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I feel like Sally Fields at the end of her A Awards acceptance speech- anyone my ages remembers how funny that was. I always think of Sall F. When I think of being grateful when I get any positive feed back for my art.
This has to be my most liked Instagram post. That should tell me something. I guess I will be officially finding a way to combine Rumblings and the World of Hum. 🤔🤠🐝
Keystones in El Paso
50” x 10’
watercolor monotype
I have often wondered how my monotypes would look with a kinetic showdown piece. This is the first print I have tried with the kinetic sculpture. I think it is worth exploring.
This is a screenshot of a message I received on Instagram In the above post. I am please to make an Apis Dorsata and help spread the word regarding the bee problem in India -
Apis Dorsata - ghost #2 watercolor monotype print 30” X44” detail of a 458 sq.ft work that addresses the plight of native bees worldwide. ”rock bee” its common name is responsible for every third bite of food in India.
Apis Dorsata - Rock bee. 30” X 44” watercolor monotype
Apis Dorsata - Rock bee. Ghost
30” X 44” watercolor monotype
Apis Dorsata - Rock bee. Ghost 2
30” X 44” watercolor monotype
Since last November I have been dropping hints to Houston Chronicle writer Molly Glentzer to write a native bee article. Earlier this week she called to talk about native bees. Some of the information I talk about when I talk about bees is alarming. She asked if I knew a locacal native bee athaurity, I did not. She said she could find one.
Here article came out today. Sadly she did not mention my bee art activism but the native bee specialist confirmed everything I have been saying. And yes It is alarming. Knowledge is power. - plant native non hybrid plants, blue, purple, yellow and white primarily. Starting the conversation with art activism.
her awesome article is below.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/gardening/article/Your-Houston-garden-needs-native-bees-15287310.php
Another day of social distancing and not being able to get in my studio. Today's stitching, I added the first of several sweat bees. In reality, they are only about 1/4 ” long. They have beautiful metallic greens and blues. I am working to show more time and movement in my stitching.
I added a tiny sweat bee - he is moving fast and as a result blurry
First I cut some thread of the colors I want the bee to be.
Next I wad them up into a cocoon.
Then I untangle them into the shape of the movement of a bee.
Then I stitch them into the shape of the movement.
The last almost three weeks have been emotionally challenging for everyone. That said I am very fortunate that no one close to us is sick and for that I am very grateful. I do have friends who have very sick people in their family. It is hard to hear their pain. I tear up just thinking about how many people this second are worried about next breath. I am trying not to think of it- it is too painful.
I am trying to keep myself busy and stitching is very therapeutic. I am free stitching bee habitats onto a stained jean jacket and getting a lot of dog walks in. We lost our oldest male labrador Goose to kidney failure last week. He is missed. The timing was bad as he brought us a lot of joy.
The jean jacket
My sweet Goose watching me work in the yard a few years back.
Things are now going smoothly maybe too smoothly. All the work I did this summer is paying off.
ps. I now have the equivalent of another silo full of work in my studio………. bursting at the seems. Anyone need a keystone animal environmental installation?
This summer, I made 7 sections of kinetic sculptures, approximately 6’-10’ long X 36” in diameter, anticipating that I would not use all of them. Now that I am in the space and see what the light does on the convex wall, I think I will use 4 of my favorite sections and add 4 extra lines dropped for smaller pieces that will help integrate the 4 sections into one piece.
Experimenting with the placement of the light.
Experimenting with the shadows with the light in a convex wall.
The walls are not "museum pristine", they show their age, I am not bothered, it is a grain silo and I ❤️ It.
Close up of support system
The moment I got off the scissor lift and looked up at my support system, I realized I had made a big mistake. I should have painted them white. The black stood out too much on the white walls. I could not sleep that night trying to decide if I should repaint them... It was not easy, but I spent the next half day painting the system 19’ in the air white.
I think it was worth it, the support system is much less intrusive.
I hung from the support system 8 fishing tackle swivels with 25 lb filament attached to each swivel. Four of the swivels are 36” apart 18” from the wall. At these distances the pieces will not touch each other or the wall. Everything should move independently. These are for the big pieces. The other swivels are for smaller pieces and are spaced randomly. I am guesstimating where I want these. Tomorrow I will start hanging work.
Each small element bagged separately making bouquet of bee cocoons
Making my own wardrobe style boxes.
My pieces hang from the top of the boxes. I needed something to support the top of the box. Southland hardware yard sticks were the cheapest thing I could find. I think they will work.
My sculpture wardrobe boxes have doors.
The pieces in bags make awesome amnion shadows
7 boxes ready to go.
View from inside looking out.
Looking north through another entrance.
The blank walls and openings
Can you imagine how many tons of rice dropped through this funnel? The gallery lighting is attached to the mouth. It is right in the center of the space. I am not sure I like the central placement.
Day two - view from the silo to the east.
Day 2- the scaffold and installers arrived, but the safety pins did not. Unfortunately, the funnel, or shoot hanging down in the middle of the space, is very awkward
Day 3- scaffold-
After sleeping on it, I am going to return the scaffold and rent a scissor lift. An awkward 3 level scaffold is just not safe enough for me.
Lighting- I was able to play with the lighting that is installed; it is too central for my piece. Luckily I bought a clamp on fixture with a twenty-five foot cord and ran it around the space to a place I think I like. I won’t know until some work is up. It does look hopeful.
Awkward scaffold and grain shoot
Lighting from the side.
The lighting in the center was not my preference. Lucky for me I happen to have a clamp light fixture which is consistent with the gallery lighting. My fixture has a 25’ cord and there is a place to clamp it right where I think I will like it. I have temporarily wired it in place. I can test it once I get my work delivered.
