Art Making For a Cause -New Metal Sculptures for the Alaska SeaLife Center and KNBA

 Making "Art for the Sea!" Bid high and bid often at the Alaska SeaLife Center 2014 Blue Tie Gala Feb. 15 at the Dena'ina Center Anchorage -"Within the Sea" plasma cut and welded steel seal, 60" w x 34" tall, original wall sculpture. https://alaskasealife.ejoinme.org/?tabid=506057
This is a wonderful event that benefits one of my favorite places to find inspiration, The Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, AK. VIP Trips with Seals, Sea Lions, Otters and More -The Alaska SeaLife Center Gala ("Blue Tie" event Feb. 15 -Dena'ina Center ANC) LIVE Auction Items are now posted! https://alaskasealife.ejoinme.org/?tabid=506057

Happy to share my other latest metal sculpture by making "Art for Music" for the upcoming KNBA Art Auction, Feb. 20. "Rhythm Ribbon Seal" is 54" w x 32" t plasma cut and welded steel with heat treated details and embellished with glass beads strung on copper wire. This Seal will be part of the Silent Auction. http://nativeartauction.org/

There's Gold in Them Thar' Gardens!

Tis' the season. After a record setting hot sunny summer the weather seems to be morphing into a new season. Yellow has started to appear in the garden signaling the time to start smoking the salmon -thanks to neighbors Tim and Lee's huge smoker and vacuum sealer they let us use. It's time to share the garden with family and friends and putting up the bounty of summer for the winter soon to come.  Seems like Daddy-O just built the new garden beds for us.

I made a new sculpture to go with the new deck rail panels!

 The front seascape wall sculpture features an octopus, seal, halibut with kelp, starfish and a crab. I used a clear coat on some of the components so they will remain shiny and the other parts will develop a nice rust patina. With the recent rain the railing and the sculpture pieces are rusting well.

 These were the elements I plasma cut and welded up for the seascape sculpture for the front of the house. It was so large that I used chalk to draw the shape of the chimney out on the driveway and arranged and welded the pieces as I went -it worked out great!

 Daddy-O finished the new front porch, steps and even put in a brick patio that is level with the front lawn.  I welded up new railing panels for our sturdy new stairs and we really enjoyed having lunch and dinner outside watching the garden transform itself all summer.

Black Tie, the Beach and Betting

Date night! Daddy-O and I are attending the Black-tie, Sixth Annual Raven's Ball this weekend!  I've donated a large, steel seal wall sculpture "Natchiq" for the live auction fundraiser that benefits the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Damn, Daddy-O looks good in a TUX, mmmm!

After that little bit of welding OUTSIDE in the snow,  I was more than ready for some SUN.

No, global warming hasn't hit ALASKA but I was fortunate to be able to take a quick work-related trip to Las Vegas for a conference and soak up the 80 degree temps -it didn't take but a couple of hours for my winter-white skin to roast but it felt great!

And of course we didn't win one cent in Vegas but stopped by Seattle/Sequim on the way back to Anchorage to see the family and WON on my last dollar at the 7 Cedars Casino!!  

LOVE THIS campaign and had to share this from the College for Creative Studies:

Point Five Seconds of Fame -I'll take it!

TAA-DAA! Look, there it is, quick, look, there it is again! Don't blink or you will miss my sculptures popping in and out of several short scenes of “Baby Geniuses and the Mystery of the Crown Jewels” 

About a year ago I received an e-mail from a set director working on a feature film. In the subject line was “your work in film.” The e-mail said “I'd like to feature your work in some upcoming feature films. Please call me. Thanks.” How could I not be intrigued (and flattered)?! The sender had seen my work at the gallery downtown and after a brief conversation and description of the film, I was told what the set director was looking for. I was asked to make a creative looking desk gadget or sculpture, using things “just found lying around in my shop” –something that a “unique” scientist would have sitting on his desk. I wasn’t told much more until a few months after the film was shot. I had forgotten about the project until Daddy-O had read a small press release in the local newspaper and said “hey that movie that you made the props for is out on “pay for view.”  The movie, “Baby Geniuses and the Mystery of the Crown Jewels” was made in Alaska by John Voight and both of my props were supposedly used. Even though IMDb only gave the film 1.9 stars, you would have thought we were watching the academy awards when we spotted my little sculptures in the background! Throughout the movie we were all shouting “there they are!” and “I saw them again!” Truthfully, we needed to pause, rewind, slow and rewind several times because they were appearing in a blink! Finally, I was able to capture a quick digital picture of my cool little sculptural gadgets “Cameo” appearances! 

 These were the two props in production last year. An electrician on the movie set added power so they would blink. the large orb is a rubber ball I found at the toy store - several of us thought it was the coolest part of my props!

"Hey boys! Dinner is going to be late Mommy is welding!"

The Steel Seal is finished! I'm donating it to the KNBA Art Auction. It's about 68" long by 30" tall, plasma cut and welded black iron, heat treated details with a clear coat finish and embellished with glass beads strung on copper wire.

Rewards of Repair

Look what my client gave me for repairing her GEESE! My very own FAB Skhoop swag! In Alaska Skhoop skirts are worn by wise outdoor chicks who want to keep their bums toasty-warm… I’ve never treated myself to a Skhoop Skirt, BUT NOW I am the proud owner of a VERY CHIC Skhoop VEST! My client is the proprietress in Alaska for Skhoop and she thought I was more suited to a Skhoop VEST –and she was right! I love it, and the SOCKS and the way-cool HAT too! Thank you Osa! Here is a story about Osa bringing Skhoop to Alaska. Want to get Skhooped(?) -here is where to find it!

Another customer called and wanted to know if I could add some color to their Seal wall sculpture. “Sure!” I said –they already owned several of my seascaped themed pieces like the Octopus sculpture where I had painted starfish, kelp and other components, and wanted their Seal piece to match the others. I had my enamel paints unpacked from repairing the geese so it was easy-beasy. The enamel paint will take about 5 days for the enamel to dry and then it will be ready to go home.

Yesterday I was the volunteer Market Manager at the Spenard Farmer’s Market –mainly because Daddy-O and I stayed in town for the long weekend and won’t be going out of town anytime soon with all of the house repairs we (he) is starting on!  Aren’t these Quail eggs beautiful?! I bought them from a young vendor not only to support the youthful entrepreneur but because they were so wonderful looking. His family raises Quail here in Anchorage and rather than use them in an art piece I’ve offered them to my friend Margaret. She’s going to do right by the eggs and is breaking out her Julia Child cookbook. Have you had Quail eggs before? Any other ideas for their use? The vendor will be back next week and I’d like to support him again.