Bees are finally all fired and I am now gluing tiny mounting tacks to the bellies of each one.  HOURS and HOURS of gluing tiny mounting tacks. 

I am the envy of every eighth grader right now.

Soooo, one of the things that takes so long with cutting the backing boards for the mural is that the entire mural must be removed, placed on small boards in sections, and then reassembled on the backing boards of birch plywood and all 400 pieces squared up and tightened. It must then be measured and traced then removed again. Cut and repeat all of the above. And repeat and repeat and repeat....

Nicole Puzan, who has been assisting me part time, has been a godsend. Sanding acres of wood isn't nearly so miserable with fun company, especially when she can sand faster than you!

Cutting backing boards for mural so it is in 6 manageable pieces that slot together like a puzzle piece with the tiles overlapping the seams. Tricky but I get to jigsaw crazy angles and turns, all at a 45 degree angle which has had a steep learning curve for me but has been great fun.

Who doesn't love power tools?

( Well, maybe not my studio mates, who MUST be tired of the roar of the saw and compressor by this point- sorry Laurel and Elena!)

Ah, ice cold beer after a 12 hour Saturday at the studio.....

For those of you wondering, it is a watermelon flavored microbrew at Pizza Paradisio. And yes, it tastes just like you might think- a girlie candy drink, but who can resist watermelon anything in the summer? 

Did I mention the bees?

The mural for NIH is moving along nicely. It is glazed and ready to mount, which should be a 2 week process. Especially love the dragonfly wings!

Bees, bees, bees. 

And more bees!

I've been casting bees for my upcoming solo show at McLean Project for the Arts. Can't wait to see the final installation but oh my god, what was I thinking, casting 400 bees?!

Stole Chris away from his laptop this afternoon for a few fun hours on 14th St. Ate a delicious brunch at Cafe St. Ex and saw a must see show at Smith Farm inspired by Frieda Kahlo and juried by Lenny Campello. The work was truly powerful, much of it disturbing, hauntingly beautiful and very poignant. 

My friend Elissa Farrow Savos has work in it that is just gorgeous. I was especially struck by her sculpture of a nude woman bathing in a pool of blackbirds.

Go see it before it comes down! 

Finding Beauty in a Broken World:
In the Spirit of Frida Kahlo

A mixed media exhibition juried by F. Lennox Campello

Tribute to Frida Kahlo II by Tanya Gramatikova

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Frida Kahlo remains one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, but her spectacular life experiences, writing and views on life and art have also influenced many artists. Frida always painted herself: her pain, her anguish, her sorrow, her passion, as well as her triumph over disability. Her paintings and retablos celebrate a life constantly reinventing itself, in spite of the physical disability that strove to confine it. This exhibition will showcase the work of artists influenced not only by Frida's art, but also by her biography, her thoughts, and her writings.

Exhibition Dates: July 1 - August 29

Opening Reception & Awards: Friday | July 17 | 5:30-8:00PM

The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Farm Center
1632 U Street NW
Washington DC 20009
www.smithfarm.com/gallery

Courage Unmasked

Delivered my mask for Courage Unmasked today to Cookie Kerxton, the tireless force behind this wonderful project, for which over 100 artists transformed radiation masks into works of art. Pictured here is my mask Honeyed Bees Heal Me With Their Poisoned Sting... and Cookie accepting Mariah Josephy's mask.

On September 9, 2009, the American University Museum at the Katzen Art Center will host a totally unique fundraiser called "Courage Unmasked." More than 100 artists from all over the country are creating fine art by transforming radiation masks formerly worn by head and neck cancer (HNC) patients to position and immobilize their heads during treatment.

It was during one such treatment session that this idea came to a patient, also an artist, who wanted to find a way to ease the financial burden on other HNC patients who cannot afford this expensive, grueling, but necessary radiation. The artist's colleagues and doctors quickly endorsed the idea of auctioning the artworks at a gala event, and proceeds will go into the charity fund, dedicated to "help for HNC patients"—which explains the auction's tag line: 911 4 HNC. Donating their time, talent, and caring, the 100+ artists are creating magnificent masterpieces, unlike any other visual art you've seen before.

Antique Junk Heaven!

Spent a lazy Sunday morning at the legendary Lucketts Antique Store www.luckettstore.com

 An endless treasure trove of  architectural salvage, antiques, treasures and trinkets all housed in a 3 story farmhouse on acres of small sheds. Bought three sets of deer antlers to make molds from for $15!

I am serving as the demonstrator liason for the International Ceramics Festival in Aberystwyth, Wales at Aberystwyth Arts Center. The festival is hosting a terrific group of talented and well known artists from around the world, who have come to demonstrate and lecture about their work. Artists this year include: Chris Gustin, Jeff Shapiro and Edith Garcia from the US, Nina Hole from Denmark, Daniel Allen, Sandy Brown, Peter Hayes, Regina Heinz, Tom Barnett and Jack Doherty from the UK,  Caroline Cheng from China, Jean Nicolas Gerard from France, Shozo Michikawa and Maskazu Kusakabe from Japan and Zhao Hua Yang, Zhao Hua Long and Ning Fa You from Jingdezhen. 

The conference is incredible so far: jam packed with interesting lectures, talks, films and demonstrations. Three, count 'em, THREE, kilns are being built on site. More to follow on those as they fire!

London Calling!

Arrived in London today at 8 am for a three day stay in the theatre district. As our hotel room wasn't ready yet, we headed over to the British Museum on foot for the morning. It has been a lifelong dream of mine, starting at the age of 8 ( yes, I was a geeky child) to see the Rosetta Stone and Elgin Marbles. It was all quietly stunning. What a pleasure to see archaeological treasures I studied in college up close and personal for the first time ever.

The workshop has been incredible so far. Kathy Triplett is a warm and generous teacher and I've had the rare chance to just play with clay. The first morning was spent texturing 3 inch square tiles of soft clay in as many ways as we could think of with traditional and improvised tools. 6 hours just playing. How marvelous!

I'm in NC all week for a workshop at the Odyssey Center of Highwater Clays with Kathy Triplett:

Wall Pieces and the Commission Process
Kathy Triplett

Construct wall pieces and freestanding sculpture with stiff and soft slabs, pinch techniques, and 1 piece plaster molds. Surface treatments for once-firing will be explored as well as indoor and outdoor installation techniques. We will discuss commission processes for both public and private projects and will include how to make proposals, budgets, contracts, and work with a client. 

REFORM Reception

The reception for REFORM, the Washington Sculptors Group show I am in at The Workhouse in Lorton was great fun. 

Nine of the artists, including myself, were on a panel expertly led by Claire Huschle, the curator of the show and executive director of the Arlington Arts Center. After the panel, Claire gave a curator's talk, addressing each piece, its relevance to the theme of the show and why she chose it. Her talk was thoughtful and  insightful, greatly enhancing the viewers appreciation and understanding of the show.

Artomatic Opens!

Artomatic opened tonight! It was a madhouse, with thousands of people streaming through the doors to look at over 1000 artists' work, listen to music, watch dancers and have a great time. If you get a chance to go, it's up through July 5th. 

I love Artomatic and have done it the past three years. I think it is an inspired, unjuried melee of creativity. I took a shot of one of my favorite pieces, by David D'Orio, which is shown here. To see more of his work go to www.daviddorio.com

I also really loved this work but must go back to get the artist's name. All is made of glass and clay, I believe.

55 M Street, SE 
Washington, DC 20003

May 29 - July 5, 2009

Early closing Wed, June 3 and Thu, June 4 at 8pm 

Fri-Sat: Noon-1 am
Sun, Wed, Thu: Noon-10 pm

Take Metro! Located directly above the Green Line Navy Yard Metro Stop, West Entrance 

Flora Opens!

Flora opened tonight! We had a really good crowd, despite the threatening skies and lack of parking. Many of the artists came, some traveling across the country to attend. After working with everyone via e-mail so long it was delightful to meet all of the artists.

Here I am beside my work, Forest Lost.

Flora: Growing Inspirations

The many months of work on Flora have finally culminated in the installation of the sculpture. It's a gorgeous show at the US Botanic garden in partnership with the Washington Sculptors Group, showcasing the work of over 30 national sculptors. 

My dear friend and an incredibly gifted sculptor, Elissa Farrow Savos, also had a booth at the festival. These are some of my favorite pieces of hers. To see more please visit her website at www.efarrowsavos.com

Reston Arts Festival

This weekend I had a booth at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in Reston, VA. Ranked the number one arts festival on the East coast, they always have a talented array of artists. 

Though it was windy and cold and booths literally flew away on Saturday night in the ferocious storms that hit our area, I had a great time.

 It's always rewarding to meet new people and to hear a direct response to your work!