did I mention??

I am SO excited!! I was mentioned in the San Francisco Chronicle in tomorrow's paper (Home & Garden section of the Sunday paper).

I met Stephen and Pam several years ago at the Art for AIDS annual auction. They are such a nice couple and have purchased a few pieces of my work. It was a such an exciting moment when they emailed me today to tell me that their home was featured in the paper in an article about their great interior designer and the way in which they downsized their living space. Lots of artwork was photographed so it was a blast to hear that my work “takes center stage between the living and dining areas”…

You can read the full article by clicking the link HERE.

little things that make me feel good

- I saw two artist talks on youtube. They were two of my favorite artists, both women and both surprisingly enough speaking at very prominent events wearing what?? Converse tennis shoes.

- I got a great letter from someone who owns two of my large sculptures. He has a very impressive art collection and I was incredibly humbled to have work included in it. In his note he said how out of his entire collection, my work draws the most response from visitors to his home. I read that and cried. I’m tearing up as I type this…

- My latest sculpture is almost complete and I feel good about it. My hands are rough and achy and yet it has been oh so worth it.

five senses friday

SEE
- one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies (above)
- a woman fighting with her umbrella as the rain poured down in buckets
- a really cool documentary about one small town’s enthusiasm about the senior prom
You have to see this! I don’t know if it’s because I’m a girl from a big city but this movie trips me out. Check it out by clicking HERE. You can see the entire film!

HEAR
- the door to the garage slamming every morning and waking me up

TASTE
- garlic bread
- big glasses of ice water (I’m trying to cut back on my love for soda and it’s NOT easy)
- bartlett pears

TOUCH/FEEL
- my hair between my fingers as I try to figure out what to do with it and it takes up too much of my thoughts
- wire being bended and cut and weaved together for hours at a time

SMELL
- rain
- stale cigarette smoke
- bacon cooking

the latest sculpture

I've been a hermit all week and most of my time has been spent working on this dress. It's a floor length sculpture and it feels like hours will pass as I bind wire together only to discover a tiny section filled in. I now know how those old women who work for designers feel when they are beading a couture gown for days, weeks and months on end...

new risk, new show...

Yesterday I placed two of my wire shoe sculptures in my backpack and headed over to ARC Gallery to submit them into a juried exhibition. Basically each artist who was interested submitted two pieces into the show yesterday between noon and 7 pm. A group of several jurors selected work for the show and then called those who were accepted. Work not accepted needed to be picked up today.
I found myself with my usual jitters as I headed over to the gallery but despite the fear I pushed forward and my work was accepted! (I took the photos when I dropped my work off. I scanned the room and saw lots of interesting work…) It looks like it’ll be a strong show based on the submissions I saw.

The show is called "The Guerrilla Show".
“The Guerrilla Show” is a unconventional pop-up exhibition of artwork by Bay Area and Northern California artists where affordable artwork will be sold off the wall during the event. All of the pieces are under $300. It makes for a great opportunity for people who want to add artwork to their homes in a affordable way as well as offering sales to local artists. It should be fun.


OPENING RECEPTION & OFF THE WALL SALE

Saturday, February 5th, 6-10PM



“THE GUERRILLA SHOW: Join the Revolution”

SECOND CHANCE SALE

Saturday, February 12th, 12-5PM



at Arc Studios & Gallery

1246 Folsom Street, San Francisco

I {heart} you!

I've been busy this week playing with wire. I'm letting my ideas for new life-size pieces cook up in my head. Meanwhile, I am playing around and making all kinds of playful things to keep my hands busy. They are all one-of-a-kind so if you see something you like, run over to my shop and snatch it up before it's gone!

life unexpected...

It’s been an odd week so far. Around noon on Monday I had a major allergic reaction and broke out in hives. The rest of the day was lost as Benadryl put me into a deep coma-like sleep. Yesterday was spent working and cleaning and running errands. Then the highlight of today was going to my art reception this evening at the Women’s Health Center. It was a nice time. I met several artists and had a few great conversations.

Other 'ordinary' details of life: I'm catching a cold and so I've felt stuffy and tired the past few days. I ran out of coffee and have been drinking my 'emergency' packets of VIA. Today I finally stopped at Starbucks and got some. I cannot wait to brew some tomorrow. I found my latest inspiration for a new series of dresses. They are so glamorous! I am SO excited to get started...

sketching...

I mailed my sketchbook back today for ‘The Sketchbook Project’. This book along with 28, 000 others will be on a cross country tour starting in February. Here are some of the sketches from my book…

finding the right setting...

Here's the pregnant torso I created. As soon as we exited the elevator we saw a sign which immediately confirmed that this piece was not meant for that floor. They still displayed it though but on the OB-Gyn floor (4th floor) ...

art for recovery

Here are photos of some of the tiles on the wall at the hospital. Each of the tiles was made by a woman dealing with a life-threatening illness. This work was breathtaking and powerful. Each person chose a plant, which they imprinted their piece with and then they wrote their reflection/ journal entry around it.

when God steps in

I dropped off my work at the UCSF Women's Health Center yesterday. It is truly a beautiful place. I have lots of stories to tell and photos but I haven't taken them off my camera yet. What I do want to say is this- my work is something I truly feel God has called me to do. Sometimes I feel like I am simply a vehicle for his purposes. I am not conscious of this all the time by any means but on days like yesterday I realize this and I am immediately humbled. It no longer becomes about me and what I made but about how it will be used and the message that will be delivered.

While I knew my work would be at a Women's Clinic, I did not know exactly where it would be. This place has seven floors and they chose 8 artists to fill those floors with work. All I knew is that I hoped my work would be able to bring comfort and healing to someone. When I found out where it would be placed I found myself feeling a little emotional.
I was sent to the seventh floor - the fertility wing.

This seemed so appropriate- sacred. You see, my series is called 'the journey'. It came from a place of doubt, of living in the unknown, of longing and hoping and this kind of gut wrenching struggle. And so to think that women will be sitting in that beautiful peaceful wing with it's sage colored couches and earth toned floors looking at my copper colored souls that may reflect some aspects of their struggle makes me feel thankful (and very humbled because I did not plan this - I simply did the work).

sneak peek...

title: the longing



title: the offering


title: the communion




title: the joy



title: the freedom

I'm still working on the last piece - anticipation. It's a pregnant woman with her hands resting on her belly. I have all but the hands done and then I need to paint it. Thank God the drop off date isn't until Tuesday. I thought it was tomorrow!