A Week At Mineral School

It's my seventh day at Mineral School.

I have two favorite places I visit every day. 

The Bat-house and the cemetery.

You can sort of see a small bat - 

 just coming out from below the gutter

and to the right of the chimney.

Friday I went to Paradise on Mt. Rainier

where the flowers were at peak bloom, at least the avalanche lilies

and Indian paint brush.

Bill came up for a visit and we hiked up Morain Trail to where 

we could see the Nisqually Glacier and the melt that becomes

the mighty Nisqually River.

Yesterday we all went to the lake

for a swim and to say goodbye to our dorm mom, Jess,

and welcome our new dorm mom Putsata.

I have been writing more the last few days

less visual art

though this week I hope to get some work on the press.

Yes, I brought a portable press and it is in the school gym

waiting for me, patiently.

Day 4/Mineral School Residency

Last night was long and late. 

Stories, dreams, and healing shared.

Today was cool and misty.

Sleepy, I was sleepy all day. 

It inspired this collage.

Of course I revisited the bat house,

walking the curve of the lake.

And tonight Jess and I went to the cemetery

where the artist Velma Hale "Artist at Rest"

is regularly gifted heart shaped stones. 

Day 3 at Mineral School!

 Started this morning with a collage in honor of the lunar eclipse. 

My first collage since high school, I think.

 Mineral School has all kinds of sweet things that embrace. 

Definitely a dream come true to be here.

 My studio/room has exploded with stuff everywhere. 

That's what collage does.

 The bat house — population 800.

This place in particular is inspiring me. 

I'll be back tonight, depending on the update of cougar information!

 

Mineral School: Day Two

I'm settling in at Mineral School.

It's a comfortable and welcoming place. 

Cozy despite the ratio of one artist per classroom.

One of my classroom work stations in action.

(I'm reading Flash Count Diary, if you are interested. 

It's exxxcellent.)

 The spaces are full of inspiration and companionship 

if you need a social break.

The food is delicious, 

the light is fantastic.

Dinner in 20 minutes! 

Mineral School

It's my first day at my artist residency. 

I have two weeks at Mineral School.

And it's wonderful to be here.

I have my own room! And it's an old classroom. 

Little coat closets, like I had in the 1st and 2nd grade. 

There's two big chalk boards, and a recliner. 

More comforts than home. 

Are you a daydreamer?

This is the question my new work asks.
It is designed with 6 steel pages mounted to a beautiful piece of wood.
There was welding involved
and spray painting
and lots of trips to the store for more spray paint.
(Only one can per day
because I couldn't think further ahead than that.)

I bought lots of magnetic sheeting

 because how could I know how much I needed? 

I thought I would get photopolymer plates to print my words 

onto the magnetic sheets, 

but again, I could not plan far enough ahead. 

So I set the type by hand 

from my drawer of 24 point Italian Old Style italic. 

The theme is Pacific Northwest nature and daydreaming. 

And a few book making related words. 

Also, for some reason I threw in the word "spoon." 

Now that I am thinking about it, I should add the word chocolate.

My 'dream' came true the first day the book was on the wall, 

even before the show had officially opened. 

(It still hasn't). 

The show is called Open Sesame: 

The Magic of Artist's Books Revealed.

People were making messages, poems, sentences, thoughts. 

They were DAYDREAMING! in front of my book.

Everyone is invited to Daydream. 

#daydreamersjournal

The show opens this Friday, March 8, 2019. 

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art