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"Moose Spirit", Solo performance, George Roberts Gallery, University of Idaho, October 22, 201411/24/2014 "Moose Spirit" honors a five year old male moose that died from natural causes on Moscow mountain, Moscow Idaho. This performance, in the George Roberts Gallery, honors the moose and its spirit with its skull, jaw bone, moose hair brushes, natural tree driftwood and two other antler sheds collected from the mountain side.
The large brush necklaces, deer hair mask, sumi painted canvas jacket and pants allow me to become bonded ritualistically with moose body and wheat fields of the Palouse, Moscow Idaho region. I have made hundreds of moose hair brushes over time and these brushes, included in this performance, pay homage and my gratitude for the moose giving me its hair and visual energy to express my art. I have always thought the ceramic raku firing process had the essence of performance with fire, air, body movement and smoke coming together to form an amazing visual presence.
This upper division raku class, at the University of Idaho, allowed me to encourage students to present the final raku fired object with the body using photography and video as the final visual presentation format. The images below are works made by students during this class. I look forward to teaching this class again in the future and exploring similar experimental presentation methods in my own art work. During September and October of 2014 I was a visiting guest and resident artist in the Department of Art and Design at the University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. From September 22-26 I collaborated with artist Jane Brucker, students and arts community in a two person public lecture, Marking the Future, Unraveling the Past, Jane's performance, Unravel my performance, Marking my Life and a duel performance with Jane entitled Moving. These following images, from Marking my Life, document my body as brush in a painting representing to me the cycle of life, 400 ceramic tea bowls; a large scroll book of childhood drawings; a large horse hair brush; jewelry & sound making instruments and still images captured from the public performance . For the first time, I presented a brushmaking workshop as a performance, resulting in students ritualistically presenting their brushes and sumi ink marks along side my own. I will be posting on my performance page, of this site, video and additional photos of this performance. The last three photos are during the clean up of the walls that resulted in the most amazing ghost like marks and tracings of what had taken place in the gallery. This past week I was a guest artist at LMU collaborating with a new literature and visual art class based on the story of Moby Dick. I created an eight foot harpoon similar in design of the types made in the late 1800's. It is suspended by fishing line three floors surrounded by shipping rope on the base marble platform below. Students created hand made brushes and ink marks that will be displayed in this installation. I was invited by professor Jane Brucker to work with her class to teach the art of brushmaking and inform students on how sculpture is created for public presentation. The installation will be on display until December, 2014. Additional objects & text will be introduced in the near future. More photos to follow soon. Had a great time & I look forward to seeing the finished display in November.
Alice and Wonderland Tools and Wearables
These sculptural tools and wearables were commissioned by Colleen Atwood to be used in the upcoming Alice and Wonderland sequel, Into the Looking Glass. The film is currently being filmed in London from July 2014 to November 2014. My aim was to create work with a circa 1875 aesthetic and a physical scale a third larger than the human body. The Hatter Clan, better known as The Little People, fell into an ant hill and were shrunk forever surrounded with objects the ants gathered inside the hole over time. These works will be worn and used in various scenes by the Hatter Clan family. Additional photos and descriptions of other works being used in the movie can be see on my sculpture page. Looking forward seeing the movie in the near future and having my sculpture being included in an amazing major movie film! I'm very excited about the jewelry I've been creating using ordinary everyday objects. The common object becoming works of wearable art. The images shown here are my first prototypes that are allowing me to get feedback and refine my design ideas. I have been creating these bracelets for over 20 years for my own use but now I'm looking to create a wearable art business using my years of experience. I will be creating a web site for these so stay tuned for more on this new creative adventure.
I was very honored to be included in a current ceramic invitational curated by Elaine Olafson Henry at the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming. The show runs from June 15-September 2, 2014. Two works were included, "Horse Brush Bouquet" and "Rabbit Brush Bouquet", both are shown in the photos below. The "Horse Brush Bouquet" has been purchased by Bunny Connell of Sheridan, WY. An exhibition catalogue was published in conjunction with this show.
Here are some photos of art works shown in a two person exhibit that opened July 11, 2014 at the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d' Allene, Idaho. A combination of works were presented resulting in a successful exhibition. It was wonderful to have family and friends attend the opening and share in the art experience. Many thanks to Steve for showing this work and working hard to install a beautiful presentation.
The June 21 & 22, 2014 brushmaking workshop in Lake Tahoe was very productive with an amazing number of raku fired ceramic and natural brushes created. The photos below are windows into what took place in this amazing environment! Looking forward to revisiting for a future workshop presentation.
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