Spring and Summer came and went . . . how time flies! Happy Autumn. |
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image from our family trip to Spain – taken in San Sebastián / Donostia |
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My apologies for my long absence. Spring and Summer were busy–I thought I would send out a note in July, then August, and now finally the second to last day of September. This is by far the longest letter I have ever written – you can just look at the pictures, skim and come back to things that interest you… There is just too much to share! Township 10 ceramic artist residency in Marshall, North Carolina mid-March to mid April (5 weeks!) 90th birthday party for my mom! Sold last copy of Owed to The Mountain to University of Oregon European Travels: Great Britain: Cornwall, London, L’Italia: Poppiano, Firenze, Venezia (Venice Biennale: Stranieri Ovunque), La España: Madrid, Sevilla, Granada, Madrid, San Sebastián, Barcelona, and back to London I became a great aunt, my niece got married, and my nephew is getting married next month in New Jersey. Lot’s to celebrate!! A copy of NOURISH, All Our Relations was acquired by Columbia University I have new work in a group show A Distant Center at Artspace in Lake Oswego up through the end of October. I am honored to be the next artist to design and print the broadside for C.C. Stern Type Foundry’s Pacific Northwest Poets Laureate Broadside Project series. Group show Printing by Hand of Northwest Letterpress Network members at the Brookwood and Shute Park Libraries in Hillsboro – Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024. New artist book update VOTE – this is a very important election!
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My time spent at Township 10 was incredibly productive and inspiring. Founder, Marjorie Dial has created a beautiful place for in-depth ceramic exploration. Lead resident and studio tech, Bill Jones was generous with his knowledge and expertise. He shared his gorgeous terra sigillata glazes with me and helped me troubleshoot glazing application, hand building construction, and decide on what clay bodies to use. I was at the residency with Steve Theberge and Kevin Lips. I enjoyed going to the local farmer’s market, sharing meals, throwing the disc, visiting Penland, and hiking with my friend Sarah McDowell. Thank you Marjorie, Bill, RACC, Oregon Art Commission and the Hallie Ford Foundation for this amazing opportunity to dive deep into the world of clay. |
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Me in my bat cave painting glaze on my wasp galls. |
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Drying large sculpted ceramic bat |
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My studio mates: Bill Jones and Steve Theberge |
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The Blaauw Shuttle Kiln loaded with our pottery |
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I made pipe organ wasp nests (pictured above), oak galls and wasp wings (pictured below) for my next artist book exploring the wonders of wasps |
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I made 58 unique bat sculptures in all during my 5-week stay. I also editioned clay wasp bodies, wings, galls, cocoons, and nests. Below are a few of the finished bats with their abaca paper wings. When I returned to Portland later in the summer, I attached wet sheets of handmade abaca paper (made by Jenn Woodward of Pulp & Deckle) to twisted wire armature. After the paper shrunk and dried taut, I cut the paper from the back and stomach area and glued it flush. I painted the wings either with a brown walnut ink or a watered down grey Sumi ink. I hung 8 bats in a bat mobile configuration.
I am looking for a venue to exhibit this new work. If you have any ideas of a good location please get in touch.
Here are few of the finished bats: |
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Photos taken by Mario Gallucci |
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Mom and Topher at the farm |
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We had a big birthday party for my mom out at my sister’s farm in May after she turned 90 years old. We are so lucky to have her as the family matriarch! |
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I spent six nights in Cornwall with my dear friend Marcia Teusink. She generously invited me to spend time with her at Brisons Veor during her residency in Cape Cornwall. we met over 30 years ago during an art residency with Rosenclaire. We bonded over shaving our heads and later becoming mothers around the same time. Check out Marcia’s art website – she is making really interesting work.
Cornwall is beautiful! The rolling hills, spectacular vistas, coastal wildflowers, tide pools, and local charm captured my heart. We visited several gardens, a mining museum, and hiked along the cliffs. It was a perfect way to start my travels. |
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James Turrell artwork at Tremenheere Sculpture Garden in Cornwall |
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After Cornwall I spent a few days in London on my friend Michaela’ Ross’s house boat. Michaela and I studied etching with Lucy Jochamowitz at Lorenzo di Medici in 1987. It was very special running around London together.
I also sold a copy of Alphabet Tricks to Robert Bolick. His collection Books On Books will gradually be donated to the Bodleian. We met at the Tate Modern to view the Expressionist show. While in London I also visited the Kew Gardens with a new friend – not nearly enough time – I will have to go back! |
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Michaela’s favorite cheese shop |
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It had been 17 years since I was last in Italy. I spent a week in Poppiano working with Rosenclaire and an incredible group of artists from around the world. It was a transformative and affirming time. |
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My work corner in Rosenclaire’s gorgeous studio overlooking their garden. |
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My experiments while in residence. |
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We walked up to Piazza Michelangelo to listen to Gregorian chanting that starts every night at 6 pm in the Abazzia di San Miniato al monte.
Florence has changed tremendously since the 80’s and 90’s. Now you must pay to visit almost all the churches. June is not the time I would normally choose to travel to Europe because of the heat and the amount of tourists.
The first time I lived in Florence (1986-87) was on San Niccolo on the other side of the Arno near Il Bisonte. I would walk up to the piazza Michelangelo regularly. |
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The tower pictured above is the second place I lived while studying in Florence in 1991/92. I was on the top floor with spectacular views. |
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Pictured with me are Lucy Jochamowitz and Miguel Ortega |
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After eating lunch with Lucy at Trattoria da Mario, (our favorite lunch spot over 30 years ago still makes delicious food!) near Il Mercato di San Lorenzo, Lucy took me to visit Miguel’s print studio L’Armadillo Atelier. Miguel was the studio manager at Il Bisonte for many years. It was so good to see him thriving in his own printmaking studio.
I would love to return and work there for a spell.
Next stop Venezia to see the Biennale! |
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Ukraine: DARE TO DREAM was a collateral event that was very moving. |
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In the Giardini there were many interesting pavilions. My newsletter is crazy long so I am going to highlight only a few. In the Dutch Pavilion The International Celebration of Blasphemy and The Sacred was a powerful installation by CATPC an artists’ collective of Congolese plantation workers. The new artworks were made from earth taken from the last remaining patches of untouched forest surrounding the plantation, Each sculpture carries the seed that will bring back the Sacred Forest. Dripping down the white box gallery walls was palm oil |
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Jeffery Gibson the space in which to place me dazzled the U.S.A. pavillion |
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Japanese Pavilion: Compose Yuko Mohri |
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Trinket, Kapwani Kiwanga in Canada’s Pavilion |
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kith and kin by Archie Moore in Australia’s Pavilion
A few images from the Arsenale: |
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Claire Fontaine, a Palermo-based collective Stranieri Ovunque Foreigners Everywhere written in neon in many different languages |
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Claudia Alarcón is from the community of La Puntana in Northern Argentina. |
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My mentors Rose Shakinovsky & Claire Gavronsky rosenclaire |
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Ciao Venezia! Onto Madrid to meet my family |
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These photos are out of order and a bit all over the place. We spent a special afternoon outside of Madrid with Mercedes (my friend from over 30 years ago) she and her husband, Alberto drove us to a beautiful spot where we walked in the woods, visited the Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial and ate a delicious lunch sitting outside enjoying the views. The next morning we took an early train to Sevilla. We were there for two nights and then on to Granada.
We loved Sevilla and L’Alhambra in Granada. Zusse met up with us in Madrid where we enjoyed seeing another friend named Alberto, Miriam (my brother-in-law’s niece), Mercedes’ kids, and our Portland friends who have moved to Portugal – Kate & Fritz. |
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Me & Mercedes – felt like no time had passed. |
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The Rose Table of Perfect, 1989 by James Lee Byars (and my sons) |
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Red Angel of Marseille, 1993, by James Lee Byars, 1000 red glass spheres |
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detail of Red Angel of Marseille |
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The Unicorn Horn, 1984 by James Lee Byars If you ever wondered if unicorns were real… |
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regrouping in the Reina Sofia Museum with Kate and Fritz. |
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Granada – Albaicin Quarter |
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Intricate carving and stain glass at L’Alhambra. |
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This was amazing to watch in Barcelona: called Castelers |
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We jumped in the Mediterranean Sea – it was delicious! |
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We ended our trip in London, getting to spend some more time with Marcia, Matteo (not pictured), and her oldest son Sebastian. A perfect way to end our journey. |
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At Artspace 380 A Avenue, Suite A
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tuesday–Friday
(Appointments can be scheduled outside these hours.)
I hope you can check out the show if you live in the area. Sue Taylor, Ph.D., juried this open-call exhibition in collaboration with Artspace Curator Morgan Ritter |
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My wasp artist book has made some traction forward. Rory Sparks helped me create a new dummy: we tested a board book structure to allow room for pop-ups, mini books, and other bulky materials. I made a mock-up of the cylindrical box the book will go inside that can hold the ceramic galls, nests, and cocoons pictured at the beginning of this post. There are so many decisions yet to make and the reality of what it will take to make all of the different parts is daunting. I have been learning about pop-up engineering from an online class with Yoojin Kim. My collaborator, Kate Taormina will be coming to visit me in November so we can firm up some important content. More pictures to come in my next art newsletter. |
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Brian Bagdonas was a very patient and generous teacher. He showed me how the lino typecasting machine worked and even let me cast the colophon. It was totally cool and I am hooked!!
Please join us at C.C. Stern Foundry in Clatskanie, WA RSVP to get directions:
Saturday, November 23, 2024
1:00 PM4:00 PM |
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How do we get $ out of politics? How do we save our planet from capitalist greed that is reeking havoc on the environment? Corporations aren’t held accountable for their pollution, carbon footprint, and amount of waste produced. The ecosystems need biodiversity and the balance is delicate. Violence and war is rampant. We need a holistic approach! Each of us needs to be involved and active in building a better future!
VOTE this November! |
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It is a tangled mess. We need patience, resiliency, and perseverance! Onward with love and respect for all!
Love, diane |
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