Still Cementing....

I've finished coating three of the four sides with cement. One side left plus the top. Not sure yet what I'll be doing with the top. Once the entire structure is coated with cement, I'll be moving on to the tiling.

Still need lots of tiles, so drop by for June's First Friday to decorate one if you haven't already done so. The edges and the receses will be tiled with pennies. The rest of the facades will be tiled. Judging from the tiles I've already received, it will be fantastic!

There have been a few more evolutions. Now I'm considering having the entire structure on a "Lazy Susan" so it can rotate and be visible from all sides without having to sit in the middle of a room. More work, but I think that will add to the interactive nature of the piece and involve the community even further, on the level of viewer as well as collaborator.

Time to start thinking more about the area surrounding the structure where the Penny Pool/Penny Fountain will be. I'm thinking astro-turf. That may evolve too...

Lots to Think About

Well, I posted my dilemma concerning the offensive tile (see previouspost) on my Facebook page and on the Facebook page of the Phoenix Remodernists (an arts group I belong to) and I got tons of feedback, suggestions, options, and opinions. Very helpful, yet UNhelpful in that I now have even more to consider.

Suggestions include using the tile, tossing it, literally tossing it (so it beaks) and including it in broken form, grinding it into dust and including the dust in the grout between the tiles, turning it over and including it as a blank tile as a tribute to rape victims, keeping it out of the project but using it as a coaster at the reception, returning it to whoever made it (not possible.... I don't know who made it), making an adjunct piece from all the tiles that don't fit,

I'm close to a decision, but will let all of the input percolate for a while. Whatever I decide, it will be a very personal decision on many levels (artistic, philosophical, historically, experientially, and societally) and I will not be sharing it. I have several reasons for this: I want the piece to stand on its own and not be overshadowed by the inclusion or exclusion of this particular tile. Plus, I think not sharing the decision adds a little the mystery to the work.

So when it's done, be sure to look for it (or it's absence) in the finished piece!

Artistic/Philosophical Dilemma

What do I do???? Hundreds of people have decorated tiles for this project... most of them showing wonderful talent, great wit, deep thoughts, entertaining personality, and lively spirit. But then there are the exceptions.

One tile in particular is downright offensive. It says, "IRAPE SISTER YOUR." No, I didn't transpose the words or forget a space after the I... that is exactly what he wrote and how he wrote it. There is no design included. So what do I do? Do I include it in the project?

On the one hand, I feel that including it will be as offensive to many who view it as it is to me. I feel it demeans the project and twists what I am trying to say with it. I feel it was not created in the spirit of what was being asked of people; i.e. to decorate a tile that would fit in with one of the four themes of the project: Art, Money, Admiration, and Community. I feel that including it in "my" piece would reflect badly on me.

On the other hand, lots of tiles don't fit any of the four themes. Many are not "artistic." I said that people could decorate tiles and they would be included in the project. I am totally against artistic censorship. and is it really "my" piece?

On the third hand, is this artistic expression or just a prank by an immature person trying to funny or rebellious or outrageous? Are humor, rebellion and outrageousness legitimate components of art? Did I not give people a means to express themselves and be heard?

So, again, what do I do???

Structure Complete! On to the Next Step!

The structure of the shrine is finished and I am in the process of coating it with cement and preparing the surface to accept the tiles that have been decorated by so many menbers of the community when they visited my studio on First Fridays and during Art Detour.

I've been glazing the tiles and they look great! Still need many, many more... so come by the studio on First Friday and decorate one!

I'm ready to let people come in and work on the piece. Since I can only accomodate a few people at a time, let me know when you're available (leave a comment here) and I'll arrange a time with you to meet at the studio. Be prepared to get dirty!!!!

Covered with glue!

Making some progress.... have cut some more styrofoam pieces for the structure and have glued the pieces Sandi and I taped on day 1. I posted somephotos in the previous post, so check it out if you haven's seen them already. It is starting to look like a shrine! Had a lot of trouble getting the glue out of the tube using the caulking gun. I need to do some hand exercises to build up my squeezing strength! Today went a little better when I cut the a little more off the tip and got the glue flowing a little easier. Still tough though. My hands and forearms are all cramped up. And I have glue stuck to me everywhere!

Luckily I am working with forgiving materials.... mistakes can be addressed and repaired at this stage. After I get the shrine glued together and adhered to its base, I will be using a mixtrue of cement and glue to seal it. Using this mixture, I should be able to patch and build up areas that are not straight or level or smooth so that we have a good smooth, even surface to tile. More ideas keep coming to me as I work... places to incorporate pennies, places to use copper trim. It is definitely a work in progress... not just physically, but creatively!

Construction - Day One

My friend (and mentor) Sandi Whyman joined me in my studio to begin work on the shrine portion of the piece. We cut, scraped, and taped styrofoam for the greater portion of the day.

New Experiences

I often use a blow torch when I work with resin on my toilet seats and bustiers, and now on the tiles for the shrine. But while using it (and enjoying it!) the other day, I began to think about all the new tools and materials I'm using (and will be using) for this project that I've never used for an art piece before. Here's a partial list:

Bisque
Sharpies
Sharpie Paint Pens
Felt
Graph Paper
Calculator
Needle, thread, pins, tape measure, and other sewing tools
Doll's Head (this one happens to have long blond hair - with bangs - and blue eyes... coincidence??? See the photo below)
Styrofoam
Keyhole Saw
Thinset
Grout
Cement
Clay
Astro Turf
Caulking Gun
Wire Brushes
And, oh yes, Pennies!

So what do you think.... could this doll's head represent (a much younger) me? Will it add to the autobiographical nature of the piece?

(Not happy with the beret.... will do it over for sure!)

Laying it out

I am so gratified by the number of people who are participating in this project by donating their pennies, decorating tiles, and expressing interest in building the piece with me!

This weekend, I got out my graph paper (first time since seventh grade!!!!) and laid out the project. See the diagrams below! The measurements were dictated by what would fit in my truck.... as good a criterion as any, I suppose. 

The base will be 3 by 6 feet and the height will be 3 feet at the tallest point. As you can see from the diagram, there will be a four sided structure. Each side will be a 3-piece shrine (one for each of the four main concepts/themes of the Penny Project: Compliments (Admiration), Money, Art, and Community. The center piece of each side will have an arched recess that will hold a 4 inch square bisque tile decorated to symbolize the concept for that side. The rest of the recess will be tiled with the pennies that were collected during the project.The area of the center piece (excluding the recessed area) and the side pieces will be tiled with 2 inch square tiles that have been decorated by members of the community during my shows and open studios. The tiles will then be coated with a resin for shine and durability and then grouted.

To the right of the shrine structure will be a "penny lake" with a "penny fountain." Remember: each penny represents a compliment to the artist. An artist's palette will be "floating" on the "water" and an artist's head (wearing a beret that I am sewing tonight) will be sticking out of the water. the significance will be open to interpretation... is she drowning in compliments? Bathing in compliments? Just taking a break from making art? There will be a tile path around the lake (also tiles created by community members) and in the open areas (which will probably be astro-turfed) will be some 3-dimensional representations of the four major themes... perhaps a piggy bank, a "thumbs up" sculpture, an easel, and some hand-holding doll figures.

Of course nothing is set in stone yet and the design and ideas may yet evolve into something entirely different.

This coming Tuesday I will be meeting with one of my mentors, Sandi Whyman, who creates wonderful shrines. Under her watchful eye, I'll be beginning construction of Side 1 of the shrine. I want to complete Side 1 myself (making copious notes of all the sub-tasks so I can later delegate them to anyone who is interested in participating in the construction of the rest of the project). Keep watching this space for announcements of open studio dates if you want to be part of making this piece of art happen!

Making Progress!

The community response to decorating the tiles for the shrine(s) has been great! I knew the kids would enjoy it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the numbers of teens, adults, and seniors who also participated during my open studio at First Friday a couple of weeks ago. This weekend is Art Detour and I will again be having visitors to my studio participate in this project by decorating a tile if they are so inclined.

The amount of participation was not the only pleasant surprise. Also of note was the quality... there are so many really talented, creative people out there. I, myself, can not draw worth a hoot... so I was very impressed with the artwork on the tiles.

We also got a good start on a list of people who want to come into the studio and help construct this art piece. I will be posting dates and times here and on my facebook page to let people know when to show up.... so keep checking. Or, send me your email address and i will send yo a personal invitation to come out and make art!

A New Way To Participate

Beginning this Friday, visitors to my studio will be able to decorate, with words or pictures, a 2" x 2" bisque tile that will become part of the shrines or the pathways leading up to them. The decoration should address one of the four themes: Compliments, Money, Art, and Community. A tile depicting compliments might, for example, say "Love Your Work", "Good Job," "Beautiful," "Thank You," or something like that. A Money tile might have a Dollar sign on it, or a penny glued to it, or say something like, "Show Me The Money!" An Art tile could have an artist's pallette drawn on, or show a figure standing at an easel, or have a short quote or thought about the nature of art or its function. A Community tile might show people working together or holding hands, or say something like, "Working Together." These are just examples... I want YOUR thoughts! This is a community project so I would love to have the thoughts and pictures of as many people as possible included in the art! Come on out for First Friday and make your tile.

I will be coating the finished tiles with a shiny epoxy resin and using them to create the shrines and pathways as described in the previous post which laid out the plan for the artwork based on my own ideas and the suggestions of others who got on this blog to share their thoughts.

In addition to making a tile, you are invited to come down to my studio and help with the actual construction of the piece. Construction will take place on various dates so that everyone who would like to participate is able. I will be posting the dates here and on my Facebook page as soon as I know them. Stay tuned!