Community Supported Art
"If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.”
~ John F. Kennedy
Freedom to follow my vision wherever it takes me. What a gift. The opportunity to travel and connect with other artists and cultures inspires my creativity in ways it never could from home. Getting out in the world isn’t always easy, however, but with your help we can create new work together. I’m offering anyone interested in supporting me and my art a unique opportunity to commission an original stone carving inspired by my travels. By sponsoring a trip, you’ll provide me the freedom to follow that vision wherever it leads. In recognition of your generous support, I’ll turn that vision into a carving for you that captures this new experience. I want to make the process of commissioning a carving a kind of journey for the two of us, one that celebrates the path as much as the destination, one that may take us into unexpected territory.
Where did this idea come from?
Where did this idea come from?
In 2017 I was offered an opportunity to teach stone carving in Ireland. Like so many art and traditional craft organizations, there wasn't a lot of funding to support the teachers. Conversation turned to splitting pay and other ways to save money. Rather than spread our strained resources even thinner, I thought, “What if I find a sponsor to financially support me upfront, and when I return I’ll create a piece of art inspired by my travels and experiences?” This idea sprang out of my own experience with CSAs, Community Supported Agriculture. I make a financial commitment to a local farmer at the beginning of the growing season with the hope that the farm will succeed and prosper. In exchange for that support, I’m paid with shares of delicious and sustaining foods at harvest. If the CSA model can help farmers grow food, why can’t it help artists create art?
The prospect was exciting and daunting, but one that my sponsor and I truly embraced. Off to Ireland I went for two weeks of adventure, carving, and sharing culturally with so many lovely people. When I returned home I sent my sponsor photos from my travels and drawings from my sketch book, sharing our adventure and in effect, bringing him along.
Click on photos for captions:
The prospect was exciting and daunting, but one that my sponsor and I truly embraced. Off to Ireland I went for two weeks of adventure, carving, and sharing culturally with so many lovely people. When I returned home I sent my sponsor photos from my travels and drawings from my sketch book, sharing our adventure and in effect, bringing him along.
Click on photos for captions:
In Ireland I obviously fell in love with the many, many stone walls that cover the country, in particular the "lace walls." These walls seem so fragile and shoddily put together in my novice stone walling mind, but their design is no accident. Pierced with holes, these walls can withstand North Atlantic gale force winds, and those odd and random spaces allow the wind to pass right through!
A pierced carving was in my future. I procured an old slate chalkboard and began to randomly cut away at my vision. My usual, more comfortable process is to have a full scale detailed drawing which I transfer to the stone. This time I was just drawing directly on the slate; a freeing and expressive process that can also cause extreme angst!
I am so inspired by my creation and reaction to this piece, and how appreciative my sponsor felt, that I want to open up this process to others. I have a few amazing teaching opportunities on the horizon, both domestic and international, as well as a life altering, awe inspiring trip to Nepal. I am excited to use these moments to connect and create with folks wanting to support and be a part of these experiences. If you’re as inspired as I am to see where these journeys might lead us, please call or email. Art nourishes the roots of our culture, and together we can follow this vision to wherever it may take us.
Completed slate carving inspired by my time in Ireland, with quote from Rumi, a 13th-century sufi-mystic~
"My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there."
"My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there."
