Summer Summary 2025
Summer sessions at Shamel Park were packed.
And just like that August has melted away!
Four months. Yes, four months since the last peep from this studio, this artist.
Before I went quiet, I talked A LOT about my art. In early June my interview with KFRG, a local radio station, aired. You can find the interview Here if you’d like to listen.
One basic and brilliant skill every artist needs—for that matter any person—is to become fluent about their passion/work/story. I’ve grown to understand just how much my voice, and this includes written or spoken, matters as I share what I create, why I create, and how I create.
After the radio interview I took a hiatus. Because:
SUMMER!
This included a change of schedule for work. Did I mention that I’m a water fitness instructor? And that I LOVE this job? I so love this job.
When school ends in June our year-round Aquamotion program with Riverside Parks and Rec adjusts to accommodate kids’ swim lessons. This means 200+ adults shift their mornings and try to be nice to each other at either 6:50 and 8:00 in the morning. Some days we had more than 65 people in the pool at once!
Now we’re back to our usual sessions, mermaids can choose from five different class options and times. Whew!
July found me taking in a dose of culture in Ashland, Oregon at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Ken and I met up with dear friends and enjoyed the Bard as well as more contemporary live theatre work.
Work in the world
August brought a real delight. My installation empty found a new home at the Woodcrest Community Library. Woot! It will be there through November, 2025 when I meet with the library director to consider extending the visit. You are welcome to stop by this inclusive community space. A real gem!
With empty out in the world and Article 24 still on display I have two concurrent installations! This week I learned that Article 24 will remain on view through December 2025! Shout out to Zapara School of Business for extending the show. This means that if you haven’t seen it yet, you still have time!
My hope is that when we de-install all 16,552 cardboard spoons this expansive work will continue to raise awareness and also generate funds to address the on-going issue of child food insecurity in the City of Riverside, California. There will be more information to share about this later in the fall, so stay tuned.
In my studio now…
Creation with clay continues evolving. I’ve been experimenting with mini-monsters. A few have human-like faces! I’ve also been using a few different clay-bodies—not all clay is the same. Studio clay is formulated from a variety of different sources with some that is red, or brown, or tan, etc. I’m excited about some that high-fires to almost black! I’ve been using this lovely stuff to form monsters as well as dinnerware. All of these will be part of my offering in October when I return to Art for Heaven’s Sake.
My childhood self is where my journey as an artist begins…
Last week I shared my journey as an artist with students at the Art & Design department of a local university. Officially, I am back to talking about my passion/work/story.
So thankful that I have a voice.
Summer is over. Life and art continue.
September 1st marks not only the start of a new month but also my wedding anniversary. Ken and I are celebrating 39 years of marriage—38 of them happy ones!
Almost ten years ago I wrote about our relationship and much more in a series that began with The Secret No One Talks About.
