THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery - The Ghost of the Past

Ever since moving into my space in the Kiva Courtyard three years ago, I have been intrigued by the occupants of those who began their business here and have moved on to bigger and better things. I have had the good fortune to hear individual stories about the past, about how a perfumer was here in the Courtyard, a furrier was here as well, and just this morning, I met a Mr. Bill Treacy, who happened to be the person that helped to create the fabulous stained glass door upstairs in my studio. Not everyone ventures up there but those who have have gone ga-ga over the door. It is beautiful. I spent about a half hour with Mr. and Mrs. Treacy and he related that he had just gotten out of the Army and came to work for Mr. Lincoln who owned GlassArt Studios back in 1965. He said the Courtyard was THE place to go in Scottsdale back then with the stores, the fashionistas, even having a chance to meet Claire Luce Booth who came in to his workplace.

Bill also explained how the door was built and the process. It's such a great door. He cut each individual glass and labeled them, chipped them, and put assembled them. There are hundreds of these pieces of glass. Then he put modeling clay on each glass piece, then poured resin and sand to make the frame. At that moment, it was Ah-Ha. Because the whole time I have been here, it has been a mystery. Imagine my excitement to find all this out! And, he told me where everything was set up and where the artisans worked. It was such a great story and I wanted to share it with those that may have an interest in downtown Scottsdale, especially those in the Kiva Courtyard. Built in the 50's, the Kiva Courtyard was originally artists' demonstration studios (confirmed by Bill now), and we are attempting to bring that part back to life. Bill and his wife live in Texas and were visiting Scottsdale for a conference, when they decided to just walk through and see what the changes were from his past. I'm so glad I came in early this morning!

What a great idea to have the entire back half of the courtyard be for artisans once again.

Doing Something Different!

Since announcing that I will be closing my studio, I have had a chance to sit back and re-evaluate the last year and see what I was doing and what was actually happening. While it hasn't been pretty, it has given me a change to catch my second wind. And, someone approached me about turning this into an artist's co-op, I have received numerous emails that artists would like to be involved in the first meeting to see if it would be a good fit for them. I am also examining doing business a little differently, maybe if it doesn't turn into a co-op how I could keep this place up and going. Perhaps splitting the entire gallery and studio with a couple of partners and making into a working studio. So many options but one thing is for sure, I want to keep this place, I want to continue to teach, I want to sell my art - I just have to do something different in a different way. I must learn from this and move forward. And, through all of this, I have found my entrepreneurial spirit again and I am willing to go the distance. I am asking for help though. I found a financial coach and we are just beginning but I am again excited. I know I can turn things around! Economy, Sheconomy, bah. Finding joy through all this has been my wonderful lesson.

Building Character!

Yes! I have joined the ranks of those that have had to close down their businesses this year due to the economic downturn. I am sad to say that THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery will be closing at the end of this month. I had such high hopes, envisioning artwork from our Arizona Artists flying out the door making people happy, teaching my jewelry making classes, getting other artists to teach their field of expertise, offering space to other artists as they work on their masterpieces. Ahh well, it was not meant to be. It's upsetting, sad, and scary all at the same time.
Now, after ten years, I will have to find an avenue of making regular paychecks, a J-O-B! (It used to be a curse word but now, it just might save my life!) Yikes, a job! Will I really be able to work? Is it going to kill my creative enthusiasm? It really has been a long time. Will I be able to get a job that pays me money enough to live on? Oh, dear, such fear!
So, for the next month or so, I must not even go into that "fear", I must just remain positive in the face of these uncertain times. (I'll just get into my "Zena, Warrior-Princess Mode".) I must find a job, find opportunities for me to show my jewelry, clear out my business space, let everyone know, and work, work, work. I'll have to enlist friends and family to help me get through this but you know, I do have friends, I do have family, and I will get through this.

I know that right now, this is a "character-building" exercise. This episode or phase n my life right now will pass. That, I do know for sure. What I do with it now and what I learn now will determine how well it turns out for me. Soooo, No Fear! Just do it! Stay positive and most importantly be happy, I have alot to be grateful for, and move forward.

I will keep you posted on my newly embarked journey! It should be a wild ride for sure!

By the way, stop in for a visit. Visit my website, www.theloftartstudios.com. We are taking 20% off all original artwork!

Labor Day Shenanigans

Okay, today is Labor Day. We celebrate the laborers around the Nation. Some are lucky enough to have the day off from their work, some are lucky enough to work, and then there's the local merchants. Like me, I chose to work today, thinking that it would be a good day for those that are on a three day break, to do some shopping downtown. But the opposite is true, the streets are bare, and other merchants have chosen to go home.

So now that I have some free time... not really, I do have "work related" stuff to do but instead, I started playing with pictures of my beautiful cat, Polly. I call her Polly- Wolly- Doodle- All- Day! She loves it. She's two years old, is a polydactil, which means, she's a Hemmingway cat with six toes, big ole mittens on the end of her legs, and she's a rescue. Found her online through AZ Rescue. She's my company these days and loves to talk. I wanted to take a picture of her with emphasis on her feet and got this great photo, which turned out very blurry. But, a little adjusting in photoshop and I have a great picture! I think I will print a few of these up and sell as greeting cards, with the caption, "Polly Loves Toe Dangling".




So, that's the extent of my "labor" this Labor Day!

Class Handouts - Should We or Shouldn't We?

I had the opportunity to be a teacher this week with seven students at Creative U in Cave Creek. I sometimes go "on the road" to teach a class. It gets me out and about in the community. I can renew my friendships and find out what is happening in their neck of the woods. Handouts were not given out at this class, mostly because I felt that it was more about the creativity; we were making a riveted cuff bracelet that required cold connecting three components with three rivets. Simple enough?

The weekend before that, I taught at MADE Art Boutique in Phoenix, the crocheted earring class. I didn't have any handouts for that class either because the process of crocheting with wire gave a lot of room for play as they crocheted. Simple enough?

In both instances, I received some "suggestions", or "advice", that I should have had a set of instructions for the class. Hmmm. Interesting.

I also participated in a workshop held by Kate McKinnon in my studio this past weekend. I was the hostess but more important, a student, learning along side eight others; all of whom are my long time friends, my previous students, and accomplished artists every one of them. Kate didn't pass out instructions either. Nor, did anyone expect them. Some jotted down a few points, some took copious notes, and some just watched the demonstrations.

Kate McKinnon Workshop




Which got me to wondering which was the better way? To give handouts or not to give handouts? I do not have instructions for every class that I teach, which is mostly Precious Metal Clay classes. I give handouts on specific information like firing schedules, firing with gemstones, and other pieces of information. I believe that I actually only have one set of instructions and that is the crocheted bracelet class because it has set steps that need to be taken in order to get to the next step.

So how do I really feel? I don't think I'm that into "instructions". I want the student to be creative with their own work. And, I also think when the student feels the need to remember something that she will write things down. Isn't it better for them to write it themselves so they will be able to reference back to it in their own hand, in their own words, in their own mind's eye?

So now what. Perhaps other people's opinions may be helpful here. Which I welcome. From the student? From the teacher? Anyone.

By the way, I'd like to thank Creative U, and MADE Art Boutique for allowing me to teach in their place, with or without instructions. And, Kate for coming to teach us at my studio, with or without...

Early Morning's Reminder To Live Everyday Sacred

I'm in my routine now of walking in the mornings. It hasn't been so hot the last couple of mornings. How nice is that! I carried my camera for a change and when I do that I look at things with different eyes. This is my favorite spot in Chaparral Park under an umbrella of trees looking out over the water, an empty bench inviting me to sit for a bit. It's peaceful and quiet and allows some "being" time, time to just "be". It's also a reminder that there is beauty in the world - a great sunrise, cool breeze, ducks, geese, birds all around; it reminds me to live every day with gratitude and appreciate all that I have and all that I am able to do.

Then it was getting showered and ready for work, off to the farmer's market on Cactus and 51 to be back to my studio by 9:30am. Got some yummy veggies, put myself on a budget and didn't go over that. That worked out well because I want to buy so much more!

Have been doing paperwork most of the morning in my gallery, a few customers, printing up class brochures and getting back to business. It's time to write my blog, downloaded the picture and everything stopped. I remember...

Live Every Day Sacred!

Think I'll go create....

Summertime in Scottsdale Arizona - Support Local Merchants

Summertime in Scottsdale Arizona means staying inside a lot to avoid the heat, the scorching sun, and slowing down - to avoid sweating of course. I'm actually reading more these days. We drink lots of water, eat fruits, and avoid hot meals (although I had some sweet and sour soup the other day that cooled me off; I did hear that somewhere). It's supposed to be 108F today!

And the streets are somewhat empty as I look out over the Courtyard at the Kiva Center on 5th Avenue. One thing that I have noticed, being a local merchant in downtown Scottsdale, is that there are more people out here in the afternoons than in the mornings. Why is that? 4pm happens to be the hottest part of the day in Arizona. On the east coast, Florida, where I moved from, the hottest part of the day was noon. Should we do some marketing and get folks to come and shop downtown in the mornings and hang out at the malls in the afternoons?

Well, I think I'm starting this campaign to shop downtown Scottsdale in the mornings. Support your local merchants in downtown Scottsdale during the summer. I have an art gallery, THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery, on 5th Avenue in Scottsdale, and I have morning art jewelry making classes, new works in the gallery, plenty of water to share. Come down and see me, take a class, or buy some art. Wouldn't it be great to start your art collection now? Uhmm, in the morning of course!

New Inspirations

My main focus at home these days has been to get into cleaning my house, sorting out old magazines, art books, jewelry books, books everywhere. I love books but this has to a stop, I have to get organized. I have a pile of magazines, especially Arts of Asia publications, that becomes my source of inspirations. And so, it is at this point, that I stop my frenetic organizing to look through a magazine here and there, destroying my focus of cleaning and organizing. Being back in my creative mode is by far the better place for me to be.

I created this design from a samurai sword hilt, called a tsuba. This'll be the first of many I'm sure. I like to think that it goes along with my own "warrior" mode, at least I think I am sometimes. Ha!

This piece is made of Precious Metal Clay and measures about 1 1/2 inches in diameter with cubic zirconias around it. And, I have another one that I just finished that's in the tumbler. Stop by the gallery to see it - it's for sale!

Riveted Cuff Bracelet Class

Kathy Hunter

Riveted Cuff Bracelet Class

I taught a class last Saturday with some of my favorite, seasoned, and talented students. I had such a good time creating, teaching, and bonding with my fellow artists. And now that I'm here to blog about that, I'm thinking about what it actually was that I enjoyed so much. Aside from the creating part and being with friends - that's always a given - it was the teaching. I enjoy that whole process. At first, we as students are not too sure about what to expect or what to even visualize for that matter, beginning with those first steps all the way to the final, completed project. There's anxiety and pressure to do well coming from within, which needs to be released before you start. Gotta let that go real quick! We have to trust that we'll be able to "see" that next step, and then do it. Then, as the class progresses, you can see a transformation as confidence builds, curiosity takes over, and the student finds themselves looking forward to the next step. And finally the finished project. To see each person go home with a completed project is my "warm fuzzy"!

For my particular bracelet, I used three components (I like simple lines); a couple of sterling silver sheets of different gauges, and a PMC (fine silver with 22K accent) piece that I didn't like as a pendant and made good use of it here in this bracelet (love that!). Riveting or cold connecting is a great way to put layers of metal together without the use of solder.

My next class is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th 10-2pm. Check my website or give me a call to register. We will use other metals, like copper or brass for our top design then rivet onto a Sterling Silver Cuff. The Class is $75 plus a supply fee of $50. www.huntressexpressions.com

Had a good day and keep learning!

Rings, Rings, Rings

I like big rings! It makes my fingers look longer and thinner than they really are! This one is made from Precious Metal Clay, a glittery white cubic zirconia, and some gold leaf, and covered in blue enamel. Love the way the fine silver shines under the blue! I'm selling this adjustable ring in the gallery so stop in for a look. I have other ones too! www.huntressexpressions.com, www.theloftartstudios.com

Riveted Cuff Bracelet

What fun this was finishing this sterling silver cuff bracelet! Sometimes I like to switch gears and instead of working on Precious Metal Clay, I like to practice on my metalsmithing skills. I have so far made about three of these bracelets, each with a different design but basically riveted, using copper, and brass. I like the different metals incorporated into this bracelet. The copper panel on the top has a square cutout pattern, loosely cutout because I'm not that into precision. I like things to look handmade. At the bottom edge of the bracelet is a square cutout - a little surprise at the other end!
I have this showing in my gallery so come by if you like.

Want to buy it? Give me a call! Or email me at khuntress@gmail.com! $250!

A Glass Act Artwalk at THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery

A Glass Act Artwalk was held last Thursday evening that had participating galleries demonstrating featured artists and their love of glass.

I invited some of the gallery artists to come and spend the evening with me demonstrating their art. Mary Heldenbrand does lampworking and brought some of her beads to wire wrap into fantastic pendants. Pat Hardy came with her latest glassworks and demonstrated her art of stenciling in preparation for sandblasting her decorative glass pieces. Kathryn Guler demonstrated her lampworking techniques in front of her torch. She displayed her fanciful glass beads, that included mermaids and lots of colorful floral beads. Last, and certainly not least, Terry Cook was on hand to explain and show enameling techniques - enameling is fusing glass to metal. The kiln was glowing hot - which looks good at night!

It was a lovely evening under the stars and being in the Kiva Center especially, because we get to listen to the fountain! It was great to share our art techniques to those that were on the Artwalk route.

Thank you for those that came by...
and a big thanks to my colleagues in art! It was fun and we managed to have just a few more people know where we are now!

Figuring out My Creative Process ........or Step Out of Your Life for A Bit

My great friend, Terry, took me to the Desert Botanical Gardens Sunday where we spent the late afternoon and early evening walking through the gardens and checking out the Dale Chihuly Exhibit. Lots of people were there but we were so enthralled with the beauty of the gardens and the beauty of the glass that we made no eye contact with the other people except to get out and stay out of their way when they were taking pictures. I liked the colors of the glass and the different shapes nestled in between cacti and desert plants.

I had been working a lot of hours lately because there's a farmer's market on Sundays and it is the height of the "season" here. So it's best to just grab it while you can, be open, and see if there might be a gallery sale, or someone interested in taking one of my classes. I was due for a little break...

When Terry asked if I'd like to go, I jumped at the chance. Not expecting to "see" anything other than what was in front of me, I was surprised to find that I was getting inspired by the colors and the shapes, and getting motivated about what my next project would possibly be.

Those four hours of getting out of my routine and focusing on something other than working and jewelry making (which by the way isn't "work" to me), made me feel like a new person. I will make my project and then show it to you.

I am also promising myself that I will "Step Outside" more often!

Take care and have a great day!

New Class This Morning

I taught a class this morning in Precious Metal Clay. This was the first of four classes, my Introduction to Precious Metal Clay, where they will learn different projects each week using this special clay. I love the first class because sharing the discovery of this amazing material with other people always gives me a thrill. I love to show them the process, I love having them create something and then at the end of class for them to be able to go home with a piece of fine silver jewelry they made themselves. They are thrilled as am I. They can hardly wait til next week, and frankly, neither can I. ..Next week, we'll make a hollow bead, and yup, I gave them homework. ha ha! Just something small.

Fine Friends and Fine Silver Party

Here's an idea for a Girls' Night Out Party! Invite your friends to come join you at THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery, and with the help of me, the instructor, you can spend an evening creating a piece of fine silver jewelry. It's a great way to catch up on old friends, and to experience a new medium in a casual setting amongst friends. You leave with a piece of "I made it myself" jewelry! Give me a call to book your party. $40 per person includes a small package of PMC, use of equipment and supplies, and if you book a party of four or more, you can come free! Call THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery 480-699-6723

Kathy

Huntress Expressions

Today is the first day of posting a blog all by myself. I have a studio, Huntress Expressions, and an art Gallery, THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery, where I do my art jewelry and teach classes in Precious Metal Clay. It's Superbowl Sunday and since I am here in Scottsdale Arizona, my team is the Cardinals. I'll be leaving work here at my studio soon and will plant myself in front of the television set with something in my hands, probably some knitting, while I relax with a football game and those greatly anticipated commercials.

No teaching class today but this week is filled with classes from guest instructors and myself. I am starting a Precious Metal Clay class on Wednesday morning 10am to 1pm, which will go on for four sessions. Learn all the basics of working with this great medium to make fine silver jewelry. I love teaching people who have not yet seen this fine silver clay and to see the surprise on their faces when it becomes a viable piece of fine jewelry!

Mary has her chain maille classes this week and will show the latest patterns that you can make just by linking jump rings to each other. This week is Byzantine pattern and the Half Persian Pattern.
Call me if you want to take a class! 480-699-6723