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Fire and Gratitude
Smoke over the ridge from the, still raging, Lake Christine Fire
As the flames move beyond our site, from the Lake Christine Fire,
our sense of community and gratitude is soaring.
We all see fires in the news but having a front row seat
is a whole other level.
Watching firefighters come from near and far,
risking their lives, First Responders, Sheriffs, volunteers
work together appearing seamless, keeping us safe.
Chinooks, Helicopters and slurry planes took over the sky.
The firefighters’ “tent city” is not far from my house,
kind of like when the circus arrives, they are
self contained and organized.
The community signs of thanks are everywhere!
And everyone is sharing their stories.
We had the trifecta of evacuation, business, house and horses.
And for us a happy ending.
Not so for the 3 families who lost their homes.
This will be a 4th of July that will never be forgotten here in Basalt.
The gratitude we all have, for these men and women
who worked tirelessly to save our town
is to the moon and back.
Til next time,
Live creatively ! (with gratitude)
xx
Andrea
Monument Valley Inspired
Mantels become another piece of art. These are inspired by the west, the landscape and culture.
Driving thru the West, often hauling horses,
listening to my country faves,
George Strait, Brooks and Dunn,
Blake, Brad, and Toby, is freedom.
The first time I rode a horse in Monument Valley
was with a young Navajo girl I met
while painting murals in a hotel in Kayenta, Arizona.
The landscape just blows me away.
Several times a year, I get to drive thru the valley.
I love how a little rain changes this arid dessert
to a deep vivid red and blooms.
I have seen the snow and clouds lift off
the clusters of sculptural sandstone buttes at sunrise.
The light changes continuously and
never ends being a source of Inspiration.
Being in this expanse, feels to me like
I am a part of everything, past and present.
This part of the world speaks to me
when I am working with wood
and juxtaposing materials
that create diversity and depth.
Til Next Time,
"Live Creatively"
xx
Andrea
Fired Up In The Studio!!!!
Every surface in the studio has a different piece or
series of pieces in process.
I am excited about my new series of
"Stacked Bracelet" end tables... below,
They really are jewelry for the home.
Also, 2 benches , a door and hand crafted steel handles.
I am having a ball.
Nothing makes me feel better than to be productive
and seeing progress.
Sometimes trial and error and sometimes an epiphany.
Figuring it out.....
common sense, experience and
even dumb luck play a part in the process.
This week .... metal work,
which always includes a few scrapes and bruises.
I used my cutting torch to cut steel door handles,
which will have welded texture and lots of grinding.
The handles will emulate the marble veining
that has been carved on the door.
If you missed that video Click here.
The veins will be inlaid with gold leaf, the handles will match.
That’s the plan....
Here is a short peak in the studio, sparks and all.
Til Next Time
"LIVE CREATIVELY"
xx
Andrea
Canyon de Chelly Inspired
Canyon de Chelly is a breathtaking canyon
in the Navajo Indian Reservation near Chinle AZ.
Civilizations (Pueblo, Hopi and Navajo) have inhabited
these canyons for over 5000 years.
I spent a lot of time on the reservation
painting murals for a few hotels in the 90's.
Chinle, Kayenta, Monument Valley and Page
This was a dream client!
The landscape, the sculptural sandstone walls and ruins,
even learning Navaho etiquette,
lit a fire under my creative spirit and
continues as an inspiration for Andi-Le.
Canyon de Chelly is historic and spiritual.
You can feel the past and hear the ghosts in the wind.
The southwest and the textures of it's canyons,
mesas, buttes, plateaus and desert lands
will excite your soul.
I fell in love with the rock formations and prehistoric rock art.
In fact, my first metal sculptures were a series
of 6-8 foot tall petroglyphs.
( AHHHH! The olden days! from the 1900's )
Til Next time,
"LIVE CREATIVELY"
xx
Andrea
