•Tempe Festival of the Arts•

Martin, this very tall leprachaun came by our booth yesterday. He's a street performer at the Tempe Festival of the Arts. A great sprarkly face and disposition to match!
Today is Sunday and I'm back in the room laying low with some sort of intestinal bug. Not able to be at the show, but Jon is there solo. It will be a long day for him, but he's wonderful and capable when I'm not. Good to not be alone.
He called to tell me we won best in 2-D Media. Not sure what this entails, but hopefully some dinero!
Lots of interest in the work, we tend to stand out here. We made two sales late yesterday and hopefully more to follow today.
A high energy 'event' much like Ann Arbor prior to the promoters sanitizing it. Work is of mixed quality and the show is loosly juried.

All from here in ginger-ale world!
Pat

Saguaro

We've been around these gentle giants for the last week and they continue to amaze us.
Tonight we'll head over to the show site and set up around 8:30pm. The area for the show is not far from ASU campus and
looks nice.
Today we relaxed, did laundry and gave ourselves hair cuts. It's frightening how good we've gotten at the 'self inflicted haricut'! I mean, how bad can they look? It's hair...... it will grow.

Our time here has been so good for us both............we NEEDED sunlight! We have come to realize that winters are hard on us for numerous reasons. The change of income, lack of shows, alteration of routine and lack of light, take their toll. Having been born in Florida and having lived there for 23 years, the midwest is a huge change. We've lived in the midwest longer than planned. We love our home/ studio and the cultural diversity and liberal feel of Bloomington, but the weather and lack of light make us feel less than alive for several months of the year.
We know we have to make changes, and they will take time and money to implement, but are very necessary!

There's a fine line in ones life where you need to be greatful and settled where you are, and yet strive to be where you want to be. We've both come to realize the importance of sunlight!
To feel fully alive 12 months of the year is pretty darn important!
Life is shorter than we think!

Reporting from the sunny state of Arizona,
Patricia

Light • Color • Form • Texture

Todays entry was inspired by our visit to the Mesa Arts Center. We laid low during the high heat and allergy laden day to obtain the long shadows and cool of late afternoon. We walked among fountains and shadows and soaring architecture that graced the grounds of this local gem. Fountains, manmade streams and facades that danced with the wind encompassed these magnificent grounds. Textured esplanades of native plants and rough stone made this cavernous site a joy to explore.
Sadly we'll miss a performance by opera singer Paul Potts at the facility this week. Paul is a new talent whom I've come to admire.

Tonight we drove through the Arizona State University campus and not far from there where our booth will be this weekend. It looks nice and energetic. We'll set up there tomorrow night after LOST.

All for now,
Pat & Jon

Cosanti Bell Foundry

Today we had a great day! We began with a visit to the mermaid and breakfast in the room. Followed by making a picnic lunch to take with us, we were off!
First stop was Cosanti Foundation, 5 acres tucked away in suburban Scottsdale. Nestled amidst oak trees and potted plants ranging from prostrate rosemary to succulents, this magical site is where thousands of windbells are made. We arrived about 1/2 an hour before pouring and walked through and around the magnificent life pods this Italian architect built. Paolo Soleri and his crew of workers learning the hot but precise trade, work daily in this arid outdoor environment.

As artists who admire the working spaces of other artists, this space is beyond words. Hills were first created using rammed earth. On top and over these hills were cast the studio buildings and then the dirt dug out. This left behind the self-supporting structure that much resembles a skeletel shell. These 'carved' caverns and heavy awnings comprise the outdoor living studio that is Cosanti.

Our last visit here was 12 years ago and the work and imagination that intercede with fine crafted bronze poured bells continues. The daily visitors and worn paths are testament to the quiet crowds that witness 2200º molten bronze take shape daily.

The photos we're including today show the outdoor studio where bells and literature about this facsinating man and his lifelong work endure.
He's a strong advocate of building up rather than out and his guiding principle is his self-coined phrase "archology", which is architecture and ecology morphed into one.

To us, his philosophy is immense and our day was a gift unwrapped before our eyes.

Pat ♥ Jon

Independence.......

Today's Monday.
Yesterday was pretty hot out at the show. We spoke to a variety of interesting people from all walks of life and were graced by wonderful artist neighbors we'll meet up with again. This comraderie and support surpases the life I'd live if I worked in a cubicle.
I know, because I've been there and done that.

My brand new 5 foot piece 'Desert Dawn' was purchased yesterday by a wonderful self made woman. Technically it sold 15 minutes after the show closed.........It will reside in her home on Lake Erie and be delivered by us later in the year en route to another show in Ohio. She had such light in her smile as she said she too is self employed and understood what we do. She was proud of her independence and understood ours.
Wow, I return again to the importance of how much that simple sentence means to Jon and I.
To be understood!

The photo Jon shot on Saturday and I have here today is this magnificent succulent. It was near our booth. Every time I see this plant I'm enamored by its sturdy presence and cool detail. Each frond unfolds from the core and leaves with it the imprint of the neighboring frond. I think we do that as people as well.
We have many lessons to learn from nature if we just slow our hearts and eyes to 'see' rather than just 'look'.

Love and later!
♥
Pat

Live from the Trenches......

A little art to share with my blog friends this sunny afternoon.......this is my newest creation.
It's 57" long, 26" high and is called 'Desert Dawn'.

My time here has generated a fair amount of interest. Met past collectors here today
who bought my HeckerDesign work and commissioned me to do work
(http://www.artfulsmiles.com) for his pediatric dental practice.
A wonderful couple that we may have dinner with during the week.

Life is good and we're here to make it better!

Pat

♥ The Human Connection ♥

Greetings from Arizona!
Today we had a beautiful day at the show. It was quiet, and we feel we connected with a few people. I did begin my day finding a heads up penny on the way into Starbucks, so that was a good sign! We got to know the sculptor near us. One of the best things about shows is the fellow artists. We realized we knew many of the same artists across the country. It's a small world for us street artists!
He spoke quite openly about losing his wife 6 years ago to a rare from of cancer. His candor was touching as he spoke of how deeply this elevated his love for this woman. The three of us, strangers prior to today, shared some deep thoughts about love and loss and the power of the two. It was cathartic for all of us and we also touched on the power of gratitude.
An amazing power to tap into!
Gratitude helps us find the core of what we know to be important and when finding it, can put so many things in perspective.
At a time in my life when so many things feel out of my control, I found this comforting.

Tonight is a full moon. In Wisconsin I have a dear friend performing a Full Moon ceremony. She is sending her good energy our way amidst a snowfall outdoors. In Virginia I have a dear friend whom I've just met in the last year sending us her good energy and wishes. In Michigan, another sweet friend directing her love and energy for good karma and sales. In Oregon, another great friend doing the same. In Florida my dear brother and his wife sending us good fortune. We are blessed with good friends who have wrapped us in love and have sent us on our way to bring home some sales!
We can feel it! To all, thank you! We are connecting!

We are staying in a wonderful Latino area of Mesa Arizona. Last night Jon found an awesome little Mexican restuarant and struck up conversation with the owner. He was explaning how recent government has forced out some Latino business in the area and he went from 16 employees down to 6. There was a genuine connection as Jon shared our view of the world as artists in todays economy. Tonight we returned to this fine mans establishment where we were treated like friends. The only gringos there! He recognized Jon instantly and genuinly appreciated our business. This man serves wonderful food and we'll eat there again!
Around the corner from our hotel there's a huge Holy Week service going on every night in a city park. It began on Holy Thursday and seems to draw bigger crowds each night. This will culminate with Easter services and is a solid reminder of the strong religious connection these Hispanic and Latino people draw on. It's inspiring and grounding.

Todays photo is from the area near my booth (on the left) looking toward the end of the street and the big fountain. The fountain turns on at the top of each hour, runs for 15 minutes and sends water 350 feet high.
♥
Pat