More Sandblasted Glass from my time in Corning

Here are some sneak peeks at some more of my earlier sandblasted glass pieces from my time at the Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass.

Since I am really interested in graphic design and illustration I really tried to combine these varied interests. Often glass surface treatment is not narrative, but more decorative in nature. However, the images that I developed for the surface manipulation was more personal with a definitive narrative, so my interest in illustration and graphic line really started to show up.

Popped Balloon by marisol diaz

With this particular image - the assignment was to blast a hole entirely through the glass...I couldn't see how I would do that in manner that made sense me, unless it was through a heart. This piece is actually slightly smaller (than the on screen size) in real life and that adds to its charm - at this scale and with the flatness of the photograph - it loses some of its graphic pop.

Paz by marisol diaz

This particular image is actually much larger than this image (8 1/2' x 11') and the assignment was to create variations in the blasting tones, such as gradations. Since I was coming up with my design ideas on the fly (with no preset plan) I was even surprised to see the imagery I formed, all of which had to be cut out with an exacto knife of a protective sheet (buttercut) in stages to blast (see the last post to understand buttercut).

Think With Your Head Not With Your Heart Fool by marisol diaz

This piece is done on 1/2inch thick glass which is lost with the photogragh...and was most time consuming since the size is around 10 by 10 inches. I also 'royally messed up' by packing the glass in my backpack one evening to work after 11pm and after riding my bike, hence the side of the glass with no protection got scratched (good lesson to learn) and so I had to lightly blast the front edges of the piece to compensate...some say you would never notice if I didn't tell (another lesson to learn).

Still, these pieces are from the first few days of class...after which my work began to evolve in quite a different direction which I will share with you all next...so stay tuned.

Sandblasting @ Corning Glass Studio Class

Well, I am finally back from the Corning Glass Museum in Corning, NY and able to update my blog again! (I was not able to, due to the limited amount of time that I had to do as much glasswork as I could. I put every possible moment of glasswork I could do as priority - I hope I haven't lost too much readership!) Now I have so much to share! Meet my new friend for the last two weeks:

An Empire sand blaster from the Corning studio cold shop! I've used sandblasters with my glasswork before but this class that I took taught by Denise Leone Stillwagon involved the use of stage sand blasting and vitreous painting - either as combined techniques or as separate ways to manipulate the glass surface.

Here is an early image of my desk as I was beginning a stage blasting assignment. Stage blasting is simply the process of blasting glass in stages so as to create deeper and varied levels of depth in the glass. Though I bropugght great picture references with me I often began every project with a drawing.

Here is a pic of the glass piece IN the sandblaster!

And here is the final piece...mind you it was simply a class assignment- there is no kind of 'heavy content' here since I was just trying to familiarize myself with the equipment.

At Corning

Well I am off on my own for two weeks for another glass class...but this time - its at Corning! I have to say - I have taken classes at the following glass schools, Haystack - in Deer Isle- Maine, Pilchuck (2x on scholarship), Urban Glass in Brooklyn, NY, Bullseye in Portland Oregon, and none of these are physically as close to me in location as Corning is and it is now over ten years into my love affair with glass that I get know the Corning Glass Museum. It is the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory of the glass world!

I am on my third day and I have so much to show everyone...I have already made 5 sand-blasted pieces but unfortunately my camera will not work with my laptop and I will have to wait to show you all my pictures. The class I am taking vitreous painting and sand-blasting class taught by Denise Stillwagon Leone...a wonderful teacher and amazing artist! Some of the work we are doing is similar to work I have done in the past, but the vitreous painting is the same process as one of my favorite artists who I have blogged about in the past... Judith Schaechter Definitely click on that if you did not get a chance to see it before...there is also one of my stained glass pieces there.

I know this wasn't the most exciting blog but stick with me until I can get my new glass work up here for you all to see. Hopefully, this weekend when my husband comes we can get some new pics,...until then I am back to the glass classroom!

Flickr

flickr mosaic My Sculptures

Ok so it took me forever to finally come around to creating a Flickr account and I am so glad that I did. Not only is it a phenomenal resource for creatives to join groups and link with other creatives, but it lends itself to digital photo innovation and the potential of doing more with your imagery - not only your knock-their-socks-off photos but your everyday photos too. The wealth of inspiration you receive as part of this community is priceless. My students have been telling/sharing this knowledge with me for some time and I have finally come around...I was also inspired by fellow blogger Dragonfly Reflections with her latest flickr venture. Oh and what toys have been created for flickr like this Mosaic Maker! So check out this 'sculptures' mosaic I made of varying detail shots of some of my sculptures. So if you were thinking about it and just haven't gotten around to it - don't think twice - join FLICKR!! Warning it is very addictive and devours hours by the seconds!

My New Electra Bike- Design, Style, the Color Orange and a Sweet Ride

I'm inlove with my new bike... as a die-hard fan of well designed stuff and objects that embody ones extension of style, I originally wanted the highly coveted and impossible to get Petro Zillia featured in the thumbnail to the right and below. The Petro is a creative collaboration between the Electra Bike Company and Fashion Designer Nan Tochterman. As you can see it has mega - beaucoup - style and some amazing colorful features. To my limited understanding - its been discontinued...though I know ebay has had some sales.

Seeing as it (The Petro) was such a hard to obtain object and my bike riding days were here and now, I settled for a different Electra bike, the townie. I test rode this orange townie and a cruiser (the one with daisy's) and well, I fell inlove...it felt like riding the BMW of bikes! Because of how the handle bars are situated I ride sitting straight up instead of leaning forward, which has helped my posture and back pain tremendously! The rest is history, because I had to have it...and what Lola wants..,

The 'Townie' has what is called 'flat foot technology' which to my understanding is just a design structure that swoops down that middle bar so short people like me (5ft.1 inches and a HALF!) can stand up. I can't tell you the pathetic small kids bikes I've had to use - so that I could accomplish standing up in the past.

I also bought the 'Quick release' basket and fell in love with that too. As an avid - no plastic bags person the quick release basket is such a sweet way to go to the grocery to pick up a couple of things. I sewed my own inside liner to really make my bike's look unique and I even added an inside pocket for my camera or cellphone. Since I'm still pining for some of the Petro pizazz, I'm working on my own handmade poms-poms and I plan to order fenders, paint them white like my back rack and customize them myself with my new found spray painting skillz. I'll be sure to share the progress!

A Puerto Rican Wedding and a June Bride

Despite the fact that I return to Puerto Rico yearly to be with my father, brothers and family, this summer's visit held an extra-delightful purpose...my brother Michael's wedding. Meet Sharon Ortiz...whose name I'm sure has something like 'de Diaz' as part of it now. I have been blessed to share with both Sharon and my brother as a couple for the past few years and have even had them vacation with me here in my home in the States. The greatest gift however is that Sharon is now my sister-in-law.

The wedding which was held at their church (Casa de Avivamiento), was absolutely beautiful flanked in one of my all time favorite colors orange! Their Pastor Javier Rodriguez was their officiant. He made a powerful sermon of their wedding vow exchanges, considering that both my brother Michael and his new bride Sharon are long standing, active parishoner's and are in the process of building their own branch of the church.

Unlike me or our other brother Chayanne, Michael has both 'been chosen' and has chosen to follow in the divine path of preaching. Where as I am more spiritual than religious, Michael has found an extraordinary community, purpose and goal in life through his church and their religion.

Sharon's dress was absolutely gorgeous! And Cheers! to whoever designed the format of the wedding decorations which were stunning with coordinated drapery, columns, flowers and table linens...designing that effectively requires great artistic vision!

The cake was delicious and also designed in such a sophisticated and elegant manner, complementing the decor flawlessly! It was truly a spectacular event...check out the flower girl my niece Chamirelis!

Here is our side of the family, My brother Chayanne (Chami's dad), my father, Sharon and Michael, my aunt (Micheal's mom), and me.

I have a lot more images but I will be posting them all on my new FLICKR site soon (in a few days).

My Husband (Gregg Emery) and I made our six year wedding anniversary just a week before Michael and Sharon's wedding and here is our toast to Sharon and Michael:

We wish this young couple the great happiness, deep friendship, and un-bounding love that we (Gregg and I) have found together. Marriage is a lot of work and it takes clear, constant and caring communication, those of us who survive it, know that the ease of wedded bliss comes only with trust, clarity, mutual support and shared dreams. You are beginning a new nucleus, a new unit, a new family... begin your own new traditions and share the growing pains together (there will be pains and of course great joys)- the reward is indescribably beautiful. Never take the companionship for granted, for life is mutating and changing constantly and in each other you seek a changing constant not a familiar presumption. Respect each other's minds as library resources, as well as mirror reflections. Discover life together the beautiful and the ugly - for it is these experience that will bond you both to each other...no object has that power.

Puerto Rico's Portals II

Puerto Rico's Portals - Doors and Windows

Well, I haven't been keeping up with my blogging as well as I should have because I was traveling again. When I travel to my other home (Puerto Rico)- it's country living and very difficult (although getting easier every time) to have internet access at my every whim. I generally visit PR every year since my father, brothers and much of my mother's side of the family have always resided there. Every time I go I visit Old San Juan either by 'Carro Publico' (public transport vans) on my own or in a car with friends or family. My favorite shops the bookstore Cronopios and Lace shop (The Linen House) are faithfully there every time I return. I have started a collection of images of Puerto Rico's Portals (windows and doors) that I would love to share on this blog much like the images of my trip to Europe this year. In addition to my usual Puerto Rican escapades, this time I had another extraordinary event; my brother Michael's wedding so you might see some of those images coming up soon too!

ART GIVEAWAY WINNER !! Happy 4th of July!!!

In honor of the fourth of July and reinterpreting the word 'Independence' in a creative way, I took a page out of Kerri Smith's Guerilla Art book and am doing a free art giveaway.
In order to be in the running for 'winning' the signed photographic print of the collage entitled Rain Birds, I asked readers to comment on their personal 'rainbird'. What is a rainbird? A rainbird is something we need to say goodbye to that in its somber and sad way still does good by LIBERATING us and setting us free.

I received some truly amazing, insightful and personal rainbirds that should help all of us in our pursuit of inner peace. It was so difficult to choose between the powerful comments that I chose my top six, called witnesses and used a random number generator (a die) to choose the winner. Here are some of my favorites (the runner-ups and their amazing rainbirds):

Beautiful Witch wrote:
I think for me it is a more freedom-through-letting go. I let go of my expectations of myself, they were sky high and almost unreachable. I let go of the need to be perfect, to be great at everything and instead found joy in trying and just doing, whether it be putting paint on a canvas or words on a page. I smile more now, and at night I feel great wings unfurl from my back and carry me through the night and that, I believe, is true freedom.

Stainboy wrote:
Finding my grandmother who had passed during my youth...I found her in the form of a wonderfully kind and crafty Navajo woman in Chinle, Arizona, who took me in, fed me body, heart and soul....it was only when a tourist asked is she my grandmother and before I could respond she said, 'I'm everyone's grandmother sweeping her arm gently to encompass both the children playing nearby and myself. At that moment there was a new clarity, independence and sense of purpose knowing my grandmother was with me as I continued my journey.

Beatriz wrote:Turning 40 has given me a new perspective on my life. I now KNOW who I am, what I want, and where I want to go. Not that I did not know these things before, but now, there is this assertiveness to "ME" I am. I am. I am. I am comfortable in my own skin, I do not want to please anyone else but me. Call it the selfish period, but it was about time to rediscover me.

Devilmood wrote:
I think the best rainbird I can imagine is getting rid of the parts of us that no longer seem to fit, the parts of us that drag us down, make us feel inadequate and stuck in the past. If we could shed them like old skin, it would be very liberating and would open new doors in our lives.

Mary Jenkins wrote:
I was raised by my grandfather who was controlling, loving, commanding,loud, protective. He died a couple of years ago of Alzheimer related causes. Tending to the giant, Zues-like entity as if he were a child was both painful and healing. I had always relied on him to make everything thing okay. his illness and eventual death eased me into my independence and responsibility for my own life.

Stephanie wrote:
so the biggest goodbye of my life is happening right now: college. Obviously this is a beginning but its also an end. a goodbye to all my childhood friends, to school, to everything i once called home. while i'm not completely on my own, going to college is the closest to true independence i will have for at least another 4 years. More than just the obvious freedom of being away from my parents though, is being away from my twin. Ryan and I rely on each other a lot, so as we each go off on our own, for the first time in 18 years, it is the essence of both a sad goodbye, but also new life free of responsibility for the other, replaced with full responsibility for myself.

Laura wrote:
One thing that has held me back has been my fear of heights (or more specifically falling from heights). As a climber, this fear has held me back a lot at times, and has kept me from performing at my best. Although I don't think I'll ever be able to fully say goodbye to this fear, I find myself distancing myself from it as much as possible. The more that I can distance myself from my fear, the stronger I become.

And the WINNER is......

DRAGONFLY REFLECTIONS!!!!

Dragonfly Reflections wrote:
When my daughter, Megan, decided to get married over the summer following her freshman year of college, I thought my heart would break. I didn't want her to make a choice she might regret, but more than that, I didn't want to lose her. Since then, Megan has gone through many other big changes and, with each, it's been a struggle not to dig in my heals and resist. With every ending, my heart focuses for a little while on the way of life I'm losing and those are stormy, painful days. Eventually... I remember to take a deep breath, the clouds clear, the pain settles, and I begin to notice the little ways our relationship is growing and changing. I've finally begun to realize that each of these little endings seems to pave the way for something new and better to grow - not just in our relationship with each other, but also for each of us individually.

Congrats Dragonfly!!!!! I hope we all feel a bit liberated after sharing these stories and as Devil mood recommended I think the winner should host their own Art giveaway!!! And if you didn't make it this time around no worries I will be doing one giveaway a month for this summer!!! So the next art giveaway will be the end of July!! So keep posted!!!!

Unsellable/Giveable Objects...

Sometimes I learn a new technique such as this beading one, and I simply can't bring myself to give or sell any of it away. Sometimes that happens because of the time, difficulty or the aesthetic of the final result. However, I wish I could part with these and I keep saying - I'll make more and then I'll be able to sell them - but this beading technique yields different and unique results each time!!! If anyone has an idea on how creatives can part with their work more easily please share!!!!!

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I have learned how to sell/giveaway certain art more easily ...so be sure the Art Giveaway (three posts back) is going really well, be sure to leave your 'Rainbird' comment to be considered to win a signed print of collage art by ME!!!