The Dream House

The May 8th celebration to mark the opening of the Youth Dreamer’s big beautiful house was a huge success! I was honored to play a small part by facilitating the assembling of a mosaic sign by anyone in attendance – big or small! The sign was designed by youth with Sarah McCann, and we worked to help make the vision come true. THE DREAM HOUSE sign makes a bold proclamation in multicolored stained glass to let visitors know they are in a special space. In the space of 2 short hours, our group finished all the assembling at the celebration. In early June, we’ll do a final tweak and mortar it down before grouting.

Art Creates Ritual at Service of Remembrance

On May 20th, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Medical Campus held a first-ever Service of Remembrance for the families of patients who died there in the past year and the staff who cared for them. I worked with Rhonda Cooper, the Chaplain at the Center, to design an interactive sculpture on which family members could weave their memories and messages to loved ones. Hundreds worked to craft a remembrance. The final piece will be displayed at the Center.

Sign for Mt. Washington Elementary School

What a joy to be working with the whimsical ceramic figures of the students at Mt. Washington Elementary School! They provide more than enough inspiration as I fabricate background mosaic work. Late May and early June finds me in the studio working on this wonderful project as the end of school deadline approaches! A 10 X 3 foot substrate, framed in aluminum has been fabricated to ensure that the sign proclaims its message for many years to come! Installation is early June!

The Stadium School Youth Dreamers...

The Stadium School Youth Dreamers will hold a huge celebration May 8th because their Dream House on Carswell St. in Baltimore’s Waverly neighborhood is finally finished. The event wouldn’t be complete without a ritual participatory mosaic so that everyone can add their creativity to the opening of a youth-run youth center, many years in the making. Youth Dreamers will work with myself and community artist Sarah McCann to create mosaic signs to beautify the grounds of the Dream House.

Read an article about how the Youth Dreamers came to be:http://www.whatkidscando.org/your_stories/2010/03_youth_dreaming/index.html

Designing a Visual Art Ritual

I’m honored to assist th of the Johns Hopkins’ Kimmel Cancer Center in creating a visual art ritual for the inaugural Service of Remembrance for families and staff of former patients.

Ceramic and mosaic SIGN for Mt. Washington Elementary School

Another in a series of collaborations with this school and its PTO, the sign will enliven the stone wall at the corner of Lochlea Road and Kelly Avenue – the site of the school’s bus stop. Students have created big ceramic letters and faces of children; Baltimore Clayworks has fired them. My studio will be the site for assembly of the mosaic. Installation before school is out!

My West Coast Inspiration List

INSPIRATION LIST -- FEBRUARY'S TOP FIVE!

February 2010 finds me in my other home in Santa Monica, California. Although I'd love

to have my studio here with me, I've found plenty of inspiration here for new work and creative projects.

1

THE PACIFIC OCEAN, a 30 minute walk away, tops my list: big waves, sandpipers, dolphins

2

KELP & PALM TREES -- two of nature's most intriguing species; I'll be adding to my Twin Palm series.

3

MOSAIC TILE HOUSE -- friends Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran's wild vision never ceases to amaze.

4

A HIKE in MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK -- The Rock Pool is a gem.

5

POET MARY OLIVER reading at UCLA. What a treat to hear my favorite poet read!

What inspires YOU to be creative? What tweaks YOUR imagination?

a snippet of poetry from Mary Oliver for you,

from: When I Am Among the Trees

***

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, "Stay awhile."

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,

"and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine."

~ Mary Oliver ~