The Day We All Looked Up

A long time ago now, 2008 I believe,  I created a little collage called "And Suddenly the Multitude Turned Their Heads."   It was filled with silhouettes.  The same Person, a stand in, anonymous. Shortly after I finished it, I tried to make a painting from the collage.  This was when I was out at Evergreen Studios in Redmond, back at the beginning of this blog, of this time, of this process.  I was really quite lonesome then, hadn't quite found what I now call The Village, although I had met a couple of them.

Back to the painting.  I failed. Miserably.  The painting defeated me.  The silhouettes looked dumb, the patterns looked dumb, the palette, everything.  Dumb.

Fast forward to now.  I was commissioned to complete a big mural for Visit Bend, to be installed in, guess where?  Tin Pan Alley.  (I think that Visit Bend doesn't realized how much time I spend in this alley).  When thinking about what I was going to do for this piece, it became obvious to me that I needed to present The Village.  The failed painting from 2008 immediately came back to me.  But this time, instead of imaginary silhouettes, I gathered the people of the village one by one and captured them (well, as many as I could fit.  I need a bigger canvas). Now I am filling in the silhouettes with their  "them-ness."  My dear Alicia (of Howl) is being represented by her favorite Pendleton Wool Pattern that she used for many of her creations.  The Lovely Cyr is becoming a golden sea, a golden ocean.  Sarah McMurray has a peacock pattern,  much like her most beautiful tattoo.  James Ryan will have a grid of compass shapes.  One is a beehive, one is vintage floral wallpaper.  All of them have their chins lifted, gazing to the sky.

 Of course I had to wait to do this painting, of course.

And I have titled it:  The Day We All Looked Up.

Now, Back to work.  I am working on a Deadline Now.  Oops.

all is quiet(ish) on the western front.

Hardly.

The cold medicine has a firm hold on me right now, so I will not try too hard to describe the last ten blizzardy, whirlwind full days. The things that transpired! Rejoicing over heat and water in the airstream, playing a vegas style white elephant with found/made objects at the PoHo Ho Ho Holiday Potluck, romping with Kelt through days and days of snow (most of which disappeared in the last thirty six hours due to torrential downpours), negotiating a commision and starting to create it, stretching things out at the yoga studio, finishing work for this First Friday at the PoetHouse. And I can't forget Christmas spent relaxing and enjoying a wonderful dinner with friends. Wow.



The commision I am working on is for TBD Advertising, who shares the building with the PoetHouse. They are working on a project for RedVine Licorice- and I am creating an American flag out of (essentially) Red Vine Wrappers. And it's big. The total size is going to be around 25 by 38 inches. Due date- the 5th. So, if it's quiet over here, now you know why.

IF you are in the area, however, Come by the PoetHouse for First Friday this week- all new work from the resident artists! And maybe hot toddies.