For me 2018 was drawn to a close with a bang! Dec 20 a massive windstorm hit the little island I live on plunging us into darkness. The damage was so extensive we had no power for 10 days, and an additional 9 days for before phone and internet was restored. This force of nature took 14 gorgeous Douglas fir trees surrounding our house out by their roots . 

Mid way through the power outage I slipped onto a plane to another universe. I travelled to Mendocino CA to the Smitten Forum. The enchantment of this experience began as the four of us met at the airport. Picking up our rental vehicle we wound our way through San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge, our excited chatter and laughter echoing in the overfull rental vehicle. We arrived at the Mendocino Art Centre as it was getting dark and it was as beautiful as I remembered; following the sound of voices, laughter and scent of great food we found the other participants of The Smitten Forum. Oh, how to explain the benefits of the Smitten Forum?!?  Inspiring, enriching, renewing, relaxing, invigorating…fabulous food, laughter, stories, sharing technical information, collaboration, support, new friendships, deepening existing ones, gorgeous scenery; in a word transformative….just as a new year should be. Thank you Marrissa Sachez and Sara Brown for one of the most amazing starts to a new year. Thank all your efforts and work and for the magic you weave into the group.

Here’s a few views of my bench and work.  I knew what I had planned would change and although I brought copper mesh and enamels I haven’t yet used them.  I was little sidetracked to find an Orion Pulse Arc Welder and an electroformer at NSCAD…I have been using thin copper to foil to rapidly make shapes and form them.  More on the Pulse Arc Welder in another post.

As part of the Summer Visiting Artist Series the Artist in Residence is available for studio visits with the students.  A day is assigned for this and the students sign up.  I assumed the students would be visiting me in my studio space and I also assumed that they would be jewellery students.  I was motivated and surprised to realize that they were from different disciplines and due to the nature of their work I got to visit the students in their studios.  It was enriching to see other parts of the school and different studios.  Here are some images of  the ceramics area of the new port campus of NSCAD University.  I was impressed by the amazing kilns and the exciting work.  Thank you to the students who shared their work and process with me.  It was a pleasure to meet with you and wishing you every success with your work.

Here I am in Halifax, so excited to be invited for the Summer Visiting Artist Series at NSCAD University!!  I will be having a solo exhibition at the Anna Leonowens Gallery and will be Artist-in-Residence in Jewellery for the month of June.  June 2 I met with Kye-Yeon Son who helped me get settled in the studio.  She showed me how to use the Orion pulse arc welder, I am going have some time to practice with that wonderful piece of equipment.   The studio technician Danielle Thorn is wonderful, so helpful and knowledgable! Here are some images of the lovely studio at NSCAD, you can see why I am so excited to be here for a month.   I know I will be wishing it was longer.

I am very excited to be invited to NSCAD University as part of Summer Visiting Series 2016.  Stay tuned for more posts on my progress on the work for my solo exhibition at the Anna Leonowens Gallery, NSCAD University.  I will also be posting on the work I do while I am Artist-in Residence there.  My residency is scheduled for June 2016.