Susan Montague...watercolorist

 "I'm learning to sponsor myself, no longer the servant but a master of my own time and destiny.  It's all about intention...knowing when to open the door and then when to close it again."
Joan Anderson "a year by the sea"


This quote was shared by Susan Montague, an artist we met and had the good fortune to work close to for a couple of years.  The quote and book were shared as part of a back and forth of books...everyday needs... a bit of reading for all of us.  It was also part of an ongoing discussion about "what do we need..."

After the art reception for our show, "Juxtaposition" and the many friends who walked through the door in support...including Susan, it was time for a respite...and Santa Fe.   One of my goals was to go through doors never gone through before....I found some treasures for sure.

I have great admiration and respect for Susan's steadfast walk through doorways....and her beautiful work...and a friendship!

Susan's watercolor's show intuitive, sensitive brushwork...and, open doors to the soul...

Congratulations to Susan! and this next doorway....

"Faces"

Figurative Paintings by Susan Montague

May 2 through May 26

Artist Reception

Friday, May 18th 2012

6:00 TO 9:00

Artists on Santa Fe Gallery

747 Santa Fe Drive

Denver

Juxtaposition

"I'm nervous..." I told Jill and she replied..."you two are brilliant! All you have to do is show up."
Well, an art reception is the culmination of effort and emotion at the very least. And, you do "show up" as an important part of the process that includes the viewers shared observations.
"Juxtaposition" is on view at the Curtis Center through May.  Several people asked about the title.  Jo Cole, the gallery director, described the term as referencing two completely different shows, side by side.
I made a list of what I thought might work as a group... coil pots, figures, functional, seed pots, a few surprises.. one room to fill.   After that, do the work. The delivery date is a firm deadline and at that point your work leaves your hands and moves to the pedestals.
When the doors opened on the eve of May 5th we welcomed family, friends, former collectors, new acquaintances, former students....but they are also in the friend category now... and invited them to look and hopefully have a few moments of delight.  It is exciting and I do enjoy the conversation sparked by the finished objects.
So, we did indeed "show up" and the whole evening was, in fact, a gift.

"Re-Emerging"

May's issue of "Ceramics Monthly" has a wonderful article by Dick Lehman titled "Re-Emerging".  It begins with a letter from his friend Howard that includes the thought :
"This is the time to be proactive in deciding the future you want, with the time you have left.  Something that will allow you to pursue your interests....and give you time and flexibility to pursue your priorities."
The article is short and if I knew how to pass it along to you I would but you'll just have to get the magazine.
The article that follows is his thoughtful response on the topic of re-emerging after a significant change in our life.
He includes an "advice to myself list" that hit home for me...
One of the items on the list is "Continue to investigate what you already know."

So, as I have worked on the pieces for the upcoming show at the Curtis Center I reached a point where I gave up trying to rein in my tendency to make precariously perched, thin, fragile, delicate vessels and let it go.  Truthfully they probably would have gone that direction anyway.  Now,  I think they should go farther and that I should push them taller or wider or bigger...maybe even thinner...

The works finished this morning

I have read and re-read this article.  It is a powerful challenge.

"And it is not unusual for major life transitions to remind us of life's deeper questions.  Our definitions of career success may need rethinking.  Are we happy with our lives and work if our mortality catches up with us sooner rather than later? The answers to these questions will affect our work."

May 2012 Re-Emerging by Dick Lehman whose personal website is www.dicklehman.com 

So, the show will come before I have pushed as far as I can...but I'll work on being "proactive."

yes and no thank you...with style

I had the good fortune to participate in "Uncommon Ground," a biennial show by NCECA held at the Arvada Center in Colorado.  When the show was over I received a wonderful letter thanking me for participating and wishing me well.  I saved the letter because it is a reminder...a teaching moment of gracious behavior.  The letter was a delightful surprise...on top of beautifully displaying the artwork, sending invitations to an elegant reception...and then, a thank you for participating!

In March I received a letter of rejection from Howard Taylor, the Director of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.  It is another fine example of gracious behavior.  In it he says:
"I have noticed that over the years artists that were not selected for one competition, made it into another one, so I hope you will not be discouraged.  After the jurors made their selection, we reviewed all the works that were not accepted.  There were many we wish had been accepted but we understand the difficulty and limitations.  We are very grateful to you for your interest and appreciate the challenges faced by all artists.
The museum would like to have a continuously running presentation of all entries submitted during the exhibition opening..."
Well now, so on April 20th the images of my artwork will be included in a very unique "no thank you."

Both letters make me want to write a "thank you" for my "thank you."!

Betsy Williams (whose tea bowls are shown here)...an artist working in New Mexico...will be one of the 106 artists participating.

healing

A little over a year ago Pat and Craig moved to Colorado.  I met them 20 or so years ago in California...up a winding road in the Carmel valley.  Craig owned a graphic design business in Monterey and Pat had done many things but a highlight...meaning that of all the experiences in Pat's life it was a gem to celebrate till the end of life....was owning a gallery...one and a half years of her life....and a pinnacle.  I loved meeting them and found their life inspiring, poignant, challenging...the stuff of a lively relationship.  Tomorrow is Easter and a year ago Pat guided me to make the deviled eggs for the family gathering.  This is such a simple recipe with such infinite family variations.  Deep sigh...and soooo much fun! Tomorrow I make deviled eggs again.
It's a complicated life story and in the end Pat still asked me about my love of owning a gallery and being an artist...I told her the stories of the people I met...she loved the "events." On February 26th her family gathering was a farewell.  I took her hand and she simply said...barely audible...Teresa...love you.  She died around midnight.
Craig is 90 now.  He had lived his life with Pat for 68 years when she left.  As an artist his hands have always reached for the sketchbook...the brushes....the resources.
For artists even at the moments of profound loss and sadness, opening the bag of clay, reaching for the pencil or the brushes...even at 90...it is a healing move.  For the artist, touching our tools, lifting them to our work,  brings peace.
There is an art therapist....a grief counselor, Amanda, who works at Pathways Hospice in Ft. Collins...she gently sets the easel up and the canvas...provides a "clean, well lit space"...and by handing him the brushes whispers..."just do it" to Craig...
Hmmm....a studio...a healing place.
And, at 90 he reaches out and paints.

a clean...well lit space...a studio

So, because of a crescendo of events I ended up with no studio as of January 2012.
My first workspace was the carport under an apartment in Panama, when I was in Kindergarten and my mother used the clothes line to hang my paintings.  Eventually, while in high school, I worked at the table in the dining room of our home in the Philippines....close to the kitchen, well lit and easy to clean.
In college I bought my potter's wheel (Harlen Mosier built about 10 a year)...it is still my treasure.  When you had your own wheel you had a small workspace...meaning against a wall with cinder block shelves to put your tools and work on.
I have had many tables in many basements....I prefer sunlight, but no complaining.
Last week, a friend of mine asked me how I was liking working in my new studio in my home.  I replied....sooooo....I haven's exactly had a studio....but....

years ago...
I think it was Mary Rogers again describing her "studio"...teacups to rest bowls in, sponges for support, plastic bags in strips to lift her pots out.  This artist whose work is in museums and collections all over this world....gently said "just do it...." ( nike-ish)

And so, I have.  My friend laughed and said well...at least it cuts down on clean up time!
Yes, once again, well lit and easy to clean....it's all good.
I should have a studio again in April...upstairs....in the sunlight.

Lalique perfume bottles

"...perfume bottles are designed to contain magic, which is only unleashed when the bottle is opened..." (Collectors Weekly)

Antique Roadshow introduced me to the beautiful perfume bottles of Rene Lalique.  Looking at the incredible array of bottles with "tiara" like stoppers nudged me to consider different forms for my coil pots. I'm intrigued with having a removable top to my vessels.

Still working....