For the last few years of her life, our cat Bianca settled into a routine. In the morning, she’d wait at the foot of our bed for a vigorous scratch and brushing. In the evening, she’d rest on our chests as we watched TV, with her paws resting on our necks, drawing life force from us, we suppose. Anyway, here’s the last video we have of Bianca–getting scratched the way she liked it.
August 18th, 2008
In the morning last Wednesday, our cat Bianca came into our bedroom for her daily scratching. As she walked into the room on her way to the rug, she stumbled and then collapsed. A few minutes later, as Vince and I did our best to comfort her, she died. She was almost 18.
Bianca had been Vince and my companion for a long time–almost our entire relationship. She was a gift from Vince to me on our second Christmas together and I cried when I saw her. I feel her absence every time I come home and think about all of times I spent with her during her long life, how she brightened my day and brought me joy. I now realize the incredible, deep affection I had for her, our cat.
On Friday morning, Vince and I had a short ceremony and burial for Bianca in the hills of Sonoma and I cried for our loss. I have posted more pictures from her life with us here.
August 16th, 2008
Mollusca. 2006. Mixed media. ~72 panels, 5 x 5 inches each piece
This work, which I initially created in 2006, continues to change and evolve. From time to time, I think of making a work that is “just for me”–usually working with some imagery or topic that I’m currently very interested in but is not necessarily related to my art. In this case, I became fascinated by nudibranches (a.k.a. sea slugs). Their diverse colorations are remarkable while their eyes are relatively undeveloped, so they will never know what they look like, which makes them even more fascinating to me.
After I hung the piece for the first time, I slowly realized that it was more compelling and emotional than the “serious” work I was creating at the time and ever since I’ve been working on many of the concepts first explored in this piece. Each tile is a closeup photograph, which I’ve printed and laminated in plastic. Each tile has hooks, which attach it to a substructure constructed with wire fencing.
June 13th, 2008
Here’s the information on my upcoming group show:
The “Water Project” visually explores one of our most precious resources and one of the most overwhelming forces of nature. Inspired by water’s depth, colors, energy, mystery, and physical properties, the artists have created work using a range of media from film and photographs to wood, canvas and paper.
Curated by Catherine Haley Epstein
Opening reception: Thursday, June 19, 2008, 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Exhibition date: June 19 through August 8, 2008
THOREAU GALLERY
Thoreau Center for Sustainability
The Presidio of San Francisco
1014 Torney Avenue at Lincoln Boulevard (directions)
June 9th, 2008
So, I’ve begun the redesign of this Web site in earnest. I’ve figured out the new technology (Drupal), which could finally give me the tools I need to make, well, whatever it is I think I’m making. The basic idea for the site is a “Life Archive”…a place to put all information about myself in one place, but also make the site interesting, easy to use, aesthetic and dynamic. I’ve decided to implement it a little bit at a time, so you’ll have to come back to see my progress.
In the mean time, I’m participating in an artshow in a couple of weeks. The piece above, is title “Rearranged World: The Seas.” You can read more about it here.
June 9th, 2008