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.

Psyching Out Rejection

I’m hoping I haven’t set myself up for the rejection trifecta. The good news is my feeling of accomplishment is pushing all of my self-doubt and negative thoughts aside for the time being –well at least until the end of March. I submitted my Individual Artist Project Grant proposal on Monday, my four submissions (the maximum) to the Anchorage Museum All Alaska Juried Show on Tuesday and my “Good Fortune Pea Pod” design to the The Guild and Artful Home 2010 Call for Ornaments Tuesday night. Whew! Notification for grant recipients won’t be for a couple of months. The artists are notified if they’ve been considered for the All Alaska Show on April 1 and The Guild will notify artists by March 29. As many of you know I don’t take rejection well. The All Alaska Juried Show can even be a bit of a psyche out, due to the fact you can be asked to submit the ACTUAL art based on the digital images you first

submitted, but the juror (this year it is Michael Darling of the Seattle Art Museum) may still reject your work. This has happened to three of my friends, which I find even worse than the “thanks, but no thanks” rejection letter. Rejection seems to put me in a funk that cuts into my artmaking time, so the last couple of years I’ve limited my exposure to the possibility of rejection. What’s different this time is I have many other positive things going on. Sounds simple, but it’s true. For me, artmaking is very emotional and I’m not an artist who makes her best art when she’s angry or sad –well at least the type of art that will pay the bills. I’m saving making art that expresses anger, sadness and lots of black for some future solo exhibition at an obscure New York or Eastern Block European Gallery. I actually have a lot of vivid imagery and ideas

I’ve stowed away and am waiting for all of the kids to be out of the house, graduated and to be self sufficient so I don’t embarrass or cause potential employment problems for them.

Helping me to stay happily busy is knowing my work found a new home at my friend Katie Sevigny’s Studio in downtown Anchorage. The photo is one I took this fall of her storefront. It’s not that I didn’t have anywhere to go after Half Moon closed in Anchorage, I just wasn’t feeling the love anywhere like I do with Katie, she’s tallented, energetic and super friendly with all of her customers. I even have a commission (after day two in the Gallery!) from one of Katie’s customers for some Ravens. Rather than painting the Ravens as I normally do, the customer requested that the Ravens be heat treated, and I have to say I like the effect. I made two different wall sculptures, each about 4', one horizontal and one vertical that the customer can choose from. I’m also working on 3 pieces for the Artique Gallery “Here Comes Spring” garden themed group show, opening April 2. I’d like to have some of my pods turn out FAB so I can mix them with a little welded steel for that Show. We’ll see, I should be able to fire a ^6 load next week –I’m being really, really patient and letting the new round of pods and “Sedna” masks dry nice and s-l-o-o-o-w. The other fun projects I have on the production schedule are two pieces for the 3^rd Annual Salvation Army "Transformed Treasures" event. This is a fundraiser where we “transform” items

we find at the Thrift Store into works of Art. The "Transformed Treasures" luncheon, silent and live auction will be May 1^st 11:30 - 1:30. Tickets sell out quickly and are $30.00 per person or $300 for a table of ten. If your in town and interested, please call Diane at The Salvation Army 907-276-2515.

What’s fun about this event is the camaraderie and seeing all of the “before” pictures and “after” works of art. I'm easily inspired by the very ingenious people who participate. I’m showing you my “before” pictures of a wooden bank and a wonderful relief of St. Peter I bought at the Thrift Store for under $3. The wooden bank will become a bird house with welded steel topiary frame and St. Peter is going to be Transformed into an outdoor garden shed wall sculpture with welded vines and leaves and a rust patina. The best part about donating to this cause is there’s no chance of rejection!