Longing for a fetish to call my own

[pjthompson]

I spent the day with my friends, Lynn and Carl, out in Pasadena yesterday. Carl was showing me his latest sculptural work. I love these things! He calls them "junkinas" because they resemble kachinas and other Native American symbolic objects, but he assembles them from the bric-a-brac left over from modern society (very green!). Somehow he takes this "junk" and turns it into objects imbued with spirit, imagination, humor and other emotions. (In fact, people tend to have strong reactions to them in person—the full range of emotions.) You can view his work here. Just click on the junkina!

I may just have to give him a commission because these little statues (none of them are over a foot high) have such presence and personality. He's been selling them almost as fast as he can make them, and I'm so glad for him. He's had a rough year otherwise.

He and Lynn also have a letterpress printing business. That website is still under construction, but here's an example of the sort of work they do there.







That's the only example I have of their work at the moment. I've sent all the cards I had. They do lovely handmade/hand printed wedding invitations.

I don't just wish for a commission from Carl, though. I used to do a lot of handmade stuff myself, but I've gotten out of the habit. I didn't have room for much Storage de Stuff at my old apartment and since moving in here, the spirit has been lacking for the most part. Sculpture and textile art have never been my main passion—that's writing, unfortunately—but they have always been something that enriches my spirit and smooths out the bumps when I feel low. If I get to feeling too low, of course, nothing helps, but I've found that oftentimes if I can get myself into doing something with my hands, engaging my imagination in another way besides writing, I often stay a healthier person.

So, time to start a few art projects. The roommate says I can stake a claim to part of the workbench in the garage and she won't molest my stuff if I leave it out. Having to put stuff away at the end of eachsession is really stifling and defeating. Things need to lay around and pick up...artistic mojo.

Comments

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Heh...the "New" one is cute. It's not really my preferred type of art, but I can definitely see its value and marketing potential. I'm sure he's on to something big here. :)

[pjthompson]

Marketing potential...He's doing them out of his own spirit, like any other artist. He's just lucky they've been selling, that's all.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

And that is how it should be, one should really not think of marketing while creating :)

[inkbabies.livejournal.com]

Having to put stuff away at the end of eachsession is really stifling and defeating. Things need to lay around and pick up...artistic mojo.
I so understand the feeling...I'm just getting used to having a place where I can spread my creative wings again!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yes! I'm the same. I may not always pick it up, but it is nice to know it is there, ready for me, calling me.

[inkbabies.livejournal.com]

exactly!

[pjthompson]

Yes, and when you're doing something complex like paper-making you take up half your session setting up and then cleaning up. That sort of thing needs to be left in situ.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

So true. Rummaging around in "organized" places can be frustrating and take the edge off the need to create. Funny how when things are a mess (mess being subjective) we can put our hands on exactly what we need when we need it.

Are you making paper, PJ? I've been thinking about trying my hand at it. I've read up on it on the net, but I need to get some things together before I can give it a go.

[pjthompson]

I used to, but I didn't have the space to leave all the makings out. I had to clean up and put away each time and it really ate away my drive to do it. Same with silk painting. It's such a major pain to set up/set down if you don't have the space to leave it out. I really loved it when I did it, though.

[pjthompson]

It's important.

[inkbabies.livejournal.com]

it is!

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

I believe in leaving stuff out as well... Out of sight, out of mind. you have to have the project you're working on sitting out where it can nag you every time you pass by, and where it can always be lingering in the back of your mind even when you're doing something else. Once you put it away, your mind thinks you're done and moves on to other things.

[pjthompson]

Yes, all that. It does tend to make for a messy house, though. But hey, who said art was neat? :-)