Zinnias!
Not much to say today. Still brutally hot and dry and I am weary of watering every morning and most evenings.
Tuesday I set the corals and crab on the top and finished texturing the top around them.
Tried out a wavy texture on a wax sheet for the body of the box Tuesday and Wednesday I tried it on the back of the box but I like it better on the test piece. I kind of overdid it on the box so I'll use some sandpaper to smooth it out and try again.
Also Wednesday I set the corals and the crab up for mold making and started setting up the feet as well. The blue wax 'wires' are to provide vents through the mold to allow air to escape as the melting glass oozes down into the mold.
You might remember, after I got the call last March from the gallery about their anniversary show in October, giving me plenty of notice because she would really like to have one of my boxes for the show, that I was not excited about it because I had no ideas waiting in line and was basically through with the series but I wanted to please Barbara so I agreed. It took awhile for me to come up with and develop an idea but I still wasn't excited about the whole thing until probably this week. Now that I have all the models for all the parts more or less finished I think it's going to be pretty damn good. I have about three months to get the pieces cast, cold worked, and assembled and it may take me every day of that. It doesn't help that it has to be done during the hottest part of the year.
Thursday, today, is the first day I haven't put in my two hours a day in several weeks mainly because half my day goes to SHARE, which was very busy today and in fact I was already behind before I even got there a few minutes after 9 this morning as baskets were already waiting for me to fill. The Elders and a couple of the guys who work food back there with me try to keep me stocked as Jan's told them all repeatedly not to let me carry the heavy boxes from the storeroom (though I am perfectly capable of doing so and do when I can get away with it), so they'll ask me what I need and they go fetch it. They usually ask me when I'm busy, trying to keep track of what list I'm on and where I am on it so it's distracting. I finally told the Elders a week or two ago to just look at the shelves and they can see for themselves what I need and to just go get it and restock for me. That's actually working out great.
The other reason I didn't go over to the studio today is because the 5th J6 Committee hearing started at 2 PM and wasn't over til 4:30. We're watching it all. I don't think I've learned anything really new as most of it so far had already trickled out, not in depth of course. Most my twitter feed is following political watchers and reporters and politicians. What I am learning during the hearings is the details (and the receipts) of just how complete and deep and constant the pressure, the threats of violence and ruined lives, on everyone from individual election workers to state election officials to the Department of Justice every day to change the results of the election that Trump knew he lost fairly, knew their 'theories in search of evidence' were bogus, knew what he was asking people to do was illegal but he didn't care. “Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the republican congressmen”, Trump told the acting AG Jeff Rosen. Days before J6 he wanted to replace the acting AG at the DOJ with a completely unqualified new acting AG because he finally found a guy who would do it. The only thing that stopped him was the entire senior leadership in the DOJ threatened to quit en masse followed by hundreds of others in the department following suit. This hearing ended with the names of 5 congressmen; Scott Perry, Mo Brooks, Andy Biggs, Louie Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, and Jim Jorden who asked about pardons but didn't specifically request one; who asked for blanket pardons so they obviously knew what they were doing was illegal.
Well, the DOJ is finally starting to act with subpoenas and warrants and raids starting with Jeff Clark, the guy Trump wanted to make acting AG, and other senior Trump administration officials.
I saw a tweet this morning that said Trump was hate binging the hearings, livid that no one was defending him. Sweet.
I can see why you're pleased with the way the box is developing. I had wondered how so many disparate elements would combine, but now I have my answer: perfectly. I really do like those legs, too. It's going to be a little world-in-a-box. As for the heat: yes. It's been terrible. I get to work about 7 now, and usually manage to make it until 1, but my plans to go back in the evening to put in a couple more hours haven't worked out. It's not cooling, even when the sun goes down. BUT! there are hints of rain for next week, and I saw some predicted highs around 88 -- which has been close to our "lows" this past week or so.
ReplyDeleteIt's not bad about 7:30 in the morning. Unfortunately long about 8:30 it's already heating up. I'll believe the rain when I see it. One lady I know here thinks we're going to be in for a bad hurricane because of how hot the Gulf is. Fortunately I've got air conditioning over at the studio but the walk there and back is horrible. People's yards are turning brown and crinkly if there's no shade.
DeleteThe box is really quite amazing, I think. As for the January 6 hearings, we too have been watching them, and it is a real window into the mind of a depraved individual with no concern for anyone but himself. Sadly he had a willing cadre of sycophants to support his lies and schemes, but principled people came through in the end. Now let's hope that these creeps all fail to win re-election.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately our problems here go far beyond Trump's play to stay in power. The far right white christian SC has decided anyone can open carry no restrictions regardless of state restrictions because it infringes of their rights and at the same time they decided that the states can decide whether or not women have bodily autonomy or the right to health care.
DeleteSo, so much work goes into your pieces! I really do not know how you can price them, considering what you've put into them. People have no idea, do they?
ReplyDeleteLove your zinnias. We didn't plant them this year and I'm sad about that. I have a few volunteers.
I'm watching the hearings too. I didn't have as much information as you obviously did so I am being constantly gobsmacked. I mean- I knew it was bad but I didn't know it was that bad. 45 really was delusional, wasn't he? Thinking that he could appoint a new AG two days before Jan. 6 and that things would be done to change the outcome?
Anyway, every time you mention the "Elders" I crack up. I am sure they are very sweet boys, though.
Nope, 90% of the people who see my work have no idea how much time and work goes into it. Of course I would pick an obscure tedious and time consuming technique to work in. And yeah, there's no way I can price my work where I actually even get minimum wage for every hour I put into it.
DeleteThe Elders change every so often, usually just one will be replaced and then when it's time the one that's been there longest gets sent elsewhere. Some are more helpful than others. Some look for stuff to do, others are fine just hanging around until asked to do something. Right now of the two, only one is really pre-active. He pretty much kept me stocked last week. What I find really funny though is if you ask them their name they will only tell you Elder and whatever their last name is.
The deer ate most of my zinnia's I really hope they all go to jail, with the Supreme court acting the way it is we are doomed if he ever gets back in office...TO Me his Rallies are domestic terrorism and should be stopped! When he finally left he said "the next two years you will see brilliant growth, that is MY economy you will see." He was Right...this is the world he created for us...and it stinks. With his Tariffs, His Gripping about Imports, his Pulling out of the Iran deal (that cost us a million barrels of oil a day) and his mishandling of the Pandemic this is the fall out of his tenure.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we don't have deer in this little rural neighborhood though my daughter has them out where they live.
DeleteUnfortunately they will blame Biden.
I continue to be very excited about the box! I love zinnias - we grew them in the mountains of western NC when we lived there eons ago. I have NO IDEA why I haven't planted any at our current house! And re: J6? I just shake my head at all times.
ReplyDeleteThat box is really coming together and I can't wait to see it finished. You certainly know what you are doing and think of every little detail to make it perfect.
ReplyDeleteI have been watching the hearings too and I am glad of the detailed, thorough, calm and steady way they are presenting the facts. It makes the former president's crazy rants seem even crazier and his supporters look like co-conspirators or completely clueless dolts who fell for his lies.
Not only the former guy but the republicans in congress. You know if McCarthy had been able to put his picks on the commission, they would be yelling and rude and aggressive and accusatory, grandstanding and argumentative.
DeleteYour zinnias are so beautiful. I would love it if I could remember to plant some here next year. The box is coming together... I love watching it happen like this. And thank you for paying attention to the January 6th hearing. I read about it in the headlines, but I like your perspective. We are living in such crazy times.
ReplyDeleteThe box is going to be amazing! I love seeing your process, it’s quite labor intensive. What depresses me about the hearings is that it hasn’t changed the minds of any of his supporters, no matter how compelling the evidence, I’m trying hard not to feel doomed but it’s hard.
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
No it won't change the minds of his cult. For one thing they aren't watching anything but Fox tell them that it's all lies. But hopefully it will change the support he has from moderate republicans if there are any.
DeleteWho could possibly defend that man. I watch these hearings and fill with depression and anger.
ReplyDeleteLove the zinnias. Love the box. I am not watching the hearings; too much unhappiness for me. And then the Supreme Court's decision today. I'll stick with zinnias.
ReplyDeleteWe are in for a world of hurt with this court unless we get undeniable majorities in the Senate at the midterms. Otherwise it will be at least a generation before they age out. And Barrett and Kavanaugh are fairly young. Our best bet is expanding the court and/or starting impeachment proceedings against Thomas for his support of the insurrection or lying under oath at their hearings for the others.
DeleteWatching the hearings right along with you. They are serving as confirmation that I was right abut that evil bastard all along! After seeing this do you suppose his rabid followers will still follow blindly? I am betting that they will. I can't understand it.
ReplyDeleteOf course they will. They only watch Fox and Fox tells them it's all a sham, a witch hunt. But as my brother says, nothing wrong with a witch hunt if you're hunting witches.
DeleteI love your box and you are so right that you'll never be able to price it so that you make even minimum wage on the hours and effort you put into your art. Isn't it sad that this is true for all art mediums?? Thanks for watching the J6 and reporting. I can't watch it because my husband doesn't want to hear it --he usually has a baseball game on (as he snoozes in his chair).
ReplyDeleteThat's a delicious image -- Trump sitting in front of the TV watching the hearings and seething. Your zinnias look great! Mine haven't even bloomed yet.
ReplyDelete