Blogging hiatus and what I've been doing instead

Whew, what a year it's been. The last time I posted was just after the Labor Day Artists' Studio Tour in Yakima. After that tour, the academic year at YVC started up, but more importantly from my perspective, bargaining for AFT-Yakima kicked into high gear.

against advise from Monika who has done it before, I started experimenting with ceramic chains

I'm the president of the faculty union and lead negotiator for our contract, though I don't write about it on here much. Our CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) expired at the end of June 2023 after a one-year roll-over of the 2020-22 CBA and we'd been bargaining pretty much non-stop since then. 

I wanted to give the chains a protected space in the bulb, though this may be too much space

Bargaining had kind of stalled out sometime in the spring/summer (and I was getting pretty down about it), but then the long-time president of the college retired and the VP resigned, there were some significant changes in administration and the bargaining team, and we had a couple of good conversations and bargaining got going again.

I think I should have waited until most of it was bisqued to put the chain in, so that I could have colored the whole thing, but I was impatient

Around about the start of the fall quarter, we started meeting weekly. In fall, I was teaching 6 classes, meeting for bargaining each week, doing bargaining prep each week, and attempting to maintain clear communication with our members, as well as my other job duties (for both jobs).

because the chain is flexible, it looks funny laying down, but I'm hoping it will look better hung. I didn't want to mess with it too much before it was fired

Six classes is not as bad as it sounds, since three of them were stacked; I was teaching three intermediate and advanced classes at the same time and during the same classes as two beginning classes. But, it was still 21 class contact hours a week, plus office hours, class prep, grading, kilns, etc. Simply put, it was a tough quarter.   

making the chain wet, then letting it sit for a while seemed fairly safe

But, we got the contract done. We finished bargaining before Thanksgiving, faculty were able to ratify the contract in December, and once the Board of Trustees voted for it in January, we were able to sign it. The contract goes through 2027, so we're all pretty happy to have a break from bargaining for a while.

 I started with much smaller links, but these are probably too fragile

Winter quarter was much better. We weren't barganing, for one. But the new CBA also includes release time for the union president. That means, instead of teaching (more or less) three classes, I only had two (three with stacks), plus one class worth of release time for union duties (of which there remain quite a few, despite not being in active bargaining for the CBA). 

I made a random assortment of bulbs and small pieces during winter break

It happens to be the legislative session for Washington state, so I've been to Olympia twice this winter to talk to legislators about our concerns. I've also attended a town hall, and yesterday I gave remote testimony before the Ways and Means committee on a bill related to faculty CoLAs. I'm planning to give testimony today on the budget. So I've managed to keep pretty busy.

this is also a terrible, idea, as all of these bits are too fragile

I also, managed to get into my home studio a bit towards the end of this quarter, and over Christmas break. I haven't quite had the capacity for big work, so I've been playing around with some ideas in smaller form, especially bulbs.  I mostly threw functional work over Christmas break, because I agreed to make a mug for a friend. 

I was interested in pushing elements out from inside, but again, thse are too fragile

I also spent more time than usual in the YVC studio this quarter. I haven't been able to spend as much time throwing in recent years because of the union and the design (or art history before that) classes I've been teaching.  In the fall, especially, I leaned on my studio assistant and work studies (once we had them) to take on a lot of the burden of loading and firing kilns. I also shifted a bit more of the loading/unloading of kilns to class time because that was the only time I had.

I was playing around with the extra chain links pressed into the mold

This winter, I was able to throw more example pieces, finish more pieces I threw as examples, and also catch up on a bunch of studio tasks I'd been putting off.  I've had a long list of demos, examples, videos, and signs I wanted to make for the studio, and a list of edits needed in the online portions of my classes. Finally in winter I was able to start working through some of these.

I also need to solve a problem related to these big guys from last summer

We are on spring break now, and I am not spending the whole week prepping classes or bargaining, for a change. I'm only teaching two classees, and those are stacked (because of the longer class meeting periods for studio classes, the balance of my teaching load is asymmetrical, even before adding the union release time I am getting in Winter and Spring, but didn't get in Fall before the CBA was ratified.

the big ones mostly cracked in firing, probably because of the size--possibly different clay would prevent this

I am trying to spend the break in the studio, though there's a long list of other tasks I've been putting off, too. I also plan to spend a day installing some work at YVC. Over winter quarter, the art faculty in Yakima got permission to install some of our work in the shared office areas, so I'm both looking forward to the work being up and not exactly looking forward to the install (because I don't like being on a ladder and the install is just a bit tedious).

so I can't really subject them to multiple additional firings for color, so I plan to paint them

Mostly, I'm feeling pretty good. It felt great to make progress in bargaining and even greater to get the whole CBA done. Fall was exhausting, so it felt good to catch my breath in winter. Now I'm looking forward to continuing to catch up on class stuff (the boring stuff, like improving organization for my many class video demos, and the important stuff like redoing or adding to those video demos).

but layering paint colors is different from layering underglaze colors, so I need to experiment

I'm also looking forward to doing some larger work in the studio. Larson Gallery has a new director and we discussed having a faculty show every 3 years. That's just about perfect, because it gives me some time to make new work (and experiment), with a spacious and flexible exhibition opportunity coming up eventually (but not too soon).

I bought some alternative materials so may I will eventually actually try them and maybe even write about my results

Labor Day Artists Tour Wrap Up

A view of some outdoor sculpture and sculpture garden on Sunday 

This weekend was the 4th annual Yakima Artist's Studio Tour. My studio was again on the tour, and again this year, the other 3 studio art faculty at YVC (Chris Otten, Monika Lemmon, and Kayo Nakamura), as was my daughter's jewelery (Dezignosaur on Instagram).

The sculputre path marks the route into the shed, backyard, and studio

Since it was all the same folks as last year, we tried to keep the good stuff from last year while making improvements. After the show last year I wrote down some ideas for things to do this year, but I didn't actually look at the whole list until the Thursday before the tour.

My studio on the first day of the show

A few changes or improvements I was able to implement this year (or keep from last year) included not putting out quite as much stuff as I sometimes do. I have a tendancy to worry that I don't have enough, so I dig out more and more. This year I put out the best functional work, but hid some pieces that weren't my favorites. I also didn't bother to unbox some work that was in the Dust faculty show earlier this year at Larson Gallery.

berry bowls

Something I found amusing was that during the show, someone asked me for a berry bowl in a color I didn't have on display. I had one stashed under the table, as I wasn't as happy with the interaction of the glaze and surface texture in that one. Since I had it nearby, though, I was able to bring it out for her. She didn't mind the color irregularlities, so I sold it to her at a discount.

berry bowls as pincushion heads

I had also boxed up, separately, some items that were damanged. At the end of the first day, Kayo and I were brainstorming about pieces that incorporated ceramics and mixed media, so stook a few of the pieces that were intact, but not great for food and turned them into pincushions/pin storage with heads.

my ceramic sculpture with Kayo's doll hands

The show ended up evolving over time, with more work showing up on the second day, especially from Kayo. The sculpture garden along the side of the house is a permanent part of the yard (since last year's show), but I added things to it for the show, as did Kayo.

Kayo's and my work hanging out in the rock garden together

I also had to replace some things that people ended up buying from the rock garden area. One person asked to buy a piece that had been out all year.

the shed being delivered (by a really neat truck)

A day or two before the show, the space for the show changed considerably. We had purchased a shed and weren't sure if it would be delivered before or after the Tour. As it happened, it was delivered right before and we decided to leave it empty for a few days in case anyone wanted to use it for art.

Kayo's work installed in the shed

As it happened, Kayo had a fabric piece that was just the right height for the interior of the empty shed. It was installed Sunday and was a delightful addition and surprise for anyone who attended both days.

Kayo's light up baby in the shed

As the show went on that day, she added a few more friends and surprises to both the interior of the shed and the rock garden and other spaces.

Chris's photo with googly eyes

Towards the end of the first day, as it was getting very hot outside and some of us were getting tired and maybe a bit silly, the googly eyes came out, creating a considerable change in the mood of some of the photographs and paintings.

Monika's painting with googly eyes

One of the delightful things about a group show like this, and more particularly, this particular group of people, is that while I was inside chatting with visitors to the show, changes were happening outside, so I didn't know about the googly eyes until I came out and saw Monika's largest painting, transformed.

Monika's work without googly eyes

I like doing this tour because I like having people come to my house to look at my beautiful studio and see my work. I also really like talking to folks about the art, about art making, about YVC, and more. 

Chris's skull with googly eyes

This year the four of us made a concerted effort to advertise to YVC faculty, staff, and administrators before the end of Spring quarter, since many faculty aren't on campus in summer.

my work and Kayo's on the porch of the shed

I also wanted the show to be fairly low stakes for everyone, since preparing work for a show can be stressful and all 4 of us teach full time, just had a big show in January, and don't always choose to make work that is particularly commercial. I kept reminding myself and everyone that the goal was showing our work, hanging out with nice people, and talking to more nice people, which I think we accomplished.

close up of Kayo's work

While people were visiting, we could often get into interesting and lively conversations. I found some of the particularly refreshing, both visits with people I know, but don't see all that often, and people I met this year at the show. One of my favorite surprise conversations was with a elementary educator who was asking for advice about setting up a home studio and finding time to make her own work. It was such a refreshing conversation that it made me feel much more excited for the start of the fall quarter.

Monika, Chris, and Kayo enjoying the weather before it gets super hot

During the lulls in the day, when visitors weren't around, the four of us, as well as our families, had time to chat and even make more work. For some of the time, Monika was drawing and Kayo was making cards with Chris advising on the text for the cards. She sold most of the cards, but when she had the whole stack, it was really funny to read through the whole set. 

Kayos drawings, mixed media, and cards on display

Overall, for me, the show was a welcome transition between summer (when I try to spend most of my time and energy in the studio, making work--or doing family stuff) and fall (when I need to prepare and teach my classes--not to mention my union duties, which never actually stop). 

Monika's work in the foreground, with Chris and Kayo's tables behind

Today, the day after the show, I did union work, of course, but also finished putting away the work and signs and other stuff from the show. My studio is now incredibly clean and I have whole shelves of space free for the next time I can carve out some time and energy for the studio.

My studio after I put away the tour stuff

My plan for the next two weeks is to stay out of the studio and try to relax a bit before the quarter starts, but I also moved the four works in progress down to the main work table and lower shelves so I can get those done when I do get back into the studio.

 

Labor Day Studio Tour 2024

You are cordially invited to join me at my home studio for the upcoming Labor Day weekend (August 31-September 2) for the 3rd annual Labor Day Weekend Artist's Studio Tour. This year's Tour features 8 locations and more than 30 artists.

The tour is Saturday August 31 and Sunday, September 1 from 10-4, with a shorter visit/pickup time on Monday, September 2 from 10-12.  Tickets are $10 and one ticket gets you into all 8 locations and all 3 days, meaning you can pack all the visits into one day, or take your time visiting all the studios throughout the weekend.

Tickets can be purchased at any of the studios or ahead of time by any of the artists, so let me know if you'd like a ticket, or just show up and we'll have one for you. Tickets come with a full color booklet that includes pictures and statements from the artists and a map of the locations on the tour. 

This year, just like last year, I am hosting the Yakima Valley College studio art faculty at my house. I will have pottery and ceramic sculptures on display and for sale, as well as work by Monika Lemmon, Chris Otten, and Kayo Nakamura.

I also expect that my daughter will have handmade jewelry created by her and friends under the name "Dezignosaur." 

I've spent a lot of my summer in the studio working, as well as a lot of time before and after last year's Tour getting ready for the Dust Faculty Exhibition at Larson Gallery, so I personally plan to have both new and older work. I don't know if I'll be able to finish all of my summer projects, so some might be works in progress during the Tour.

I hope to have a batch of functional thrown pieces fired in time for the tour. I've also been working on large scale sculpture that probably won't all be done.

I hope you will come visit us during the show, whether to pick up some pieces for yourself or as gifts, or just to chat with us and see my studio and our work. 

Please let me know if you have questions about the tour or would like to buy tickets. You can also check out the Artebella Gallery website for more information, pictures, and the locations of all the studios on the tour.

Sculpture Garden

the view of the sculpture garden from the back

Last year, after the end of the Labor Day Studio Tour, we decided to transform the failed garden along the side of our house into a sculpture garden. 

walking into our yard for the Artist's Studio Tour

During the tour, the garden had already been transformed into bare dirt, so as to better display the work for the tour, but we decided to make it permanent.

cat's view of the sculpture garden

This small strip of yard between the house and the pavement had housed a garden when my daughter was young. She and I worked together on it over the years to grow a variety of disappointing carrots, a few tomatoes and pea pods, some hearty rhubarb (until the plant somehow died), a few respectable pumpkins, one impressive watermelon, and too much mint. 

the piece on the left is high fire and ready to withstand the weather, but the tall piece is raku and much more fragile

As she got older and both her activities and mine got more complicated, both of us lost interest. I was only ever doing it beause it seemed like you "should" help a kid learn to garden. I hated being hot and working in the sun, not to mention remembering to water and weed all the time. Eventually, I think, her youthful excitement at the miracle of life was overwhelmed by her growing recognition that this was a lot of work for not a lot of payoff.

the yellow and black piece in the foregorund is raku, while behind it is a high fire piece that was damaged by force

I remember seeing her Grandmother's beautiful greenhouse with berries and lush greenery and even kumquats and being both impressed and dejected. But she said something whose phrasing I forget but whose meaning has stuck with me, basically: she spends a lot of time on her garden, while I'm to busy to be any good at gardening. 

the closest piece dates back to my MFA show and was also displayed in a garden

Well, I appreciate the folks who do grow tasty plants for the farmers market and those who brighten up my walk to school. And I have some idea that at least some of those folks like spending time on gardening, but that's not me, so this new garden is a perfect fit for us for visual appeal, limited maintenance, and not having to water it.

The ceramic "rocks" inside this wood fired piece blend in with the real rocks aound it (unfortunately, this is the the one that got stepped on)

My husband put down the brick trim and the rocks, and then I simply arranged some old sculptures on that side of the house.  Most of the sculpture has stayed intact pretty well in the nearly 11 months since they've been out. A few pieces were done with low fire clay, so they were damaged a bit during winter, but not as much as I expeted. One more piece was stepped on, we think, when a guy was lurking around our window last year.  

view of the garden today from the front

I'd like of like to put some larger work in the rocky area near the front, but I'm a bit worried that I'll put in the work and then someone will swipe it--or smash it. On the other hand, we've had a large sculpture on the front porch for over 17 years and it's only been pulled off the porch by teenagers and left on its side in the front lawn once in all that time.