2014 Art Show

In 5th grade I remember doing a scratchboard of a gibbon, thus making me want to recreate it. Gibbon is done with charcoal, and by using a kneaded eraser; I have achieved different values throughout the piece.

At a distance the two drawings – Gibbon and Wolf – look very similar. However, upon closer inspection you will see quite a difference in technique variations, as well as media. I chose to draw Gibbon with charcoal, whereas with Wolf I used ink and pencil to make stippling and hatching marks thus creating a similar value of shading throughout the work.

Wolf and Fox drawings inspired a series of work featuring animals that the Native Americans saw as being symbolic to their way of life. The thing is, after completing my wolf and fox drawings, I was surfing the web and came across some Native American spirit animal websites. This research inspired me to start a line of artwork devoted to the Native American portion of my heritage. Yes, that’s right. I am, in fact, part Native American. I am 1.5625 % or 1/64th Chippewa. My great X 4 grandmother was 100% Native American.

After being bored out of my mind for quite some time, I ordered some materials and began making jewelry. Antique pewter rings embrace three strands of natural leather cord in a rich green hue offering an artisanal look. This trendy bracelet features eighteen silver beads and a hammered grid closure. I personally think the closure looks like a Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal square. These bracelets were just a little something I made for the Operation Christmas Child event at my church. I also gave one to a friend as a late birthday/early Christmas present. I think she really liked it. When my aunt saw my Triple Leather Cord bracelets, she suggested I sell them on a website called "Etsy." She would know, too, being a jeweler herself. Then, my grandmother offered to take them to a retail store in central Nebraska the next time she came to Lincoln for a visit. Of course I said “yes.”

Jewel Spectrum is a chunky necklace including many different types of colorful beads. The spectrum of bead colors and transparencies vary from faceted blue and round yellow-orange to simulated red coral and solid olive green. Floral Pendant features a complex system of weavings throughout the makings of a large floral pendant. With a citrine colored center surrounded by transparent green faceted beads, this is a piece fit for only the boldest of bead fanatics. Green & Blue Crystal Beaded Necklace reflects light off of crystal-like beads in a most elegant way. Consisting of blue, green, and a few silver and red beads, this piece is fairly light and measures approximately 20 inches.

Alebrijes (pronounced ah-lay-BREE-hays) are iconic Mexican folk art sculptures of imaginary creatures that have attributes of many different animals. The process of creating the Alebrijes began with my drawing of a fantastical creature which combines elements of a bear, wolf, saber-toothed tiger, and winged-lizard. An armature or structural frame of cardboard, tape, and newspaper was then fashioned into the shape of the body. Next, sheets of plaster gauze, plain brown paper, and newspaper were applied to the frame with a solution made of flour and water. Once sufficiently dried, wondrous extremities were added including horns, fierce teeth, a tail, and an expansive set of wings. The final figure was then painted with intricate patterns of color. My Alebrijes was displayed at the 7th Annual Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead Celebration on November 3, 2013 at the Sheldon Museum of Art.

When creating Ape Man, I was pushed to use acrylic paint in new ways. Instead of starting with a specific idea, I experimented with various combinations of color, lines, shapes, and patterns – much like brainstorming. During this experimentation phase an image or idea emerges and inspires the direction of my work. This has helped me gain insight and react to the work as it is evolving. Being prepared to adjust and work with inspiration as it comes has led me to more complex outcomes. Ape Man was entered in a juried competition and was accepted for display at an exhibition that is currently being held in Louisville, Kentucky.

Tiki Sculptures

The idea here was to create five clay heads, each one representing a different element; Ahi for fire, Kai, moana for blue ocean, Papa for green earth, La for yellow day, and Po for purple night.  I tried to give them the look of a Tiki head crossed with a small Aztec idol.  Starting with almost an entire pound of clay for each sculpture, I proceeded to carve and etch marks in the figure.  I also carved out the inside so that when firing them they would not crack.   With what was left, I made horns of four kinds and on both sides of one I put handles.  After painting them, they were left to dry and were later displayed at my art show in October.

Armadillo

The armadillo, which is Spanish for "little armored one," is most famous for its armored shell, which is made from cartilage and bone. These bones provide an impressive defense and represent protection and a guardian-like quality.  Armadillos love digging and burrowing with their sharp, little claws.  Using their heightened senses they are able to detect life underground. They are masters at "hide-and-seek" and excel at finding what is hidden.  Every day, the armadillo may sleep up to a good eighteen some hours,

They also like the water, are generally found near some water, and can even walk underwater. A unique quality of this creature rarely found in others is that they are able to inflate their intestines in order to float upon water for a time, basking in the sun as they laze about the surface of an ambling stream. Its ability to maneuver effectively in water is a very important trait for us to remember about this animal. Water talks to us about going with the flow of our emotions, and the armadillo carries the same message. Are your emotions dammed up? How can the armadillo help loosen up emotional tension? Even during emotional flooding, the armadillo is a reminder we have the power available to us to float through emotional trauma.  Sometimes the only way to endure emotional storms is to coast through them. 

You could say that an armadillo’s defensive stance is its way of telling us to take up a protective position from within ourselves. Just as an armadillo curls into a sphere, therefore protecting its vital organs from threat, we too can initiate our own defense system to protect our hearts when the occasion calls for it.  According to whats-your-sign.com symbolic armadillo meanings are: trust, peace, pacifism, reclusive, neutrality, complexity, sensitivity, inquiry/curiosity, emotional excavation, and protection/guardedness. This speaks to us symbolically about searching, discovering, and getting to the "root" of the matter. If the armadillo makes an appearance, it may be time to do some research on a project you've been working. Or, perhaps it's time to dig under the surface of some questions that have been nagging you.

Whether it's launching your own investigation or doing some digging in your family genealogy, the armadillo can help.  They also can serve as a "tour-guide" to our buried secrets. When we start on a journey of exploration/research/discovery with the armadillo as our spiritual guide, we may feel more inclined to receive illumination and answers. 

People who hold the armadillo as an animal totem have a natural defense system, and can be incredibly self-protective. People like this are extremely perceptive and acutely attuned to the happenings in their environment. If you find the armadillo is your animal kin, you tend to have a bright intellect, which is fueled by a natural curiosity. Although armadillo-people can be short sighted, and may not have long-reaching vision for themselves or their world, they have a lovely sense of contentment. In fact, they are some of the best folks to hang out with because of their self-contending nature. This kind of attitude is extremely comforting.  People such as this also have great memories.  Inquisitive, introspective, thoughtful, grounded and keen to defend that which is precious.... these terms best describe those with the armadillo as their totem.

Those who hold fast to the armadillo are natural treasure hunters and can find items for us - real items, or even intangible goodies like epiphanies and insights.  Imagine an armadillo waddling out ahead of you on a hiking journey through details or data you may be going through.  When the armadillo burrows its way into your awareness as a totem or a messenger, it might be a good time to get some rest.  Relax, recover, recuperate and consider withdrawing from social engagements for a time of renewal. If the armadillo is coming into your consciousness, consider big themes like this. Is it time to mother or nurture ourselves? Is it time to become reborn?  Is it time to retreat, withdraw and become more reclusive?  These are all questions the armadillo asks us on our life's journey. 

  
Symbolic meanings of the armadillo include: Trust, Peace, Pacifism, Reclusive, Neutrality, Complexity, Sensitivity, Inquiry/Curiosity, Emotional Excavation, and Protection/Guardedness.

Rage Necklaces

  

As for how I came up with these next two pieces of jewelry, it pretty much just evolved as most other ideas do. While working with polymer clay I wanted to experiment with layering in a couple of different ways. This is what happened. I rolled out three sheets of clay with a pasta roller and stacked them on top of each other. After cutting through all three layers with a razor knife, I cut away bits and pieces until I got two shapes. One looked like a faceted gem with the other appearing as a diamond. Next, the metal was cut, filed, sanded, and polished. The sanding and polishing were done progressively through different grits descending from course to fine. As for the polishing, I used a buffing wheel followed by a polishing cloth. Riveting held each clay piece in place as prongs cut from the middle layer fastened the clay pieces in the middle of each one.

  

Alien Incubation: An Unexpected Delivery

Though not one of my favorite or best paintings in my opinion, its concept IS pretty neat.  It came to me one night in a dream, you see.  A large semi went past me, which later inspired this painting.   It was supposed to be made with straight lines developed on canvas by putting tape on it. Then I was going to paint where the tape wasn’t.  The tape kept paint away from the areas I didn’t wish for it to go. Afterward I would proceed to remove the tape to reveal a straight edge.  Clever, huh?  It wasn’t my idea though.  On the back is a yellow glass casing with a green gel-filled alien egg.  It has metal tentacles on all sides of it.  The top of the painting has gold, silver, and copper rays of light.  The rays of light cross over each other as though they where woven together by some heavenly power above.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, and don’t forget, I’ll have more for you as soon as possible or ASAP for you texters.

Bear

Native American Bear Meaning

When we walk the path of the bear, we are told of its long history with the first people of North America.  As a Native American symbol, the bear is as free in spirit as the great wind (according to one source as a "god" in the Native American world), and grander than its mass. To match its magnitude is the quality of unpredictability in the bear. When provoked in certain situations, the first thing that comes to our mind is a ferocity expressed by the bear that could cause even the strongest men of today to run in terror or at least shudder in great fear. 

Because of this potentially furious storm brewing just under the surface of a bears spirit, our Native American ancestors were extremely cautious and fearful of this animal. Even tribes inclined to peace honored the spirit of a warrior. Witnessing this sort of blind, raw energy imbues the characteristics of courage and strength that anyone would want to utilize.

Bear meanings were enhanced by observations made by tribal sages. These vital tribal figures were inclined to be considerate and deeply understanding of how nature communicated its intent in all her forms. These Native American figures found connections between human and beast.  From these associations we too can interpret significant meanings propelling our own lives in terms of direction, action, and wisdom.  Symbolic characteristics of the bear include the following: power, courage, freedom, protection, motherhood, discernment, childbearing, resourcefulness, and unpredictability. 

One such connection to the meaning of the bear comes from a Shoshone sage who set about bringing worlds together by manner of trance walking. The Shoshone have instigated a Sun Dance where the bear is a central figure of the ritual.  It was symbolic of protection, strength and the continuation of the tribe’s bloodline.

We see a lot of connections with bear and man in the Native mind. We can intuit these bear meanings to come from the human-like appearance of the bear when it's posed on hind legs. From this union of man and bear, taken from the Aleut and Haida minds, we see the bear as defining the characteristics of motherhood and child protection. 

As a Sioux symbol, the bear also has healing symbolism. Above all, bear meaning holds incredible influence and magnitude to the North American tribes. Although the bear is a profound Native American symbol of majesty, freedom and power it is far more. As a brother, the bear imparts this advice to both our ancestors and us today. 

Because the bear is cautious, it encourages discernment to human kind. Its fierce spirit signals bravery to those who require it. The bears mass and physical power stand for confidence and victory. Finally, a bears preference for peace and tranquility, (despite its size), tells us to harmonize and find balance.

Symbolic meanings of the bear include: Peace, Duality, Bravery, Powerful, Motherhood, Benevolence, Sovereignty, and Resurrection.