Put the needle for the first time to the new big piece, blasted away at a plan for smaller companion pieces to it (and themselves) that will go in the year end Contextural show, and am ready to lay the last of the decorating on Raggedy Black Heart.
It’s been colder and more snowy this winter in Calgary, and as loathe as i am to go out in it, i plan my day according to Nessie the DogFaced Girl’s needs, and i’m realizing that hour long walk means blood flowing in body and brain, which means good, nay, dare i say it, great things happening in the stoodio. I’m energized, more calculating and more spontaneous, which means too that i am also going out, sans Dog, to see things and be with people IRL.
Monday i will be snow dyeing with Karin and the Worldly Women, then going to see Donna White‘s sculptural installation at the Epcor Ledge gallery. Wednesday is a felting workshop with Contextural, who are lucky enough to have a day with Marjolein Dallinga, a world renowned felter (works with Cirque de Soleil too!).
I’m working this in panels because of the size. It’s portable, i can switch from piece to piece without getting bored, and will still be able to work on it after they’re all joined. (Just have to dig through the basement to find the black i want to use for the bottom portion.) I’m already “seeing” this heavily encrusted, and still thinking of adding metal—-which means placement and size concerns, because if i ever have to transport it, how will i do that?
I’d been thinking of this as another of the “Artist’s Body” series, but it’s not, something i keep forgetting. It’ll be associated with that, but stand on its own, a (hopefully) adjunct piece that will be part of an installation project. I’ll change the tag/category later when i know.
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I’m glad i finally got the nerve up to go big–i’ve been stalling and throwing obstacles in my own path for a long time. On Feb 11th, i suddenly thought “well, if i could work big, what would i do?”. Even drawing up a rough sketch, and making “what if “notes can get a person out of a rut, kind of a “what would you do with a million dollars?” question!
I’m still having nights that when i lay down in the dark, the thoughts and feelings slide out of my brain and slither down my throat, filling my heart and stomach, but the periods are getting shorter and further apart. The Black Dog is leashed but will always growl there. The art, talking and face time with actual peoples helps!
Karin
March 4, 2011 at 8:50 am
Sometimes, when I feel i have done very little work and it is already the end of the week… I start thinking I ought to give up the time I dedicate to being with people… for adult conversation I call it… but actually it is to freshen ones thoughts, stay out of ruts and remember how to have a good laugh. After all when one is on one’s own all the time – in our workrooms – when do we actually laugh laugh laugh… and I know that, for me, that is very important too. I am glad you value time spent with others.
Heather
March 4, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Sounds good. Balance!
Mary Anne
March 6, 2011 at 5:45 pm
I just visited the felting site link and I’m in total awe! How I wish I could go to the workshop with you, but then again – if I did, I’d come home with another passion and I already have quite enough to keep me busy.
arlee
March 7, 2011 at 8:14 am
I might never do it again either, but it’s all grist for the mill, and learning something new can usually be applied somehow to favourites