Rained On But Not Out

Selling the last container of Honey we had in our booth was good timing as it was my last Spenard Farmers Market yesterday and it ended with a downpour! Fortunately, this was the rainiest Saturday afternoon we've had all Summer, with all of the other Saturdays being much more moderate weather-wise. The Market had a special visit from the Bird Treatment and Learning Center which allowed me to get some new Raven images to use in my art making -yaaay! My last Mama "Steel Wool" which was my artist sample, went home with some dear friends and I was able to sell lots of other Garden Art I had put on sale in celebration of my last Market day. Customers LOVE sales. I heard from Vicki up at the Bad Girls of the North booth and customers are also loving buying metal art at the State Fair! I've got to make more Garden Ravens first thing Monday morning and plan for another delivery up to the Fair as soon as possible because of the short selling opportunity that lasts only through Sept. 6.

After I deliver the birds I may just have to treat myself to one or two of those tamales next door the the Bad Girls booth -(h)mmmmm. While I enjoyed (LOVED!) the summer $ales of the Market every Saturday it was a HUGE commitment of my production time, my personal time and my brain-space. It was a tough juggle all summer and I also needed the help of Daddy-O

and Will every week to help me with set-up and take down. Trying to keep up with making enough inventory for the Market meant I wasn't able to keep the Galleries in enough art inventory. Trying to keep appearances constant, which is HUGE to help build customer loyalty by attending every Market Saturday meant I didn't get one day of fishing in or spend nearly as much time in Girdwood as my creative self needs for rejuvenation. One of the best parts of committing to the Market each Saturday was being able to meet my customers face-to-face, hear their feedback on my art and feel more in touch with what customers were saying. Another positive was that Derek and I developed several new friendships with other vendors and ate really well all summer by quadrupling our vegetable and fresh seafood intake!

Be Brave

Art making requires a certain amount of bravery. I feel to truly create art, an artist pushes their medium of choice. I was reflecting on Katie’s color bravery and how brave an artist needs to be to put their art out in the public eye for all to see (and critique) and for me, hopefully sell. When I started Blogging I was taken by how many potters share their firing schedules, or glaze recipes and bravely share their wins and losses. I also noticed how brave Linda Starr was in her clay work. Linda was trying different clays, finishes, textures and even barrel firings, publishing the good with the bad, publishing the truth. When I worked in clay I found I wasn’t brave enough to attempt new things. I wanted a “win” with every firing, a “sure thing.” I seemed to always have silly rules to what I could make and what I couldn’t make. That’s not true art making or pushing clay beyond the expected.

I’ve said before that I feel Clay is a fickle friend, even though when I work in the medium of clay I feel closer to the earth and art making. Unfortunately, what has restrained me is there seems to be no “sure-fire” –pun intended, guarantees to the making, glazing and firing cycles. For me that’s been the beauty of it and the angst of the medium of clay. Clay has taught me that patience pays off and also that potters are some of the most information sharing Bloggers I read. I’ve also confirmed that artists who choose to work in clay are some of the most underpaid. Working in clay is usually never about money –except how much supplies can cost, or how crazy shipping costs are to Alaska! Working in clay seems to be a passion to those who dedicate their art making to living the “potter’s life.” Opening the kiln after a firing (and forcing myself to wait until a proper cooling temp was reached) always seemed like Christmas morning and the added bonus was opening a kiln after a glaze firing and seeing the glazes sparkle like jewels in a cave. I even love seeing other potter’s kiln peek shots on Blog posts, I become giddy wanting to hold those warm pieces in my hands. While I may have the desire for clay, what’s been missing is the bravery. It’s been a difficult decision, but it’s time for me to move on from working in clay, give it a rest until I am able to more freely experiment, lift my self-imposed rules and be CLAY BRAVE.

My last firing included a large sculptural Raven, one of my fish heads and a mask -and it was SUCCESSFUL!

Gallery Palette

Last night we were able to start painting the newly prepped walls in Katie’s Gallery. Katie is much more color brave than I am! At the paint store she knew exactly what she wanted in terms of the paint colors for her new space. While I was leaning towards taupe neutrals, she picked colors like “Mexican Café Yellow” and “Reflecting Pool Blue” –and last night all are working together beautifully! It’s been fun to see the transformation of the new space. We’re hoping for an October 1, First Friday Grand Opening –barring any inspection issues with the Muni. On the positive, it’s an all licensed and professional crew that the building owner is using, and to keep costs down Katie (and volunteers) are helping with the minor decorating details. Speaking of volunteers –I have one sweet Art Husband, even on his birthday last night he knocked out an entire section of wall painting! Katie treated him to his favorite sweet from Cake Studio (the bakery next door to the new Gallery) after we finished and all three of us sat on the steps outside in the lovely evening air (no rain!!) and watched as people held their hands to the windows of the new space trying to get a peek at what new business was going in the building.

As the Spenard Farmers Market nears it’s final Saturday for me (this Saturday 8/28) it was time to deliver some new metal work up the Alaska State Fair, Bad Girls of the North booth. You’d never know Anchorage had set a rain record by the incredible blue skies we’ve had the last few days –let’s hope it holds for the Sate Fair! The Bad Girls booth is next to my all-time favorite food booth… TAMALES! I (heart) Tamales :o)

Willie’s new toy (tool) box arrived yesterday. He spent the afternoon unloading all the goodies that any mechanic (or artist) lusts after. I’m excited because whether

it’s cell phones, fishing gear or new tool boxes we always manage a way to get the hand-me-downs -and his “old” tool box is pretty sweet and looks fine right where it’s at –in our garage!

Rain Break

After 30+ days of rain (yes, Anchorage set a new precipitation record) the sun was shining last Wednesday, the first day back to school! We have had three days of seeing sunny weather and it was a welcomed sight -and feeling. Seems like the only thing that liked all of that rain were a the wildflowers and my planters on the deck in Gird. We needed to get a little p&q (peace & quiet) so we took a road trip to the house in Girdwood.... ahhhhh the p&q capitol of the world!

Change and transformation is in the air with the seasons, the weather and my art making...

SQUIRREL!!

Locker Angst

It’s Back To School Day and our youngest has always had a “nervous tummy.” Once on the way to the Alaska State Fair, and he was still young enough to ride in his car seat, he leaned out the window at the filling station and threw up because he was so excited to go on the rides. We are always careful not to create any additional anxiety before road trips, vacations or big social events. If he knows what the plans or schedule will be and what to expect all is well. Today is the first day of school for the Anchorage School District and the first day of Junior High can be a bit difficult to predict –especially since he’s gone to the same elementary school his entire life and due to the zoning splits, not all of his grade school buddies are going to the same Junior high as Gus. Yes, we went to the open house, registration and even did a run through of where his classes would be. What was probably creating the most anxiety for him was his locker. He has his combination and location down but his locker sticks and probably only opened 1 out of 8 times he tried it during registration. Though this was a step up from the first locker they issued him because all of the numbers had been scratched off that one and even after my Sharpie marker doctoring we gave up and requested another locker. After feeling like he was going to throw up no less than four times at home this morning, all is well and Gus is safely and happily at his first day of Junior High School. He even was able to open his locker on the third try and my Happy Mommy Dance could begin!

Fungus Among Us

The National Weather Service confirmed that Saturday was the 28th consecutive day of wet weather. There has been an average of 0.17 inches of precipitation every day. Anchorage tied the 1951 record of 27 straight days of precipitation Friday, but Saturday's rainfall beat that previous record and it's on again, off again rain today. Fortunately, most days start out partly sunny then turn cloudy and rainy by late afternoon. With all of the damp, soggy weather and cool gray skies, there is going to be some fun fungus among us! I had never heard of a "Fairy Ring" before but on a bike ride downtown this afternoon I saw these mushrooms forming several "rings" in front of this condo building and thought of a recent Blog post Linda wrote. Linda this Alaskan Fairy Ring is for you!

Movin' On Up

As I’m winding down the production of outdoor sculptures, I’m gearing up to make new interior wall sculptures. There are only three more Spenard Farmers Markets I’m committed to through the end of August. And just in time because I’ve been inspired to create a whole new collection of work to hang in my friend Katie Sevigny’s NEW GALLERY SPACE! Yes, Katie signed the lease on some killer space at 608 West 4^th Avenue, just up the Avenue from her current location. The new gallery will be located in a completely renovated building, next to the historic 4^th Avenue Theatre in downtown Anchorage. The beauty of the new space is there are soaring walls that are calling for Katie’s paintings and my metal art! The new location is perfectly suited for First Friday events as our nextdoor neighbor is Alaska Cake Studio Bakery. There is still the interior finish work to be completed by the landlord, a new art hanging system to be installed, painting, lighting and even a new sales counter that I’ll make a custom metal wrap for but it’s all so inspiring and exciting! We’re shooting for an October grand opening –if her collective group of talented artists can make enough art to fill those beautiful walls. Though judging by all of the artist buzz the new space has created, that shouldn't be a problem!

My friend Karla e-mailed me a photo of her sculpture purchase displayed in it’s new home. “Bird in the Tree” is about 4’ tall and was plasma cut and welded steel. I think it looks right at home ~ Thank you Karla!

Other good news is Gus passed his Yellow Stripe Taekwondo Belt exam at Champ Martial Arts Academy!

Birthday, Vegetables and Taekwondo, OH MY!

We had an event-filled Saturday! Celebrating National Farmers Market Week the Spenard Farmers Market had a fun Kids Day Saturday with demonstrations, games, activities and loads of HUGE, fresh veggies. Gus' entry "Spenard Plankton" won third place in the kids category but the best part was having the entire Market sing Happy Birthday to my 13 year old!

Brooke Hepinstall of WoolWood Studios and Garden, the original "Garden Tart" prepares to enter "Turnip-zilla" (which Gus named for her!) in the Vendor category of the Spenard Farmers Market Vegie Carving Contest -she went on to win first place with her blueberry eyed creation.

On Roulet, the Garden Manager at the Hotel Captain Cook gave a vegetable carving demonstration at the Market -can you believe she carved this all from VEGETABLES?!

Mark, Jae, Pat and On judge some of the entries in the "Spenard Veggie Head" vegetable carving contest.

Once again, Big Brother Will comes through and helps me set-up, work and take-down our Market booth AND takes his little brother Gus to test for his new Taekwondo belt Saturday. Then Will and his girlfriend Kimberly came to dinner and the movies (of course Gus wanted to see the new Karate Kid at Bear Tooth Theater Pub!) for Gus' birthday. I've got GREAT kids.

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!"

Our summer is all but over. I know because we registered Gus for school (junior high!) this week and we even knocked out the school supply list AND buying his new school clothes. Most of you know that I do the “Happy Mommy Dance” on the first day of school when I get the house and studio back to myself for a few hours a day… I love that Staples commercial where the parent is flying through the store on the handles of the shopping cart buying school supplies! That was me this week singing “it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Daddy-O turns into a pumpkin next Thursday when ASD teachers return to their classrooms to prepare for the students first day of school on August 18. Right now Derek is about as far north as you can get from his regular classroom, near the Beaufort Sea coast in Nuiqsut. He was selected to participate in the Alaska Humanities Forum Rose Urban Rural Exchange for teachers where they participate in teacher cross-cultural immersion and should return home next week, providing he doesn’t get weathered in…

Weather has been on every Alaskans mind –or at least the lack of sunny weather in Anchorage! This has been one of the rainiest summers on record and we even set a rain day record in July! All of the rain has definitely affected the Farmers Markets –when it’s sunny the vendors ROCK the sales, when it’s rainy I’m lucky I sell OUTDOOR art. I’ll probably be having my last Market day the last Saturday in August and the veggie vendors will sell through September. I’ve slowed down on the production of

garden art and outdoor sculptures, adjusting my production schedule with the changing color of the leaves. The large "Zen Chime" pictured above is one of the last big chimes I'm making for this year. I’m thinking of having a big sale the last day I’m at the Spenard Farmers Market of any remaining garden art. A break in the rain (for at least a few hours) enabled the concrete company to get the new sidewalk forms in at the Credit Union One building on the corner of Mt.View and Bragaw, where my 1% for Art sculpture “Bicycle Bloom” sculpture is scheduled to be installed. When I saw the footer for the sculpture I thought to myself “ahhh, the beginning of a flower bloom” and it finally seemed more like Spring than a cloudy, gray, wet and rainy summer.

Vegetables As An Art Medium?

They will be Saturday! The Spenard Farmers Market is celebrating National Farmers Market Week on Saturday, August 7. I’m a volunteer on the vendor and PR committees. Before I sent out a press release on our “Spenard Veggie Head” Vegetable Carving contest I needed a visual to send to the media… I pulled out my sgraffito tools and went to work on all Alaska Grown veggies. It’s harder than it looks but hopefully my creative veggie attempts will at least inspire some better entries! The Market will be featuring On Roulet, the Hotel Captain Cook Garden Manager who is a professional fruit and vegetable carver. Roulet, the Hotel Captain Cook Garden Manager earned the grand champion title at the 2010 Las Vegas Culinary Competition on the Food Network and has been selected to compete in October at the International Fruit and Vegetable Competition in Meaux, France. My little veg heads don’t have nothing on, On! Her work is FAB –I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures Saturday. If you’re in Anchorage, come by the Market and enter a “Spenard Veggie Head” entry by 1:00 pm and you just may win a gift certificate to Blaine’s Art Supply!

I finally got the new Plasma Cutter up and running –another steep (technical) learning curve. The new machine required additional electrical work in the shop and a new, larger air compressor –thanks Daddy-O, he always knows just what a girl needs. Here are some new images of the “Bone Fish” series I’ve plasma cut (with the new Thermal Dynamics cutter) and welded. I really like how they turned out. A little more rain will really get the natural rust patina going. Rain won’t be a problem here, with unseasonable cool and wet temps (we’re barely reaching 60 during the day), many Alaskans have wondered “what happened to our summer?!”

Before carving the veggies with my sgraffito tools, they were still warm from trying to wrap up my Clay & Blogs; Telling A Story pieces. I submitted my entry "Tree Spirit" image for the on-line portion of the Show but my cone 6 clear, matte glaze issues is giving me fits. The self-imposed pressure to create something beyond my clay talent scope is daunting. The invitation list is impressive and I probably need to chill a bit or I’m afraid I won’t have ANYTHING good enough to ship!