Woodburning and Music

Update: NEW ALBUM! 


This is a multi-year collaboration between my friend Mike Granger, myself and several Austinites. Give it a listen!

http://rcpz.bandcamp.com/album/practical-knowledge

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Thanks to my friends Chris and Melissa, I am the proud owner of a woodburning tool!

 I've picked it up fairly easily-- it writes like a pen and makes my workroom smell like winter. Which makes a nice escape because this time of year in Phoenix, you step outside and instantly burst into flames. If anything, it's a good reminder to wear sunblock.

Here we go..

Burning in the outline:

(the zombie is for a different project)

And filled with acrylic glazes:

 Pine panels, acrylic, wood stain. 3.5 x 5.5"

Inspiration: the blinking lights atop South Mountain that I see from my backyard)

like here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_greatest/6300617229/in/photostream/

Another outline:

And more color:

In conclusion, I sort of love woodburning. Expect to see more in future posts.

And don't forget to pick up some nifty new music here:

http://rcpz.bandcamp.com/album/practical-knowledge

Thanks!

--Kim--

'NSex Opening Night

At long last, here are photos from 

the collaborative art and science show I helped with earlier this year.

Next Wednesday we will be attending a reception at the Arizona Science Center

 to celebrate the first annual Arizona Science and Technology Festival!

All pieces were hand-formed with paperclay, underglaze, and low-fire clear glaze. After firing, they were carefully mounted and hung onto a scaffold we build from salvaged desert wood.

(one of the informational blurbs we mounted on stands and placed around the sculpture)

The artist-scientist-sculptors:

 Left to right: Joshua Gibson, Kimberly Shaffer, Morgan MacCallum, David Bradley, Brett Seymoure (top), Lisa Taylor (bottom), and Peter Marting

Sound and Light

Two porcelain pieces..

Flower bell. Porcelain, copper, coral bead. 2012

Luminaria. Hand thrown and carved porcelain. 2011.

The candle-holder holds one comfortably nested tea light, and when it does, the whole thing glows gently and sends flickering dots onto the walls. 

The first was a gift to a friend, but I couldn't bear to part with the second. It's still one of my favorite pieces!

More papercuts -- desert to deep sea

A few more papercuts before I head out:

a California poppy

Papercut, 2011.

and a lantern fish:

Papercut, 2011.

The poppy was technically never finished, but I much prefer it in this state, blossoming out of a plain sheet of computer paper. 

The lantern fish I sliced from a sheet of notebook paper -- appropriately college ruled, but empty. I've thought of using sheets of my actual notes for things like this. But would that be offensive? I've always held education sacred...

Papercuts and Watercolors

I've been working on a number of new pieces recently, including the following little papercuts and watercolors. All of them are six by six inches, to fit the theme of the annual 6x6 fundraising exhibit of the Eye Lounge in downtown Phoenix (March 16 to 18). 

This week I'm leaving for Asia for about a month, but will still be making art there, as well as hiking about, spending time with family, and consuming large amounts of amazing Taiwanese food. I can't wait!

For your listening pleasure: Alexis Harte's new album 6 Spoons of Honey. I especially like "Please Come Out" and the fact that the cover has a bee on it. 

Salvador the bird says:

Enjoy!

Papercut, 6x6.

Papercut with colored card inserts, 6x6.

Pen and ink, watercolors, 6x6.

Watercolors, 6x6. Inspired by road trips (L) and apical meristems (R).

'N-Sex Exhibit Opening: Success!

On Friday evening, more than 230 Phoenicians came 

to the opening of our ceramic insect exhibit at the Eye Lounge!

Here's the flyer in case you're looking to visit during the 1-month exhibit (until Feb. 15). 

We're expecting many more visitors on February 3, which as a First Friday brings thousands of people through local art galleries in single night.

A huge thank-you to all of our supporters, 

a slew of familiar faces from Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences, 

Social Insect Research Group, and School of Art. 

And much gratitude to David Bradley, 

Phoenix ceramic instructor, sculptor, and Eye Lounge member 

who initiated this entire project, contributed all of the raw materials, 

and organized the artist-scientist collaborations!

Please do visit if you get a chance. I'll post more pictures,

but it's definitely better in person!

--Kim