New-Old Blog

Welcome to my new blog...clearly the same as my old blog but under a different designation. I've decided to start fresh, because like everything else in my life, it grows stale over time and needs a bit of a shake-up.

These past 2 weeks I have been really busy writing art grants. I've submitted 2 grants to RISCA (Rhode Island State Council on the Arts)....one for a fellowship grant and another an individual project grant. The former is won simply on merit for works created ( I won $1000 for 2nd place back in 2010). The latter grant is for teaching art workshops to the developmentally disabled. I volunteer at studio for artists of this caliber and I thought...why not get paid to do it? So I wrote a lengthy proposal for a pilot program. If it's successful than I can continue onward with these same workshops in other venues. I also applied for a grant from Zero 1 American Arts Incubator. This program is supported by the US Government Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. If I win I get to go to Russia for 1 month (FREE!) to do an art project. The current and not-quite-finished grant is from a private foundation (Chenven Foundation). I am hoping to win a travel grant so I can continue my quest to have a cup of tea with the world and turn the materials into great works of art.

Speaking of art, here are my latest tea projects:



“1 tsp. 4 min. (Tea Thoughts)” is the latest of my tea projects. This piece explains the musings that are in my mind when I am waiting for that first cup of tea to brew in the morning.

“Multitude of Voices” is an accumulation of about 5 years worth of tea bags. The collection comes from a multitude of people and places. Each bag was individually used by myself, close friends and family, acquaintances, and even from people who I never met, but had admired my work and saved their bags for me! The bags were cut in half, sew together in long strips, and woven on a peg loom.



 

“Teatime with Manette” is the story of my friendship with Manette Jungles, an artist whom I met a few years ago. Manette is one the kindest people I have ever known and this quilt is a tribute to her generosity. Manette purchased all the Tea Sacs and most of the tea. Each bag was filled and steeped with love. The quilt is still unfinished.

 



“Prosperity/Disparity” is about the economic disparity between the United States and Albania. Last year I lived for 3 months in Burrell, a tiny town in the middle of what is called the Albanian Alps. Unemployment in this town was hovering at about 40% at the time I was there.