Studiology

Over the Hump

Now that we have reached the winter solstice or most northern zenith for the sun, we can count on another minute of sunlight a day. It will be 182 days before we reach the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and a lovely day at that. For now, and today the sun will shine a bit longer, despite the fact that it is officially winter, and there will be a couple of months before we feel like spring is coming. It's hard to believe but I have moved to this new house and location nearly a year ago. Some days it feels like much less, and vice versa. The location of my move has proven beneficial as I've landed within a few blocks in every direction of some lovely woman my age and we have come together for walks and books (we started our own book club only 5 months ago). Everyone should have such a lovely group of people to hang with, I feel truly blessed.

I miss many things from my old home, a few of which have surprised me more than I expected. The winter flower arranging at Merrifield Garden Center and my companions there are one. It's taken me a long time to find a decent substitute for quality fresh flowers, but that changed last week with this lovely selection of cut flowers from Hedge Fine Blooms .

My farm walks are another thing I miss more than I can describe. Birdie the rescue dog came along before the move and at 8 years of age was full of energy and loved our long, long walks. She is10 now, a bit slower and happy to sleep for long periods.

I considered the first year at this new location a trial of sorts for my vegetable garden. With the help of compost, literally tons of compost moved from the farm, the vegetable garden was excellent. We just finished with the tomato crop of 2023 with huevos rancheros for breakfast only 2 weeks ago. The Christmas pie will be sweet potato pie from the garden and spinach and lettuce are under protective cover, some ready to harvest.

There were also daffodils to plant this fall, including some of those adorable little miniatures. The front meadow will be native plants and this last fall I spread liatris bulbs and lots of seed. That will take a few years to come together which doesn't stop me from checking every day!

As I look back on 2023 and the crazy upheaval that it brought, I can only think positively. I would like to wish you all Happy Holidays, Happy Solstice, and warm family gatherings. 

 

Captain Quinn

Focus has shifted for this 9 year old to nautical things, mostly disasters of the past, namely the Titanic and the Edmund Fitzgerald. This became the theme for his 9th birthday party, where his mom designed a party with sinking ships and maritime themed fare. 

The punch was a sea blue with floating icebergs, cups were filled with blue jello and chocolate twinkies were cut and placed in a froth of whipped cream to resemble a sinking Titanic. 

Props were set out to encourage dress-up, like the grand parties of the Titanic. Of course, the girls were all over it!

All managed to survive the party of sinking ships, humming the tune by Gordon Lightfoot and wondering about the "Gitchee Gumee". One 9 year old can recite just about every detail as to how and why thy sank, if you care to sit a spell and listen. 

Look at how this boy has grown!

Seems like just yesterday when we celebrated his first birthday!

 

 

 

 

Day of the Dead in Mexico, Part 2

Numerous tours took our group to locations outside of the city of Oaxaca. A parade in Soledad de Etla was an unexpected surprise, complete with the customary band. A rugged looking angel/devil/clown was doling out mescal to anyone that had a cup. I think the parade participants were enjoying themselves, and much of our group was quick to join in.

the large bottle of pure mescal was shared with everyone, looking like an innocent bottle of water

We were also learned how to make the icing and decorate Pan de Muerto or Day of the Dead bread in an ornate style that is from the tiny village of Mitla. Our host whipped up the icing and then shared it with all of us and our own small loaves of bread. 

My own attempt was okay, but nothing like the ornate style of professionals.

Another trip took us to a former paper mill in San Agustin de Etla. The windows were covered in finely cut paper. The entire site was gorgeous!

Of course I was obsessed by the plants. My phone app. (I use Seek) was constantly used to identify surrounding vegetation. The dry season was beginning, but the area looked fine. Mexico City on the other hand was parched. 

One of my favorite trips was to the town of San Martin Tilcajete and a shop were Alebrijes are carved and painted. The owner is a female carver, which is rare as they are usually the painters. She had to fight for the privilege, and the entire family is employed in the endeavor. I have hardly any photographs from that day, but it was inspirational in so many ways!

It's hard to find the words to describe the attention to detail both in the carving and wood finishing and then the fine painting. I brought home 2 small pieces, and I'm so glad I did. The technique is changing the way I paint and has been a part of these small magnets I'm selling in the galleries here in town.

Art is everywhere and the street walls are covered with commissioned work. Some are from stickers; others are directly painted.

My trip to Mexico City after Oaxaca was quick and I was able to venture through the sculpture garden of UNAM or the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. I forgot about the altitude and smog, which affected my asthma. Mexico City is densely populated and totally crazy at times, but full of art and history. Like Oaxaca, it would be easy to spend a month there and see just a bit of it.

I will end with a big thank-you to Michael de Meng for his classes and his instruction. I always learn something and am one of his biggest fans. He picks his locations to inspire and this artist is most grateful for everyday I spent with the group and our full days of learning and traveling. Gracias Maestro!

 

Day of the Dead in Mexico, Part 1

For 2 weeks I traveled to Oaxaca and Mexico City. A workshop lead by Michael de Meng with Mija Matriz as our tour guide led to some fantastic side trips. It would be hard to pick my favorite but one of the cemetery trips included 2 barn owls, flying overhead, squawking the entire time. Between the numerous visitors and nightly fireworks, I think they were over any Day of the Dead celebrations. 

Parades were held every day - somewhere. In fact, our vans were caught up in a small town, literally stuck as the locals held their parade and a band played in the parking lot. We didn't mind.

 

face paintings were at an all-time high with impressive details

The incredibly beautiful center of Oaxaca with its ancient cathedrals and cobblestone streets were festooned with Dia de los Muertos decorations. Marigolds, Catrina's, and lots of paper mâché skeletons inspire all visiting artists.

a couple of blocks were closed for this massive street display

November marks the beginning of the dry season, so it's relatively safe to put paper mâché work outside. There was a small rainstorm when I arrived, and a few were covered with large sheets of plastic for protection.

The cemeteries were coming together, November 1st and 2nd mark the holiday with entire families decorating gravesites. 

gladiolus and tuberose were well represented as well as marigolds and celosia

Ofrendas are built to remember all who have passed. Photographs, favorite food and drink are laid out to welcome them home. Some are very elaborate, some much simpler.

As I collect more photographs, there will be a part 2, which will include some fieldtrips, wall art, and Mexico City. Our fieldtrips included a mescal distillery, Alebrije carver, a paper mill, and a visit to Josefina Aquilar - a clay folk artist. We even had the chance to decorate our own Pan de Muerto, created in a style that is from the small town of Mitla. 

 

 

Mexico Bound

Tonight, at a very dark hour, I will be flying off to Mexico! Once again joining my art family and celebrating "Day of the Dead" in Oaxaca. Since I now live a distance from an international airport, travel plans are a bit more complicated. It will be a very long day.

Our art theme is "Lucha libre" with the intent of building masks in the style of wrestlers from Mexico. 

The bags are packed, art supplies secured, pesos in hand. Days will be very full and good times will be had! So adios for now, see you soon.

and PS, I am on Instagram as well and will be sharing photographs there in case you don't follow me

 

Fall

The season is upon us, more so every day as cooler nights have hit the upper 30's. My lawn that is now mostly meadow is the canvas I am using to dabble native wildflower seed into. It has a few welcome volunteers that are in flower, namely the latest asters, goldenrods, and native grasses. My favorite two are the late flowering Solidago puberula or downy goldenrod, and the white frost aster or Symphyotrichum pilosum. 

We ceased mowing in late spring, and I have spread seed throughout the seasons (with more to go in spring), so next year should be full of surprises. While in Tennessee for the Pigeon Forge Rod Run, we visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As a park it is highly diverse with ample old growth forest, but my interest was in the wildflowers of the open meadows. There were a few native plants there that were unfamiliar to me, September was full of wonderful surprises, and it was beautiful!

In my flower beds that are more manicured and open to non-natives I have really enjoyed the tropical salvia, Salvia cacaliifolia or Guatemalan Leaf Sage. The blue flowers are really striking and it's flowered nonstop all summer.

This actea or cimicifuga is a hybrid of A. simplex and racemosa. Incredibly fragrant and still in full bloom, I do want more.

There was some fretting over all of the little cyclamen tubers I moved from my old garden and I did loose many, but the few survivors are here and putting on a display. It's good to see them still flowering and unfurling little winter leaves.

With this young garden, not even a year old, it's good to see old friends and new arrivals. I miss my night garden, enough so that I might try one here. The two brugmansias I brought with me as cuttings, and only a foot tall, grew to at least five feet with an equal spread. They are dug and spending the winter in a garage with minimal heat, beside the tuberose tubers; it certainly sounds like I am going the way of a new night garden! And who am I kidding!? There will be moths!!

No Rules Car Show

The Pigeon Forge Rod Run is always scheduled for the middle of September and has been going on for at least 40 years, its history is a bit murky since it has altered and changed locations over the years. Since my husband and I love old cars, especially hot rods, it was something we decided to attend for our 45th wedding anniversary. He likes the mechanical aspects; I love the creativity and various paint finishes. The amount of cars/trucks and motorcycles that arrive is beyond belief. On the main strip there are at least 2 and a half miles of cars on both sides of the 3 lane highway, 2 to 3 cars deep! I ventured out for 4 nights, walking at least half of the show and also attending the big event in the LeConte Center where the most polished of cars were on display. The weather was perfect, and I met some crazy car people! It was interesting to note the median age of attendees, if I have to guess I would say most of the car owners were mid-sixties to seventy years old. As it was pointed out to me by my husband, it's expensive and hard for younger people to participate, additionally this is the crowd that drove the 60's and 70's muscle cars, (wild people of the time). Indeed almost all of the cars on the strip were for sale, this is the place to come if you are in the market. My photographs are generally of special paint finishes, pinstriping, and creative builds.

We managed to make it home without a car in tow, but it was tempting!

 

 

The Whimsy Opening

A person could not ask for better weather on opening night and the town was out in throngs. The show looks fabulous and I'm very happy to be a part of this month's exhibits. Everything remains up for the month of September and there's still the "Walk and Talk" on Sunday, September 10th at 2:00. Here are a few photographs of the show and my fellow exhibitor. 

There are over 30 pieces hanging between us, so it's worth a gander if you're in town!

 

And Then There's This

August began with an email from the McGuffey Art Center with a proposition, do a show, fill two of the main hallway walls with art. What do you say? And of course I said yes and here we are, the week before September and the week before a big show. I am paired with Michael Firkaly and the show is "Whimsy", which was all hung yesterday and today and indeed looks very whimsical. 

To build and paint 15 new pieces would be impossible in 3 weeks, so I did my best and managed to complete 6 new and rework others. Time in my studio has been diligent and lengthily, but what came out of that are some really fun, brave and new works. The reception is this Friday, September 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 and the show hangs for the entire month. There is also an Artist's Walk and Talk, Sunday, September 10th, 2:00 - when I will detail some of the whys and ways the building process came along. 

First Fridays in Charlottsville are epic and I'm excited to be such an integral part of the action. Lots more photographs of this event will be posted as well as a few before and after. There are 4 shows occupying the McGuffey building for September and they are all spectacular!  Not to ignore the concerts, restaurants, and fun shops.

August

I'm having a brave and full summer, a lot of which I will share here. A mix of gardens and art, all good stuff. 

My wet meadow has been spectacular and only planted this spring. Hummingbirds seem to be there 24/7 and there have been numerous monarch caterpillars, as well as lots of other pollinators. The seed will be used to fuel my front yard which we have stopped mowing and has numerous wet spots.

With only a few months of not mowing part of the lawn, I was excited to find a Spiranthes cernua or Nodding Lady Tresses in the mix, a tiny orchid. There are also numerous asters popping up, and I will be adding seed of other native asters this fall.

On Fridays we visit a local farm to pick-up our weekly produce. Part of the package deal is access to their cut flower fields which are incredible, so on a weekly basis I get to put a couple of flower arrangements together.

And today, yes TODAY, I bought a greenhouse. The size is 11 x 16', and to tell you I'm excited is an understatement! Small in comparison to the numerous greenhouses of Windy Hill days, but certainly sufficient for anything I need here. 

Delivery is a few weeks away, giving us time to pour cement and get some things setup.

As if that wasn't enough, the big art gallery had a snafu of sorts with scheduling and offered me space for a show. That was determined the first week of August and the show opens September 1! I will share the space with another wonderful artist - Mike Firkaly and the title is "Whimsy".  We are a perfect pairing, and I can't wait to see this come together. Details and snippets of finished pieces will be forthcoming. 

In the walking mall gallery I have added new Pez dispensers, something I had backed off of and am happy to be making again. There is a bit of an obsession with Sasquatch and similar creatures, all after the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference and a history of conversations with believers (or are they?). 

More to come, lots more!