Goodbye Aurene

"Anyone who has ever been able to sustain good work has had at least one person- and often many- who have believed in him or her. We just don't get to be competent human beings without a lot of different investments from others. "-Fred Rogers.

It's been a long summer and fall since last I've posted.  I suppose this is a good thing, since it seems I'm too busy to keep up with blogging.  However, I miss my regular bursts of literary excriment so hopefully this means I will be more "regular" from here on out.

A quick recap:  I spent the summer doing the usual art show circuit and was so happy to see many of my usual suspects at the shows.   I was also blessed to meet many more new friends!

One of the highlights of the summer for me was the Catharine Newell Workshop at the Corning Museum of Glass.   This experience deserves it's own post so hopefully I will share the amazing experience of that week very soon.  I was fascinated by the glass called blue Aurene....thus my title....I hope to learn more about this in the years to come.

Another highlight of my summer was the Becky Joy workshop hosted by myself and Gloria Moses.   It was an incredible 3 day class on the grounds of the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg, Ohio.  If you've never been to the 577, be prepared to be amazed.  It is a sanctuary.   If you need peace, thinking time, beauty of nature, kind and respectful caretakers, this is the place for you.   When I think of 577, I think of inner peace. Oh, and fairies live there! :) Thank you Virginia Stranahan for your beautiful gift.  

Since the close of this summer's art show circuit, I've been knee deep in my experimentation where I left off last spring with regards to painting on glass in a way a traditional oil painter paints.   I've learned a ton, started a new group for fused glass painters, and have conducted untold numbers of experiments, some in substrate studies, others in the paint vehicle.   Every trial is a lesson and a way to eliminate a variable.   One thing I am learning for sure:  ceramics and glass are married for life, even if it seems the never the twain shall meet, whatever that means.   I hope to share all of my findings soon, but first I must remember to write it all down :)

Finally, I would like to thank a few people who have (recently) believed in me along the way:  Paul demaraiss, for your generous gift and insight into how to make oil sticks, and also for reaffirmation that kindness still exists in our world....Odette, for making me feel like my life matters in a small yet important way......Margot Clark, for your generous gift....I continue to try all of the variables and one of the constants is the red by UGC  (white and black too).....I continue to experiment and will keep you posted. .Edith Franklin......a true spitfire....years ago in the old glass crafts building at UT you would totter around with your pots; most weighing more than yourself, and spew positive and kind words to the students as you passed by.  I'll never forget all the encouragement you gave to me and never even knew my name.    Finally, ....  Tom McGlauchlin....almost 10 years ago you came into my classroom to share your talent and materials.....at the time I did not understand the nature of your gift, nor did I understand from where or whom it was coming....with wisdom, experience, and hopefully a bit more grace, I thank you for believing in me during a time that few others did, and for lighting a fire in me for glass that still continues to burn.