solstice

The following is a repost from 2011.  I feel the same way today.  Enjoy the winter solstice:

  

Whether we watch the moon change shape, notice the length of a shadow, look at a numbered grid or remove clothespins from a line (a countdown to Christmas I remember from childhood), each of us observes the movement of time.

Winter solstice is a “hump day” for me.  Even though the coldest weather is yet to come, long winter nights begin to shorten as daylight arrives a minute or so earlier. 

Another hump day comes at the end of January when the tips of crocus leaves break through the ground.  (Years ago I planted the super early variety by the front door.)  Last year I missed it.  By the time the unusually deep snow disappeared, the crocus leaves were two inches tall! 

Happy Solstice.  Wishing you a joyous celebration of the season.

residents and visitors

Impressions left by objects pressed into the surface of a wet sheet of paper thrill me.  My artwork has evolved to display these recordings and the highly textured surfaces are the hallmark of my sculptural forms.

  

The first snowfall was light.  The 20' between my back door and the studio recorded impressions left by visits of those who share my space.  Opossum prints were easy to identify, especially with the tell tale tail track.  I briefly misread the rabbit's front paw prints as deer but, taking a wider view, saw the pattern and gate.

On the front porch, the visitor was feline, probably the young tabby from across the street.  She is bold and often follows me to the door, expecting an invitation in.  Sol keeps careful watch from his favorite sunny pillow.

toasty toes

As the temperature dropped, I began moving indoor plants from atop the wood stove to their "winter" places.  This involved some creative placements (even some stair step arrangements) to take advantage of daylight during shorter days.  At last, the wood stove was freed, emptied, wiped down and loaded.  The first fire on the season is glowing in time for the single digit temperature predicted for tonight.  I'll be toasty as I sort through the other items displaced today and find appropriate cubbies and niches for their long winter sleep.  Perhaps a few items will find places in someone else's home:-))

winter is coming

Where has the summer gone?  And for that matter, the Fall?  My previous post was vacation pics from May and the forecasters are predicting snow and really, really cold temps tonight!  Brrr.

Needless to say, my commitment to blogging has slipped.  Oops.  Refocus.

installation of folded books by Carol Zeman
and Leandra Spangler
THAT'S PAPER!?!, St. Louis Artists Guild, 2013

I became intrigued with folded books after finding Rhymes With Magic on Etsy.  Following directions is always a challenge for me, but Heather Eddy's tutorials are wonderful.  

After exploring the tutorials, I discovered my preferences and began creating designs for patterning in the round.  After all, I am a sculptor working with paper:-)) 

Paperbacks cut into six or eight pieces are my favorites for ornaments.  But, I couldn't resist the hymnals I'd been saving for altered books.  The musical notations are festive for this season.

day 4: goodbye seattle

Goodbye to the pink elephant car wash sign, our "turn here" indicator to find the hotel

and the space needle that served as true North for our walking compass and Tilikam Place and Just Crepes.

We're ready to begin the next chapter.

Off to Alaska!

day 3: outside emp

could have been fabric

Unfortunately, I was not able to find the attribution for this site specific sculpture.  Does anyone know the artist? 

day 3: on the wall

We stopped for sandwiches at Cherry Street Coffee House (at 5th and Denny). I noticed the zipped opening first (I've been zipper focused for some time now) exposing a beautiful landscape spilling out and onto the floor.  As I got closer, the contemporary interpretation and use of traditional "U" and "S" shapes thrilled me.  

day 3: inside emp

Icons of Science Fiction; Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses; Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic; Can't Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film; and Hear My Train a Commin': Hendrix Hits London.  Wow.

my favorite

day 3: emp

Seattle's EMP Museum is dedicated to the history and exploration of popular music, science fiction and pop culture. It was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000. The 140,000 square foot building was designed by Frank O. Gehry.  More sculpture than architecture, to my eyes, every few steps presented a new view.  I photographed this building again and again.

day 2: tourists

A monorail ride and short walk (down, down, down) brought us to Pikes Market, a multi block, multi level shopping area.  From flying fish to fresh flowers, we shopped our way to the lowest level to street again to find more stairways (down, down) to the riverfront.

sunny day in Seattle for exploring 

Beautiful Seattle skyline on a sunny day, crab pot lunch, antiques, aquarium and more shopping.

day 1: space needle and chihuly garden

Neither of us enjoy great heights, so enjoyed the Space Needle from ground level.