Get 'em while they're hot...

Hi everyone. Preparations continue for 50 on 50th (next Sat!). Here are the respective herds of leaping deer and cats who just like pretending they are deer in my state-of-the-art rusting facility. It's been raining quite a bit so that's going rather well.

When it's wet out this little guy comes to my door to guilt-me-out about him being outside and me being warm and dry in my shop. As you can imagine, a welding shop with metal particles all over the floor and sparks flying all over isn't really a good place for someone who's barefoot and covered in flammable fur though.

This is his, "I can't believe how dumb these humans are. Can't she see what I want her to do is open the door?" look.

I've been making trees like crazy, although as I showed you a few posts back it takes a surprising amount of time to make these all by hand, so quantities are limited.

I've also been working on some new jewelry designs...

For now I'm taking the idea of reserving pieces for 50 on 50th off the table. Anyone who has already reserved anything-- you are all set-- do not fret. But I'm worried about having enough. See, what's happening is that I'm running out of steam here. What I do is pretty physical and certain things get worn-out, like my lungs and back and this joint in my hand.

After a certain number of months in the shop I kind of hit a wall where my body needs a break, and even though I'm surrounded by partially completed pieces and material for new pieces, it's like all the ideas are on the tip of my tongue. Just out of reach.

My brain sort of does this...

Well, in reality I'm lucky. It actually switches over to a writing mode and my ideas become less visual and more about stories and words. But anyway, I can feel this shift happening and it will soon be time for a break.

I'll be bringing whatever I have left after the show to the wonderful galleries I work with, but I just don't have any way of knowing how much I'll have, and at this point I'm not sure how much work I have left in me to get out after. So your best bet is to come to 50 on 50th if you really, really want something. :)

50 on 50th Preparations Continue

Hi everyone. One thing that's really fun about getting ready for the 50 on 50th show (Sat Nov 7th- at Burrough's School in S. Minneapolis) is making things that are kind of outside my normal scope.

I almost always have some kind of jewelry available so people have an affordable option to the metal sculptures. This time I'll have the steel pendants and earrings I've had before, but also a new "line" of sorts. In my head it's called "Fast Machine."

It's inspired by Steampunk, the passion I've developed for mountain biking over the last year (going fast through the woods on two wheels- a combination of mechanization and nature), birds, and the colorful palette of fall.

I'm also working like mad on leaping deer, sprinting cats wearing antlers on their heads (they like to pretend they are deer), and small wall pieces. -- Oh, and of course many more trees.

Mark your calendars. I'd love to see you there!

Wall Groves

Hi everyone. I'm in high gear right now, getting ready for 50 on 50th- Sat Nov 7th. This is always a good show in S. Minneapolis, with 50 different artists showing their own work, and it's inside. Mark your calendars.

This week I've been working on a new item-- Wall Groves. They are an off-shoot of the popular groupings of trees I make every fall. (Yes-- I'll be making those too.) So far these are coming out really nice. The price will be the same as the free standing ones-- $85, but I may offer a deal on qtys.

They look great when 2 or more are hung together.

You can even hang your mittens etc from the branches if you want.

If this is something you're interested in-- please email me at pesudosu@yahoo.com to reserve one. I'm still trying to decide how many to make. Otherwise-- take your chances and come to 50 on 50th!

Remember you can subscribe to this blog over on the right, and also-- sign up to be a follower. You might win some art!

My show runs all month...

Hi everyone. Seasons On St. Croix did a wonderful job (as usual) of displaying my artwork for the opening Friday night.

It runs all month, so you still have plenty of time to go check it out.

I had a number of wall pieces at this show.

People seemed to like them.

I also made a few tables. I like making unique furniture pieces.

Many of my pieces have natural elements incorporated into them.

I'm kind of a stick and rock girl.

This is a huge overhead canopy- large enough to fit over a king sized bed.

I've always enjoyed working with color, but in recent years have really developed a technique. I've learned a lot more about how the steel behaves. I'm coming to grips with the fact that this is another type of art I'm developing that is less sculptural, more like painting. I have a tendency to want to do something with these, some kind of welding because that's typically what I do, but some are so beautiful they should simply be hung. It's an off shoot I guess.

This method is carrying over into my furniture too. I really had fun with some of the table tops.

I got a lot of comments at this show saying my work has changed, seeming to have gone to a next level in terms of design and execution. This surprised me as much as it made me feel good. I suppose I'm always working on it, trying to improve, so I don't see the progression as easily.

In any case people seemed to enjoy seeing the work and that was very gratifying.

Come to my opening tomorrow night!

Hi everyone. It's here! My opening at Season's on St. Croix is TOMORROW!

For this show I had two guiding principals in mind. I wanted the experience of making the art- the personal nature of it-- and the beauty of the material at the forefront.

I recently listened to a local musician talking about a self-produced album they put out. He resisted using Protools or other forms of digital trickery insisting instead that he wanted the listener to remember it was real music, made by a human being. "YES"- I thought.

For this exhibit I wanted to keep touches that would constantly remind the viewer that this work is personal- in some cases going back over my perfect, straight cut lines and re-cutting them by hand without a guide. I left my welds exposed rather than ground smooth (partly because I can- they're good welds). I like to weld in a series of small beads and like how it can resemble stitching.

The other main thing I wanted people to notice is how beautiful the material I work with is, almost like holding it up and urging, "No, stop-- really look at it." I'm really happy with how the colors came out- luminous, layered. Can you tell I'm pretty into it?

This gallery is gorgeous! This picture is from last winter- note the Christmas tree- but every time I visit I'm blown away by how airy and inviting it is, and how much beautiful art is on display. It's truly an honor to show my work here.

I've never worked with a gallery that has a more knowledgeable, friendly, or welcoming staff either. That's the owner Ruth on the right. She's doing something right-- all her employees (like Linda on the left) have been there forever, and seem to be quite over-qualified. They're all just so darn NICE.

If you can't make it to the opening tomorrow night, the show runs all month. Hudson is a wonderfully picturesque town along the St. Croix river full of wonderful restaurants and shops to explore. Do yourself a favor and check it out.