Offerings To The Wind Project

Getting ready for Art Outside@PAFAC

These are a couple of the carved end pieces to be installed at the Art Outside Exhibition at the Port Angeles Fine Art Center.  This is a good example of how the designs are worked up in the studio based on tracings of the log ends.They are unstained and unfinished.  I will be installing five individual pieces on a Madrona Tree log near the entrance to Websters Woods on the grounds of the Art Center.

Madrona Prelim.

Forget Me Not for Patti. "this is a house of memories"...

This a piece that I made for Patti K.  a colleague of Paula's who is retiring this year from teaching.  I came to know Patti from car pooling her and Paula to work on occasion.  She often commented on the forget-me-nots growing like weeds in my yard. I kind of like them too because they are considered a "true blue" flower which are rare and they seemed appropriate for the occasion. The blooms on forget-me-nots are very small so I made this project a study of the structure which allowed me to do zoom in on the flower.  I also had to resort to doing a color application because the blue color is the most distinct characteristic of forget me nots. However, I am not inclined to use color for outdoor work because the pigments are so fugitive but in this case I made an exception.  Again, if I can't take time out of my "busy schedule" to make a little something for a friend then what is the point of being an artist?...Best Wishes Patti....

Forget me not #2

Forget me not #1

Inspired by The Light...Spring and a warming trend!!

This is the first "personal use" piece that I made based on the Offerings Project.  Actually, I made it for the Duvall Library Plant and Garden Art Sale.  No one bought it so now I am putting at my house.  It was originally inspired by the behavior of some plants that have blooms that position themselves to face the light.  As a result they actually track the sun as it moves across the sky.  Special thanks to Christine and Jonah who provided me with the cool shaped "round". 

Face The Sun

Another custom piece: Mr Wright's Flower

Wright Flower

Mr Wright contacted me through a local gallery.  He noticed the Offerings installations and wanted to commission me to do one for him.  He delivered his own tree round to my studio and simply told me to do something on it. He liked the flower idea so that is what I did.  I have to change my design approach for custom works because they are usually more accessible for close inspection and not for "drive by" viewing.  This usually means more detail and a finer cut.  

Custom "Thistle" Related to Offerings

This is a custom commission for a client who learned of my work from the Offerings To The Wind Project.  As it turns out, he is also a neighbor of mind living in Lake Marcel.  He commissioned it for his wife who is an avid gardener and Scottish.  I have never met her but It seems she has a strong Scottish identity and the Thistle is the national flower of Scotland. I have been considering the thistle as an image for some time. It has so much texture, character and "attitude"...

Thistle

Confirmed! Installation at Port Angeles Fine Art Center

I just confirmed with Jake Senuik, Director of the Port Angeles Fine Art Center, that I will be doing a series of Offerings installations in Websters Woods on the grounds of the Art Center for the Art Outside Exhibition.  I will be heading to Port Angeles next week to scout the Woods and develop a creative strategy....

Art-outside-1

Touching Note from a Local.

This is a note that someone sent to me expressing her appreciation for the Offerings Project.  The specific installation that she is referring to is "Meadow" located in McCormick Park in Duvall.  It is very moving to receive comments like this that express such heartfelt gratitude for art in their community.  I was not really prepared for this level of personal connection to the project from people who see it.  As I may have mentioned before, the Offerings To The Wind Project is becoming more than I who created it....

"... I'll make this quick - I have a feeling your inbox is (or will be) overflowing!

I just wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed seeing your 'offerings'
at the river park in Duvall and how it touched me that someone would do this
purely for others to enjoy.  I just think that's so cool.  I noticed the 'offerings' a
few years back during probably the darkest time in my life because of some
mind boggling greed going on so to see that someone had given something
so cool and so selflessly was heartening. .."

Thank You! 

Local Art Orgs Come Through!!

Thanks to some funding from a couple of local art organizations I am able to continue with some of the Offerings installations. The Duvall Cultural Commission and the Cascade Arts and Culture Council have provided some support for the Offerings Project with a stipend to purchase supplies and materials.  These two organizations are the driving forces behind continued support for the arts in Duvall and the Snoqualmie Valley.  They have been responsible in some way or another for many of the art and cultural events that happen in Duvall and the surrounding community.  Theater performances and concerts in the park, and now public art supporters.  That is the way it's done.  Get your culture!!

Visit the websites for more information on these organizations

www.duvallwa.gov/DCC.html

www.cascadearts.org

CACC logo

DCC logo rgb BW small

"Drops" Rains on Hwy 203

This is the latest installation on Hwy 203 near Fay Road.  I have often used "drops" in my work to represent rain or the movement of water.  In this case it loosely symbolizes the the "watershed"...Rains and snow melt moving down from the highlands to the Valley by stream and rivers coursing through the landscape to the confluence with the sea.  It is probably one of my favorites so far.

Offerings, Drops 1

Offerings, Drops 2

Rabbi Beholds the Humility of Offerings

This is a link to an article in the Seattle Times about the Offerings Project