Thursday, May 8, 2008

In Confusion and Doubt

The next piece in the queue is whole cloth. I've painted and printed on top of dye-printing. This is a detail.

Today two of my studio mates also raised a new design wall, so we will have double the space to work. This is good. In my dreams we all have room to keep work-in-progress up all the time. I love to leave stuff on the wall, to get a fresh look each time I walk in.

There's been a lot of talk among colleagues and on one of my Lists about identity: both external (branding) and internal (focus). My own imagery keeps coming back to scratchy, drawing-like elements: text, tree branches, the human form. I work a lot with rectangles. I think about fragility, time, the shortness of a human life. I'm not sure how this resolves into an Identity.

So I took special solace to hear a discussion today on the radio about the new book Off the Page, about writers on writing. The writers talked repeatedly about how you just need to keep working. Richard Bausch teaches his students "You're supposed to be confused. I tell them not to trust it if it feels too easy." Think of it as your day job, he said, and persist in good times and bad. "Every book I've ever written was written a little at a time, over time, in tremendous confusion and doubt."

Monday, May 5, 2008

SOLD

Working the Spring Awards Show in Weston Saturday, I had the wonderful experience of watching my work be sold. Someone who was in town for a visit stopped by and fell in love with this piece. I loved it too, and I'm glad I got to meet the woman who took it home.

The good news carried me right through the absolute bust of a rainy quiet open house in Lowell the next day. Seems that everyone stayed home in their jammies to read the paper and watch the Celtics on TV. The artists had a good time talking to each other. Hope springs eternal.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Two shows in Two days

Three of my pieces are at the Weston Arts and Crafts Association 2008 Spring Awards Show & Sale Friday and Saturday, at the Josiah Smith Tavern and Barn in Weston Center. Hours on May 2 are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, when I'll be there, so stop by and say hello!

Saturday and Sunday Western Avenue Studios will have a two day Spring Fling. The studios will be open, the artists will be in. Come visit, and make sure you stop by studio #512: Lowell Fiber Studio on the fifth floor (yes, there's an elevator!). We've been doing a lot of work, improving our space and making art. We even created a lounge just for you. You'll enjoy what you see.