Next stop on our Minneapolis tour was a quick trip to Sarah Chapman’s new studio.
After moving north, she had to find a new studio location. She first landed in a small space above a groovy little diner. But then this new space opened up in the Casket Arts Building. It’s a beautiful space in a beautiful location. Apparently, it’s an old casket making factory that has now been turned into an arts building full of artists of all sorts.

Inside we found Sarah’s new studio space. A very quaint, and not surprisingly well organized space. Love the hardwood floors, the exposed brick walls and her assortment of really cool tools. Her inspiration board above her work bench. The antique wooden tool box overflowing with tools.

An assortment of lovelies in process on her work table. Some pieces she’s working on… and some pieces that are “ideas in progress” or wacky inspiration! Baubles. Beads. Earrings. Pendants. Tubes. Seashells. As well as some wonderful porcelain twigs by Roberta Polfus!

And every metalsmith needs a mascot, right?!

Meanwhile, just outside of Sarah Chapman’s space is the home of Quench Jewelry Arts.
A fully functioning metalsmith studio run by owner Sarah Michaela Sitarz. Quench offers classes, workshops, parties, corporate events, studio time and work bench rentals.

One of the coolest parts is the old vault door that’s still in place.
So cool that they’ve left it there… and even cooler that it has the original lock and more!

For more information, you can find Links to both metalsmith Sarah Chapman
& Quench Jewelry Arts in the column to the right on this blog. Yeah… over there —}
Or you can just click here for Sarah Chapman.… and click here for Quench Jewelry Arts.
In addition to running Quench, click here for jewelry by Sarah Sitarz.

While driving around Minneapolis, I saw a wonderful billboard…
and a smaller version on the back of a bus. Seems I have all the answers?!!!

There’s a great new photography exhibit going on downtown these days.
Located on the plaza of North Riverside… just west of the Lyric Opera House.
“Butterflies & Buffalo: Tales of American Culture”

The first thing that strikes you is the HUGE camera sitting there on the plaza. Turns out, it is indeed the largest camera ever! So big that it actually rolls into & travels in a full semi-truck! Created by photographer Dennis Manarchy to capture cultures all across the country. This traveling photo exhibit is actually a truly functioning camera, using 4.5′ x 6′ film, which will be crossing the country to capture images & cultures from a truly personal vantage point. Up close & personal. Oversized prints from oversized negatives to capture every detail of every culture. The photography project is being timed to coordinate with the 200th anniversary of the invention of the camera. At the end of the traveling tour, the camera & images will be donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 2014.

From the website of Dennis Manarchy:
Unknown legacies lie among us.  Rich cultural heritage and folklore quietly resonate within our landscapes. The United States is the most ethnically diverse nation in the world, yet we have struggled to find commonality in our differences, and in our rapid daily quest to achieve the ‘American Dream’, we have lost touch with our roots. Now is a pivotal time.

Symbolic of our fragile surviving cultures and the enduring strength of the American spirit, “Butterflies & Buffalo” will forever preserve our nation’s dynamic cultural history through the largest film camera in the world and a 20,000-mile nationwide documentary journey. The magnificence of over 50 cultures will be captured and shared with the public to commemorate extraordinary people from all walks of life. Join us on this amazing journey. 

Click here to see more about this incredible photography project.

Have you EVER seen a larger camera lens?!

Here’s the centerpiece of the exhibit. A large portrait emblazoned on the side of the wall overlooking the plaza, the Chicago River and the back side of the Chicago Lyric Opera House.

More of the photos by Dennis Manarchy posted on the side of the building…

Here are a few of the stunning examples that are traveling along with the camera. Huge enlargements with incredible details. Each photo capturing the true personality & essence of the subject.

And my personal favorite… don’t you just want to be her friend?! She’s gotta be fun!!!

Don’t forget to click here for a video about this fantastic photography project!!!

I ran across this really great animated short on the Internet this evening.
It’s got some great animation. It’s got an incredible cover versions of one of my favorite songs.
Great story… and when it all comes together, a great message from one of my favorite places!

Click here to see the video… “The Scarecrow.”

According to Gawker.com… It’s being called “the most beautiful, haunting infomercial you’ll ever see.” And with Oscar-ready animation from the acclaimed visual effects wizards at MOONBOT Studios set over a score of Fiona Apple covering “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 cult children’s film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, is it any wonder that Chipotle’s “stealth” promo for a free iOS game is already on a fast-track to become one of this year’s most successful marketing campaigns — all without barely mentioning the word “Chipotle.”

Click here for the full video…
well, informercial… err, App endorsement… oh, commercial?!

There’s a lot of “crazy” going on in the Rogers Park neighborhood just north of me.
A lot of colorful characters & colorful art everywhere you look.
One of my favorites is this house painted with a full leopard skin pattern!
Too funny… and I’m sure their neighbors must be thrilled!!!

Every summer, a small section of rural Bristol, Wisconsin transforms back to the olden days in the 1500’s. Inhabited by hundreds of people in full costume reenacting the merry days of the Medieval times. Of course there are the rest of us “normal” people there to enjoy some revelry, some jousting and some just good-ol’ people watching!!! Well, today was the last day of the “show” and the crazy cast of characters were everywhere!!!

For those of you who may never have been to a Renaissance Faire… it’s a big festival full of everything needed to take you back to the Renaissance times! There are authentic buildings throughout, bands of strolling musicians, artisans & craftsmen, performers, jousters, food booths and of course, the Royal Family and their full entourage. Many people are in full costume, all trying their best to “stay in character.”

Throughout the Faire, you will frequently run across a “pop-up” performance of singers or dancers. Kind of like a Medieval Flash Mob. I’m always amazed at how they are all SO into it. Never breaking character. Always being authentic. Even when “normal” people like us are just standing there gawking at them… and taking pictures!!!

One of my favorite parts is finding all of the “characters” who inhabit the lands. So many in full costume. Always in character. Interacting with the crowd. “Living” at the Renaissance Faire. My favorite character every year is the “Spider Lady.” She weaves her web throughout the summer and it becomes a large string “installation piece” that people can walk through & add things to. She continues to work on it, and encourages kids to help her decorate the string web. She’s so sweet with everyone… without ever saying a word.

Throughout the park you continue to run across other characters… all of them interacting with the public, entertaining the crowd while having a great time themselves!

Okay… so some of the “public” comes in costume as well. Quite a few actually.  Although not everyone quite gets the time period. Not everyone maintains a sense of appropriateness. Not everyone realizes that “any costume” doesn’t fit in just because it’s a costume?! Somehow “steampunk” has now been added to the mix? As well as wolves, vampires and even Little Red Riding Hood??? Although I must admit that this merry trio were one of my favorites… The Knights Of The Round Keg.

And let’s just say… not everything is pretty. Some people take it one step too far. Some “characters” decide to push the envelope a bit… I’m not quite sure how this one fits in thematically, but it was well done & pretty darn creepy!

There’s a LOT of people who come to the Renaissance Faire in costume. And some that rent or purchase costumes while they’re there. There’s typically a LOT of skin showing. A LOT of chain maille. A LOT of cleavage spilling out over the corsets.

And some are just a LOT… a lot of wrong!!!
Sorry, I couldn’t resist… yeah, I know it’s mean. But seriously!

One of the favorite shows every year is “The Mud Show.” Three guys who play in the mud, jump in the mud, even eat the mud. They get the crowd all riled up and then pan-handle & beg to get some cash from the crowd. And they get a LOT of cash!!! Very funny… every time!

At the other end of the park, the jousting ring offers several performances throughout the day.

We decided to go to the last performance of the day which was “Joust To The Death.” And apparently they weren’t kidding?! Jousting, swordplay and a little more blood than I expected! Our “blue knight” didn’t quite survive the battle!

But my favorite part every year is “Vegetable Justice.” I could sit there for hours!!! The concept is simple… a guy in the stockade slings insults at the person PAYING REAL MONEY to throw tomatoes at him! The guy in the box is brilliant. Very quick. Very witty. Very funny. And only once in awhile a tad inappropriate… which just makes funnier!

Even the little kids can get into the fun…

No matter what insults are hurled… you can’t say that everyone wasn’t forewarned!

Today I assembled some new mini “pitcher” creamers. The cylinders are thrown, and then I added some textured pieces here & there to finish them off. Some quick handles… and then they’re back under plastic wrap for the night. I like to keep my work under plastic overnight so that handles & handbuilt add-on’s have a chance to balance out moisture levels with the cylinders before they start to dry together!

Special thanks to my friend Cory McCrory for the “pitcher” creamer inspiration. She never ceases to amaze me with her boundless whimsy & creativity. I’ve loved the black & white pitcher of hers in my “Cory Collection.” So much so that I had to do my own variation on a theme!

Generally, I’m not a fan of the Chicago Air & Water Show.
It just gets in the way of my bike riding with millions of yahoos all over “my” lakefront bike trail. But I must admit that seeing this bit of clever up in the sky today did make me laugh out loud.

Who are we kidding?… I love “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
One of my all-time favorite movies… and I’ve always thought there should have been a sequel. Ferris stuck in a cubicle in Corporate America and ready for yet another “Day Off.”

Awhile back, I did a blog post about one of my students who was interested in adding some text to her pottery. She started using pasta letters… simply squishing them into the moist clay before bisque firing. Click here to revisit the original post on “Tracey’s Letters.”

Well, a lot of people have been asking for a follow-up… and here are some of Tracey’s glazed pots with “pasta-text” on them. After bisque firing, Tracey fills in the letters with glaze and then wipes the top surface away… leaving the glaze only in the letter indentations. This letter technique has been working well for her, especially with the dark “Stoneware With Ochre” clay body that fires up to a dark, yummy chocolate brown.