Photograph by Debra Disman
Photography except for top image of !8th Street Arts Center by Salvador Ochoa
18(2) Studio Notes/Working at 18th Street Arts Center
Studio at 18th Street Arts Center…in process.
Older work…still under scrutiny.
making of the walls leading to the closet a Gallery.
This makes it easy to continue to peruse this work.
Earlier work: handmade books, artists’ books, sculptures.
Supplies, materials, material, samples, readymades, and student clay works, next to, and below.
Air dry clay dries fast in the Studio.
Material world…
and worlds.
From whence we go, denim.
OnWards.
The (Clay)Work of Our Hands
Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students attend their last (for this session) clay class through the City of Santa Monica’s CREST Enrichment program…after school classes held at a variety of Public Elementary Schools in Santa Monica.
Next week, we paint!
I have taught the students the basics: Pinch, coil and slab techniques. They have created vessels, masks, animals, and more. During this class I demonstrated how to create a small plate, platter or candle holder that could be given as a gift for the holidays, and beyond.
And then, these talented tykes took off with their own ideas!
Small hands are developing the strength and dexterity to form rough balls of clay and roll out coils from them. Sometimes i help this age group along by breaking up clay (air dry in this case) into sections for them to work with.
This little artist with a big personality has really progressed in her coil making. She created a piece by putting together numerous tiny coils.
This young maker recently turned five, and is mastering the coil technique!
Almost there!
This piece is growing….
Mark making in the clay using various tools. These kids amaze me. She saw a brief demo and then just took off creating these textures and designs herself.
Our tools are sourced from simple household items…popsicle sticks, pencils, plastic cutlery, and wood clothespins and toothpicks do the job, and teach the students how the simplest object can be transformed into a tool that becomes and performs magic!
It has been magical to watch these students learn and grow,
Much talent abounds in them.
It is a joy to see, encourage and develop their skills and artistic voices, even, and especially, at this age!
18(1): Working at 18th Street Arts Center
I became a local artist in residence at 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica the third week in September, 2018. My posts, while a chronicle of sorts of the experience, won’t necessarily , nor summarily, begin at the beginning.
Works in various states of completion.
Love lots of Light. Let There Be Light in the studio.
A work begun during my studio residency at the Art Lab at 1450 Ocean (in Santa Monica)
Like a book, or any work, this is a process. The beginning, can be seen from many viewpoints.
Canvas, hemp cord, found cord, book board, watercolor paper.
Like life, work ifs filled with loose ends.
Spine
Sometimes these can be beautiful.
Page turner
We turn the page.
Moving through, loose ends, unraveling, stitching, keeping it together.
Something new emerges. just that slightly different then the before.
Moving on.
“Tunneling through” at the Granada Hills Branch Library!
It has been exciting to lead programs at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, as part of my Artist in Residency there: “We Write the Book“, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, participants created multi-dimensional “Tunnel Books“, theatre-like structures comprised of a backdrop attached to an accordion-folded “spine” on either side.
Makers then added their own “cross-pieces” , cutting out strips in the shapes of mountains and more, and attaching them to the spines so that they traversed the width of the book, creating a place to add figures and other images to create their unfolding story, tableau or diorama.
As usual, attendees wowed with their use of color, shape and materials, imagination and creativity!
It is a materials world.
Families work together.
Attention to detail.
Making is an active sport.
Careful cutting.
Focus.
Sketching out the concept.
Use of feathers animate the image.
Majestic purple…
Showing off the completed book!
Creating a beautiful place to be.
Was this maker hungary? He created an ice-cream shop…
Fun use of materials.
Brilliant colors, black framing and carefully chosen use of select materials make this piece a stunner.
If you are in the area, join us for a Winter Community Celebration at the Granada Hills Branch Library on December 19th from 1:30 – 5PM.
There will be “Envelope Bookmaking”, refreshments, sharing of works, and lots of fun!
Like White on White 2
Using the term “white” very broadly.
It is really the layering of similar hued discrete textures and materials and the richness, emotions and feelings this creates…thread on paper, paper on cloth, cord on cloth, paper on board. Cord, string and thread falling to the tabletop, gathering, bunching, tangling, hanging or stitched, taut, linear.
“Texō“…”I weave.” Texture, textile, text, context.
Endless combinations, permutations, variations.