Sep 20, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Glass Tlingit “Baskets” by Preston Singletary
Directly after the retreat with Sue Shotridge and Melissa Rinehart, Sue and I went to visit our friend, Preston Singletary. For those of you who don’t know Preston yet, he’s that artist who does the Native designs on glass. He’s got a studio in Seattle equipped with lots of glass forms stuffed in shelves, boxes for shipping, packing material and 5 employees. The guy and his team really produce! Holy! — If you are interested in doing glass, go talk to the man. Click her to check out his website!
Preston’s studio is nearby Seattle’s Space Needle
David Svenson is another fantastic artist, working mainly in neon art living down in the mountains above L.A. – He used to live in my beloved Haines, Alaska back in the early 70s and 80s where he learned how to carve from the old masters, Leo Jacobs, Johnny Avatok and another elder whose name just slipped my tongue, dang it! Back in the early 80’s David suggested to Preston that he begin to put the Native designs on glass – that’s the story I heard, but ask the fellows to get the sure story because I may be wrong.
Sandwiched between two favorite buds: Preston and David
What can I say about these three artists above? Birds of a feather flock together. I didn’t really GET that saying until I had a lovebird years ago. My Lovebird “Kiwi” taught me many things about being human; get that…it took a bird to teach me about being human. Hmmm…go figure.
Shelves of glass forms by Preston Singletary waiting to be completed
I wasn’t sure how Preston’s employees would feel about me taking photos of them while they were working so I didn’t. I don’t even know how Preston feels about me posting photographs of his unfinished work on my blog in this public forum yet who gets to see art in their “naked” stages(?) nobody; I better contact him and see if it is okay to show them “naked”, incomplete. I am proud of this guy; I feel like he’s my younger brother. He’s got quite the dedicated group of folks; he’s a fortunate man to have these crew members. In fact, I gotta say that I am generally proud of my fellow artists! They have taken the leap into the “unknown” possibilities of bountiful possibilities and realities!
Sue Shotridge, David Svenson and Clarissa – in Preston’s studio
David Svenson and the glass Bear
Sep 14, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Balls of Chilkat warp and bundles of split cedar enjoy a great view from the upper deck of the KVI Beach House in Vashon Island, Washington State
While standing inside the dining room window, I shot this image of Melissa and Sue – two strong-willed, organized, power-packed women who are still busy doing business while we make an effort to relax at this wonderful beach house retreat!
Sue Shotridge insisted that she, Mellisa Rinehart and I take a two-day retreat to this wonderful beach house on Vashon. She INSISTED and she was PATIENT with my initial responses of “what for…?” She had to explain that I was an extreme “Type A” personality who after taking a three-month weaving tour at my age, needed a break. She also needed a break and she wanted to talk with Melissa and I about the logistics of hosting a week-long weaving retreat next year in September at this beach house. We relaxed while doing business. What a wonderful concept! I intend on conducting business this way more often!
Melissa and Sue take photos while heading down the hillside to the beach (just a couple of stones throw away from the house)…
KVI Beach House – from the beach
close up of KVI Beach House – from the beach…
Clarissa demonstrates to Melissa how to split and prepare the wool roving for spinning with cedar bark to create Chilkat warp
I taught Melissa how to spin her own warp so that a year from now when we do the weaving retreat, she will have enough warp to do a large project or several small ones. We spun while Sue took notes planning the weaving retreat.
Clarissa demonstrates how to groom balls of warp to Melissa, an attentive student indeed!
- A perfect stage for relaxing while spinning warp for our next weavings…!
Check out more photos and information of the KVI Beach House at: http://www.vrbo.com/408415
Stay tuned for an announcement about the Northwest Coast Weavers Retreat. Space is limited; first come first serve. We are gonna have a blast!
Jul 1, 2012 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, Honoring Others, Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Israel and Sue Shotridge's new gallery "Raven's Nest" on Vashon Island, Washington State
On my return to Colorado, I made it a point to take a jaunt over to Vashon Island and visit fellow artists Israel and Sue Shotridge who have been living in this small community for the past 15 years and are originally from Ketchikan, Alaska. I wanted to check out their gallery space and their workshop space because I have been invited by the Shotridges to conduct a class in button blanket making and possibly do a First Friday exhibit of my work in November this year.
Sue Shotridge stands behind a display case exhibiting her husband Israel's silver work in pendants, earrings and bracelets
After helping Sue load in some of her back room supplies and seeing this wonderful cozy gallery, and the way she has set it up, I could not help but want a gallery for my work too! hahaha! I never thought I’d ever hear myself say such a thing, let alone think it!
The Shotridges are arranging their schedule of workshops for this Summer into Fall. Check out their website for details on workshops and images of Israel’s work at: www.shotridgestudios.com
Or if you are in the Vashon Island neighborhood, stop by and check out their beautiful creations on the right side of the main drag in downtown Vashon!
