First Collaboration with Nate Myers, aka N8, Constructed in Denver CO, 2011.
Stand by Shirly Erickson.
"Come to the edge..." I said.
"No, we're afraid"
"Come to the edge..."
"No we're afraid. We'll fall."
"Come to the edge," I said again.
and they came
and I pushed them
and they flew.
"Surrender the Blues" Part 3 of a three part series for my show at Easy Street Gallery, “Seductive Signals” Brooklyn NY, March 2011.
Photo by Jeremy R. Derks.
I was asked to make some custom pieces for a gallery in the strip club capital of the Northwest, Portland Oregon. I called her "Amber goin down"
I was asked to make some custom pieces for a gallery in the strip club capital of the Northwest, Portland Oregon. I called this one "Donna goin down"
This is a piece I made in 2011 for my show at Easy Street Gallery in Brooklyn New York. The center piece is a 15 inch hollow bird lady, held in a refashioned antique bird cage.
Hickory, dickory, dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, dickory, dock.
Nate Dizzle and I collaborated on this project during the 2011 Glassroots flame off competition in Madison Wisconsin.
"Hunting Sweet Nectar" is one of my favorte pieces from the show at Easy Street Gallery, “Seductive Signals” Brooklyn NY, March 2011. Photo by Jeremy R. Derks. Stand made by Shirly Erickson.
Excuse me Mr. Lizard. Don't be sneaky on me. Im watching you too. Made in Bellingham in June 2011.
"I'm watching you" made in Bellingham Washington july 2011.
A friend of mine had a baby in the same week that I made this piece. He named her Lacey. This piece is dedicated to the arrival of Lacey; may she rise up, spread her wings and be blessed. This piece was constructed in Bellingham Washington in the winter of 2011.
"Natural Selection" constructed in Bellingham Washington. TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost
There comes a time in all our lives when we stand at a fork in the road and we have to choose. We can stand there all day long and analyze the consequences of either decision. Dwell, think... contemplate...Or we can just trust our instinct, hit the ground running, and never look back....
"Nesting" was the first in a series of three collaboration pieces I did with Micah Evans during a tour to the South in 2011. This piece was made at Flame Works studio in Austin Texas. Photo by Micah Evans.
Nate Dizzle held a demo at his studio in Seattle WA during the GAS conference in 2011. Milon Townsand, Robert Mickleson, Eusheen, and Buck were just to name a few in attendance. Ben Burton and I, (aka Burtoni) make this little looker. The Bowl ended up being in her lower back. The difficult part, was figuring out a place to put the carb. We figured it out. Which lead to her unforgettable name. Octapussy.
The Orange Orchid wall piece. This is a piece I made in 2011 for my show at Easy Street Gallery in Brooklyn New York. I had fun experimenting with other mediums and playing with the idea of decretive function. This piece was made in Bellingham Washington.
Peek a Boo Bird exemplifies my studies in color and form in 2011. Created in Bellingham Washington.
Photo by Jeremy R.Derks.
The man known as Salt and I have done several collabs over the years. I visited his studio in 2011 and this is the first thing we made. This piece was a perfect combination of both our styles at the time. Both of us experimenting with color, shapes and dots.
"Prickly Blue Pod" was one of two pieces I made on my tour to Austin Texas at the end of 2011. This was a collaboration with Nick Pioh also known as Robin Hood in the glass world.
Photo by Micah Evans.
"Prickly Purple Pod" was the second of two pieces I made on my tour to Austin Texas at the end of 2011. This was a collaboration with Nick Pioh also known as Robin Hood in the glass world. Photo by Micah Evans.
"Sapphire Nest" was the second in a series of three collaboration pieces I did with Micah Evans during a tour to the South in 2011. This piece was made at Flame Works studio in Austin Texas.
Photo by Micah Evans.
I had a thing for these little flowers. They started to appear in my work a lot in 2011 and disappeared form my work in 2012. Sometimes certain shapes speak to me, and in the moment I am uncertain as to why. It becomes clear only over time that these shapes became the building blocks of the work I create today. This piece was made in Seattle Washington in 2011 at the Swiss Perc Factory.
"Seductive Signal" Part 1 of a three part series for my show at Easy Street Gallery, “Seductive Signals” Brooklyn NY, March 2011. Photo by Jeremy R. Derks.
Seductive signals occur all around us, all the time, and these signals are as old a evolution itself. Some flowers, like the orchid species are perfectly designed to use signals to attract what they want. They have a particular appearance and behavior, some even give off odors to attract insects that will carry their pollen as to allow them to procreate. Birds for example are ornately decorated with bright feathers to attract a mate. They signal their need to seduce the object of their affection by calling them in song or through displays of fancy footwork. The human race uses seductive signals in many ways. In history, religious rituals involving smoke and smoking have been used in attempt to seduce the Gods in order to create favor. Perhaps the most seductive natural form on earth is the female figure. With is many gestures and pleasing proportions, the female form was perfectly designed to seduce. All these signals are used to attract what is most desired, the need to procreate, to have abundance. These seductive signals, in their simplest form is what allow all species to continue evolving.
"Sparkling Attraction" is a piece I made in 2011 for my show at Easy Street Gallery in Brooklyn New York. I had fun experimenting with other mediums and playing with the idea of decretive function. I added feathers to the glass in this case, showcasing my wing study. This piece was made in Bellingham Washington.
I had the privilege of going down to southern Oregon to hang out with Darby and his family. Working with this master is both humbling and inspiring. I gotta give Darby major props for not only being one of the biggest infueces in my own style, but also setting a standard of beauty and cleanness for us all. Thank you.
The Sweet Nectar is my second collab with Darby. Jake C. helped too, by adding the leaves. I made the flowers and bird, and Darby brought it all together in the beautiful frame. It stands at about 20 inches.
"Tangled Orchids" was created for my show at Easy Street Gallery, “Seductive Signals” Brooklyn NY, March 2011. Photo by Mitch Moquin. This piece was created in Bellingham Washington. Stand made by Shirly Erickson.
"Tapping Gold" is a piece I made in 2011 for my show at Easy Street Gallery in Brooklyn New York. I had fun experimenting with other mediums and playing with the idea of decretive function. I added gold leaf to the glass in this case. The floral hangs from a hook gracefully bordered by a frame. Made in Bellingham Washington.
"The Dance" is a piece I made in 2011 for my show at Easy Street Gallery in Brooklyn New York. I had fun experimenting with other mediums and playing with the idea of decretive function. I added feathers to the glass and also dried foliage to create a habitat for the removable birds. This piece was made in Bellingham Washington. Stand made by Shirly Erickson.
Photo by Mitch Moquin.
Zach Puchowitz came for a visit when I was working at the Swiss Perc Studio in Seattle Washington. Right before he was about to go home, I was able to convince Zach to leave me with a bunch of gears and bolts. Needless to say, after he left I spent some time going going crazy on this one, and now she's ready to be fired up!
Photo by Jeremy R Derks.
Once upon a time Medusa was a stunningly beautiful young woman. She had long flowing hair that attracted all the suitors that came her way. But Medusa took her time, as she was very careful as to which man deserved her affections. One day while Medusa was worshiping at the temple of Athena, the God Poseidon spotted her. He was so taken by her beauty, that he ravaged her right there on the spot. When Athena found out, she was so enraged with jealousy that she turned Medusa's hair into serpents, and turned her face so ugly, that all who looked upon it would turn to stone. Medusa was then tapped, doomed to an eternity of cold hard solitude. But all was not lost, because the serpents loved her and she loved them and she came to know that all she needed was not the affections of men, but that what she needed could only be found within herself. "The Infamous Medusa" was the centerpiece for my show at Easy Street Gallery, “Seductive Signals” Brooklyn NY, March 2011. Photo by Mitch Moquin. This piece was created in Bellingham Washington. Stand made by Shirly Erickson.
I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of the depths, but a deep fear of shallow living. "The little mermaid"
Photo by Mitch Moquin.
"The Lotus Flower" was a custom piece made for The Lotus gallery in Baton Rouge. Stand made by Shirly Erickson.
Photo by Mitch Moquin.
This was the second piece I ever made with Salt. The Rozay pink bottle flower plant mother.
I was asked to make some custom pieces for a gallery in the strip club capital of the Northwest, Portland Oregon. I called this one "The Swinger" Photo by Mitch Moquin.
In late 2011 I moved from Bellingham Washington to Seattle. There I worked at the Swiss Perc Studio located in Ballard. This was the first series of swiss percs I collaborated on. The perks were made by Doshworld.
"Touching Gold" Part 2 of a three part series for my show at Easy Street Gallery, “Seductive Signals” Brooklyn NY, March 2011.
Photo by Jeremy R. Derks.
Stand made by Shirly Erickson.