Third grade & mosaic tiling

I have been asked to teach the third grade art, an artist in residence type of class. On my trusty 1999 flower power imac I have rendered to scale a mosaic tile and welded metal creation. In the main composition I have laid out a grid representing individual blocks of wood the children will be tiling. My design will be color coded onto the individual blocks for a pattern of color to follow. In the end they will have completed their individual works of art that will be puzzled into a group project framed in a black mosaic border. The welded arched metal frame will be done with a team of volunteers separately from the students. Welding and 68 third graders....ah no. It is scheduled to be completed this June. I will repost this rendering along with the completed piece at that time.

Prepare to dance!

In my recent quest to learn the piano I have discovered my brain strains. It takes intense focus for me to learn how to read music and transform the notes thru my brain and out my fingertips with the correct sounds and finger coordination. I never knew such a thing as "fingering" existed. After many many sets of practice sessions, it is quite rewarding when it all comes together. Just don't call me during the process, the setback is tenfold! I would love to bring as much joy as this man (click here) has brought to me thru music. Prepare to dance.

Electric blue

My second of my top two favorites. Forgot what it was labeled but it's unbelievably stunning. This electric blue (CLICK HERE & enjoy the mullets) cropping shows the detail. The piece was 6 or 7 feet in height and was suspended from a rusty steel support beam from an enormous metal screened canopy on the Garden grounds. Pure bliss.

Flashless

The tippy top of the "Mexican Hat" vibrant display. Having the camera settings as to not need a flash was a beautiful way to capture the intensity of his work against the evening sky.

A bright bit of the sun in the evening

A cropping of the "Sun" after sunset.

One of the top 2

The "Float Boat" was one of my top two favorite installations. The aged wooden boat was large enough to fit six adults comfortably and was overflowing with hand blown spheres ranging in sizes larger than the inflated exercise ball that sits in my closet supporting a stack of haphazardly tossed worn clothing.

Hand blown glass in the desert garden

The Desert Botanical Gardens has an exhibit on the incredible glass artist Dale chihuly. I am amazed at his talents and wish I could include all of the photos I had taken. Here are a few of my favorites. This one captured the desert terrain and is one of many entitled "ferns". CLICK HERE to view a snazzy youtube production with a happy tune (someone else had much more time than I to compile their photo treasures!)

An inspirational return home

Last week I was in the Phoenix area where I've spent most of my life. I revisited a favorite restaurant Rancho De Tia Rosa. Good food and an outstanding atmosphere. I have enclosed a snapshot of an inside doorway with a saguaro ribbed ceiling. The architecture and over all decor enriches my inspirational mind.

Forge ahead!

It's comforting to know the rhododendron's are forging ahead with their objective despite the snowy weather. They are an initial presence of the floral and foliage detonation to come.

A simple snowy March Monday

These old & new bottles have a front row seat to Mother Natures grand performances. They sit perched on a 89 year old window ledge observing the ever changing Gorge weather, seeming perfectly content to be there without resistance. A simple flick for an uncomplicated day.