Pilchuck Madness #8

Last night was the Student Auction and Party. I had made some monoprints (see above) based on the chipmunk I did for the t-shirt contest, and together they sold for about $100. They managed to raise about $8,000 last night. Half goes toward scholarships and the other half toward supplies for the campus.

I did end up buying a couple things, one was a print in the silent auction for $10 and then I managed to snag a glass sculpture for $40 during the live auction too. Which was fortunate, because there were lots of good things, but most of them were $100 or more. There were definitely some steals though... If I come back, I'm going to have to make sure I have some cash available. As much as I hate to think of art as an investment most of the time, it would be a great place to start or add to a collection.

I've been having a TON of fun in the print shop. I was in there most of the day today working on some pieces inspired by basketry designs from my tribe. Good times!

Pilchuck Madness #5

Every session here at Pilchuck they have a t-shirt contest. Inspired by the chipmunks that frequent the campus, I decided that I was going to draw a chipmunk for my entry. My desk is near Jane's and she suggested I add an eye patch (a la Dale Chihuly, founding artist) and then Gyun came by and said she thought he should be blowing glass. After a small pile of tracing paper, some scanning, and digital coloring, I was left with my lovely t-shirt design.

Tonight, anyone who wanted to enter posted their submission on the fireplace at the lodge before dinner. Voting was open while we ate, and the winner was announced before the regular evening slideshow. I got first place! This means that they will be printing them out and selling them in the school store. And I think I get a free shirt for winning.

Our instructor, Cork Marcheschi, told us he is "teaching [us] how to win" open calls for public art. I figure this is a good sign? I have to start somewhere!

Pilchuck Madness #2

Above is the view looking west from the top floor of the lodge. It's good stuff!

Spent the morning in the print shop playing around making monotypes. It was totally like art therapy. I loved it and will be signing up again and again and again while I'm here. This afternoon I was (surprisingly) motivated and productive. I managed to Photoshop some images for my public art proposal and start on drawing some chipmunks for our t-shirt contest. Almost everyone else spent the day watching a master glassblower who was on campus. I probably should have investigated it, but I know NOTHING about glass.

For that matter, I know nothing about fabrication in general. All of the people I'm surrounded by in class have created all sorts of amazing things and know how to build stuff. Glass, neon, metal, jewelry, painting, etc. So I'm going to try and catch up a little! Did the printing today and will be sandcasting hopefully tomorrow. And on Monday I had an offer to learn how to weld that I think I'm going to take up.

My iPod made it onto the stereo dock this afternoon when it was the only one nearby that was available. I was a little embarassed because I haven't listened to it in months and months. Probably since last summer. And I had no idea what was on it. The only really bad thing was that there was more Janet Jackson than I would have preferred.

Pilchuck Madness #1

Well, I'm out in the wilderness. We had chipmunks running around in our studio today, across the floor, under tables, on tables, in and out of open backpacks. I've noticed a few ants in my dorm room and I'm at the point where I don't care. They don't seem to be interested in biting me, so I'll let them wander around freely as long as they stay off of my bed. If they want to crawl on my blankets, they will do so at their own peril. Luckily, they are pretty tiny and only appear occasionally.

Today we got to trudge around in the rain between buildings. I know that June is usually not quite as great as I always seem to expect, but I can definitely tell it is colder than usual. My class is going to be more focused on the process of successfully submitting for public art proposals, so I don't know that I'll get a chance to work with glass. I probably could seek it out, but don't know if I'm going to or not. I will, however, be playing in the print studio for sure! Making monotypes looks fun, and there are is a slew of ink colors to play with!

The artist-in-residence that I was excited to meet and see working isn't here after all. Instead, he was replaced (for reasons unknown to me) with Marcus Amerman, another Native artist that I am familiar with. Both Amerman and the other artist (Rick Bartow) were included in my curatorial proposal I made as my final for my "Contemporary Art History" class, so I'm not really too disappointed. Just talked to Marcus at dinner too, and he seems really cool. He'll be showing slides of his work tonight after dinner, which ends in about 15 minutes.

Speaking of dinner, they do feed us really well here! Although I hear that the food is way better this year than in the past.