For the Birds

Pictured above is the Bird TLC Administrative Assistant Monique, holding the Raven sculpture for the upcoming fundraiser.

When I’m working on a special project or commission, if I’m able to I will make two originals. Each slightly different and still original but taking the pressure off me to have that one piece be just right. I stress over special pieces and commissions. While making a sculpture for the Bird Treatment and Learning Center 2011 “For The Birds” fundraiser, that’s just what I did. I made a Two Raven sculptures for the auction and another for Katie’s Gallery, letting each one “speak to me” on where they should each go. I also finished up a large corporate commission this week but I didn’t think it would be cool to Blog about it (though I really wanted to!)… I feel weird asking clients “do you mind if I blog and blab to the world about this really cool project you just paid me to do for you?!” Some people clearly are not comfortable with blogging and I can totally respect that.

The best part about making the sculpture to donate to the Bird TLC was being able to deliver it to the Center! I got the chance to see one of my favorite birds “Kodi” or “Kodiak the Cache Crow” as he known by many. “Kodi” is originally from Kodiak, Alaska and due to an injury is unable to return to the wild but spends his days COMFORTABLY at the Bird TLC also acting as an ambassador of sorts for the Center. Kodi is trained to take paper money and drop it into the donation jar (he was too fast for my camera!) to the delight of donors watching! This last summer Kodi was supposed to come to the Spenard Farmers Market but was unable to make an appearance due to a not very public appropriate molting issue… Tickets are still available (they sell out fast!) so mark your calendar for March 18^th at the Anchorage Hilton to attend the “For the Birds” Auction for the Bird TLC and bid on my Raven sculpture! With the additional support from the auction the Center will continue to provide primary medical care and rehabilitation for sick, injured, or orphaned wild birds; and provide environmental

education for the public through live wild bird programs. The Spenard Farmers Market will also host a Bird TLC Day this summer on Saturday, June 25 where you can meet some of the Center’s most beautiful inhabitants up close! Here is also a link to the Bird TLC blog.

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!

Cross Country Snow

It seemed this week that white was the color seen across the country. With power outages, closures and freezing temps, some artists in the South were not pleased. Rather than post more beautiful Northern winter images, here is one reminding me that green will soon be seen here in Alaska. And as requested, this is the famous Tauzer Schnauzer last summer covered in grass seed after a romp along Glacier Creek.

Yesterday I delivered some donation pieces around town

for various fundraising auctions. It was a pleasure to get out and see where other people work and was a good reminder of how hard it is for non-profits to sustain their efforts. One of my favorite stops was at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center. I donated a Raven Wall Sculpture for their upcoming "For The Birds" event on March 21. I met the coolest Black Crow (not to be confused with a Raven) who is an education bird for the Center. He was so beautiful, all black and shiny, his intelligence and incredible beauty inspired me to create a future piece of art of him! 

This may be a secret surprise for the upcoming fundraiser, but a handler at Bird TLC was teaching the Crow to take dollars and drop them into a container!! The Crow was getting so good at it he didn't want to stop -who wouldn't, the reward was fresh meal worms. The folks at Bird TLC are calling him their "Cash Crow!"

A Visit From the Magical Raven

Look who was looking at me! An unusual visitor landed on the deck railing. A big, beautiful, black Raven sat looking at me for a minute or so, (long enough for me to get a picture through the window), cocking its head, bobbing it beak, then flew softly away. We have three, tube-style bird feeders hanging from the Log eve, directly above where the Raven landed. The winter-only feeders frequented by many species of Alaska birds include, Nuthatch, Black Capped Chickadees, Grosbeaks and other smaller song birds. Looking out our huge cabin windows, I love to watch the feeders while working at my laptop. Today, a large nomadic group of Bohemian Waxwings were high in the Spruce, flying, eating and swirling all in concert. It was magical.

Ravens are very popular in Alaska. Many Native Alaska beliefs depict the Raven as the “trickster” spirit and play an important part as spirit beings in Northwest mythology. Many people have a special affection for Ravens including myself. The steel Raven wall sculptures I make are customer favorites at the Galleries. I plasma cut the birds and leaves, hand bend the steel branches, weld the wings and then the birds to the branches. I like to finish the pieces with One Shot sign painters enamel paint. These are pictures of wall sculptures that are drying and I just finished embellishing the beak with red glass beads on copper wire to look like a fresh picked berry.

Here are a couple links to the Bird Treatment and Learning Center and the Alaska Bird Observatory which we support.