Thirty Days Hath September.

Three collages of the summer, almost complete.



Neko Case in Portland.  


This has been one of the most creative, intense, heartbreaking, inspiring, challenging, exhilarating months of my life.  I can't even begin to explain it. So here are some photos.

Playing with Sweet Bonnie Gayle Band

The Gold Rust, Recording with Lil Joel

Kelty Post Camping Trip

Anna found a pile of Glitter on the way to see Neko Case and The Head and the Heart in Eugene.

Eugene.

My new friend Stella.

Megan McGuinness and our project for TBD

Casey the Boy speaks at the Real Food Cascadia Conference. 

Last saturday at Studio Three

The Pillars in Progress at Visit Bend.

Warp Speed

Summer comes to central Oregon and all rhyme or reason or schedule gets thrown out the window.   It is too short to take for granted, so when it comes- we pay attention.  Afternoons are filled with time spent in the river. Evenings are centered around watching the sunset, usually with friends and music, always stunning. Mornings are still primarily spent at the cafe, for me, but the rhythm is lighter and starts as quick as the dawn. All this time spent playing and breathing and sunning has sent the amount of creativity running through me into warp speed. It's all energy, of course, but creative energy is the most satisfying I can think of.  I am photosynthesizing. 

In a more down-to-earth explanation of the last month, these things have been delightful:

• Showing work at both the studio and at the new Naked Winery tasting room in The Old Mill District.
• A very fun fourth if July full of bikes and friends and sun, and two days later a most excellent Y La Bamba concert, in which I dorked out entirely, danced like a fool, and dorked out some more. 
• A spectacular weekend with my sis and her hub, in which the Rural Demons helped close down the Horned Hand, and I visited almost every brewery in Bend, and saw a very amazing Spanish silent film where Snow White was a Matador.  Best film of the year.
• Speaking of the Rural Demons, a very satisfying accousticy show at the Tin Pan Theater.  Which also showcased several lovely Bluesy Canadians, and a short preview of The Gold Rust. 
• The creation of The Gold Rust- a folk country duo consisting of myself and fellow-other-band-mate Casey the Boy.  (I am known as kaycee the girl in case you were wondering). We play a house show near the lava flow on Sunday,  and the Sunday after that, and then we may go up to the Cascadian Irish Music Festival in the San Juans.  A few of the songs we do are sung in Irish, which just makes me really wish I could teleport to Innisfree, so if we don't go down to California to record (which is the plan) maybe we should just go to Innisfree instead.  
• The magnificent déjà vu of having Cyr as a studio mate again.   That's right. 
• The commision of mural, started today, that will hang in Tin Pan Alley, by Visit Bend.   
• Time spent in moonlight at the Obsidian Flow, Little Cultus Lake, the beloved Descutes, and other magical Cascadian landscapes.  

And then there are the collages: in progress.

and with that, it is almost time to watch the setting.   As in the words of Neko Case's Magpie  "don't let the fading summer pass you by..."

Easily Inspired, Easily Distracted

Greetings from the studio.
This a completely informal post, so forgive the lack of Narrative.
My Darling Cyr is in Bend the last week (in town for one more) and I am so pleased that she is sitting in my studio right now, working on her laptop, while we listen to the Tallest Man On Earth and plot our next artistic endeavors (also known as "dork around on the interweb").
In the last few weeks, there was much art finishing, bike riding, yoga, and basking in the Central Oregon Sunshine.
Summer kicks things into turbo mode.
Here are things I am completely inspired by and inspired by:



(album out Sept 3rd, I will be seeing her September 8 and 19)



(this video reminds me of photo trips with Cyr and Jo, and I am stoked to see them in Bend July 6)

Four spaces have been filled in the Studio.  Things are gearing up.

Spin, Spin, Spin

My head has been spinning lately with all the capital-T Things that are happening in Bend, and in my little circle of world, and I am overwhelmed.

I could make a long list.  In doing that, though, would it would cheapen the context? The context of conversations, Kelty-walks, changing leaves, short films, exquisite pickled watermelon rinds, road-trip plans, expansion and contraction of autumn, which is the most amazing backdrop for all these Things?  It would make the individual Things on the list seem separate from the momentum they are involved with.  And the momentum is what is so magical, encouraging, exhilarating  bizarre, and perfectly-abnormally-normal.

Oh, well.
Here's the list anyway:

Bend Film
Continued Jubel Times, which was kicked off by the mighty Anseth clan visiting from Tennessee and Montana, and allowed me to get to hug friends in Portland I had not seen in ages.
Watching friends Projects come to life: a film about Cascadia, Silvero coming home from an Alaskan Tour, Hey Lover's hilariously fun new video, not to mention all the inspiring fall music that is coming out right now- both from friends I know, and friends I haven't met yet.  
An ongoing convo with the Lovely Shanan about life, creativity, yoga, and lovingly calling out BullShit (sorry for the language, sortof).
Winning an online give away of some beautiful earrings made by my friend Michael (seriously, I've only ever won concert tickets and a home-made pie).
Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Carsen Ellis.
An upcoming visit from CYR!

And most importantly:
Planning a pretty epic roadtrip Eastward in oh, about nine days.

Spin on, World.

Creating a Myth in the Tin Pan Theatre

back in the day

The Tin Pan Theatre is one of my favorite spaces.   Four years ago, it was Rise Up's Headquarters and  my first studio space in Bend.  Then, it became a Matə́ Bar.  Now it is a sweet little boutique theatre.

I'm working on a fun mural for the wall, with the idea of creating a bit of myth around the many businesses that have held shop in the building.  Before Rise Up, it was a tattoo parlor.  Before that, who knows.  With the bit of painting, I am doing, the proprietors of the theatre are harkening back to Bend's more rustic roots.  

in progress

My friends Jonathan and Sofie have been hanging out with me while I teeter on the ladder, and we make up stories about the logistics of having an actual taxidermist in the space.  Which leads to conversations of what Old Bend was actually like, and how the TBD Loft used to be a restaurant and antique store.  I'm not quite sure if I believe that entirely.  Maybe while I have the ladder out I should write gullible on the ceiling in tiny letters.  

also there is this.

I like to sing a bit, and I'm lucky these fellas let me.

early december at the Horned Hand

New Digs, I dig.

This last week found me moving again, from the house near Newport Market I shared with the lovely Jo, Adina, and Shahar, into a sweet little one bedroom that is a three minute walk from the studio.  Three minute walk to teach my Wednesday morning yoga class.  Three minute walk to Lone Pine for work.  This means I don't have to drive my car.  This means I am walking my talk.

The thing about moving, is that I get to look at the past for a moment.  Old paintings, old sketchbooks, bowls I threw in college get moved with me.  Sometimes I find them odd.  These same hands made THAT?  Ewww.  But it's also a reminder that I've been creating for quite a while now, and will continue to create... I find that satisfying.  Just a little aside.  Now, back to work for on the tape sculpture.   (I really must put photos up soon...)

Top Reasons why I have been absent from blogging lately

The following (art related) events transpired since August 8th:

Cause and Effect: a show by Lori LaBissonaire.
The Alley Jam:  a benefit for the Cancer Society and Division Street Skate Park
Co-creating two more large canvas's for Humpday Hash at the new Century Center
First Annual Artists on A Boat wonder cruise (aka the only time I got up to one of the lakes this summer)
Rise Up's Art for India painting Party
Showing my work at Tart for the Under the Cover's Tom Petty Project
PoetHouse Patron Dinner
Planning a large mural for the stage at the Bend Roots Festival

AND coming up:

Saturday:  Jo Lundberg's show titled Four Letter Words (which is gonna be fabulous)
Friday and Sunday- two important yoga events- Bikram Yoga Bend's Summers End Party and Yogis Unite- the biggest outdoor yoga event in Bend History

AND
Tonight I will be prowling, or more like scampering the catwalk at Rise Up's Annual Fashion Show sporting this wonderful creation by the wonderful Miss Sarah Mikolowsky.  Let's just cross our fingers that my walking skills are right on.

making a cappuccino at Lone Pine

Forty Nine is Just Fine.

Days.

Lists of Art Worked on Today:
Globe Number Two.
Globe Number One.
Message Bottles.


I am quite lucky in that when I am not in the studio, I am close to the studio.  I am also lucky in that I get to see one or more of my cohorts every day.  I am also very lucky because I have artists around to kick me into gear, or to inspire me into working.  This morning, I found myself having a conversation with an artist duo that frequent Lone Pine about the idea of diligence as an artist, and being distracted, and the like.

"I quit treating art like my job. I need to get back to treating it that way," I told the Duo as I pulled a shot of espresso.  I could make a long list of excuses as to why I essentially fired myself as artist-in-residence of my life.   It's time to make a counterlist, however, and to get back on track.

Indian Summer.

she is always shootin' somethin'

Cyr, Kelt and I went exploring at Shevlin Park to enjoy the day.

September is my absolute favorite time of year in Central Oregon. I absolutely adore the way that the air smells on crisp mornings. It is perfect weather for windows down singing, exploring creek side, packing in the last bits of bliss before hibernation time.

My friends are Creative, in Different ways

My friend James the Boot is a creative fellow, in a completely different way then me.  He has studied green building practices in South America, and he is currently implementing his skills at a little stead northwest of Bend.  He and his sidekick, Greg, are making adobe bricks from scratch to build an entry wall.  Olivia, his lovely girlfriend, and I brought the boys lunch this afternoon and witnessed the process.  It reminded me of the days at MTSU mixing clay in the art barn, only on a much larger scale.  I find it fascinating, and am therefore going to share.

By the way, it's just the two of them, piles of dirt/clay/a little cement and straw, and the hot sun.

Recipe for a Summer Evening

One part Bike (borrowed) 

Two part Friends on Bikes

One part Kelty

One glorious River.  

Followed shortly after by:

Two parts Sangria

One serving beans/rice/chorizo with fresh cilantro and avocado

One very skinny hiker freshly home from twenty-one days on the John Muir Trail

One record player with splash of  Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Willy Nelson, etc...

Three chairs on a balcony.

When the stars come out, so do the stories. 

Oh- And I'm kinda obsessed with this today: the Avett Bros-

An Aside (July Fourth)

The one break from long hours at the studio this past week came in the form of the fourth of July.  It was a day for spending outside with the PoetHouse Girls.  Lori, her pup Kita, Kelty and I participated in the Pet Parade (we walked alongside a very adventurous Chihuahua, whose owner must have loved the movie Up).  Then we met up with Jo and Cyr on Bikes to participate in the annual Freedom Ride, where thousands of Bend-ers gathered at Pioneer and Columbia parks to take Downtown by storm, clogging the streets in a rowdy pack.  After a dip in the Deschutes, we rode around town soaking in sunshine.   Cyr, Jo, and I ending the holiday watching Fireworks from Overturf Butte and a burrito from Taco Salsa with our fellow PoetHouse Honorary Girl, Jason.

The Compass Shifts.

In Progress- a meditation.

"The unknown was my compass. The unknown was my encyclopedia. The unnamed was my science and progress. "  Anais Nin.

I've mentioned compasses before, I think.  I am sorta obsessed with them.  They pop up everywhere in my work, many times hidden. 

Suddenly, the poles have switched and everything is upside down and inside out. It happens.  I didn't realize last week when I was assessing resolutions how quickly west would become east.  Not for me, but for my best friend.  And I know it's random and strange to be posting this on a blog- so I apologize in advance to those who think blogs blur public and private to easily. But this is my blog, and it is my life and my art, and my life impacts my art.  So.   Owl is leaving in eleven days to serve our country, our new president. He is joining the Connecticut National Gaurd.  I am going to continue for now to live in Bend, focus on my artwork, on writing for the Source (who actually will be assigning me more stories- hooray), on my blooming relationship with Rise Up International (who I hope to accompany to Nicaragua this spring).  He is going to get to go to grad school for free, cut his hair, roll around in mud, wear camo, and see our neice and nephew every day.  It is going to be a huge, huge shift.  And there is a lot of unknowns.  And it's gonna be hard. The most difficult thing yet.  But, it is also going to be another grand adventure.  It is going to lead to amazing, wonderful things.  

Just so you know.

Thanks.

connor

granma and autumn

autumn and jenny

craig (looking so military.) 

 uncle owl and poppa 

After a flurry of activity that lead up to a long, long plane ride, Owl and I have spent a week trying to see life as it occurs closer to the ground.  As in under three feet.  We have been relaxing in Connecticut with Owl's fam, our niece and nephew being the main attraction.  

I could list on and on and on the things I am thankful for, they range from HUGE thanks for love and family and friendships- to quieter, more elegant thanks for things like the smell of the Cascades in Early Fall.  

Love, Love, Love

(and now, onto the desert.)

Quietly Working Over Here

After another music filled weekend, (back to back shows of our fave- Okkervil River in Portland and Eugene, topped off with a early morning dip at the Cougar Hot Springs)

I am busily working away on things for the upcoming show in October at the PoetHouse.

Images of the latest work will follow shortly. Hopefully.

Miles and Miles

This morning I woke up sore but very happy.  I have had a wonderful week hanging out with Mr. and Mrs. Mullen (parents of  Gilliam Life author and bff Sarah), and this morning I brought them a yummy Ocean Roll from the Sparrow Bakery before waving bye to them.  They head back to Portland today and fly home to Tennessee early Saturday Morning.  Sadly, I have no pictures to share as of yet due to camera malfunctions.  Hopefully, next week!

The absolute highlight of the week had to be our hike yesterday at Tumalo Falls.  Now, Tumalo Falls is one of those touchstone places that you must see when you come to Bend, but due to snow pack, Al and I have never ventured more than a cou

ple miles up the trail.  We discovered yesterday why it is important to keep moving onward and upward when on this hike.  So many beautiful Falls!  And we just kept going. and going, and going.  The Mullens are wonderful hiking pals, and the miles flew by.  Six hours later, it seems we must have hiked at least ten miles- maybe twelve.  It was lovely.  End the day with a campfire, Mr. Rick and our good friend James strumming Doc Watson songs, and two very large pizzas: Bliss.

In artsy news- Owl and I will be attending a show of new work tonight at the PoetHouse by Cameron and Ben.  And look what was on the cover of The Source this week.

Also Included- My Official Review of Outside Lands....