GARDEN BOOK

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE AN ENLARGEMENT

The Chinese proverb ..."A BOOK IS LIKE A GARDEN YOU CARRY IN YOUR POCKET"... seemed like the perfect spring board for launching myself into my first book for a book show here in Port Townsend. When I was asked by Jean-Marie Tarascio to be part of the COMING UNBOUND-BOOK AS SCULPTURE show at Northwind Gallery, I saw it as an opportunity... and as a brightly shining carrot dangled in front of me... to follow up with some ideas I have had for a long time. I have always thought that etched metals could be a perfect marriage with book arts.....the ability to etch front and back with pattern or words or imagery....rigid and permanent covers....a welcome heft when picked up....the ability to cut (with a jeweler's saw) beyond the natural border of the book...getting to use miniature piano hinges (they are so perfectly proportioned and beautiful and can be cut to any length)... and that glow of metal and patina that cannot be duplicated with paper or hardboard. The GARDEN BOOK was my first attempt for this show. There was a bit of a learning curve and everything did seem to take much longer than it should have but I am happy with the result. The GARDEN BOOK MEASURES 7.5" x 6" and is photo etched brass....giving it a rich look.

I realized while making books for this show that content is as important to me as the etched covers. It wasn't going to be ok with me to just make a blank journal style book. A year or two ago I bought a plug-in program called Topaz Lab to go along with photoshop elements. With this program I can take any of my own photos and send them through multiple filters to get a look that is just different enough to stand out from a regular photo. That difference might be about the texture....the detail....or the color....or all three. The filters just 'art' things up a bit. The images in the GARDEN BOOK are all my own....mostly shot in my yard over the last several years. Here are a few images from the book...all are ink jet printed on Japanese Gampi paper and are attached to Arches Cover paper with vellum pages inserted between.


The other 10 artists participating in this book show are: Renee Bush, Mary-Ellen Campbell, Linda Jarvis, Gloria Lamson, Counsel Langley, Carolyn Law, Jean-Marie Tarascio, Rebecca Welti, Joan Wenske, Helga Winter.

COMING UNBOUND: BOOK AS SCULPTURE

NORTHWIND ART CENTER....PORT TOWNSEND, WA

OPENING: April 5, 2013

Curator: Jean-Marie Tarascio


GARDEN BOOK by Shane Miller
(click on image to enlarge)

April 5
Noon - Show Opens
April 6
5:30 to 8 pm - Opening Reception
April 14
1:00 pm - Art Talk
April 29
5:00 pm - Show Closes

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS :
Renee Bush
Mary-Ellen Campbell
Linda Jarvis
Gloria Lamson
Counsel Langley
Carolyn Law
Shane Miller
Jean-Marie Tarascio
Rebecca Welti
Joan Wenske
Helga Winter



Throughout its remarkable history the book has been a means to transporting ideas, messages, and thoughts. It has been an intriguing vehicle for reflection and communication, a formidable object. It has been banned, burned, collected, censored, hidden, sworn upon, quoted, treasured, adorned, discarded, chained, praised, and threatened with extinction.

In the art exhibit Coming Unbound eleven artists explore the concept of "book" as inspiration in unique and personalized ways to convey their artistic messages. For more pictures of the artwork and artists biographies please see Northwindarts.org.

GLOBAL ACADEMY OF SUPER HEROES

(REMEMBER TO CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE A LARGER VERSION)
This past Friday was the opening for the show, SUPER HEROES WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE....at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts on Bainbridge Island in WA. The show will be available for viewing Feb.1-25. I am in good company with the following participating artists: Morgan Brig, Lynn Brunelle, Andy Caro, Linda Costello, Megan Drew, Garth Edwards, Denise Harris, Sandra Hurd, M.J. Linford, Linnea Lundmark, Deborah Peek, Joan Peter and Laurie Lewis.

When I was asked to be part of this show I went quickly from elation (what a fun theme) to apprehension (how to pull this off without crossing the 'too cute' line). For me, being on the 'correct' side of that line is important and necessary. That boundary keeps me in alignment with my vision which usually includes...imagery and words that are somewhat clever, quirky and slightly unusual...a way of seeing the world that is unique but still has a universal truth about it...a nostalgic longing...and some kind of hook that allows everyone (young or old, rich or poor, sophisticated or not so much) to relate to the theme. Yes, apparently I like to put a little pressure on myself.

I originally had 2 or 3 different ideas in mind but couldn't seem to settle on how to proceed. Finally I combined these ideas to make one inclusive piece. I kept thinking about how Super Heroes develop their skills...is there a school for such a thing? So....I decided to create the GLOBAL ACADEMY OF SUPER HEROES. This piece measures approx. 34" tall by 14.4" wide with a depth of about 2.5"

At the very top of the sculpture is a flying boy finial that is photo etched in nickel.

The top panel, also photo etched nickel, is a representation of the actual academy and training facility. The lightening bolt is the official symbol of the school and is also etched on the front of the book. You can read more about the book a little further down.

The middle panel is an overview of the 12 most recent graduates from the academy. This is protected behind glass.

The bottom panel is mica attached to a tilting shelf. Resting on the shelf is the official year book of the Global Academy. The book, complete with a copper spiral binding, is photo etched brass. Within the book are the 12 most recent graduates from the academy and a brief description of their special powers. Here is a list of the current curriculum and just a few of the featured Super Heroes.

And last, but certainly not least, is a photo of Anne who is one of the worker bees at the gallery wearing my super hero goggles. I think she looks great!!! Maybe she will try out for next years group of trainees at the GLOBAL ACADEMY OF SUPER HEROES.

THE OPENING HIGHLIGHT

SHANE MILLER .... LINDA JARVIS .... RON HO at opening of LOST AND FOUND.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

It's been just over a week since the opening of the LOST AND FOUND show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. It was a wonderful opening with lots of people attending .... lots of attention ....lots of generous words .... AND I sold my large piece .... IF FOUND RETURN TO ICARUS and a favorite of mine.... BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER. I could not be more pleased. Even with the attention and the sales, the highlight of the evening, for me, was getting to hang out a bit with Ron Ho. Ron is an amazing jeweler .... you can tell by the piece he is wearing. He told Linda and I that he has never owned a piece of his own jewelry because everything always sold. Recently he had an opportunity to buy back the piece he was wearing at the opening and so he did. I think it looks spectacular on him. The neckpiece he made for the show was just as amazing .... meticulously crafted with found objects from around the world including Tibetan keys and an ancient looking ear plug (maybe from Africa) and lots of other goodies. He has such a signature style that you can easily recognize a Ron Ho piece from 20 paces. I own his book .... DIM SUM AT THE ON-ON TEA ROOM and study it often .... beautiful photography and incredibly inspiring.

Ron Ho is a protege of Ramona Solberg. The only reason I am making jewelry at all is because I saw some images of Ramona's work and loved it. Before that introduction to her work I thought all jewelry was stones and diamonds and glittering stuff. Honestly, that type of jewelry has no appeal for me. Romona's jewelry is full of dominos .... found bits .... not shiny things .... the lost .... the found .... the discarded. She put found object jewelry on the map. I'm sorry I never had an opportunity to meet her but from everything I've heard she was well loved, as is Ron Ho.

IF FOUND...RETURN TO ICARUS

CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE

One of the pieces I wanted to make for the LOST AND FOUND show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts was a mixed media wing .... actually a wing that Daedalus might have made for Icarus. The Daedalus/Icarus myth has always been my favorite of all myths. I get it that while most people think of it as a cautionary tale about listening to your parents, I believe that Icarus couldn't help himself .... a glorious day .... a chance to show his dad that he was strong and capable .... a breeze ruffling his curly hair .... the lightness of his body .... the freedom of gravity. I think I would have done the same thing .... gotten lost in the wonderment of it all. And my heart has always ached for Daedalus. He made the wing for his son with great care and attention to detail and a tremendous amount of love. His hope and dream was that he and Icarus would escape from exile. On that day they must have both been filled with such hope and were surely quivering with excitement.

Well .... the story of my wing is about the test flight taken a few days before the fateful flight. Here is a newspaper lost and found ad that I included with my Icarus wing at the opening of the LOST AND FOUND show: (click on this image to see a larger more readable version)

My Icarus wing, instead of being made of bird feathers and beeswax, is made from various mixed metals .... leather .... mica .... wood .... a couple of etched plates .... and even some feathers cut from both sides of my sanding belts. I found a beautiful piece of thin gauge copper tucked back in a corner of my studio that had an unusual red patina on it. It added a nice warmth to my wing.

The etched poppies on brass represent remembrance. After all this time this myth is still very much alive. The early flying machine is a nod to Daedalus who was such a visionary besides being an artist .... architect .... and inventor.

This is a detail shot of some of the feathers .... I especially love the poignant feather that reads, 'ICARUS... REMEMBER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ...DAD'. It seems like the heart of the whole myth can be found within these few words.

Early on I decided to document the progress of making this wing. I had 1/2" baltic birch plywood left over from another project. I cut out two general wing shapes .... clamped them together .... and beveled the edges.

I cut a void in the back panel to help lessen the weight and as a way to attach a hanger.

I glued both panels together and then painted the whole wing black.

I cut individual feathers out of poster board to use as a pattern and to help me get the size and spacing right. This took a lot of trial and error to get the look I was after.

It takes a lot of space to make a wing, I've decided. Lucky for me I had recently built a 9.5' x 30" rustic wooden table in my studio barn to be used when I host large potlucks. This table was incredibly useful for wing building and having room to spread out. The wing, itself, is 44" x 9.25" x 1.5". I made it to fit me.

I often use a found object or two in my art but until this LOST AND FOUND show I had never used found objects as the primary medium. I have to say I discovered a lot of freedom in making the pieces for this show. Photo etching in metal, which has been my focus for the last several years, is not very conducive to spontaneity. The metals are expensive and I hate to make a mistake. For the most part everything is pretty well planned out before I ever touch a piece of metal. I can see in the future that a blending of found objects with the etched metals might be my path for a while. Stay tuned.....and remember to spread your wings .... and if you just can't help yourself, I don't think that flying towards the sun would be a bad way to go.

BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Tomorrow evening I will be at the opening of a new show at BAINBRIDGE ARTS AND CRAFTS on Bainbridge Island called LOST AND FOUND: ASSEMBLAGE. I am one of ten artists participating in this exhibit. The artists include: LINDA COSTELLO, BIL FLEMING, CHRIS GIFFIN, NANCY HEWETT, RON HO, LINDA JARVIS, MICHOLE MADDEN, MARK OSBORN, DEBORAH PEEK and me....SHANE MILLER. KAREN HACKENBERG is being featured in the larger gallery. Her paintings are of discarded mass produced items that are found littering the edges, cracks and seams of our natural world. Many items were found along the edge of beaches here in the Pacific Northwest. Both of these shows will be on exhibit from November 2- Dec.3. The reception is Friday, November 2, 6-8pm.

The image above...BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER... is one of 3 pieces I will have in the show. I really enjoyed making this sculpture and was a little sad to deliver it to the gallery knowing that I might never see it again. The body of the boat .... THE WINDCHASER...is an old weaving shuttle. The wood is very worn....a little primitive....and has a great patina. The ballast passengers are stones I picked up on Rialto Beach out on the coast. One of the stones wears a jaunty expression due, in part, to the red waxed linen string attire. The sail is gampi paper printed with one of my photographs of clouds. I remember the day I took the photo....there must have been a strong wind up at cloud level because bits of the clouds were being pulled off and stretched in wisps like cotton candy. Two rear wheels and one tiny front wheel carry the load. This is a simple piece that has a sort of innocence. BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER measures 14" long x 9.5" tall x 2.75" wide.

I am so looking forward to the opening tomorrow night. I am always happy when my friend and fellow artist, Linda Jarvis and I share a show. It means we can ride to Bainbridge Island together from Port Townsend and catch up on our lives and on the return trip we get to share notes about the opening....it's always fun. Also, my friend, Chris Giffin, from OR is one of the participating artists. I've been told she is supposed to be at the opening and it will be good to see her. I used to do a large circuit of outdoor shows and saw Chris on a regular basis but since I quit doing outdoor shows I only see Chris every blue moon or so. I am also looking forward to seeing Ron Ho. He is quite a well known jeweler here in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He was a student of Ramona Solberg and it is easy to see her influence in his work even though his style is his own. Yesterday when Linda and I delivered our work we got to see a sneak peek at Ron's mixed media found object neckpiece. It is so beautiful and so lovingly crafted. I am honored to be in a show with Ron Ho.

DETAIL OF BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER

Linda Jarvis and I just got invited to participate in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts next June. The title of that show is SETTING SAIL....ARTISTS AT SEA. I do love having these carrots dangled out in front of me....they keep me moving forward as good dangled carrots should. So stay tuned for more boats and sailing ships.

PESTO FROM A CIVIC POINT OF VIEW

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

When I started this blog several years ago I decided that it would be about art .... particularly my art. I wasn't very interested in sharing what I had for breakfast or which movie I saw last weekend. This post is slightly borderline to me but in making the above label I think it definitely falls under art.

So here's the story (it seems like there is always a story). This past summer, as an experiment, I grew basil in my 1986 Honda Civic Hatchback.... some sweet person gave me this car for $1. Actually it was longer than just the summer because I harvested the last of it today on October 22. As you probably know basil likes heat and sun and sometimes living in the Pacific NW we are a little shy of one or the other of those two ingredients. I decided to use my car as a greenhouse.

I planted two basil plants each in a large pot and put the pot in a large deep saucer to catch any runoff water. I monitored the temperature in the car and would raise or lower the windows as needed. In the evening I rolled the windows up and by the next morning when the sun came up my basil plants were already in a heated space when the outdoor plants were just beginning to warm up. By doing this I think my plants generally got 2 to 3 more hours of warmth a day than if my plants had been in a raised bed in the garden. On really hot days I would occasionally have to open the hatchback to keep the basils from wilting. When I did that I had to pay attention because of the many deer that live in Port Townsend .... they would love snacking on the tender leaves.

Here are some advantages to having a car greenhouse.
1) My car smelled delicious everyday.
2) There was no dust .... bugs of any kind .... or bird poop on any of my basil .... I didn't even have to rinse it.
3) Me and my basil got a lot of attention where ever we went.
4) The leaves and stems stayed very tender. I don't know if this was because the plants didn't have to fight the elements outside like the wind or if it was because I harvested the basil many times over the summer. I have loads of pesto in my freezer.

The label came about as a result of wanting to gift my oncologist with some of my pesto. She had been quite intrigued with the idea of growing basil in a car. I like the result of the label .... and so do both of my sisters .... they want a poster!

I'll try this again next year. It sort of makes me want a mini van .... just think of what I could grow then.

ARTIST'S COMMUNITY GATHERS AT GREYBIRD BARN

OK....this is my last post about the barn sale for this year but I just wanted to share the wonderful article that was published in our local newspaper...THE LEADER. A big thanks once again to Jenny Westdal for writing this.

BEFORE CATCH AND RELEASE by Shane Miller
(click on any image to see a larger version)

Artists' community gathers at GreyBird Barn
Six artists featured at annual studio sale

By Jenny Westdal Contributor

Under a canopy of Douglas firs, artists, their families and friends are transforming the GreyBird Barn, draping lights and banners in preparation for this weekend’s fourth annual studio sale. Hay bales out front offer cozy seats for reminiscing over mugs of hot cider, pumpkin bars and cookies.

Homeowner Shane Miller’s 1952 Farmall Cub tractor and 1952 Dodge pickup truck rest in the yard, ready to be explored by the children.

All of the participants agree that “fun” is the event’s main focus, as well as emitting some positive “energy.”

“It feels like a party with lots of friends stopping by,” said featured artist Diane Gale. “People hang out, like at a big family gathering.”

Taking place on Oct. 13-14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the GreyBird Barn, 11 Carroll Ave., in Glen Cove Industrial Park, the studio sale is sure to celebrate the changing of the season, the artists themselves and the community in which they thrive, said Miller.

The idea for a collaborative studio sale originated with Miller and Linda Jarvis, a friend and fellow artist, four years ago. After the first event drew more than 300 visitors, the pair deemed the event a success and vowed to turn it into a yearly affair.

On Saturday, the familiar faces of Gale, Jarvis and Miller are going to be joined by those of newcomers Diana Cronin, a potter; Lynn Anju, a metalworker; and mixed-media artist Donna Snow.

Scaling down

First to greet visitors arriving at GreyBird is a life-size,steel garden sculpture featuring a bear, a woman and a man dancing together. An alligator holding the mailbox comes next. These creations are examples of Miller’s early works. More recently, she has scaled down and is focusing on making smaller, more delicate and detailed pieces.

Combining her skill for etching on metal (an electrolytic process that uses a car-battery charger and a saltwater bath) with her attraction to vintage photographs, Miller creates jewelry and narrative boxes embellished with images that evoke memories and reference myths, she said.

Depth, shadow

Jarvis’ mixed-media paintings, assemblages and sculptures generally include elements of nature and exquisitely rendered wildlife. Her work has been displayed at venues throughout Port Townsend for many years. She said she’ll often cut out different figures and raise them in the frame, sometimes extending the shape of the animal beyond the borders, to create shadows and add depth to her work.

“I like to tell a story with a touch of humor, but also convey my reverence for animals,” Jarvis said.

Kiln community

Gale, a potter, utilizes wood-fire and gas kilns, introducing soda ash or salt during the firing to create a unique glaze and enhance the surface of her creations.

“A wood-fire kiln is unique for a couple of reasons. First of all, it requires people to watch the coal bed and load wood into the kiln 24 hours a day until the firing is complete,” Gale said. “Secondly, the ash from the wood is the glaze. Those green drips on the pots you see are the pine ash that got so heavy, it actually turned to glass.”

A firing may take anywhere from two to nine days, so the process creates a community, she said. “Who’s bringing dinner can become very important.”

Five pots a day

Whereas Gale’s pottery is primal and substantial, forged of mud and fire, potter Diana Cronin’s work is light and brightly colored. Her pieces are porcelain covered with simple patterns in vivid colors.

Originally drawn to photography and printmaking, Cronin found that her artistic propensity changed after three events occurred simultaneously: finding a 1970s ranch house in need of improvements, discovering a book on handmade ceramic tiles and reading an ad for a small kiln in the newspaper.

Cronin bought the kiln, but quickly realized that she knew nothing about its operation, so she started taking classes at the Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery and kept an eye out for workshops.

“The way you learn to make pots is by doing it, so I made five a day,” she said.

A full-time potter for more than 14 years now, Cronin owns and operates Egg and I Pottery in Chimacum. And, yes, she did remodel her bathroom with beautiful, handmade tiles.

Medieval inspiration

Lynn Anju worked as a ceramic artist for 12 years until a fascination with surface design led her to become a graphic artist. This path prompted her to learn metal etching as it combines both surface design and texturing.

Anju has been working in this medium for 10 years now, making jewelry, switch plates, lampshades and clocks – all of which feature etched metal. Her inspirations come from the natural world, medieval European tapestries and armor.

FISH BLIMPS (detail) a mixed media collage by Donna Snow

Asian aesthetics

Friends of Miller and Jarvis for many years, Donna Snow and her husband are frequent visitors to the GreyBird Barn and regularly attend the annual sale – a social gathering that both greatly enjoy. So, when Snow discovered that there was room for one more artist this year, she happily joined in.

An artist her entire life, Snow has been working solely on collage and mixed-media pieces for the last 10 years. She said that she is drawn to Asian aesthetic themes, which are expressed in her collages.

Her piece titled “Lute Boy” depicts a kimono-clad youth playing a lute surrounded by large flowers. The colors are bright but soft, similar to drawing styles found in Japanese block prints.

At the studio sale, she’ll be offering small cards and prints, miniature collages and some larger pieces.

Turn at the alligator

To find GreyBird Barn, drive south on Highway 20 out of Port Townsend, past Jacob Miller Road, turn left on Frederick Street, turn left on Otto Street and keep an eye out for Miller’s sculptures. Admission is free.

For more information about the sale or participating artists, call 379-5421 or visit Miller’s blog at
uncommonwork.blogspot.com.

Jenny Westdal has been a resident of Port Townsend since 1982. She enjoys cruising around in her vintage MG TD, snooping out art news.

AFTER THE SALE 2012

REMEMBER YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE A LARGER VERSION.

Well we lived through it .... our 4th annual studio sale at GreyBird Barn....and all agree that it was a grand success. Having the sale in October instead of in June is something I'm sure we will try again. There was some magic in the air .... the crisp fall mornings .... the apples on my trees .... the beginnings of color in the landscape .... just a general vibe of well being as we celebrated the shift of light that we call fall.

An event like this doesn't happen without a lot of pairs of hands and a bunch of willing hearts. I have many people to thanks for their tireless energy and willingness to help. My friend, Carrie, is not only the principal of our local high school but is our cookie and pumpkin bar maker. This is her 4th year to bake for us and I know it was a challenge this time with her busy schedule. We so appreciate her for her talents in the kitchen and also for just being who she is. Her partner, Ari, has also been an integral part of our barn sale for all 4 years. She takes care of traffic and the parking of cars in my yard. It can't be the most fun job but she does get to boss people around .... a small perk. Wendy is the sister of Linda Jarvis .... one of our participating artists. She, too, has helped us for 4 years and travels down from Pender Island off the coast of British Columbia to do so. I'm not sure how we would manage without her energy which is usually spent refilling the apple cider pot and cookie trays .... running any errands .... and being the trouble shooter for any and everything that needs attention. Rick is the husband of Lynn Anju .... another participating artist .... and this year not only made two dump runs for me as I cleaned out the barn but he also was the responsible party who put out and picked up our numerous sandwich boards from along the highway and streets. Rick, also, along with Bob Snow .... husband of Donna Snow, another participating artist, helped us do some much needed yard work on the Sunday before the sale ... much raking .... snipping .... trimming .... and wood stacking was accomplished. A huge shout out thanks goes to Jennifer Westdal who is responsible for the wonderful article about GreyBird Barn and it's artists that was published in the Port Townsend Leader, our local newspaper. Megan Claflin, the arts editor for the Port Townsend Leader, gets a round of applause for making Jennifer's article possible. So three cheers for everyone listed above and a huge THANK YOU for supporting us. And a big THANK YOU for all that came to see and purchase our art.... old friends .... new friends .... we are so glad you came.

Here are a few random photos from the week end. Some are mine .... some were taken by Linda Jarvis .... and some by Diana Cronin.

Lynn Anju is probably explaining her etching process.

That's me talking to a customer.

Diana Cronin's BEAN STALKS AND MAGIC BEANS lined the path to the barn.

A throng of onlookers checking out the work of Donna Snow.

Linda Jarvis doing a happy dance!!

Diane Gale showing us how big her dinner plate is going to be that night....it was so busy at times that we all forgot to eat lunch!

Me, Shane Miller, having a serious art discussion with an old friend.

4TH ANNUAL STUDIO SALE...SAVE THE DATE

REMEMBER TO CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE AN ENLARGED VERSION

It's just around the corner....the 4th ANNUAL STUDIO SALE at GREYBIRD BARN. The last 3 years this studio sale has happened near the summer solstice but this year we decided to shake things up and celebrate fall. For me that includes the changing colors .... crisp air .... the apples ripening on the trees .... unique and wonderful art .... and the camaraderie of fellow artists.

The artists this year include: Diane Gale, Linda Jarvis, Diana Cronin, Lynn Anju, Donna Snow and myself, Shane Miller.

So mark your calendars and come see us at GreyBird Barn. Whether you plan your trip or just happen to see our signage on the highway, stop by for a delicious pumpkin bar (made by our dear friend, Carrie,) .... a cup of hot cider .... and some art that will knock your socks off. SEE YOU SOON!!!