books

Some books I've made....
I've been way too talkative lately, and it's noisy in my head.
I think I'll write in one of these and find some peace and quiet.

Kitchen Tiles

We are working on handmade tiles for the kitchen. There have been a few mistakes, like miscalculating shrinkage....oops....but generally fun and learning are ongoing.
It's an underwater theme, with my daughter's backsplash being the shore lined with beachgoers and umbrellas, palm trees and houses. We have a large octopus in the corner. The deadline is June 15th. And then in August I'll take a class in tile. A little backwards; but I'll have plenty of questions.

Don't You?

In 2005 I was asked the Tooth Fairy question: "Is she real?"
Knowing we'd sooner or later get around to Santa Claus, not to mention GOD, I responded with this little dress.

I want more magic than they tell me exists, more sparkling enchanted moments, more mysterious circumstances of good fortune and wishes coming true. And I want this right now and happily ever after. Don't you?

At the Heart of the Matter

Preparing for An Heart Show, I'll visit that old familiar shape and ask myself "what is my heart's desire?" - as friends Hedi Bak and Charles Counts used to theme their Valentine's Day show.
Peace on Earth, a more perfect union, joy, chocolate?
Follow your heart....what is your heart's desire?
We'll explore that question at SaJa Gallery in downtown Walterboro on Friday, January 30th beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Swan Song

For some reason, working at Penland School of Crafts inspires me to "work big", or maybe that's been a natural progression in my work.... Last Summer in a wonderful class taught by Brian Ransom, I made this pot flute. The mouthpiece is the crook of the neck, the hollow opening is on the other side. The sound is quite haunting and breath-y. She's nearly 2 feet tall, salt-fired with terra sigilata... Last month, I took another wonderful class at Penland, working in plaster with Tom Spleth. I worked so "big" that I had to replace the muffler in my car after driving home with my creations!
I wonder what's next....
(photo by David Ramsey)
(Check out Penland at www.penland.org)

Imaginary Lives: New Dresses

Playing "dress-up" is part of the fun of making these clay dresses. Lily in Water, (l) about 9" high, is a living Ophelia, a dream of being a water-plant or a mermaid. Scheherazade, (r) 17" high, is a talented story-teller. Winged Victory, (c) 18" high, isn't victorious in the way of clashing weapons or fallen dead; she's just learned to fly.

(Many thanks to photographer David Ramsey!)

Night Swimming

This small wall-hanging is based on a memory of swimming at night in a body of water I'd never seen before, a pond. It felt just like a flying dream. There are two possibilities: inhibition or expansion. When I arrived at the photographer's with this piece unfinished, he helped to twist the copper wire into coils for the red flower. They made perfect sense. So do flying dreams.

The piece is a few years old, but it reminds me of my recent paintings and clay dresses, telling the story of spaces which surround and touch me.

Look for new work at Gallery 33 West in Statesboro, GA, August 1st - 31st in "Through Our Eyes" featuring 4 women artists!