Watering the Soul

My favorite Garden event has come and gone. As the Volunteer Art Show Coordinator, I was pleased to see the last of the sculptures loaded out of the Alaska Botanical Garden Fair and Outdoor Art Show yesterday under wet, gray skies but the positive comments on the art kept my disposition sunny. There was even an opportunity for me to do some Plein Air work on Saturday while I was art sitting the Show. A bit out of practice but painting and drawing out in the fresh

garden air actually felt like I was replenishing my soul. I sold two of my three sculptures, “Crescent Moon” was delivered last night and I will deliver “Lambelia” to the Lowenfel’s house today. The event sold more works than last year and judging from the comments and voting for the People’s Choice Award, the show has evolved to feature more confident and professional works of art. Congratulations to Marieke’s “Karmic Instructions” win

ning the 2010 People’s Choice Award. Click here for a copy of the sculpture Artists brochure I put together for the Show and here for the painters/mixed media brochure. “Solstice Love” is still for sale but there were two customers who wanted to find just the right place it in their garden before committing to buying. The sculpture has a relative small footprint but needs a lot of space for good visual placement at 73” wide x 85” tall x 45” deep. This year the trend seemed to be more gardeners but gardens and landscaping being done in smaller spaces. Overall budgets were also a bit smaller than in

years past and much consideration and more thoughtful conversations were taking place before purchases. A big help this year (especially for Daddy-O who has been the Show's muscle every year!) was the youthful strength of the 9-Star volunteers helping customers and artists haul out the sculptures via 4 wheeler. No rest for me today though, I’ve got to replenish Katie’s Gallery with works as she has sold out(!) and the Spenard Farmers Market awaits us this Saturday… m-u-s-t g-o t-o t-h-e s-h-o-p and c-u-t the m-e-t-a-l then w-e-l-d the m-e-t-a-l…

Thought you'd like to see Gina Hollomon's large, pit fired "Berry Patch Bear" at the Alaska Botanical Garden Show.

For a contrast to the green, lush, warm Garden, Kristen sent us the latest pictures from the top of the world. Their captain gave everyone “Ice Liberty” in the Arctic! She said she and fellow grad students really enjoyed the experience. The man with the gun that Kristen is “strong arming” with is one of four official Polar Bear watchmen –fortunately, his “expertise” was not needed… Here is a great link showing more of NASA’s Arctic Ice 2010.

El Gaucho

"El Gaucho" Gus at the Olympic Lavender Farm during the Lavender Festival last weekend in Sequim, WA

Supplies are low and production and motivation needs to be high. I didn’t feel the need to have large amounts of steel, wire and round stock on hand right before we left on our trip so I let my supplies run to an all-time low. Not such a good idea when you return and need to hit the ground running!

I’ve spent the last couple of days, getting pieces delivered, confirming orders, finishing up a large commission piece and generally trying to get back into the swing of things. I think my body enjoyed the time off with my family and the warm sunshine a little too much… Today I spent the morning at the steel shop getting base plates punched for mounting bolts on a large outdoor commission piece. “Dancers” will be a memorial sculpture at a local spiritual center and part of 

a new outdoor garden area. I’m also working on some new wind salmon, but had to get more wire and swivels. I love making these driftwood salmon. Hopefully I’ll have enough on hand for the next 

G Street Artist Fair I’m participating in on August 15^th. I'm keeping positive thoughts that there will be enough advertising on the Fair to let people know that the August 15th event will be the last one. I think I'll send out and post cards a couple of weeks before -yikes that's just around the corner(!)

Look at the flowers that bloomed in my garden while we were away! My boys (xox) did a good job of watering, especially during Alaska's record setting heat. The Dahlia’s are from tubers my Mom sent from WA to my best friend Pat this Spring and Pat planted a few of them in large pots for me! The pink and white Peonies are very old and were t

ransplanted from my Grandfather’s house several years ago. My Peonies and Dahlia’s are not even close in size to the ones my Mom can grow. When I was taking pictures of the flowers in my garden I couldn't help but look at the color palette in each of the photos. I would like to experiment and work with these colors either in painting, fabric, or even in glazes. Hmmm, sounds like I already have to start a "want to-do" art  list for this winter.