Monday, June 28, 2010

Full Moon: Lunar Eclipse

'Animalia'  20'x various sizes, sterling silver, Kathleen Faulkner


We live in Paradise.

Saturday I walked along the shore at Washington Park. It was low tide.
 Living, breathing, the scents of ocean world
a whole universe that we usually take for granted.  

         the big trucks with their pleasure boats all lined up, waiting for the tide to come in

     while I wonder at the colors of the kelp, and textures.



The whales turn and glisten, plunge
and sound and rise again,
Hanging over subtly darkening deeps
Flowing like breathing planets 
in the sparkling whorls of
living light-

Gary Snyder from 'Turtle Island'






Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Yogis

'Yogis' 36x24" oil pastel, Kathleen Faulkner

Another interesting week. 

As oil gushes out of the earth, politicians stir the pot and everyone is on edge.

My solution:  play for an entire four days. 

MoNA's annual auction with a preview on Friday night and the actual auction on Saturday was a smashing success and the celebration hearty. Of course I attended both nights. I also had company staying over and, earlier on auction day, bribed a friend to go to Burlington with me to participate in the 'Very Berry Days' Parade.  Father's Day started out with eggs benedict with another friend then morphed into moving about the area delivering artwork and visiting still more friends. As Monday was the Summer Solstice, it was my duty to celebrate once again with more dear friends: a music aficionado, a top notch chef and a wine dealer with excellent taste:  eat, drink and be merry.  

A long and wonderful weekend that was over the top..

Today, though, I feel the effects of four days of fun and I am reminded of the madronas down at Washington Park: 'Yogis' that practice diligently and I think, as I drink another glass of water,  that maybe I should, too..




'Very Berry Days' parade




Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Ode to the Birds

'Birdsville'  30x1.5"  sterling silver, colored pencil, glass lens, hematite,  Kathleen Faulkner


A lone gray bird,
Dim-dipping, far-flying,
Alone in the shadows and grandeurs and tumults
Of night and the sea
And the stars and storm.

Out over the darkness it wavers and hovers,
Out into the gloom it swings and batters,
Out into the wind and the rain and the vast,
Out into the pit of a great black world.
Where fogs are at battle, sky-driven, sea-blown,
Love of mist and rapture of flight,
Glories of chance and hazards of death
On its eager and palpitant wings.

Out into the deep of the great dark world,
Beyond the long borders where foam and drift
Of the sundering waves are lost and gone
On the tides that plunge and rear and crumble.
                                                                      
                                       Carl Sandburg  'From the Shore' 





Saturday, June 12, 2010

Dear Ruth,

*'Various Pins' various sizes and materials, Kathleen Faulkner




I was asked how I execute my ideas:  Do I draw and plan everything out before hand or do I just make it as I go?

The answer is both.  Although I mostly just make it as I go,  I sometimes draw ideas in my journal simply because, if I didn't, I'd forget the inspiration by the next day..  The pieces above were seat of the pants technique without any notes.
Shadowboxes  on the other hand, are always drawn out and planned ahead of construction.  Composition has to be considered differently  and dimensions.  I have a hard time with the construction of it.  I have to pay attention, switch my thinking.  Precision has always been a weak link and I prefer to create as I go, loosely.

Doing it my way can pose problems, though.  It is not a fun time when you've been working on something that you're really excited about only to find that the construction is not working. Craft demands excellent craftsmanship so planning ahead is required. The fish, for example, was a moment of curling a piece of wire that turned into a fish but, soldering the skin was difficult because I didn't plan it out.  


Working loosely allows me to let it go where it wants,  sometimes in a wanderlust direction.  Once it gets there I feel good.




*upper left hand clockwise:  ''To' 2.5x3", fine and sterling silver, patina; 'I Am A Fish' sterling silver, plastic, Kathleen Faulkner; 'Ridget' approx .5x1.5", sterling silver, driftwood, Kathleen Faulkner; 'Bird' sterling silver, copper, patina, Kathleen Faulkner

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

'The Dunce'

The Dunce

He says no with his head
but he says yes with his heart
he says yes to what he loves
he says no to the teacher
he stands
he is questioned
and all the problems are posed
sudden laughter seizes him
and he erases all 
the words and figures
names and dates
sentences and snares
and despite the teacher's threats
to the jeers of infant prodigies
with chalk of every color
on the blackboard of misfortune
 he draws the face of happiness.  
                                                                                                          
                                                           Jacques Prevert




'The Dunce' 10x8" mixed media, Kathleen Faulkner






Saturday, June 5, 2010

Food for Thought

'Umiliak's Wife' 4x1.5" sterling silver overlay, fossilized walrus ivory, printer's ink
Kathleen Faulkner

'Umiliak's Wife' goes to the water's edge and calls the whales to the hunters.  The whale gives himself so the community can sustain themselves awhile longer. The hunters always only take what they need.  They are very grateful.




'My Aleut Friend' 5x3" sterling silver, found objects, fossilized walrus ivory, printer's ink
Kathleen Faulkner

'My Aleut Friend' paddles out in his baidarka looking for seal.  He is a very wise man;  he finds many but he only takes what he needs and always thanks them for their sacrifice.

.



'My Friend's Sister' 5x2" sterling silver, rubber, bottle cap, garnets, fossilized walrus ivory, printer's ink
Kathleen Faulkner

'My Friend's Sister' weaves baskets that hold the berries that grow abundantly during the season.  She picks the berries but never takes more than she needs, sharing with Mother's other children.  She appreciates her good fortune.





'Mountain Girl' 6x3" sterling silver, linoleum, wood, coral
Kathleen Faulkner

'Mountain Girl' gets a glimpse of a world where everything is considered sacred and care is taken to live in harmony with Earth.  It works well.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Window Dressing

  
'Window Dressing' 10x8x2", shadowbox, sterling silver, mica, 
colored pencil, japanese origami paper
Kathleen Faulkner



The weekend is almost upon us.  It's been a tough week.  

We've had the passing of three legendary artists*, the gulf is in ruins, it rained for 18 days straight and my garden: what didn't drown has been eaten alive. 

As all this is out of my control, I've decided to spiff up and head out to the art openings this weekend.  Nothing like seeing good art to change one's perspective.

Here's what's happening:
First Friday Art Walk in Anacortes;  many galleries and events, of note is 'Paintings and Pottery' by Cathy Shoenberg at Anne McCool Gallery,  711 Commercial
As well, the old fire station at 1011 12th,  just west of Commercial, is now an art center.  I haven't been there yet, but it sounds intriguing.  'This Woman's Work' a festival for women of our community: art,  live music and a community potluck.  7 - 11pm.
Anchor Art Center is in the midst of 'Long Drawn Out Process', a group exhibition of drawing and installation,  May 7 through June 26th,  216 Commercial
 Read about it here


Gallery Cygnus, paintings of Nick Fennel and sculpture of Robert E Gigliotti
The show runs June 4th thru the 27th, the opening is Friday, June 4th,  6-8pm
The gallery is located at 109 Commercial across from Maple Hall in LaConner.
 Read about it here


This opening is on Saturday, June 5th 5-8pm in beautiful downtown Edison:
Smith and Vallee Gallery is showing the paintings of Tod Horton, sculptures by Peregrine O'Gormley and works on paper by Chelsea Jepson.  I hear there will be musical entertainment, as well.
Read about it here


I will need Sunday to create  after all that inspiration.


*   Louise Bourgeois  
  Tobias Wong
*   Mari Funaki