Catching up....Part One: California

Frequently I'm behind on my blog. I've got good excuses this time! First, Steve and I went to San Francisco and Napa Valley. Second, I went for a week to Birmingham and Nottingham in England. Third, I came home to the inevitable pile of work that waited for my return....plus....had to pick up gigantic paintings salvaged from the River Course Golf Clubhouse fire on Kiawah Island. It's been quite a time! (All images can be clicked on for enlargement!)

So....San Francisco! We love this city! The mix of architecture is wonderful. The arts and cultural opportunities are tremendous. We took in San Francisco Ballet's triple bill after a fancy dinner at Indigo on Thursday evening....after shopping in the Ferry Terminal market.

We just don't have anything like this in Columbia....or in South Carolina for that matter!

We have mushrooms.....but not all these....and certainly not packaged so attractively!

If we have these....I don't know about them; but, I also don't really know what they are....they seemed to be for eating though and PRETTY!

Sure....we have pasta, even "fancy" pasta....but not in these colors, patterns, and packaging!

We even have a farmer's market on some Saturdays....and a few organic vendors....but not a well established, second generation, permanent store in a high traffic area! It all seemed a little overwhelmingly wonderful.

Another thing we noticed was the proliferation of signs for other organic items....especially t-shirts.

Praise the Lord....it's Praise the Lard! This was undoubtedly my favorite t-shirt design seen over the long weekend. (No, I resisted a purchase but almost regret doing so.)

One of the great things we noticed was that recycling efforts are the norm....and colorfully everywhere.

We made this trip so that I could revisit Colma, City of the Dead. Colma is the suburban town on the public transportation line just outside San Francisco. After the earthquake in 1906, San Francisco banned future burial within city limits and were physically relocating almost all the early graveyards to Colma by the 20s and 30s. Three-quarters of Colma's land is divided between seventeen cemeteries and a Pet Cemetery. Steve and I visited last May. (I blogged about it here....with dozens of photos!) Yet, one day wasn't enough. We had to go back. I came prepared with silk, crayons, a notebook, and camera and spent all day Friday making grave rubbings, collecting epitaphs, and snapping images of angel sculptures. I was fantastically productive.

On Saturday we rented a car and drove to Napa Valley. Our hotel included free wine tastings in five vineyards....we made it to three. Above is Black Stallion Vineyard, a small boutique winery with great tastes in buildings and art.....and, of course, WINE!

This is Steve enjoying our tasting at Black Stallion.

This is Steve enjoying our tasting at V. Sattui.

This is Steve after enjoying our tasting at Rutherford Grove....where we bought handmade soap.

This is Steve enjoying more wine....at Conn Creek....which wasn't on our free package deal but where we bought a case of wine and had it shipped home! Thankfully, all the vineyards close around 4 - 4:30. We were quite loopy by that time.

On Sunday we went on the Napa Wine Train. We thought this might be a bit touristy....even tacky....but far from it! It was great and able to cater to EVERYONE! One could simply ride the train, have a three-course lunch on the train with or without the additional wine selections, have several wine tastings in the tasting car, visit one of two vineyards, and even enjoy a vegetarian selection. The staff came from all over the world. The nice girl above hailed from Russia. Our waiter came from Bulgaria....yes, we had the lunch!

This is Steve at our table. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the food....and it really was picture-worthy!

After we ate, various staff members immediately fixed the car up for the later lunch ride.

We were escorted down the train....past the on-board kitchen....

...past windows to the vineyard filled vistas...

....to the dessert car.

This is Steve in the dessert car....

...where I remembered to snap a photo of both our desserts!

The view was tremendous. The weather was perfect. The wine was....from Napa Valley, of course....and EXCELLENT!

I even shot a video. It is posted HERE on my video blog.

Mustard plants were blooming everywhere. They grow them in order to rejuvenate the soil.

Our train ride included a tour of Domaine Chandon, the champagne vineyard. Two of the train staff accompanied a group off the train and during the walk through the facilities....

...and to the tasting! We learned a lot....and enjoyed it immensely!

Cheers....with bubbly!

By the way, they recycle in Napa too....with a twist!

Before heading back to the airport, we visited the historical cemetery in Napa too. Of course we did! I love this series! There's a cemetery everywhere we go. Steve loves the series too....there's a legitimate, partial tax deduction everywhere we go!

Greetings from England!

No photos yet....just an update!

Steve and I had a glorious time in San Francisco last weekend visiting cemeteries in the suburban town Colma, otherwise known as the "City of the Dead"; seeing a triple bill by SF Ballet; and going to Napa for wine tastings and a ride on the Wine Train. (Napa also has a lovely, very well maintained, historic cemetery....so I managed to collect loads of epitaphs, make many new grave rubbings on silk, and snap hundreds of sculptural angel images!)

My Monday evening flight to England was canceled due to mechanical problems but I was able to depart the following morning. Thank goodness, we'd scheduled a full day before my ticket to Birmingham Royal Ballet's 20th anniversary show. Prince Charles was even there. (He shook hands with two ladies RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME after the show but before getting into his waiting car!) Mathias and Laura-Jane danced beautifully...and even together during the Carmina Burana segment. The anniversary production mixed top-notch highlights from various productions with company history shown on audio-visual screens between each number. The printed program included photos of staff and dancers....from 1990! Mathias was just two! A few of the dancers were depicted as ultra-sounds. Too cute!

Yesterday evening and this afternoon I saw different casts perform The Sleeping Beauty. Okay, I'm partial. Yesterday was tremendous....Mathias danced the principal role, Bluebird. Laura-Jane was the Fairy of Song. Everything was spectacular. This afternoon, Laura-Jane was Little Red Riding Hood; Mathias was in a waltz and a garland dance. They both have several other parts....depending on the cast....and there's something like six casts.

On Thursday I went to Nottingham and met fellow fiber bloggers, Julie and "Guzzisue". It was simply great to spend time with people interested in fiber and stitch, color and detail, inspirations and fascinations, artistic passion and creative drive. Julie even knew where TWO immaculately kept, historic graveyards were. They were so fantastic that I returned Friday morning to cover six, half-yard lengths of silk in crayon grave rubbings. I nearly filled my notebook with epitaphs and took a couple hundred more angel images. (Obviously, I worked quickly....because I had The Sleeping Beauty that evening!)

I've also sought out inspiration at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. First, I saw about eighty to one hundred objects from the recently discovered Staffordshire Hoard. Found in July of last year, it is an amazingly large collection (over 1500 pieces) of 7th - 8th c. Anglo-Saxon gold, often with very detailed garnet cloissonne. Then, I went to the Gas Hall for the West Midland Open art exhibition. Steve and I saw the last show two years ago. (It's a biennial!) I was quite taken with the three framed pieces of layered paper by Anna Lorenz; a three-part piece called Dog Coat Coat (Disquise for a Dog on the Run); Matthew Moore's clever Art Detector VI (mixed found objects that included a plastic water pistol attached by metal hosing to a mechanical/medical gauge box and a black power source with red and green tiny lights for "good" and "terrible" art); Anne Guest's Moth-er Fokkers (cyborg moths....just fantastic!); and Carl Jaycock's Obsolete Youth.

Okay...so the one I like BEST was undoubtedly the Dog Coat Coat; but, like the others above that lack an Internet link, there was NOTHING available about these artists in the provided catalog or that I could find on the Internet. The dog piece was spun and crocheted dog hair....made into a "disguise".... a "tail cover", a mask with ears and holes for the eyes and a plastic nose, and a suit with a collar and crochet covered buttons....all hanging on handcrafted, twisted wire hangers. From start to finish, this was a brilliant work. If anyone knows more about this talented fiber artist, send me a message! I'd like to see more of her work!

I also read, cover-to-cover, my first issue of the SAQA journal....totally awesome....full of great articles and new opportunities to explore.

I'm flying home very, very early on Monday morning....back to a mountain of custom picture framing work and the looming deadline for the Decision Portraits' exhibition. I still need plenty of "models" to volunteer sharing their "decision"! Please click the link above to see the list for future work....or suggest another decision.

Inventor, Decision Portrait Series...and Trip to San Fran!

(Above: Inventor, Decision Portrait Series. 2010. Framed: 31" x 25". Xylene photo transfer on tea-stained muslin. Stitched words: Saw a need; Solved a problem; Got a patent; Pegheds Inc., For Better Cello Tuning. Click on image to enlarge.)

The word "genius" is defined as (The Free Dictionary):
gen·ius (jnys)

1.

a. Extraordinary intellectual and creative power.

b. A person of extraordinary intellect and talent: "One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius" (Simone de Beauvoir).

c. A person who has an exceptionally high intelligence quotient, typically above 140.

No matter how one defines it, my former neighbor Chuck Herin is most assuredly a genius. I don't tend to use the word frequently or lightly. I reserved it for very special people with truly extraordinary intellect, talent, work ethic to maximize their potential, and an IQ that is easily in Mensa territory. Again, Chuck is a genius.

Chuck graduated (Magna Cum Laude) with a major in visual arts and minors in math and physics. He's played the cello professionally since before he went to college. If he ever held a "regular" job, I don't know about it. Chuck has always worked for himself....in free lance music, in restoration of historic buildings (doing all the work himself....including the building in which I currently live and work), and in "fixing" things as a profitable hobby (currently rebuilding mini-coopers and other cars but generally as a stringed instrument expert). Chuck used to be my next door neighbor. He has lived in three of the five houses on my block....fixing each one and moving next door. He built our garage from scratch. He built a garage next door...where he invented Pegheds and started manufacturing them.

What's a Peghed? It looks just like the wooden pegs on any other cello but includes a 4:1 gear reduction that makes tuning easier, more precise, and accurate even in the hands of novice players. Once invented and patented, Chuck started manufacturing them in his garage...until he out grew the location. Since then, Chuck bought and totally renovated a formerly empty and long neglected high school outside Winnsboro, South Carolina. It is the headquarters for Pegheds, Inc. Chuck has created all the machinery to make Pedheds and personally distributes them across the globe.

There's a Peghed for cellos but also for viola, ukuleles, and Flamenco guitars! Chuck could have simply invented this device for himself but he decided to share it with the rest of the world....and many stringed instrument players are really happy about his decision!

By the way, I'm leaving tomorrow morning for a long weekend of art/fun/wine/ballet with Steve in San Francisco. We're planning to visit Colma, City of the Dead again....since there was no way to cover this place during last year's trip! I'm ready for more grave rubbings, epitaphs, and photos of cemetery sculpture. After our return Monday morning, I repack my bags and head immediately out to the airport for a flight to England. I'll be seeing my elder son Mathias and his lovely girlfriend Laura-Jane in two Birmingham Royal Ballet productions: the 20th anniversary gala (I'm going on Wednesday night and must be in my seat by 7:10 as the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are also attending!) and The Sleeping Beauty. Mathias will be performing the role of Blue Bird, a principal part even listed on the BRB website's casting page! Laura-Jane is one of the fairies and Little Red Riding Hood (not at the same time, of course....there are multiple casts....and I'm seeing two different shows!)

Book Festival, Artificial Flower Dress, Wrapped Nails and More!

(Above: Artificial Cemetery Flowers made into a unique dress! Click on image to enlarge....and scroll down to the end of this post for more information! This was a BLAST to make and I'm creating at least two more! This one will be featured in Columbia Design League's Runaway Runway fashion show on Friday, April 23rd.)

Once upon a time I blogged nearly every other day. Recently, I've been swamped with art activities....including my solo show....and couldn't write regularly. This is a "catch up" post!

This past weekend Steve and I participated in the SC Book Festival. Together, as Mouse House, Inc., we had a booth in the antiquarian aisle. We brought out all our 19th century, leather bound plate books, a series of very large engravings depicting scenes from Shakespeare's plays, and boxes full of assorted books on gardening, music, and art. We talked to lots of people, many of whom we hadn't seen in years. We even sold a good number of books!

(Above: Wrapped nails and grandma's '70s bag! Click on image to enlarge.)

I stayed busy wrapping a large pile of rusted, square nails. Most people think I'm totally insane for calling this "art".... but I've had collections of wrapped nails in three national juried shows....including a bunch that are part of Nail Triptych that is currently on view in Rocky Mount, NC at the Imperial Art Center. I love wrapping nails! I also included the "bag" I used to carry my yarns....it was made by my grandma back in the 70s....so tacky that it must be "cool" again....or at least "interesting"!

(Above: Nail Triptych. Currently on view in the Rocky Mount Imperial Art Center's National Handcrafted Juried Exhibition. Click on image to enlarge.)

The SC Book Festival tried something wonderful and new this year. They included an art show. I was one of the selected artists! The publicity for this was OUTSTANDING! The local newspaper distributed the festival guide to all subscribers, the website included our images and links, and over 6000 attended the show! Here's a link to the participating artists....including ME! What's more, the festival threw a reception for all the artists!

Above: Complimentary beverages being poured in the foreground. Fine art exhibition in the background!

Below: My four altered books on display on the central table.

(Above: The SC Book Festival Fine Art Exhibition and Sale...including my four altered books. Click on image to enlarge.)

Because this was a "book festival", I selected four of my altered books to be on view. They were American Dream, Black God, Imagine Illiteracy, and The Good Girl. Lots of people enjoyed the work. My books can be seen in both the photo above and below. It was a great event.

(Above: SC Book Festival Fine Art Exhibition. Click on image to enlarge. My four altered books are on the table.)

Being a participant meant we got to have dinner with lots of authors and other speakers. Steve and I met Amy Green and her husband. Amy's just had her first novel published this past January. It's called Bloodroots and is already on the New York Times Best Sellers' extended list! We bought a copy as a Mother's Day gift for my mom.....no secret....I've already told her and mailed it! I can't help it if Mother's Day isn't until May!

(Above: Amy Green signing her new novel, Bloodroots. Click on image to enlarge.)

As much fun as this weekend was, the weekend before was equally fantastic. Steve and I went to Washington, DC to see the Bolshoi's performance of the ballet Spartacus. It was dramatic and exquisitely danced. We also went to the Smithsonian's American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery (two museum in one great building!). We saw the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition (amazing!) among other things. I also visited one of my favorite parts of the museum, the outsider and folk art section....to admire the bottle cap art.

(Above and below: Bottle cap art from the Smithsonian's American Art Museum. Click on images to enlarge.)

There's always new things to see in Washington, DC....including this beautiful bronze figure....

....and new fibers like Sheila Hicks' Silk Rainforest at the Renwick.

Silk Rainforest dates from 1975. I loved it instantly, of course.....lots and lots of wrapping. The scale was intense. I'll have to check out her website in depth! Click on either image to enlarge.


I'd also like to announce that Our Darling Sons (Grave Rubbing Art Quilt) was accepted into the LaGrange National Biennial and will be on view at the Lamar Dodd Art Center in LaGrange, Georgia from February 26 - April 19, 2010. Menopause and Weep Not For Me (Grave Rubbing Art Quilt) were also among 56 works by 45 fiber artists accepted into Fantastic Fibers, An International Juried Art Exhibition at the Yeiser Art Center in Paducah, KY from April 3 - May 1, 2010. The letter said that close to 600 entries were received from 137 artist from seven countries! I'm thrilled beyond words! Plus, In Box LIX won second place in the Florence Regional Juried art show last month.....which I forgot to even blog about getting in!

Finally, the first photo in the blog post isn't a good one....but....it is a "taste" for better images yet to come...including those with a live model. I've entered the Columbia Design League's fourth annual Runaway Runway fashion show, a unique event featuring recycled or post-consumer materials. Obviously, these flowers were from my recent solo show.....collected from many dumpster diving trips in local cemeteries.

I used an adhesive, water soluble base to stitch together the flowers. Once the "base material" was made, I continued adding flowers....using my free motion foot to attach the blossoms in a circular pattern. Finally, I soaked and agitated the dress in warm water until all the water soluble base melted away.....leaving only flowers and thread....in a garment! I have TWO models...so I'm making another dress....longer and maybe with a fringed edge. I plan on making one for myself too....entirely from green leaves. I've already separated the seven or eight tall garbage bags of artificial flowers.....removing all the green petals, ferns, and leaves!