Over the past few weeks, I have been quite busy with other things, a trip to Ohio, gardening, a new little doggy friend, in short…life.  Because of these things, I have not participated in the Illustration Friday challenges recently.  However, I did create a piece that I think fits just perfectly with this week’s theme.  The topic this week is “Adapt,” and my interpretation of it is pictured below.

Adapt

On the first night of our first visit to the Western Mass area, while we were house hunting in fact, Scott and I ate at a cozy little deli/cafe in Amherst called The Black Sheep Deli.  The food was great, the people were super-cool, and the atmosphere was very laid back.  We have gone back for lunch many times since then, and each time has been a wonderful experience.  Recently, we stopped in for lunch, after checking out the yummy treats at The Amherst Farmer’s Market.  On this trip I happened to take special notice of the lovely black sheep themes art in the cafe, and was inspired to create a black sheep piece of my own.

This piece, entitled “Black Sheep’s Baking Day,” features an apron clad black sheep happily baking up a storm.  An image of this collage is pictured here, along with some scenes from The Black Sheep Deli.  If you happen to be in the Amherst area, be sure to stop in for a bite…you won’t be disappointed!  Oh, one more thing…anyone who takes the time to leave me a comment on this post from now until June 6th, 2009 will be entered to win a print of “Black Sheep’s Baking Day!”  Good luck!

I realize that I have been somewhat quiet here of late.  My site is still in a transition phase from clay work to cut paper collage, and so it has been difficult for me to gather up much blogging inspiration.  However, I did see a tiny piece on The Today Show that kind of got me thinking about my definitions of art.  This spot featured a guy who, using an MRI scanner, had taken pictures of various objects.  According to the about section of his website, www.radiologyart.com,  “Artist and medical student Satre Stuelke founded the Radiology Art project to explore the hidden contents and structures of everyday things. Dedicated to the deeper visualization of various objects that hold unique cultural importance in contemporary society, this project intends to plant a seed of scientific creativity in the minds of all those inclined to participate.”His subject matter ranges from TV dinners to toasters to toys, and he invites anyone with access to an MRI scanner to submit their own images to the project.

I have always been kind of on the fence when it comes to calling work like this “art.”  I am whole-heartedly in favor of finding new ways to make art, exploring uncharted artistic territory, and just following one’s whims.  However, I have always questioned art of the type Mr. Stuelke is making as not exactly coming from the maker’s heart…I mean these are simple, everyday objects viewed in a different way.

TV Dinner

But as I thought more and more about this work, I began to realize that this is really what is at the core of all art…the ability to allow the viewer to see things in a new way.  For a clay artist it might be a certain glaze, or an exciting way of placing a handle, for a photographer it could be something as simple as an angle or point of view, or a painter could use the rich layers of pigment to let us see an everyday object in an entirely new light.  And so, I applaud Mr. Stuelke is his endeavors to show us how, if seen in an enlightening new way,  a TV dinner can be beautiful, and a toaster can enthrall us!

Toaster

This weekend I will be participating in the Northampton, Massachusetts Pride Day Parade and Celebration. This event, held this year on Saturday, May 2, 11am-5pm, is an annual rally celebrating diversity and equal rights for everyone.  There will be stage acts, presentations, a parade, food, activities for children, non-profit information tables, and vendor booths…definitely something for everyone.

I Will Love You With Flowers In My Hair

I will have booth in the vendor’s area, where I will sell note cards, greeting cards, and prints based on my collage images.  I am very excited to have the opportunity to participate in Pride Day, and I have even created two collages especially for this great event with images celebrating same sex marriage.  As a way to give back, and be a part of a greater cause, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds from these cards to White Knot.org, an organization working towards upholding the legalization of marital rights for all couples.  If you live in the Pioneer Valley, please stop by and see me at Pride Day…if not, please visit WhiteKnot.org or Northampton Pride.org to find out more about these great organizations!

A Toast to Our Love

I am busy at work creating pieces celebrating same sex marriage for the Northampton, Mass. Pride Day Festivities. However, I did make time for this week’s Illustration Friday topic.  The theme this time around is “Fleeting,” and what could be more fleeting than those precious little moments spent doing comforting work with the ones we love?

As promised, I am keeping up my participation in the design challenges posted on the wonderfully inspiring Illustration Friday website.  This week’s theme is “Poise” and you will find my interpretation of this topic below.

My first encounter with Handmade Nation was at Haystack Mountain School of Craft in 2007.  As part of our discussion on the process of creation, and how this process has evolved for the new millennium, Ayumi Horie showed our group a trailer for the Handmade Nation film.  I was blown away by the talented artists featured in this small clip and came home wanting to learn more.  However, at that time the film was still in production, and so I kept an ear out for any news of it’s release date.

Fast forward to this past January…my husband and I were browsing in a local bookshop, and I happened upon the recently published companion book Handmade Nation…The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design.  I brought the book home and read it cover to cover!  This fantastic book discusses such issues as craftivism (craft + activism,) craft as religion, and the myriad roles the internet has played in the renewed interest in all things handmade (including the role of Etsy in this revolution.)  Not only does the book include wonderful interviews and bios for some of the best and brightest stars of the indie craft world, it is also a terrific resource for forward thinking crafters, listing websites, community connections, shows, and organizations.  Thank you to authors and film-makers Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl for giving voice to this hip new generation of crafters!

The book is available at Amazon.com, and the movie is out in limited release across the country…read it, watch it, be a part of it!

A while back, I ran across a wonderful website showcasing the work of talented artists and illustrators called Illustration Friday.  The site was created by Penelope Dullaghan and Brianna Privett as a weekly illustraion challenge.  Each week a topic is chosen from a pool of ideas submitted by past participants and illustrators are asked to submit a piece that illustrates the week’s topic.  The topics are never hard and fast themes and leave tons of room for individual interpretation; past examples include legendary, time, and pale.

As a way to challenge myself and provide new inspiration for my cut paper collages, I have decided to participate in Illustration Friday.  The topic for this week is “Subtract,” and you will find my submission below.

It’s been a long winter here in the northeast; and particularly so for me, as I have wrestled with the life changes brought about by our recent move.  However, on Saturday the sun was shining, the snow was melting, and the temperature was a balmy 50 degrees, so Scott and I decided to check out the 21st Annual Spring Sheep Shearing at Winterberry Farm.

Begun in 1985 by Jim Lyons and Jill Horton-Lyons, Winterberry Farm is a small family farm that raises sheep, goats, various kind of poultry, angora rabbits, and the occasional pig.  They also teach a few classes for both children and adults in wool related fields such as spinning and felting, as well as offering clinics which give people the basics on what it takes to be a sheep farmer.  Nestled in a clearing amid tall trees, the farm is situated off of a dirt road just outside of Amherst, Mass.

As we walked up the path, we were greeted by the loud honking of a small flock of geese…one of their number had gotten separated from the group.  We then freely wandered about the pens and outbuildings where we saw everything from a days old baby lamb to a couple of tom turkeys intent on strutting their stuff.  Soon we came to the main event; the shearing shed had drawn a crowd and the master shearer spoke to the audience on different aspects of his job as he worked.

The Shearing Day was both a wonderful way to spend an early spring day, and an opportunity to take a glimpse inside a real working family farm.  I encourage everyone to make time to get out there and visit a farm in your own area…maybe you will be inspired to make something from farm grown wool, eat some homegrown food, or at least think about where these things come from.

A gaggle of geese to greet us!

Me is the sunshine with a new friend.

Lovely, brightly colored wools for sale.

The master shearer at work.

It occurs to me that, given the current state of our economy, and the mounting push to focus less on material goods, we as artists and craftspeople might want to consider more carefully our contribution to the overall surplus of “things” in the world.  What impact do our “products” have on the environment?  Do we need to be especially vigilant with our work habits, making sure we are focusing on quality rather than quantity?  Where do we find the line between satisfying that inherent need to make things with the essential ability to edit our work, so that the items we do send out into the world retain meaning for both the maker and the end user?

These are questions we all must face at one time or another, and for me, they often lead to doubts about my own work and even my choice to make my living as an artist.  However, the other day I received a gift that reminded me just how important “things” can be to us.  My time at Watershed this past summer was very special to me; I met wonderful people, had once in a lifetime experiences, and made connections that I hope will extend many years into the future.  And so, when the time came for my husband and I to leave Maine, it was very difficult for me to say goodbye…and it hasn’t gotten any easier.  I had even gone so far as to put away pictures from this summer, just to stop myself from thinking about Maine too much.

But on December 20th, our 11th wedding anniversary, my husband gave me a wonderful little teapot made by Tyler Gulden, which reminded me how important it is to rely on our memories and how certain objects can represent those special times in our lives.  Because not only is this particular teapot special to me because it was made by a wonderful potter and dear friend, but it happened to have been fired at Watershed during a firing Tyler and I worked on together.

So as I consider the afore mentioned questions again, I think that this is what we are often making: keepsakes, items to represent a certain time is one’s life.  Maybe it’s a handmade mug that fits perfectly in the hand which will always remind you of that lovely trip to the country on a fall day, or perhaps it’s a special piece of handmade jewelry to commorate a new addition to your family…or, as in my case, a sweet little teapot to remind me of a very special summer.