Engagement: White Light - "EWL"

The logistical part of the project is kicking in. Lots of figuring stuff out, like the template and where the objects go so that the Installation crew just has to pin the cardboard up and drill holes without the tedium of measuring and arranging from scratch. The mummified cat and bats' head are complimented by the scuzzy birds - all compliments from the inhouse contractor, Jack. These guys are the tip of the iceberg in his wood shop!

Engagement: White Light

The television program has aired on Oregon Art Beat, on the OPB network. It will be repeated on Sunday night at 6pm. There is something weird about watching yourself on telelvision. But it is not weird enough to make me pull away.....
One week to go before the opening. The calmness belies the frantic treadmill in my head.
The installation opens at Contemporary Crafts Museum and Gallery on Friday January 12, 2007, 5:30 - 8pm.
www.contemporarycrafts.org

Rugs of War - The Photo Shoot

Locating a space large enough to accommodate the rug (and the scarf - not shown) was easier than first thought. Paul Foster is the photographer, and he has shot all of my work for 2004 - 2005. Now that the blanket is documented, it can be disassembled, ready to be reworked as a Rug of War. The scarf is almost complete and the lettering has turned out extremely successful.
B U C K F U S H :-)


Given the issues in the news this week and that fact that his administration seems to continue unhindered, it just all makes you wonder. Someone told me last night that in the last 3 years, the USA has killed almost as many civilians as what Saddam did during 37 years of reign. And the moral right wonders why 'they - the Iraqis'" don't want this type of democracy.
z

Rugs of War - and a Happy New Year

The new Rugs of War series is well under way, after riding the wave of success from the performance in October, then the showing at City Hall. The icing on the cake was an image appearing in the Portland Tribune in their Picture of the Year selection. Thanks Trib!

The Rugs of War series will take 2 years to complete, and consists of hand made objects, reminescent of the objects the women made for their men during war times, but with a contemporary twist. These are not your grandmothers hand knitted sox. The inspiration comes from being in the USA, specifically because "somebody" out there elected Bush for a second term.

The Bucky Scarf - this is a 'work in progress' shot, showing the back of the piece. The front of the piece has vertical lettering that carry their own loaded message. The fun part is this piece glows in the dark and has managed to make quite a few locals nervous. Should be able to install it for a full lenth image sometime next week. Then the real work starts with the huge rug. It is literally 3 stories long and will be loaded with its' own version of WMD's. Abu Hoods, and a few other little gems. The more I listen to the radio and catch up on the brilliantly skewed news here, the more I love the fact that an entire country seems to be putting up with this little annoying stone in their shoe. Bushy - Cheney - Dicey Ricey - and don't forget the Rummy Bunny - it is all getting to be toooooooooooo much fun.
z

Fake Sweeteners and Wishing Someone Well

Yesterday I was asked to name an object that I thought represented my experiences here in the US. Without even drawing breath, the image of a fake sweetener came to mind - all sugary and pleasing to the palette, and 'good for you because it is NOT sugar', with no calories, non-fat and no carbs. BUT it is FAKE; another one of zillions of altered food products that seem to thrive here, and made of pure chemicals that don't seem to occur natually in your body. Convenient. Disposable. Fake niceness. So it is a product trying to be something that it isn't! Real. What would you identify?

Let's not get started on how I would describe some of the members of the current administration - (but without them, I wouldn't be so busy making art!) Now, there is an exercise in fake sweeteners if ever I have witnessed one. (That might also explain how they got the intelligence wrong about WMD in Iraq - the sweetner must have blown into their eyes and blurred their vision!!!)

Last Thursday at City Hall night was a hoot! Thank-you to everyone who braved the weather and came along for the speeches and chat. I want to pass along a genuine thank-you to David Gonzalez and everyone in Governor Sam's office that helped make all of this happen. After chatting with Sam and his staff, there is no doubt that they are not fake sweeteners at all. In fact, I could tell more......but that will be another blog post......and the rug is still hanging there in all of it's three story glory.As soon as the rug comes 'home' it will be reworked and appear in it's new role as the premier piece of a 4 work series entitled 'rugs of war'. "No sweetners will be harmed in the making of this work". This shot of the border was taken in my studio, and you can easily make out some of the letters in the work.
:-)
zen@ovoo.com

The invitation has gone out!

The weather has turned, and so it seems, has the mood of the season. With the US celebration of Thanksgiving fast approaching, I am trying to crawl out from under the end of year workload that all Artist's go through. Such as reconciling all of those rejection letters, and sourcing new hope for new projects. The rug is still dominating my studio life - and has stretched more than 18" in the last week. I just keep crocheting! Here is the invitation from Commissioner Adam's office for the gathering on First Thursday on December 1st. I think we will all enjoy a little celebration by then.
ciao,
zen@ovoo.com

The butterfly rug is emerging...

The rug is hanging and seems to be metaphorically evolving like a butterfly! Now that it is up, it is also extremely daunting in size, scale and sheer impact of the project. Thankfully, I had a friend help me to manage the volume of the rug as we grunted and puffed our way through hanging it over the balcony of the 'cocktail deck' in the studio. This weekend I start the ladder work - standing on it, trailing the plastic, and literally crocheting in situ - it is the only way I can get to the mid sections to do the finish work. As the rug hangs it is dropping under it's own weight - and has stretched itself out more than four feet in both directions. What you can see is the rug folded in half length ways. It is 6 squares by 10 squares.
zen@ovoo.com