Archive for December, 2008
Giving PEACE a Glance in Northampton.
The Northampton, Mass. area in a wonderful little city full of art and artists, funky shops, and restaurants with food from around the globe. And so, as I seem to be on somewhat of a hiatus from clay right now, I would like to use this time to write about the people, places, and things in my new surroundings that inspire me.
The display window at The Artisan Gallery, on Main Street.
The merchants of downtown Northampton (known as NoHo to the locals) have teamed up this holiday season to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the peace sign, and to remind us all that peace is possible…even in an ever changing world. The peace sign was created in 1958 by artist Gerald Holtom in his West London studio. Holtom was a A conscientious objector objector to World War II, Holtom was drawn to the nuclear disarmament campaign by his general state of despair at the state of the world. His idea was simply to create a symbol based on the Naval sign language of semaphore, matching the ‘N’ for nuclear & a straight up-and-down ‘D’ for ‘Disarmament,’ with a circle around it. As is often the case at the beginning of great ideas, Holtom thought his symbol meaningless and felt it would never catch on. However, the symbol did “catch on” and has become as fmailiar to most of us as a stop sign. It has been made a part of protests and movements around the globe, and in these unsettled times has again risen as a symbol of what is possible if we are all willing to work together.
Display window at The Cedar Chest, in Thorne’s Marketplace.
A “Peaceful Tree” in the window of The Mountain Goat, on Main Street.
In celebration of the peace sign, and it’s significance to us all, the shops and businesses of Noho have fittingly chosen the Holiday Season to feature store front, and window displays incorporating this iconic symbol, and it’s various other incarnations…doves, words of peace, etc.
The display window at Guild Art Supply, on Main Street.
The display window at Pinch Gallery, on Main Street.
Space, Time and Ragamuffins!!
It has been such a very long time, and much has happened in my life, since my last post. This has partly been due to the hard work and exaughtion of moving and setting up house. However, I would be lying to myself if I said that the move was entirely to blame for my silence. I think it has more to do with my present studio situation…or the lack there of. Since I have not been able to work lately, it has been easier not to think about clay at all. It has been almost two months since I have had my hands in clay, and though I have kept myself busy, I am feeling the need to create in almost a visceral way.
But I must have faith in the powers that be! The search for studio space is still on, and I have my heart set on finding a place to work in The Cottage Street Studios building, in Easthampton, Mass. Of all the local artists space buildings, it is by far my favorite…and I have truly seen them all! The studios there are housed in a lovely old converted mill building full of character and history, and found among it’s many floors and winding hallways are some of the country’s top artists and fine craftspeople. The first two floors of the Cottage Street building are home to Riverside Industries. Also the owners of the building, Riverside Industries runs numerous programs geared at enriching the lives of mentally and developmentally disabled adults and children. For many years Riverside Industries and the artists of One Cottage Street have worked together in a symbiotic relationship that benefits both them and the larger community of the Pioneer Valley.
The Cottage Street Building.
An RSI artist with his work.
Finally, I want to share with everyone the inspiration for actually taking to the keyboard, and setting myself on a path once again. This past weekend my husband and I took a short drive over to Pittsfield, Mass, in order to attend Crispina Ffrench‘s open studio event. A celebrated textile artist living and working in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains, Crispina invited a handful of local artisans to her studio for informal craft sale and get together. Having been a fan of Crispina’s work for many years, which consists of wonderful blankets, scarves, dolls, and other goods made from recycled sweaters, I was quite star-struck when I finally got the opportunity to meet her. But she was just as lovely as her work, and I came away inspired by her pieces, and by the level of success she has acheived…plus, I am now the proud owner of one of her “Ragamuffin Bunnies!”
Ragamuffin Bunny!!
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