Reunited with the Past

As many of you know I work for UVU's Woodbury Art Museum. A selection of the dolls from the McCurdy Doll Museum will be on display at the Woodbury Art Museum from November 6 until January 15, 2010. Earlier this week I interviewed Shirley Paxman founder of the McCurdy Doll Museum in Provo, Utah. Mrs. Paxman told me many wonderful stories about the collection of 4,000 dolls.

When asked which was her favorite doll Mrs. Paxman said without hesitation, "Rosie". She received Rosie, a composite baby doll, for Christmas in 1929 when she was 9 years old. Like Mrs. Paxman, countless women can fondly name their favorite childhood doll too.

My favorite doll as a child was Ruby Louise, a 1983 red headed Cabbage Patch doll. I had secretly wished my hair was red because I wanted to be like Anne of Green Gables. My mother braved the crowds of people who all wanted the popular Cabbage Patch dolls for their daughters in search of a red headed one. I was so excited to receive her for Christmas and as I dragged her with me everywhere I went she became a little friend to me for years.

Mrs. Paxman told me she still had Rosie, and asked if I still had Rubie Louise. I regretfully told her, that Ruby Louise was lost along with most of my childhood possessions in our Gulf Coast home during Hurricane Katrina.

After the interview, Mrs. Paxman showed me through the many rooms of dolls. At my surprise in the last room, I saw several Cabbage Patch dolls still in their boxes laying on the floor. I was so excited to see a red headed Cabbage Patch amongst them. It instantly conjured up my memories of Ruby Louise. Mrs. Paxman picked it up and said she wanted me to have it. I tearfully told her that she shouldn't give it to me that it should stay with her. She explained that this doll should go with me because no one else would appreciate her more than I would.

Sadly disaster did take many things that I loved, but I am so thankful to have been reunited with my childhood doll in such a serendipitous way. I think sharing the experience I had with Mrs. Paxman truly tells the story of who she is and what she is about more than any interview question I could have asked.

Dinner with the Board of Trustees and President Holland

Last week I was invited to give a small presentation over dinner of my summer research that I was granted through the Scholarly and Creative Opportunities Program at UVU to the Board of Trustees and the President Matthew Holland of Utah Valley University.

I briefly explained that I explored my connections between art and music by specifically listening to the music of Elizabethan Report. It was a lovely dinner and a great opportunity to share my experiences at UVU in the art department.

President Holland has some outstanding ideas about Engaged Learning and Community Engagement. I am so happy to attend a University that offers these opportunities to learn by doing.

The art featured here is a sneak preview of what is to come. I painted this to Elizabethan Report's song "Two Silver Trumpets".

Hitting the Books

As you might have guessed I'm an art student. I'm currently taking 18 credits and working at the Woodbury Art Museum 30 hours a week. That kind of schedule is enough to make anyone crazy. Besides my art history classes there are no text books. But that doesn't mean that we artists don't read. There are over a dozen books that are piling up in the chair in my room that I am currently reading, skimming, and studying from. I thought it might be helpful to share with you some of my favorite books in future posts. Right now, "Book + Art, Handcrafting Artists' Books" by Dorthy Simpson Krause has really got me excited. I like this book because it combines artmaking and bookbinding ideas together. It even explores boxes and unbound collections. The instructions are easy to understand and inspirational.

I am currently learning some simple bookbinding techniques that I will share in a later in a post. For you local Utah readers, the Woodbury Art Museum will be having a book binding work shop very soon. Will let you know about the dates soon. Let me know if you are interested so I can get a good idea about how many to plan for.

50 Drawings in 50 Minutes on Top of Each Other

After the previous assignment with Catherine Downing, (50 Drawings in 50 minutes) my instructor Tawni Shuler, recommended me to do 50 drawings in 50 minutes on one big piece of paper. She asked me to use an organic form. I chose a piece of burlap paper and twirled it smashed it up a bit and then arranged it on the table in front of me. With this approach I never rearranged the object. I just moved my drawing paper around and changed mediums each time I drew it. I drew small parts of it, I drew it very large and very small. I drew it with my eyes closed. I tried angular approaches and soft circular approaches. The time went by very fast. As you can see the result doesn't look like a still life drawing at all. I had fun just playing with different materials. Sometimes,"Unexpected paths lead to great discoveries"(Wayne Hodgins).

50 Drawings in 50 minutes

To prepare for this I gathered various types of paper and different drawing and painting materials I enjoy. I used an object, in this case a pair of glasses that was missing a lens and drew it for about 60 seconds. Then I switched to a new piece of paper every minute. Exercises like this are useful for revealing the way we work and think as artists.

Immediately I looked at the drawings and wrote notes about how I was affected by the time restraints and what developed through the process. In the beginning I was nervous about making true marks that would identify the form accurately. I knew the process was going to be long so it started out as work.

As I warmed up I began moving the object around and then I even added a bottle to personify the objects more. I drew 17-23 blind with a marker. I was surprised at how accurate I was. I began to single out parts of the glasses that seemed symbolic. I like the limbs of the glasses crossing. They seemed to be guarded. I became agitated in the middle worried that I would run out of ideas. Then when I realized the end was near I calmed down. I switched to watercolor. I began to zoom in to shapes that I liked more. At this point I could have kept going because it was no longer work.

I reached a place where I began to be connected. I thought of the rushed days thatI don't have the opportunity to take time for myself to think and ponder. Those are days that I become easily frustrated and I have less patience for others. I contrasted that feeling with the days when I do take time to read and think and meditate and my view of the world is full of light and inspiration. I like the glasses that have the yellow paint and missing lens because I was able to construct a visual verse about that experience.

I found this exercise to be very helpful. I hope it proves to be helpful for you as well. Have you noticed up anything about these drawings and this process that I didn't mention? Please share it with me. If you try this exercise on your own let me know how it works for you.

Shaolin: Temple of Zen is Open

It's official, the exhibit is open. I might have been so busy planning and getting all the last minute things finished, I failed to announce things here. The opening reception featured some great Jiaozi (chinese dumplings) and Amano's new Dos Rios Dark Chocolate bar samples.

I even tried my hand at flower arranging after much morale boosting from my Mother who arranged flowers when I was young.

Without the volunteer work from our friends I don't know how it would have all come together in time. many thanks to those who helped things run smoothly and to those who attended.

If you have not made it to The Woodbury for this exhibit there is still time, that is until Oct. 9. The Museum is open 11am-5pm Monday through Friday.

Peach Berry Dessert Pizza

Our friends get together once a week for dinner and cards and last week we made our own pizzas. Brynne made a peach berry dessert pizza. It was delightful. She also made homemade buttermilk ice cream that proved to be a perfect companion to the fruit. She thinks I'm the friend with artistic talents but what she does with food is creative, inspiring and delicious. Thanks for taking the pic S.C.Cannon.