The Fallen and the Following

Thank you to Arthi Sunderesh for camera assistance.

The Table is built.

A study in orange.



LS to the rescue.









THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED.

Measure Twice Buy Once

I can point to many times lately that I've been haunted by large furniture in small spaces. My current work space is no exception. Because of the Herculean efforts (and I don't throw around Greek Mythological references lightly) of a pal, there is a 4 x 10' piece of plywood on my studio floor. This wood shall become my work table.



In a rain storm we inched the plywood through a very tiny staircase. I can't believe it fit. I am grateful it did.

I bought the plywood from L. Sweet Lumber in Providence. I mention them because they are the last local independent lumber yard. Founded in 1885, even their facilities are a wonder to behold.

In the same vein I sing the praises of Durfee Hardware just over the border in Cranston, RI. Again getting to poke around in the old and still functional spaces is worth the trip.

anyone else have any nonboxstores to recommend?

I promise I will start making art soon. But until check out CRAFTLAND's holiday sale.

I will be dropping off some bracelets made from used bike inner tubes, a share of the proceeds support Providence's Recycle a Bike.

Watching the Water Roll by (Finally)

I was dropped by a very bad cold this week.

Ryan, of Hope and Anchor Plumbing was really kind to me as I wandered in and out of consciousness as he hooked up my precious sink. Hopefully I did not reveal any of my vapor dreams.

I took a few shots of the process as I shuffled in between naps. I think I have fully documented my sink obsession:

I hope that someday I have an excuse to own cool tools like the white wrench pictured here.



I don't know what this is but it looks great -- like a hardware store Sol Lowitt.




And here is a blurry shot of running water.

I repeat running water!

Success.
Hurrah!
Hurray!


Next Step: building a drip catch sheild. (think tarps and hot glue).

New Old News

Hey I just found out that New City Art, a website "dedicated to news, reviews and features about Chicago’s visual art world". Voted Without You I am Nothing, one of the top 5 print shows in Chicago for 2009.

Here's the link.

Hello Gorgeous!

Finally the sink is together.

Here is the chassis is before its spray tan.



The magic of arc welding, no solder just steel throughout the seam.


Primer isn't pretty, but it is necessary.





The fumes started to get to me, I took a lot of pictures.


Now it is home. Awaiting the plumber.

Providence Art Windows Exhibit Extended until October 15th

191 Westminster St
Providence, RI

Studio Build: molten metal

I am in the throws of building out my printshop. Today was my day in the metal shop. Along with a pal, we welded a steal chassis for my wayward sink legs. I still have to prime and paint it to avoid rust, but this was a very productive and successful day of work.
Beyond my undying gratitude for the skills, patience and pedagogy of Andrew O I was bowled over by the magic of arc welding. I might not be satisfied with just dragging a squeege over a screen now that I have used electrodes and gas shields.

Here are a few shots of our endeavors.

my new favorite blue object:


Upside down sink.


AO's best move. Steel is no match for it.



What could be more beautiful than a circle of sparks?

I think we need more drills:


Arc Welder my new best friend:


This is AO's nice looking weld:


This is my first weld:


After a little more angle grinding, and drilling-we have a finished product.



I am impressed with physics once again.

the welding itself was impossible to photograph:
so here is an image from wikipedia, enjoy.

Somehow I knew I would end up in Saftey Equipement

Rhode Island is Buzzing in anticipation of tomorrow. For most it is because the primary election, but for me I have the added activity of welding a skirt for my sink. My trunk is full of Steel and spray paint. What could be better? I promise to take lots of pictures and wear close toed shoes.

I am happy that I might get to wear the dude approved opera gloves in the picture above. Thank you to Skinner Metal Products for the image.

Kitchen Table Printmakers in Action

the messy table of a 1000 supplies.





the secret to cheap printing...enormous erasers.

Last Minute Prep for Kitchen Table Printmaking

I am teaching KITCHEN TABLE PRINTMAKING at craftland tomorrow.
It is going to be an intensive workshop, with some happy whales.

Hot of my back porch, here is a photocopy transfer on to cloth.




click here for more info on the class.

Humbled by physics

Here's a boring little update.

1) I am procuring supplies for the upcoming KITCHEN TABLE PRINTMAKING class.

including some kitty litter pails and a bunch of these:



2)I took the legs off my sink to get the sink into the building. The sink is made of nonrustable stainless steel. Sadly, the screws were not so fancy and broke off when manipulated. Now the legs cannot be reattached. So I called in a friend with fabrication connections. We are dreaming of welding a platform of sorts, possibly at the end of the month.

Don't you love when a simple project complicates everything it touches.
After the first two screws snapped I started wishing for a more powerful version of my oversized erasers.

(images on this post were borrowed).

Another hurdle down

My pal Vikki made my week. She happily handed over to me her hardly used power washer.
It is a little dirtier than the above photo, which I grabbed from the HP power washer website.
I will tell you how it works as soon as I get it up and running.

If you arn't familiar- a power washer is an invaluable tool to blast off stubborn photo emulsion.

Now I am off to design a filter to keeping Narragansett bay clean.

I am looking long and hard at the screenprinting guy's filter.

Summer Scrubbing...Had me a blast...

I've been slowly building out a new printshop. I thought I would share some internet resources that I have been drawing upon in case anyone out there is interested.

In general all you need for a sceenprinting shop is a surface to print on, and exposing unit, and a sink to clean your screens.

Originally I was going to build a washout booth based on Steve, The Screen Printing Guy's plans. But I couldn't find a shower stall in my budget.

So, I pumped Alec Thibodeau aka INK APE for information about his similarly sized setup. Mr. Thibodeau makes amazing work and cleans his screens in a humble utility sink. So, I started looking for a sink large enough to wash out my screens. After a week of internet searching I found one. Luckily the seller was able to deliver it in his truck. Thank you Chris. Thank you craigslist!



I spent this afternoon, washing and polishing my new sink, without the benefit of running water. I used a lot of Bar Keeper's Friend. And even more baking soda and vinegar. I used a bucket as a drain catch.

I have plans to make a print table that looks something like the work tables at the Crane Arts Building in Philly.



and create a portable fabric printing surface. Here is a tutorial from Michelle SaintOnge's Print Cut Sew Blog. She posts great screenprinting tutorials. FYI-I think she might be "sponsored" by some art suppliers.

Now I am onto getting the water running....

working through the heat

the workshop is moving along.

Dear Providence Letters/Images now online.

Declare War on Junk Mail from New Urban Arts on Vimeo.

In 2008, I was invited to correspond with a youth participant at New Urban Arts for their summer mail art initiative "Dear Providence."

NUA just put up an real shnazzy site that documents and expands that project.

Check it out!

DearProvidence.org is an online resource guide, an outgrowth of the “Creative Correspondence” 2008 Summer Art Inquiry at New Urban Arts. Each summer, New Urban Arts brings together artists, scholars and high school students over five weeks for a thematic exploration of the human experience as it intersects with creative practice. The 2008 Art Inquiry theme was mail art and correspondence.

Prep for Kitchen Table Printmaking

Here is some prep work I just finished for a relief printing version of KITCHEN TABLE PRINTMAKING at CRAFTLAND on August 28th.

I took a hint from Janet Doub Erickson and used polymer clay to create a printing surface.




Hand printed with cloth.


The pulled printed next to the inked matrix.

A Little Color to Start Your Summer.

Here's a quick shot of DOMESTICATED on view in Providence Art Windows on Westminster St in Downtown Providence across from the Old Dress Barn.

Happy Summer.

Domesticated is Now on View

Here are some progress shots from the back of my installation Domesticated, earlier today at 191 Westminster Street.
Please note the roughly hewn wooden posts. The rumor is that 20 years ago the building housed an Americana inspired clothing store. Directly across the street is the shell of the Dress Barn, which closed last year. Maybe downtown providence still isnt ready for agriculturally inspired separates?

I promise it looks prettier from the street. But I couldn't help but enjoy the huge empty room. It is big enough for a roller rink.

More information on the Providence Art Windows Site.

Quasi Semi Yeeow!

I am installing a piece in downtown Providence next week as part of Providence Art Windows Summer Series.

I am taking the semi-self portraits into the third demension, or at least on a much much larger scale.

I am cracking out the sewing machine. I will post more details after the opening.

Opening Reception Gallery Night, July 15th, at Heir Antiques on Westminster Street, from 6-8 PM