Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: bike, Chicago, nature, photography, seasons

The weather was surprisingly beautiful today.
And although I was supposed to be working on my taxes…
I knew that I had to be out on my bike! So I did… and gladly pedaled off for the day…

Headed south along the lakefront towards the city, enjoying the Spring scenery.
Ice & slush is finally gone. There are a few more potholes on the bike trail than usual.
But Spring was everywhere! Leaves finally popping out. Beaches. Skylines. Beautiful.

A little bit further, the Spring wildflowers were peaking out en mass… which made it
the perfect place to make a stop. Really, any place this beautiful is a great place to stop!

Getting closer to the city, I was intrigued by the empty harbors. All summer long, these slips
will be filled with hundreds & hundreds of boats. Every harbor will be filled. Packed full.
So I found it striking that there were absolutely no boats in the lake yet.

Just south of the Chicago Yacht Club, you turn back toward the city and are greeted by a
colorful forest of orange & yellow trees. These trees were installed about a year ago. They
were originally “planted” in Lincoln Park closer to the Zoo. But now they are right there
along the side of Lake Shore Drive. I love that Chicago has ART everywhere!!!

And as if the painted trees weren’t beautiful enough… the ground beneath them
is a blooming carpet of mini daffodils! Ain’t Mother Nature grand?… even with a coat of paint!

Just behind the painted trees is the Cancer Survivors’ Garden. There are beautiful iron
gazebos, benches, urns and gardens strolling up the hill towards the Colonnade.

And the perfect day kept getting better & better… as Magnolias were blooming everywhere.
One of the most striking flowers of Spring, which unfortunately don’t last very long. Just
one big wind storm and they’re gone for another year! And look closely…
apparently that early-rising bumble bee was excited to see the magnolias too!

From the Cancer Survivors’ Garden, it’s just a short walk to the BP Bridge which takes
you over the roads and into Millennium Park. The bridge has a shiny metal surface…
kind of like a Medieval metal-plated armor coating! Very striking… especially when
the sun is glaring off the shiny surface.

Across the bridge, you come up to the Frank Gehry designed Pritzker Bandshell
and striking “birdcage” structure that works as a canopy & sound speaker support
for the concert goes who sit in the lawn. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Mr. Gehry…
and if you saw this structure from the side or behind, I think it looks completely
unfinished. Okay, I know there’s a concept in there somewhere… I’m just saying…

As I was moving about Millennium Park, it was great to see Spring popping out everywhere.
Little flowers. Small Spring buds. The juxtaposition of last year’s foliage & grasses withering
away while the new Spring fun is emerging all around.

And then… oh, but wait there’s more… the fountain was on!
But I’ll save that for the next post. Coming soon…

Categories: nature, photography
Categories: Chicago, nature, special events

Spring came a little early again this year to Chicago’s Navy Pier.
With a week of incredible floral displays and gardening tips & ideas at the
Chicago Flower & Garden Show. A week of seasonal fun to taunt those of us “suffering”
from Spring Fever. It was great to be surrounded by the scents & colors of Spring!

As well as some great gardens built & installed on the floor of Festival Hall. I especially
love that they install actual ponds & waterfalls, as well as wonderful Zen Gardens!

And one of my favorites… a incredibly whimsical & oversized croquet set
with a “floating” croquet mallet and huge levitating croquet balls made out of
white phaleanopolis orchids!

Plus it was fun to see one of my own creations at the entrance to greet visitors
as they enter the Garden Show. I designed this natural horse for a different event
with my side job I refer to as “the glitter gig.” Complete with river rock “socks”,
green moss patches and Spanish moss mane & tail. It was great to use her again
at the show. I like to refer to her as “Kate Moss.”

Categories: nature, seasons

As I was leaving for the studio this afternoon, I noticed that my
poinsettia on the stair landing is blooming. Finally…
And this is the poinsettia that I’ve kept living for two years now.
It vacations outdoors in the back courtyard all summer and gets very green
& lush. Then I bring it in for the winter where is suffers and losses a lot of leaves.
My main goal is typically just to keep it alive through the cold Chicago winter months.
This winter it must be extra happy for some reason?

Categories: inspiration, nature, sunrise
Categories: artists, blogs, friends, My Talented Friends, nature, photography

You know how I like beautiful landscape photography.
And pride myself on a few of my own sunrise biking photos.
But here’s another friend of mine who takes great pictures!
Although I’m still wondering where the color went?

Personally I prefer my nature shots to be vivid color as Mother Nature intended.
But my friend Julie Wight sees the world differently through her camera lens
and creates these stunning, and sometimes haunting, black & white photographs.
I’m entranced by the composition, the contrast, the geometry… basically all of it.

The majority of the work I have seen of Julie’s has been this kind of austere nature shot.
But recently, Julie kicked off her own photography blog to showcase more of her photography.
And this time, it’s not all landscapes. I can’t wait to see where her blogging journeys take her.
Be sure to check out her new blog adventures – http://juliewight.blogspot.com/

Categories: holiday, nature, television

Finally… the holiday season has come to end.
And I’m trying to get my life back to normal.

My Home Show pottery & shelves are finally in the basement.
My Christmas tree came down today and is now in the basement.
My decorations are all packed away and down in the basement.
My outdoor lights are off the porch and down in the basement.
You should see my basement!!! It’s a disaster.

But I did take some time today to clean my condo as the Christmas décor came down
Is it weird to watch past episodes of “Hoarders” as you’re packing everything
downstairs in the basement? I saw certain “parallels” that I wasn’t too too pleased with.
At least I know that I’m not “hoarding” animals like those crazy characters on the episode!
One lady was hoarding chickens & goats… another was hoarding rabbits and they’ve
taken over the house!!! Literally shtoopin’ like rabbits, running free in the house
and even eating their way THROUGH the walls!!! It was great!… crazy!… fun!!!
So great… I got “extra” motivated and even deep-cleaned two rugs today!!!

And luckily, I know I can take some time to clean my storage room area next week!
In fact, today I bought some new plastic storage boxes on sale at Target in anticipation!
Until then, my condo is finally getting back to normal… and I took some time to enjoy
the quiet beauty of my place after all of the Christmas craziness!

My poinsettias are still beautiful – especially with the sunlight streaming through
my dining room windows! Love the vein textures & details of the leaves!

My new orchid took an a dramatic flair as the sun created some great shadows!
Thank you Kel & Kelly for my newest floral addition!

And my fern is “over-wintering” in my dining room… counting down the days
until it can return to summer on the back porch! And so am I…

Categories: inspiration, nature, photography

Today I had a design meeting at Lincoln Park Zoo… crisp, clean & freezing cold.
After the meeting, I played at the Zoo – which was great fun as I pretty much had the place
to myself. No school tours. Very few people. Just me and the animals!

I’m a bit tired of the layer of crusty gray snow & frozen slush currently blanketing Chicago.
I know winter has just started, and we’re in for a few months of this fun… but when given
a chance for a little Tropical Escape… I’m in!!! So this afternoon I also spent some time at
the Lincoln Park Conservatory enjoying the warmth, humidity & natural beauty.
And incredible Tropical Escape… if even just for an hour or so…

Ahhh… I feel better already.

Categories: nature

Many of you know by now that I have an odd fascination with roadkill.
I think it comes from my years of distance biking across the country and seeing
the wildlife all over. Both dead and alive. Many who didn’t quite make it across the road.
It’s the Circle of Life… and death.

But this one is different!
It’s not quite ROADkill… more like WINDOWkill?!

A friend of mine sent me this picture that he took at his workplace. Apparently a bird
flew into the plate glass window and left quite an impression!  Thanks Dave…

Categories: inspiration, nature, photography