Tag: totem

Year of the Dragon

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Gong Xi Fa Ca! Wishing you prosperity! ( In Mandarin Chinese)

Yes, technically Chinese New Year was celebrated on Monday the 23rd. But it does spread over  a 15 day period ringing in the new year – so I feel I am still in a timely manner. For the beginning of January I was home recovering from surgery, so this really marks my new year as I get back to work and look forward to what 2012 will bring. 

Dragon 2012

According to Chinese astrology, people born on the year of the dragon are said to be strong, self-assured, eccentric, intellectual, and passionate, among other things.


I have been hibernating. I decided when my surgery was scheduled that I would take the month of January off. By necessity – to heal. And as that process progressed – to hibernate. I will admit – it was a major surgery,a necessary one and  a smashing success, yet a tough road, one that I am glad is behind me. The timing has been perfect – to hole up in the house, warm under a blanket, sipping tea – and reading. I have been reading like it was my job… And as January comes to a close, I am ready to get back to work. I have shows to plan, applications to mail, designs to sketch, artwork to create. Healthy and rested – 2012 I am ready for you now!

I did devote a good bit of time to 2 projects over the last two weeks. I had the pleasure of collaborating with my friend Betsy Molina Motenson for a show at the Center of Creative Arts in Yorklyn, DE… and I am participating in the 2012 Sketchbook Project sponsored by the Art House Co-op. Look for details and images on those in the coming days…

For now, I wish you long life, and prosperity…(As I hear Spock in my head…) I eagerly await the adventures and experiences that this new year will bring. Hope you will follow along with me. 

New Year Dragon

The goddess and the lunar hare

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Faux Bone – just what the name implies, a relatively new material, related to PVA plastic, yet non toxic and high quality. It was launched on the market by Robert Dancik, and I have had it on the workbench for months! Wanting to try shaping, sanding, carving, impressing, staining… this versatile material. So here is the first attempt: 

Faux bone goddess

The ceramic oval on the left is my goddess/poppet. To me She is the self, the soul, the creative muse, the feminine divine. Her shape is inspired by Cycladic idols and other ancient sculpture. I wanted to see her in faux ivory of a sort. The copper acts as a structural base for the piece, the dark rich patina of the copper setting off the subtle tones in the FB. From a design sense it serves as a halo, and allows holes at hands (for attachment to a necklace) and feet ( gemstone dangle, of course!)

Cycladic idol  Nile Goddess (Left: Cycladic Idol, app. 2500 BCE. Right: Nile Goddess, app 3500 BCE)

I was happy with how she turned out, although I am still considering giving her breasts… I turned my focus next to me second favorite of my ceramic pendants – the lunar hare. The  hare is a bit of a totem animal for me, and I am greatly inspired by the many myths of the moon hare. From so many cultures, so diverse, yet illustrating a commonality…

Lunar hare

The crescent on the right – is polymer clay. I was baking some other pieces for the Blue Hen and I made a few crescents to test. While i like the sculptural possibilities – this one is too bulky. I think Faux bone will work best here, too. Other things in progress: 

Copper and nickel silver windows/ frames. Images are sandwiched under mica, tube rivets, stamped words… This was a direct inspiration from Melissa Manley – and although she wasn’t the first to ever use this technique – it is only proper, and respectful to give credit. (Her work is amazing, and I am happy to have studied with her, and to call her a friend. ) The piece on the far left: “Such stuff as dreams are made on…” quoted from “The Tempest” – houses an image of Miranda from a painting by my favorite, John Williams Waterhouse. 

copper frames pendants

The piece on the right is a bit different. It is carved wood, housing a collage. The collage is set in a plastic lens and resin. The front image is an Irish stamp, copper, and the word ‘Journey’. The back: 

MM bird back

It is an idea I am experimenting with – crating sculptural frames for collage/lens. My text, as always, is from 200+ year old books. It is a meditation of sorts, to thumb through the yellowing pages, eyes flitting and darting, until the right words present themselves to me. Words I would not have chosen; phrases I would not have composed…

I would love to hear your thoughts, out there in the ether. Do you have a personal talisman? A totem animal?