Open your eyes, yo!

The I.T.E. residency program is SOOO much more than holing oneself up in the studio making things. Instead, it's about being exposed to new things, places and people. We've been very fortunate to have been exposed to all of these things. These photos were taken at the many museums I've visited during this residency.

The photo below was taken at the National Gallery in DC. The sculptures are by Brancusi. Beautiful and elegant.

This photo was taken at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. Beth and I took the Megabus to NYC one day to go museum hopping. We went to the MOMA and the Museum of Art and Design. What a great day it was. (Beth is the bee's knees.) The sculpture is by Cy Twombly, who is my favorite artist. I LOVE his paintings.
This photo was taken at Winterthur during our amazing tour of the Dominy shop. Mr. Charles Hummel, Curator Emeritas, spent 6 generous hours with us sharing all sorts of facts and stories about Winterthur and their collection. Winterthur blew me away. It is literally an encyclopedia of decorative arts in "the flesh". Oh my god. Insane. This object is used on the spring pole lathe of the Dominy family. I took the photo because I think it's beautiful.
Here is Beth, Dan and Noah all looking heroic as they stand before the beautiful facade of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We had a couple of visits to the PMA, where we toured the furniture conservation area, the storage vaults of the craft collection and also toured Mt. Pleasant. Each experience was very informative, interesting and enriching. Thank you: Chris Storb, Elisabeth Agro and Jen Zwilling.
One of our most recent visits was to Wharton Esherick studio/home in Paoli, PA. Here is a photo of his home, which was truly a superior work of art. Every last detail and thingamajig was made by Esherick himself. Thank you to Paul Eisenhauer for a most information and enjoyable tour.
So, as you see, we have had wonderful opportunities to see, touch, experience so many amazing works of art and collections. We have met amazing people and have reaped the rewards of their generosity and sharing nature. Our studio work is much more rich and informed by having open eyes and minds to see the history, possibility, lineage, promise, inspiration... that each of these visits presents us. We're pretty darned lucky, if you ask me.

Expanding waistlines

OK, so if Albert really wants the I.T.E. experience to be about a cultural exchange and food=culture, then I am definitely chock full of culture at this point. I'm very good at eating; I've had LOTS of practice at it. I was pretty skilled before arriving here but, by now, my eating skills are crazy mad razor sharp. Take a look below at all of the exercises in cultural exchange taking place.

Here is Beth experiencing a taste of Latin America in the form of flan. MMMM, creamy.

Here I am admiring a little Spanish cultural exchange in the form of Serrano ham. Mmm, salty. Who ever saw a meat mosaic so beautiful!?!?
Now, onto France. Can you say Monte Cristo..... Mmm, sweet and salty and, oh so, decadent.
Let's mover further East, shall we?!?! Here is Beth, Dan and Jessica enjoying a bowl of Chinese hand drawn noodles. Not only are they getting cultured, they are also honing their hand eye coordination with those chopsticks; wet noodles are slippery. Mmmm, delicious.
Lastly, we've returned to Italy. This time, we're all enjoying a piece of pie via Italy. What a big happy (and well fed) I.T.E. family we are!!!! Good eats!

In early July we visited Judith Schaechter in her studio. An amazing stained glass artist, she is one of four artists that are in "History in the Making: Renwick Craft Invitational" at the Renwick in Washington, DC until July 31st, a outstanding show.

Here's the whole group, including from left to right: Carl, Jennifer, the irrepressible yet laid back Harry (in Mom's arms), Michael, Dan, Beth, Kim, and Noah. All attentive and happy.

The ram has horns

Thanks to Beth Ireland I found the best method for creating the ram horns

In the works

I've been working on a piece for awhile now. The piece is inspired by a quick doodle I did a few years ago but never had the opportunity to see it into fruition. Thankfully, this residency has allowed me the time, space and energy to finally realize the drawing into an actual object, which is almost complete. Alongside working on the piece, it has inspired a few other pieces all working with a similar theme: a house. I won't go into the details about what it all means but I am enjoying where it's been going. Because I love pencil drawn lines, I chose to create a portion of the sculpture from heavy gauge wire so that it mimics a drawn line but in three dimensions instead of only two. Here is the wire I bought. Funny story: the wire place (Wirewicks) is near the Polish section of Philadelphia. Beth and I discovered this fact on our drive to Wirewicks. Of course, I am never one to pass up a new eating adventure so Beth and I stopped and had a tasty Polish meal at the New Wave Cafe on Allegheny on our drive back to the studio. The meal was tasty and service was delightful.

The primary wooden portion of the object is made of Poplar. Below is the stack of raw lumber that we ordered and have been using. This pile contains both Poplar and Basswood.
Here is the beginning of the wire cage/net form, which will be suspended from beneath a tall house form. I've enjoyed working with the wire and I think it will be making repeat appearances in post-I.T.E. work as well. Those are small houses that are resting in the bottom of the net.
This is a small model I made of the piece when I was trying to figure out the connection of the wire basket to the house. It is about 6"-8" tall and looks a lot like a whisk, which was unintentional.
This is the shelf (upside down), on which the house will sit and from which the wire net will hang. There are 4 high strength magnets in the bottom of the round Mahogany disk in the foreground. It will hold onto the large fender washer, which is screwed into the underside of the shelf. I even cut a dovetail for the shelf. I must admit, I haven't cut a dovetail in awhile so my skills are a bit rusty but it turned out OK although it will, ultimately, be hidden by the wall on which its hung.
As for the finished piece: you'll have to come to see our show to investigate the final results. Our show will open on Friday August 5 at the Arts Alliance in Rittenhouse Square in the heart of Philadelphia. I'll look forward to seeing you there.

Pelt for Daniel Hoffman's Ram sculpture

Poplar shavings are dyed and sewn onto fabric to create this pelt

Daniel Hoffman's Ram sculture in progress

The legs for the Ram Dan Hoffman is making

Open Studio - July 16th, 2011

Our Open Studio Day was quite a success.  It was well attended and each ITE'er put on a great demo for our guests.  Here's Kim turning a bowl with Ambrosia Maple from the Fairmount Park wood dump.

She did a great job explaining the process to the onlookers and she drew quite a crowd!

Albert presiding with a smile, as usual!

  

Michael explained his steam bending process.

 

Beth, on the importance of good sharpening skills.

 

Noah with his beautiful 4x5 camera.

 

 Carl with his Angel Wings in the foregound explained the finish on his sinks to visitors. 

 

Dan discussed his use of shavings with his pelt in the foreground and his baroque wall hanging in the background.

 

My small beginnings as a wood turner.  Several people have been supportive of my efforts, especially Beth, who has a great system for teaching, encouraging and a contagious positive excitement.

 Noah's portraits so far.

 Kim and Don Miller, furniture maker and UArts professor, chatting in the machine room.

 

View from the lathe I've been using.  Not too shabby.

 

I couldn't resist including a picture with Harry.  He loved to look at all the people and tools and hear all the sounds of the day.

Visit to Winterthur and the Dominy Shop

 

On Tuesday, July 12th we mad our way down to Wilmington, Delaware to visit the Winterthur Museum, where we were lucky enough to have an appointment for a tour with Charles Hummel, Curator Emeritus.  Mr. Hummel has been at Winterthur since the early 1950's.  He has an incredible wealth of knowledge about American Decorative Arts and is probably the best resource for institutional knowledge at the museum.  He was hired by Henry Francis DuPont himself, the founder and creator of Winterthur as it exists today.  

We visited the installation of two buildings that were part of a family business in East Hampton, New York from the early 18th to the mid 19th centuries.  Generations of Dominy's worked with wood during that time making furniture, clocks, mill parts, doing repairs as well as many other things.  The larger building behind Mr. Hummel contains two lathes and a plethora of beautiful woodworking tools.  We even got to go inside the shop!

 

If you enlarge this photo you'll be able to see some fancy inlay, indicating that this tool was repurposed from an old sword blade.  Waste not, want not.  Recycling is nothing new folks, it's the disposable stuff we use today that is a new and dangerous concept.

 

Below the tool is a table top form set up on the large lathe to show visitors how such a thing would can be turned and shaped.

 

We were fascinated by all the familiar looking tools as well as the things we needed Charlie's help to identify.

 

A beautiful old plane is lovingly inscribed with the name of its owner and probable maker, Nathaniel Dominy 1755.

Washington DC trip

During the beginning of our residency we were fortunate to take a trip to Washington DC to visit several private collections, as well as, visit the Renwick Gallery, Museum of the American Indian and the National Gallery. We have a van, which makes it easy for us to take these trips. Here we are walking along the mall in DC, you can see the Washington Monument directly above Michael's head.

We met with Nicholas Bell, a curator at the Renwick, who kindly showed us around and provided us with a lot of great information and insight. The Renwick is amazing and it was a great opportunity to see such finely crafted and influential works in person.
During our 3 day visit, we also visited 4 homes of collectors. Wow! Each collection was amazing in its breadth, size and sophistication. I really enjoyed seeing how similar and different each collection was/is. All of our hosts/hostesses were extraordinarily generous, hospitable and trusting. They each allowed us to handle the artworks and ask questions. I especially enjoyed hearing the stories that went along with each piece, such as the piece below, which is entitled Jewel. I am very thankful to each of the collectors for inviting us into their homes and sharing their collections with us. What a unique, informative and inspiring experience they provided us.
Here is Beth in front of the National Cathedral, which we visited as well. What a beautiful cathedral.

Good wood and good food

Thankfully, our dorms are a short walk away from the Italian Market. Anyone who knows me reasonably well knows that I love to cook and eat so the Italian Market is like a dream come true. I am also thankful that Beth shares the same fondness for food as I, therefore we are usually partners in crime when it goes to tasty indulgences. Below is a photo taken at Claudio's Gourmet Deli, which is in the heart of the Italian Market. They have an amazing offering of charcuterie as well as olive oils, pastas, sauces, etc. I hugged the large hanging cheeses during my first visit.

At the end of the Italian Market is a great little Mexican restaurant called La Lupe. Beth and I had a tasty lunch there one day after shopping in the Italian Market. I had a chorizo taco and a pork tamale, which both were yummy. I washed it down with a Squirt, which is grapefruit flavored soda.
During the second week of our residency we were introduced to Gus, who works at Fairmount Park. Gus is a hoot n' a holler. He wields a chainsaw and cuts through large logs as though they are butter. On our visit he supplied us with: pear, holly, ambrosia maple and more. The photo below is a small bowl I made out of the pear wood Gus gave us. I don't usually work with green wood but "when in Rome".
Here is Gus in action at the "wood dump". It is amazing what variety of wood species are in the wood dump. On this day we got a lot of Ambrosia Maple.
Gus declared Beth the "Wood Ambassador". He even supplied her with a brooch to demarcate her regal status. Here she is proudly wearing her brooch and granting benevolence to all who enter the woods behind her.

Week 2, New x 2

During Echo Lake we were generously given an invitation by Mark Sfirri to visit his studio in New Hope, PA and join him on a visit to the Rago Auction house in Lambertville, New Jersey.

Rago was about to hold an auction of decorative arts and within their collection were pieces by major figures in the history of fine craft. For example, we saw this large desk/table by George Nakashima.

We also saw this amazing bench by Judy McKie. I love its hefty size and stylized features. The visit to Rago was a real treat because we were able to touch and sit upon the furniture. This intimate encounter with the artwork was a rare opportunity and a great learning experience. We also saw and fondled work by: Wendell Castle, Wharton Esherick, Alexander Calder and many Danish modern furniture masters.
We also were able to visit Mark's home and studio in New Hope, PA. Mark's home is a very old farmhouse which is quite lovely and charming. Mark has two beautiful Abisinian cats who were quite social.
Mark is very well known for his off-centered turning. Here he is showing us one of his off-centered split turnings. It's amazing what he has been able to create with this technique. I am anxious to try some off-centered turning myself and I find his work very inspiring.
Here Mark is showing us a sample corner of a large bench he made. I was impressed by how he cleverly uses a mirror to reflect the bench half so that it appears as whole. If I recall correctly, this was done to show a client his idea before committing to creating the bench in its entirety. Clever.
After visiting Mark's studio, home and the Rago Auction house we also visited the Nakashima Studio compound in Pennsylvania. Miriam Carpenter graciously provided us an insightful and educational tour of the grounds and facilities. I can't share photos of the experience with you but you can see how beautiful Nakashima's work is in the first photo of this post, which was taken at Rago. We were able to see the gargantuan supply of wood, from which Nakashima's designs are still produced. The slabs of wood are spectacularly beautiful and impressively sized.

Thank you very much to both Mark and Miriam for a wonderful "New" day and experience.