Archive for creativity

My Town Monday: Art in the Valley

By fromskilledhands ( October 20, 2008 at 5:19 pm) · Filed under Art, Artists, creativity, Cuyahoga Valley, My Town Monday, Peninsula

The arts have always been alive and well in the Village of Peninsula. And the Cuyahoga Valley is a beautiful place to see both natural and man-made art, to listen to music and to dance.

For the past 20 years, we have looked out our window at the Cuyahoga River, and have watched the seasons change. Nature has always influenced our work.

I have an affinity toward Oriental art—the proportions, the way all the design elements move through space, the sense of quiet. These tiles are carved from porcelain clay. After the first firing, colors are inlaid into the carved areas, the excess is removed, and the glaze is applied. These pieces often require multiple firings before they are ready to be framed.

Of
This piece is called Of the Earth.

Silence
This piece is Silence.

The Peninsula Art Academy’s current exhibition is called Political Issues. With the November elections around the corner, and the travesty of the current administration’s policies impacting so many aspects of our lives, it is a timely show.

sign

Don
Don Getz’s collage, “Thanks John”

Do
Stephanie Sibit’s acrylic painting is called “Do It For Liberty”

The Log Cabin Gallery is a wonderful place to explore local art in a lovely setting. Autumn Here and There is the current show. It features autumn-themed, traditional art with a funky, wily nily twist by local and regional artists as well as artists who now live away.

near
On the way to the Log Cabin Gallery.

art
A view of artwork inside the Log Cabin Gallery.

Celebrating the cultural legacy of the Cuyahoga Valley, the Heritage Series presents a variety of great lectures and music. There are contra-dances on the 4th Saturday and on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.

The hills and valleys sing with the incredible beauty that is this Valley, named Cuyahoga for the crooked river that runs through it.
And in it is the Village of Peninsula, population 602, gently resisting change since 1837.

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I am proud to join the other My Town Monday Marauders in sharing our towns with you. MTM is the brainchild of Travis Erwin. Wander on over to his place, and see where it takes you. You’ll have a good time, and learn a bunch. Really.

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On Creativity

By fromskilledhands ( October 1, 2008 at 10:04 pm) · Filed under Art, creativity, TED talks

Creativity and education are subjects that are close to my heart. Folks often tell me that they are not creative, that they wish they were so. And yet, these are people who are parents—what better manifestation of creativity that our children? And our children that are kind, compassionate world citizens are testaments to our paths.

These are people who write, or who work with people or who live their daily lives with their humanness intact. Manifestations of creativity abound. We just need to know how to see them.

Sir Ken Robinson is an interesting man. Listen to what he has to say, and let me know what you think.

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Be Brave

By fromskilledhands ( September 12, 2008 at 10:37 pm) · Filed under Artists, Community, Craft, creativity, Discoveries, Musings

Over at Diary of a Self-Portrait, Jessie writes about her Be Brave Project. She quotes Eleanor Roosevelt:

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”

Interesting words.
To me, it includes:
being willing to stretch,
to expand our horizons and
to reach beyond our comfort zones;
to take chances;
to have faith in ourselves and in our processes.
It is
standing up for what, in our heart of hearts, we know as truth.
As artists, we grow as we explore our world, both inner and outer, through our work

What would you do each day?

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My Town Monday: the Road Most Traveled

By fromskilledhands ( August 4, 2008 at 4:32 pm) · Filed under Adirondack Mountains, Blue Mountain Lake, Caring, creativity, Helping, Musings, Now, Words

This week’s My Town Monday post is on the road most traveled—–you know, the one that is paved with good intentions.

I had intended to write about our trip to beautiful Blue Mountain Lake, NY, where we visited the Adirondack Museum, climbed mountains, and played in the clear water of the lake. We met some wonderful people and went to a talent show at Prospect Point Cottages. Ice cream played an important part of our week, and we dutifully tasted a wide variety of flavors and brands. When I was looking for links to post, I came across the Blue Mountain Center, a working community of writers, artists, activists and musicians. Take a look at their website—interesting food for thought.

View Larger Map

Then, LIFE HAPPENED: we had an out of town guest, my niece got married on Saturday (it was beautiful), I had to work at the 4-H Dog Agility Show on Sunday evening.

I will plan on posting photos and more stories from our trip next week. Scroll down to my last post here, add a comment and you could win a Little Blue Santa.
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As always, My Town Monday is brought to you by the incomparable Travis Erwin. Take a trip on over to his site for a look at Taos, New Mexico, and links to others in the My Town Monday crew. You’ll read some great writing, see some great photos, and learn a lot.

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Rock On, Little Blue Guy!

By fromskilledhands ( August 1, 2008 at 10:40 pm) · Filed under Christmas, Collecting, creativity, Cuyahoga Valley, Gifts, Giveaway, Gratitude, little Blue Santa, Love, Passing it on, Peninsula

I have written about one of my own true loves, the Little Blue Santa, and how he has touched so many people. I have written about making him, and how he has changed our lives.

We continue to hear from people whose lives have been blessed by the Little Blue Guy. Relationships that have been rekindled, family histories that have been recalled. Memories, the tapestries of family history; the delicious, sweet fabric of our lives have been made richer.

Our little business, located in the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, has been touched by the lovely and gentle Blue Santa. He has enabled us to share the process with others whose skills and natures have enriched our lives.

making
Making Santa Molds

These skilled hands are still making Little Blue Santas, and we are working on a glaze for a Little Green Santa.

Santas

unglazed
Santas Waiting to be Glazed

Santa's

Blue
Little Blue Santas in the Kiln

Little

****We will be giving away a Little Blue Santa. To be entered into our high tech drawing (in which I draw a number from a hat), post a comment.

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Working With Porcelain Clay

By fromskilledhands ( July 31, 2008 at 10:35 am) · Filed under Clay, Craft, creativity, pottery

Back in May of 2007, I wrote about working with porcelain clay,

I love porcelain clay. I love everything about it. I love the delicate smooth quality of it and how it requires that I pay attention. I love that it doesn’t let me hide; every finger and nail mark is right there. These are the marks of the craftsman; they show you the item was made by a person rather than a machine.

Working with porcelain is kind of like working with Philadelphia cream cheese as a canvas. You have to wait for just the right balance between wet and dry; an exercise in attentiveness.It’s a useful thing thing to work on.

I have been working on a new series of tiles, and some carved vases. My husband throws the vases, and I carve them. Here are a couple of pieces in process:

Hands

carved

carved

.

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Of Animals, Gardens and Art

By fromskilledhands ( July 8, 2008 at 12:39 pm) · Filed under Animals, Art, Artists, Clay, Craft, creativity, Cuyahoga Valley, Gardens

Besides her family, Cuyahoga Valley artist Pat Raeder’s main interests are animals and gardening. She considers herself lucky because she gets to play with dirt all year long. Each has its season: from the middle of August through Thanksgiving, and into the new year, Pat works with clay. In April, she begins the design process for her incredibly beautiful gardens.

The Jungle Series has developed over time; Pat worked on sketches for the series for many months. This group of pieces gave Raeder the opportunity to “stretch” as an artist: the pieces are more complex than those she has done in the past, and she has used more color. When I look at the work, I see a range of forms, each with it’s own character. Some are whimsical, some more serious; all have personalities and a story to tell.

junglefruit
Jungle Fruit
Stoneware clay, decorated with underglazes; on wood base
12″ x 12″ x 22″

Synchronicity is an interesting thing. Although Pat had taken a sculpture class in art school, she didn’t focus on clay. About 35 years ago, Pat Raeder’s husband was given a potter’s wheel and a kiln. He gave it to Pat for Christmas, and they put it in their basement. Teaching herself to throw on the potter’s wheel, Pat’s work slowly improved. But throwing wasn’t her main interest. She began to notice other potters’ work, and the variety of styles and techniques. Finding her niche in hand building, Pat has made jewelry, garden art, animals and this series. The repetition involved in producing the work over many years is a process of study and refinement, so that the artist’s hands and heart know what to do. Pat said that once she started thinking about the Jungle Series, new ideas “kept popping.” I am glad they did.

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My Town Monday: The Animals That Didn’t Get Away

By fromskilledhands ( July 6, 2008 at 9:29 pm) · Filed under Art, Community, creativity, Cuyahoga Valley, Giveaway, My Town Monday, Peninsula, Peninsula Python, pottery, Python Festival

In a previous My Town Monday post, I wrote about the story of the Peninsula Python, where a runaway python, or the story thereof, terrorized the Village of Peninsula in the summer of 1944. Folks have long speculated what happened to the python, although no one really knows for sure.

PeninsulaPythonLogo

On July 19th, the Village of Peninsula will celebrate the runaway reptile with the Peninsula Python Festival. From 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM, the python’s story will be commemorated with a costume parade, contests, games, music, artists’ demonstrations, food (does it taste like chicken?), and other events. Python sculptures will be decorated and displayed around the Village. Dolly Python is already adorning the front of the Downtown Emporium on the corner of Main Street and Locust. I am finishing the 2nd paper mache layer of our python. After it is completed, I’ll post photos of it for your viewing pleasure.

Our studio and gallery, Elements Gallery, is featuring the work of Akron artist, Pat Raeder. Pat is premiering her Jungle Series (the animals that didn’t get away). I’ll write more about Pat and her work in a separate post.

**On another note, #2 daughter and I will be traveling to the Adirondacks this week. I’ll try to have a post for next week. Stay tuned….

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Post a comment and you, too can be a member of the Peninsula Python Posse. Sam, Travis, Barrie, and the newest member of the Peninsula Python Posse, Eryl, would love your company (and you could win cool stuff, too!)

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As always, the head honcho of the My Town Monday crew is Travis Erwin. Take a trip on over to his site, One Word, One Rung, One Day, and you can virtually visit places all over this blue planet.

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My Town Monday: How Art Gives People Community

By fromskilledhands ( June 16, 2008 at 4:08 pm) · Filed under Art, Community, creativity, Parade the Circle

What do 2000 artists, dancers, stilt walkers and other paraders have in common with 60,000 spectators? Community, when they are part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle. Saturday, for the 7th year, #2 daughter and I joined in the spectacular celebration of the arts that just completed its 19th year.

We had spent the 6 weeks prior to Parade preparing for the event, my daughter as an intern, and me, as a volunteer. We paper mached, painted and sewed. #2 daughter taught people how to safely walk on stilts, and then how to perform.

The skies were dark Friday evening, thunder rumbled in the distance and the promise of rain was clear. When the winds picked up and the air was charged with electricity, workshop participants were directed to the basement classrooms in the Cleveland Museum of Art. A heavy thunderstorm announced the arrival of the cold front that would give us relief from the heat and humidity of the past week. The question of Saturday’s weather was raised. The forecast called for clouds and light rain in the morning, and clear skies later in the afternoon. When we left the Museum’s workshop tents at 3:00 AM, it was still raining.

It’s hard to go to sleep when the sky is getting lighter and the birds are singing. Even when you’re exhausted and you know that you need to rest before a big event. After a few hours of rest, we dragged ourselves down the hill to the Museum. There is nothing quite like those moments before Parade. The feeling of camaraderie among those who have worked together so hard for so long is palpable. As we shared bagels and coffee, we took care of the things that were necessary, before 2000 paraders descended on the site.

The clouds cleared, the sun came out, and the sky became a brilliant blue. Paraders lined up behind their colored balloon arches, a Suzuki violin ensemble, led by a stilt walker, played the beginning notes and Parade began.

Artists, dancers, musicians from all over the world shared the process with people from the greater Cleveland area, creating people powered floats, music and other forms of art. No words or logos are permitted. A volunteer “tunic patrol” is on the premises to ensure that there are no violations of this policy; offenders are cheerfully provided with a “festive” tunic to cover their garments.

An amazing and talented stilt walker, #2 daughter was in the finale. I was part of another artist’s ensemble this year.
Parade the Circle brings people of diverse backgrounds and varying interests together. It is a clear and amazing demonstration of the fact that art transcends differences, and that it is an essential part of all our lives.

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My Town Monday is the brain child of Travis Ervin. Take a trip on over to his site; you will find links to other My Town Marauders from places hither and yon. You won’t regret it.

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My Town Monday: Up the Road a Piece to the North

By fromskilledhands ( June 8, 2008 at 11:29 pm) · Filed under Community, creativity, Cuyahoga Valley, Giveaway, My Town Monday, Parade the Circle, Peninsula, Peninsula Python

It’s been hot and humid here in my town this past week. So hot in fact, that my fingers alternate between sticking to the keyboard and sliding off. My brain seems to be doing the same; the heat and humidity and pollen from the cottonwoods and the grasses are rendering me without inspiration—–maybe it’s because so much energy is being spent on perspiration.

Last week’s winner of the drawing—- a very high tech drawing, consisting of my picking a number from a hat—- and the newest member of the Peninsula Python Posse, is no other than the Chief My Town Marauder, Travis Erwin. Travis wins some cool goodies from my town, Peninsula, Ohio. Stroll on over to his blog, One Word, One Rung, One Day, and you’ll not only read about Travis’ neck of the woods, Amarillo, Texas, but you’ll find links to great stories written by bloggers all over the world.

This week, I’m going to tell you about a fabulous event that occurs the 2nd Saturday in June, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle.

This community art’s festival is a true celebration of the arts, a collaboration among the world class Cleveland Museum of Art, local and regional artists and art organizations, and the Greater Cleveland community. Stilt dancers, giant puppets, people powered floats, groups large and small parade around Cleveland’s University Circle, A wide variety of non-electric music, from steel drums to percussion and jazz ensembles contribute to the festivities.

Parade gives people the opportunity to discover, explore and celebrate their creative energy. It is a truly celebration of creativity, both individual and community. If you’re in our general vicinity on Saturday, June 14, join us. I promise you that we’ll all be smiling.

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