Cars

I love the transportation in Italy - walking, biking and all of the small cars, scooters and motorcycles! No cars on the freeways because people take the trains! (gas is $8 a gallon) We live so far out in the countryside that we will always drive cars but ...something has to change!

Playing with sculpting

We are playing with glass sculpting on Saturdays now and on through the summer. Refreshing and fun!

New Sinks are in Florida

I just received photos of a newly renovated bathroom in Florida with two of our sinks. They are truly unique - with a hint of gold dichroic.

Florence Horses

Show me anything to do with horses and I'm happy. Still in Florence, these photos are inside and outside the Palazzo Medici. Cosimo mounted. Medici Money is the most interesting book I've read in a long time and relates to the politics of today. Still, I am grateful for the Medici's investments in the arts!

Ready to work!

We're back in the studio and ready to work! GAS Conference in Seattle was wonderful. Seattle even had sun! We watched Richard Royal and Dante Marioni make big glass. Visited the Glass Museum, Tacoma Art Museum and the Seattle Art Museum. Chihuly's glass everywhere. All the big names of the NW. Lino Tagliapietra at the Wm Traver Gallery. Bought tools, visited galleries. My favorite was Elin Christopherson's bottles full of yeast and bubbling sound at the Foster White Gallery. Just like the wine in our basement! And Beth Lipman and Ingalena Klenell's Glimmering Gone glass forest at the Tacoma Glass Museum. KeKe Cribbs and Ross Richmond gave an interesting demo. Also Jenny Puhlman and Sabrina Knowles were inspirational. Rick took a class from Karen Willenbrink Johnsen and Jason Johnsen. Amazing team so Rick is all inspired and ready to BLOW GLASS! We couldn't do it all but we did all we could. Stayed with cousin Nora and cousin Camp and family. Great to see everyone! Back to the furnace.

GAS

Off to the GAS conference in Seattle for more inspiration! Furnace on next week - then the weather will turn hot - guaranteed!

We began in Florence. My cousin, Nora, met up with us and we explored. The Duomo, Basilica and Baptistry were all right there in front of me and awesome to take in. I stood for a long time in front of Michelangelo's David. I had dreamed of seeing David for years and it is amazing to study the size and detail in person. Everything is so old certainly compared to California that I found it hard to comprehend the timeline. The skill levels of the artisans are also so off the charts that I was overwhelmed.

Biegert Group Installation

We're still at it. This installation just finished!

Florence Italy

Not quite sure where to start! Possibly with this - The Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna? After studying art all these years it was incredible to view so much in just three weeks. It was like a time warp - history compressed. We saw the actual birth of the art of the Renaissance. And the very beginnings of glass! I cannot comprehend the talent and effort required to create the huge marble sculptures that we saw. I stared at Michelangelo's David for about 40 minutes or so. Inspirational.....more images to come!

Blowing!

Last big day to blow glass for a while.......

Crocker Art Auction

We are pleased to announce that our Uplift - 32"H x 23"W will be available at the Crocker Art Museum Auction June 5. The auction will preview in the museum beginning May 22. If you haven't seen their amazing contemporary addition, this would be a great opportunity! www.crockerartmuseum.org

Point Reyes installation in Dallas

We just received a photo of a recent installation in Dallas. I love to see the final result! "We love our new artwork. You can see that we needed something bold to fill that high space at the end of the main room of our lake house. We really like this and have waited a long time to fill this space because we wanted something special. The brackets made the installation easy, although it was still a bit scary putting the highest one up about 14 feet high. We're very happy with this."

Sushi in New York

Working on our new teardrop pendant for a sushi restaurant in New York City today. DIY network Yardcrashers will feature our first teardrops lit with fiber optics for a backyard gazebo on April 21.

PEACE

Here are my favorite girls! What a wonderful Spring evening. Great weather for glass blowing too.

Spring - Not

Better wait to plant your tomatoes!

Spring!

The apple tree thinks it's Spring!

When Life Gives You Lemons.....

Get over to the Arts Building and bid high! Placer Arts has many exciting programs coming up this year in need of funding!

Thoughts began with my love of lemons and color.
The contrast of sweet and sour - blue and yellow.
A fascination with a meaningful cliche from the past.
Making the best of whatever life gives you.
Keeping a positive outlook - despite the "news"
La Dolci Vida! - Appreciating the good life we enjoy within our local art community.
Quando la vita da i'limoni ..........

Box Construction

Sunday was a fun day of box construction with Heather, Lindsay and Matt. Tomorrow they will be delivered. Can't wait to see them all at the Artwalk!

Out of the Box

Boxes in progress. Matt, Lindsay, Heather, Rick and Janet - all working hard! Lots of fun! See all 100 at the Artwalk Thursday April 14 - 6 to 9 at the Arts Building - Auburn.

PEACE for Families

A wonderful sunny Spring day and very successful event!