Episode 17: "All the Pretty Little Horses...."

This entry will be brief, since there hasn't been any action on the completion of the studio; however, within the well insulated walls, projects continue to move forward. A fine patron of the arts requested two brown and green horses similar to one she had already purchased. I foolishly said I would complete these sculptures by Ground Hog's Day.  Well, just to allow for kiln pranks, I made three of them, and I actually finished early!

Legs of nails,   Beaded manes,   Beaded tails.

Horses clad in brown and green now make the scene!

(Obviously, no post-modernist pretensions here.)

Episode 16: Long January Journey

I had thought there would have been a day about two or three months ago when Greg the Builder would say, "Here are the keys. We're done." Then Arnold the Boss Man would come by and say, "I'm ready to collect our final payment. Hope you like it!"  However, we are almost through with January and are still in a stage of incompletion; although things have moved slightly forward....

Here, through words and images, I present the updates:

I have made 30 small house blessing tiles which I fired last week. Here are some of them that have undergone a luster/metallic firing. (018 and lots of oxygen) The tradition is based on the January 6 Feast of the Three Kings, honoring the arrival of Caspar, Melchoir, and Balthazar at Bethlehem. These tiles are made for members of the congregation at Lake Park Lutheran Church when they receive house blessings, as well as some personal friends. These tiles bear the intials of the three kings, the year, and a cross. Dear readers, may your homes filled with health, creative endeavor, and "the greatest of these" love.

Here is the beginning of the moving-in process.  I acquired the two shelves over twenty years ago from a rummage sale in an alley on Oakland and Locust. They are from an old shoe factory. When we had our bookstore, Dancing Bear Antiquarian Bookshop and Paperback Exchange, they held book treasures.  Now they are perfect for glazes and other clay paraphernalia.

This past weekend was a very frigid Gallery Night and Day.  Much to my delight, my sister-in-law called and asked if it was okay for them to come to Milwaukee for an overnight.  Of course! I worked at THE Fine Art Gallery from 11 to 2, went to Sciortino's for hardrolls, came home, whipped together a spaghetti dinner for the company, then returned to THE Fine Art Gallery for the evening festivities.  The best part of the evening, though, was when I got home and my brother Gary and I assembled my new toy, a tabletop slab roller.  I couldn't have done this alone.

I have a special request for two horse sculptures, either brown with green spots or green with brown spots.  I've discovered that for small pieces that I don't need to worry about warping on, the studio heating system makes a perfect spot for fast drying.

Flashback: A photo from our grand opening last January.

THE Fine Art Gallery is one year old, and quite a success! As one-tenth owner, I have had the opportunity to display and sell several sculptures. I have enjoyed the conversations about the process of artmaking with other artists and patrons of the arts. This gallery has made a great, positive change in how I work.

HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY, THE FINE ART GALLERY! STO LAT!

I'm assembling my art books here in this quiet corner.

How things now stand:  On the top shelf, the large vase in red clay was thrown by my granddaughter Alexandra.  She has an amazing aptitude for this work. Next to the vase is a sculpture from my "Lost Milwaukee Series" entitled "Horror! Newhall House a Funeral Pyre." This sculpture features the tale of P.T.Barnum's midget attraction, Tom Thumb and his wife Lavinia, who were staying at the hotel at the time of the fire.  Directly beneath this sculpture on the lower shelf is a sculpture set aside to dry, to be included in my book, Encountering Poland: Trick a Witch, Wed a Hedgehog, Save your Soul.  This is an important sculpture because it includes both Mokosh, the Slavic moist earth goddess, and also the old woman who roams the land, carrying a sack of stories to share with those who need them.

So, although many details inside and outside are still not complete, I have begun to work in my studio.

Once it is really done, I will have a celebration!

Patience is not always a virtue

Greg the Builder told me that when we were out of town over the Holidays, it would be an ideal time for his crew to come in and take care of things, especially the floor.  I was eager to see the progress when we returned, raced into my studio--and....no progress. Again. This is quite similar to what happened over Thanksgiving, as were the reasons for the delay that Greg gave me when I spoke on the phone with him.  However, on December 28, the floor received a coat of ensealment and a week later, my kiln was moved upstairs and installed. Although there remains a long list of jobs that need to be done or completed, I was able to fire the kiln in its new location for the first time today.  The following pictures will document the events of the past few weeks.

The electrician activated the line of 220 wiring so the kiln could be used again.

On December 28, the city electrical inspector came and approved the work.

Here are some small critters which didn't demand a large work space for their creation.

The weather gave us a two-day reprieve, with temperatures rising to the high thirties and low forties, so Greg, Phil and Joey came over and laid the cement at the foot of the stairs.

This marks the arrival of the latest batch of concrete.

Here is a list I made for Greg the Builder.  He asked me to go around and check out everything I wanted done yet.  I have since added a few more items of concern.  However, the encouraging news here is that the final items have all found their way to fit on to a single sheet of paper. Yesterday Joe came over and took the plastic protection off the cement and went over this list with me.  Yesterday Joe also gave me the bad news that he had my extra tile (several boxes--six, I think--) in his truck. He said Lexco Tile refused to take it back, claiming it was a special order.  I said I needed to talk to Greg in person, because I was assured that the extras could be returned for a refund.  (There is still this issue with the leftover tile, since a 30% overage is a large additional expense.) On the subject of other items on the list, except for the storm doors that haven't arrived at Menard's yet, it looks like everything could be finished in a couple days, if only they'd come and do it.  I think Joe plans to come tomorrow to put the wedge in the doorway, so that will be one more job done.

Today I fired my kiln in the studio for the first time--an 018 metallic firing of small pieces.  Here is one of them, a dragon business card holder for friends with a restaurant.

So, this is where the tale now stands.  I am probably more eager for the next installment than you are, dear reader.  Signing off from Lollyland, and to all, a good night....

Episode 14: “…Creeps at this petty pace from day to day….”

Greetings from the world of Turtle Woman Ceramic Studio.  My last entry was over a week ago.  Since then, progress has been negligible. I am still unable to enter the studio as I await the second application of tile and grout sealant.  Today the electrician came and moved the 220 line up from my kiln’s basement location to the new studio location.  This is progress; however, I won’t be able to fire again until the kiln also is moved. I hope Greg the Builder sees fit to come and apply the second coat of sealant so the move can take place.  Also, Phil heroically drove here in the bitterly cold weather this weekend and applied the baseboards. He was going to come back and take care of the pantry door and make the adjustment for the differing floor heights, but three days ago the starter on his car died and we haven’t heard from him since. This entire scene is disappointing and frustrating to me.  Arnold said the work would be done in eight weeks after the first digging was done, and that was late August. Everything should have been done by the end of October.  It’s hard to keep a routine going, harder still to have concentrated, dedicated work time with the disorder and uncertainty surrounding the construction project. I don’t think I’ll be able to have anything new for the January Gallery Night and Day. I had thought this Turtle Woman blog would be relatively short, brisk and optimistic in tone, setting forth an example for others who are contemplating an addition, as well as documenting the steps in the creation of my studio.  To my faithful followers, thanks for your patience.  I appreciate your comments and suggestions! I look forward to the day when I will use this blog to announce an studio open house.

This is the sight at the foot of the stairs. The effort to complete the cement walk was too little, too late. Our parking slab access, as well as our trash receptacles, are beyond the fence in the alley and are inaccessible.

Today the electrician finished the installation of the line of 220 current.

The kiln will be placed here.... Someday....

Tales from Turtle Woman Ceramic Studio: Episode 13: "Let there be Light" (and heat and a t...

Tales from Turtle Woman Ceramic Studio: Episode 13: "Let there be Light" (and heat and a t...: "On Monday, November 28, the electrician came and installed the light fixtures and the baseboard heating unit. Since then, this week’s progr..."

Episode 13: "Let there be Light" (and heat and a tile floor)

On Monday, November 28, the electrician came and installed the light fixtures and the baseboard heating unit. Since then, this week’s progress has been slow and steady, as the tile was fixed with adhesive and the grouting process has begun. Gina has been doing the tile work while Greg the Builder did some exterior work, digging a small pit into the frozen earth around the porch extension and bringing in a long slab of cement which I think is intended for cutting up and placing in the walkway.  Unfortunately, our luck with Mother Nature did not hold—the steps and path are not accessible for me and the porch isn’t finished, although there were several days they could have done this. (Greg said that some workers were supposed to show up but didn't. I thought there would be a pool of eager workers, given the economy....)  I wish they could have done that exterior work before we had our first significant snowfall. I don’t think I’ll be able to take the garbage out this winter unless we have a melt and they work diligently. (Just think what my kitchen will smell like by Spring!)

Taken a couple days before Thanksgiving, this is Phil working on the porch.  He thoughtfully created a place for lawnmower storage and was responsible for the exterior painting, as well.  It seems that Phil can do just about any step in the building of a house. I wish he could have returned to finish this porch project, but I think he was sent over to another project. The porch really is almost done now, except that it is partially unpainted and a couple more spindles need to be installed.

Here is a chance to admire the glowing ceiling fixture, the partially installed tile and the partially finished table that my son-in-law Mike is refinishing for me as my Christmas gift. He made some progress on it over Thanksgiving, but because the heat wasn't installed yet, the stain adhered to the top rather than permeating the wood. I'm hoping he can come to Milwaukee for a "workation" soon so this work table will be ready for clay by the time the studio is done.

I love the tile, made by Seneca Pottery in Attica, Ohio.

Here is Gina at work installing the tile.

Friday night was "Christmas in the Ward." The array of sculptures were awaiting transport last Thursday. The sculpture of Rumpelstiltskin leaping over a fire is my newest one, just out of the kiln Thursday morning. I was thinking about how the miller's daughter carelessly bargains away her future for the present, promising her firstborn if the little man would spin straw into gold for her. Fortunately, Rumpelstiltskin is a game player and when the miller's daughter becomes queen and has a child, he gives her three chances to guess his name; but people are not always as lucky as the queen.

Here is where we are now with the floor.  The tiles are in place and have been treated with sealer and the original grout has been placed.  I admire Gina's skill and stamina, since it has been a very long week with this.

(It's now December 5, the evening of St. Nicholas. I want to remind you to put your shoes out for St. Nicholas' visit. I hope nobody gets a lump of coal.  George doesn't know it yet, but in the morning he'll find two boxes of the liqueur chocolate cherries from Trader Joe's. All our Milwaukee friends are invited to stop by for a first-hand look at the studio....and George can share his chocolates if there are any left!)

Episode 12: No News is NOT Good News

For the past week, progress has ranged from slight to non-existent.  Phil, mostly working alone, put in a couple half days and worked on the porch, as well as a few rows of tile. I was out of town on Wednesday, but had been assured that work would be done all day Wednesday. I left the key for Greg the Builder in a designated spot.  When we returned Thursday evening, nothing had been touched.  I called Greg on Friday and he told me that nothing would be done until Monday, that his crew did not show up on Wednesday. Yes, I can understand that the construction firm is also working on two other jobs that I know of and I am very, very pleased that they have work in this economy.  I can also understand that people want some holiday fun, but my patience is wearing thin. This project is now a month behind schedule. My kitchen is a cluttered mess. The studio is unheated and now that colder weather has set in, our boiler is running non-stop. I am eager to move on and move in!