Author: aeshep

Alice E. Shepherd is Artist/Owner of Artwork Cubed Glass Studio, creating original and small batch art for home, body and gifts.
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“I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news”, or “A Door Closes and a Window Opens”

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Well, Cube’sters since we can’t speak directly I’ll choose and tell you the not so good news first.  The jury is in (literally) and my “Water, water everywhere…” work is….wait for it…OUT!!!  So no out-of-state gallery exhibit for yours truly. And while it would’ve been nice to be accepted on my first attempt I have to admit being a tad relieved.  I have SO MUCH going on right now and going into production for the installation was a daunting idea.

So meanwhile, back at the ranch…my current awesome artist/mentor hooked me up with another opportunity: the chance to work with the curator of the Parthenon Museum (Centennial Park, Nashville, TN).  We had a chance for a sit down that went exceedingly well but, alas, this time it was I who opted out.   This was a difficult decision but I’m learning to listen to my instincts.  This meeting prompted me to reexamine my journey and begin the process of narrowing, of weeding out, of focusing on exactly what is right for me – in this moment.

So a door closed and window opened.  And I?  Let’s just say I’m enjoying the fresh air.

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The Three Alices: Beginnings…

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We come upon a major milestone in our family; the 50th wedding anniversary of my Aunt “Jo” and Uncle Joe. 50 years; half a century, my lifetime. There are festivities afoot,my friends. But the planning of this celebration, like an archeological dig, results in the unearthing of histories: pictures, souvenirs, mementos. The artifacts of long forgotten memories and feelings held close to the chest. Things that happened, time that passed: this thing happened,then that one, then that one and well…that’s just the way life goes. And here we are.

I am a woman of definitives and humble beginnings. We live day to day and quickly learn it is not good to dwell. We move on because to survive we must. We learn that there are some things best left alone. But as we revisit this past as linear progression, as a chronological time line, I realize something startling: we’re doing it right now. It isn’t linear at all. It’s a spiral, a double helix, a mobius strip where time travel is not only possible it is unavoidable. DNA rich with the stuff from which we are made is constantly communicating, blending, weaving back and forth, recombining.* 

I can see my Nanny now, palms up, shrugging, head tilted and smiling at me with those kind, resigned eyes that said to me what her eighth grade education hadn’t prepared her to explain. Her gesture is now mine. I speak and I hear the echos of her voice.

And so I start where, really, one only can: my beginnings.

My Nanny – let us name her: Alice Josephine

Alice 3 or 4 yrs and Nanny in the living room

My surrogate mother – let us name her: Alice Joann

Alice baby on swing with Joann in Nanny's backyard

*New research has shown that during pregnancy mother and child share DNA. The child actually alters the mothers DNA. Nanny had my father, then she had my Aunt Joann. This means that my father and my Nanny shared DNA which was in turn shared with my Aunt Joann. Then I was born…mind baffling.

“Now we know a mother and her baby have to be linked. Cell-based communication is essential for a healthy pregnancy.” http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201303/the-you-in-me

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New Work: Water, Water Everywhere…

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Hey Cube’sters!  Just finished a new piece today.  It’s an 8″ x 8″ x 3/4″ deep “sample piece” I’ll ship tomorrow for an out-of-state juried exhibit. If I am chosen to participate I’ll go into production to make the required additional 19 original works within my chosen theme:  “Water, water everywhere…nor any drop to drink”.  My installation will be a visual reminder of the vital role that water plays in all our lives and a reminder that although approximately 3/4’s of the Earth’s surface is covered in water roughly a billion folks still lack access to a clean source. Because glass is neither a solid nor a liquid it behaves differently when exposed to different temperatures so it serves as a perfect representation for water, which also changes forms depending on temperature and conditions.  And as you know I’m a metal-head in many senses of the word; the blue color and bubbles within the glass resulted from thin copper being fired between the layers of glass.  The sides are covered in silver leaf and I’ve also included some re-purposed shim stock for that industrial feel.  So without further ado, here are a couple of pics:

Water, Water Front ViewWater, Water detail sideHere’s to Artwork Cubed meeting Art Squared!  Stay tuned for the results and wish me luck!

 

Art Events

Stacked Box Community Mural Project

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Well, Cube’sters, two things are now official: 1) the Guinness Book of World Records has accepted this massive undertaking for consideration to break the record for largest box mural (I think it’ll be classified as a mosaic) and, 2) I’m hooked!   This post covers the last three, yes THREE, events where I’ve volunteered.  This is so much work, er I mean FUN  🙂 and I’m so lucky to be making such interesting new friends and meeting other, more established artists!   Check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StackedBoxCommunityMuralProject for volunteer opportunities, schedule of events and the like.  In the meantime, hope you enjoy these pics!

(As always, click one for larger images and a self-guided tour.)

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Art Deco Cars at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts

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Lest you begin to suspect that engaging in art is all work, work, work….this post comes courtesy of our summer “stay-cation”.  Of course we’ve partaken of the mandatory summer blockbuster movie, motorcycle riding (see my Facebook page for pics at https://www.facebook.com/alice.shepherd.79), done a bit of shopping, dining out and sleeping in, and piling up to watch recorded movies at the house while munching taboo snacks.  We also highly recommend Bruce Munro’s extensive light exhibit at Cheekwood (no pics but you’ll find plenty online).  And now, without further ado, selected photos (yes, this is one exhibit where photography is allowed) from our docent guided tour of Art Deco cars and motorcycles.  Happy summer, everyone!

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“Pressed” for time :-)

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Snapshot_20130724_14Hey Cube’sters!  Here’s an experimental piece I made using a fairly new technique from http://www.fusedglass.org called Kiln Pressed Glass. The goals are:  1)  to have the colors stacked without letting them mix up, 2) to have them spread like watercolors and, 3) all this without the piece becoming thick.  The light refraction is beautiful, like a kaleidoscope!  I’m such a metal head and any color not metal related doesn’t come naturally to me.  So, of course, I gotta master it, right?  🙂  This one took two full fuse firings up to 1500°F and held for – wait for it, ‘cuz I had to – one and a half hours!  The annealing (holding at app. 900 degrees to ensure stability/longevity of the piece) took two full hours.  The indention around my nose occurred because I didn’t plan my glass volume carefully enough on the 2nd run: the glass flowed around the fiber blanket squares used as a vertical spacer UNDER the kiln shelf which was on TOP of the glass which had a metric ton (well, not literally, but almost) of other kiln posts, bricks, shelves, etc on top of that; hence the “press” in the title. Plenty nerve-wracking.  Sorry I don’t have photos of the stack; maybe next time. The first firing looked like this after I opened the kiln and removed all the weights that were stacked on top:

1st attempt-1st firing-side view

Then I added more colored and clear glass pieces, stacked it up with tons of weight on top and repeated the process. This time I used as many colors as I had on hand for testing purposes.  I’m looking forward to other projects with planned color and pattern schemes to incorporate into mixed media works.  Stay tuned… 

 

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File Under “A girl’s gotta have some fun…”

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I spent a couple of hours yesterday evening painting with the great Myles Maillie!  To say I was thrilled doesn’t begin to describe my elation. To not be misleading this is what I, and many others, were up to:  https://www.facebook.com/StackedBoxCommunityMuralProject.

And here are some pics: Myles Maillie Finished BoxesMyles in the middleThat’s the great Myles Maillie in the middle, Matt Fischer (Owner of “Picture This” framing and art gallery in Hermitage,  TN, and Vice-Chair, Metro Arts Commission) to the left and Sierra (hope the spelling is correct) to the right.

This is one installment of more to come.  They’re going for the Guinness Book World record.  How fun to be a part and how exciting to work under the direction of Myles.  He sketched out the design in black paint, directed us in filling in the broad strokes of color then went back and fleshed out the final painting.  Awesome to do and to watch him work.  (Insert satisfied “aaahhhh” here  🙂

 

 

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Progress on garage studio

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I am so excited!  My generous sister-in-law, who is moving out of her home and into a condo, donated a 6′ x 3′ standing height table, a four foot fluorescent light, several organizational bins as well as a ton of shelving (stay tuned for how/where that gets installed).  This means the car has been officially deported to the driveway.  Well, I guess if the drive was covered it would be “carported” (Get it? Car-ported? Fine. Don’t tell me keep my day job; it’s too late!)
Anyway, Ron and I spent Sunday working on the garage studio and it’s truly coming together.  Let’s see…240v electricity for Olympic kiln – check; plumbing/sink – check;  wet station for cutting & grinding glass – check; large plastic bin for discarded water containing glass “sand” – check; extra rubber mats to stand on – check. Plus, my resourceful uncle Butch gave me a compressor that he put together from several discarded ones of its kind. Now, if anyone has a used, in-wall exhaust fan lying around…  🙂  I am a lucky gal, indeed!
Studio June 30_2013 (2)

 

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Scrap to art

aeshep

So this is how it happens:  I agree to make a commissioned, kilnworked glass “bowl” to be gifted for the July birthday of someone special to the purchaser.  And as it turns out I have JUST the ruby colored glass requested:  in many small pieces!  Since I have worked exclusively with System 96 (top of the line glass formulated specifically for kiln formed processes http://www.system96.com/), every piece is precious.  So after turning over design options I decided to make a bowl/sculpture that represents gemstones for July: specifically rubies and moonstone.  In combining a couple of different glass-cutting and kilnwork techniques I go from scrapWorkbench-Using Ruby scrap glass to art with a big sigh of relief AND a new idea:  The Birthstone Series.  Fellow artisans and lovers of glass I present the 1st in the series:

Birthstone Series: July - Ruby and Moonstone bowl
Birthstone Series: July – Ruby and Moonstone bowl

This one measures 10″ in diameter and 4″ deep, and features iridescent glass. Here’s a close-up:

Close-up: Ruby and Moonstone Bowl
Close-up: Ruby and Moonstone Bowl

The circular bottom portion is coldworked for a satin finish and signed with permanent glass paint.

DSCN0150

On to the remaining 11 months!

 

 

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Latest “Tattoo” Custom Artwork

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This challenging and fun piece was commissioned by a new friend. The symbol that is fused into System 96 glass is based on an original tattoo designed by her husband.  Here’s the finished piece as hung in her home and a pic of the tattoo.  Also check this link for larger images to see more detail:  Custom Art   It’s 8″ x 8″ x 1 1/2″ overall.  Kiln formed glass is 6″ x 6″.  Thanks, Sarah C. and see you soon!

Tattoo installed at client homeSarah Calvo husband's tattoo art project