Optical delusions
September 19, 2008
I’m back in Castuary (my term for that anxious period when the mold is in the kiln and you’re waiting to find out if you’ve just made heaven or hell in glass). As usual, it’s sending me into all kinds of odd musings.
For example, I’ve run across two different perception phenomena during this Castuary. First is what’s called the Moon Illusion–the full moon on the glassland horizon has been roughly as big as the sky lately, and Mom and I were discussing what caused it.
I figured it’d be a simple atmospheric magnification thing; you know, the light reflecting off the moon at a fraction of a degree above the horizon acts kinda like a telephoto lens, etc., etc. So I headed to the Web to find out about it and–surprise–nobody’s really figured out what causes it. There’s a nice writeup on the NASA website. Fascinating stuff.
The second phenom was closer to home. Take a look at these pics: [Read more]
Cinderella finally makes it to the ball
September 18, 2008
I wrote awhile back about the trials and tribulations of making glass feet. I do want to report that Maria showed Cinderella Story, (above) at Art in the Pearl a couple of weeks ago, complete with the temporary “lemonade” foot. She says it generated a lot of excitement, so we know that at least it’s on the right track.
Now to focus on getting the bloody kiln finished so we can make the RIGHT color foot. 
Meet Da Muse
September 13, 2008
OK, this is a blog I can really dig: Susan Lomuto’s Daily Art Muse, AKA DA Muse. (And I wonder if she’s triple entendre’ing this one, because it could also be French: d’Amuse, or “to amuse.” Neat.)
Ms. Lomuto posts daily notes of inspiration to artists of all media, although she has a special fondness for polymer clay. Mostly they’re gorgeous photos of stuff (or of new art shows) but she occasionally breaks into short essays or tutorials that are a lot of fun.
I do wonder if she lives nearby; one of her latest entries is a photo from the newly opened Manufactured show at the Portland Museum of Contemporary Craft. But she’s definitely a lady after my own heart.
Tagliapietra on DVD
September 12, 2008
The Corning Museum just released a new Lino Tagliapietra documentary that I’ve been told is excellent. If you’re a glass video junkie like me, you’ll probably want to get your own copy, but since mine’s on the way there’s no rush. I can guinea-pig it and let you know how it comes out.
Holy Sapphirability
September 10, 2008
The Bombay Sapphire folks are back with the finalists in this year’s international glass competition, asking designers and artists from around the world to come up with the best martini glass.
Even if you’re not a martini fan, you’ve gotta see some of the designs. They make me want to head to the kitchen and throw out the Baccarat. (Yeah, like I’ve got a lot of THAT…) A few, like the US entry, are fine but not exactly what James Bond would reach for. Others? Wow.
Saturday marketing in Glassland
September 6, 2008
Lovely, lovely morning that makes me even fonder of life in the slow lane.
I spent it with my friend Monica at the Portland Farmers Market just outside of PSU. When she heard I’d never been there she was shocked, and we made a date to meet there for coffee and people watching this morning. [Read more]
Playing footsie
September 4, 2008
Why is it that the simplest projects have the biggest potential to drive you up a tree?
If you’re a regular reader of this blog you might recall me mentioning talented sculptor Maria Wickwire Palensky. She approached me last spring about casting a transparent foot and ankle for one of her sculptures.
Among other things, Maria interprets ancient mythologies surrounding women. Her work is stunningly beautiful. My friend Les and I headed up to her house in the mountains (where I especially fell in love with Persephone, below).
Maria had a problem: She’d engaged a glassist to cast part of a sculpture in transparent glass, but after several months’ work the project had failed. Could I take it on?
Gigi, part I
September 2, 2008
Gigi-the-iPhone 3G is a self-contained unit; everything you need either comes in the box or can be downloaded for free from iTunes and the Apple Apps Store.
Sorta.
Gigi and I are still in the early stages of our relationship, just slightly past suspicious sniffing and beginning the tentative growls of friendship. For my part, I’m finding her to have a rich array of diversions that so far offset her demands and caprices.
I suspect that Gigi feels she’s accidentally been left with a peasant but must graciously make the best of it until her real owner shows. It is faintly irritating to have a device that obviously thinks you’re not good enough for it, but that’s pretty typical Apple.
This first manifested itself when I plugged in the official iPhone earbuds. “Uhm, excuse me…Ms. Peasant? Would you mind plugging in my real headset?”
“These are them, er…these are the ones that came in your box, Gigi.”
“My dear, you MUST be joking. I wouldn’t be caught DEAD in those.”
iPhone. do you?
September 1, 2008
After nearly two years, I’ve finally broken down and gotten an iPhone. If ever there was a device that moved in and started a makeover, this is it.
First of all, I didn’t get it for the calls, or the Internet, or the embedded iPod, or the plethora of apps, or the coolness factor, or the price coming down (and discovering I could get a substantial discount).
Nope. I got it for the GPS. And I’ve got 26 more days to figure out if I want to keep it, so I’m doing a lot of testing.