new year 2015 journal

thankful

I'm looking back at 2014 with a thankful heart. This year has been a season of peace. I felt stronger and more restful even in my creative work. Some highlights for me included

Warmest wishes to you for a prosperous and happy New Year!
Steve


I enjoyed sunshine this year for my traditional lake paddle on New Year's Day.

 

 

always exploring

Now is always a good time to build on what we've gained previously. And I see 2015 as no exception. Late December 2014, I caught a fresh vision for experimental methods of making art glass. In collaboration, I've re-started the glass making, with momentum now carrying into the new season. We shall see what unfolds in this promising New Year.

water over stones

The cobalt blue base color with streaky frit and added color has me hooked. So I'm starting with this theme.

 

 

winter

Winter here at the lake in beautiful Washington State usually is a green Christmas. Click or tap on the photo to see more snapshots from this season.

 

 

 

land and sea passage ~ 2014 public artwork

commission completed for Valdez, Alaska

As Gilson Middle School students entered their new school facility this fall, they were greeted by a vibrant suspended mural--over 26 feet wide. I installed the new public artwork in Valdez, Alaska, in July.

 

 

arctic travels this february

I've been invited as a contributing artist, for the opening of UAF's Murie Building this February. This life science learning and research center on the campus of University of Alaska Fairbanks, has invited the community in to see their state-of-the-art facility. The evening will be a merging of arts and sciences. They will feature the artists who created public art for the building (which is why they are flying me up). Some of the labs will feature hands-on "art" projects using tools of research. For example, guests may "draw" on (inoculate) agar in petri dishes, with bacteria which will later grow into a colorful pattern. Music that merges spatial physics will be played by musicians spaced apart in the building. Click here to see the event brochure.

 
For UAF, I created three glass artworks resembling over-sized microscope slides. They measure two feet high by six feet wide. Each artwork is uniquely created in mouth-blown art glass laminated onto dichroic float glass. LED panels back-light the central "cover slip" section of mouth-blown glass. Click here to see more photos of Macroscape Slides.

 

 

a sunny trip in winter

During the darker days of winter, I enjoy looking back at summer adventures, and dreaming of warmer days to come. I've finally posted some photos of my summer, solo kayak trip in the North Cascades. Click or tap here to see the photo story. Enjoy!

 

 

 

i bloom ~ remembering Grandma

December 22 marked Grandma Florence's birthday. I'm so grateful for the legacy of my Grandparents. And on GiGi's birthday, our northern hemisphere has begun moving closer to the sun, bringing us back toward spring. Here are some winter blooms in her memory (her name means "I bloom"). Click or tap on the photo to see winter blooms.

To see more photos of flowers in Grandma Florence's memory, click or tap here.

  

 

silk dye-painting workshops ~ spring 2015

learn to paint silk

Consider learning to dye-paint silk in the serti method. I host the classes at my lake-side studio. In Spring classes, you can make lovely Mother's Day heirloom gifts. Click here or on the "classes" tab on the top bar for more info.

  • Saturday May 2, 10:00AM to 3:30PM has space available.
  • Wednesday, May 6 - booked full.
  • Other workshops may be special-arranged by appointment. Call or email with a proposed date and group size.

Contact the artist if you are interested in a class.

Click here or on photos to see some of the students' work in February-March 2014.

 

 

 

artful living

Click or tap here to see photos of an artsy project or two and the beauty of the winter season around my home and studio.

 

Here's wishing you a warm and gratitude-filled holiday season and a prosperous new year!
Steve

 

 

 

featured links

 

 


Land and Sea Passage

As students, faculty, and visitors enter Gilson Middle School in Valdez, Alaska, they are greeted by a vibrant suspended mural--over 26 feet wide. Read more...

 
 

 

Macroscape Slides

Three new glass artworks resembling over-sized microscope slides measure two feet high by six feet wide. Each artwork is uniquely created in mouth-blown art glass laminated onto dichroic float glass. They are installed in the Margaret Murie Life Sciences Building at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
 

  

 

Illuminated Passage

This suspended mural of dye-painted silk measures over 300 square feet. For Liberty Middle School in Spanaway, Washington, it depicts junior high years in a metaphor of a river passing through a canyon.
I love it. It turned out to be all I hoped for and more. Read more...

 

 

Experimental Image Glass

I continue to collaborate with Seattle glassblower Jim Flanagan to create gently abstracted imagery within colored glass. Click here or on the photo at right to see our most recent sheets of blown glass (and scroll down, as the newest work is near the bottom). 

 

 


Tree of Life

Commissioned for a thriving church in the town of Dunwoody, near Atlanta, Georgia.

 

 

 

 

Discovery

This mural in dye-painted silk was commissioned for Katchemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College of the University of Alaska. Discovery was installed in Homer, Alaska, in June of 2012. Read more...

 

 

Generations: Incubation

Kenai Peninsula College etched mouth-blown glass public art installation

Click here to read about Generations.

Here is a link to KPC installation photos

 

 

 

stone impressions - watch the art-making process on video

People often ask me how I create a stone lithograph. It's hard to explain in words so I have a short video that shows the process.

Click here for photos and video on stone impressions.

 

 

 

 

2011 nest images on cotton paper

Click here to see photos of ten new images completed in January 2011

 

 

 

song project - upward call

Read about our spring 2011 kids' pop song project at upward call. Or click on the photo at right to listen to the song or buy it...

 

 

 

silk rivers

Check out my recent river silks inspired by and modeled after the beautiful Fremont antique glass we used for the Kenai Peninsula College installation.

 

 


flowering

My Grandma's name, Florence, means "to flower" as in the sense of a blossom. And 2012's flowers were an explosion of color. See photos in her memory...

 

 

 Be silk scarves


Links...
gallery of Be silk scarves
significance in Be-ing
silk care
displaying silk

 

 

past journals