What is Quartz Inversion?
No, it’s not a quart of milk standing on its head. It’s the point at which silica crystals in clay change their molecular structure during the rise and fall of temperatures in the kiln. Heat serves as a catalyst for permanent change. Very cool idea. I think of it as a metaphor for most things in life. The transformational power of art can change us at the very core. Our actions change the earth every day, for better or worse. The choices we make, the thoughts we have, and the words we say change us in every way at every moment--from the inside out. I like to think that I go through a quartz inversion on a regular basis....and once quartz inversion occurs, there is no going back.
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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Scrittore....

So it seems that my grandfather's journals will be harder to translate than I had hoped. My Italian teacher took a look at some pages and although he was able to make out quite a bit of the handwriting, he said it would be difficult to do a clean translation because the writing is such a "stream of consciousness". He said that although the writer was highly intelligent and seemingly well-read, he wrote without concern for consistency of proper tenses, subjects, or sentence structure. The writing was a mix of melancholy thoughts, quotes and citations, and drafts of letters that were never sent. He also said something quite interesting ~ he said that he felt the journal was written by someone who longed to be a writer, but for some reason was never able to. I realized they must be filled with quite a depth of content for a total stranger to get such an acute sense of who this person writing was. I walked away feeling deep regret that I never really knew my grandfather, and that I might never truly know who this enigma of a man was.

For now I must be content and grateful that I have his journals as a source of inspiration and the backdrop for my work, but I will continue to chip away at words and phrases in the hope of gaining a deeper understanding of my grandfather.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

"Quote" "Unquote"...

I've been reading a lot of artist's quotes lately, trying to keep the creative process going during the times I am not in the studio. My favorites are usually the most simple, straightforward ones. I tend to shy away from quotes describing lofty ideals and romantic notions of what art is, or those that profess that creativity is the 'holy spirit' speaking through us. I'm not really interested in that. Do I feel connected to a power or energy larger than myself when I am working - YES, but I try not to think of myself (or my fellow artists) as a holy vessel, per se. I'm only interested in the way the creative process makes me feel while I am 'in the moment' and in that lovely, exhausted, body-weary feeling I get after a day of hard work in the studio. Here is the best quote I found today:
Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.~Pablo Picasso

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Setting up shop....




I've finally opened a new Etsy account entitled, appropriately, Quartz Inversion. This will hopefully give me the venue I have long needed to promote and sell my work. Unfortunately, I have run into some technical difficulties in setting up the shop and can't seem to get the graphic for my page logo to upload. My friend Dee designed three possibilities for me, which I can rotate, once I figure out how to get the darn thing up.....

Friday, January 1, 2010

Time to step back....


I've been on a roll working in the studio day after day, but I think it is time for me to take a break and step back. The last several pieces have felt a bit forced, like I am trying too hard. Sometimes it's a good idea to just sit back for a while, take a look at what you have done and let it sink in and become part of you. This last piece was worked and re-worked to the point of near destruction. After several hours the result is merely 'acceptable'.

WELCOME 2010 ~ First post of the new year

LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW DECADE FILLED WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER, CREATIVITY, PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR ONE AND ALL.......