Artist Way and Mushroom Hunting

What an amazing past couple weeks it has been  - between travel, studio time, vending, foraging and socializing. I am reminded again and again why it is that I love it here and how blessed I am to be able to be an artist in this little corner of the world.

 

Before moving here, Chris' grandfather enticed us with the line that "Lubec is a great place for an artist and a writer". We were given a key and a photo and told that North Lubec Road is known as "Artists Way". I have never found anyone else to corroborate that, but twelve years later, I see that Artist Way is indeed "becoming". We enjoyed a potluck with a few neighbors a couple Friday's back and as I looked around the room I noted that every person present was either an artist, musician, or writer.

 

That seems to be the trend here. Artists continue to move to this little bit of (increasingly more rare) ecological paradise. It was, as I often say, a tough transition the first few years and now I can't imagine leaving. There is a supportive artistic community but also opportunity for solitude which fuels the creative soul. Living here has its challenges and is not for the faint of heart, but if you can find a way to make it work, it is a powerful existence.

 

There are a lot of pics in this week's blog, so I will lighten the text and let the images and blurbs speak for themselves. So full of joy and gratitude right now and looking forward to the next adventure - in the studio or otherwise.

 

 

Mini Vacation to Swans Island with mom.

 

My mom spent many summers on Swans Island with her Aunt Aggie (Nana's sister) and Uncle Carlyle. I have fond memories of my few times there and hadn't visited in twenty nine years. Last week Mom and I headed out for a two night stay.

 

Half hour ferry ride to the island out of Bass Harbor. This is actually the return trip - too turbulent to get out of car on the ride over and wasworried that the Dramamine might not have yet kicked in!

 

 

Me on the ferry feeling quite mellow and looking forward to my two nights on the island. Ride over was chilly and turbulent so we stayed in vehicles, but the return was gorgeous blue skies and calmer seas and I was able to wander around the boat a bit.

 

The quarry on Swans Island. Peaceful spot.

 

 

Blue Buoys at Trafton's Wharf on Minturn Loop. The elusive Tim Trafton (whom we were told to search out) was never to be found. In fact, there were few human sightings the entire three days! People on the island kind of do things in their own time.

 

Formerly Uncle Carlyle's lobster shed and dock in the harbor.

 

 

 Lobsterman just in with his day's catch.

 

 

Carrying Place Market. tiny, and very few items. This was the only market that we found. Well stocked with bananas!

 

 

Closing Day of the 2013 Lubec Open Air Market

Thank you to "Transtitions Lubec" for continuing support of the Lubec Market.  Looking forward to the 2104 season!!!

 

Heidi with her dried herbs and teas. She is the Lubec  Market Master  - and has done such a spectacular job keeping us all organized and informed. Check out her Plant Pep!!! Even the White House uses her organic fertilizer!!!

 

 Alex with yummy cheeses from Gardenside Dairy. She's a sweetie!!! I can't wait to see her handsewn creations at next season's market!

 

Thanks for the music at closing day, Curt! I still can't get "Grandma's Feather Bed" out of my head!!!

Thanks, Fred Pierce of Cobscook Bay Music for doing such a great job organizing tunes for the market! It's been such a treat to listen to live music every week!!!

 

 

 Critters are coming out of the woodwork this time of year....literally!

 

My new friend. I'm not the only one who likes cheese.

 

 

A few days off from pottery to focus on some sculptural pieces.

First grouping of factory columns this semester in their greenware stage. Not too exciting to look at right now but will transform over the next few weeks. Many more to go. I have some favorites of course.

 

 

Mushrooms!!!

I love it when chance meetings bring about new experiences.

 

 Maitake mushroom (Hen of the Woods) gifted to us during Saturday's farmer's market. Delicious! Met some new friends from the Maine Mycological Association and we enjoyed a walk in our back woods on Sunday to identify various edibles.

 

 

 Visitors from the Maine Mycological Association who led us on the tour of our back woods to identify fungi.

Ann Rugh, Ruthie Ristich, Michaeline Mulvey, Elizabeth Noyes, Mary Yurlina, Cheryl St. Pierre, and Cookie the dog.

So many gifts in nature.

 

 

A variety of mushrooms and chlorociboria.(and an apple core!)

 

 

 Michaeline Mulvey shows us how to identify edible Lions Mane.

 

 

 Chris, Michaeline, and Ruthie check out some fungi on an old branch. this was an exciting find! Unfortunately I do not recall the name. Looking through a tiny microscope - it was gorgeous!

 

 

 A cluster of edibles. Name? Honeys???

 

 

 Mary shows us a (I am told) quite yummy edible mushroom. Again, forgot the name!!!

 

 

Michaeline and Elizabeth with a cluster of Honey Mushrooms.

By the way, the wool for Michaeline's hat was dyed with a variety of mushroom! How cool is that!

 

 

Chris takes notes as Elizabeth cuts Phylotopsis Nidulans from a birch. Michaeline and Ruthie talk about Honey Mushrooms.

 

 

Witches Butter.

I believe it is edible, but more than anything, I just LOVE the name!

 

 

 A way-up edible find (Lion's Mane) on an old birch.

 

 

Later in the day....

 

In the afternoon, the foragers met for an ID workshop. I couldn't believe all the mushrooms that were found! Michaeline Mulvey led the informative discussion. I loved how animated she became when talking about the fungi.

 

Michaeline Mulvey explains how this shaggy mushroom provides a black dye that may be used by artists. Cool!

 

Chaga, known for its healing properties, is found on birch trees.

 

 

Wood stained with green elfcup, used for inlay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorociboria_aeruginascens

 

 

Self-explanatory. Beautiful!!! This is the specimen that was cut from a birch in our back woods.

 

 

And after a long day of foraging....

An incredible feast hosted by Randy and Karen. Thank you!!!! And thank you to Ann Rugh for hosting the MMA group here in Lubec. I look forward to next year!!!

 

 

 

Randy Lisheness shows off some mean cooking skills while preparing artisan pizzas for the mushroom-loving crowd at a post fungi identification gathering. Thank you to Randy and his partner Karen Fry Primeau for hosting us at their cozy home.

 

 

Randy's feta, spinach, and maitake pie. Yum!

 

 



Getting in a Groove - The "right" kind of way

Footed Long-neck Vase

Herring Collectors Series

 

Cobscook Pottery

Fall Schedule

 

Saturday, October 5

Perry Harvest Fair

Perry, Maine   /   9am-2pm

 

Saturday, October 12

Lubec Farmers Market

Lubec, Maine  /   9am-11am

 

November 9-10

United Maine Craftsmen Augusta Show

Augsuta Civic Center, Maine 

More info 

 

November 15-17

Cobscook Pottery Open Studio and Holiday Sale

Lubec, Maine

 

November 29- Dec. 1

United Maine Craftsmen Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Show

Brewer, Maine 

More info 

 

December venues TBA.

 

WATER, WIND and TIME: Exposed #3

Another Factory C drawing in progress.

 

Chris and I finally found some time to go kayaking.

 

 We love that the plot that borders us has been bought by a land conservancy. I did a little exploring this past week with a friend. I'm looking forward to the actual trail that will lead to Klondike Peak.

 

It's been a great season for the sun golds with this bunch being picked just a couple days ago. Despite my lack of properly tending to the garden (yet again) there were some wonderful successes.

 

Back in the cave to work on more columns.

 

I think my head has been in these lately...

 Photo-bombed by Bouli again. She can't resist the lights!

 

 

This season's final Lubec Market will be on Saturday, October 12th. It's been a great season! In this shot, my finds from last weekend: Beets (Three Dog Farm), Garlic Lovers Goat Cheese (Gardenside Dairy), Chinese Lanterns/Ceremonial Sage/Parsely/Rosemary  (Herbminders of Maine). This is the BEST sage I have ever burned!!!

 

 

 

It has taken a while, but I think that I'm finally starting to get in a groove. September was a s bit shaky with transitioning from pottery production to the artwork, especially knowing that I still need to somehow find a balance with pottery season ongoing into December. It feels good to dedicate the past few days primarily to my MFA studies and to get cranking at the slab roller and drawing table. I'm sort of picking up where I left off last spring. Factory C is still my artwork passion, but new images have been collected and filed (you know, in a big pile in the nook) for later use.

 

October and November are ultra busy months which will keep me on the road a lot of the time between vending, family, and graduate studies. I've been sort of bracing myself mentally for what is to come. I am no stranger to the multi-tasking and being able to manage everything. I love all that I am doing, but still find my mind wandering off to January when I will have a brief hiatus from everything. Of course, that's what I said last year before I got hit with both jury duty and the flu.

 

But that is how life kind of goes, right? You just never know what is right around the corner, as it is said "best laid plans of mice and men....." I'm kind of getting used to this now. I have always considered myself a planner, from to-do lists to goal-setting. More and more frequently though, I see that the universe has this quirky sense of humor and likes to shake things up.  Sometimes, even our perceptions of ourselves are shaken.

 

Yesterday, Chris said to me that he was left-handed therefore right brained. And even though I am an artist, I have typically thought of myself as left-brained. In reality, most humans are a fine blending of the two but admittedly, some left or right traits tend to dominate. I decided to look into this (it has been years since I read anything on it) and found this nifty little online left/right quiz. Chris was right away extremely skeptical (but wait, isn't that a left-brained trait...and didn't Chris just tell me that he is right-brained?). So, I took the little quiz and discovered that I am indeed right-brain dominant. If you know me well, you might have guessed that. Or maybe not, since I even seemed to fool myself.  The description of a right-brained person fits me to a "t". After a bit of prodding, and suggesting to Chris that I think he may not be so "right",  he finally took the survey.

 

Indeed, turns out that he is left dominate. When we read the descriptions there was quite a bit of laughter and perhaps a bit of ribbing of one another. But it did end in Chris saying that he now understands me a bit better. That's a good thing. I think.

 

If interested, here is the quick Left/right brain test.

http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/left_right/rb_test.htm

 

Or just skip to the descriptions....

Right Brain

Left Brain

 

 

 

 



 

Early Morning Reflection

Lubec foggy morning drive.

 

 

Visit from heron at Mulholland Light, Campobello

(New Brunswick, Canada)

 

 

Where two meet.

 

 

Back at the drawing table: Order and disorder.

 

 

Best climbing tree ever, missing a few limbs now.

(West Gardiner, Maine)

 

 

Thinking about the thinking nook.

 

 

Heidi's tomatoes at the Lubec Open Air Market.

It's been a great season! Come visit the market on Saturdays 9-11 downtown.

Open through October 12th.

 

 

 She flops wherever she wants regardless of how inconvenient it is to her human companions. She's such a cat.

 

 

I woke shortly before five to one of those sunrises that Lubec is notorious for. Fading midnight blue gave way to a soft blend of yellow to green. Moon still in the sky.  I listened to the stillness and noted the absence of the rooster's call. Nary a being had come to wake save for me and the cats. I slipped into comfy paint-stained yoga pants and an old ripped tee, filled a bucket with hot water, and headed into the cave.

 

For this morning I needed the dark and still. With only a dim light and the sun filtering slowly into the space, I began the ritual of wedging and weighing. In relative darkness, I listened to the sounds of the clay as it rolled along the surface of wood, the sound of my hands as they cupped this malleable dirt into round forms, and the hum of the wheel as I centered and pulled. The heater emitted an orange glow warming the left side of my body. Clay was heavily scented with musky earth, like patchouli.

 

In the darkness, all the senses come to life. My mind went on one of those journeys where stream of consciousness leads from one thought to another. I thought of O'Keeffe and how she took to pottery in her eighties when her sight had faulted so badly that she could no longer paint. I closed my eyes and with only the sense of touch centered and formed a pot while repeating the mantra that all my pots receive: love peace joy compassion and sweetness of life.

 

I thought about the space where two meet and how in one moment we can feel this perfect balance and stillness and in another deep anguish. I thought about how much of our lives are determined by fated circumstance versus a determination to create it as we envision it. Or maybe the two work in tandem?

 

Inundated with news of all that is wrong in this world I find myself slipping further from that space that my soul most longs for. What is the best path for the most good? Scream and shout? Or find my center and visualize? It seems that, as with most aspects of my being, I haven't found that space where I can blend it all. I immerse myself in one or the other - at least for short bits of time. But there must be a space - in the middle - where I can synthesize it all but still keep the calm?

 

This past week was a time of recharging, rebalancing, and refocusing. I lessened my work hours and spent a lot of time walking, driving, and thinking. I gave myself permission to let go of obsessive work tendencies to explore and process. It felt sort of like a mini vacation at times. I've come back to the studio with a new perspective and perhaps a releasing of always having to know the outcome. I have begun a drawing that is in a sense a continuation of where I left off last spring. Though this is the start, it is not where I will end up in three months time as the semester comes to close. I am questioning what it is that attracts me to these images of decay and chaos juxtaposed against the serene.

 

Searching. Trusting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shifting Energies

Despite several failed weeding attempts, lack of watering during a sunny stretch, and overall incompetence when it comes to gardening, the veggies are coming forth. Beets were a first attempt and though petite were quite delicious roasted.

 

 

 

 

Is that Van Gogh in the garden?

Chris released the basil plants from their weedy confines. He makes an awesome batch of pesto for freezing and hopefully there is enough fresh basil this year to continue the tradition.

 

 

 The Eastport Pirates invaded Lubec. They came by air (plane), land (motorcycle), and sea (boat).  It was total mayhem at the waterfront.

 

 

 A pirate pulling into town on his Harley.

 

 

Pirates parked their bikes and headed into straight to the pub for a tankard of grog.

 

 

 

Two of the most adorable pirates I 've ever seen!

 

 

I love pulling out Nana's favorite cookbook and looking at her handwritten recipes. She had a sweet tooth for sure.

 

 

 To transition back into artwork I spent a day with a friend photographing factory detritus.

 

 

 Lubec Arts Alive is still working on this year's art installation at the community playground. We had a fabulous team last week help with the installation of the revolving teleidoscope columns and xylophone. With a nice sunny stretch of weather we should be able to get it painted before (gulp) snow flies.

 

 

Lots of carving going on in prep for autumn vending adventures.

 

 

 Kinda melancholy thinking about the possible retirement of one of my favorite work shirts. If you have visited the shop on one of my work days, you have probably caught me clay-covered in this shirt, a bit tattered from years-long wear.

 

 

 

It's 3:30 a.m. and I have been up the past the two and half hours trying to convince myself that sleep is just a few sheep away. Silly me to think such a thing. The energies are shifting and I am feeling it. The air is more crisp and darkness is descending earlier every day. My mind is scattered with too many thoughts and attempts are being made to sort and file. This seems normal for this time of year. As autumn approaches MFA studies resume. The pottery business is still in full swing with a rigorous vending schedule and year-round committee/volunteer work continues. Add in the flurry of family and holiday events and end-of-the season gatherings and there is little time to clear the mind.

 

Yesterday morning I woke with the best of intentions. I looked forward to a day of throwing but when I got into the studio nothing went right. Sometimes that's just how it is. Even with twenty-four years of clay behind me, there are days when everything feels off center. Without internal centering, clay just won't find its way. I finally threw in the proverbial towel and moved onto the more menial tasks of paying bills and cleaning the house. 

 

Afterwards, my sneakers logged five miles: two with my friend Amy and three solo. The first walk was for enjoyment and the second walk goal-oriented. The purpose was to narrow my focus for an upcoming art project and to tackle writing my semester's proposal. When I returned with a somewhat clearer mind I went into the studio, pulled the curtains, lit a candle, and nestled into my thinking nook. All felt serene.

 

At this point I have surmised that what I am really craving is time to create. Introversion and introspection. A couple days ago I spent an afternoon with a friend photographing various factory sites. That has me itching to begin drawing which for me is akin to meditation. Repetition, whether it is weaving, potting, or drawing, helps to focus me and quell some of the voices.

 

Also on my mind is that today is the anniversary of my Nana's passing. The walk yesterday allowed time to focus on her, too. My family was truly blessed by her presence. She was a resilient, hard working, full-of-love woman who was a master of limericks. She could cook like no one's business and break out in a spontaneous jig. I spent many weekends with her as a child and remember fondly our walks across the bridge to Gardiner, gardening, watching Lawrence Welk, making taffy, and craft projects like needlepoint or crocheting. When I say that Nana was resilient, I mean it. Much of her life was spent as a factory worker. As a primarily single parent she raised my mother and did an outstanding job with that task. As one of eleven children in a poor family, her journey presented many obstacles.  Never having a driver's license, she walked at one time sixteen miles a day to and from work until she was gifted a bicycle. She did what she had to do without complaint. I dropped off some work at Lubec Landmarks on Wednesday for their fiber arts show. As a token of honoring Nana I included a tapestry that I made with some of Nana's most worn clothing items.

 

The shifting energies, though turbulent at first, are welcome. It just takes me a while to find my balance. I love this time of year as autumn approaches. I crave the early darkness and wet days that help to calm my spirit. Simple things like eating an apple fresh-picked from a tree remind me of nature's cycles and her precious bounty.

 

Even on the most challenging days, I am honored to be present.

 

 

 

 



Rounding Out Summer with Pottery Production

 My booth set-up in Bar Harbor at the Maine Crafts Guild show.

It's still a work in progress and will no doubt change before next summer's exhibits.

Everything I take to a show has to fit in a tiny Honda Fit!!!

So yes, there are some limitations.

 

 

 Some of my recent Herring Collectors Series work.

The bowls on the bottom shelf are some of my new favorites.

 On our way home a few days ago Chris and I stopped by Liberty Tool Company.

What a fun place!

 

 

 It was such a treat to have an artist-led tour of Sarah Brayman's studio in Brunswick.

The walls and floor were stacked and packed with color!!!

Sarah explains some of her recent encaustic and acrylic paintings.

Love the concept!

 

 

Finally back at the wheel!

The past three weeks were all abut glazing, firing, vending, and travel. Feels good to get all muddy again! I'm just now beginning an intensive throwing schedule in preparation for the next round of shows this fall.

 

 

Chris and I went to the Attila Vural concert at Crow Town Gallery last weekend. What an amazing show! Attila, from Switzerland, is a percussive finger-strumming guitarist. (That's how I think his style is described anyway.) Fred Pierce of Cobscook Bay Music has done a fantastic job of organizing shows this summer. Thanks, Fred! And thank you to Bonnie Beard and Ukey Santos for providing such a beautiful space for the shows!

 

 

 

 

With both Bar Harbor vending engagements behind me I am now enjoying a teeny respite from the travel. Preparing for an out-of-town show is a multi-day project between packing, preparing display, travel to and fro, and the actual sale. The two Bar Harbor shows were less than three weeks apart and that left me with literally no spare time. Sixteen hour days were not uncommon, twelve hour days a given. To celebrate the end of the hub-bub, Chris and I enjoyed an evening out for live music, our first real social event of the summer. If you get a chance, check out the video of Attila Vural (posted above). Phenomenal! My one night back in Lubec was quick, as we hit the road the next morning for a family gathering in central Maine. That short trip was fast-paced as well, but I fit in lots: pottery deliveries, Chris' birthday prep, and time with family.

 

While in central Maine I visited the studio of artist Sarah Brayham. She lives in an artsy little college town in a stately but quite eclectic house with overgrown garden, her eccentric painter partner, and their three Siamese cats. I met Sarah in an encaustics workshop about two years ago. Her work sounded intriguing. And by intriguing, I mean... how many people do you know who use dental x-rays part of their primary creative work?! Sarah's main medium is photography but she also paints with wax and acrylics and in general dabbles with whatever catches her fancy. What I love most about her work is the conceptual component which has some overlaps with my current factory ruins work. I always admire an artist studio that is overflowing with stuff, messily organized (yes, there is such a thing) and full of color. Sarah's studio looked like a burst of genius inspiration (or colorful tornado?) with ideas scattered on the floor, tacked to walls, and stacked on shelves. There was a feast for the eyes in very corner. I think I partly admire this kind of artist environment so much because my own strange work quirks force me to organize my space to create a "clean" palette before starting a new project. I secretly wish I could be so free. Once a project has begun and I am deep into it, the studio becomes a disaster zone, but before I can begin to make the mess, there needs to be no mess. Well, unless we are talking about the cave. That is ALWAYS messy.

So, here I am now, home in Lubec feeling good. There is breathing space. This respite is brief but I'll take it. For the next four days the only thing I need to focus on is pottery production. My mind will focus on the spinning wheel and a few walks with friends. Friday is Lubec Arts Alive stuff and Saturday I pack for farmers market, then soon after I hop back into my Masters' program work. But....no major road travel or vending for a while. The next two venues, other than the weekend market, will be more local four weeks from now. That means no overnight motel events.

As I was sitting in the motel in Bar Harbor one evening I thought about the perception that folks might have who envision me off in a hugely popular touristy coastal Maine town for three days. You would think that I would be enjoying the sights and shops and living it up, in a manner of speaking, in a nice hotel space with all kinds of amenities and ritzy meals. The reality of being a crafter on the road is quite the opposite. At least in my experience and what I see of the others I vend alongside. Some tent, some sleep in cars, and at the end of the day, tired bodies just want to flop and sleep. Here is how my three days went....

After a few days of hustling around the house getting pottery glazed, fired, and packed, I hit the road at 7:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning after only three hours of sleep. Along the way, I went to the bank for change and the market for food. My cheap motel accommodations did have a microwave and small fridge which makes eating on the road much cheaper. At 11:00 a.m. I checked into the motel to snag my key. I dropped off my clothing bag to lighten the car load and scooted over to the venue to begin setting up at noon. Vendors are focused and scurrying to get vehicles unpacked and booths set up. At 3:45 I finished my set-up and all sweaty and messy I drove the twelve miles back to the motel to grab a super quick shower. After 45 minutes in the motel room (glorious!) I hopped back in car and drove to the venue which opened at 5:00. Patrons filtered in through the night and at 9:00 p.m. we closed shop. I drove back to my room where I flopped on the bed to eat my lean cuisine frozen meal for supper while checking email and calling Chris.

The next morning I ate a microwave breakfast sandwich before heading off to the venue. I greeted visitors and talked about my work for the next seven hours. Lunch was crackers and cheese, easy to sneak a few bites in between booth visitors. After the venue closed, I made a trip to a filling station to add air to the leaking front tire. (Time to renew AAA perhaps?). I grabbed some cheap Chinese take-out and ate it in the motel room while spending three and a half hours working on a volunteer project on my laptop.

I'm sure someone somewhere was having fun.

Just as I finished up and was ready to crash for the night, the people in the room next to me decided to have a super loud screaming match. I sat with the phone nearby ready to call 911 should it progress physically. More people ran downstairs to the room and joined in on the hollering. This went on for about 45 minutes, ending a bit after midnight, followed by loud laughter and music. I guess they all made-up.

In the morning I checked out of my room and drove back into Bar Harbor for the final day of vending. The last day was much busier. I met a lot of interesting people and had some great conversations about pottery. Lunch was delivered to my booth thanks to $9 in meal tickets compliments of the guild. I found a chair and sat down for the first time during the three day show. The show ended at 4:00 p.m. and as the doors closed vendors immediately went into scurry mode as they broke down their booths and packed their wares. It took me about two and a half hours to pack up and that was the speedy version thanks to a couple teens who offered to lug boxes for tips. With a full-packed car once again, I made the trek back up route one toward home. Along the way I pumped-up the leaky tire, filled myself with caffeine and a pizza slice for the long drive,  and rolled along route 1 toward Lubec. I made it into port at 9:30 p.m., greeted by Chris, Bello, and Bouli.

This year I have planned a lot of vending venues but only four of them involve enough distance that I am away from home for a few nights. I am testing the waters this year and still juggling my MFA program with work. Next year as the MFA starts to wind down I will add in a few more venues. I am accruing lots of advice from vendors who have been on the circuit for years and making changes accordingly. There is a lot of learning to be done and I am a "newbie" as they say.

So, I am back into production mode to prepare for the next round of shows that spark the holiday season. Here and there I have sat in my thinking nook and thought how much I am looking forward to the transition back into the sculpting, drawing, and painting with wax. It is a shifting of gears but more so a juggling act in the fall. The shop is still open into December and November will prove to be one of my busiest ever with venues in both Augusta and Brewer plus my annual holiday sale here and local holiday craft events.

The pottery and art cycles with the seasons. Last winter, except for the marathon awards project, I worked full time (and then some!) on my artwork rather than pottery. It's a whole different experience and process, though both are equally satisfying to my artist soul.

It is, simply put, amazing to be able to work with my hands at something I feel called to do. It is not "easy", and I put in more work hours than ever before in my forty-four years, but I feel so incredibly blessed to be living this life and doing something that so fully nurtures my being.

And on that note, it is time to get a warm bucket of water and head for the cave.

 



 

One Year later.....

If looking for something coastal and artsy to do mid week next week...come see me at the 4th Annual Bar Harbor Fine Crafts Show!

 

 

Three Dog Farm's yummy radishes at the Lubec Open Air Market

Saturday mornings, 9-11 a.m.

 

 

Bello hanging out in our garden. The garden has grown a lot since this pic was taken. Primarily weeds...but happy to report that we are enjoying plenty of kale, swiss chard, basil, and we just ate the first tomato and pea pod yesterday!

 

 

 

Chris giving it his best shot at saving the garden from a complete takeover by weeds.

 

 

Lisa Dellwo's encaustic piece that was created during a workshop that I presented a couple weeks ago.

http://dellwo.zenfolio.com/

 

 

Lisa Tyson Ennis working on an encaustic piece with embedded porcupine quills during a workshop that I presented a couple weeks ago.

http://www.lisatysonennis.com/

 

 

 Be sure not to miss this!

DIFFERENT and DIVERSE

Ann Rosebrooks and Jean Bookman artworks on exhibit at Lubec Landmarks

August 1-13, 2013

The opening was fabulous - show looks great. Check it out!!

 

 

 Greta Bell's R/evolving Circus at West Quoddy Visitor Center

A bicycle powered community storybook!

Greta's traveling carousel displays revolving paintings powered by her bike. While the images spin, Greta tells stories associated with the objects.

Watch this wonderful short video about the project!

 

 

 Mixing encaustic medium made up of melted beeswax and dammar resin.

 

 

Live music at this summer's Lubec Open Air Market has been a mainstay. Fred Pierce of Cobscook Bay Music has done a wonderful job organizing and Summer Keys faculty and students offer up their talents, too!

 

 

Last weekend's Lubec Market started out with three musicians and it quickly grew to six. I don't know everyones  name, and everyone was awesome, but have to mention that the young fiddler from North Carolina was incredible - such talent at such a young age!!! And the guest appearance by Liz Rogers was such a wonderful surprise.

Had a great time vending my wares in Bar Harbor at the Maine Crafts Guild MDI Directions show. Thirty-eight years running and chock full of amazing artisans from all over Maine! I'll be back in Bar Harbor with my pottery in a couple weeks at the Maine Crafts Guild Bar Harbor Show, August 14-16 at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Conference Center. Swing on by and say hi if you're in the area!

It's been a while since I last blogged. I do believe that life has been a wee bit hectic of late. It has been just about one year to the day that I decided to toss in the towel on school teaching and embark on the full time potter/artist journey. Even though I had been working as a potter/artist for many years, I had not fully committed myself due to teaching. Hindsight, I have no regrets. It has been an amazing year, one of self-discovery.

I was able to take some time during the winter months to put the bulk of my energies toward my Master's work. I got a taste of being "the artist" for a bit and boy oh boy it sure was tantalizing. Now that summer has hit and I am in the throws of tourist season and vending craft shows, I am thinking that this coming winter I will need to balance my schedule a bit more so that I can focus as well on the functional works in preparation for next summer. I have always had a hearty work ethic and putting in extra hours does not deter me, but I must admit that I had no full idea of what it takes to be a potter by trade. The work sells as fast as it exits the kiln and commission jobs pile up quick. You would think potters would be rich due to this fact, but no, it just isn't so. It is a labor of love. In the summer, tending shop and traveling to shows is full time work in and of itself. I think if I tweak my ratio of pottery to art this coming winter, then I will be able to find a reprieve from the sixteen hour work days and maybe...just maybe...be able to add in a bit play. Summer is short here in Maine, best not waste it!

Things are moving along and each day is meaningful. In-between greeting shop visitors I manage to pot and carve. People are usually greeted by a messy, clay-covered, holey and glaze-stained shirted me and somehow they are (usually) brave enough to stick around for a while to check out the pottery. I have to embarrassingly say once in a while that I clean up well. At least I think I do. On days I am away for business Chris graciously takes over shop duties. He sets up his writing space in the downstairs and greets visitors as they arrive. I know it isn't ideal for his writing sessions so I surely do appreciate his willingness to help.

The past month or so was a flurry of activity. Lubec Arts Alive happened but is still in progress. Dealing with weather and a small committee with scattered schedules has been a challenge. The project is super cool but is taking just a bit longer to bring to fruition than anticipated. It seemed that we were working against the tide to pull the project together but are so grateful that we have had the assistance of artist John McMurray. If you want to create something funky and fun that moves...he's the expert on it! 

While trying to get LAA up and running, I noticed lots of other little things not going exactly as planned. And even more specifically, almost everything technological started to kick out on us. I jokingly said "what is it...Mercury in retrograde?" Well...I found out that indeed it was! I always thought I was exempt from this astrological phenomenon and quite frankly did not put much stock in....that was until this past month. Let's see. This summer we have dealt with broken printer, computer, lawnmower, credit card machine, telephone system, cable, and CD player. Aside from that, postal deliveries went awry, supply orders showed up damaged, and just in general plans did not work out. It got to one point that I went to market to stock up on a few days' groceries with the intention of not leaving the house for a while until the universe settled itself down a bit.

All else seems to be going well, though. The Lubec Open Air Market has been a beautiful, yummy, musically-delightful presence downtown this summer. I love seeing the faces of friends who return from far-off places and the general energy is very uplifting. Lots of smiles and hugs and catching-up.

I am pulled away fairly often with pottery business and a couple weeks ago I had my first Bar Harbor vending experience. The crafters at the MDI Directions show were amazing. I left feeling that I really need to step-up my game as far as booth display. Still, I need to work within the parameters of a teeny economy car. So, yes, there are limitations. I also need to tweak which work I choose to represent me to the greater audience. There is a learning curve, but I am learning. I return to Bar Harbor next week for another fine craft venue with the Maine Crafts Guild. I am working pretty steadily to rebuild stock in time for travel. Kiln is firing as I write this entry and as soon as I post, I go back to glazing for three more firings before I hit the road.

I best get back to work!

Forgive me if I don't take the time to edit grammar and spelling!!!

Note:

VisitLubecMaine website just updated their website. It is a fairly comprehensive resource for lodging, dining, and shopping in Lubec. Also, for a listing of cultural events in the area, visit CulturePass site.