I think one of the things many “non-artists” don’t know is how much we throw away… many artists discard far more than what ever shows up in a gallery. Many of my friends can validate that. After all the past weeks’ hoopla in the studio… I ended up tossing much of what I made and the installation became a “pop quiz” challenge after I was near meltdown last Monday.

The PCA grant installation was in ruins last week when returned to the studio after a successful few days in the studio, making what I thought to be such a lovely form of a “breath.” I was in kind of the thick of things not really seeing that what I made strongly resembled a sperm! As I taught my lovely private students last week, all I could see is now I have a huge sperm problem and while running out of time, I didn’t know how I would change to yet another direction and have time to make it, while staying coherant enough to do my first lectures at Kutztown. Yes, I was near meltdown indeed…

But I am one lucky girl and being able to have my studio in a place where there are like minded individuals who inevitably have come across similar problems in their studios- I had a firm talking to in order to get it together at this eleventh hour. It’s a good thing because sometimes as artist’s, we get in our own way. I was certainly doing this to myself. I wrote the grant a year and a half ago when I was in a much different place. That’s all fine a dandy because I feel the piece was certainly reflective of the spirit of my work but then what I had done is added the extra challenge of having a prominent part of the installation as something I have never ever done before. I think it’s why I put off doing it for so long. But I let that go as it came down to deadline time and then just tried to work with something within the same spirit of the grant… and I did.

Friday was a harrowing day in the window. It was hot. Very. Hot. I am lucky there was nothing that had potential to melt aside from myself. The piece went up rather easily however was held up by the lighting situation which we have now learned the electric was dead in the window. Sad for me since the piece is very reliant on light for it’s dimension. BUT, Rachel, Becca, and Bret to the rescue! I left the window to get ready for First Friday and when I came back, they had been sweet lighting fairies who rigged up a whole lighting system. Unfortunately, I was never able to see it lit as it was a busy night in the studio but I intend to head back and take lots of pictures- of which I will be sure to post. But I have a little shot I took from inside the window that greets you on this post. Just imagine from there :)

ps… Friday was a big day for me. Not only did my installation debut but an exhibition I am a part of opened in Zaragoza. “Todo Vale” is a great international exhibition Sergio and Juan curated. I cannot wait to see pics and will be sure to upload them! In the meantime, Sergio sent me the catalog which is in the “Todo vale” post. If you can read Spanish, it should be some riveting reading on some way cool people.