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October 2022 Newsletter

The Magic of The Mix

Chas Martin Sculptor on Creative process
Ideas can span many sketchbooks over several years before the mix triggers the right approach. Then it’s time to make 2D into 3D.

Before committing full time to fine art, I was a creative director in San Francisco and later with my own communications design company. I was hyper alert anything that triggered innovative ideas in myself and my teams. Clever solutions aren’t good enough. It has to be unique. Finding that path is the ultimate goal. You have to find every day in every opportunity.

My process is simple. Mix it up. Keep the input fresh. Never accept an obvious answer. Never repeat yourself. Good enough is never good enough. Each piece is another step of the journey. Each has to move you forward. Where it leads is not important. The journey is its own reward.

I had an instructor once who insisted we feed our brains with images, books, and music unrelated to our usual interests or current project. If there’s nothing interesting going in, there’s nothing interesting coming out. That was the best advice I ever had. In the studio, I rarely open my computer. I usually rely on books for visual stimulation.   

Audio is a constant part of that mix. In the past few months I’ve listened to biographies of Jim Hensen, Leonard Nemoy and Alfred Hitchcock, the history of Spain, a book about the oceans, a few books on physics, anthropology, The Hidden Habits of Genius; God, Human, Man, Machine; Fingerprints of the Gods and more. Some days it’s podcasts. Facts are catalogued in my brain and recombined in unexpected juxtapositions. Between books, it’s Miles Davis, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Weather Report – jazz, rock, zydeco, blues. The mix feeds the rhythm and stimulates my thinking. When the process starts to feel predictable, I change the audio stream.

Patterns and habits are creative black holes. The dance of creation is alive, on the edge, taking risks, being the flow. Sculpture is 3-dimensional decision making. Surfing a wave of audio and visual stimulation eliminates repetition. The mix forces me to react spontaneously, to consider options without judgement first, then commit to a solution.

Filed Under: Blog, October 2022 Newsletter Author: Chas Martin

Focused Interest Groups within PNWS

Recent proposals presented to the PNWS Board have prompted a revival of Focused Interest Groups (FIGs) within PNWS, previously known as special interest groups. The concept is easiest to understand thinking of sculptors that work in the same medium, trading tips on suppliers and venues that work for them, posting information about their activity and welcoming other PNWS Members to join in that FIG conversation. Other examples could be teachers sharing advice about curriculum or facilities, or people who want to work on grant writing together. A Focused Interest Group studying digital technology, relevant to PNWS Members, was proposed at a recent Board meeting. I’m considering having a FIG engaged with artistic content, critiques, and trips to museums and galleries. These groups would be self-organizing, and there’s no limit to how many could form within PNWS.
It has been suggested that FIGs have a minimum number of PNWS Members as participants (perhaps at least 3) to get their events on our calendar or request other assistance from the larger organization. Further, it’s suggested that FIGs post regular updates, basically saying, “We exist as a Focused Interest Group and here’s how to be in touch with us”. Guidelines, policy and practices related to FIGs are a work in progress. To find out more, go to the PNWSculptors.org website. Each PNWS Member’s profile page has a Forums link (you have to log in as a Member to get to the Forums). A Forums group titled, FIGs, is a place to go, if you’re interested in discussing these possibilities. Or ask any PNWS Board Member more about FIGs.
The practice of forming smaller networking groups within PNWS can have a resurgence now because of technology changes, like our PNWSculptors.org website forum, allowing more interconnection; and the PNWS Board is actively supporting FIG formation. Consider broadcasting your specific interest on our social media, website, newsletter simultaneously, as well as bring the topic to online meetings or one of our monthly studio visits, many ways to connect. Focused Interest Groups are part of a broader PNWS Membership re-engagement strategy, emphasizing Community, Networking, Sharing/Marketing art, and Information for our Members.

Filed Under: Blog, October 2022 Newsletter Author: Andy Kennedy

Who’s Doing What: October 2022

MARIA WICKWIRE: Work in progress.

MARK ANDREWS: Sculpture carved from 900lb Greek marble is just over 36″ tall by 16″. Sited at six feet tall, the result is an installation 9 feet overall. I made a half size clay model first for this commissioned piece, both to make sure it would fit the stone and to show the client what they would be getting. Believe me, that stone was working me as I was working it!
GEORGE HEATH: Years of work are being converted through print on demand to a variety of objects, clothing, etc. Comments or criticism are most welcome.  So then: FunkerMarket Shop | Redbubble. or contact George directly
ROBERT McWILLIAMS: Title is Portrait of the Artist as a Middle Aged Rooster…still cocky.
PHIL SEDER: ‘After The Storm,’ a new work composed of studio scrap material including Doug Fir, copper and brass leftovers.  Treated with verdigris patina and a bronze patina rub on the wooden hull.
CHAS MARTIN: Mixed media piece on marble base. Work in progress. Potential titles include: Selfie, Delusion, Haunting, Lies and Other Realities. I’ll be working on this and other pieces during Open Studios, October 8 and 9.

Filed Under: Blog, Newsletter, October 2022 Newsletter, September 2022 newsletter Author: Chas Martin

Newport show Title: Into the Depths

Finding a title for the Newport show was a process of intuition, exploring words about the ocean and sculpture. I was hooked when I thought of the words Depth and the Deep. Then it started unfolding like origami. The deep of the sea is like the endless possibilities of art, or the uncharted realm of our unconscious. Depth is THE third dimension. This is where sculpture goes further than 2D art. The title is nautical, psychological and describes our technical process, a title with three dimensions itself.
Into the Depths, is offered as a prompt for a new piece, perhaps an object of mysterious origin. Or maybe you are inspired to make a more direct statement about the oceanic setting for our show at NVAC. Spirit of the Sea was also a working title for our sculpture show, evoking mythology and forces of nature. Let these ideas inspire you, but don’t let them hold you back from participating. Prompts are meant to be playful, whimsical, and open ended, a launching point for artists to venture Into the Depths.

Filed Under: Blog, October 2022 Newsletter Author: Andy Kennedy

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Pacific Northwest Sculptors
4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd #302
Portland, OR 97214
president@pnwsculptors.org

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Tualatin Valley Creates
International Sculpture Center

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