Phipps. Again.

Us

One of my favorite places on earth is the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA. We went to visit some friends there over the weekend, and as usual, ended up at Phipps. They were in the midst of their spring flower show and it was glorious. Especially the room filled with daffodils and hyacinths. Aaaaaaahhhhh!

Chihuly glass among the foliage

I've never been one of glassmaker Dale Chihuly's biggest fans, but his work, set into the landscape, is stunning. One of his sculptures or bowls set out by itself looks like a fish out of water. Once it is set into foliage or a landscape, it is transformed.

More Chihuly

In the Orchid Room - Glass figure by Hans Gogo Frabel.

Several of Frabel's people were scattered about. Unfortunately, none of the other photos turned out very well. Set in the ponds and walking along branches, these figures were fascinating. I wish I could go and visit them again tomorrow.

Where is my teleportation pod?!?

Signs of the Times XXI and XXII

Signs of the Times XXI, 6 x 6"

Signs of the Times XXII, 6 x 6"

Still focusing on Detroit, MI, in these two pieces. I'm about out of map and text for that city and will have to move on to something else.

I found a cool map of Kansas City on Ebay or Etsy last week. I went to buy it and the seller was only accepting checks or money orders. I ended up not buying it. How lazy is that? Perhaps now that the weather is warming up and I'm coming out of my winter stupor, I will feel invigorated enough to get out the checkbook.

I'm back to my blues and browns in these and the next couple of pieces. I have also made two for a commission for a friend who used to live in NYC. I found the best map a few months ago. The blues in these pieces are inspired by that old map.

These two pieces are now available on Etsy.

Listening to Elis (Not Elvis)

I just came across this YouTube video on the Fiber Focus blog.



Elis Regina is one of my favorite singers. A Brazilian, Elis sings in Portuguese, a language of which I can understand almost nothing. This matters little to me as her voice is more like musical instrument. Perhaps I should state everything in the past tense. Elis died in 1982 at the age of 36.

Three years ago, I was inspired to create a piece based on her beautiful voice.

Elis, 24 x 20"

No doubt, this does not well enough capture her rich, clear voice.

I'm debating a change of tunes in the CD player to include her. I'm just worried that if I do, that will be the end of the Signs of the Times series. I am much too affected by music when I work. I will listen to the same CDs over and over again until a piece or series is finished.

Are others as affected as I am by music when they create?

Survivor, Kim Hambric Style

I've heard tales of a television show about people dropped off in rainforests or deserted islands with only the clothes on their backs and large attitudes. They are left to fend for themselves with nothing but the capability to eat bugs, s*%$ in the woods, and peel off clothing for the cameramen. I don't watch it. I have my own issues. One of those is cocktail party survival.

The shindig I went to on Friday was well tolerated. I was actually able to make conversation. Nothing green adhered to my teeth. Liquids did not come shooting out of my nose when I laughed.

Both pieces of my artwork sold for above the retail price and each garnered a few bids. That's a first. I did not overhear anyone laughing at my work or any comments about being able to do it themselves.

I survived.

And since it is a cloudy day (as is usual for Nov-Apr here), I will be able to photograph a few new pieces today. Results posted tomorrow.

Now, I'm off to enjoy my Monday. No sarcasm there. I love Mondays. Really.

Party Hearty

I have a "thing" to go to tonight. Not quite a party. Certainly not a meeting. It's a fundraising auction, tidbit-eating, wine-downing "thing".

Perhaps time has taken away the sting of loserness and rejection, but I kind of miss those parties of my teenage years. You would put on your coolest clothes, stand like you knew you were something wonderful, drink cheap beer, and you had a blast. You (I) could walk up to strangers and start talking. If there were no great opening lines, you could at least talk about how slow the keg was in dispensing the cheap beer. If all else failed, standing alone in the corner was an option. I know. I selected that option many a time.

Things don't work quite the same as an adult. A semi-responsible, respectable adult. Standing in the corner doesn't have the same appeal when you're in your 40's. That's where I'll go I'm sure. Parties are no longer one of my favorite things.

Then there's the auction part to worry about. Last year, there was a cluster of art, objects, and gift certificates up for auction. There were some lovely things that I bid on, but was quickly knocked out of the competition as the bid sheets filled up. And there was my piece. It's bid sheet forlorn and empty. Yes, the piece ultimately sold. But that agony of watching and waiting! The worrying and sweating. Did anybody connect me to the piece that was sitting there?

Maybe I should "sell" that piece. Work the crowd. Tell them that I am an International artist (what the heck DOES that mean). I should stick my snout in the air and profess to know the nuances of the artworld. Let them all know I am doing the world such a favor by letting the auction begin at such a small price. Right.

I'll be the one in the corner. Red wine-stained teeth (with a green bit added for color). Clutching a glass until my knuckles are white. Also white-knuckling a appetizer of unknown content (with some green bits).

What the hell. Bring on the keg and blast Foreigner and Journey. I'll put on my Levi's cords, suede vest and clogs. Let's party hearty. But only until 9:30 or 10:00.

Signs of the Times XVII and XX

Signs of the Times XVII, 6 x 6"

Signs of the Times XX, 6 x 6"

My original goal in Signs of the Times was to complete 20 pieces. So I have. However, four more have been completed and several others are in the works.

Signs of the Times XVII contains pieces from a vintage map of Detroit, MI, and text from my trusty vintage book, "New Towns for America."

Signs of the Times XX contains pieces from a vintage map of Toledo, OH. I LOVE the color of that map.

Back in college, when I was earning my degree in Urban Studies, my dream was to create new towns. I purchased books on new town planning, whipped up drawings of imaginary towns, and fantasized daily about how wonderful my new little towns would be. I now realize that no place in which I would want to live can be created from scratch. How dull. How impractical. Besides, it would put preservationists out of work & we wouldn't want to do that.

These pieces are now in my Etsy shop.

I Love a Grid

grid. A pattern of horizontal and vertical lines forming squares of uniform size.

I Love a Grid. I'm very fond of squares as has been mentioned before in this post.

Rectangles please me, too. I like repetition. Few things please me more than seeing books lined up on shelves. I adore city maps and their grids of streets. I think crossword puzzles are stunning even though I rarely do them. Although I DETEST grocery shopping, I find the shelves of boxes and cans quite pleasing. Calendars are works of art, except when they are filled and I feel overwhelmed.

One square is kind of dull. As is one rectangle. Put dozens of them together and it makes me want to dance. I am ecstatic when I see a skyscraper with its rows and rows of windows. It drives me absolutely bats when one of those "important, comtemporary architects" puts a curved wall in a building. There are places in life for circles. I do like circles. I really like circles when they are placed in squares.

Could this explain why this newest series is the largest one yet?

These two pieces have been donated for an art auction for our local friends school.




Since it seems it will be cloudy for the next day or two, I will photograph the newest pieces in the Signs of the Times series and post them here and on Etsy soon.





p.s. Thanks so much for your fantastic comments on my last post. They are much appreciated.