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.

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