hope springs eternal

'May you live in interesting times.'

Well, ok.

2024 has been an interesting year. 

I could write a page or two on the blows, hardships, pain and agony

but, instead,

I will focus on the positives:

My first Museum Show, the Highlight of my year!

'Silva Cascadia, Under the Spell of the Forest'

Myself with some of my work in this show

The intreptation of the Forest by twelve women artists

        Artists l to r: Donna Leavitt, Maria Cristalli, Claire Johnson, Karen Lorene, Kathleen Faulkner, Suze Woolf, Juliet Shen, Laura Hamje, Patty Haller, Linda Davidson; not pictured: Kimberly Trowbridge, Hart James                

I also began a relationship with Perry & Carlson Gallery

this year. I had my first solo there in April. 

Perry & Carlson Gallery in Mt Vernon, WA

Gallerist, Christian Carlson and myself at my solo April, 2024

See some of the work here

My jade plant 

bloomed for the first time in over 50 years. 

I took that as a good sign.

Then this

 

It is hard to be discouraged when my plants are blooming.

Remnant' 24x24" graphite on paper; Kathleen Faulkner

I recently joined Earth Creative 

I feel a real kinship with this group and

I want to focus my work more on environmental issues in the future.

We must choose our battles. 

We will have an exhibition at Perry & Carlson Gallery

in May, 2025

Meet the artists here.

photo of some plastic garbage in the bushes, a future drawing

This year was a challenge but good things have come from it. 

Next year may be even more challenging

but I have hope that

we can ride out the storm.

For myself, 

 doing artwork helps keep me grounded

If we take care of each other

and work together as a community, 

 I believe we will come out better in the end.

So,

Here's to an inspired year ahead!

Cheers!

something new

Claire demonstrating a general 

underpainting technique

I took an underpainting class this weekend with 

Claire Johnson 

at the 

Museum of Northwest Art. 

I am self-taught in the oil painting department 

so I was looking forward to this workshop.

I was not disappointed.

some tools of the trade

Claire demonstrated two different techniques.

This second technique is handy 

for night scenes and glazing.

My two underpainting examples 

that I will finish up at home.

Thank you, Claire Johnson. 

I learned so much! 

If you want to know more, 

consider her class next time!

Family reunion

Extended Family, Family Portrait, Family Tree'
oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

 I am pleased to announce that I have artwork

 in the Museum of Northwest Art's 

group show,

Silva Cascadia: Under the Spell of the Forest

This exhibition runs from February 3rd - May 12, 2024

with the opening on Saturday, February 3rd at 1pm

Following is a panel discussion from 3-4 pm

'Minders' oli pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

Featured artists include:

Maria Cristalli, Linda Davidson, Kathleen Faulkner, 

Patty Haller, Laura Hamje, Hart James,

 Claire Johnson, Donna Leavitt, Karen Lene Rudd, 

Juliet Shen, Kimberly Trowbridge, and 

Suze Woolf.

I can hardly wait to see all the great forest artwork 

in this show!

also,

I will facilitate a free collaborative drawing event on March 9, 1:30 pm

and

MoNA exhibitions are always free!

'I am Madrona' oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

building blocks

'Construct' Necklace 36"
found materials, sterling silver;
Kathleen Faulkner

One day, while walking home from town, I saw a pile of construction debris in an alley.  It looked interesting so I had to investigate.  I found these shards of concrete lying in the rubble.  

They made my day.

'Construct' back; Kathleen Faulkner

Museum of Northwest Art's annual auction is coming up
June 15th.  This is my contribution courtesy of the wonderful Facere Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle.

In Support of the Arts

"Wired"  neckpiece, length 66"
fine and sterling silver, oxidation; Kathleen Faulkner

The annual MoNA Auction is coming up.  Each year I like to make a piece just for this event.  

It is our 'local' museum and it is worth the effort. 

I have just finished this and I'm feeling pretty good about it. 

Here's hoping someone else at the auction feels the joy I put into this necklace 

and bids on it.

Who is Coleman Barks?

I had planned to leave a comment on the last post explaining the Coleman Barks link but found that, somehow, I was not able to comment - maybe that post was too long?  another downside of the computer world

I first heard him read at the Museum of Northwest Art's annual Poetry Festival in LaConner, Washington, several years ago.  I then had the opportunity to hear him again in San Francisco.  This man can read a poem in a way that takes your breath away.  He writes his own poetry but he is mostly known for reading and translating the poems of Rumi.

In the video in the post 'Sacred Mountains' below, Coleman is the narrator through most of it.  For me, it adds to the spiritual quality of the piece.  I hope you enjoyed it.

www.puremusic.com/assets16/coleman.jpg

'Water From Your Spring'

What was that candle's light

that opened and consumed me so quickly?

Come back, my friend! The form of our love

is not a created form.

Nothing can help me but that beauty.

There was a dawn I remember

when my soul heard something

from your soul.  I drank water

from your spring and felt 

the current take me.

        Rumi