A Hambidge experience—once again.

 

I’ve been so fortunate through the past two decades to spend time at the Hambidge Center in artist residencies and become a Fellow of Hambidge.  As a Fellow, I’ve occasionally been able to fill in when someone has had to cancel their time.  This December one of those opportunities came up.  I went to Hambidge on December 1 but had obligations back at home for part of the time and so after a couple of days at the Center I went home for a long weekend.  I returned to Hambidge to spend December 6-13.

I was Margaret Studio this time and I haven’t stayed in Margaret before; it is compact, to say the least—the smallest studio on the property, about 250 sq. feet, I think.  The studio/apartment is at the left side of the photo and the screened pottery porch is at the right--more about that porch is below.

 

Panorama of Margaret Studio interior--cozy!

 I had room to set up a desk with my computer and printer (moved the laptop onto the top of the printer when I had meals or to do drawing…) and to put up my tapestry loom.  I brought along a folding table and a small rolling cart to hold yarns.  I had all that I needed in a working studio, in fact.

  

The other resident artists included several writers, a musician/composer, and a few other visual artists—eight of us during the week.  There’s always an interesting conversation around the dining room table in the evenings… that’s the only obligation of Hambidge residents—to come to the wonderful evening meal.  The rest of one’s time is spent in individual studios in any way one wishes.  Hambidge Center is a special gift to the artistic world and I’m grateful for every experience I’ve had there.

Dining room at the Rock House where we have evening meals.

Although I've been working with leaves quite a bit lately, while I was at Hambidge it was stones and the kiln bricks that began to catch my eye.  I made lots of photos of those on the property. 

   

My studio was just a few feet from the anagama kiln and the kiln bricks were one of the first things I noticed. 

 

During the week I completed a 6” square tapestry from a photo of some of the bricks in the chimney of the kiln.   

 I also began another 6” square from a photo of a detail of foundation stones at the Mary Hambidge house.  I’d like to complete several 6” x 6” tapestries based on other stone and brick photos I took while there. 

 

In the last few days I was photographed by one of the other residents, Jennifer Garza-Cuen, as part of her ongoing series about place and narrative.  The photo sessions were done at the side of the Mary Hambidge house with me in costume and with a prop chosen by Jennifer.  Maybe one day I’ll post a photo from that session, with her permission.  Here’s Jennifer’s website:  http://www.deadpanphotography.com/gallery.htm

Jennifer also photographed me with my tapestry loom.  Spaces, especially larger and more empty ones, are important to her compositions and the loom photos were taken in the large and mostly empty screened porch of the pottery studio.   

 

 

Although I worked inside most of the time I was there, the last couple of days were warm enough so that I could actually take the loom out to the porch and weave there—and I wouldn’t have even though of doing that without the photo session there!

 

Now I'm home and the holiday season activities are tumbling down all around.  Weaving time is curtailed for a few weeks but I appreciate everything I'm doing and everyone I'm seeing so much.  The loom will wait for me.

Happy Holidays to one and all!