Day 334 - 365/2014

Day Three Hundred Thirty-Four

Peggy came by this afternoon to drop off her bowling pin for the upcoming "It Came from the Gutter 2"  created by Mike Kelly -- Terri has offered to come by some night after work this week and pick up Peggy's pin and my pin and drop them off for us.  Terri works on this side of town but lives on the Eastside, and that is closer to the venue.  I really liked Peggy's pin "Bite Me" in the photos I've seen online but in person -- wow -- the colors are so rich and the work is so cool!  I can't wait to see everybody's pins when the show opens!  Terri's pin is pretty incredible, too...it is based on her Mystery Oracle collage series and is called "Parabolic Universe".  And then there is my Cat-Creature.  Anyway...more about that when the show opens...but here is a sneak peek at Peggy's and Terri's pins.

Peggy's bowling pin -- "Bite Me".

Terri's bowling pin -- "Parabolic Universe".

The thing I was going to work on today was wrapping my Animal People collages in cellophane/acetate.  I wanted to get them done in two sessions.  It turns out my hands are still pretty tingly from yesterday and I can only do about ten at a time before my hands go numb...so it is slow going.  I will probably be able to ship either Tuesday or Wednesday (now) -- they won't be ready by tomorrow.

I used regular Scotch tape on the paper wrappers, but the cellophane/acetate needs heavier packaging tape to secure the cellophane.  Regular Scotch tape doesn't hold very well for that and the cellophane can become loose in the machines.

The edge of the blocks -- Terri designed and printed out my new wrappers for me.

One down, a whole bunch more to go!

I can do about ten in a session before the numbness sets in.

Okay -- more tomorrow.

Day 333 - 365/2014

Day Three Hundred Thirty-Three

Wow.  I have not worked at the big table in Studio A (the dry studio) in a long, long time.  Today I have also been doing something else I haven't done in a long time -- work on the finishing up parts of the process of getting my Animal People series together for Art-o-mat. 

Man -- I had totally forgotten what a toll all of the repetitive motions take on my hands when I am doing this.  My friend Terri put together my new paper wrappers/labels/placards for me but tonight I am realizing the trade off of wrappers vs end labels...my hands have gone numb already and I have to stop for the night...but I did get them all signed/dated on the backs and got the paper wrappers onto the collages.  

Working at the big table in Studio A today!

The new paper wrappers that go all the way around the collage block -- thank you, Terri!

This is as far as I got for today.

I am pleased overall with the look of everything...I just need to give my hands a break.  Tomorrow I will try to put the cellophane/acetate wrappers on in two shifts and then pack them all up for shipping (hopefully) on Monday or Tuesday.

Day 332 - 365/2014

Day Three Hundred Thirty-Two

At last -- after four days of work -- Studio A (the dry studio) is usable again.

And I found it very fitting that as I finished tidying up the last area today,  I came across an item that had fallen down behind some stacked canvases/frames/collages:

Day 331 - 365/2014

Day Three Hundred Thirty-One

Success!  I cannot believe it, but I actually cleared/sorted/organized/tossed out right down to the top of the big table in the Studio A (the dry studio) -- even UNDER the big table!  Man!  It took three days, but it is done!

The results after the first half of cleaning/sorting/tossing.

What the area looked like when I started out today.

What it looked like when I took my first break...not bad...but I needed a mental/physical/emotional break for a bit.

What it looked like when I finished for this section...hoping that I would come back to it a little later.

Then I took a longer break to feed the cats and make my dinner.  I watched some television and gave myself a pep talk to just get it finished...it was only the top of the table now.

What the table top looked like when I started the second half of the sorting/cleaning/tossing for today.

I kept plugging away and I actually FINISHED!  I could bring something in here and paint now.  I feel like I really accomplished something today.

Wow -- I can work in here again!

Good for me!  It was a longer, tougher day today because the things that needed to be sorted through and let go of had more emotion attached than the previous few days.  I had to keep picturing what it would look like and how happy I would be when I was done...and I am.

A few things need to go up to the loft in Studio B and a few things need to go down to the basement.  It could use a good sweeping and dusting and floor washing in here...other than that, it is done!

Day 330 - 365/2014

Day Three Hundred Thirty

The studio purge/clean/sort/toss continues...I know it doesn't look like it, but I made two very large dents in the mess.  The stuff had to be gone through more closely.  I filled one more contractor trash bag and two more brown paper bags of paper for recycling.  This feels really good.

dent #1

area #2 -- before

area #2 - after - dent #2

Day 329 - 365/2014

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Nine

I have no looming deadlines right now and I was thinking I'd like to work on a plaster cloth guy.  But every time I went into the wet studio today I couldn't seem to get started...nothing really popped out at me from the stuff I have in progress.  Usually when this happens it means that I need to be doing something else.  The something else turned out to be I needed to do a bit of studio purging.  I gave myself "permission" to throw some things away and it was great.  I hauled out two big contractor trash bags full of stuff that I had hanging around in bins just waiting for a project.  I sorted the recycle-able stuff out and tossed the rest.  I also cleared out three paper grocery bags of papers for recycling.  It sure felt good to let go of this stuff...I still have a long way to go, but at least I got a start on it.

Day 328 - 365/2014

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Eight

I know I sound like a broken record...but man --  I just could not get anything started today.  I updated yesterday's blog post with photos, but that is about it.  This stupid weather is wreaking havoc with my allergies, sinuses and all the body pain(s).  Looking towards a better tomorrow.

Day 327 - 365/2014

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Seven

What a thrill -- one of the two pieces I submitted for consideration to the Scarab Club 101st Annual Gold Medal Exhibition was accepted!!!!!

Terri and Juana and I had a blast driving ALL OVER Detroit with Terri as our tour guide while we waited for the juror's results (for about 5 hours).  Here are some of the photos from our day...

This is where I dropped off my collage for consideration in the jurying for the show.  (The collage didn't make it into the show.)

And this is where I left this guy.  (This guy DID make it!)

One of the first places we drove to was Atomic Cafe in Hamtramck.

Then, since we were already in Hamtramck, Juana mentioned Hamtramck Disneyland...none of us had ever been there, so she GPS'd it and we arrived 5 minutes later...this is the approach to it...I have seen plenty of tight alleys in movies and tv shows, but I have never ever in my life actually been IN one...this was also quite a thrill for me...and I was mildly worried that there wouldn't be enough room to drive.

...getting all excited...we can see it!

This place is just crazy amazing...I wish I could do something like this at my house!

I thought there was just the one white and dark brown dog that was being so vigilant and alerting to our presence...

...but no -- there were two very vocal alarms.

And a bit later in our travels, we had to do a U-turn to come back and take a snap of this alarming rabbit...and yes, it looks like he has xmas lights on.

This house in one of the Pointes has a bunch of sculpture in the yard...but not as colorful or spectacular as Hamtramck Disneyland.

What a day -- what a day -- what a day!  Thank you so much to Terri and Juana for being so patient with me and for being such fabulous tour guides...and for giving up your whole afternoon and early evening to share this day with me!