the dirt

This one has been a long time in the works and you’ve seen the process evolve from sketches to prototypes to unloading the final pieces from the glaze kiln. Now it’s time to get these Umbels planted into the garden at the Arboretum.

I took up a batch of 90 stems and flowers (less than half of the total to be installed) to start arranging them. This is the exciting part about doing an installation, you really don’t know if or exactly how it’s going to all come together until it has to.

I played with hammering the stems into the soil in a variety of placements to see how they looked and I wasn’t really happy with any of the compositions, so I sat down in the grass to think about it. And as I sat, I was looking at the trail I had created by walking through the grasses unloading the work, which led from one established path in the arboretum to the other and I realized the formation I wanted these pieces to follow. They are lined up in rows that stretch over 40′ and I think the stripe of mustard yellow through the meadow will make a big impact on the garden space. I love how adding a geometric structure to their arrangement helps balance out the organic forms of the individual pieces. Today, I’ll be bringing the rest of the Umbels up to the arboretum to install, hope you can come see this piece in person!

Join me for the opening of this fantastic exhibition at the UCSC Arboretum, May 20th from 3- 6. The exhibit will be up until November 27th. Pieces from this series will be made available in the online shop and then there will be a ‘picking day’ where you can pick your umbel flowers and transplant them into your own gardens.

Environmental Installations | Art in the Arboretum | curated by Susana Arias

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the arts last weekend for our Spring Studio Sale! We had a great time, showing art, eating tacos and enjoying the music with you! Now, on to the next art event…

Join me for the opening of Art in the Arboretum: Environmental Installations

Exhibit runs May 20th – Nov 27th
Opening May 20th from 3 – 6
($5 admission fee to the arboretum for non-members)

I have two installations as a part of this exhibit, the Umbel Series which was inspired by the tale of California explorers using mustard flower seeds to mark trails from mission to mission and Tree Pools, seed pod inspired ceramic forms nestled into the earth around the base of trees, echo the ripples of a stone thrown into water.

Hope to see you in the gardens!

MISSION INDUSTRIAL SPRING STUDIO SALE

MAY 6th & 7th
11 Art Studios Open | 1 – 6 | Saturday & Sunday

Before I lived in Santa Cruz, I would visit my then boyfriend (now husband) on the weekends and I fell in love with Santa Cruz (and him) for its long walks along west cliff, hikes through the redwoods, the quirky fun of downtown and rides on the giant dipper. On one of my weekend visits, I was wandering around town by myself and couldn’t figure out what these bright green signs were all about. I followed the arrows which lead to a series of artist studios that were open to the public for the weekend. I didn’t know anything about the event but was so impressed with the artwork I saw and how many green signs were showing all over town. After asking around about the event, I realized that not only was Santa Cruz a beautiful, fun place to visit but it also had a serious art scene. Flash forward to what feels like a million years later and here I am with 12+ years of my own Open Studios Art Tour events under my belt and so proud to be part of the art community of Santa Cruz County.

So yes, Santa Cruz is about big waves and big trees and it’s about the accepting, compassionate community but a big part of the heart of Santa Cruz is about being an incredible art destination and that’s a reason to visit all in itself. The weekend of May 6 & 7th is no exception. It will be a beautiful weekend to visit Santa Cruz if you’re from out of town or to participate in your creative community if you’re a local. There are so many art events happening but still, there is enough time to take it all in.

Kick off the weekend at First Friday, with art events from Felton to Watsonville, many concentrated in the Santa Cruz downtown region. Saturday & Sunday you can join in on the fun at Ceram-A-Rama at the Santa Cruz Mountain Art Center, the Spring Art Market at the Tannery , the 17th Ave Artists Spring Art Show & Sale  AND you can join me at Mission Industrial Studios for our Spring Studio Sale.  There is A LOT of art to see, buy and share that weekend but I’m pretty sure that you can handle it!

Please click the links for details on each of these fantastic events and I hope to see you out there!

Thanks for supporting local artists and the arts!
#madeinsantacruz

The Rock Candy Series has been installed In the Field at Joshua Tree, at the Pacific Edge Climbing Gym and encrusted on found driftwood as seen here. There are only a few of these pieces left in this series but I’ll be raffling this one off at this years Spring Studio Sale. All you have to do is sign up on my mailing list during the studio sale and you’re entered to win!

Looking forward to seeing you at the studio May 6th & 7th and maybe this beauty with my favorite red glaze could be yours!

About the Series:
The Rock Candy Series are inspired by the flow of water and how it shapes the land. The hard angled ceramic shapes juxtapose the curvy flow of natural forms to create a dynamic visual engagement. These colorful ceramic rock forms are intriguing objects whether mounted on the wall, in the garden or in small compositions on driftwood.