Tag: ceramics

funding real change: an auction

i have had a ton of thoughts swirling in my head these last few months, and especially these last few weeks since george floyd was murdered. while 2020 is an emperor year, it has felt much more like a tower year. everything we know or thought we knew is crumbling around us, and that is both scary and exciting. the real structures are revealing themselves and the wool that has been covering our eyes is now threadbare and moth eaten. i can’t help but think back to 2010, my own personal tower year, when i stepped away from the life that so deeply wasn’t working for me and began to purposefully rebuild it. it was painful; it was terrifying; it was necessary; it was exhilarating; it was a beautiful mess.

I Have Been to Hell and Back. And Let Me Tell You, It Was Wonderful. by Louise Bourgeois

my hope is that humanity takes the chance we have now to tear down the systems designed to serve a select few, that wantonly exploit and abuse people and natural resources, and in its place rebuild our world so that it aligns with our values of equity, equality, justice, kindness, mutual benefit. that means an end to capitalism as we know it, the police force as we know it, the education system as we know it, the healthcare system as we know it, and so on. it’s time for radical change because people are suffering, the planet is suffering, and ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

i donated all of my stimulus money and then some to groups working with black, brown, and indigenous folks, but i want to raise additional funds by auctioning off some ceramics – because the black community and their efforts to create real and lasting change have been sorely underfunded. the auction will run on sunday (6/14) through monday (6/15), with 100% of proceeds going to organizations working to defend black lives. winning bidders can pick the organizations (i’m happy to make recommendations). i am in winter park, florida, and we will figure out shipping/delivery to wherever you are. feel free to request additional photos or ask questions. place your bids in the comments with the item number and your bid amount. i will keep this post updated with the highest bid amounts so folks don’t have to hunt through the comments.

total amount raised: $620. thank you!! the winners chose the following organizations to donate to: Fair Fight, Tampa Bay Action Collective, Belgian Network for Black Lives, Pretty Brown Girl, Caya Network, and Zebra Coalition.

1. this is a tiny vessel, 2″ wide and 1 1/4″ deep. bidding starts at $10.
final bid: $60
2. another tiny vessel/sculpture, 2″ wide and 1 1/4″ deep. bidding starts at $10.
final bid: $60
3. pinch pot sculpture/vessel, 3 1/4″ wide and 2 1/4″ deep.
can fit a tiny plant pot, which i can include. bidding starts at $30.
final bid: $100
4. yellow! the only yellow vessel i have made to date. 2 1/2″ wide and 1 3/4″ deep.
looks matte in the photo, but it has a glossy sheen! bidding starts at $30.
final bid: $100
5. patterned sculpture/vessel, 3″ wide and 2 1/4″ deep.
fits a tiny pot, which i can include. bidding starts at $30.
final bid: $100
6. double glazed pinch pot, 3 1/4″ wide and 2 1/4″ deep.
this can fit a 2″ pot for a tiny plant, which i can include. bidding starts at $30.
final bid: $100
7. this is the biggest of the lot! 4″ wide and 2 3/4″ deep.
solid grey exterior and mottled grey and white interior. bidding starts at $40.
final bid: $100

2014: week 15

The website isn’t fully up yet, but I don’t think that should keep me from blogging. Since the purpose of this blog is more or less to track my progress in life and art, I’ll give a little summary of what I’m working on. I hope to do this weekly.

sketchaday

A friend (hi Doris!) gave me a sweet gift when I saw her in Ghent a couple weeks ago. It’s called One Sketch A Day – A Visual Journal. I began using it on 1 April, and it’s been really nice. It’s a different kind of sketching than I’m used to (change is good!), since it has space for two sketches per page and there are size limitations and the paper is thin. So it is truly just for sketching and there’s no possibility of me using any of these as drawings for prints. Which is really freeing! I can try out different ideas without feeling pressure to produce anything amazing. One of the sketches I produced is possibly the worst thing I’ve ever drawn, but a few of the others work really well and will be redrawn. So far so good.

I’ve also been preparing for my next project, which will be embroidering a sketch I drew ages ago. I let Jonas pick it because I couldn’t decide, and since he has no idea about embroidery, he picked something rather challenging. Let’s just say that there will be lots of French knots. Blerg. Once I have progress photos to share, I will.

I will be opening a web shop in cooperation with my mother (who is my master printmaker). I have selected the initial drawings, and soon she’ll start printing. I’m guessing we’ll be open for business some time in the summer.

I’ve also finished two ceramic pieces, but I’m waiting for them to go to the kiln. I think I’ll pick them up in about two weeks. Once the results are in, I’ll do a full post about the pieces and the process.

On Saturday, I bought a beef tongue. It was over 1kg, so I’m still eating it. So far I’ve had it on a sandwich, sliced with beets and sauerkraut, and last night with rice and homemade salsa. There’s still enough left to feed two people. It’s been quite a project.

To do:
Draw the 5/4 sketch.
Buy a larger embroidery hoop.
Figure out what the hell to do with the rest of this tongue.
Use the stock made when boiling the tongue.