New Mezuzah Line!

Fresh out of the kiln! Three new styles of Mezzuzot (plural for Mezuzah.)

I was commissioned to create a Mezuzah for a beach front home. It needed to be water resistant and sit flush against the door post. I wasn't sure what she wanted so I created three very different pieces.

These photos were just snapped this afternoon on the beach just outside of the vacation home. Of course the klaf wasn't inside any of them when I took the pictures. The home owner selected the pomegranate!

A Man of Vision, A Man of Peace

I had coffee today with LeRoy Goertz.
The Oregonian had a feature story about his newest artistic creation: A Project called The Art of Reconciliation.


I won't repeat his story here. He says it well enough on his website.  http://www.artofreconciliation.com/leroygoertz.htm
LeRoy is a sculptor and a dreamer. He has already begun the dialogue with numerous groups Apparently there was quite an exhibition on November 20th in celebration of Resolution Northwest's 25th Anniversary celebration.

There will be more conversations as we explore the potential of gathering artists from multiple cultural backgrounds to work together in a meaningful way.... using art to spread the message of reconciliation and peace. Will it work? Have there been studies to prove this is possible? Probably not, but how can you listen to music or view a piece of art or read a poem and not be affected?

Stay tuned.....this man is on to something! It was so kind of him to open the door to those of us who wish to join him!  THANK YOU LEROY!  We'll be talking!

TIME TO THINK ABOUT SEDER PLATES

I will be accepting orders for custom-made fused glass seder plates beginning on January 1, 2011.
Posted here are samples of past seder plates made for commission or general sales. Contact me here, visit me on the ORA Northwest Jewish Artists website or send me an email: sparksofspirit@gmail.com and tell me what you'd like. I have many glass colors in stock and many designs to choose from.

I'll deliver your plate free in the city of Portland or arrange for low cost shipping to your location.

I have just drawn up plans for two new designs of seder plates styles which should go into production in a week or two....I'm vacationing at the Oregon coast but am also dreaming up new glass designs! It's very exciting!

I'll post new pix as the pieces emerge from my kiln.

In the mean time.....Happy New Year 2011!

Northwest Spirit

A tray for your lox?  Maybe for your sushi?
In honor of our common love for salmon, this is my adaptation of pacific northwest Native American art.


The plate uses copper foil cutouts sandwiched between layers of steel blue and clear glass. Accents include dichroic and red glass.

Dichroic Pop!

A transparent dichroic star of david was fused to the surface of a clear capped plate of colorful dichroic glass.
The impact is remarkable.....the star seems superimposed ....almost 3D!

I love watching how the colors shift in color and intensity as the light changes.

Home show scenes

Here are some simple shots of my home display for last weekend's sale. We had slow but steady traffic.
I hope to post pics of Julie and Esther's display soon!

We hope to do more sales, perhaps in other people's homes. There is a different energy when you do a home sale in contrast to large group shows and exhibits. Although it is still a tiring experience, it is a more relaxed effort and you have control over the background music!

Now it's time to inventory what is left and pack it all up in anticipation of the next event!

Private Sale Next Sunday! (december 5)- new items

Cheese plates and wine bottle stoppers made from fused glass will be available for sale in addition to my usual items. The sale will be at my home in Portland Oregon from 11am-5 pm.   Custom orders available!

We'll have beadwork, fine silver and gem jewelry and glass. There will also be a sale at another location on the 4th.
Need directions? send me a quick note: sparksofspirit@gmail.com

Coffee, a nosh, and the perfect hand crafted gift!

Private Sale Dec 4-5

Bead work by Esther Liberman, fine jewelry by Julie Hockley, and my glass  will be available for sale on these two days.....
@ my house on Sunday the 5th.
There will be all kinds of functional glass...not just judaica.
wine bottle stoppers, cheese plates, sushi dishes and trays, bowls.....
Interested? DROP ME AN EMAIL and I'll send directions for either/both days!
http://www.northwestjewishartists.org/

want to see work by Esther and Julie? go to http://www.northwestjewishartists.org/   then click on
artists.

Weaving glass....REALLY?

I call this piece spiritual gridlock. I was talking with a friend a while back and she was talking about her spiritual practice. As she described her spiritual journeying I began to see glass imagery. It was a great conversation that inspired me to finally try weaving glass. It was a little frustrating but in the end, very satisfying!

I look forward to playing with this process a little more!

Celebration of Art 2010!

We had a sizable crowd (approximately 600!). Sales were brisk for some artists and less so for others. These types of sales/exhibits are tricky. Sometimes very talented artists don't sell and we all are left wondering why?

We'll be exploring the possibility of diversifying our venues and perhaps adding more shows. Different Sales attract different customers, so I think the exploration will continue.

I was pleased with my sales, especially since I had limited new stock. In addition to sales I also received a few commissions. With luck I will complete them in the next week.

  Pictured are a couple of views of my booth.

Last of the Red-Hot Mammas!

You won't want to miss this! Wendy Westerwelle ( a HOT MAMMA in her own right!) will star in this one woman show about Sophie Tucker. This is must see entertainment right here in Portland at the Coho Theater Dec 2-26, 2010 See you there!

Custom Clips

Leaf clips for the tallit belonging to a landscape architect and
blue pomegranates for a Bat Mitzvah tallit .

The leaves are made from aventurine glass. The green sparkles with subtle gold flecks whenever the light hits it!

The pomegranates have dichroic glass "seed pods"

It's always fun to hear what people select and even more fun trying to use the glass to achieve their desires.

The Celebration of Art Show is this Sunday at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Hours are 10am-4 pm- October 24th 2010.

I will have some pre-made clips, bowls, trays, Torah adornments on display...and commissions are welcome.

I am pleased that despite setbacks by my arm, I have sufficient stock to put out a nice display.
I hope you'll come, stop by, say hello and tell me that you saw my blog.

Lots and Lots of squares

It still hurts to cut glass, so I've been rummaging around my studio looking for pre-cut anything....

...and I found a small box of 1x1" squares!

I am dreaming up something a little more creative than a checkerboard plate.....at least a different kind of checkerboard.....
...hmmmmm....?????

I've washed and dried them....now to play and arrange and rearrange! Hope something great emerges!

First Effort

Well, it's a start. Four months of physical therapy and I have some decent range of motion in my elbow. The shoulder is improving at a snail's pace...and I'll admit, it isn't fun to be cutting glass. Elbow and shoulder strength are needed and I just don't have it yet.

A big sale (Celebration of ART 2010 @ MJCC) is only a couple of weeks away so it's time to get busy and hope that my arm will hold out. Come see me at the sale....Oct 24th 10am-4pm~!

New x-rays on the 20th.....hopefully I am continuing to make solid healing progress!
P/T is helping and I am now down to 1x/ week. I can do it!!!!!

New Stuff !

Brooches...the "in" word for pins....
just came out of my kiln .
Here are two of my favorites....pinless thus far.
They aren't typical of the work I usually do.


Tell me what you think!

Optimism

I have nothing new to post! This is a piece (a flat tile) I made last summer. It speaks to me of possibilities.....

....sigh!.....We didn't get around to setting up the saw and cutting glass. The short time my son was home evaporated...but every moment was worth it. When Rosh Hashanah has ended, I will tackle some new projects. I will invite some friends to come help me set up the saw and help me get the needed blanks cut. Asking for help really is ok!

I am determined...and optimistic....even though I still haven't heard a word from my surgeon about when I can begin to handle weight with my right arm (yes, I am sulking!....okay, I'm done!)

So I am pledging optimism for myself! RH is a week away......a time for renewal, asking for forgiveness from others, and a time to forgive myself.

To those of you kind enough to visit this site...and to those who do not......wishes for a peaceful, joyous, and HEALTHY new year!

Torah Adornments / Breast Plates

I'm not sure what my resistance is to calling them breast plates- I just prefer the term adornments!

Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland, Oregon has been kind enough to offer ORA (my art group) display space. The High Holiday show opened today and will close October 5th. Much of our work is Judaica based...and the rest is spiritual in nature and represents the hard work of my artist colleagues.

I don 't have much to display since I haven't been able to create new items, but I am displaying a fused glass seder plate and a Torah Adornment.  Rabbi Brad Greenstein has agreed to display two additional Adornments on Torahs we'll use in the downstairs services he'll be leading with Cantor Ilene Safyan.

I am so honored....and so excited. I have been using the adornments to mark an eastern interior wall of my house...each, a mizrach. I love looking at them there, but seeing them actually on a Torah.....I can't explain the feelings I have! Much gratitude to the shul...and Rabbi Brad!

Celebration of Art 2010! & .......

ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists proudly presents its 5th annual art show.

This will be our third show at the MJCC.  Most exciting is our commitment to support the Kehilla Housing Project by donating 10% of our proceeds to this endeavor.

You can learn about this project which will develop assisted independent living apartments for adults with developmental disabilities....  http://cedarsinaipark.org/explore-our-services/kehillah-housing/

I hope I can get my arm back into production mode soon.....! I hope to make some new designs in fused glass art and judaica. I hope you will come to our sale and buy my work......your purchases will help a fantastic cause as well as boost my self esteem!

Mark your calendars now.....October 24th 2010  10-4pm at the mjcc!

more info to follow!

Son + Saw = some new glass....finally!

 I still can't do any weight - bearing activities....but now that my son is home for a visit.....he can lift, and schlep, and tote water for my Taurus Ring saw!

I was able to use my left hand to push the glass and only used my right arm to "steer."

Ok, I had to take several breaks to relax the shoulder, but it worked and I was able to craft several tallit clips.

A wonderful discovery in my studio...... apparently I cut some round and square blanks before I broke my arm. YAY! If i can find some clear blanks to go with them or get some help cutting the clear....I will actually be able to begin creating work for the Celebration of Art 2010 show in October (October 24th...in case you were wondering!) This will be ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists 5th annual show (our 3rd at the.
I'll be posting more info shortly!

NOT READY TO ARM WRESTLE YET !

Well, I'm not ready for  arm wrestling yet....but the elbow is straightening out  and also bending well.
I'll get fresh x rays at the end of the month and hopefully will then get the go ahead to start weight bearing.

Our art group, ORA will have a show at Neveh Shalom for about 6 weeks. I'm a little sad that I can't create something new for that so I hope to figure out a way to display my Torah adornments.

I'm starting to sketch out some new ideas and hope that I  can get started soon. I did find some pre-cut blanks in my studio, so maybe I can create some embellishments using the saw next week.....I might just pull that off!

wish me luck!