Summer 2018 in Pinetop, Ariz.

I am so thankful for this last summer. I returned for the third year to Pinetop with the Highway Hotshop offering workshops all of July. I was scheduled to leave the 2nd week of August, I was having so much fun I decided to extended my stay 3 more weeks after a ten day trip to Colorado for some an R-n-R and two back-to-back street festivals in Loveland and Golden.

My studio set up this year in Pinetop functioned perfectly and despite the powerful monsoon I could work dry and secure watching the magnificent storms while I worked. Between making product for my shows I taught 4 workshops and began production on a chandelier commission. Having my daughter with me for 5 weeks was the icing on the cake. Blessed!
 
The time in the cool mountain woods of northern Arizona is a welcome escape from the Phoenix heat.  I continued to develop two new  bodies of works. First is a study in sculptural work that deals with representation of death and change, through the juxtaposing of symbols of growth and decay. I worked in particular in sculpting mushroom forms. Inspired by the use of mushrooms in food I read books and hunted in the near by woods for the King Bolete, also known as porcini . Additionally I completed and installed a semi permanent display above the bar at the equestrian center. A collection of clear glass sculpted pieces suspend from wire.
 
Other highlights of the summer where Horse back riding up the side of Mount Baldy to twelve thousand plus feet and sailing from San Diego to Catalina Island for 8 days.