Hurricane Harvey Project - confronted with humanity #12- adding 1 light element


Art based on a natural disaster can weigh on one’s emotions. With that in mind, and the fact that I would like the viewer to have a positive inner feeling after looking at my work, I am playing with adding a shaking dog to the body of work. I want the dog to be generic so that everyone can see their dog in it and I would like the dog’s energy to leave the viewer with a smile.  

Below are my first attempts. I hope one works.  

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Hurricane Harvey Project - confronted with humanity #10 - my struggles w the Red Cross cot

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 This project started with two monotypes of the Red Cross cot.

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Below is an exert from my artist statement that addresses the cot.

 .......... I was confronted by a single cot. It was freshly dressed in a crisp white sheet accessorized with a fluffy white pillow and tucked in by a cozy, white flannel blanket decorated with tiny Red Cross logos all over. It was isolated from the others waiting for the next victim of Harvey to tuck themselves in and comfort them with safety.  With all the rescue images of people trudging through unsanitary water, homes floating in floodwater fresh in my memory bank that cot was shockingly - humanity. 30,000 GRB citizens would be relieved to make it their new homestead.  It was heart breaking - and beautiful all at the same time. I could imagine if I had been rescued that that cot would have been a along awaited relief. That I would not have asked the sheet thread count or if the cotton was grown pesticide free. My heart hurt for all those who were grateful to have such a cot. That cot, that crystal clear image of stripped down humanity is the Harvey image that holds onto me.”

Last week I began to experiment with the cot. The drawings of the Harvey Heroes can stand alone, however I think that there will be exhibitions that the cot as a pedestal for a sculpture would strengthen the work and can be used independently.

 

Here I have thrown some wire scraps on the cot that look similar to a wire dog.

Here I have thrown some wire scraps on the cot that look similar to a wire dog.

I had planned on putting a wire dog sleeping on the cot. It is not working for me. 

 

I think I need to put on the cot a larger sculpture and maybe a warmer material instead of the baling wire  

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Testing the wire mesh in front of the cot.  Clear plastic is on top of the blanket to keep it clean. 

 

 

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this figure might be nice on the cot. It is a drawing I did a few years ago. 

 

 

I don’t know  

 

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​the Red Cross blanket w the drawings and wire Still is not working for me.

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maybe I should put a thin layer of paint on the images on the blanket- ​

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I have a hard time letting go but nothing was really clicking. Today I let go, today I donated the cot, sheets, blanket and pillow to the homeless that sleep below my studio window. I have decided to spend my time on a better idea.

 

I do have an idea for a sculpture. I will post about it soon. 

Roots #3 rooting out the best concept

Roots are said to be  tools in regenerative agriculture. With that in mind I have decided to cast the root in bronze and then add a faux bois handle in concrete to it. l plan on casting a few roots all different but all tools to be displayed together. Below I am working on the first root tool of the series. This one will have a bronze handle attached to the faux bois 

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Spruing up the roots. I have dipped cross stitch thread in wax and attached it to vent the gases from the small root pieces. 

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Sprucing up the handle.  

Roots #2 rooting out the best concept

I have very strong views on the connection between agriculture and health. I prefer to only eat organic grass-fed beef. I prefer to not eat any gmo products and I feel best when only eating sprouted grains. I want to know where my food comes from and how it is produced. Agriculture has a huge impact on our personal health as well as on our environment. Roots play a large role in regenerative and sustainable agriculture. 

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The first root - The root is fabulous all by it’s self. 

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The trunk is not so fabulous. 

 

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Off with the trunk- 

 

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Failure #1- Experimenting with ideas- this idea emphasizes the important of roots in sustaining  life. - too obvious 

Failure #2- Another experiment- “burden”  I grabbed this marble sculpture I did a few years ago. I have always wanted to burden it with something on his back. 

I like the thought, I think it either needs more more more roots or a Sprout coming out of the root.  

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The root would be bronze.  

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Stay tuned to see how I will use the roots.  

Cranes- through the window

A year ago, I made two works on paper; “Cranes Through the Window I and II”. The inspiration came when I stopped at a red light. Peering through the fogged and rain drenched car window, drops trickled down into tiny rivers, carving new landscapes in the glass. Beyond the miniature rivulets, dark and dusky clouds loomed in the shadows while others stood out in rays of hope. Through the puffs of gray, rooftops were stacked, and construction cranes delicately cross stitched in saffron and goldenrod garnished their capstones.

cranes through the window I 30” X 22”  

cranes through the window I 

30” X 22”  

cranes through the window II30” X 22”

cranes through the window II

30” X 22”

When asked if I had any cranescapes that were not monumental in size, I realized I had not posted these two pieces.

Hurricane Harvey Project - confronted with humanity - the update and Red Cross Cot #7

 When completed, this project will be a two-part installation. I started with two monotype watercolor pieces of Red Cross beds

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I was also inspired by the heroes caught on camera by the twenty four hour news stations and social media site postings. I believe the best way to change people for the better is to catching them doing it right. The Harvey Heroes are an incredible o…

I was also inspired by the heroes caught on camera by the twenty four hour news stations and social media site postings. I believe the best way to change people for the better is to catching them doing it right. The Harvey Heroes are an incredible opportunity to highlight people helping people, people demonstrating the human chain. 

 

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the monotypes all together to date. Sadly I did not have a press over the summer. 

 

Now it is time to focus on the 3D cot. The cot is both a pedestal for a wire dog sleeping on the cot waiting for his owner and a historical reference to the bare bones of humanity realized at the GRB during Hurricane Harvey.

mulch bags weighing down the cot where the dog will lay. 

mulch bags weighing down the cot where the dog will lay. 

In order to make the indention of the dogs body where he dog will lay I have layed  bags of mulch in the shape of a dogs body and have piled bricks on top to weigh it down. Then I have sanding and painting to do, a concrete or plaster pillow to make and then I have to figure out the blanket. Lastly I have to make the wire dog. And more hero pieces. I like to have more than enough so I can edit it down to my favorites when I exhibit it. 

Faux bois Wedding gift ❤️❤️ #6 - great habits

Cutting the lath into strips, wrapping the rebar with the lath, and securing it with safety wire is a long process, and it is monotonous. Cut, wrap, secure, secure, secure, secure repeat... repeat, repeat. Concrete liquefies with motion, so if the lath wiggles as I press the concrete onto it, the concrete will liquefy and fall off the armature. The best way for me to make the armature and lath securely attached together is to do a little every day. I will make it a habit.  
The lesson from the lovebirds at this stage of building the bench is to build good marriage habits into your daily routine. For example, in 30 years from now, if you hope to greet each other after a long day with a warm embrace and a kiss, then make a conscious decision to make that a habit today and every day. Discuss how you dream your marriage to be in 30 years, and consciously start those habits now, no matter how busy you might be.

Good Happy habits = happy marriage.

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Cutting strips of lath to cover the rebar branches in.  

working on the legs and feet.

working on the legs and feet.

Measuring a piece for the seat.

Measuring a piece for the seat.

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the lath work is complete.  

Roots- Thank you Soul Cycle


These two dead plants were in pots outside of Soul Cycle. The roots were exposed and beautiful. This summer every week I would ask the staff if I could have them for my art. Every week I received the same response, that they would have to get approval from the locations manager to remove the dead plants. They are mine now. 😊 thank you, everyone at Soul Cycle for not getting irritated with my constant persuit of these roots. 

My interest in roots has to do with my interest in regenerative agricultural. I will explain in the next roots blog post

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