SBCAST - artist residency

Early morning ocean energy soothes and invigorates my soul. Yes. Both.

I finally (after five days) ventured in the pre-dawn darkness to the beach. What took me so long....?! The last time I arrived in Santa Barbara (pre-Covid) the first thing I did was walk to the beach. Almost burned my Montana mountain white flesh as I forgot sunscreen in my eagerness (November 2019). Each morning during the month-long residency, I’d bike a few blocks to the ocean where I walked and meditated beneath impressive sunrises. This round , my second residency here, I realize just how much COVIDness encouraged my hermit tendencies. Lordy the adjustment from my studio at the end of a road near the top of a mountain to the hustle and bustle of city-life is an overwhelmingly bigger leap than usual!!!!! Frankly I find myself overwhelmed by SO MUCH civilization outside my door and between the ocean and me. Goodness the first time I visited the beach this trip was upon the invitation to a silent disco where my ice-climbing un-boot bound bare feet joyfully danced on grass next to the sandy beach. Headphones silenced the ocean while strangers’ smiles expressed unmasked joy on gyrating bodies (socially distanced) but so many peeps.

Thank you Ocean, for calling me out, inviting me IN -giving me strength and comfort, inspiration and recognition. Gratitude.

The foxes are in-the-raw at my studio for final approval before they go back to the foundry for patina (patina is the process of using a torch and layering colors for metal). I find myself exceptionally giddy about shipping the little sculptures off to their new homes since collectors have been patiently waiting for months. COVID crunched sculpture casting progress as foundries still struggle to to keep up. Don’t Fancy the little buggers look kinda fancy in front of the frame? (another new painting)

Change of Seasons...

Feeling spring as the ice melts and rivers flow...

“You do not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.” - Heraclitus (ca.549-480 BC)

"Song of Solitude"

“Work at least as hard in the invisible world as you do in the visible world.” -Rumi

Asked to participate in an exhibition with 49 other female artists and their response to COVID, “Song of Solitude” is the piece I shared in the exhibition called “I5OLATION - A Portfolio of 50 Drawings X 50 Women Sculptors during COVID”

Gratitude

I am a hungry big-eyed featherless baby bird perched in our nest on this mountain - happy to be fed bits of sky.

Grandma Smells Like Roses

Still feeling Valentine-ee - so how about a carved rose or two? Detail from “Grandma Smells Like Roses” - a series of sculptural fountains I created a few decades ago...

My Valentine

Raymond wrote this note on Facebook today:

“We still grow, learn, and love each other more each day. This adventure is what fuels our compassion and allows us to love the world and everything in it so.”

Will you be my Valentine?

Even when the cubs where just in clay they were obviously meant to be together - always.

Hiking Above our Cozy Mountain Home

Light-footed and fluffy with tail-wagging delight (and almost incognito), Tala is a daily dose of flow (with curiosity and awe).

New Year....on ice (isn't it nice?)

More deeply aware and appreciative of the transience in all things - my overwhelming feelings are gratitude and awe as we embark in a NEW year together.

Early morning rituals...

Enjoying the seasonal light while journaling - heart lit like the tree.

Representing Livingston life - COVID style

When our lovely hometown asked us to star in this local promotional video we found ourselves enjoying our first date night since COVID sequestered us at home back in March. We left our cozy home up here at the end of the road near the top of a mountain above Livingston and found ourselves dining and shopping in front of cinematographer Scott Johnson of Yellowstone Productions. The food at the Livingston Bar and Grill was OUTSTANDING!!!

How do I recharge?

Totally stumped during a recent interview by the question “how do you recharge?” I stumbled for an answer. Perhaps because the things which refuel me are intricately woven into the fabric of my life both inside and outside the studio. Creativity recharges me. So does Momma Nature, Kundalini, laughter, love making, naps, super fine chocolate and even the dark hard places. Exhaustion and exhilaration can actually co-occur.

Break from Social Media

I’ve been spiritually immersed and vividly present in life - adventuring inside and outside the studio. Frankly I have rarely felt compelled to engage with social media these past many months.

I do think of you.

Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, prompted by the idea that I “should” post this or that amazing mountain summit shot, sunrises, sunsets, creative explorations and then too - shouldn’t I promote new art? But new artworks (like this piece from another prayer flag series) seem to organically find their way into collector’s hands.

Feels like good medicine in this moment.