Boy
Assemblage from found objects
Game board, old Victorian scrap, chess piece, gilded picture frame, transparency, rusty metal.
$175

Contact me for purchase or more information- glimmeringprize@gmail.com

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.

Something left behind

Over a year ago- I put this old chair in the back woods of our house in Williston. I wanted to see what time and nature would do. The elements slowly took the color down from vibrant red to this dusty rose. The grass that grew up high around it, pulled down by the snow.  Temporality.  Nothing lasts forever. Alas, this installation went the way of the dumpster when we rented our house in March.