The Longest Month of the Year

Dar Williams, a talented singer songwriter has a line in her song February that goes like this…..

And February was so long that it lasted into March

And yes it is true….. We are now nearing the end of this long cold month and I, as always, await the signs of spring. A bud breaking free of the icy frozen ground. A day when the warmth melts the snow in the trees causing droplets that look like diamonds as they fall. Seeds start appearing in the stores and I prepare for digging in the beautiful earth.

Meanwhile……………….. I spend as much time in my studio as I can. The furnace and heater keep me warm, the stereo helps me to dance and the colorful fabrics and threads feed my soul.

Impressions

I just finished a long project. A client wanted to have some quilts in her dining room windows to keep the room warm during the long winter nights here in Central New York. I have called Syracuse my home for over 45 years and move from being delighted by the first snowfall to waiting impatiently for the warmth of spring; rather rapidly I go from one to the other and if truth be told, I prefer spring over any time of the year.

So it is fitting that I finished these quilts just in time for the clocks to fall back…. the furnace to turn on, the summer patio furniture to be covered and the firewood to be stacked.

I wish I could say that the beautiful fall foliage was enough to move the mood from blue and melancholy to excitement for that first snow… but it does not. I appreciate the intensity of those trees as they show off and even collect a few of those beautiful leaves. and yes, I even go for drives through the countryside to view the landscape and spend a weekend away in the Adirondacks with dear long time friends. I call it my research. and as you can see….. my quilts have a focus on the glorious colors of my precious piece of the planet..

The other side of the desk.

It's hard to believe that 6 months have past since my graduation. After 3 years working on my BFA, I went on to received my Masters of Arts in Studio work in December 2017. Within less than a month I was hired to teach a 2-D Design and Color Theory class at Cazenovia College. It is quite a difference being on the other side of the desk, and I loved the challenge of developing the curriculum and projects. I will have to admit I was not prepared for some of the differences. 

As a non-traditional student, My goal was to show up, be prepared and do the projects to the best of my ability. I would spend hours working and reworking the drawing or the book or the print. I had forgotten what it was like to be 18-19, a freshman and what it felt like to get to a class at 8 AM. 16 bleary eyes students would file in and usually by 9:30 were working. I saw the lack of desire to paint or draw..... and I saw their tired distracted eyes. The theme of "but we won't have time to get it finished was common, and there were a few projects left unfinished. Still....some of the art that came out of that class was wonderful. It's not easy to teach design.... because design is actually a way of thinking and seeing..... so that has to go into the mix. I will be back in the classroom this fall if all goes according to plan. It will be a repeat with some revisions... (now that I know a bit more about what works and what doesn't) and I am thrilled to get this opportunity. 

Meanwhile I am working on several commissions and preparing for my first art festival in September. I miss my big studio workspace on campus.... and I truly miss the interaction with the other students. It was a more than rewarding 5 years. BUT......I'll say .....Even though Oswego and the beautiful Lake Ontario offered me the time and space to grow and explore......... I won't miss driving an hour each way to get there.

Life's Adventures

I was reviewing my web site a bit ago, and see that I have been amiss at adding new work, words, schedules and everything else that has inspired, stalled, moved, changed........... etc...... etc. me for the past year.

Here's the scoop in a few (forgive me) run on sentences.

2015 started cold and miserable after a trip to Southern California over the holidays visiting my partner's family. Spring approached with rain and wetness that flooded my basement... not once... twice... but three times in less than a month, which caused plumbing problems, the loss of my furnace... not covered by insurance and financial issues that drove me crazy just as I was preparing to rent my home and move lock stock and barrel 25 minutes west to live with my partner. I had several art festivals last summer that were soggy as well, ruining some of my work and proving that my tent was no longer waterproof... oh and the one lovely weekend, I was sick as can be.

So now the good and inspiring news. I visited several awesome quilt guilds in NY state where I taught enthusiastic quilters, made new friends and got to see some of this beautiful state. I am continually amazed at how much talent there is in the quilt world. It's a pleasure to be a part of it all.

In December I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Fine Art from SUNY Oswego and was offered an assistant-ship to continue my art studies at the Masters level. This more than anything has been the impetus to explore my love of fiber art in a new and exciting way. I have to say stay tuned..... This investigation is still in the creating stage. I'll just say.... Texture Texture Texture!!!

Spring is here again and the greening of the land makes me smile.