Finals!

I post this from my tablet, with a snoring cat beside me. After this week, I only have two semesters left as an undergraduate- a sobering fact. I've been very pleasantly surprised by my classes this semester... They all gave so much more than I expected, even Western Civ 1. During the winter break I will be doing the drawings for the collaborative zine project (note: there's still time to contribute!), as well as finishing my Memory of Skin quilt.. And perhaps starting on a few other things in preparation for my upcoming honors thesis. Expect some mildly decent progress pictures! Huzzah!

Collaborative Zine Project

 For years I've been creating strange shapes as a kind of stream-of-consciousness activity while I'm trying to brainstorm a project or assignment, while taking notes in various classes, or while talking on the phone. Sometimes these doodles take shape and become a recognizeable object, while mostly they remain ambiguous inkblots in which each person sees something else. 

Yearning for a collaborative project, I have decided to invite others, including complete strangers, to submit a phrase, idea, or word for me to ruminate on and then create one of these drawings. Give me inspiration!

I request that submissions be made to this blogpost, in the form of a comment. I'm allowing anonymous comments for the purposes of this collaboration, so those without Google or Blogger accounts may participate.

 The zine will be an open edition creation, ranging from 20-30 pages, depending on the response to my call for submissions. Those whose submissions I select will receive a free copy of the zine, while the submission I deem "most enjoyable" will also be placed in the coveted "centerfold" position of the zine.

 As an added bonus, contributors whose submissions are chosen will recieve a copy of the zine with a hand-embroidered cover if they also follow this blog.

 Deadline for submissions is December 31st at midnight. The zines will finished and sent to contributors at the beginning of February, 2014.

New blobbies in the Etsy shop!

I just listed these 6 new blobbies to my Etsy Shop.

As an incentive for my friends to purchase my goods, I've also created a 20% discount code which is good through the 19th of November: FWENDSGOOD

For anyone who likes/admires my shop and makes a purchase, I will also throw in a surprise goody!

The Blobbies are taking over!!!!!

These things are multiplying like Tribbles.

This is an older picture of some of the blobby sculptures I've been working on this year. They are made from New Mexico Clay's Cashmere porcelaineous clay body, with various cone 6 glazes.

I've sold a few of the ones pictured here, but many remain in my house. And still I make more. They are taking over much of my free space, and because I can't stand to shut them up in boxes, I will be triple-ing my efforts to get them posted to my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinTongued .

Be on the lookout for some sweet incentives in the shop to take these off my hands...discounts...free goodies...plus, they are so nice to hold and fondle. Updates to follow ASAP.

The South Valley Marigold Parade aka the Dia de los Muertos Parade

 The blog has been rather quiet this week due to the last minute preparations for the South Valley's Marigold Parade, which took place on Sunday, November 3rd. Albuquerque's Q-Staff Theater has been meeting regularly to reinvigorate itself, and it was decided that the Parade would be a perfect outlet to show the community that it is still alive and quite well. While I spent much time creating a copious amount of paper marigolds, the other Q-Staffers built and honed their stilting skills for the event. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to capture as many photos as I would have liked to during the day, but Sandy Timmerman enlisted the help of a real photographer (Mike Wolf) to document the day, so more (and better quality) photos to come. Big ups to Sandy Timmerman, Richard van Schouwen, Joe Annabi, Jenni, Camille Sasha, and Matt for their amazing dedication to the performance, and to Steven Nery for being a beast behind the wheel of that Pinzgauer. 

 Camille getting all dolled up.

 Rich putting the finishing touches on Matt.

 Getting there.

 Myself and Steven.

 Me helping Joe get the final touches of his awesome dog costume taped down.

 Me, rippin gaff tape.

 Jenni and Camille getting their stilts on.

Our view from the front seat of the Pinz.

Having viewed the Parade only as on onlooker, it was a strangely wonderful experience to participate from within the Parade itself. It went by in a flash, lasting only about 30-40 minutes from the starting point of the parade route to the end point at the Community Center. It was slightly terrifying to throw candy at hoards of children screaming "CANDY! CANDYYYYYY!", but also understandably satisfying to throw sweets to the wee ones who were too young to be so sugar greedy. In the back of the Pinz were some seriously talented musicians, adding to the sense of theatricality with their violins, saxophone and accordion.  I honestly can't wait to participate in more events with Q-Staff.

The Craft Fair

So, aside from working on assignments for various art classes, and adding on my own body of work, I have a work-study job at the ASUNM Arts and Crafts Studio. I've worked in the Studio for 3 years now, moving through the ranks from Ceramic Technician to Assistant Director to Executive Director. During this time, I've been a part of the annual ASUNM Arts and Crafts Fair, which is a three day event held in the Student Union Ballrooms. This year is the first time I've been "in charge" of it, and I sometimes can't believe that they trust us in the Studio to get everything done. The tasks seem endless...herding 70 or so cats (the local artisan vendors, who are actually very lovely), dealing with unhappy applicants who weren't accepted into the Fair, and contacting outside organizations to help us execute the Fair. This thing has sucked all of my time, effort, and energy this semester. I'm very excited for it, and to be honest, I'm very glad that I'm ending my run with the Fair on a high note- the 50th.

Photoshop of yore

 To this day, I consider myself a Photoshop novice...and I hate it. Almost every time I need to create something using that program, I end up just sitting in front of the screen and fumble around with the buttons for-ev-er until I somehow happen upon what it was I was looking for. Which is why I'm still amazed that somehow, quite a few years ago, I managed to put my head on this picture from my Ghostbusters story book.

With less patience, I also put my older brother's 1st grade head on Ricardo Montalban's body.

Older Watercolor works: I Cain't Reach

I Cain't Reach, circa 2008. Watercolor, ink.

Another train-of-thought drawing with watercolor. Illustrates the importance of having sufficiently long limbs with which to clean one's self.

Older Watercolor works: The Episiotomy Pachyderm

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Episiotomy Pachyderm, circa 2008. Watercolor, ink.

I began adding watercolors to my drawings as a way to expand on a daily exercise within my art practice. These are also a train-of-thought activity, in that I never set out to make a specific drawing. I would just sit down and let whatever happen happen.

Work in Progress: Memory of skin- a quilt to map and cover my scars.

(Photos courtesy of Szu-Han Ho)

This project is a double-sided quilt, mapping my body and the memory of my skin (aka scars). It is a long, slow going process to quilt all of the lines surrounding the body, but I plan to finish it before the semester is done. Note to self: never decide to make a double-sided quilt for an art class assignment EVER again. On a plus side, the scars are made out of lovely red velvet. mmmmmm.

Newest work!

Lately, I've been creating little ceramic dishes. They all have a textured underside, which holds glaze very nicely. On top, I have used underglazes to draw various designs. Pictured here are: Mountains vs Clouds (Red and Yellow), Dippy (Blue), and various Eyeballs (light green). They are each about 3.5 inches across. The last picture shows a dish eyeballin' my Sunday cuppa tea.

Soon to be added to my Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinTongued

Memories of Sleep

Memories of sleep: Inflatable Bed project (April/May 2013), plastic sheeting, fabric, string, fan, led lights.

This piece was created in response to a prompt to make a work that results from a week of rituals. My ritual for the week was to prolong going home (to my boyfriend, bed, and comfort) by an hour or so daily. During those times, I would sit and write, about the many other things I would have rather been doing. The resulting writings were embroidered onto the "quilt" in braille, chosen because I didn't want the audience to be able to read my exact sentiments. The title of the piece also poke fun at the lack of sleep that often occurs due to the demands of studio art classes. 

The diffused glow from the led lights in the darkened room this piece was installed in, couple with the slow shifting movements and resulting crinkling sounds of the plastic, the bed took on an otherworldly, almost alien presence.

Ratties in phone booth

An oldie. Made for my final project in Steve Barry's Sculpture 1 class at UNM, December 2010.

Installed in an abandoned in-wall phone booth in the Center for the Arts building.