New Bisque Work Fresh From the Kiln & Blogaversary Give-away
Yesterday was a dreary day in the Denver metro region. We received about 2″ of rain in less than a 24 hour period. While I’m not complaining about the moisture because Colorado sure can use it to replensish the aquifers, I was happy to wake up to clearing skies this morning. I celebrated by unloading my kiln full of new bisqued porcelain pots and by taking my dog outside on a nice long walk this morning.
I did spend the rainy day yesterday in the perfect place. I chaperoned a field trip to the Denver Art Museum. I’m embarrassed to say that this was my first visit since the new Daniel Libeskind addition was opened. I need to go back by myself because I missed so much in my efforts to stop the 8 & 9 year olds in my charge from setting the alarms off. In fact, one very wise security guard became our personal detail whilst in the RADAR Exhibition – Selections from the Collection of Vicki & Kent Logan. It was a pretty intense grouping of art from installations, paintings, photography to sculpture.
I wish I could have written down info on some of my favorites, but was too busy herding my charges. I’ll be lucky if I don’t hear back from any parents because some of the art that was represented, from a Damien Hirst cow head preserved in formadahyde to a triptych of a pregnant Mona Lisa with surgical cut-outs to some very anatomically (and some not so) correct sculptures, paintings and photographs. While I personally don’t find any of it offensive and would not shield my own daughter from the exhibit, I’m pretty sure some other parents would. Fingers crossed. You should have heard the giggles and comments coming from the kids. My personal favorite? Headless, 2000, by Michael Joo.
As quickly as I shuttled the kids out of the temporary exhibition gallery, a kindly museum volunteer found us in the African Gallery and channeled the kid’s energy into making a quick art project before our scheduled museum tour began. The kids were totally into it, as was I. They used texture templates and stencils to recreate some drawings based on African art on display in the museum. I was looking through the book (see below) and think I’m going to look for it myself. The ideas behind all the layering and symbolism would translate well to clay and sgraffito work. Turns out the author, Moyo Okediji, is a professor of art at the University of Colorado at Denver.
I’m off to the Art Student’s League right now, half of the ceramic work in the top photo above will be glazed there, half here at home.
Oh, I forgot the whole reason I’m posting today. My “blogaversary” is coming up on Saturday, April 28th. While the custom normally calls for the birthday baby to receive a gift, I’m going to reverse this. If you leave a comment, you will automatically be entered into a drawing for one of my new ceramic pendants – color and shape of your choice! If you don’t want to be considered, don’t leave a comment. I’ll draw names out of a pot this Saturday, the 28th.
Drawing will be at 10:00 AM MDT – I’ll try to upload a video of the action!
Whew, that’s it for now,
Karen Stiehl Osborn
April 25, 2007 at 7:23 pm //
Count me in! Saturday is my birthday, and I am having a giveaway on my blog, too.
Angela
April 25, 2007 at 8:08 pm //
I just love the work that you’ve done! Pottery looks like sooo much fun! YOU GO GIRL! I like the pictures best from a top view as well. More to see and more interesting…I think…
*HUGS*
dinahmow
April 25, 2007 at 8:33 pm //
Ooh! That African book has just gone to #1 on my list.For the cover alone -that sort of work would be a great textile piece.
I’m with you on the artistic v rude stance. I bought a book of erotic drawings the other day and a friend (talented artist) said she couldn’t buy that because her grandchildren would see it!
Hope the picky parents don’t give you any grief!
Shawn McCann
April 25, 2007 at 10:17 pm //
I like the new pieces Cynthia. I bet it is a blast going into the kiln and bringing everything out for view. Congrats too with the kids! I know what you mean when you talk about the museum experience. I work at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and get to see all sort of reactions all the time. I think the parents will understand, there is alot of interesting things in an art museum for kids to find.
Nancy Van Blaricom
April 26, 2007 at 12:43 am //
You know I love your pendants, so I wouldn’t miss this opportunity for anything.
I loved seeing all the goodied fresh from the kiln.. this has to be one of the most rewarding times during your work.
Uh…. as much as I’d love to see the Denver Art Museum, I think I’d rather read about it than trying to keep track of a group of 8 & 9 year olds… I just knew you were a brave woman when I heard you were going to take this one…(maybe as brave as the nose piercing *wink*)
Dianna in Maui
April 26, 2007 at 1:00 am //
Hi Cynthia, congrats on the birthday! I really enjoy reading your blog and love its professional look. Please enter me. Aloha!
Melody
April 26, 2007 at 12:27 pm //
Hey Cynthia
Enter me in also. I love catching up with what you doing……such enjoyable reading.
Be Well
jafabrit
April 26, 2007 at 1:22 pm //
what a fun post to read. The museum visit sounds really interesting, and the photo of the headless bods intriguing. With so many headless torso’s, did they have a strange presence?
Oh goodness I am glad the days of dealing with parents is over.
Cinderelish
April 26, 2007 at 2:51 pm //
Oh my gosh, what a busy life you have. What a fun fieldtrip to the museum. I am glad you found time to bisque those great pots. Congratulations on your blogaversary. I have enjoyed reading it:)
andrea
April 26, 2007 at 4:20 pm //
I wish I was an 8 year old in Denver! Sounds like a truly educational sort of trip. BTW I think the photo of the top piece is art itself. You should do some prints! In large scale it would be magic.
Paula Manning-Lewis
April 26, 2007 at 4:45 pm //
I’m loving all your new ceramic work! Can’t wait to see it all in person!
Denise
April 27, 2007 at 10:10 am //
Hi, new to visiting your blog. Love your work and really appreciating what you share here. The trip sounded fab – hope there’s no grief from any parents.
Cynthia
April 27, 2007 at 1:23 pm //
I’m not adding myself to the drawing mind you, but I couldn’t help but comment on all the returning and new faces that I see here. I’m pretty excited about the drawing and have a kiln load of new pendants ready to be glaze fired today in anticipation.
I think I’ve visited everyone who has commented, and will double check. I always enjoy reading new blogs!
Thank you Karen, Angela and Dina for your comments. I want in on your giveaway Karen!
I’ve always thought that I would like a museum job, Shawn. I check out the DAM’s job board every so often.
Oh Nancy, I’m a fairly easy going person, but after the field trip, I had to lie down a bit to recover. There were 2 kids in particular whose mission it was to test the alarms.
Welcome, Dianna and welcome back home from you visit to Portugal, Melody!
The headless torsos were really cool, Jafabrit. What you probably can’t see from the photo, however, is that they did indeed have heads, but they were shrunken ones at that. All sorts of doll heads from Ken (barbie and ken) to the rug rat’s and all these other cultural icons.
My life feels about just right, Cinderrelish. My mom always says I sound soo busy, but I work from home, so it all blends together somehow.
Thanks Andrea. After looking at this pot again, I have an idea for an installation that I’m going to try out.
I can’t wait to meet you, Paula!
Welcome Denise…like your sketches!
MS. Nik
April 27, 2007 at 6:31 pm //
Denver has such incredible exhibits and options for art! I’m glad that you were able to share that with Jasmine.
Love what you are doing! You are an inspriration with your well done blog, technical additions like the slide shows and videos… even the nose ring is cutting edge!
You go girl!!
knitsteel
April 27, 2007 at 7:21 pm //
I like that freshly bisqued look and I also love your photo of the pieces from above.
Mary Timme
April 28, 2007 at 12:10 am //
While I love your pendants, I’m not doing a comment because of that, but that I’ve seen kids in the Art Museum and wow! are you brave. In fact a couple of years ago some friends and I kept setting off alarms and had our very own guard accompany us. We were touching, but we wanted to get really close to study some of the baskets and the fibers that were being shown. We found anytime you lean a shoulder onto the wall to look at the back with one eye you set off the silent alarms. We kept apologizing and assuring them we hadn’t touched a thing, and they finally went with us and we’d ask, “Can I do peek around this and not hit an infra-red beam, cause I’d really like to just see the back a bit.” They were very kind about it, and it was a neat exhibit, but with kids! Whew! You deserve a present! Happy Blogaversary
Mary Timme
April 28, 2007 at 12:11 am //
Oops! Imeant to say we were NOT touching. And I typed it wrong. Sorry!
Dy
April 28, 2007 at 6:22 am //
I really like those headless torsos, particularly the folds of cloth across their middles.
Happy Blog Birthday! I’d love to be included in your birthday draw please – thanks!
Anonymous
April 28, 2007 at 1:17 pm //
Yes, Cindy Sunshine,
I would LOVE to be your pendant winner.
Loved the museum stories – I was always the chaperone MOM, too!!
Love it!
Janet
LynClay
April 28, 2007 at 9:36 pm //
HAPPY BLOG BIRTHDAY Cyn!! The field trip sounds like it was exciting and fun! You have been soo busy, wow!