A New Collaboration in the works!

This is still in process but all the parts have been created and we are in the process of assembling it. What is it? ...for now, a humble work in progress. I am collaborating with silk artist Diane Fredgant. The installation will be Wednesday morning when a new exhibit will open at the MJCC. In celebration of Shavuot, we gathered with a number of artists to study Torah text and learn about our community mikvah, Rachel's Well. We met once more in early summer to study with Rabbi Eve Posen. Drawing inspiration from these exceptional teachers and the mikvah itself, the artists have spent the [ast several months creating art. Some of this art will be selceted to be displayed at the mikvah, but meanwhile, the exhibition seeks to inform folks about the mikvah, one of our community's treasures. One of the great challenges to all our artists is crafting art work in our respective media that will not be damaged by being in a moist environment. I'll post the finished product after it is mounted at the show....stay tuned!

More Judaica!

The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education will be hosting ORA Northwest Jewish Artists on April 7th from 11a-4p. It's a free admission day at the museum and will also feature an amazing exhibit called The Burned Piano.

I'll be selling a good bit of Judaica as well as my masked featured in earlier posts. This is one of my simple Hanukkiot...

Most folks call these menorahs, but menorahs hold seven candles. A Hanuikkiah holds 8 candles plus the Shamash (a lead candle.) 

Come see me...I'll be there all day!

New Works/ Hanukkah MarketPlace

 

I don't know why I keep forgetting to post on this blog! Oh Well...I'm here now!

This is my table area at the MJCC (Portland Oregon). ORA has a Hanukkah MarketPlace event all week. In addition to my tallit clips, garden stakes, seder plates and quilted glass, I will be adding menorahs to the display starting this afternoon !

I'll post photos later this evening.

It's About Time!

 

Twenty +...yes...20 + years ago we renovated our kitchen area. We had a curio cabinet installed and I asked the contractor to leave space for my own windows. 

Inertia, perfectionism, laziness, forgetfulness...more inertia, more perfectionism, more laziness and finally "What the Heck!!!!...just do it ! (to coin a much over-used phrase.)

I'm not getting any younger! I decided to opt for an easy solution. I used Bullseye Tekta and tack-fused blue and clear confetti . That's it! 

How silly that it took that long to do something so simple, so basic!

Writing About The Tedious....Is....Well....Tedious!

During the spring, summer, and fall, I do all my wet work on my lower back deck. ARGGGH!  

Okay, I think I am done with sharing the tedious aspects of art making. I haven't yet shared my reflections on the storing of display equipment, the storing of the artwork, the record keeping, the labeling, the pricing, the advertising....and sigh....the list goes on. I love making glass and I hve learned to get past my introversion tendancies enough to actually enjoy meeting with my customers. It's been awhile since I have heard a comment like, "oh, I made a glass tray once...this is easy!", and I fortunatley haven't heard someone complain about the prices of my art and others being too high. But my last several posts and this one are reminders to all the wonderful art lovers and consumers of art...that when you purchase a piece of art, large or small, it's more than just a bit of glass with some doo-dahs on it. It's more than just some paint slapped on a canvas. It is the result of study, hard work, the aquisition and maintenance of tools, the cost of belonging to a guild, renting a studio or maintaining one, advertising,etc. Most artists I know are happy to just break even.

Balancing the Fabulous with the Tedious ...part 2

Today's post is about the tedious! Glass artists have a few choices when it comes to buying our glass....either buy glass as you need it (expensive!), buy glass in large quantities to get a decent price or buy glass on sale and hope you are buying the colors you need! Shopping is fun! It's comparable to going into a fine candy store! It's also time consuming! I'm fortunate to be living in a city with a Bullseye manufacturing plant and store. That said, I shop sales and it's never a quick trip. Even if I am deeply focused on just buying what I need, there is always something shiny and pretty that catches my eye....and then....I stop to rethink my shopping list. Do I need another mold? What about frit or stringer? Do I have enough kiln wash? And the cash register spits out along receipt. Folks who don't live near Bullseye have to order online and have it shipped....another added expense! Those of us who live near a store have to transport our purchases. I literally seat belt my stacks of glass into the rear seat of my car! Glass storage is the next issue. It takes up space! And what to do with the scraps? I buy glass in large formats so the size of each sheet is roughly 35"x20" and averages $100-$150 per sheet.... Safe storage is imperitive and making use of scrap glass in wise ways helps save money. I keep mine sorted by color in plastic bins the size of a shoe box. I spend a good bit of time curating my collection of scraps because I allow them to pile up and so once a week or so I have to spend time sorting the pieces......tedious!

Balancing the "Fabulous" with the Tedious: Part 1 of The invisible Side of My Art

The Tedious

The Fabulous

 I suspect my beloved customers have no idea what artists have to do before...and after their work is created. For glass artists there is a lot of preparation, maintenance/repairs/replacement of tools, and clean up....not to mention, shopping, dreaming, imagining, sketching....oh, and then there is the purchasing of tools, creating a studio space,  shopping for tools, shopping for glass, marketing (think website, blog, instagram, etc,)  renting space for sales, designing and printing business cards, setting up purchasing options like the Square, PayPal, Venmo, etc.....AND selling work either in person, online, or finding a gallery.

The photo above is scraping down a kiln shelf. That takes about 15 minutes. It's outside work because it's wet and messy! Next, apply at least 4 coats of kiln wash. This creates a barrier between the shelf and the glass. This has to happen after every 3-4 fusings. Slumping into molds doesn't impact the wear and tear on the shelf. Painting is another 10 or 15 minutes. The shelf can air dry overnight or you can dry it in the kiln if you're in a hurry....that still takes a few hours.

I opted for the speed route for curing the kiln shelf...which is why I have time to write this blog entry ! My shelf is drying in the kiln right now.

So what is the "Fabulous" ? I am blessed to have my glass studio in my house. I have expanded it to my lower outside deck where I can do my wet and messy work. On beautiful days...and even on soggy days,  I get to enjoy the woods that come right up to the edge of my house; the sounds of water rushing through the creek below, the plops and drips of rain rolling off leaves and branches, and the glorious sound of birds who sing to me as I work.

In this series of posts I'll talk about the work I do (and so many others) that remains invisible to those who see the artwork. 

CHAMSAH:

 

CHAMSAH- HAMSAH: No Matter How You Spell It....

....it is a protective amulet representing the hand of God.

Hamsa in Arabic, Chamsah in Hebrew....it means 5 (as in 5 fingers)

This mystical amulet is also known by other names. 

Muslims call it The Hand of Fatimah.

Christians refer to it as The Hand of Mary.

Jews know it as the Hand of Miriam.

As a protective amulet it is thought to keep away the evil eye. 

There are many explanations for this amulet and different opinions about whether the fingers should point up or down. 

I'll let you decide!   All three of these glass items will be available for purchase at ORA's Jewish Arts Month sale at the MJCC (6651 SW Capitol Hwy- Portland, OR) March 6-11. I am also happy to accept a commission to make the Chasmal of your dreams!

12"x12" sushi style platter

6" diameter shallow dish

                                                                 6" shallow sushi style dish

THESE WORDS MATTER! Three Commissioned Gifts

Emet: Truth

Chesed: Loving-kindness

Tzedek: Righteousness/Justice

It was an honor to make these mixed media gifts for outgoing board members of a local charitable organization.

Each gift features a special word that suited the recipient. These words are middot~intentions. In many ways they defy simple definitions. The are words that inspire us to be better people. They are aspirational and imply action. In this situation, each word is so representative of the mensches (fine people) who worked to benefit their community in  significant ways. Each word is related to the other words. 

All middot are really connected.

There can be no justice without truth and loving-kindness. Truth stems from a belief in justice and loving-kindness....and of course, truth and justice support loving-kindness.

The base glass is called Aventurine Green. It resembles a specific type of quartz stone ; a sparkling dark green. In some spiritual practices the stone is used as a meditation aid. This quartz is said to represent moving forward with confidence, especially through challenging circumstances.  The green is clear capped giving each piece a sense of depth.

Each piece of fused glass is elevation-mounted on hand polished aluminum sheeting. French cleat style mounting brackets make it possible to hang these on a wall.

Embedded in the glass is copper mesh. When copper is heated it changes color, in this case, red.  The mesh creates small bubbles that are inevitably trapped between the layers of glass. The letters are cut from dichroic glass and tack fused to the clear cap. Dichroic beads dance on the surface while a strip of rainbow dichroic glass underscores each word.

Yes, there is intended symbolism here! But I don't like forcing people to accept my word for it...I prefer that those who choose to take the time to be with the glass, interpret the meaning behind each "adornment."  

What do you think they mean?

A POP-UP SALE!!!! Last Minute Shopping!

 

It's a pop-up in our neighborhood! This is what happens when two artists (Jack and Eddy) live next to each other and like to collaborate!  It's what happens when there is a pandemic, you have been making art but you can't be in show. 

We've invited two other friends: a silk artist (Diane Fredgant) who also has incredibly lovely and well made face masks using surgical-grade filters for sale, and a chef (Lani Raider) who will have beautifully prepared treats available for purchase as well as a menu of items that can be ordered for future consumption.

Virtual Shows are great, but often customers want to handle the merchandise or at least see it up close- personal!  WHAT KIND OF MERCHANDISE? I'm so glad you asked! Turned wood, fused glass, hand-painted silk, and chef prepared freshly smoked salmon (cryovac packaging) and an assortment of holiday treats.  I'll feature information about each artist on this site, beginning Tuesday evening.  Check this site on Sunday if it's raining. We plan to be open unless there is a deluge. This is Oregon after all....it does rain. We'll stay open during showers

So on Sunday December 20th we will set up some open air booths with heaters...and invite friends and neighbors to browse through our work. COVID SAFETY is our main concern!

LOCATION: The turn-around space between 02 SW Canby and 16 SW Canby,

•We will limit the number of guests entering at one time to members of a single pod or if alone, just one customer at a time. If you are a drive up guest, you may be asked to wait in your car for a few minutes...if customers are already in our booths.

•We're offering hot drinks and small nibbles that are individually wrapped

•We will accept  payment for art via cash, check, PayPal, or credit card

• Hand sanitizer will be available for your use.

Buy My Glass! Here's How.....

Blue Bird Tallit Clips
These clips are fabric friendly and make an affordable gift for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah...
or even as a gift for yourself. Would you prefer a different style or color?
No problem! Turn around time on commissioned clips is about 5 days.

 I am pleased to announce that ORA Northwest Jewish Artists is going to host a Virtual Marketplace. I'll be in that show! BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT! While I can't sell you anything on Marketplace site , I do have additional art work that is available now. I can also make art pieces to order.

You can support an artist and save money at the same time! My fused glass is affordable and well made. 

The shop goes live November 27th and will run through December 17th. 

Local customers will be able to arrange to pick up their purchases or pay for shipping. Out of town customers will be able to pay to have their art purchases shipped.

https://northwestjewishartists.org ...click on the SHOP button!

If you want to gift your art, I urge you to shop nearly so you can be certain that the gift arrives in time for whatever holiday you celebrate!

I'll be posting photos of my work here over the next few weeks as a preview...  but please know that commissions are certainly possible.... I will be able to accept glass orders as soon as November 16th, Just send your inquiry to me by email:  sparksofspirit@gmail.com

COVID ART SHOW!...VIRTUAL!

 I am quite pleased to be in this show....I will show some of my process in upcoming posts...

In order to attend out virtual show you will need to register! It's free! You don't have to be a member of the MJCC (our co-sponsor and host).  Art is available for purchase...but there is no pressure to buy....

COME LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS EACH OF US ENGAGED IN DURING THIS BIZARRE TIME OF COVID!

This is piece is different from anything else I have done. I am excited to share it with all of you!

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtfumqrz8uG9U5CcRupkenyf--NGMkaAIg

CELEBRATION OF ART 2019 this weekend!

I have been very quiet on this blog. Sorry about that!
It has been a very busy fall and somehow the time just slipped away.

CELEBRATION OF ART 2019 is this Saturday 7-9pm and Sunday 10am-4pm November 2-3at the MJCC 6651 SW Capitol Hwy Portland Oregon.

I have a new mask that will be revealed Saturday night!

This guy was known to sport neck and bow ties....and things were always "ducky" with him.

Here's a picture of me finishing off his little tie!  Come see him fully "dressed" at the show. He's pretty cute! You just might want to take him home with you!

A NEW SEDER PLATE!

I've been commissioned to make a new seder plate. The glass pictured above is even more gorgeous than it looks. What appears to be charcoal grey here is actually purple!  The plate will be inserted a custom black maple tray that my neighbor and co-artist Jack will make.

I'll post my progress on the project when I have something to report!

Art of Sacred Community: Panel Discussion

Thursday February 21st, 7pm @ Neveh Shalom   

8831 SW Peaceful Lane  Isaak Foyer 

I will be part of an Art Talk about this wonderful exhibit. This photo represents a very small piece of what is on display.

We will present a multimedia slide show, talk about our process and journey, and take questions.

I hope you can come.... share in the conversation, enjoy some nibbles, and learn about our process!

Gratitude!

Artists do not need to work in isolation!

Our artists' guild offers artists the opportunity to be part of what we call critique groups, but really...they are support groups.

Each group is different and has a different way of operating.
The group I am part of is small. We all work in different media:
Silk painting, fabric construction, painting, bead work, and glass.

We come together to inspire each other, problem solve, study, and eat!

Most recently we  took on the challenge of creating art to celebrate Congregation Neveh Shalom's 150th anniversary!  Our work is going up in the Isaak Foyer and the exhibit will open February 10th. More about that in a future post.

This is my part one gratitude post. What would I do without the amazing women who have over the years encouraged and motivated me...and more importantly have consulted with me and on occasion, made elements to add on to my project?

I created a torah adornment (aka breastplate) that needed that extra bit of bling. Esther Liberman, our bead artist came to my rescue.
Don't let my poor photography skills take away from the beauty of these beads. They enhance the project in so many ways. Her choice of color, size, and texture all make for a stunning bit of embellishment. I'll post photos of the competed projects in another post. Looking at this photo I realize I need to get a better close up so you can appreciate the tiny copper elements sandwiched between glass beads.

Due to traveling, Esther was unable to create new work for this exhibition, but she has been involved with our process throughout. Esther is also our guild president and co-founder of the organization. 

Thank you Esther! You are amazing!      

Want to see her incredible artwork? Go to our ORA website or google: Esther Liberman bead artist. The work she does will amaze you!

CHAMSAH PLATE DONATION

My synagogue has an annual auction. This is my donation.
Hoping they get a reasonable price. 

The chamsah is made with dichroic glass. The dish is slumped into an origami mold. I might have to make another one or two of these!

The shul is about to celebrate it's 150th anniversary. If you scroll down you can see the first of two Torah Adornments I am making for the lobby art show.

More info to come...but first, I need to finish cutting the glass for the second adornment I am making.

...stay tuned!

Tiny Letters and More

Cutting tiny hebrew letters has been my challenge. Surprisingly, I only had to re-do 2 letters. I placed one of the letters on a time for perspective.

The Asseret Hadibrot, commonly known as The Ten Commandments is more accurately translated as "The Ten Utterances." I couldn't possibly cut letters small enough to write them all out, so instead I cut just ten.

The letters are all dichroic and the centerline is a dichroic stringer.

The whole piece is in the kiln for a slow fire up to tack fusing temperature...with a slow cool down as well. 

Another Wedding Glass Gift

I made the couple a class vessel to smash after their wedding vows. The shards were retained until they decided what they wanted me to make.. The snow on the mountains doesn't show up well in this photo. It is a milky mottled glass with shards of wedding glass. The stream is also covered with a layer of chards and iridized clear frit.

The moon also didn't come out clearly in the photo, but is made from clear dichroic glass. The whole disc experiences color shifts as the light shifts.

Mazal Tov to the happy couple!

Another Mask: Albert's Bad Hair Day

Albert was fun to make. 
I like making masks of fictional and real life characters....
Perhaps my most favorite quote by him is:
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."

What if we were all so passionately curious? 
What could we accomplish? 
We may not all have his amazing intellect, but we all have the ability to be curious; to imagine that we can accomplish something of value that benefits everyone, and the wisdom to recognize where the dangers are if we take things a step too far.

Well, at least Albert and I have one thing in common...I too have bad hair days!