Three Zero Zero

Apparently, I have a lot to say.


This is my three hundredth blog post.

portrait of the artist as an old crow

I have scraps of paper all over the place, and post-it notes.  I am always trying to organize them into form, into thought, into sentence, paragraph, completed piece of art.  This blog began as a way for me to try to keep track of that process.  It's wild to think that I have been keeping track for what- almost five years now?

I have so much to say:

about birds
about art
about putting birds in art
about archetypes and totems and myth
about joseph campbell
about life being comical and tricky
about life imitating art

but mostly I just find myself speechless.

Maybe I will try again, with no. 301.

carry on

Gearing up for first Friday in july... starting new work.

Small Packages, Little Birds

yes. and yes.

     what, not who.        this fading summer.

from take off to landing

i can see a lot of bright in you

thunder and lightning gets you rain

my little chickadees

as the crow flies

I am participating in the third year of Bohemia Gallery's "Good Thing's Come in Small Packages" show.  These little birds are all about four by four inches, diminutive for sure. I am about to frame them up and ship them out, just in the nick of time...

Welcome to the Birdhouse

If I were a sparrow, or a bluebird, or a hummingbird, this is the house that I would want to visit. I started this little project as a way to move the artistic energy through. The inspiration for this bird house is Frida Kahlo's blue house in Mexico. It was her sanctuary, and artistic home- and I like the idea of creating a similar space for myself as a bird. It's still under construction, but by the time spring arrives, it will be hanging and ready for occupancy.

Art for India and Elevate

As I mentioned Last Week- The first weekend in August was an extravaganza of creativity. The Art for India Painting Party (check out the link for more pictures) on Friday night was a blast...

Notice the bird pattern, and Cameron Mills awesome outfit

Someone painted my portrait! (the rad ninja warrior)

Sarah Hubbard goin fishin.

Detail of the Birds

Sean Anderson Workin Hard


Our Weapons of Choice

Saturday shone bright for the Elevate Underground Art and Music Festival. Troy Field next to McMenamen's held numerous clothing, art, and miscellanea booths- including one for the artists of the PoetHouse. I proudly sold one of my art cards, paying for 1/3 of my burrito at lunch. It was yummy.

The Booth, When the Wind was calm

One of Nolan's (from Rise Up) rad Mirrors.

I had a bit of time to paint during the festivities. Before the painting party I hadn't picked up a paintbrush in a while, too busy with scissors... hopefully I will finish this one soon...

And Another

Another collage is almost complete for the show at Evergreen. I started this piece in September in the car on the way to Eugene with Owl and Joe to see the first of two amazing Okkervil River shows (best shows I have seen by any band, hands down; ever dorky me asked lead man Will Sheff for a hug after they came off stage, he complied but I think I scared him... anyway that has nothing to do with this, really). I decided not to title the book, so the viewer could decide the reading material, but the gold glow of the cover implies its worth. I did use pages from a New Yorker article discussing black holes to create the pages of the book- which was quite intentional-though I cut the pieces so the words were obscured.

I like my job. It's fun.

Kelt heads for cover as the desk gets more and more covered in scrap.

Two Down (almost)

Still have some detail work on both these, and titles as well. No time to say much else except that I want some boots like Bird Skirt Girl (actually, I want her whole outfit), and I'm enjoying throwing open the windows of the Airstream and letting springtime in. Less than two weeks till the opening.

Bird Brains

My friend Michael believes that once an idea is uttered, it goes out into the world, and other people pick up on it. Kind of a group conciousness meets invention type ideal. I think maybe on some levels he is right. I've been working on these two pieces on and off since before the christmas journey. The turqouis dress is made of many many tiny feather shapes. It has taken hours and hours, but been meditative and very satisfying to work on. I wish I could make myself a dress like this to wear. I would feel so fancy.I've also been using a lot of peacock imagery, which for many cultures is a symbol of freedom and good luck. And then you have the sparrows, which I have written about before. Birds are one of those symbols that I feel will never become cliche. And Like my compass shapes, I am starting to see peacock feathers everywhere.
My friend Christine over at DuBuhDu Designs has birds on the brain as well, manifesting in these beautifully delicate little masks for her handmade dolls to wear. I adore them. If I can't make myself a dress of turquoise feathers, maybe one day I can have Christine make me a life size mask to wear. I would wear it driving around town, and cleaning up the airstream (my sisters friend Julie used to wear her tiara while cleaning and it made her feel fabulous, I think it is a grand idea).

Maybe Sparrow

I'm sure that music is an influence on everyone out there- why else would the ipod revolution be so complete? Everyone has a soundtrack, we see our lives as music videos. Lyrics from songs have replaced both nursery rhymes and sonnets. It's not a coincidence that I was tuned into bird references when I was working on the back of the chair. Shearwater came on the shuffle quite a bit, as well as one of my favorite Neko Case songs (I think the artwork in this video is amazing by the way...) I wonder what my artwork would look like if I listened only to Polka? (Lots of dots perhaps. hardy har har)

In other news, it is still snowing. Owl and I are on our twentieth day straight of Bikram Yoga. I still haven't made any oatmeal cookies. I just finished a really good book called The Hummingbird's Daughter. We took kelty to the dog park today to play in the snow. Did I mention it is still snowing?

As of Yet untitled

This piece is in progress. I haven't had the chance to work on it in over two weeks, which is always frustrating. Pieces are like friendships. Some friends, a year can pass by between conversations and then you pick right back up where you were, giggling over inside jokes or delving into deep conversations after five minutes of catching up. Others pieces, like friendships, take time to get comfortable with again.

I have a feeling this one may need some "getting to know you" time.

The pause does give me a chance to think about the elements I've chosen- Peacock pattern in green, flying bird pattern on the skirt, open cage- I have chosen these things intuitively, but I'm sure intentionally.