Week 14 - Break & Behind-the-Scenes Studio Work
I flew to Montana this week to be with my mom and dog in Montana over the holiday so haven’t physically been in the studio at all. My dog’s been really sick, and unfortunately isn’t getting much better, so I’m grateful to have been able to spend some time with him and give him some pets.
This week away from the studio, work, and my regular life obligations has given me time and brain space to do some opportunity-searching and thinking about the future. I’ve been working on expanding and organizing my list of open calls, residencies, assistantships, scholarships, and grants I plan to apply to or am I’m interested in applying to in the future. I’ve also done some research into Arizona State University as a graduate school option; I am super interested in pursuing an MFA there and hope to possibly visit/tour the facilities and meet the faculty this March if I end up taking a road trip through the Southwest on my way back from Montana.
I also applied to a few residencies (Azule in Hot Springs NC and Byrdcliffe in Woodstock NY). The Byrdcliffe one I know is a long shot, but I figure that getting my work and name out there sets me up for a higher chance when I apply again in the future. Writing doesn’t come easy to me, so I’m reminding myself that applying to reach opportunities like this one, if anything, is good practice.
I was hoping to get this mug I recently finished in the wood firing that’s happening this week, but I decided to extend my stay in Montana by a couple days to be with my dog a little while longer, and will be flying back tomorrow, which is the day of the load. I plan to help with clean up and fill in on some shifts if needed but won’t have any work to contribute this time around. I’m sad to miss this wood fire, but I’m already looking ahead to the spring and plan to have a series of work set aside for the wood, and to take more initiative in organizing and running the firing. I was debating firing my 3-part sculpture in the wood, but I’m thinking now that I’ll fire it in two separate downfire sodas— the bisqued base part potentially in the coming weeks.
I’m itching to get back to my sculpture and the studio but am glad to have had time to do some behind-the-scenes studio work without feeling overwhelmed or like I’m wasting time not making.