TRACES

I've been mulling this idea over for a few years now. At least 2, when I snapped these photos driving around Memphis at Christmas.

There was something so sad, and strange, and wonderful about them, that I couldn't stop thinking about the teddy bears. I kept looking for memorials around town. I have tons of memorial images from the internet stored in folders on my computer. The pervasiveness of violence means that more of these seem to pop up every day and flash across the news.

I wanted to make one. When I told my mom about it, she thought I was a little nuts. Would I be perceived as deceitful or insensitive? I didn't think so. So I went to the thrift store, bought a lot of weird stuff, and constructed one in the privacy of my own yard.

Ok. Cool. Now that that was out of the way. Where to go from there? We were scheduled to have our School of Art staff exhibition opening for Knoxville's First Friday in September. This would be my chance to exhibit something unconventional, for a large audience, and document it. So I made two more and thrust them out into the world.

I got a great, positive response. (No one thinks I'm crazy, Mom.) I don't quite have my head wrapped around a statement for them, and I've got a lot of things to think about. People have given me many leads of others who work with / research these. I've been told to look at the ones from other countries. This is a huge subject to mine, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes me. Putting them in a gallery setting was step one. In the mean time, enjoy some fancy, white-balanced documentation.

*The number one question I seemed to get asked off the bat was, "Did I take anything from real memorials?" A resounding no. Everything is mine. I aged, arranged, dried, and made it all, and making something intentional look spontaneous is not easy. The only thing I did take was the Yard Sale sign. You can't fake those, and I politely waited until the sale date had passed. 

WHAT IS A WEEKEND? 3

Spent this weekend getting ready for September First Friday at the UT Downtown Gallery. I will be showing work with my School of Art colleagues. I got everything ironed out and will be installing later this week. 

Some previews of my first attempts at sculpture. It felt more like making 3D collages though. 

I took some glamour shots of Miss Mamie and walked around Knoxville on Saturday enjoying some local festivals and getting back into the swing of going to the farmers market. I had missed it for a few weeks from being out of town. (The mountains! The beach! Woe is me.) Didn't end up getting anything. Late birds apparently do not get the corn. 

Oh! And since the last time I posted I moved studios. I've doubled my space, and it's been great. Here's a little before and after shot. 

WHAT IS A WEEK END? 2

I've been wanting to play around with sculpture and have been making these recently. They are made of fake flowers and egg cartons.

Another new work.

I had Friday morning off. (Federal Holiday, y'all) and we drove down to our friend's farm to pick up a pork shoulder to smoke for the 4th of July and to meet the new pigs. I also met some interestingly shaped tomatoes. It's amazing what's out there once you stop getting the perfect, round, grocery store ones.

I ran into this unfortunate fellow later at the UGO. I would love to cook a pig head someday.

Later that evening was First Friday, and my studio had an exhibition at the Emporium on Gay Street.

My work sandwiched between work by Ashley Addair.

I'm not entirely sure this is finished. I may keep working on it after July.

So much food on the 4th.

A recent shot of Miss Mamie

BUTTER MY BUTT AND CALL ME A BISCUIT

Look for this gem at May's First Friday in Knoxville. The Holy Trinity of the Biscuit Belt will be hanging either at Rala or Bliss Home in Market Square.

STARTING OFF WITH A BANG

This First Friday I will have two pieces on display in the balcony gallery of the Emporium building in Downtown Knoxville. My work will be hanging with work by others who work and participate in Knoxville's art-supporting and art-making spaces!

LIKE GANGBUSTERS

On First Friday, I visited the Vacuum Shop Studios. Until recently, this grouping of store fronts had been home to one vacuum and repair shop and two claustrophobically packed antique stores that no one seemed to ever be in. Ever. Now, a group of eight artists works out of the vacuum store space, and they have worked hard to successfully convert it into a functional, collaborative, workspace. For this open studio and First Friday event, their landlord generously allowed them to occupy the antique space next door as an improvised gallery. It was a little dirty and crude, and there was a weird drain in the floor, but it was exciting. And not a painting of cows.*

Several of these ladies were formerly part of the studios that I am now in at the 17th Street Studios in the Fort. I find it encouraging that there is a thriving enough art community in Knoxville that we need two studio spaces like this, in addition to the artist studios in the Emporium building, and Mighty Mud. This is not including corners of living rooms, garages, trailers, and other rented properties. And Knoxville is looking to offer more, affordable artist space. Three years ago, I moved here for a job and a relationship, and I've still got both. I knew practically nothing about Knoxville -- just that it was near the mountains and people here really. love. football, but this scruffy little city is growing on me. So, Knoxville, from an artist who likes you, thanks for liking us back.

*I do not hate all paintings of cows. Turner did some very lovely paintings of cows. And then there's this. All classics.