Mosaic Artist Residency in Sisters, Oregon

I have been working with Rochelle Schueler (WildroseArtworks) to develop a residency program for mosaic artists at Pine Meadow Ranch in Sisters. Since 2019 when Rochelle and Kathy Deggendorfer first conceived of the idea to take a trove of discontinued and seconds tiles from Kibak Tile, also in Sisters, I’ve been along for the ride of developing a project from scratch.

Detail of the Round Barn ceiling

When Rochelle first came to me with the idea, we were working on our Baja Mexico commission Nopoló Flow. She described what she and Kathy were brainstorming, and at first I couldn’t envision it. Any mosaic mural I’ve ever built was designed using mostly solid tiles, broken and perhaps handmade tiles included. But never multi-color and pattered resist tiles, in the Portugese cuerda seca style! But the idea percolated on through 2019. For the backstory, Rochelle wrote posts at the time. Here is a link to the first post.

As 2020 dawned, Rochelle brought me in to meet Kathy and discuss possibilities for the fledgling project. The ranch, under the direction of the Roundhouse Foundation, had already researched and established an artists’ residency program, and the inaugural season was 2018. The 2020 residents were already chosen when Covid hit, and so the 2020 season had to be cancelled. Likewise, the concept of a mosaic artist-specific residency program had to be put on hold. During 2020, Rochelle and I worked on the design of the mural designs, and made preparations to have the project ready to go when it was possible. Here’s the link to Rochelle’s blog, documenting this next phase.

The center panels installed, the other four french cleats awaiting their panels to complete the mural.

As 2021 progressed, so did the center three panels. Rochelle worked a lot, and I helped some. The work was happening out at the ranch, a 35 minute drive from Bend, where we live. Here are links to the rest of the story, as we finished the panels last year. Part 3 and Part 4. By the middle of 2021, the call for artists to apply for a residency in 2022 was open, and the plan was set for a group of artists to be selected to help us complete the mural!

Artists at work! Top, Rochelle and me. Bottom, Brenda, Kellie and Line.

Here we are, June 2022, we and our three selected artists are in residence at Pine Meadow Ranch, working on the remaining four panels. Brenda Grafton from Madison, WI, Kellie Hoyt from Minneapolis, MN and Line Bergene, from Norway are the artists chosen to assist us on the mural. After the first two weeks, they are able to work on their own projects, as inspired by living on the ranch, and/or help finish the panels. We expect that after two weeks the panels will be all pieced and mortared down, but grouting will have to happen the third week. An unveiling is scheduled for June 24, so we have a deadline to meet!

Routine

This is not a routine occurrence!

This word has many meanings. Some negative, some positive. Over the past year, I've learned that certain routines are essential for a productive, creative and satisfying life. It's ironic that for most people's working lives, they yearn for the time when they can be rid of the chores and commonplace tasks that define everyday activity. But when those activities and tasks are removed, a person can find they are rudderless. Sure, it's great to be "free", to do fun stuff on the spur of the moment. But it's dismaying to find out that when you have too much "free" time, it becomes difficult to structure that time so as to be productive. I finally understand why many people who retire from their main careers choose to go back to work, in some fashion. Human beings need structure, routine. And if it can't be done on one's own, having the routine imposed by external sources becomes a must. 

Making the best of the non-routine.

The transition to life in a new town has stretched out the process of creating new routines way longer than I'd anticipated. Things keep coming up to derail me. Internal factors, external factors, family, weather— you name it. Having been a successful self-directed person for the majority of my adult life, this situation is stressing me out! I have been super slow to re-ignite my creativity, to do much meaningful artwork, and I have been worn down by this. But I am not defeated! I am working on cultivating patience, but an active patience. While I wait for our new studio to be built, I must plug away at new ideas, new techniques, to create new work. Even if it's in my tiny bedroom studio, I can't let that be an excuse to not be productive.

Breaking an old routine to help set up the new When an activity becomes automatic, with no significant gain, it's time to reassess its value. For the past 13 years, I have attended the Society of American Mosaic Artists annual conference. Over the years it has meant many things to me: finding a community, "our tribe" as has been mentioned often, the opportunity to learn, travel, deepen friendships and further careers. Then it became a giant annual party to reconnect with friends for a week of revelry. An expensive week at that. This year, standing at this crossroad, I had to make a big decision. Where would my investment do the most for my personal growth as an artist? Without unlimited funds, I had to make a choice. I'm using the money I would have spent going to SAMA on a week in Chicago instead. There I will take a five day workshop with Maestro Verdiano Marzi. The trip will combine artistic study with pleasure. Bob will come with me, and together, we'll do the things we enjoy most: explore vibrant cities, see baseball and visit museums. And of course, eat well and enjoy craft beer!

While this experience will be good, and I believe I will learn a great deal during the five days in Verdiano's workshop, I am sad to break my 13-year streak of SAMA attendance. As I read the schedule of speakers, and the workshops offered, I know what I will miss out on. One perk I always bragged about going to SAMA was that it was my opportunity to see new cities in the US. I was excited to see Detroit for the first time, but it will have to be another time. Sacrifices have to be made sometimes, and I am hopeful that my choice will help me on my journey forward.

In 2006 I was at a similar crossroads in my creative career. I expressed my feelings in a work I titled "Breaking the Cycle." I guess life is one continual journey of creating cycles, being happy in them, becoming dissatisfied, unraveling, and creating a new cycle. I'm looking forward to exploring this current new cycle.

Breaking the Cycle

Work in Progress

The curtain rises on act three

Sunset over Broken Top from our deck in Bend.

Settling into the new life. We've been in Bend full time for 2-1/2 months now, and it's taken every second of that time to feel settled in. Of course, it's a work in progress, and is evolving every day. During this time I've come to realize the value of routine. Often, people complain of their lives being too routine, which they translate into boring. When routines are taken away, or left behind, one can find that life is chaotic, unsettling. It's exciting to start something new, but at the same time, I believe human beings need some sort of routine to take comfort in. To be grounded in. When that is established, I believe the creative, self-motivated person can jump off from that safe place to explore new worlds, and grow one's creative practice.

Here I am at the jumping off point! I recently re-wrote my artist statement and came to using the metaphor of a stage play to describe my professional life. Looking back I could see my life divided into three phases. Act One: graphic designer, 24 years. Act Two, ceramic and mosaic artist, 10 years. With the arrival of 2016 and the decision to leave our life of 25 years in Hillsboro and settle in Bend, Act Three has opened. The new title: artist. Just one word, or two, if you like— visual artist. I'm moving into a place where I'm focusing on exploring my art for me. Setting aside pursuing commissions. Well, let's just say that my primary focus is going to be creating fine portable art that pleases me first. There may be some larger, collaborative work that I'd consider! You never know what might come along. I plan to keep open to whatever experiences and challenges present themselves.