Bunnell's Plate Project Comes To Anchorage

Anyone who visits the scenic, seaside art town of Homer, Alaska, usually does for two good reasons, Halibut Fishing and Gallery Hopping, and not in that order! I love Homer, Art patrons love Homer and other Artists love Homer. There are many Galleries to visit along the Spit and along the main street, Pioneer Avenue where my work is featured at the Fireweed Gallery. Another one of my favorite shops along Pioneer Avenue is Blackberry Bog.  Gina Hollomon sent me this postcard announcing that the famous Bunnell Street Art Center  near Bishop's Beach in Homer, will have the 2009 Plate Project travel to Anchorage April 17 - 27 at Out North. There will be an Opening Friday, April 17th, from 5 -7 PM. 

The Plate Project is Bunnell Street Arts Center's Annual Membership Drive, coordinated by the very talented Ahna Iredale since 1994. Plates may be selected with memberships from $100 to $1,000. A membership to the Bunnell nurtures and supports innovative art in all media for diverse audiences. If you can't make the Plate sale, at least check out what the Bunnell offers and take a moment to look at Ahna's latest body of work decorated with clay from Kachemak Bay using sgrafitto (I've seen various spellings of this) technique.

OK, since I was shamelessly Blogging about HOMER, Alaska, I thought I should promote the BEST Halibut Charter outfit

-our friends Geri and Sean at North Country Charters! This is me and my bestest friend Patty (after my Show opening last fall at Fireweed Gallery), us girls SMOKED all of the guys on the boat! I even caught the largest Halibut, AND the whole boat limited out -thanks to Captain Sean, who always knows where the fish are. Mmmmmm....Halibut Tacos!

The cool ocean (shop) floor

The sea life components that were plasma cut before the FLU took hold, finally got welded up. The FLU has retreated and I was able to get back to do a little production. I used some of Gus' sidewalk chalk and drew my own "ocean floor" as the pieces were cooling. The warm(er) temps and sunball that is finally higher on the horizon must have inspired me to think about warm, ocean water. After some beadwork embellishment and other small finishing details, these sculptures will be going to Fireweed Gallery in Homer along with a few other sculptures.

I love these little branches that I welded up. Truthfully, I wanted to take a break and get out in the sunshine to take a picture! They were made using cold-rolled steel round stock that starts in 10-20' lengths. After I hand bend the steel, they're cut on the chop saw, assembled and welded up. My favorite part is making a branch-like texture using my wirefeed welder and applying a rust patina. I thought the branches would be great for some of the clay components I've been working on. My hands are definitely due to be back into some clay. 

Denizen of the Deep Blue Sea

This is one piece I was getting ready to pack up to ship to Fireweed Gallery in Homer and thought I’d get a quick shot of it first. It is a plasma cut and welded steel wall sculpture of one of my favorite subjects, sea life. At 42” wide x 15” tall it is a little smaller than I normally work, but this time of year the customer base will be more locals than visitors and the pricing needs to be sensitive to the season. I will send the Gallery some other fun, smaller works, maybe even some of the new clay work in time for Valentines Day shoppers. Art always makes the best gift to those you LOVE!