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....