August in Flagstaff

Flagstaff in the summertime is quite a treat. That is, if you are unaffected by forest fire, or mudslides caused by torrential monsoon rains. This summer has been especially hard on Flagstaff, but the beauty must be shared! August is especially gorgeous, with the simultaneous bloom of millions of sunflowers and other variety of wildflowers. I live just south of town and am surrounded by National Forest. Thats right, trails that connect to secluded and well traveled lakes, wild animals, and lots of elk! I am loving it. I even have to make hummingbird rescues from time to time when they whiz into our house. Hope you enjoy the views:

Out the backyard after a monsoon.

Lake Mary- just two minutes down the road from my house!

Winston enjoying some fetch in the crystal clear waters of Oak Creek.

Sunflowers-

are EVERYWHERE!

A far off view of the San Francisco Peaks from Lake Mary Road.

The road home! I live a minute off this road, it is such a pleasure to drive to work!

Its Winter Park time!

Last March, I participated in the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Winter Park, Florida. Winter Park is a suburb of Orlando, a really pretty town! I The application is now online for anyone interested in showing. Just click on the link! I was selected to exhibit as an emerging artist, and this opportunity is what I am really wanting to share with you all.

It was such a positive experience. The WPSAF has been running a program for many years that helps emerging artists- those who have not had the experience of showing at a larger festival. They pay for your travel to and from the event, put you up in a nice hotel, pay your booth fee, advertise for you in their festival book; even pay for your meals!

This experience allowed me to talk with other artists there, those making a living doing shows like this one. I learned about how to survive on the road, how to set up a booth that will attract attention and is easily packed down for transit. I got so much good advice there. This experience gave me the confidence to apply to the upcoming Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show.

I will never forget the people I met at this Festival! From the other emerging artists- Richard Auger and Jon Nate Cotterman, to experienced artists like Janine DeCresenzo and Jamie Lampert, what an awesome experience!

Thank you to the folks at Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival once again!

Here, There and Everywhere!

Since finishing up an extremely magical residency at Arrowmont, I have been city hopping! I made my way West again, stopping to be with family and friends in St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, and Phoenix, now I am home again in Flagstaff, Arizona. FINALLY!!In August, I will once again be spending my days at Northern Arizona University. This is the school where I completed my BFA in metals with Joe Cornett. I will be teaching in the Jewelry and Metals department at the School of Performing and Fine Arts. I am very excited, and cannot wait to meet the students and see them through the rest of their journeys as undergraduates. I’ll be teaching five sections of class, including: two advanced techniques courses, casting, a calss that gears students up for their BFA exhibition, and 3-D Design. I have a lot of students! This will be a new experience in so many ways. I am so grateful to have had the Arrowmont experience preceding this as it gave me a chance to reflect and grow as an artist and as a thinker.

The San Francisco Peaks during monsoon season

Though the Jewelry and metals program is scheduled to close in two years, I have high hopes for the future. All in all, I am grateful for the experience to teach on a higher level and affect the lives of the next generations of metalsmiths and makers! (and in Flagstaff, to boot- I love this town!)

Winston takin a breather on the trail

Oh yeah, I have had a new friend with me since leaving Arrowmont! His name is Winston- he’s a two year old pit bull terrier/ Greater Swiss Mountain dog mix. He’s a stud, and keeping me on my toes! Its nice to have a buddy to hike all the trails that are right out my backdoor!

More on Flagstaff and the University to come! Thanks for reading!