Burning Down the House and 'Out of the Box'

Well, yesterday Martha delivered her design proposal to Tina Flohr, for the City of Wenatchee Utility Box Art Program “Out of the Box”. The project is through the City of Wenatchee Arts Commission. The project is to promote the transformation of utility boxes in various areas within the City limits, from functional structures into colorful and inspired artworks.

 The idea of the project is to promote public art and increase cultural awareness. There are 50 utility boxes throughout the City, many of which may be utilized for projects in future years.  Once the designs are implemented, the intent is that these utility boxes will contribute to the vitality and attractiveness of the urban streetscape. The murals are to help tell the story of our community, allow public art to reach into specific neighborhoods at high visibility locations and will allow for participation by area artists, arts educators, schools and other community groups.

Martha’s designs are fully in keeping with the theme and show kids at play, cultural dancers and the local scenery of the area which should make a great contribution to the community where her mural will go.

If all goes according to plan she should be signing the contract today and we can begin making plans for implementation… he ha.

Meanwhile, I have been working, deconstructing and perhaps even destroying  the kiln that was given to us all in an effort to make it functional. I was able to determine that the upper element is usable but my efforts to rework the control box though going well at first, ran afoul when I shorted something out on a test and trip not one but four breakers at my workshop and rental apartment building in Wenatchee. At least I didn’t burn down the house. I did get a name and number of a guy in Tacoma to perhaps take it to for repair… I’m going to get the schematics online and give it another go first. Hopefully my next blog won’t be about burning down the house.

On a lighter note, over the weekend we moved the artwork of Scott Allen from our house to the Cashmere Arts and Activities Center in Cashmere in the morning. Martha taught the second of three installments of a clay modeling class. The students were doing really well with there heads. Later we installed Scotts work after taking down the art work of the Vale Elementary School kids. We kept the work of the award winners in another display so people could still come to see them for another month.

Yesterday, I also got a bit of a lesson from Terry Johnson on working with glass… very fascinating indeed. Ideas abound on things to do with glass. While there I offered to come with him when next he goes out to Quincy to do this gigantic mural for a fruit co. out there. I thought it would be great to get some photos and video of that process. It could make for a fun Youtube video.

Well, I think it’s time to get to that kiln project… wish me luck.

Tweet

The Beat Goes On, Straw Bale Art House and Electric Elements

Well, the week started off well with an invitation to lunch with our artist friends in the neighborhood, who had Ruth Allan, a well known local potter of some renown, over and some artist friends from Oregon visiting as well. The folks from Oregon showed us the online video of their bed and breakfast and artist retreat in Oregon. Alas the b&B / artist retreat is for sale.  Apparently after fifteen years or so of providing ceramics workshops to participants from all over the country, they have tired of it as they found themselves doing more administrative work than art…hmmm… sounds familiar.

The place was pretty interesting and must have been quiet a joy and challenge at the beginning as they built a straw bale house and a cultured natural landscape with an eye toward sustainability of the environment. Their concern for the environment seemed to play into their decision to DC the workshops too as the participants were coming from so far away rather than the more local participation they had envisioned early on - all that hydrocarbon footprint stuff related to air travel and such.

Everybody enjoyed hearing about the giant puppet project we had been involved in all year and they checked out some of the videos at 56DAUT on Youtube. After the lunch and a couple of drinks, they all came to our house to look at Martha’s studio and take a gander at my 2.5 D recycled materials art project. And, of course we all went out to visit the ‘Great Wall of China’ project from a couple of years ago and the vineyard I recently planted on the lower level of our property.  All in all it was a fun visit with some very interesting artsy folks.

As the week has progressed, I have – between managing functional issues with our rentals and other mundane sorts of stuff – been working on getting the kiln that was gifted to me up and running. To that end I had a good friend and fellow diver, who is an electrician, come take a look at it and the wiring situation at my house.  As it has turned out two of three elements are fried and the control panel parts were ‘maybe’ functional. So far, the thing is not working as I gave it test run last night after completing the wiring stuff arrrrg!!! Frustration. Now, it is to determine if the new breaker and subsequent wiring of an outlet is the problem, or is it that even that one ‘good’ element is also not good after all. Oh well, on it goes.

Meanwhile, Martha has completed her design for the Big Electrical Box Mural Project and presented it to the folks in charge of accepting the design yesterday.  At least one of us is getting somewhere with art projects. I am envious as I have gotten so far with the recycled art project and getting my prints matted and framed and then progress stopped as I have been doing so many other things too many to list here.

One of those projects deserves to be mentioned, that being that I did get a full length movie done of the giant Puppet Project.  I need to get that over to Bill Rietvelt at the Wenatchee Museum and Cultural Center…hope you like it Bill. And, I have been getting the word out there about the live performance of Selena Rose at the upcoming Scott Allen art show opening in Cashmere. I am really looking forward to a full and lively event as it will be live streamed on the Art News Network channel on Livestream.com.

 I am hoping to get a chance soon to practice using the matt cutter over at the Cashmere Arts and Activities Center that Vicky Hilberg has taken over there. Martha has suggested practicing on some cheap material instead of actual matt board as there is a learning curve with these things and some waste is expected early on in that curve. She’s probably right and so, I need to get some of that cheap material over there and practice. I really am chomping at the bit though to get a matt cut for a particular art photo of mine that is just screaming to be matted and framed. Add to that, that I will need to have some new material ready to put up at Two Rivers Gallery in Wenatchee at the end of the month… ahhh… pressure. Will it get done on time or won’t it. That is the question.

And, so for today it is back to the drawing board on that kiln and maybe another consult with my electrician friend.  As the song says, “The Beat Goes On”.

Tweet

Ttraining Adults with Art and The Earth Is Me

As I am writing this blog martha is on her way to quincy to do a training with prpspective child care providers, where she will be using art in at least part of the program. This for both helping them learn to relax and destress themselves and to give them more skills with which to bprovide a better experience for the children they will be  caring for. This following on the heals of what has already been a very full and art education week for Martha as she provided special art opportunities to kids at the Columbia Elementary School in Wenatchee. As written in our other blog:

The Giant Puppet Project done and the Puppets put to rest Martha Flores was at it again with another great community art project. This week she has been working with the third grades classes of Mrs. Zobel and Mrs. Saltsman at Columbia Elementary on  the “The Earth Is Me” project.  Martha described this as a study in abstract self-portraiture. The project is part of the Resident Artist Program provided by the Wenatchee Art Education Consortium. And as I am writing this Martha is finishing up with the third grade class of Miss. Heffron also at Columbia Elementary. What a great project. Out of this project will come the seed designs of what will be the mural to be painted on the large PUD electrical box at Triangle Park.

I think it’s great that the kids in the school get to help design the mural that will contribute to the beautification of the community. How great is that? I can just see them now and for some years to come as they may pass by and say to themselves or anyone around them, “hey, that looks like the part I drew with Ms. Flores at School.” This can’t help by add a real sense of pride in and belonging to their community.

As I took pictures of the art work of the kids in these classes and met briefly with their teachers, I could see how proud the teachers were of their students and could see that Martha Flores was so happy to be able to share her artistic knowledge and experience with these budding young artists. I can’t wait to see what the murals that come from these children’s watercolors look like out in town.

Meanwhile, on another note, Artie Bowman is preparing for next month’s show exhibiting the work of Scott Allen who recently exhibited at the Robert Graves Gallery at Wenatchee Valley College. Quite a coupe for Artie and folks at the Cashmere Arts and Activities Center. On top of that, she is very pleased that CAAC will have the young singer songwriter Selena Rose Martinez (who recently performed at May’s First Friday opening at the PAC here in Wenatchee), at their upcoming Second Saturday Opening on June 11^th . Hooray, for Cashmere. That should be quite a treat. This young lady has one of the sweetest voices I have heard in years.

Tweet

Selena, Saving the Earth and Cutting Heavy Metal

Well, today Martha and I are making headway with our art projects. Martha is as I write working with the third graders at Columbia Elementary School in Wenatchee on a two day art project called “I Am the Earth.”  Tomorrow I will go there and get photos of the kids and their work.

 Later today Martha will meet with the fifth graders at Columbia School to get volunteers for her upcoming project through the city of Wenatchee and the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center which will be to paint a mural on one of those big ugly electrical boxes in town. The one they will do is at Triangle Park, the same park where the staging area of the Apple blossom Grand Parade is held each year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvNCccsDAcw .

That should be a great project for the fifth graders and a real opportunity for them to contribute to the beautification of their community. I’m sure that project will offer some good photo opportunities as well and I will continue to blog both here and in the World Online about these great kid oriented art projects.

On another note, I have been emailing back and forth with Selena Rose the local 16yr old musical phenom about performing for the Scott Allen Second Saturday Art show Opening at the Cashmere Arts and Activities Center on June 11^th. I hope we can get her. She has to ask her [parents….how cute is that.

At my end, I pound that Terry Johnson has exactly the kind of metal cutting equipment that I need to cut one of those chrome metal frames that I want to make a star/sun out of for my recycled material 2.5d mural, and so I will be heading over to terry’s this morning as soon as I finish posting this blog. Also, when I visited Terry yesterday I saw how his Picasso Pot is coming… it’s looks great so far. Hope it comes out well. But, as Terry explained, he sometimes gets anxious to progress on a project and then doesn’t wait long enough between steps and can thereby ruin a piece. So; he has to keep himself busy with multiple pieces going at the same time so he doesn’t get in too much of a hurry with any one project and end up rushing it to ruination.

Isn’t it like that though with so many things for all of us. A good lesson to be learned there.  And, so there it is for today for Rod and Martha and our art projects for today. And, so now it is off to work on art and then to docent at the Two Rivers Gallery.

Tweet

Chrome and Mother Earth Blame It On La Rain

Well, I think we can say we got a few things done artistically over the weekend. Friday I put together my large 2.5d art piece on the theme of saving the earth made completely with on hand recycled materials. I used an old plywood panel that used to be a homemade door to storage space in our storage room downstairs. Martha and the foster kids used to paint on it. Each time we would get a new foster kid they would add to the accumulating mural on this and the other door panels down there.

I had taken them down some time back as they had become more of a hindrance than a help anymore. To this one panel which had some tropical forest images and a Martha-esc mother earth face in the forest, I attached seven chrome frames that had been for recessed lighting in our downstairs TV room and pool table area. I put two of them in diamond configuration around the face and the rest as forming a body over the mural of the earth forest scene. Recycling man made materials and to show that the materials eventually go back to the earth I painted the little springs that used to allow the chrome frames to drop down from the ceiling in order to replace light bulbs, to match the mural behind the frames. Even the screws I used were old screws I had lying around. No new materials were purchased for this piece and no toxic materials such as glues or adhesives of any kind were used. That done I put it under the overhang of the garage roof just before the weekend of rain began.

I also got two of my art photos framed up and had to create a matt for one of them. It has a musical theme so I ended up creating this grunge sort of matt for it. It might not be for everyone, but the buyer of this kind of piece could like that. I may change it though.

Saturday after selling used stoves from my apartments to the second hand appliance guy in town, I took the framed up musical themed art photo to the newly remodeled music store in Wenatchee. I chatted it up with the guys there until the owner who turned out to be Steve Clemm the prosecuting attorney of Douglas County… I never knew he was a musician and music store owner till then.

Steve looked at the piece with some apparent interest, but alas didn’t buy it…saying that it was the slow time yada yada and implying that having just spent BIG bucks on the new building that $150 for an art piece was a bit stiff.  Seems a bit shaky there Steve.

After this I went across the street to Terry Johnson’s studio, where he was working on some really great new ceramics. One is what is shaping up to be a very elegant and tall pot which he has painter Picasso on. He has done well before with a Picasso themed painting that sold at the gallery in Cashmere not too long ago. While there he showed me a new kiln he just acquired. I think that brings it up to about 13 kilns that he has. He asked me to change out the plug on the chord for him so it would be compatible with his outlets…

Later it was home to get ready for Saturday night’s opening of the art show at the Cashmere Arts and Activities Center. I took the new art photo down there and my lap top so I could live stream the opening. I actually was successful in livestreaming the entire show including quite a bit of the live musical performance of Mary Mendenhall as well as walking around the show and speaking with the patrons and interested parties while broadcasting around the world. I really like Mary’s rendition of “The Rose” from the movie of the same name made famous by Bette Midler in the late ‘70s. Her playing of the mandolin for this piece was perfect for the song.

Sunday I tried to make a movie from the video that was recorded by Livestream… no go on that. And, in downloading it from Livestream I lost it apparently to the Livestream library…. Argh…. And, still all the video clips and movies I have placed into the Art News Network, are still not showing up as available to other to watch from the site. I need to follow up with Livestream help on that. Maybe for that function one has to buy the more advanced Livestream program vs. the free one I use…I dunno. I did get a Wenatchee World Blog done and added some photo material to the Wenatchee First Fridays site as an administrator. However, I was a bit frustrated in that none of the photos from Saturday night could be used for the Wenatchee World Blog. Every time I tried to upload one of those pics, the window came up saying page unavailable. When I tried to add pics from other locations no problem. I’m thinking that the pics from that particular memory stick got corrupted somehow. They look fine on my screne but couldn’t add to Arts in the Valley and Beyond Blog. We shall see if I able to add any of them to this blog. If not then, that memory stick is a gonner. If so, then maybe it was just a glitch with the other blog site… I dunno.

Martha and I were house bound all day as it turned out on Sunday due to the freaking rain. Geez… it seemed like we were having Seattle weather… all..day…long.  But, we stayed in and got some art stuff done. I updated the art book I have been working on… adding some more art pics and poetry.

Martha hadn’t even seen the last additions to this I had done as she was in Texas when last I worked on it and we have been so caught-up with building giant puppets and installing art shows and such every week that we hadn’t had this kind of time to sit around and do this stuff together… I guess we can blame it on ‘la rain’.  Having done that Martha pulled out some new paintings she had done lately that I hadn’t seen. I did some temp framing in glass frames, as they are on a kind of board that wants to warp if not pressed together, so I could take photos of them. We got that done and the pics look pretty OK.

Then it was on to yet another thing… again, blame it on ‘la rain’. We used our office software to mimic the exact format of the materials Martha is to use for a Hispanic parenting class she is to teach. Problem being the materials she is supposed to use, haven’t all been translated to Spanish. We wanted to keep the format so we did and Martha translated the material herself. She shared that the people who are sponsoring this class are looking at paying big bucks to someone to do the same thing….hmmm… maybe there could be some $ there. Now, there’s an idea. Always thinking creatively ya know.

Tweet

BLOG ON and Saving the Earth

Well, finally the Blogger.com site is back up and running. And not a minute too soon. I have been wanting to blog on the Rod and Martha’s Art Blog for two days now.  Some fun and some serious updates. Yesterday was a day of meetings, meetings, meetings. And, all or most about art.

First thing in the morning was a meeting about how to effectively use the internet for promoting our First Friday events. I learned some new stuff about using facebook effectively… thanks Dominick. Later it was meetings about setting up some new  web presence for a friend and working on that in the afternoon. Then, it was  consulting with the director of the Cashmere Arts and Activities Center Gallery about the upcoming show to open tomorrow night featuring some really good work by the Cashmere High senior art students and the 3^rd graders as well.  Then last night an interminably long board meeting for Two Rivers Gallery. It was productive and it was good to see some board members there that haven’t been there for awhile, but geez three plus hours c’mon, that’s really cutting into my Discovery Channel watching time and wine tasting. Just kidding.

Today it was great to find as I read yesterdays paper (didn’t have time to read it last night with that bored meeting) that there was a nearly half page picture of Martha laughing out loud inside her Giant Puppet as she danced her way down the street in the grand Parade last Saturday. If I’m not mistaken the photo is one that I took myself and forwarded on to the photo dept of the Wenatchee world.  Kudos for me again.

Then this morning finally with some time and inspiration, I got around to working on some of my own art projects. One is a piece I have had in the back of my mind for awhile, and then it finally came together as a developed concept for this summer’s Icicle Prize art contest. All the entries are to made from recycled materials. I got my design and materials together and just need to make the final attachments and it’s good to go.

I also cut some plexi - glass for a custom frame project I am working on for one of my abstract photos. Same too for a custom matt for a musical themed photo I am hoping to sell to the owner of one of the music stores here locally. Now it’s to the hardware store to get some materials to secure the metal portions of recycling art project to the wood portion of the project. I think it’s a great use of these old materials… square chrome frames that used to be pull down glass holders for recessed lights in our den arranged strategically on the features of an old mural that Martha and the foster kids had painted years ago on the cheap plywood doors I had made for the selves in the only unfinished store room in our house.

So, it is recycled all the way. I will even leave the old hinges on the door panel for effect. The great thing is that I was able to find one of these panels that had a face of the earth feature in it…great. So, using the chrome frames to frame that face and make a chrome body on the earth showing that to save the earth we have to make better use of our old things rather than just throwing them away. That’s the idea anyway. Let’s hope it comes out as good as I am envisioning and does well in the competition.

Tweet

Check out my new photo. http://ping.fm/Xy6ph


Tweet

SELENA ROSE and Martha Flores at the PAC for First Friday

Well, everybody I know you all wanted to know yesterday how the art show at the Performing Arts Center went on Friday night. I can tell you that everyone who came by the PAC loved Martha’s art and most stayed for awhile to listen to the truly lovely voice of the young, and I mean young (16yrs old) singer songwriter who provided the musical entertainment there. This young artist Selena Rose Martinez, who was named for the more famous Selena, will no doubt make a name for herself as a musician and singer. What an enjoyable evening it was.

I wish I could say that throngs of people came to the event. But with the Classy Chassis Parade in east Wenatchee, and tons of people at the memorial Park the night before the Apple Blossom Parade, and, the fact that many of the vary folks that would normally come to art events are the same folks who like to stay out of the downtown area during Apple Blossom’s traffic and crowds etc… we were probably lucky to get the few dozen folks we did.

But, those that came really loved Martha’s art, asked her questions and some sales make get finalized from the event HEHA! People also, loved the performer and took video and pics of her… I’m thinking she’ll get some future gigs from the exposure as well. I’m truly glad for her on that, and in fact I think she could do well to pair up with the somewhat more mature (age 30 or so) singer songwriter who was performing at the Two Rivers Gallery that same night.  I did see when I went to two Rivers Gallery that the same folks that had stopped by at the PAC were there, so; the Art Walk thing is in fact working… people are moving from one First Friday venue to another.

After we got home from First Friday, I would normally have written this blog then but we needed to be up early to go to the staging area for the grand Parade and our part in it with the Giant Puppets…. Now to begin making the video of that fantastic event. For which we won First Place in the Creative Alternative  Division or something like that. Anyway we got first place and a plaque. More of that later. For now it’s to making a movie and putting it on Youtube. Catch ya later.

Tweet

Got'r Done...Martha's Show at the PAC

Well, we did it. We got Martha’s art installed at the Performing Arts Center. Also, got pictures of the process and pictures of the art at Lemolos, Café Mela and McDees Art Center… eye yi yi… what a busy day and still we had to make cards for pieces at the PAC and pick-up balloons for First Friday and help with the installation at Two Rivers… Oye!  Now to rest and get ready for tonight. Hope you enjoy the pics of the art posted here, but really hope you can make it to the show.

Tweet

My Wenatchee World Blog " on the Cover of the Rollin Stone"

Well, Kudos for me. Tonight after a very full and busy day of blogging in the wee hours of the morning, hanging Martha’s art at the Performing Arts Center later in the morning, testing out the live feed capabilities of the wireless network at Two Rivers Gallery at noon, shipping a book TRG sold on Amazon at PAK-IT Rite after that and even doing a little politicking in the community and finally ughh… putting in floor tiles at one of our rentals, I came home and went straight out to get the evening paper and mail.

And, what did I find when I looked at the front page of the Wenatchee World??? A small print of the yellow truck photo I had featurted in my Arts In The Valey and Beyond Blog the other day. And there next to the photo was the headline “The full picture Youth artists of Cashmere and May gallery art changes”. And below that: “wenatcheeworld.com/weblogs.”  

Apparently they thought my blog that day was newsworthy enough to put the photo on the front page of the paper and to direct readers of the paper to my blog. It doesn’t mention my name. That would amount to a by line and I suppose I’d have to be paid or something… the real point was to direct people to read a worthwhile blog entry. I can’t recall ever seeing this done before… I hope a lot a people go to read the blog that haven’t read it before. Too bad I don’t get stats on the Wenatchee World Blog. I would really like to see how many people read it. I’m stoked. I feel like singing "I want my piture on the cover of the Rollin Stone"

Tweet

Musical Art, Sholarship and Martha at the Performing Art Center

Well, the day is fast approaching for Martha’s ‘Big Shoe’ … any one reading this old enough to know from where comes “The Big Shoe”…  Tomorrow at ten in the morning I’ll be taking three of Martha’s large paintings over to the Performing Arts Center for a month long exhibit there. The of course on Friday I’ll be taking even more of Martha’s paintings over there for First Friday and… what great timing for Martha to be at the PAC, for the entire Apple Blossom Weekend. YEAH!  What great exposure that will be for her work.  I hope lots of people come to see the art. We’ll see how many chose to come in from the out of doors during the Apple Blossom weekend.  I’m very excited to able to show her work there… everybody come and see the show. Ok as to the “Big Shoe” for those who couldn’t google it, didn’t know it or couldn’t recall it… it was how a certain long running variety show’s MC used to announce the beginning of the show… now does anyone get that.  

And we are also, soooo excited that the Grand Parade is finally upon us. This Saturday will be the unveiling of the Giant Puppets that I have written about so much. And, there will be, finally for everyone to see, the surprise puppet character that I have been sworn to secrecy about.  If I tell the special opps guys are to come and get me so, no disclosure here about that.

On another note, the prints from nations Photo Lab that I have been waiting for arrived yesterday, so as soon as I have a minute… OK, an hour or two, I will need to get those matted and framed. One of the photos is one that I have already spoken with the owner of one of the local music stores about buying. So, I need to do a perfect job of framing that up, take it over there and if I’m lucky make a sale. Wish me luck. I also, need to follow up with the owner and his wife of one of the local wine cellars about buying my framed photo ‘En Vino Veritas’.  Of course, the wife needs to approve as she is the one in charge of décor. Currently that piece is at the Cashmere Arts and Activities Center having just been moved there Sunday.

On another note still, I am hoping to introduce a young artist that I met at the Cascade Artist Luncheon yesterday to Terry Johnson of Terry signs and Ceramics for a possible intern placement in his studio.  Oh… and that reminds me, I need to get Terry’s post cards labeled and posted. The cards look great and all the errors have been corrected… hopefully they bring in some art buyers for Terry.

I just had a call from Artie Bowman with further updates on the luncheon yesterday…  after I left the luncheon yesterday the young man I just wrote of was awarded a scholarship from the Cascade Artists and more that I will write about tomorrow as I need to do some other work starting now.

Tweet

Grand Art Bike Tour of Wenatchee

Well, after the busy weekend with art and art projects, and with the Apple Blossom Grand Parade coming upon us this weekend, which means no more working weekends and some evenings on Giant Puppets YAHOO!!! ….  I can just hear a sigh of relief coming for Bill Rietvelt at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, I find myself wanting to go outside and get some sun. We had sun over the weekend, but now again it is cloudy… drat!  But, thinking spring and the arts I found myself looking at the poster for the Art on The Avenue  with map, I have had buried under a pile of papers on my desk… OK I admit it… the dining room table.  Martha is really going to be after me to get this stuff cleaned up, but that’s another story.

My thought was that now that it is supposedly getting warmer and sunnier, what a fun idea it would be to do a bike tour of all the sites around town where the Art on the Avenue Sculptures are located. Of course, it has been a long time since all the sculptures were just located on the Avenue…Wenatchee Avenue for those of you who are out of town or from out of town… here’s a shout out to my Canadian Blog readers. So, I am posting here some of the Art On The Avenue Poster… it’s really too big to get it all on the scanner. Anyone interested in doing the Grand Art Bike Tour of Wenatchee… hey, I just made up a new event heha!, send me an email, or contact by Facebook, telephone or any other way you know how to get a hold of me… Hey Jan, I mean Jan Lutz, this would be a great idea for the ‘Recess’ Bike group this season, don’t you think… Jan, George, Sue anybody out there interested.

But, for today, unfortunately, it looks to gloomy out….another day, and I think a little relaxation would be in mind after all the hard work I did installing art work yesterday. There is some great new art to see at the Cashmere Arts and Activity Center in Cashmere, I hope lots of you are able to come… hey you Canadians come on down for some warm (r) weather and some great art too.

Tweet