back in the world of the living

The show was a great success, the photos are being developed and should be able to be up by Tuesday or so.

All things considered, I feel very proud of how the show turned out. The opening and the food my husband made were the stars of the show, so crouded! The requisite post show cold has finally subsided, I always crash into a wall of sickness after an intense period of working and the general lack of sleep and overabundance of junk food that comes with it.

I am starting to accept the notion that I am done at NSCAD U and am excited to have a more insulated (idea-wise) work space. The port campus is not a friendly space, the constant barrage of outward influence and crossbread ideas has been pulling me in all directions. I am sure that I will miss this collaborative brainstorming. Yet with so many ideas in gestation at the moment, a little bit of elbow room could be just the ticket.

Elbow room in both the physical and mental sence. I've been working in a hallway/ sink area and the constant interruption has been trying to say the least.

Until next time little blog,

Countdown 6. 5. 4. ...

The Show is almost here! exciting, frightening. There are so amny things that I wanted to do that will not get done... But I am ok with that. The artwork will be there, there may not be a website developed yet, or a handmade book to sign in. But the basics are there and that is the important part anyway.


If you happen to be in Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 24th please come by the opening 5:30 until 7ish at the Anna Leon Owens Gallery, 1891 Grandville street. This gallery is part of NSCAD University and there will be three other show on as well. The exhibition closes 4 pm November 29th.

I hope to see some of you there!

Gradshow fever

Well, what a whirlwind of activity. My Grad-show opens in nine days, I've had the last of the clay made into objects, I've got a plan for setup, I think I even know what I am wearing to the opening...

But I cannot help panicking every 15 minutes or so.

This is going to be a long week.

Ceramic History

While reserching for a term paper today I came across an interesting link for ceramics history on the web. I realize how much I've learned from a few recent classes when photos pop up and I am able to identify them without reading the text.

Now I just need to learn contemporary ceramics and I'm set.

Inspire someone!

Wow, well I have to write another post today.

In my normal day to day activities I try and pass on as much good info as I can. Working at a gallery I get all sorts of opportunities forwarded to me and though many of them are not right for my situation, they can sometimes be exactly what someone else has been searching for.

I gave a wonderful artist a boost in confidence about her work and inspired her to reach outside her comfort zone and apply for a residency that will push her to experiment with technique and materials. It made me feel extremely good to inspire someone and it inspired me to get a few ideas togeather for the office, and for my own professional practice.

for any other ceramicists out there Carole Epp over at musing about mud does a wonderful job of getting the word out.

Go take a look, and inspire yourself today.

Critique, is it critical?

Mid term critiques are rolling through town here at NSCAD U. Today on my way to work the studio was bustling at it's normally quietest time, 8am.

I had one of the most focused critiques I've ever had a few days ago, and it is quite timely with a solos show coming up. Other friends in the studio have had a terrible time with critiques that leave them unable to even explain the basis/ inspiration of their work and force them to sit through 1 1/2 hours of speculation and ridicule.

Hopefully it will all come out in the wash. For many of my compatriots this fall there has been the question, is it always critical to have critiques? I think we will know by the end of the year.

A blast from the (recent) past

Well since this blog has been entirely picture free so far. I thought that I would put up some pics from a workshop that I participated in over the summer with Julia Galloway and Margaret Bohls. IT was a 6 week historical study were we recreated pieces from history being as true to the original as we could. It culminated with a group show in the Anna Leonowens Gallery at NSCAD University.

The course was a whole lot of fun. Here is a Greek oinichoe that I made. This photo was taken by Martina Lantin. There were plans to have a webpage done up for this class after the fact to share the stories and information that we learned... But I don't think that is happening.

Work for my solo show on the 24th of November is coming along. There really have not been that many crises yet....

Martina Lantin took this photo as well, thanks again Martina

"I'm just a little cloud floatin through space"

Well well, it has been awhile hasn't it little blog.

I've lost the cord to my camera, So I need to get a new one of those ASAP. I have so much stuff to show...

The work for my very first solo gallery show is going well, I really have to focus in now though. 20 days of working remain.. so I'm freaking out a little. That is actually where the header comes from. It has become my mantra today, telling me that there is no need to make a struggle for myself. It is partially working.

Someday I will share my photos with blogland, I promise for real this time. when that will be? Don't ask me, I'm just a little cloud floating through space.

Using History as Inspiration

Hello again,

Lots to report, I'm taking an awesome class with Julia Galloway and Margret Bohls at NSCAD. Great, fun and just a little overwhelming.

I've got all sorts of historical pots to make for an exhibition coming up soon( click here for some photos), an apartment to paint and 4 paintings on commission...

Busy, busy, busy.

Big exciting things are happening.
(Martina Lantin took this photo, thank you Martina)

Nesting

I am currently trying desparatly to resist the urge to nest...

The new place is beautiful and even Husband is getting excited about things like curtains, and where to hang paintings. Now don't get me wrong there is nothing inatley evil about nesting... It is just getting in the way of everything else right now.

All of the lovely fun and important things seem to be falling to the wayside. I missed a deadline on a very promising little opportunity this week... Nothing to cry over, but I had no good reason for not getting that piece done. I had inspiration, I had a layout, I had the thing 3/4 done, and then, the strangest thing happened.

On a day full of Vim and Vinegar I got sidetracked with the household. Quite a new experiance, the natural balance of things around here was completely turned on its head and the paintings were left unattended. I cooked, I cleaned, I even baked cookies...

What is going on here?

Moving House

Packing up and moving is quite a task.
Add a fully equiped art room and a closet full of show ceramics to that mix and it becomes seemingly insurmountable.

I have gone through eight years worth of drawings and various art related paraphenaila... It is not even the physical aspect of the moving that is so hard, I'm finding the emotional part is getting to me.

A task of Purging ones artistic history is not something that I would wish upon any one...

The silver lining however is that the new place is beautiful and twice as big as the last place.


Now just to get it set up.

A big exciting weekend

Looking at the weather report just now and hoping that it will be wrong. I'm heading out of town to attend a wedding and the prediction of rain is most unwelcome.

In more on-topic news, The research grant/glaze library is slowly getting off the ground, I've got my space, and a portion of the plan. Mixing clay and glazes will start soon. This is very exciting for me...

Also I am working on a few surprises, for my friends. I'll put up some photos after they are in place so as not to ruin the suprise.

Vacation is over, time to get in gear

Well now, the time has come to get serious about this.

Some interesting things have been happening and now there is a mid july deadline to get preped for. Actually the Website has to be running by the end of June I think..... I may even get the buisness name registered.

A busy productive summer this is turning out to be.

And now, back to the show.

Whew, well school is done for the semester and I have started my new job. I'll be taking some photo's tomorrow if the weather allows.

I've had a week of no school, just working and I am getting board already. Luckily I've got some summer projects.

Well, until next time...

The joy of Critique

Critiques are always an uncomfortable experiance for me. I have a hard time verbalizing my concepts for the most part and especially with a personal project like I am working on at the moment.

We had a large group crit yesterday and to my embarassment I struggled to keep my emotions under control. I have long been fustrated with my lack of emotional control and trying to explain something that is still in progress can be fustrating.

I only hope that I can have a better run at this the next time.

The first day of the rest of my life

Hello BlogLand,

Another year older and with many new and exciting opportunities croping up, I've decided to start a blog to keep me on track in my creative life.

I am a ceramics student with an interesting summer project, and some exciting arts related employment. The growth here maybe small until school is out for the summer, But after that it will be full steam ahead.