Upcycled Paper Mosaics

Residency: This is my first attempt at an upcycled butterfly mosaic. I'm practicing for the two week Nature Art Residency I begin at Challenger Elementary in TRF on Monday.

Week One Lesson Plans:
Intros - project, each other, Goldsworthy
Line and Shape -- drawing, outdoor treasure hunt
Color and Value, Contrast -- magazine color wheel
Form and Space, Emphasis -- pebble mosaics
Texture -- tree jewelry

Week Two Lesson Plans:
Review, draw, start with background
rip and glue x 3
planting seeds/celebration

Mosaics TO DO: I need to paint the frame of Queen Bee and pick up pieces at MEG

Research: I read a chapter of Play yesterday and a chapter of Coaching the Artist Within today.

Exercise: Hour at the gym this morning.

Relationships/Networking: Had lunch with Tom and Hamlin yesterday. Tom is a video wizzard, performance artist and scholar who saw Cynthia Hopkins' latest piece and gave us the skinny.

What's Goin' On...

Mosaics: Today I grouted Queen Bee, took pictures and posted them on my flickr site...





Materials: I went to Value Thrift yesterday with Natalie to buy frames. I think I got almost 40 frames in varying sizes, for $35.

Stores/Galleries:

Mother Earth -- I brought 8 pieces to MEG on Saturday, today or tomorrow I have to pick up the ones they don't want.

Blue Moon -- I got an email yesterday from a woman named Andrea, asking the price for Rescue Me.

Corazon -- Nathan filled out an app for me but they haven't gotten back to me. I should follow up by dropping off some belt buckles for them to look at.

Residencies: Yesterday I went to the dollar store and bought $33 worth of pebbles for the TRF Challenger gig. I've started packing for the trip. Got my schedule confirmed yesterday - 8:35 - 3 every day with three breaks - should be a really great gig!

Relationships/Networking: I had lunch with Natalie yesterday and she went shopping with me.

Research: I started reading Play by Stuart Brown, MD. It's a really great look at the importance of Play in brain creation and function, the animal world, personal and work life.

Exercise: Spent an hour at the gym this morning.

Other Arts: We saw Red Ink at Mixed Blood this weekend.

Trying to keep up!

Mosaics: This is the new piece I'm working on...

This is on a three-paned window and has flowers on both sides. More work on that today!

Commissions: Melissa has asked me to mosaic two big 16" terra cotta pots for her. Sounds more like a glue job than a design job but we will see. I emailed her today about my schedule. I hope she's ok with me getting them back to her at the end of May.

Residencies: Jenny got word back from her principal saying that a one week residency this fall would be great. She wants me to split my time between two schools, working with 2nd and 4th graders. Hopefully that will happen late September this fall.

Networking/Relationships: Walked around Lake Calhoun with Liz yesterday. She gave me the book Play for my birthday. Yesterday I had lunch with Eric at SPA and sat in on his poetry class. Today I am having lunch with Jackie and taking a walk with Evonne.

Books: Finished the Geography of Bliss. Not the best book ever. Am excited to start Play.

Stores/Galleries: Twin Cities Green: I won 2nd place in the Upcycling Contest! The prize was a $50 solar charger for iphones, ipods and the like. Thanks, TCG!

The Space: I'm going to be in TRF doing a nature art residency when my Wisconsin show comes down. I sent a note to Melissa. Hamlin is going to pick up on things on Tuesday.

Blue Moon: I brought Rescue Me to Blue Moon from TCG yesterday.

Mother Earth Gardens: I have 5 pieces I want to drop off there today.

Teaching: I substituted at SPA on Wednesday. I taught high school History.

TO DO: Pick up Melissa's pots. Get supply list ready for GF, work on lesson plans for TRF, buy supplies for TRF.

Tuesday

Mosaics: Today I continued working on my Queen Bee piece.

Materials: Went to Glass Endeavors today. They had a sale for 20% off so I got some clear double-pane glass and seven 2" round beveled pieces.

Glass Endeavors had their annual glass show. I entered a couple years ago and got some nice gift bag with usable loot.

Residencies: Communicated with Challenger about budget, materials, contract, scheduling, lessons...

Networking/Relationships: Had lunch with Nathan. He's getting ready for grad school in London this fall. Hope to visit him there!

Back from San Francisco

We had a great time in San Francisco! Saw a lot of great murals and a few cool mosaics, went to the Liuli Glass Museum, The Art and Craft Museum and the Institute of Mosaic Art. Did a lot of walking and rode bikes to the Golden Gate Bridge too. Saw Wicked as well.

In terms of work, here's what I am working on ...

Mosaics: Mom chose this month's inspiration: hats. I looked in stores in SF for ideas but came up empty. When we got home we watched an episode of The Wire in which Michael was wearing a t-shirt with a crown on it and it hit me. A crown is a sort of hat, that is definitely bead worthy so I started working on that last night.

Publications: Johnnie from Raven Press in Ely has been emailing me. She has written an article about the intergenerational mosaic poetry project for a magazine she's putting out this summer and has asked for pictures from the event. I'm excited about that and still have hopes of more coming from this.

KJM has also been working on a publication for LMDA about dramaturgy and installation dramaturgy. I need to add to it and give feedback today.

Research: I want to look at woodcuts, more folk art, children's books and batik stamps

Residencies: We got the State Arts Board Grant for the TRF Nature Art Project. I go up on March 2 and stay until the 15th.

TO DO: Make a paper mosaic, review KJ's article, bring new pieces to Mother Earth

Art

Inspiration: Paper Quilts -- Last night we went to Catron's show at the Pillsbury House. It was a one night only event/exhibition. It was a great collection of traditional and non-traditional patterns made from recycyled paper, and a fun party.

Mosaics: I've been working on a new piece, but not very successfully. I think it's too flat. Time to create a scene...



Here it is grouted, along with three other pieces I grouted today too. (I also finished a belt buckle).





Ideas: For my next piece I want to think more about foreground, mid-ground and background.

Mosaic Party: Yesterday I taught nine 10-year-olds how to mosaic at Madi's birthday party. It was one of the first beautiful spring days, we made pebble frames outside...

Coaching the Artist Within

Research: Got a new book today called Coaching the Artist Within by Eric Maisel. I've just begun reading it but have high hopes.

Relationships/Networking: Had lunch with Evonne, a friend of mine who studies psychology and life coaching.

Publicity: Over the past week I've been publishing photos of my recent work on my flickr website.

Shows: Went to Twin Cities Green to see the Upcycling Contest display but they're just working on it now. It should be up by tomorrow.

Residencies: Forest Lake sent me a paper copy of the grant request yesterday.

To do: Grout three pieces, organize receipts, read new book

Mosaic Birthday Party for Madi

Mosaics: I started A Little Love last night and finished it tonight. Here it is sans grout...


Mosaic Party: Spent the day with Madi. We started making a Frank Stella-inspired painting, went to Michael's to pick up supplies for her party on Friday and went to look at all the pottery and ceramics at the Northern Clay Center.

Shows: Piece went up yesterday at Twin Cities Green. The contest winner is going to be announced April 20.

Baby Steps

It is a busy week. I'm trying to finish a few projects before our trip to San Francisco. I cannot wait to get back to the Institute of Mosaic Art!

Mosaics: Mom came up with this month's inspirational word: "hats!" I can't wait to see what we come up with.

Here is Little Birdie (measuring 2 inches x 4 inches), which I grouted this morning...


I also grouted part of Yellow Bird. I did the background in grey and the body in yellow. Here is a picture of the finished piece...



Learning Opportunity: I think there is too much movement in the background here. Next time I would outline the bird and grout the background green.

Networking/Relationships: I had lunch with Liz today and am picked up the word game, Bananagrams.

Birds

Mosaics: I finished gluing Yellow Bird last night.

*Made a small piece today...

Folk Art

Mosaics: After doing some research on folk art yesterday and seeing the many varied roosters in the genre, I was inspired to create my own. Here is the cartoon...

And here is the work in progress...


* I sanded three frames today and broke one in the process. The two surviving ones are three and six-paned so I need to think of a series to make for them. Maybe more birds?

Inspiration: We went for a walk today at Crosby Farm Reserve. It was great getting out in the fresh, crisp air. The palette, definitely muted.

Yes!

Stores/Galleries: I got a call from Mother Earth Gardens this morning saying that 5 of the pieces I brought in this week already sold! This has been a little goldmine (well, maybe silver, but still!).

TO DO: Make more pieces for Mother Earth Gardens!

Possibilities/Shows: Upcycle Art Show at Twin Cities Green - I finished Rescue Me this morning (drilled holes, put in eyelet and c-screws, touched up paint and polished it) and dropped it off at Twin Cities Green. The pieces they select for the show will be displayed on Tuesay, April 7-27.

Mosaics: Here is Rescue Me, ready to go...

*This evening I cut four panes of glass for small mosaics to make for MEG.

Research: I did some image searches for Folk Art tonight, trying to find inspiration for my next piece. I made a few sketches that I think I might use.

TO DO: Sand, tape and paint next window for use.

Relationships/Networking: I went over to Elizabeth and John's to pick up the bracelet I commissioned. She is a jewelry maker, photographer and art teacher. He paints, makes objects and runs an on-line art/lit mag. We're going to get coffee some time soon.

Play

Research: I'm looking for a book, that I remember being called Play by Daniel Pink, who also wrote Whole New Mind. I went to the bookstore today and couldn't find it, and now I can't find it on-line either. I hope I didn't make it up; it sounded really good! Pink (?), I think, was arguing for the need of and benefit from play and creativity in the business world, as well as everyday life. I guess I've got the author and/or title and/or content incorrect. I trust that the correct version of this text will find its way to me soon.

There's another book on my list too: The Cultural Politics of Slam Poetry: Race, Identity, and the Performance of Popular Verse in America by Susan Somers-Willett

I'm currently readying The Geography of Bliss but don't like it very much.

Mosaics: Painted two coats on the back of Rescue Me

* Finished gluing tesserae on Yellow Bird, taped the frame

*Taped the frame of Little Window

*This is a work in progress. I don't have a good title for this one yet. For now I'm calling her 3D Girl...

Stores/Galleries: Picked up a check and few pieces from Blue Moon

Relationships/Networking: Had lunch with old theatre student of mine. She going to college this fall to major in Chemical Engineering and minor in Dance.

Shows: Printed off the Eco-Art entry form

TO DO: Polish Rescue Me, drill holes, put in eyescrews, measure and cut chain, deliver artwork to TCG on Saturday or Sunday, grout Yellow Bird.

What I've Got My Hands in Today...

Mosaics: I 've begun painting the frame for Bursts, nka Rescue Me...

*Last night I started working on a 4x6 piece with a white flower and multi-colored background. I finished it this morning and do not like it at all. I don't even think I'll grout it.

*I started working on a 5x7 piece called yellow bird

*I washed two windows, prepping them for my next piece

*Added a few pieces to my 3-D house

Studio: I spent an hour organizing the studio, washing the rest of Mel's glass for Mom. (Mel is a mosaic artist who answered my "Wanted" ad on Craig's List for scrap stained glass. I'm sharing some with Mom).

Residencies: I came up with a design for the NDMA project. One of the mosaics the students make will be glass on glass. I think we will use one of my bigger nine-paned recycled windows and make something along these lines:
*I received, signed and sent in the signature page for the Dawson Elementary School grant

Business: Last night I started creating a supplies/tools/materials template for future projects.

Mosaic Party: Madi's birthday party is April 10, I am teaching 10 9 year olds how to mosaic wooden frames with pebbles, tiles and other fun things. On April 8, Madi and I are going shopping for party supplies.

Misc.: This morning I met with Janine about cutting out a white rose with my glass saw.

Possibilities: Rosalux has a juried Foot in the Door show CFA, entries due May 1. Colleen Sheehy is the juror.

A Little of This, A Little of That.

Today's efforts...

* ND Museum of Art Residency: I signed and sent in the contract today and started working on the materials list and budget ($250)

* Studio: I spent an hour yesterday and an hour today cleaning and organizing

* Mosaic: I grouted Bursts and sanded the frame; I'm almost done gluing the tesserae down on my 3-D girl, finished gluing the pieces on Little Window

*Bidness: Created a supplies/materials/tools template, filled out the entry form for the Eco Art Show

TO DO: Paint Bursts frame, print out entry form for the Eco Art Show, design new piece for Blue Moon, Call Lonnie about windows, tomorrow: prepare for Janine's visit at 11