I'm home!

I'm home, writing this with Oscar purring on my lap. And I'm super tired. It's quite a leap from Nebraska City to Eugene. It's downright balmy here. I will never again complain about the cold when it's 40 degrees! I had a wonderful month, met great women writers and artists, made a lot of work and had a lot of fun. Back to reality tomorrow... yawn... more soon.

The Judge and Jury

These little figures have been my judges and jury. They only tell me one thing; "You're doing great! Keep going". They believe anything else is useless information. I'm glad I brought them.

This afternoon I just stopped working. It was time to say "I'm finished".

I did a lot of work while I was here... good? bad? in the middle? I have no idea.

What was really good was the process of making it. I loved working until I had no idea what to do, taking a break, a few hours or overnight and then coming back and knowing what came next. It was amazing not to have to backtrack from one session to the next.

Tomorrow I get to spend some time at the high school teaching them to do xerox transfer. Then it's pack, pack, pack and hike to UPS.

Yawn, goodnight all.

Someone is jumping off the deep end!

Today was a social day. First, the high school students came to visit us. They were very quiet, but spent a lot of time looking at the work on the walls of the studio. When they left one boy gave me a big hug!

Then all the residents, and Denise and Pat went to lunch at Lied Lodge, a beautiful conference center that reminds me of a national parks lodge. Yummy lunch. Then our writers read to us, and we took a last tour of the studios to see what we all had been up to.

Tomorrow is my last day to work in the studio...

I'm going to take at least an hour or so to make more drawings. Nadine next door says sometimes she hears me laughing. I laughed when I made these breakfast girls.

A month has flown by...

Love to all, Janice

Keep going despite what your mind tells you!

I had a really fun day painting today. If you listen to Pandora internet radio, type in Mahalia Jackson and you will hear the BEST gospel music.

I've got my coaster project moving right along. I now have a system worked out which really helps. That and the four big tables I have to spread my materials out on.

I've been thinking about the challenges I have been working on while here and the biggest one by far is just self confidence. At least a couple times a day I think I'm not good enough for art.

Why am I talking about this? (again) Because I have to pass along that the only logical response is to just keep going despite what your thoughts tell you.

I still have 2 full days to get things wrapped up. Ok, off to open a can of soup, rest a bit and then back at it!!

Sunday at the KHN Center for the Arts

The sheath dress girls are finished. Their story is written in the sky behind them. For those of you who would like a translation here it is:

They were only heads on a billboard. They stepped out.

Their hair turned grey. Jackie? Jackie? Are we singers? Our hair is like EH's.

O' where am I giant sister? Do you want to step on some cars? Sing gospel? Worship Della?

They were only heads on a billboard. They stepped out.

They joined the church and Della loved them. They drove the cars and liberated other girls trapped in billboards.

The church grew large. The sheath girls were as tall as a billboard. They were reserved and dignified in public. They were what they were. People were afraid of them.

They were only heads on a billboard. They stepped out.

They sang the sheath girl gospel. A choir.

Why did you come hear them? Are you afraid?

They were only heads on a billboard. They stepped out.

They loved Della. Their hearts were pure. They did not step on cars.

They had other things in mind.

EH wrote their songs.

They were only heads on a billboard. They stepped out.

Be not afraid. Be fearful. Bring joy.

Artist Food

Today we three visual artists drove to Omaha to visit the Bemis Center.

I love this sign "because creativity matters". For every person I have ever met, myself included I assign (as Queen Janice) a broad and encompassing meaning to the term "creativity".

The Bemis Center is HUGE, 5 stories high and 170,000 square feet. They also offer artist residencies. Today we were attending a gallery talk about the current exhibit.

We were lucky enough to get to tour all 5 floors, huge open spaces filled with materials and collections and art installations.

Here are Nadine and our tour guide Joel in "the cave:" It's literally a cave created inside a warehouse. They have concerts and gatherings here and it is lit by candles.

There was so much more... we also toured the Phillip Schrager Collection of Contemporary Art which was full of huge works by well known artists.

And then we drove home and saw the sunset on the prairie. All in all a day filled with great discussions and lots of inspiration. Thanks Nadine and Skye!

Experimenting

Because I have lots of time I can try out ideas that I would discard at home. Last night I started experimenting with playing cards, ink and transfers on paper.

Another idea that came to me was drawing figures over my used paper painting palettes.

Each day at the end of my work I clean up, put everything away, make order and make a list for the next day to get me started. It makes me feel grounded and accomplished.

Tomorrow we are going to Omaha, about an hours drive from here. We are attending a lecture and exhibit at the Bemis Center. They also offer artist residencies that are several months in length. I'm excited to see another program and a new city.

Hope everyone is preparing for a great weekend.