Charles Rennie Mackintosh



“Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers”
Frank Lloyd Wright Stained Glass Detail

architectureplace.com


 Frank Lloyd Wright has always been my
Architect for Inspiration.
I plan to write about him in a future post.

But today I suddenly remembered the name of Charles Rennie Mackintosh from the depths of my subconscious. I've never been to Glasgow to see any of this man's work, but years ago a dear friend sent me a postcard with a photo from The WillowTea Rooms on the front. I wonder if I still have it?

Charles Rennie Mackintosh 1893 © Annan Gallery

At any rate, when it suddenly came to me this morning I ran to the computer and did a quick search and came up with all kinds of info about him. 

There's a Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, imagine that?

Here's some links to give you an overview of his work. Be sure and click on the ABOUT Mackintosh and scroll down to the Utube video which gives a quick tour of much of his architecture work.

The Flickr link shows even more.

http://www.crmsociety.com/

http://blog.crmsociety.com/post/2009/07/18/Flickr.aspx

http://blog.crmsociety.com/post/2010/09/20/Climbing-Great-Buildings.aspx

Warm Glass

Back in the glass studio, finally. What is it about melting glass? Not being sure of the results, the anticipation just before lifting the kiln lid, after knowing the entire day that it might end up either way, good or bad.  Hoping it will be at least as good as that seen in my minds' eye, perhaps even better. Learning some of the rules, then trying to break a few, rules that is, not the glass.  I gain courage to try new things, inspired by the great artists who so willingly share their success and even failures in books and on-line tutorials. Knowing that experience is the best teacher and knowledge comes with practice.  It's a good thing I have only a small tabletop kiln, it keeps me reigned in and focused, and the mistakes don't take up quite so much storage space.

What’s a Chihuly?

Sara made this comment, so I guess I should tell you all more.  Dale Chihuly is a world famous glass artist who’s work has awed me for years.  I first saw it “live” at the Chicago Botanical Garden exhibit in 2002.  Previous BLOG posts have addressed my LOVE affair with glass.  I’m not exactly sure but I think it began with the Marc Chagall windows at the Art Institute, Chicago, IL.
Marc Chagall, America Windows
Then the Chihuly exhibit at the Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, IL. fueled it even more.
The Chihuly pieces I saw on Sunday at the Missouri Botanical Garden, St.Louis, MO. need more research to see if there are other pieces now in their collection that will be displayed when the weather warms up more. I’ll bet the guys at Third Degree Glass Factory know the answer to that question.

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Chihuly Glass at St.Louis Botanical Garden

What a surprise I had on Sunday!! An impromptu visit to these lovely gardens while visiting a friend in St.Louis was a plus + plus for me. Fortunately Mary took photos with her camera phone, so I do have something to show you. This trip to visit my friend is a retreat “get out of the studio” time for me so I did not bring my camera. Big mistake, won’t do that again. In my own defense, however, I was planning to concentrate on learning to use the new phone I had to buy just 2 days before hitting the road. The GPS was the higher priority.
So, after church and brunch, we arrive at the Botanical Gardens. I’m looking forward to enjoying tons of lovely flowers, which I love, when I see this glass chandelier hanging in the entrance. WOW, it’s a Chihuly, I announce to my companions, and any one else in close proximity to hear my surprise pronouncement. That turned out to be only the beginning. We decide to take the tram ride around the gardens, as it’s late in the day and as we follow the path that winds through many deliciously beautiful flower beds on our way to the tram station I notice bright yellow glass spires on the tops of 2 white entryways leading into a special garden. OK, now I’m really surprised and impressed, how cool are those? I say.
So we board the tram for a delightful and amusing narrated ride around the gardens. Close to the end of the tour we come around a curve and

LOOK AT THIS !!!! More Chihuly!! Onions, the narrator announces.  How cool is that?
Eventually we worked our way to the gift shop and more Chihuly. Books, videos, I wanted them all.  I restrained myself, however, knowing I can get them on Amazon for less $$$$. The surprise of it all seems to have made the experience particularly meaningful.

New Direction?

Lately my reading and meditating (thinking) revolved around identifying a topic as a theme for future work. Like that mind-mapping exercise where you choose a word and go off in different directions with whatever pops in your head. I think it's kinda like personal brain storming. I started with architecture, but then drilled down to a broader term. I looked around my home for clues. Light, I need light, windows let in the light, glass mirrors reflect the light, colored glass items can change the light and crystal forms can refract the light. Glass can be cold or hot, clear or opaque, reflective or matte depending on the conditions it has been subjected to and the processes it has undergone. So much can be done with and to glass. The torch, the kiln, the press, the form are only a few of the myriad ways to change it's composition, color, shape and form. I LOVE GLASS!!!! From the tiniest crystals that can be melted in a fusing kiln to panels set in metal to build huge skyscrapers, it beckons me.

Nothing goes to waste

This is just a small section of "stained glass" that didn't break evenly when I cut it. I don't like to throw things like that away so I put the scraps in along side of it when I put it in the kiln.

I like the way the square turned out and I was really surprised how the little pieces became little blobs. These might even be good to use as tack-fused decoration on the larger piece after I slump it.

Fibro Fatigue and Physical Therapy

do not make a positive contribution to creative efforts !!! Finally a diagnosis of a pinched nerve at L5, lower back was good news & other news. This is why you have not heard from me for several days. 10 sessions of site specific physical therapy + my general disregard for the fibro fatigue, brought me to a screeching halt Monday morning. I have been sitting in my purple leather lounge chair with the heating pad and several books on creativity, so all is not lost.

Here's the new book I got from Amazon. It is on the order of The Artists' Way, but more closely matches my spiritual sensibilities. I have, from time to time wrestled with the desire to create work that would glorify my GOD & Savior Jesus Christ, but still be non-objective, since abstract is my innate style. This author has helped me look at these issues from a new perspective. I am now working my way through several of the exercises she outlines in the book. I am writing "the pages" in the morning again, but with a new and different purpose, somewhat meditative in fact, but with my eyes open. I NEVER could get into that meditation thing, my mind was always too busy going this way and that !!! On the positive side of that issue, she describes those of us with this condition as divergent thinkers, I like that. This is working out better, some of it's assignment oriented and other times, not.

My neurologist gave me the go ahead to return to the pool with specific exercises to "strengthen my core". Also a new chair will need to be found for the computer work station and I am to use a foam roll behind my back while in the car.

Here's a picture of a fused glass piece I did "way back when" in a fusing class at TLDDESIGN Center & Gallery. Tons of little bubbles, not a good thing. I need to look at these things to help me see if I'm getting better at this, or not.

It's a Dish !!!

All assembled and ready for the kiln, pencil lines are drawn on the fire paper to help keep me to the right size to fit the slump mold.

Full-fuse, now it kinda looks like a big coaster.

Now it's a dish, not too bad for a first effort. Lots of things to correct for the next one.

In Process

I am working on continued glass exploration. Once this is assembled and under a clear piece it will be fired to full fuse. Then, the next step is to slump it in that mold I showed you the other day.

Artist Presentation Due This Week

This month I have the honor of presenting an amazing female artist to my creativity group. Her work positively leaves me breathless and I've not seen it in person. Sure would like to.

Here's her website, take a look http://www.lauradonefer.com/

SLUMPING PRACTICE

This is a raggedy cut piece of transparent “stained glass” that came this way in the box gifted to me by my friend Tracey. I decided to just put it in the kiln on the newly acquired slump mold and see what happened. Those little holes in the bottom of the mold come that way from the supplier. Lucky for me, there was a nice smooth coat of kiln wash already applied.

TADAA!!!!

This is pretty cool for a first time dry run. There are a few sharp edges, should have ground them before firing. I smoothed then with a sanding block. As expected, that left scratch marks. Fire polishing will resolve that, but I’m not ready to do that just yet. I have some ideas about this becoming a 3D sculptural piece. Made a few sketches in my firing log for future reference

FUSING PRACTICE

AFTER

The "trench or trough" opening is most visible on the left piece. Unfortunately, reflection is still a problem in the photography.

BEFORE

These are all made with System 96compatible glass. Each has a narrow strip of fiber paper under the stack so a space would develop for stringing? a place to add decorative elements? inlay a strip of metal? as I said in the title these are practice. You can best see the strip on the left one.

CONTINUUM SHOW & TELL

I am a member of a Creativity group that meets monthly at TLDDesigns in Westmont, IL. The Creativity Continuum gathers the 3rd week of every month to serve as an arena for artists and creative thinkers to explore, challenge, stretch and share their creative process.

Each monthly session opens with sharing of work.

Here's my show & tell from the December meeting.

Next we have creativity warm-up exercises and then progress into creative exploration in various mediums. The main purpose of these exercises is to have fun and free up everyone’s creative energy. Julie Rose leads our group in these exercises, using visualizations, relaxation techniques, artists’ affirmations, readings and discussions.

The group also provides a forum for beginning new work, exploring artistic challenges and, if we choose, sharing the results of our efforts with the group. In addition to the monthly meetings, we schedule periodic “artist’s dates” to local art happenings and complete the yearly cycle with a gallery exhibit of member's work.

A new element this year is for one of us to give a presentation about a woman artist of our choice. In October Joy Lavrencik introduced us to Twyla Tharp. While watching the Kennedy Honours last night it was so cool to see this wonderful artist honored and have some knowlege of her background.

Above photo courtesy of Continuum member Patty Pulliam.

GLASS FOR TODAY

Many views of this project before the firing.

These are slices of what is commonly referred to as "stained glass" to be used for making windows. I have quite a stash of this glass, given to me by a friend who no longer does that type of work. Never to refuse a gift like that, I have tons of this glass to use in an experimental fashion without too much anguish if the results of the project are not what I had in mind.

After the firing, still on the kiln shelf. Looks great !!!! I love it, and the metal rod did not melt, as several others have done in past experiments. Looking good !!!!

OOPS !!!!!

OUT OF THE FIRE

Here they are, click on the picture to see a close-up. Sorry about all the reflections, I have to get a photo tent to eliminate those. When I took a 3-D photography class at TLD Design, (look under classes & workshops, then Special Interests) I learned how much difference it can make. That's now very high on my list.

If you go back and look at the last post you can compare the before and after.

In case you're wondering, the white strip in the middle of these 4 components and at the top of the 2 longer ones that is visible in the top photo is for creating a stringing channel. If you look closely you will now see a clear channel. Notice the opening on the side.

That is for the stringing material when I/ or someone else makes these into jewelry.

On a side note, today I learned I could post a photo collage as one unit. How cool is that?

COOKING RIGHT & LEFT

These are in the kiln, which is on my right, becoming wondrous fused together elements

and the chicken is in the crock pot, which is on my left, becoming a very tasty soup

you already know what a crock pot looks like, so I didn't bother with a photo

don't you just love multi-tasking ?

IN LOVE WITH GLASS (part 3)

Having previous experience doing 3D work I thought it would be cool to do stained glass angels from free scraps. That collage instinct is always just below the surface waiting for an opportunity!!! Soldering on a flat surface is challenging enough, but 3D was a very humbling experience, way beyond my skill set.

Another fellow in the group, not the leader guy, showed an interest in my idea and devised and built some wooden supports to hold the pieces stable and at the proper angle during the soldering phase. They worked great and I really like the overall results, but the soldering skill proved to be beyond my patience level at that time.

I do like the way they turned out, but life happened and I moved on to other things. I still have all the scraps, I hauled them in from the garage to use in experimental ways in the new kiln.

GLASS COLLAGE !!!!

IN LOVE WITH GLASS (part 2)

For many years my daughter Tammy and I used to exhibit together at many art & craft fairs in the surrounding suburbs. Whenever I got a chance I always HAD to go look at the stained glass booth as well as any metal sculpture. We no longer exhibit together, but I do help her out, you've seen the pictures I posted earlier this summer. I still walk the aisles scanning the booths, it's like a compulsion, looking for a glint of metal or a reflection from the sun that I know must be glass!

Glass and metal,

yes I even made a stained glass wall hanging when I moved to Carillon in 2001.

They have a group that meets twice a week and it owns all the necessary equipment, like special cutters and grinders and such.

A guy that used to own a shop (he’s gotta be pushing 90 yrs old,) shows the newbies how to do things the right way!!!!

This little angel ornament was my required first project.

Then I did this 12 x 16 hanging for the window. Not bad for a beginner, but using someone else’s pattern doesn't sit well with me. Mine has to be different from everyone else.

The soldering is really BAD.

IN LOVE WITH GLASS (part 1)

I’ve always loved glass, clear glass, colored glass, stained/art glass. Tables, mirrors, candle holders, tableware, bottles, stained glass windows, unusual containers. As I write this I’m allowing a trip down memory lane that confirms this long held interest. For years I have used “found” colored bottles and jars on top of cabinets as inexpensive display elements. Now I use slightly more expensive (T.J.Maxx), bottles, bowls and containers chosen for their specific colors as well as style and shape. Yes, I love Fiesta Ware for it’s bright hues. My current tableware is all mismatched white, however. It’s much easier to replace a piece or two from Meijr’s when I drop one in the sink.

Clear canister jars that used to contain baking supplies, now house beads on top of tall shelves in the workroom.

GLASS DESIGN WORK AREA

Took this shot this morning, cleaned up and put everything away when I finished last night. That project is now in the kiln. I loaded it first thing this morning, right after making the coffee. This kiln is not automatic and so it requires careful monitoring during the ramp up to temperature, soak, cool down and annealing phase. Also I am keeping a written firing schedule while I learn this kiln and what the work I choose to do requires. Today's project has now gone through the cycle to the annealing phase, thus enabling me to turn it off, unplug it, and allow it to cool to room temperature. So now I am free to move on to other projects. Fortunately, for me, this kiln has a window in the lid so I am better about

NOT PEEKING, which could shock the glass and cause it to crack.