Studiology

The Adventure, also known as Artventure

With each trip to New Orleans I learn more about my fellow artists, most of which have returned for many years. We become closer each time, a second family to me. The really creative cousins. My travel companion is Sharon Ross, a person with little time but a huge desire to go and complete a project, which has eluded her in all previous 5 trips. This year she rocked it! Her theme was catbirds, an appropriate theme for a week long art adventure titled "Beautiful Beasts". Little else needs said, just gaze at these assemblage creations.

I concentrated on a seahorse. Saddled with a rider, I was pleased with the results. There was also a small piece with a human body and bird head.

Our teachers were patient and entertaining, just downright hilarious in fact. Both Michael deMeng and his wife, Andrea Matus DeMeng make this trip a learning experience. The organizer is Katherine Engen and she makes sure we have time to work and time to take trips that inspire us. 

Michael always has a new show and reception that coincides with the Krewe Du Vieux parade. The two combined make for a crazy evening which generally ends up at a bar with good music, easily done in New Orleans. The parade was titled "Crass Menagerie", a bit crass, certainly raunchy. These are the PG photographs.

Wigs and hats are worn on a regular basis. The wig store in town; "Fifi Mahoney's" does a bang up business. This is a part of our gang.

Drinking is good. Music is excellent. Food is potentially the sole reason to visit New Orleans. One of my favorite meals was at "Pat O'Brien's" (maybe more famous for their hurricane drinks), but the shrimp and grits  were grit patties with cheese in them and the shrimp and sauce on top. Bread pudding for dessert? Yes, please.

Little Bluestem

Our local fields often contain a native grass that has a winter presence which is hard to miss. I have seen it turn a rich rusty red, although this winter it's a tan like the color of mocha. What triggers the darker color is usually a wet fall. I remember the winter of 2001 when it was the darkest I had ever seen and virtually impossible to ignore. Commonly known as little bluestem, it differs from big bluestem by growing lower, only two feet tall, and having much better winter color. A native of most of North America, and the official state grass of Nebraska, it is botanically known as Schizachyrium scoparium. The name is Greek in origins, schizein, to split and achuron for chaff, referring to the upper lemma. A lemma, in simple terms, is the shorter leafy blade that surrounds the small feathery plume. Prior to being labeled schizachyrium it was known as andropogon, from Greek - man, and pogon - beard. This describes the small divided plumes, like miniature beards, a dirty blond color. 

Farmers see this grass as a sign of poor soil and pasture land that has a low pH. Another common name is povertygrass,  probably coined from the perception that a farm is poorly maintained, not mowed or home to livestock . Cows and horses will feed on it but it's too coarse for sheep.  As with any true grass, deer don't eat little bluestem but the seed is favored by several species of grouse, here the ruffed grouse. As native plants have become more and more popular, this one is available.

 When actively growing, the blades can be very blue, hence the common name. Kurt Bluemel, a grass grower in Maryland selected one from a field that was bluer in color with a slightly wider leaf blade and named it 'The Blues'. A more recent introduction is Schizachyrium 'Standing Ovation', from North Creek nursery in Pennsylvania. This excellent selection is very upright and a beautiful gray-blue while it's actively growing.  

All have a real presence in the winter garden, with elongated leaves that twist and twirl. Good companion plants include the hinoki cypress - Chamaecyparis 'Rheingold', the deciduous native hollies with their bright berries, and any red stemmed shrub or tree such as the red twig dogwood or Acer 'Sango kaku', a wonderful  Japanese maple with bright red branches. 

The Winter Bungee Cord

My 6th trip to New Orleans is like my bungee cord, a winter trip that I look forward to with great anticipation. Even though, and this can't be denied, the French Quarter of New Orleans can be despicable. It's humanity at its lowest form, except for the food, music and the chance to meet people from anywhere and everywhere. So I continue to present it through my eyes, returning to the same places (well not always the same places), but with different players (well not always different, many of them are returning artists). This year the attendees for the Michael DeMeng workshop were many, a large group that took some organizational skills to manage. I like to think that everyone had a blast, it was certainly exceptional for me.

High on my list of what needed to happen  was meeting a dog named Sugar. She was found on a highway in Mississippi, trying to cross and was almost hit by a truck. Linda Berman, a well known New Orleans artist, came to her rescue. Turns out she was a Bordeaux mastiff, weighing only 42 lbs., this breed should weigh at least 100 lbs. It's the same breed from the movie "Turner and Hooch", the big, slobbery dog.  X-rays also revealed that she had 6, low caliper bullets lodged in her and a crushed front knee. This was poor Sugar right after she was rescued. 

A "Go Fund Me" account was set up and it was remarkable how much money was showered down for the "Sugar Cause". She has since put on the weight she needed, been treated for heart-worm and is waiting to have the bad leg amputated. Can you imagine the stories this poor girl could tell?  And I was delighted to finally meet her.

I'm not going to say that everything was anti-climatic after that, there was a lot this trip had in store for me, but meeting Sugar, well - it's hard not to love this adorable girl.

Katherine Engen is the dedicated organizer for the week long event and everyday, and some nights, were planned in advance. Time for artwork happened each day and we were allowed to access the art room on our own, some staying there till the wee hours of the morning on a regular basis.

My piece of art would reflect the theme, this year it was "Beautiful Beasts". I decided to work on a seahorse, this is the original piece, where I began.

Since this is assemblage art, you need a lot of stuff, stuff that will be adapted, or added, layered and painted. Tools are good too, especially a Dremel. I flew this year, I like to drive, but it made more sense to fly. So a very large box was shipped in advance and waited for me at the hotel to begin the assemblage and "ArtVenture", as it's called. 

As extracurricular activities, I bought "hot shot" seats at Preservation Hall, the tiny room with the best jazz in the heart of the French Quarter. One night featured the "Preservation Hall  Brass Band", and you must go to the link to understand how wonderful that is. Maybe the best, best thing that New Orleans has to offer.

Art Deliveries

February is the month for hearts. It's also the month for chocolate, roses, maybe even champagne. Many artists create works that speak to the month of love. We like to get in on the action. I made two heartfelt pieces. 

And just finished is a small piece with two, tiny dancers. They came from a cuckoo clock. The little handle below can be turned to spin them. The title is "A Time to Dance", because of the clock origins.

All are available at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan. 

This weekend I leave for New Orleans, my annual art workshop with Michael DeMeng. I've decided to fly instead of drive. Art supplies and costume were shipped. This will test how well I planned before hand to make a sizable creation, this is an art workshop. But then I remind myself (often), you take things too seriously. It will be fine, and fun. No computer, so no posts. In fact, no emails. 

Will share stuff when I get back. Cha, cha, cha!