Day 2 of the 5 day Facebook challenge: …and she saw that the metal was good and so said, “Let There Be Rock”:
Let There Be Rock
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In the Beginning, There Was Metal ….
I was recently invited (I believe, “challenged” is the exact word) to participate in Facebook’s form of what I can only describe as a modern day chain letter for visual artists. While happy to share my work to the tune of 3 pics a day for 5 days, I find myself reluctant to fulfill the second part: to challenge another artist each of the 5 days. While thinking of the talented people in my acquaintance I have convinced myself that none would receive such an invitation with enthusiasm. Then again, maybe I over-think these things.
So with no further ado I present, Day 1:
Keepsakes Find Homes!
My new 5 inch footed “baby bowls” as they were initially called seemed to strike a chord with folks from all over that visited the First Annual Marketplace at Gaylord’s “Treasures for the Holidays” in December, organized by Picture This (http://www.picturethis-gallery.com/) .
Word of mouth and social media helped connect them and me with several others.
Keepsake bowls have found homes in Texas (the excited buyer hugged me), DC (a special birthday gift for her sister), and Indiana: and those are just the states I know about!
This custom mix came about when an out of state man contacted me via Facebook for a special Christmas present for none-other-than my new friend and motorcycle riding buddy who lives here in Tennessee. She shares the September/Sapphire birth month with her daughter and her grand-babies share the March/Aquamarine month. The colors are gorgeous together and I just couldn’t resist! I don’t have her picture with it yet but here’s a snapshot of the bowl:
And this is the picture she sent of her two lovelies with their March bowls:
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I was thrilled when my wonderful dentist, Dr. Jane Bacon (in Hermitage, TN http://www.nopainjane.com/) heard about the custom mix and immediately asked for two: one to keep and one to share!
Then there was our niece, the Secret Santa, in the Shepherd clan who texted me to arrange the November/Topaz bowl for our nephew:
I am so grateful to see the collection beginning to take on a life of its own: the life I intended when I conceived of the project: to make affordable, meaningful art that connects people to one another.
I love it when people send photos of themselves and/or their special friends and family members with my art! I encourage EVERYONE to participate. Let’s make this thing go global!
Peace and love in 2015.
The Birthstone Collection – Now Available Online!
Hey Cube’sters!
I have two exciting things to share: First, my Special Edition Collection of kiln sculpted glass is on display for purchase at Picture This Creative Framing and Gallery. The new location is celebrating a grand re-opening on Dec 4th from 5:00p to 8:00p and I look forward to seeing everyone! The works are also available for online purchase at http://www.picturethis-gallery.com/alice-e-shepherd-kiln-formed-glass/ thanks to Matt Fischer! Be sure to click on the “View Details” button in the “Quick View” window to get the whole story. I do love a good story, don’t you ? 🙂
Say hello to Turquoise Sky, the birthstone of December. The visual effect of the mix of brilliant blues and sunset colors made it easy to choose her name. And there’s a piece for every month of the year! These substantial bowls weigh 22 ounces and are approximately 8-1/2″ in diameter by 2-3″ deep.
AND if that isn’t enough…I am just back from setting up at Treasures for the Holidays at Gaylord Hotel and Resort (https://www.facebook.com/treasuresfortheholidays) with the “Birthstone Keepsake Collection”, mini versions (5″ diameter) of the gallery pieces complete with the most precious little “hat box” you’ve ever seen! It has self-threaded, replaceable ribbon. You just tie the bow and voila! Gift! These are perfect for bedside, bureau, or sink-side as a safe place to hold your valuable rings, earrings and other jewelry while you get on with your busy life. You might say they’re “Gems for Jewels”!
I love it when a plan comes together. Stay tuned for updates and enjoy your holidays!
Alice Shepherd: When the Need to Create Triumphs
Big news! I am honored that Career 2.0 http://career2.0blog.net/ chose to publish an interview with me about my self re-invention. The stories they have shared about the experiences of other women making major life changes have encouraged, inspired and motivated me. I am privileged to become a part of this important mission and hope my story resonates with the right person at the right time. Keep fighting the good fight, all you intrepid trailblazers!
Contributed by Elaine Pirozzi
“When the horse dies, get off.” Strange as it seems, those six words may have changed the course of Alice Shepherd’s life.
At the tender age of 19, Shepherd began her career in bookkeeping in Nashville, TN, where she was born and raised. It wasn’t long before she had worked her way up to a position in public accounting and also became a certified QuickBooks Pro advisor, leading classes and instructing others in the use of the accounting software. When asked why she chose accounting, Shepherd replies in her lilting Southern accent, “I was good at accounting, plain and simple. It didn’t have much to do with liking it or not liking it; it served me well.”
Throughout her adult life, Shepherd did all the things she thought she was supposed to do. “I went to high school, briefly went to junior college, met a wonderful…
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July 4th Trip
Summertime….my absolute favorite season of the year. Our July 4th trip: to see a bazillion uber-cool motorcycles at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, AL. We couldn’t think of a better symbol of American freedom!
So Ron and I rode our bikes down to stay for a couple of days, lounge around the hotel pool, catch some in-room movies, and then…spend an entire day visiting the immense and carefully curated collection of bikes owned by the Barber empire.
The Building and the grounds are spectacular. There are huge, metal sculptures inside and out and the landscaping is impeccable. Wish I had more shots of the grounds but whew what a day!
You really have to see it to believe it. To illustrate, here’s a life-sized car that looks like the Bat-mobile ON TOP of the glass elevator that spans 5 floors of sheer awesomeness. Look closely and you’ll see the multitude of bikes just in that area. (Click for larger images on any of the following pics).
In fact, Ron found all but two of the many motorcycles he has owned. The yellow one, for sure but who’s counting? Here are a few random shots. Hubby’s a Kawi man…
And, unassumingly nestled amongst the throngs, sits The LEGENDARY Vincent Black Shadow. (Cue the disturbingly alluring music and goose bumps.) Here I am trying not to touch it. (Click to look closely at the background and you’ll get a small idea of how massive the collection is.)
It was quite a day. But the staff wanted to go home so we had to call it a day 🙂
Hope you enjoyed. Check out Barber for your own personal experiences: www.barbermuseum.org. Have a great summer!
SEE YOU NEXT TIME, CUBE’STERS! 
HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2014: On Big Plans and Past Reflections
My grandaddy always said, “Never talk about what you’re gonna do. Do it and THEN talk about it.”
I try to live up to that but with the new year underway this seems like a particularly good time to take him up on his sage advice.
I lived my entire life “out of the box” last year; both artistically and personally. This introvert lived the life of a (potentially crazed) extrovert! I went out of my way to mix and mingle; to speak my mind; to open myself to new experiences and to new and hopefully long-lasting friendships. I’ve put myself “out there”: on this blog, in social media, volunteering and interning.
In November my cousin and I created and co-hosted a huge 50th Wedding Anniversary Party for my beloved Aunt Joann (the 2nd Alice) & Uncle Joe including a pre-written toast delivered by yours truly. In an unanticipated twist, relatives I haven’t seen in years got to “meet” me, the adult Alice (the 3rd). Same song, second verse on my husband’s side of the family. With his help I hosted my first impromptu, holiday open house at the in-laws. By the positive yet surprised reactions of everyone involved I can only surmise that I’ll be moving into the future in a new perceptual light. That makes me smile.
Reflecting on the past year I can see that the bulk of my creative work was foundational. I’m creating ME: heady stuff, indeed.
So I am out of the proverbial box. Now what?
Having the luxury of time to reflect brought a stark realization: I can do whatever I want! And yet there is no denying that the things I do will shape who I am/who I am thought to be.
Last year’s “things to do” became this year’s “things done”: build my own website, facebook business and personal pages, create content, do a photo shoot, design logo, learn to use Photoshop & Gimp, create business cards, work a part-time job, do the Outlaw/Seed Space internship, volunteer with the Stacked Box Community Mural Project, fulfill two commissioned art pieces, apply for out-of-state juried exhibition, attend workshops, seminars, meetings and openings. Rub my belly and pat my head at the same time. (Just checking if you’re still paying attention :-).
This year’s overarching goal is to meld what I do with who I am. It launches with my acceptance to an invitation from Adrienne Outlaw to be on the Artist Advisory Board for Seed Space. I’m eager to see where my participation will take me! As for the rest of my Big Plans, well…aside from not taking myself too seriously I think I’ll follow my grandaddy’s advice. Talk to you soon.
In the meantime, enjoy the ride and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
“I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news”, or “A Door Closes and a Window Opens”
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.
The Three Alices: Beginnings…
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
My surrogate mother – let us name her: Alice Joann
*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
New Work: Water, Water Everywhere…
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:
Here’s to Artwork Cubed meeting Art Squared! Stay tuned for the results and wish me luck!
ALICE E. SHEPHERD 
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