Unstuck!....and done!

Our jury event was last night. The jury was most generous with me and accepted my submissions.
Thank you !

I'm posting one of the Torah Adornments in process. I struggled with the flames and this renewed effort worked.
There are additional layers of flames on this that lift off the plate. Still not as dramatic as what I saw in my head...but certainly more practical.

Want to see the finished product? Come see all 5 Adornments and more at Elements glass on NW 19th and Vaughn on Thursday March 4th.

check out the JAM website calendar, schedule and blog....lots of great info about Jewish Arts Month!

STUCK

Well, two of the three pieces came out of the kiln looking just like they were supposed to ...but the third...
well...it's pathetic. The color , the shape, the incongruity..AAAAARGH!

I have only myself to blame....I just didn't think it through enough. I have ordered some new dichroic glass which is being made for me and will be ready by Friday...Friday morning I hope! so I can get some work done before Shabbat.

In the meantime, I have more planning and redesign work ahead of me. I won't have time to remake it a third time.....and then there is the fifth and final piece. I started it today  but it needs some of the new glass on order too.

I've cropped the picture so you won't see the total failure of it all. When all five pieces are finished I will see what I can do to salvage this piece ....

Phase 2: "before"

Na-aseh V'snishmah is what the Israelites said to Moses when he told them God had an offer for them (the LAW). They didn't know what they were in for, but having seen a few miracles they knew they were looking at a good deal. They said N-aseh V'nishmah which literally means : We will do and then we will listen. We think that means that they would follow the laws, not knowing what they really meant but that through the doing, they would come to understand. Na-aseh v'nishmah is my journey as I work my way through this series of plates.

For this plate,  I first cut the tablet shape and then split it down the middle. I wrapped these 2 pieces of expensive dichroic glass in newspaper, took several deep breaths and then....smacked them with a hammer...and then I had to hit them three more times because I didn't hit hard enough! It's in the kiln now with plates #3 and 4. Breath holding until tomorrow morning.

I will post the new ones soon. The finished set will hopefully be juried in for the ELEMENTS Gallery show that opens March 4th. ELEMENTS is located on NW 19th and Vaughn. More about that show later.

Phase 1: Torah Adornments

I have various components cut for the JAM Elements Show beginning March 4th.

Phase 1 is fusing a silver irid on black onto clear blanks....should be done by about midnight tonight.

It's a boring picture but this is what is in the kiln right now.

Phase 2 involves layering the various elements I have pre cut.

These are only three of the five pieces as part of my set.

Piece 1 is done and piece five needs some drilling and interior cuts before
I can begin the layering process. It will receive separate treatment.

Stay tuned!

Very cool evening of music

 
Last night I needed a break from all the JAM planning. I gave myself a great treat. I went to  new place in SE Portland in the Sellwood neighborhood called The Woods. It's a new venue for music housed in a former mortuary.

There was nothing dead about that place last night! Tony Furtado plays a mean slide guitar and banjo. He has an ease on stage that makes him instantly likeable. He called numerous guest talents to the stage to lay/sing with him.  One of my favorite local singers, Stephanie Schneiderman was present and added warmth and song to a supportive house.

Sunday night I joined a lot of Schneiderman fans at Jimmy Maks. It was crowded and the audience talked  and talked and talked....grrrrrrr! She was amazing, but a chunk of the audience forgot to pay attention.

Last night, a smaller house (packed none-the-less) was quiet , attentive and appreciative. I felt like I was experiencing a live performance in my living room.  The causal flow of banter from Tony and others, lots of talented guests and the warm melodies and harmonies put out by Stephanie set the tone and created an intimate environment for an amazing evening of music.....the way music ought to be!

My new music discovery  lat night was Scott Law. He is an amazing guitar player who quickly won me over with his incredible ability to jam on songs that were new to him. He is a must see in Portland.

Tony will be at the Woods again on Tuesday the 2nd. I plan to be there. Join me?

How Will I know You Were Here?

This is how to tell me you have an opinion of what you saw here:
At the bottom of any post you'll see the word comments. CLICK on that and you will be taken to a screen that allows you to comment. After that you type in the silly code they give you, hit return and voila....you are no longer a lurker...but a welcome guest!


Leave me a love note or a critique. I'm a big girl...I can take it! Bottom line, tell me you visited so I know someone out there is reading what I post!

Jewish Arts Month Calendar!

It's just this easy....
click on this link    http://www.northwestjewishartists.org/JAMcalendar2010.html
and you will find the JEWISH ARTS MONTH CALENDAR.


You can go to the Jewish Arts Month (JAM) blog to learn more about individual events.
jewishartsmonth.blogspot.com/

I'll be posting there routinely. If these links don't work, cut and paste them into your browser!
  

I'm back in the groove

I am done sulking. The new saw parts and blade have been installed and my intricate hebrew letters are about 1/3 done! I have a timeline that will work if the back-ordered glass comes in within the next 10 days.
It felt so good to finalize my drawings and move forward. I love my saw and I love the shimmering dichro letters I was able to cut today.


I don't have any pictures to post of my work...yet. SO for now, a picture of my ring saw....sigh!

NEW PLAN

Lots of frustration this week.

I have to give up on my plans to build a table for the Chair Affair because they changed their deadline for getting our work turned in. i understand their rationale but in the midst of JAM planning and trying to get my glass made in time for our art show...this is a set back. I will have to reassess what I can realistically get done for them. It's back to the drawing board.

Frustration #2.... the glass store is back ordered on black/silver irid glass I need....and it may not come in for two more weeks. YIKES!....but, I'm working on a solution. I'll be building 4 new pieces simultaneously so I will cut out all the glass pieces I need that doesn't involve the missing glass. When the black irid arrives, it should be a simple matter of cutting it and layering it with my precuts. With luck I will be able to fire at least three of the 4 pieces in a single firing.

Next week is pivotal. If I can get all the parts cut up for my art show pieces, I can shift my focus to the Chair Affair Project. I do have this bar stool I picked up last year from the warehouse.....I had planned to return it when my original plan failed in last year's project. I'm glad I kept it.....hmmmmm....what to do, what to do?

A Fresh Start

I have finished my final sketch and tomorrow I will finally shop for saw parts and the glass I need.
Jewish Arts Month planning has been all consuming and now it is time to get serious about my own art.

I have sooo much glass in stock and of course, the piece I need is the one piece I don't have!
Friday I will buy my challah instead of baking...and will spend the time cutting glass instead.
My plans are ambitious and hopefully I'll be able to post pictures of my progress.

I need to make a tough decision about my Chair Affair Project. It looks like the table idea I had is just too big to make it work this year. I will hold the table top in reserve and perhaps use it next year. With 2 art shows looming in the near future, I need to use my time wisely.

Pre-JAM Slam!

That's our name for the party.
Rumors are spreading that possible city dignitaries may attend.
Hmmmmm....wonder who they're talking about?

We'll be Jammin'

February 24th (time tba)....it's a party and you are invited! Mittleman Jewish Community Center Ballroom in Portland Oregon. This is our Kickoff event for Jewish Arts month.

Lots of artists, actors, musicians...and some special guests. Food, drink, entertainment........More details to follow. Stay tuned!

The NEA is part of our funding!

I was negligent in not posting that the NEA is a part of the generous grant awarded by the Oregon Arts Commission.  Jewish Arts Month aka JAM will begin our fundraising campaign Monday. Hopefully the faith these two agencies have in us will be shared by art lovers in Portland. We're working hard to make this a fabulous festival...and one that will return year after year.

Wendy Westerwelle and Renata Dollinger

Great news!
Triangle Productions will produce the one-woman play ROSE starring Wendy Westerwelle at the COHO theater here in Portland, April 1-25.
Jewish Arts Month (JAM) is proud to support this effort.
But wait, it gets better!
 Renata Dollinger will display her work in the lobby of COHO and she will also
join ORA artists at the Elements Gallery March 3-?.
Renata is an amazing artist , now well into her 80s. She paints vibrant pictures of shtetl life.
She has retired to Bothell Washington but is willing to bring her newest oil paintings to Portland where her fan base is extensive.
Look out Portland! The art scene is going to meet a powerful group of Jewish artists!

JEWISH ARTS MONTH GETS FUNDED!!!!!

It's official! JAM is coming to PDX.
Jewish Arts month is actually about 10 weeks long. Our web page will go up shortly.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal Agency.

We need donations to help fund this project. If you can help, please send a donation to the Jewish Community Center  5561 SW Capitol Hwy Portland Oregon attn: Beth Germain and be sure to say it's for JAM!!!!! This is a tax deductible gift!

THREE....yes 3 theaters will perform Jewish-themed plays. The Chosen, KinderTransport, and ROSE.
(More info later!)

Elements Glass will host ORA Northwest Jewish artists for a two week show.

Musicians will perform concerts in a variety of genre.

poetry slam

Drash Magazine presents Oregon Jewish Writers

Joanne Greenberg (author of I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN) will adult storytelling.

and the list goes on........and on!  stay tuned......nothing like this has been attempted (that we know of)!!!

Mizrach: facing east

In hebrew mizrach means east. It is a tradition in some households to mark the eastern wall of their house with some decorative element bearing this hebrew word. We face east when we pray, directing our energy toward Jerusalem.

I wanted to create a vessel. Something that could be wall mounted or dsiplayed on a tabletop. Something that incorporated the idea of a mizrach but would carry meditative prayers. I developed a prototype that I am pleased with. It's a little busy but I know how to proceed with the "real deal." In the mean time, I can use this Mizrach for my personal meditation practice....after all, practice is what this is all about!

This plate is asymmetrical and has two copper foil hands (chamsahs) fused between the layers of glass. The back is textured in a herringbone pattern which adds an unexpected warmth to the piece. I don't know if you can see it in the picture.

Gold ink was applied to the fingers. Each finger on one hand carries a hebrew meditation while the opposite hand carries the translations.  The shiny hebrew letters spell the word mizrach in dichroic glass.

I had a wonderful meditative session with it yesterday; filling the dish with water and floating candles.
I focused on shiviti and was able to clear the junk out of my head. Shabbat is almost here and I look forward to meditating with a second verse.

CHAIR AFFAIR 2010

I am pleased to participate again in the annual Chair Affair fund raiser for the Community Warehouse.

I picked up a large round piece of tempered glass....a table top at the warehouse a couple of weeks ago and this evening I went to IKEA to pick up some inexpensive legs.

Now comes the challenge..... designing an elegant table that will attract the attention of wealthy bidders willing to plunk down some big dollars for a most worthy cause.

The picture I have included is actually of a similar table top....being sold  on the web for $200!
(no legs, no chairs, no design elements)

Stay tuned......!

At SAM....Seattle Art Museum

A glorious morning was spent at SAM.

There were two highlights (ok...three!)

1. A large glass case with lots and lots of beautiful coldworked glass....AND, calling my name was.... a stunning piece by Toots Zynski. If you've never seen her work, I recommend you visit this youtube site. Slender glass stingers (finer than raw angel hair pasta!)  fused together, then slumped. Fragile in appearance, the vessel is thicker than I would have guessed. Attractive from a distance...but up close, her work is absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful. ....sigh!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Y1jfirlFA
2. Alexander Calder. I was especially touched to see his portrait on display, taken by none other than Arnold Newman. Arnold Newman, of blessed memory was an amazing photographer and this portrait spoke volumes about Calder. As the mobiles gently moved, they cast ever-changing shadows on the walls.

3. A room featuring BEADS!!!!! I don't want to get started on my usual rant about how the Arts World has  seen fit to segregate "fine art" from "fine crafts". Fortunately SAM doesn't engage in that kind of thinking.

The bead exhibit was lovely and elevated the status of beads and bead making to its rightful place.

Sadly, it was time to go home so I didn't have time to visit the Michaelangelo exhibit.....but then, I have been to the Sistene Chapel. On display were a handful of drawings that somehow escaped going up in smoke. Apparently, he burned most of his drawings !

I will say that art is clearly in the eye of the beholder. There were pieces I wouldn't display in my garage and astonishing works that provoke humility and awe. What a gift to spend a few hours with such pieces!

Oh, the Calder piece below is small enough to rest on the palm of your hand! Thank you google images.

I hope it's not a copyrighted image...I just want y'all to know what I'm talking about!

Making the Jam!

Stay tuned.......We'll be jammin' soon!

It looks like more meetings are in my future. JAM- jewish Arts Month, was recently described as "an ambitious project" by a member of the Oregon Arts Commission grants jury panel.

We have more ideas than a month can accommodate but we have numerous organizations involved and lots of good people pitching in to help.

Done!