T-shirt Quilt Finished!!!

Recent efforts to focus on unfinished projects is paying off. Another creative tribute to a very special person is finally ready to spread... a queen-size T-shirt quilt.

Saving enough T's since 1995 to reflect pre-school-to-college milestones was much easier than choosing the final palette.  Computer mock-ups, as posted here, helped to arrange.  This was not the final layout, but I hope to post pics of the real thing after our first-born returns to the US and sees it.

After fusing, framing and piecing together the squares for the front and the fabric panels for the reversible back, I outsourced the rest. I'm so happy to have found the Quilter's Studio of Loveland, to do the machine quilting and binding.  Thank you, Laurie for exceeding my expectations. At this rate, I'll soon have more room to start new projects!-- maybe even twin quilts in 4 more years. 

Sr. Mary Agnetis Memorial is a step closer to completion

John Cline at Casting Arts and Technology never fails to deliver exceptional casting expertise. Could not be happier with the bronze cast of Sr. Mary Agnetis. Thanks, John and crew!

You can see more of their casting and restoration work HERE and the inspiration for this project in an earlier blog post (Oct. 30, 2013) HERE.

Next steps for Sr.MA:

• Patina,
• Base Design and Fabrication, and
• Installation at NDA.

Pigs n' Peeps Productions

Pigs n' Peeps Productions covered the Red Bull Derby's best of show.  See for yourself.

Italy & Greece 2015

 

Florence

Fourth of July Tribute

Please come back soon.
A Tribute to a half-century of July 4th memories
is a WORK IN PROGRESS.

Sun and Water by Danny Heines / Windham Hill

Villabration 2015

See more at A Year of Prayers

 

June 2014

The bird bath pictured for prospective bidders in the April 5,2014 blog post, sold at the SUV April auction for 1K.  Not bad for a first-time mosaic project. Not quite an Antonio Gaudi masterpiece, or on par with Moorish tile patterns, but what a great community effort, thanks to parent helpers, teachers and students!

Speaking of mosaic sculptures, Gaudi and Moorish architecture, my #1 and #2 bucket list items (Gaudi and the Alhambra) were fulfilled this summer with a trip to Spain. Finally, my 30-year dream became a reality in Barcelona, Granada, as well as Mallorca and Madrid.  A few images from our 5,000+ pics and clips collection can be seen in 3 posts following this one: Spain - Parts I, II, & III.   Gaudi was the inspiration for the first of these animated slideshows created for friends and family.

Casa Batilo, Antonio Gaudi

Spain 2014 - Part III

Catalonian Streetscapes

This video focusing on Barcelona streetscapes and street fixtures, set to an apropos Adel song called Chasing Pavements, is dedicated to my favorite architects, civil engineers and transportation planners in DOTE. 

Spain 2014 - Part II

Iberia

The best of the Madrid photos were temporarily dumped in Film Maker and accompanied by Al di Meola's Elegant Gypsy Suite.  Apologies for the abrupt ending of the music—it will work out when other clips from Barcelona, Mallorca, and Granada are added, time permitting. 

Spain 2014 - Part I

We've been back from vacation for nearly 4 months.  As I reviewed the photos, I couldn't believe the ground we covered in Barcelona, Mallorca, Granada, and Madrid.

Sagrada Familia
I'm not the first nor the last to choreograph Sagrada Familia pictures with Alan Parsons Project music by the same title (also a long-time favorite), but I had to do this clichéd rendition so that my memories never fade.

Community Art

Mosaic bird bath, a school art project-- with the help of 50 sixth graders at St Ursula Villa, we converted an antique chimney into a garden sculpture, titled Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit.






Thanks to David Duff at Classical Glass for his generosity and inspiration.

Polytek Workshop

In mid October, I returned to Polytek-- four years after my last visit. This trip to Easton, PA produced a silicone mold and a resin cast of Sr. Agnetis, a revered principal of Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills, KY.

After the workshop, I took a quick trip to Westfield NJ before turning back with a van full of casting material from Polytek.

Half Century Ago...

The Legendary, Sr. Mary Agnetis  

Notre Dame Academy's 50th year in Park Hills (October 28, 1963) prompted my latest project.  I didn't know Sr. Mary Agnetis personally but as a 4th generation NDA student, I heard so much about her. My cousins, aunts, sister, mother, grandmothers, and even a great grandfather who attended the original elementary school, benefited from the many religious who have and still devote their lives to teaching young woman at the Academy.  This work is dedicated to the Sisters of Notre Dame, particularly my inspirational teachers-- nine of them still grace the halls. 

Principal Sr. Mary Agnetis administered to the spiritual needs of faculty and students. She is legendary  for raising funds to construct the new building through the power of her pen that caught the attention of NDA benefactor,  Conrad Hilton.  Aiming to capture in the model Sr. A's "sweet" spirit, that was lacking in formal photos, I am indebted to Sisters Reina and Dolores, and Carol Rekow, for their archives, discerning eyes, and personal memories of their mentor.  
More about her legacy HERE. 

Influential as my memorable teachers who carried on the life-force of Sr. A, are the life-long friendships formed at Notre Dame over 30 years ago.  Grounded in faith, our steadfast bonds make us stronger individuals today.  Thank you for your unconditional and unending support.   You know who you are.  Happy 50th, classmates of '81.

This year is also a special year for one of my earliest mentors, NDA's beloved and semi-retired art teacher, who taught many art fundamentals and other life lessons to my mother, sister, me, and thousands of other students.  Happy 70th jubilee, Sr. Mary Reina!





Jewelry Design and Commissions

Switchng gears again from painting and sculpting to quilts and jewelry. This piece from the Ephesus collection, modeled by a recent grad...
More jewelry can be found on my companion blog Accessories

Drawing & Painting

Working in black and white for over a year using vine and compressed charcoal to render plaster casts in the Atelier style-- after about 75 hours, mostly spent on a rigid construction method followed by filling in with values, a lifelike rendition of Mary from Michael Angelo's Pieta emerged. Moving on to color.

Red Tree Gallery Sculpture Exhibit

September 7-October 2, 2010
Opening Friday, September 10, 6-9 PM

More Inspiration

Although I haven't blogged lately, Ive been inspired.

June 2010 trip to Greece: Athens, Neraki/Elefsina, Napflion, and the Island of Milos (origial home of Venus de Milo) provided plenty of exposure to art-- the colors, excavation sites, museums, and Uncle Chris who pedals his father's Singer to turn out fine tailored suits.

Stone Carving

Ten winter weeks of Saturdays with John Leon, borrowed tools, a block of stone...and a summer of weekends wet-dry sanding. Clay is easier, but chiseling is also cathartic. 

  

Title: Modest Torque, 2010

Media: Hand-carved Indiana Limestone

Height: 20"

Reflection

Title: Reflection
Media: Resin, Faux Bronze
Height: 20”

Cincinnati Art Club

Associate Member Show

Exhibit Open 2-5 PM on March 13, 14, 20, 21

Opening Reception

Fri. March 12, 2010, 6-9 PM

Holiday Exhibit

Artist Reception:
Friday & Saturday, November 27 & 28, 2009

3-5 PM

@the Elk Creek Vineyard Gallery

*** Exhibit is open until December 31, 2009 ***