In the news we have heard about more arts cuts by the government. I remember many times before the government cutting its programs and its funding to the arts. In the artistic community the conservative government is not looked upon as a cultural fan. If the culture is historical, targeting tourism with items denoting regional icons such as lobsters or moose etc, the beliefs exasperate that this is present day culture and are encouraged by that government in some hope it increases tourism spending. Art is not for tourists alone but for the enhancement of community and country, enriching our everyday lives and showcasing our cultural abilities.
With the last purchase of materials from Quebec, the shipping and item costs had increased to the point,that my thoughts were that this genre is too expensive. Bronze is time consuming ; developing pieces are slower paced and now more expensive. I require a large pocketbook on my buyers because of the costs of production. Waiting on a buyer while trying to continue the next work is stretching my financial abilities. I am trying to apply for larger public art projects, but the last two applications are on hold whilst the committees look for funding. Their funding was lost or cut. To produce in a commercial venue , a foundry, puts the costs even higher although the work is produced quicker. I try to keep the art costs to the consumer down by burning my own work increasing the work load and time table.
The clay sculpture is an alternative , but even that would be non existent if not for  government support in funding for a kiln and wheel. The increase in costs have made me consider leaving this medium and return to painting. But there the costs of framing alone is making the work inhibitive financially. Consider all the framing required for an exhibit, much less the materials required. Consider you do not pay to see an exhibit. It is a free  public event.
In the field of larger exhibited and acclaimed artistic groups, such as ballet troupes or musicians, the visual artists are all but lost for acclaim. And individually we work alone and uncelebrated until exhibit time.  If not for my working spouse, much of my art could not be produced. When I did work to help finance my endeavors, there was not enough time or energy left for the art making. We are not only the manufacturers of our product but also the retailers and  advertisers. I must be needed and wanted from all the requests to donate pieces for fundraising events, to exhibit for tourism events, to teach as entertainment for recreation departments and schools, as an example. The arts on the whole, provide much support and funding of their own to the betterment of communities.
Consider the impressionists of France, and the struggle to exhibit their new expression form in the era that turned down their efforts with disdain and closed galleries to them as individuals. Consider the millions that costs to own such a piece nowadays and the acclaim they bring to France as part of its cultural status. Arts must be futuristic. It is not enough to say it is as good as it is now, and not support new endeavors that will become the history of the arts in the future. Accepting government funding does not mean the artist is living off that funding. In the hundreds of applications the individual  artist is lucky to get a bit of money to support that one project and boost the artist to the next level or next project. But it could mean to the  artist and to the community, that the artist is there next year and hasn’t left the field all together or moved to a more urban atmosphere in hopes of more support culturally and financially with more and larger pocketbooks and galleries to purchase. The goal of the artist is to become financially independent in their production. I await a buyer while continuing to produce for exhibit and marketplace. But it is a struggle and I wonder how much longer I can continue with costs increasing and funding cuts stifling new calls for initiatives in the arts. Let us all work toward a future and that includes our government.

It's been a busy winter and there is much new work coming out for view and sale. The web site shall change a bit with the addition of video where you can meet the artist and see the" how " of the work that I produce. New video will be added at intervals after the first has premiered. But the most exciting news is that there is some strong work in bronze and clay to unveil. Also I will be adding a drawing and watercolour section because much of my sculpture work is based and developed from intitial drawings. Although they may not be representative of the drawings when completed, the sculpture developes out of the drawing stage. You, as the viewer may be interested in its conception. So please have patience and come back throughout the summer months and into the autuum as items are added to the web site.

Its been a few years now having moved into the 3 dimensional and a year playing with  my kiln.Trying to put my stamp on the sculptural work has taken some disappointments with some experimentation. Trying too hard to find a craft statement beside the pure artistic sculptures has been the biggest challenge. To attain a craftmanship level using new materials also was a work in progress. There was not a eureka moment but more of a light tap on the shoulder sensation. And it came not out of a craft item attempt but from my artwork. I like my feet in clay and bronze and they speak of me. But leaving the other small pieces behind, I replaced those with my shopping bags. From the Relay for Life exhibit work, I found my craft item in the luminary bags turned into shopping bags decorated with relief flowers and even portraiture. These items also represent me and I feel will be a signature piece. But I will also accept any future eureka moments that come my way.

The decision to get to the definitive piece of work that speaks and is technically satisfactory  to the original concept , can become an obsession . Not only in the changes that take place with one artwork but with a whole line of the subject matter. As an artist I enjoy the theme line in an idea. I can see many ways to say the same thing and hence a series or theme based work is easily derived from the first piece. It's  a form of obsession that takes hold in an attempt to find another view of the concept and another after that. The artist can also be his/her own tough critic and that can fuel a concept into a  higher level of acheivement.It could also be the challenge to distort the first idea into different shapes.

This obsession can also be a hindrence. I couldn't leave the baby forms alone after the developement of a clay piece celebrating the years between a grandmother and the second generation. Many sketches and drawings prefixed the  full piece. Several small rough head shapes in clay were produced. And the full piece took a second attempt to fulfil the vision. Then I couldn't seem to stop with the infant heads. With two proposed exhibits in the works and my waxes coming into the season to fire into bronze, I was struggling with the heads.Finally I destroyed the shaped wet clay and placed it into a plastic bag for other use.With that decision I felt free to get on with the priority of the exhibit pieces.Sometimes its great to get into the continuing theme and sometimes it's best to know when it is finished for the artist. Well, at least for that particular time. Yeah!

Just in case I should get bored, I am working on a video for the site and your pleasure. It will show the art making process and the backyard foundry in action. This is not my medium and with a borrowed camcorder I will attempt this educational and fun foray into film or digital. Please show patience with the finished project. I will premier it on this site and also Strait Online. I'm also not an actress, but thought you may want to see a peek  behind the finished product.

There are some ideas that take time to develope from conception to the physical stage.Sometimes it is the design and sometimes it is choice of material and this time it is the manipulation of a thin slab design requiring support for molding into the lost wax process. It has taxed me for a year now having used clay, plaster and winterstone and am now toying with the idea of sand mold. If there is agony in the art process, this is where it rises. I can almost understand the Van Gogh ear removal at times. But I am passionate about the concept and know that when the first boat design succeeds , the exhileration will  make the blood loss worthwhile. At times there is magic in the art making and sometimes a little pain bringing an idea through to fruition.

Coming soon will be a preview of my exhibit in progress, Relay for Life. Attending a relay gave me inspiration and a concept for a new exhibit . And of course having it held on university grounds gave me audience to university students which is a rich muse in itself. We enjoyed the relay experience but not being one to live in this experience for ever, I wanted to show my support and encouragement to others going through it, in doing what I do best with my work. Hence this new exhibit in progress which I am hoping will be collaborative with the Cancer Soceity in awareness and fund raising. When some pieces are ready for public view I shall bring the new work and the concept description to the site.