Bridge Pier Project/End of Week 8

I didn't make an entry last week because we were just too busy. Rebecca and I worked late each day and all weekend. The real stress was seeing what the glazed lizards would look like. We decided on three different but related color combinations for each. Below is a photo of how Lenny turned out and we couldn't be happier!!!! The two other lizard heads are in the kiln now and we will see them tomorrow morning.


We used cone 6 (cone 5 in electric kiln) Coyote glazes for the entire project, including the tile. We bisqued most pieces but during this last crunch time we did a slow single fire and everything turned out. What a blessing.

Thank you Beth Ravitz for all of your advice and cheerleading!

We now have only a few stray tiles to fire and then we will be ready for installation. At the recommendation of Beth Ravitz, we will be filling the lizard pieces with a mixture of perlite and thin-set to give them more internal strength.

Although a few of the girls will be coming in this week to help with sealing the unglazed parts of the background tile and boxing everything up for the installers, our project date officially ended on Friday. We cleaned like crazy and Rikki's mom even showed up with spray bottles, rags and cleaning supplies. We had a special celebration luncheon at Le Delice and the food and service were exceptional.


The girls took home individually boxed pastries.

After an excuse from the table and a short absense to her truck, Caitlin returned with a giant card. I have a sneaking suspicion that Ali was very busy the night before and a lot of manipulation was at play earlier in the morning. Rebecca and I never "caught on", so we were not only astonished, but very flattered. We have all become Starbuck addicts and we often did a run to the closest store to satiate our cravings for sweetened, cold java. The decorative envelopes in the card each contained a $20 Starbbucks gift card. What a sweet and wonderful gesture. Thank you so much girls.

Bridge Pier/End of Week 6

David and Rebecca picked up the first load of glazed tiles Monday morning and we immediately set about to put them together. It was so exciting for everyone. We were all so excited when we began to place out the tiles and see the design begin to emerge. Starbucks for everyone!

A second load of tiles goes to Aurore tomorrow. We did test glazes for the lizards today. Lizzette, our third lizard is almost completed.

Lizard Wall/End of Week 5

It was a hot week here in the Old Pueblo. The first load of glazed tiles went to Aurore's studio on Thursday. We finished Lloyd, the second lizard and bisqued Lenny in our kiln. We have a meeting about installation with Lee from Foley's Tile on Monday morning.

We had a great and extended show of fireworks from Tucson Country Club Estates on the 4th. We have a front seat spot from our house. For years people have shown up from all over town and park wherever they can, and this year was no exception. It's one of the best free shows in town. The best fireworks I've seen in recent memory was in Kiel in 2004 when we visited my sister Silvana. They were dedicating a new pier. Scores of swimmers carrying torches made their way to the beach before the fireworks began. I hadn't seen anything like it since I was at Disneyland on the 4th of July in the 80's.
I was just too tired to go to the Reid Park pottery class tonight. I've started dreaming about the tiles and lizards.....................so I'm working in my sleep now.

Caught some of the acts on Live Earth-Genesis, Melissa Ethridge, John Mayer, end of UB40. Billy Corgan was amazing!!

Still managing to paint almost everyday.

Celebration

Tres Amigas Bonitas! With Maria Elena and Carmela for a much-needed night out at Hacienda del Sol.

The foam for the green tiles worked perfectly. Rebecca and I spent several hours cutting and laying foam in David's truck and then placing tiles on layers. It was only 108 degrees outside.
The good news is that not one tile
broke in transit to Professor Chabot's studio. Aurore has a hundred plate setters from past public art projects and we loaded her massive Bailey kiln with almost 100 tiles. She believes in a slow bisque with lots of holds-3 days!
On some days I have been so tired I come home and take a nap-the heat and stress I suppose. On Friday, I was eager to meet two good friends at the posh Hacienda del Sol for a refreshing evening of good company, food and jazz. I don't go out often because I always seem to be working; my friends have learned not to take it personally when I say I no to invitations.

Images of Hacienda del Sol



















Les Baxter Band



For three years now I've been throwing pots on Saturday nights at the Tucson Reid Park pottery studio. This session I decided to only do slab work and sculpture. I have never done sculpture before but surprisingly I can, and it is immensely enjoyable.