"Unfinished Business" an Art Collaboration with the Departed, for Day of the Dead

The right opportunity fell into my lap at just the right time. I was offered some wood pieces by a generous facebook friend (thanks Gary), that were partially carved by a departed woodcarving couple. Since I was again curating for Day of the Dead @ Guardino Gallery, "Unfinished Business" seemed a natural.....The above piece started with this little head square head wearing a hat....



His beard was cut down, eyes gouged out , face painted & his head reshaped, with my knives

I built a little boat for him, from old wood, with wheels that roll.



I cut and shaped the body, his limbs all move, and he can sit independently. He measures 12 inches long and is holding a cross.

Then from these three pieces , I chose the middle piece to work with. It was a post with a face in the middle. I cut the top head off and rounded all the edges.

I sketched out a spiky top

Cut them out. Then envisioned a swirly pattern all the way around .

Here's the sketch , that was then cut and shaped.

The shaping here, in progress.

The stain really makes the swirls, show up .

A little paint on the face really made his features pop out. I hope I did it justice. I call him "Totem of the trees" and he measures 15"

Altars are a big part of the Day of the Dead celebration. This one is @ Cargo in NW pdx. (link button is not cooperating)

I built one for the gallery adding vintage trims and putting a bight coat of paint.

It measures 44'x 17. The velvet inside had foam core to pin on messages of photos, inside is the floating heart in a frame called "Forever"

Then the cross, I built from salvaged wood , it has flickering bulbs , it measures 31x 21 it's called "Follow the Light" All work is for sale.

Finally...... here is a small sampling of work I have the honor to hang in the gallery tomorrow. So exciting to take the gallery from blank walls to cohesive show! Tune in for the transformation.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Art Shows

Summer ended too suddenly in the Northwest, one weekend its 90, and then rain......

rain for days.

So before the forced hibernation, I got to the garden to pick the last of the tomatoes & peppers.

Cut up, then put on a pan with onions , garlic, olive oil S&P. Roasted for 1/2 hour....

Then pureed in a broth. I loosely followed Tyler Florence's recipe

but omitted the cream, substituted vegi broth, but added a dollop of cream on top, of each bowl.










The bird bath color with the moss, made a pretty palette today.




Harvesting the hydrangeas, I dry out then put in vases. It's further proof that summer has come to a close.


So every dry weekend , if even for a few hours, we get out to breathe in the fresh air, on this day, yard debris piles burning perfumed the air.

A chain around a tree caught my attention, must be careful of potential tree thief's, but probably left over from a long gone bike, the roots are stunning.

And finally.....A most interesting project, landed in my lap at just the right time. A generous facebook friend ( thanks Gary) offered me some wood pieces carved some departed woodcarvers. I'm calling this series "Unfinished Business" I finish and reimagine the work. From this head above which was a square block....

I rounded out his head, carved down his beard, gouged his eyes , then built him a folk art body, added a boat with wheels....he is getting some simple outfit and a sail for his boat before the show

There are 3 more pieces that are nearing completion, stay tuned.

Here's one of the other projects...this is one of the altars built and painted brightly in Oaxaca colors, on all sides, this will be one of the Community altars up all month, pieces of paper, pins and pens are available to leave a thought , comment or remembrance, gone but not forgotten, for this very special show. Next post on Monday will be about some more of art offerings, from the other artists. And what is need to set up an Altar, one will be glowing outside for the opening!