Meet my friend and neighbor

'Octopus',  bracelet; sterling silver, fossilized walrus ivory,
printer's ink;  Kathleen Faulkner

Shy octopus glides through the water looking for a hiding place.

One of my all time favorite critters, the octopus: shy, intelligent, curious and an intricate member of the underwater ecosystem.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, it's the Giant Pacific Octopus growing up to 23 feet and weighing as much as 150 pounds.  These beauties make their home territory from northern California up the coast along the Aleutians and down along the coast of Japan.  One could say they are a part of the 'Ring of Fire'.

If you've ever seen a live octopus up close and personal, you probably remember the eyes,  intelligent eyes that look right back at you, maybe even through you.

so much more than just another sea creature

My two cents

'Halibut' 2x1.5" brooch, sterling silver, fossilized walrus ivory, printer's ink;
Kathleen Faulkner

Art's Alive is over now.  It was a long yet inspiring weekend.  I heard a lot of comments  about many things..

As an artist and appreciator and, once in a blue moon curator, I get to see three different perspectives in the art world.

The Deciders
Three of this year's Art's Alive shows were invitational.  In this case it was mostly committee rather than a curator selecting a group of artists for each show.  They factored many things into their decisions: space, theme, compatibility and, most importantly,  artists whose work they had seen and knew about .

If an artist sits back and expects the world to find them, it may not happen.  This is one reason why exposure is a good thing.

As with most everyone, this committee works within a very limited budget.  The committee is volunteer and their goal is to pull off a good show and make some money.

The Creators
The artist strives for recognition and inclusion.  Some get it and some don't.  Sometimes, the ones that don't, get hurt feelings, wondering 'why not them'.   I've found that, if an artist is not invited to be in a show, 99% of the time it's for reasons that have nothing to do with emotion, that is if the curator is even aware of their work.  Artists, on the other hand, tend to take it personally.

The Viewers
Then there's the adoring public.  Absolutely handy to have around.  More would be better. There are those who know and appreciate the arts and there are those who don't understand art but 'know what they like' and then, there are those that have no interest.  A good percentage of the appreciators are other artists..  We would be great art collectors if we had money.  The largest percentage, I think,  are those who don't really understand art but 'know what they like'

Bottom Line
We need to educate the public about art and it's processes and why it is an important part of our  lives.   It is food for the soul but many never taste it.

There is a reason art is expensive.  Most people have no idea of the time and expense that goes into the creation of art.  Knowledge of the process helps people understand.

Artists need to toughen up.  Someone of importance once said that if you don't have a pile of rejection notices on your desk you're not trying hard enough.   Add invitational to that, as well.

The Deciders need to keep up on the art scene, think out of the box and take chances.

That's my two cents  just for the halibut.

Why I wear a hat

'Owl' 5x1.5", sterling and fine silver, glass, plastic, snakeskin,
fossilized walrus ivory, printer's ink; Kathleen Faulkner

Anacortes is home to the amazing Forest Lands Area.  Many miles and many assets: a lake, beaver, hundreds of birds, deer, coyotes, raccoons, porcupine, owl and every other small creature one could imagine.  Trees, moss, mushrooms, you name it, the Forest Lands has it.

I love to walk there:  it's in the middle of town yet a world unto itself and a good place to decompress.

There is a particular owl that lives there who has made a name for itself.  This owl may be a tad bit 'off'.  It thinks hair is potential food and has been known to attack walker's heads.  I've seen this owl because it doesn't try to hide and makes no bones about being seen.  It sits and watches, ready to strike when the moment is right.

This is why I always wear a hat in the Forest Lands.

'Anacortes Forest Lands' digital photo; Kathleen Faulkner

Process

Although I made an effort to clean things up..  

This is the 'dirty' room and this is where sawing and filing happen. I've spent many an hour at this worktable 

sawing  sawing  sawing

filing   filing   filing.

It's also the room where I solder and buff,  hence the word, 'dirty'

A little further over to the right is the area where drilling happens.  

It is all done with a hand drill because I don't like noise.

Now we're in one of three miscellaneous rooms where all kinds of things get done.  

Here I'm set up to work on the scrimshaw neckpiece that I was planning to enter in the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial exhibition, ' Journey's End'.  

It is a documentation of the flora and fauna found along their journey to the Pacific Ocean starting and ending at their point of origin. 

That particular piece was accepted into the show and it won first place in 'Other Mediums'.

'The Journals', sterling silver, fossilized walrus ivory,
 oil and printer's ink; Kathleen Faulkner

New Growth

'New Growth Series' brooch 2x2.25" fossilized walrus ivory, printer's ink

sterling silver; Kathleen Faulkner

One of my friends tended a bamboo farm. When he died, I inherited several large clumps.  I've always especially enjoyed bamboo.  It reminds me of many things.

Robert Sund was a bamboo man. His painting and calligraphy brushes,  his Pacific Rim persona, his living backdrop in the sitting area of the garden        

that continually grew

Japanese aesthetics, green tea and woodblocks.  It all spends time together in my bamboo thoughts.
  

It is a wonderful thing, bamboo and when I look at mine I also think of my friend from whom my gift came.

Cheers to you and the bamboo!

'Thank God For This Beer!' 
Robert Sund

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.