December happenings

This weekend is the Fine and Funky art boutique at the Opera Galleria in Fort Collins - Friday night from 5 to 9 with carolers coming in and singing. That's my favorite part. Then we're open from 10 to 5 on Saturday the 8th. I have been mosaicing like a mad woman and have 76 mosaic magnets ready. I should have a Christmas themed trivet and a new cross debuing too.

Sunday is the craft fair at Fossil Creek Ranch - we're open from 12 to 5 that day. Artists: Jody Deschenes/j.j.d.esigns/original handmade jewelry, Angie Levasseur/arbonne, Lisa Wilson/novello image photography, Mona Thornton/plum nuts/original handmade scarves, hats, pins; Barbara moore/painter (watercolor - known for her local scenery), Kat Peters-Midland/mosaics - original handmade mirrors, crosses, magnets, etc; Laurie Warren/mariposa designs/fused glass - original handmade serveware, pendants, earrings, cardholders; Amelia Caruso/prints & note cards...that's who will be there!!

I'm almost done with the MOCA mask - I'm very very late in submitting it to MOCA for taking pictures of it for the brochure. I will be grouting it on Monday and then turning it in on Tuesday. I"ll be sure to post a picture of it here - I think it turned out pretty well - it's based on a dream that someone shared quite awhile ago. The dream really spoke to me and I was compelled to work the dream through the mosaicing process. I found that this process of working the dream and mosaicing, I did some personal healing work.

Catching up again

I have been working at my studio at Poudre River Arts Center 5 days a week so I don't get to the computer like I would like.

I have been working on Transition a little bit each day, except for today. The back of the face is completely mosaiced and the front is about 1/3 done. I need to finish two of the sides as well. I finished a mirror called "Matrix" and have started another one to play with color - purple, red, and turquoise. I also have gotten some magnets and wall-minis done to add to what I sell at The Artist Nook.

This Friday is First Friday Gallery walk in Fort Collins. The artists will be demonstrating their work. Also MOCA has the opening reception for the Studio Tour - I think it's from 6 to 9 p.m. Then the Studio Tour is on Saturday and Sunday the 15th and 16th. Katherine Skaggs' studio is on the tour - come by and be sure to say hi!

Also there is a "Fine Art and Antique show" at The Bellvue Store on Sept 7th 5:00 to 8:00pm and Sept 8th and 9th 10:00 am to 5:00pm. They are also open for the MOCA Studio Tour weekend Sept 15th and 16th from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

This month's featured artists will be- Venita Hawkins-Bird, Amanda Marie, Lynn Schwebach, Laurie Warren, Cindy Caruso-Hatman, Amelia Caruso, Kathy Hartmeister, Leonard Pettus, Rochelle Sage, Pam Furumo, Leslie Smith, Lynn Fecteau, Bev Perina, Tarra Parr, Whitney Clifton, Keri Dotson, Kelly Jones, Diane Finley, Monica Riffe and Sarah Fishburn. They have LOTS of new antiques and books - I have to see what new treasures they have!

Catching up again

I've been working a lot at my studio at Poudre River Arts Center. Lots of great ideas are being tossed around PRAC, ideas for art shows and invitationals. I really want to curate a dream-inspired art show - I'm thinking in May of 2008. Another artist and I are talking about curating another art show. Stay tuned for more information, when the ideas start hatching and developing (or is it developing and hatching?).

It's been a good couple of months - I've gotten a lot done on "Transition" sculpture (slowed down by deeply cutting my index finger instead of the glass) AND I sold 2 mirrors: "Mirror, Mirror on the wall" and "Blackbird". I also sold a cross and Peace vase at the Art show at Whole Foods art show last month. I'm scrambling to finish some mirrors so my walls won't look so bare.

I just delivered a torso sculpture called "Emergence" to Artist Nook today. The opening reception is Friday from 6 to 8:30 p.m., on the First Friday Gallery Walk. I am also getting ready for "Dog Days of Summer" craft fair on August 18th - it's in Lyons and it's only 9 to 12. I'll bring my mosaiced leash hooks and dog bowl. I have sworn off craft fairs but I couldn't resist this one. I also will be doing a craft fair booth with my friend Cherrie - she'll have her cards and framed art and I will have...not sure yet. Probably some crosses, a mirror or two...I'm hoping some garden art. We'll see.

catching up

I've been busy mosaicing and teaching beginning mosaics. My mosaic classes have ended and two more ladies have signed up for my next beginning mosaics class. I need to take some time to organize the next class. It's been so fun sharing in the creation of mosaics!

I have been invited to participate in a garden art show at the Whole Foods Market on July 13th, 2007. I'll include more information about the art show when I have it. I've been playing around with new ideas for garden art. I'll mosaic some pots of course, but I also think it would be fun mosaic a garden pole, with a funky monkey on top. A pole like no other, that's for sure. I have poured a female figure to mosaic, a Garden Goddess. I think I'll finish a birdbath and have it ready for the show. The colors are of the ocean - it's beautiful so far.

I have been continuing to work on the Transition sculpture - her face needs to be finished and then I can start building the base. I hope to have the sculpture and base done by the end of July. It's been so slow going because of what creating the sculpture has symbolized for me over the months. I have been slowly creating change in my life as I create the Transition sculpture. I'm not sure what created what - the creation of the sculpture pushing me to make change or me making changes in my life pushing the creation of the sculpture. I guess it really doesn't matter, but both are intertwined. As I write this, I realize that the last step in creating this sculpture is mosaicing the face. As I mosaic the sculpture's Face, I reveal my Face - that is the last step in making a transition, isn't it? I have created faces so many times, most are hidden in some way. One of my first faces had at least half of it concealed by leather.

I do get frustrated with how slow I've been in getting the sculpture done. But I also know that transition into the "New" isn't a quick process - it takes time and it does seem slow, perhaps too slow. But maybe slow change is the healthiest change there is - kinda like losing weight - if you lose weight too fast, it's easier to gain it back. And I do not want to go backward - I like the change I've created so far!

New projects that I've been working on: I have begun painting again. The piece I jsut finished today combines texture, color, and glass (of all things). For me, that's breaking the "rules" of painting - I suppose that's a part of my transition as well. I also have been working on a prayer pole and painting with oil paints for the first time. After the pole is painted in purples, turquoise, orange and deep red, I will attach a string that will hold my prayer flags and perhaps even a feather. The pole is for creating prayer/intention and manifest what I want in my life. It'll join my other prayer pole in my backyard garden. That pole has held strong in all seasons, lovingly reminding me of my prayers and connection with the heavens and earth, for a number of years. I guess it really is time to think about new intentions, to think of what I want next in my transition.

catching up

I have been invited to participate in a garden art show July 13th at the Whole Foods store on College Avenue, so I've been playing around with new ideas and mosaics. So far, I have decided to mosaic a few pots, a garden ball, and a garden pole (for the lack of a better word). For marketing purposes, obviously I will need to come up with a better name for the pole! I have been working on the Transition sculpture, which is getting pretty close to being done. I have the face to finish (the front and back of it). Then I will be building the base of it soon

I have also started up painting again - it's been a long time since I painted. Another new project is creating prayer poles. I primed, and painted the top part of the pole and next Monday I will paint the rest of the pole, then join them (when dry). Then I'll attach some string on the top and add prayer flags and perhaps a feather at the end.

My mosaic class ended a few weeks ago. A couple of other ladies signed up to do another beginning mosaic class, which will be fun.

My first First Friday

I moved in my studio gallery at Poudre River Arts Center last week. One of my favorite mirrors sold the day I moved it to the gallery to exhibit. Since then, I have been working hard to have some more mirrors ready for "First Friday" gallery walk, which is May 4th. I'd hate to have too empty space!

I found a great quote:

"An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn't know why they choose him and he's usually too busy to wonder why" - William Faulkner

Poudre River Arts Center and dream-inspired sculpture

Tomorrow I move into my new studio and gallery at Poudre River Arts Center. I am so excited! It is a beautiful space with so much potential. The Center has been in operation for nearly a year and has hosted a number of art shows, auctions, fundraisers, and art classes. I'm betting there is so much more that can be done and what can be offered.

I have signed up for the events committe, which (as I understand it) will be responsible for making arrangements and taking care of details for events that the Poudre River Art Association votes to do. Soon we will have our first anniversary party/art show.

I taught the second class of mosaics a couple of days ago, which was really fun. We finished design and will start adhering tesserae (glass) to the substrate (picture frame)next class. I love to spend time with and share ideas with fellow creatives.

Today I'll be working on the dream sculpture. This weekend I'll take a new picture and then post it here, before I move it to my studio/gallery at PRAC. It'll be a work in progree there. I'd like to be mostly done with it by the First Friday in May.

I'll end this with one of my favorite quotes:

Art attracts us only
by what it reveals of
our most secret self.
~Jean Lue Godard~

Dreamgroup

Today I facilitate my monthly dream group with 4 talented dreamers. It's a nice intimate group, a perfect size, at least in my opinion. It's amazing what depth and "ahas" we get to in 2 short hours.

I found a quote about art that also fits the kind of dream work that I do. As we sit in circle, and listen to someone sharing their dream, we use our empathy, creativity and imagination when we "take on" the dream as our own. Dreams speak in soul language which makes dreams universal. My approach to dreamwork is that the dreams shared in circle is exactly the dreams that we all need to hear, talk about, learn and grow from, as individuals and as a group.

Imagination is the eye of the soul.
~Joubert~

Art quote

Today I'll be taking some "wall minis" to the Artist Nook to sell - two with hearts, one with inspire, and one with create on it. They're 3 inches by 3 inches - something that you can put on your wall to remind of to be more loving, to create, to live an inspired life...whatever your intention is. I have mosaiced an even smaller "wall mini" with believe on it - it's my favorite.

Here's a quote I love - I love Abraham Maslow. He talked a lot about self actualization, which is a part of the "gold" that we search for, something that Carl Jung also talked about...

A musician must make music,
an artist must paint,
a poet must write,
if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.
What one can be, one must be.
~Abraham Maslow~

Have a great day!!

An art quote

Today I teach a Beginning Mosaics class. It's my first class and I'm really excited. We'll start out by sealing the substrate (it's a picture frame today) and then working on the design of the mosaic. I doubt I'll have any time to work on the dream sculpture or Epiphany pot since I have dream group today too.

I love Rumi - and this quote is one of my favorites. Art mirrors the artist, the people who view it and the world...

Body of earth,
Don’t talk of earth.
Tell the story of pure mirrors.
The Creator has given you this splendor.
Why talk of anything else?
~Rumi~

Quote of the day

Someone sent me this quote today, which reflects the essence of Law of Attraction, that everything begins with a thought. Some people get into that magical thinking, that all they have to do is want and ask for what they want and it'll show up in their lives. This quote reflects all that changes with a thought, that it is a process, and it all begins with us.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
~ Frank Outlaw

Dream sculpture: Transition

The Transition dream sculpture is coming along - I mosaiced about 1/4 of the water late last night. This morning, it looks pretty good. Sometimes I'm not sure how something looks until I've had some distance and time away. Sleep is an amazing way to get perspective.

As I look back, I see that the process of creating the sculpture has been paralleling my process of transition from psychotherapist to professional artist and dreamworker. For months, I was stuck on the sculpture because I was stuck in my life. I have seemed to tread water ever since I left the mental health center almost 3 years ago. I have mosaiced all kinds of items, like furniture, flower pots, mirrors, crosses; and I have sold many pieces. The sculpture just sat there, haunting and naked.

In the last couple of months, I decided to start selling all of my professional books (that I used to have in my therapy office), as well as books that I won't read or need again. As I packed each book, I silently thanked and blessed the person for buying the book as well as releasing my intention that I had at the time that I bought the book. It was time to move on and selling the books felt really good. I was finally making steps to do that.

A part of the Law of Attraction is that you state what you want, "put it out there", listen and heed inspired thoughts and ideas, and you find yourself where you want to be. Most of my therapy books are released and in hands who need them. I have the books that I still want and love. I am creating the life that I love, including mosaicing the Transition dream sculpture. It'll be done by First Friday in May, to symbolize transition is finished - at least this step of transition!

Transition continues to make its transition

I continue to work on Transition...as I transition into the newest phase of my life.

Epiphany pot, Dream sculpture, and Poudre River Arts Center

It's spring - happy spring! Between the snowy, cold days and warmer spring days, I have completed part of the face on the Epiphany pot. I now need to mosaic the lips in bright red, which will be fun. So far the consensus is that it's funky and pretty cool (testimonial by some 14 year old boys anyway!). I will have my computer guru help me post a picture of the Epiphany pot soon - I've given up on being able to figure it out by myself.

The dream sculpture, called Transition, is coming along - the tesserae is all nipped and shaped, and some are even adhered to the base. It's looking pretty good and soon it'll have a home. Pictures coming soon.

I have taken the plunge - I have decided to have a studio/gallery at the Poudre River Arts Center in Fort Collins. I move in on April 20th. I'm very excited to join in the artist community of the Center. My studio will feature my dream sculpture and dream pole in process, as well as other dream art. I will also have some of my mirrors and crosses too...and who knows what else.

Epiphany pot

I've been working on my dream inspired sculpture, very slowly anyway. Today I will sand it so I can work on the face/death mask. I think the colors of the water will be blacks, grays, blues, and perhaps some purple - not sure about the purple.

I have also started another project. I freecycle and I look for different items to transform into a piece of art. Recently I received a large toilet from a fellow freecycler, which was to be transformed into an "Epiphany pot", inspired by something that I saw in one of my favorite tv shows, Scrubs. My epiphany pot will have a face and other features on the toilet, along with with plants growing in its tank, symbolizing the epiphany. I don't think it'll be anything anyone will want to sit on though. I have taken a picture of the toilet with one eye and some of the eyebrow and nose done already. I think it would be really fun to share the process of the transformation of the toilet into a piece of art. But you know, epiphanies are a part of transformation - how appropriate!!

Bellevue store antique and art show and sale was successful!

The antique and art show and sale went really well this weekend. We had warm, beautiful weather and many lookers and buyers. Some drove up to find the sale and some stopped in as they drove through. Two of my crosses and a flower pot sold, at least by the time I left on Sunday at 1 p.m. It was fun meeting artists from the area and seeing their art too. I also bought one of Leslie Smith's necklaces and Kelley Jones's characters.

Now I need to focus on mosaicing a new mirror for an artist's studio and working on the dream-inspired sculpture. I'll be taking new items to the Artist Nook sometime this week. I'm pretty excited about them - and I'll have a picture or two of them posted here...

My blog in memory of my friend...first published August 1, 2006

One of my friends died last weekend of cancer. She was a part of our dreamgroup, sitting in circle, sharing and commenting on our dreams. We have been doing this for almost 4 years. I have found that sharing dreams creates an intimacy that nothing else does. When we share dreams, we share our deepest selves, our struggles, questions, fears, triumphs, and our transformations etc. Our dream group shared all of these and more.

My friend got her cancer diagnosis not long after our dreamgroup started. It was a threshold that we all consciously and lovingly walked through, in order to support her in her journey. We talked about so many things, like spirituality, meaning, priorities, family, and of course her fighting the cancer. She was very supportive of my process of expressing my creativity and putting myself “out there.” I’ll be eternally grateful for her unwavering love and support, no matter how ambivalent and skiddish I was in the process.

About a month ago, my friend was hospitalized for medical complications of her chemo treatment. The night before I was to visit her in the hospital, I had a dream that scared me awake. The dream was a bunch of people and I are in a river, the water is probably up to our chests. We all let go of this body (face down in water) and watch it float down the river. I get very anxious and I know I have dreamed this before. I wake myself up. Hours later, I visit my friend in the hospital and there is something that she says that brings the dream memory back. I realize that my dream was preparing me for her next step in her journey - her death. We talked about death, where we go after we die, what happens to our soul, family, and her preparing her friends for her death. She seemed at peace with her death - she even said so. After our talk, I went to my car and cried. Then as I drove home, an image of a piece of art symbolizing death and our conversation flashed - something that I felt drawn to create.

Short of a month, my friend died with her family near. That morning I woke up wide awake and “knew” that I needed to stay awake, to stay present, and "help" her die. I lit a candle I made for her and her cousin, and sprinkled cinnamon around the candle, with the intention of her letting go. A butterfly or moth flitted at the screen and I talked to it, thus beginning my goodbyes. I told my friend “We love you, you fought the good fight, you have done what you can, and it’s time to let go”. I thanked her for all that she gave, who she is and what she has taught us. The butterfly or moth flew away and I felt this relief or lightening of energy -it’s really hard to explain. I later got the call from another friend, that my friend had died that morning. Believe what you will, but it did feel like I helped to hold sacred space for her in her death.

It’s just been a few days since my friend died, but I have been going through “now what?” in my life. I have been really clear about my role in helping her in any way she wanted from me for almost 4 years. Since her death, I have been looking for something to give me direction, something that I know what I’m supposed to do next. There is a reason why I say this, and I think that story is for another time.
But one thing that I will say is that creating art is something that I can not NOT do. I will create that image that I “saw” when I was driving home from the hospital. I will create more dream art too. I certainly will be creating a mosaic memorial for my friend - something to commemorate her life, what she means to me, and what she has taught me.

Working on the dream-inspired sculpture and Bellevue Store antique and art show tonight!!

Yesterday I was finishing up a mirror and in that process, I discovered some glass that I had forgotten that I had. It's brownish-gray and iridescent p and it's beautiful. As I was mosaicing the mirror, I realized that the color was perfect for the dream sculpture, expressing the muddy water in the river. Today I ordered more of the glass and I'll be ready to start mosaicing the sculpture next week.

Tonight is the opening of the antique and art show and sale at the Bellevue Store, in Bellevue Colorado. The hours are 5-8 p.m. tonight, and 10 to 4 on Saturday and Sunday. I will dropping off some more mosaic art - two more crosses, another box, more bone shaped leash hooks, and a picture frame with one of my favorite quotes inserted: "As we grow old...the beauty steals inward". I already have one of my treasure boxes (#2 of 5 series), a flower pot, many crosses, dog bone shaped leash hanger, a couple of mirrors...at least that's what I can think of.

Dream-inspired sculpture

About a year ago, I wrote about my friend being ill with cancer and finally her death. I can't find the blog anymore so I have decided to blog here.

The night before I visited her in the hospital, I had a dream of a bunch of people and I were standing in a river; the water was about chest-high. We were holding a body that face-down and then we let it go. I watched the body float down the river, and then around the bend. I knew that I had a dream like this one before and didn't want to continue it and pulled myself out of the dream. I was stumped about the meaning of the dream, yet it would reveal itself later.

Later that day, I went to visit my friend and we talked about death, where we go when we died, family, love, etc. She felt the responsibility to prepare her friends for her death, which I was priviledged to be a part of. As we talked, the memory of the dream flashed and I realized that the dream was a preparation for my visit and our talk, and ultimately, her death. As I drove home, I "saw" a completed mosaic sculpture, which I knew was an expression of that dream and my friend's death.

I have been very slowly working on this sculpture over the last 8 months. I have the base poured and the basic structure sculpted; now it's time to start mosaicing it. I have finally decided that the colors will be a combination of many shades of blues, blacks, purples, with some turquoise (to suggest reflection of light), to express the feeling in the dream as well as the imagery.

I hope to figure out how to post a picture of the structure here, and share the process of creating the mosaic. I will also post other pictures of mosaic art and other forms of art that I experiment with here.