Brace for Impact: 72 days and counting

72 days. I have 72 days to finish up a body of work for my upcoming solo show, Brace for Impact. Originally, I was supposed to have a solo show in November 2013 at Liz Afif Gallery before it closed. Between the gallery closing and being over loaded with work at the Sculpture Gym, I never proceeded with finishing the work.

I had the idea to schedule a solo show and within the same week Steven, the Gallery Director at PSG, asked if I'd be interested in showing in PSG Gallery. I agreed....to April....in January. Crazy, considering the amount of things I want to accomplish, but normal when compared to the rest of my art career. Everything seems to have always come together on short notice, so I'm hoping to put together a really amazing show.

I've got a number of things started and hope to edit down from a larger group. I've also got some crazy ideas lined up for this show, so we will see what plays out. Either way, I am excited to be making things... Its been very hard lately to have not been making, creating... I know I am working on the Sculpture Gym, which is a space for others to create, but in order to feel whole I need to be making art. So here I go, again...

I'm back...

Image by Marion Di Quinzio

Oh hello there. It's been a while, no? My apologies. I've just been so busy with...EVERYTHING. Truly the last year and a half of my life has been INSANE. I've had multiple major life changes occur, some good, some not so good. I've opened up a small business while raising a 3 year old. I've lost and gained perspective on things. I've realized very important things about myself and others, only to forget them periodically and have to continually remember to remember them...(confusing, I know!) And the most important thing that I keep remembering and forgetting and remembering again is that I am, in fact, a human. Just like anyone else. I try not be too hard on myself for mistakes I've made or people I've inadvertently hurt, but part of my character is that I am a harsh critic when it comes to being me. It's good in some ways...but I've realized lately that I need to take a step back and be easy on myself. I need to re-prioritize my life and certain things fit in (raising my daughter, making art, running a business, taking care of myself) and other things don't (worrying about EVERYTHING, countless hours spent on social media, and other time sucks that I can't remember at the moment.) SO I'm starting here, because in truth I do enjoy having an outlet to say what I'm thinking about or show what I'm up to. And I'm saying goodbye to other things...like twitter (I don't even understand Twitter...why was I on there?!), like Facebook (this one is slightly anxiety inducing as I do enjoy connections with people....but I'd rather spend the time making actual connections with people...like writing letters, or meeting for coffee instead of having a false sense of connection), and last but not least my beloved Instagram...The Philadelphia Sculpture Gym will still have these things for the sake of promoting the business, but running two of everything is a lot to keep up with. So if you'd like to catch up, or see what I'm up to, call me, text me, email me, write me a letter (I LOVE GETTING MAIL!) or check out this blog... I think scaling back will give me more time to focus on what I love, like O'Rae, making art and building the Sculpture Gym. Thanks so much to everyone for the support you've shown me, over the last year and a half especially. I cannot put into words my appreciation.
All my love. Darla

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

Black Friday Sale! For 25% off all sculpture in my Etsy shop, use coupon code 'BLACKFRIDAYFANCY'.

Filling cracks with gold

 

When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something has suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful.

I saw the above quote tonight and it stuck with me...I feel like everything I hear and see lately has been informing this new body of work...that I'm seeing everything for a reason. Usually when starting projects things get sorted out as I work on the piece but this time everything is unfolding really quickly so I feel compelled to start the work as soon as possible, despite being busier than ever. This idea of "aggrandizing damage" really strikes me, because when making art I feel like thats what we are doing anyway, aggrandizing our emotions. Or atleast what I'm doing. I'm wondering how this will all play out...my goal is to do EVERYTHING myself....build all the armatures alone, make the pieces, make the molds alone (including one of an 8 foot tall grizzly), cast alone...Usually I have help from Justin or fabulous interns but this time it's been in my head that in order to be fully successful, I need to do it all myself...

wish me luck...

American Craft Magazine

Huge thanks to Walter and Margaux for the shout out during their interview with American Craft Magazine. The article, titled Grand and Mysterious, is a fabulous journey through their home, talking about the pieces of their lives that they love and collect. Be sure to grab a copy!

Party's Over...

Here is a great shot of this piece from the folks at Thinkspace Gallery. Check out the photos from the Wild at Heart opening here.

Hard Day...

I am simultaneously so happy and so frustrated...Happy because I am sculpting, frustrated because of life and its ups, downs, and curveballs...I've had a piece in my head for a while now and it seems fitting to have started working on it... Above is a study for Coup de grâce, a soon to be piece...


From wikipedia.com:

The expression coup de grâce ( /ˌkuː də ˈɡrɑːs/; French: [ku də ɡʁɑs], "blow of mercy") means a death blow intended to end the suffering of a wounded creature. The phrase can refer to the killing of civilians or soldiers, friends or enemies, with or without the consent of the sufferer. It is often used figuratively to describe the last in a series of events which brings about the end of some entity; for example: "The business had been failing for years; the coup de grâce was the sudden jump in oil prices."
In the context of an execution, it means shooting the heart or head (typically the back of the skull) of an already wounded, but not yet dead, person during a military or civilian execution. It can also refer to the near beheading that follows a samurai's seppuku.