Woman of the Stone Shore

I completed Woman of the Stone Shore on Friday and I have to say that I'm very pleased with her.... she is 24"/ 60 cm tall and weighs 6lbs/2.75 kg. There are no real beachstones involved in this piece, she's made with polymer clay and wool. I'll be doing a full-sized photoshoot later today but here's a sneak peek.

Teeeeeeeny Polymer Clay Beach Stones

I'm planning to festoon my new Beach Muse in a long beach stone necklace wound multiple times around her neck. It has to be to scale because I don't want her necklace to look like Wilma Flintstone's. This challenges me to make hundreds of teeeeny little beachstones- each one pierced for stringing into a necklace. One word for this process- ouch! My fingers and hands need a massage ... I'm taking lots of breaks for physical and mental health. It's an ooak piece but this part of the project has that awful on the treadmill repetitive production feel. Here's a picture of some of the teeeeeeny beads after a night in the tumbler, the larger beachstones show the size I ususally make ...

and here's her first strand.

Gen's New Blog

Gen and I got together yesterday and began construction on her own blog! It's at http://www.syndromation.blogspot.com/. We plan to gradually post all of the items that were in Syndromation to the blog and Gen is planning to post her pictures and stories on a regular basis so it will be an inspiring place to visit.

Gen was on the news on A-Channel last night in a beautifully presented piece which had the whole family beaming with delight. We hope to be able to have it on her blog soon!

Syndromation Success!!

Gen's Syndromation Artist's Reception was a smashing success! We had a tremendous turnout and the room had a fantastic buzz of happy energy. Gen was beaming and was kept busy with giving hugs as friends arrived and receiving a tsunami of compliments and encouragement to continue on her path.

Special thanks go to Kathleen Schmalz, Robert Dalton, Caren Willms, Shauna Breit, Jennifer Jasechko, Adam Sawatsky, Grania Litwin and Denise Chow for the special roles they played in giving Gen this unforgettable opportunity.

Gen and I

Very proud father and daughter!
Shauna, Gen and I reflecting on the fun they had transcribing the descriptions of all of the pictures in the exhibition.

We met Rainbow, the moderator of the local Asperger's Meetup Group. She and Gen have a lot in common as they are both Aspies with Type 1 diabetes. I loved her T-shirt it said- "Asperger's- it's not how YOU think"

The Guest Book is full of well-earned kudos!

Gen greets Denise, her wonderful teacher from Oak Bay High.

(Polymer Clay Content) local polymer clay artists Wanda Shum, Liz Hoar and I check a detail.

Gen's illustrated stories captivate visitors of all ages!

Gen came home, went to her room and began drawing, it seems a lot of the people at the event want to have their own Gen-styled portraits. She's inspired and says she has a lot of work to do! I'm going to help Gen set up her own blog - more on that soon!

My son Brendan was the event photographer and did a wonderful job keeping on top of the action. He took over 300 photographs for Gen to treasure.

Gen and Her Syndromation Show in the Paper and on TV!

Gen's Syndromation show was publicised yesterday in the Victoria Times Colonist and today she had a wonderful experience as she was interviewed by Adam Sawatsky on A Channel. The interview will be broadcast on Monday at 5:45 pm. Our family is so proud of her!!

Polymer Clay Beach Woman Underway

I have managed to find some time in the studio and I'm discovering that my newest Muse has a strong voice. contrary to my original plans, she is not a wall hanging but is freestanding and the beach stones of her skirt and attached to the sculpture. She's going to be over 60cm/ 24" tall. Here's a hint of what she's about- the base of her skirt is to the right, the yarn in colours that I love- (I wish I could knit) and the steadily rising pile of polymer clay beachstones/beads. I'm looking forward to next week and that very clear calendar- this is a really exciting project!

Hanging Syndromation and the Show is ON!

Gen and I went to UVic on Monday and met with Caren Willms and we spent several hours determining the final layout of work and hanging the show- Syndromation is open! We're looking forward to the Artist's Reception on Saturday and I'll post more detailed photos then.

If you are able to visit the display, park in the E Lot- head to the white ramp to the MacLaurin Building -Faculty of Education- when you go through the doors you'll be on a mezzanine level and you can look over the rail to see the show. Take the first flight of stairs to your left to enter the gallery.

Caren polishes the glass while Gen looks on- note the "Do Not Cross Tape"- Syndromation was still under construction.

Polymer Clay Daily-ed and making BeachStones

Many thanks to Cynthia Tinapple for featuring my recent posting about revisiting my BeachStone Woman concept in her wonderful Polymer Clay Daily Blog . It's always wonderful to get encouragement like that and it really fired me up to get "rocking". I began making beachstones today and if I follow my preliminary sketches, it's going to take quite a while to have enough stones to start. (was that a pun?- not me!!) I started by gathering inclusions which include these crushed clamshells from an ancient midden that was exposed in the stratified layers of a wave erroded cliff that we came upon on a beach hike. The beach below was ankle deep in this material which is a polymer clay beachstone makers dream! I sift in a mesh strainer to get the smallest pieces possible, and yes, I do run the stuff through my pasta machine.

World Autism Awareness Day- An Invitation

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. In celebration here is an invitation to my daughter Gen's "Syndromation" Show at the A Wilfred Johns Gallery in the MacLaurin Building at the University of Victoria. We'd love to have you join us at the Artist'sReception on Saturday, April 11 from 4 pm- 6 pm. Please RSVP at amusedcreations@shaw.ca if you can come!

Gen was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when she was four years old. Gen invented the word Syndromation to describe her art exhibition because she celebrates the Syndrome as a gift that affects her creativity in wonderful ways. Gen is fascinated by Japanese Manga and has made adaptations to make it her own. "Chibi" means little and cute and expresses the innocence she conveys in her stories. Gen hopes you will enjoy the collection of her work from her preschool years to the present and that it will inspire you to learn more about the ways that people with autism view the world.