Making in community...

Today was a full day of preparations for camp along with taking time out to deliver my own camper to camp.

I realize that the simplicity and joy of living more unplugged for a week also presents some challenges to my practices.  

It is harder to blog without wifi.  I'm writing drafts and then waiting to find time to post.  

My quiet time this evening before dinner I took some time unpacking and sorting new supplies.  It always feels like Christmas unpacking these new collage papers.

The fullness of today also made me realize how crucial it will be to take some downtime and set aside personal making time in the midst of full days this week.  

Making space...

I arrived at Shrine Mont for my week of Art Camp today.

It was lovely to have many hands to unpack and set up the space in the studio.

In the evening I led collaborative art making for staff with blocks and light painting.

Making preparations...

I head to Shrine Mont for a week of art camp tomorrow - today was all about sorting, packing and loading supplies for this journey...

Watercolor on the road...

Watercolors completed today on the drive up and back from Shrine Mont to pick up our camper...

Getting ready for camp...

My making today continued to focus around getting ready for art camp next week.

Here are the dyes applied to silk hoops after the white glue resist dried...

And here is a travel watercolor set made from a pill box...

Experimenting...

I head to Shrine Mont to be Artist in Residence for art camp on Saturday.  Today I spent some time experimenting with ways to pain silk hoops.

These are with acrylic inks and a paint that is supposed to let you sun print - the green has a slight outline of a leaf - it may have dried too fast in this hot weather.

Tonight I tried using white glue as a resist - will let these dry and paint tomorrow...

And here's a photo transfer I added to a collage today...

Watercolor...

For today's practice, I tried recreating a collage I made recently in watercolor.

Making frames and making space...

I spent some time today on in-between steps, cutting wood for frames, sanding and organizing supplies.

Here are the new frame molding pieces...

And a photo of my labyrinth glazing workshop at St Aidan's - I can't wait to see how these turn out after glaze firing...

Taking time...

I visited Huntley Meadows this morning to return a piece that needed a frame repair.  I didn't take the time for s long walk but did try to savor the sites on my short visit.  Particularly the light on this red bud leaf...

This afternoon I spent a few hours on new collages.  It's been a full few days and I'd reached the point where my best self care was to just put other things aside and spend some time creating.

This one is Huntley Meadows colors from memory - I will add more colors and details and maybe a photo transfer later...

These three are working from photos - the first is my favorite...

And finally, this evening glorious clouds over the shopping center...

Boxes of books...

These stacks of boxes are my making for today.  Most of the effort today was driving, heavy lifting and patience.

Our journey included lots of traffic, a smoking car, kind strangers, a tow truck, a rented jeep, and a great guy with a fork lift who helped us out in spite of the fact he hadn't been told we were coming.  

I'm very thankful for my sons' companionship, humor and support on this 11 hour journey.

Here's a photo I took while waiting at the warehouse...

Love and care...

This rock stood out to me on a morning walk this morning.

I spent time today on repair of art, one of my frames at Huntley Meadows came unglued so I picked it up to repair it.  I added a drawing to my book of guest notes.  It's been so fun to see who visits the exhibit and writes a note.  

Art on the road...

I made the drive to Shrine Mont today to drop my son at camp.  Here he is in my favorite spot at Shrine Mont.

We took a walk to help ease the anxiety of saying goodbye and found this great rock sculpture in the center of the labyrinth.  

I added one of my labyrinth touchstones.

In the evening I returned to the labyrinth to walk it just before dark.  It was lovely to hear the goodnight song drift down the mountain from up at Kevin's camp.

Late this evening I did this watercolor inspired by some of the views on the drive this morning.

Making new ways to do things...

Today I led a clay labyrinth workshop.  We create ceramic finger labyrinths by tracing a path in clay.

Typically, we use a paper labyrinth to start and trace over that on top of the clay to transfer the pattern.  From there we move to deepening the lines and path with our fingers.  

Today I experimented with a new method to transfer the pattern to the clay.  Before the class I glued yarn in the form of the labyrinth to the back of the paper pattern.  

We used this paper to roll the design into the clay, creating a distinct line to then follow with our fingers.  It worked!  

It's great to have a way to make this process more accessible.  And thanks to my participants for being willing to try an experiment with me.  

I'm once again thankful for the opportunity to create space for making in this beautiful sanctuary space.

Housekeeping...

We continue to be in the midst of chores and house projects and just added to that with getting kids ready for camp.

My chores as a maker include firing the kiln...here are the latest labyrinths...touchstones are mine and the larger ones belong to participants in my workshop. 

And a fun moment photographing the dog as The kids try to disguise him to sneak him in to camp...

Ready to mail...

All wrapped in plastic and ready to mail.

Other making today included bleaching and cleaning a wooden box I made that needs sealing and sanding a bench to paint it for the porch.

Cleaning day...

Today was a cleaning day.  Chad and the boys washed windows and I worked on cleaning the porch.  It felt good to sort through things, scrub away dirt and cobwebs and generally make for more livable spaces.

Part of my task was to work toward finishing unfinished projects I came across.  I made a new cover for the dog bed from a big canvas drop cloth.  

This evening I boxed and labeled 50 collages and 50 labyrinths for art-o-mat.

It's a tedious task and I've been putting it off for days so it feels good to have it almost done...need to add the cellophane wrap tomorrow.

They will eventually be sold in machines like this around the country.

Writing and clay

I spent time today writing.  It's a different sort of making and doesn't give the same sense of completion as work with my hands with materials.

At the same time it's a great way to practice reflection, honoring and sharing, particularly after a group gathering.  

For me to take the time to write and reflect on making in community offers an opportunity to share the experiences, connections and discoveries.  In the moment there is a sense of the privilege of getting to participate and witness as people create and share.  Telling a bit of the stories of the makers through writing afterward allows me to reflect and look for deeper themes and connections.  

Here's my reflection on Wednesday night's Sanctuary Studio gathering at St Aidan's.

http://sanctuarystudioreflections.blogspot.com/2016/07/sanctuary-studio-with-inspiration-from.html?m=1

I made a few more red clay touchstones and loaded the kiln with the finger labyrinths from last week's workshop.  They will fire Sunday but can complete their drying time in the kiln.  

I'm thankful to Anna Waters for these beautiful photos of the touchstone she left in the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral after walking the labyrinth there today.

I made a pie...

I loaded the kiln this morning and did a bit of housekeeping but for the most part dedicated time for making escaped me on this full summer day.

Then I remembered that part of this project is to expand my ideas around making...so today I made a pie!

Here it is beside some of the bounty of our garden. 

Art adventures and making space...

Today the kids and I visited the National Portrait Gallery.  We found their Art-o-Mat machine.  My collages sold there in the past but there weren't any there currently.

We also went to see a new installation at the Hirshhorn by Linn Meyers.  It is marker drawings on the walls all the way around the second level...

Pretty amazing the way the lines create flow and a sense of movement...

This evening I led the Sanctuary Studio at St Aidan's.  We listened to a story from this conversation with Rachel Naomi Remen and responded to the imagery in the story with collage.

Finally at home I tried making a few touchstones with red clay.  I look forward to experimenting with glazes on these...

 

Art-o-mat packaging...

I started the evening with a plan to package my 50 art-o-may collages...

...when I laid them all out, it turned out there were only 48, not 50.  I either misplaced two or miscounted.  Anyway, here are the last two....

I packaged about half of the labyrinth touchstones and will continue boxing and labeling tomorrow.

Sorting...

I began my day sorting new packets of collage paper, specifically looking for new greens and blues to refresh my palette...

...the sorting continued as I cleaned off bookshelves, moved furniture and set aside books to give away. 

This evening I built frames for the new collages.  One is a new version of a piece that sold...

The second one is a new image, working back on top I realize the photo transfer is almost entirely hidden now by collage.

Completing these makes room to start something new tomorrow.

Making, community and knowing when to stop...

Today was a full day.  We celebrated our son's 13th birthday (more than 2 months late) with a great group of boys.

In the afternoon I led a labyrinth making workshop.  

Part of our discussion focused on knowing when to stop working.  I thought if that this evening as I continue to work in these recent collages....

I'm hoping with a good nights rest to feel more decisive in the morning and get these completed and framed.