Yes. I have returned, heart and head filled with new and ancient sights. directions to take my art or to do art at all.  What next and where shall I go? Me at dolmen and then beside Luke Kelly's grave at Glasnevin. The singer had my heart. 

On my way to Ireland for three weeks, touring all over, museums and archeology by day, live music in the afternoons and evenings (friend Mick Moloney leads the tour), time by myself in Dublin to get into some trouble, eh? I've waited for this journey a long time...and expect it will fill me up with warmth and strength and history.

Yes, I've been in Scottish pipe bands off and on since I was 13... took up Scottish dancing then (still am member of Eugene Highlanders as a tenor drummer)...but the compelling music which feeds me is Irish...go figure (and me a Viking...hah!)

Slán

Going to Ireland this spring, something I've desired for years and years. Been in contact with someone I knew and admired long ago. He takes tours to several places in the world all summer. Architecture and museums by day, music by night. Sounds perfect to me. Hope to fill my camera with thousands of images to later render in paint, pencil and clay. Plus I love to sing, particularly Irish songs. 

Still with the pipe band as a tenor drummer. There's to be a Burn's Night supper in January...piping, dancing singing and poetry reading. Lots of men (and women) in kilts... haggis too, with an official blessing. Let's hope it's the good haggis made right here in Oregon

Had a grand time at the Artists and Writer's faire last Saturday which fundraises for county library summer youth programs. How are we to keep kids reading books if we can't provide books for them? I'm glad to be a contributor to this program.

I have things at Vistra Gallery in their Best of Vistra show...plus there are a few of my pieces left at the Jacob's final show Small Pleasures. Very disappointing to lose this public gallery. It is one of many reasons I'll be moving. A city of the arts needs to do more that just lip service to that idea. There is no market here for the producers of fine arts and crafts. 



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Amazingly warm temperatures here, things starting to bud before I can even get out to do winter pruning...life gets ahead of me. After December break during which time I played music with friends, had dinners, celebrated the Solstice, put up a sweet tree with a few Swedish folk art ornaments and generally stayed away from my desk, I am once again at it. 

A show at Oregon Art Supply on Pearl of collages and random eclectic assemblages hangs there through February. Will be open late during the First Friday Art Walk. Come visit me, share stories, cash, whatever...The art work above is a large 24" collage which includes some tile,  rusty bits, a irreparable banjo frame, bookkeeping by Grandma Pauline, buckle and strap from old Seaforth mild circa 1920 & acrylic paint.

Bisqued a ton of tile pieces, enough for two loads of glazed bits. More to come....

A busy year so apologies for not keeping up with blog... many new works, many more now in happy living spaces.

Recently I participated in the Artists and Writers fundraiser for the Eugene Library summer reading programs. Last year the sale was snowed out so I was glad to lend my skills toward helping them. While I work every day on tile making and painting, I listen to books on CD checked out from the library, appreciating being read to so I can concentrate on what I am making.

I made hundreds of 'folk art' animal ornaments which were successfully received. Now to make more while the season is still upon us. Naming the line after my Grandmother Amanda, I call it Swenska Hus and use a photo of her in 1953 on her one and only return visit to Sweden, standing with half sisters in front of the home she was born in. 

I visited that same three room red and white farm house with my family in 1961. Hope it still stands today.

I've been away from this site but busy as can be…never knew retirement could be this taxing, er, delightful. So many things to do, so much time to squander (not).
While my Eugene gallery, the Art Annex is no longer, I am still working on ceramic tiles, mirrors and panels. Completed the Chinese New Year trilogy, now looking for a place to receive it, show it, install temporary or long term. It's a wonderful swirl of color and pattern. Overall measurement 3'x5', each panel separately 18"x36".  I still have work at Touchstone and Earthworks in Yachats and Newport, Oregon, as well as little ceramic birdies at Real Mother Goose in downtown Portland and their airport gallery at PDX.

The other big news is one of my tiled mirrors, called Bright Promise, will be in the International Mosaic Show in Houston, Texas. Show is sponsored by the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA), of which I am a member…it runs from late April thru the end of May. Let me know if you want more details. Not sure yet if I can attend their conference.

I quite love this mirror and it's all ready to ship with a custom new box by Diversified Shipping on Charnelton in Eugene . They do a great job preparing art for travel. Yes, it's for sale $900.00 plus shipping, eh?

Here's the album I put together for Étouffée in the days when they still made actual albums for turntables (ask  grandparents about em)... printing was cheaper with black ink and one color...The alligator and girl are from drawing by Heinrich Kley, though she ended up with a dress, not nude (what would people think!)....it's a great album! I went on to work on other cds and posters for Kelly. Kelly and friends will be at the Dexter Lake Club every Thursday at seven if you want to get your cajun on! Swamp Rock Lives!

Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.
 (Here's my unfinished wood print done in high school... made two prints, intending to continue, but he looked so fierce and we were reading King Lear in English class, I just kept as is...)