Signs and Symbols: Flat weaving of nomadic Turkish herders

At the edge of Willamette University campus the Hallie Ford Museum has a show of Turkish flat weaves.  The exhibition includes examples of 19th and 20th century rugs, saddle bags, storage bags, dowry pieces made by the nomadic herders of Turkey.  For centuries the nomadic herders lived in black goat-hair tents and traveled with their sheep and goats from winter to summer pastures.  The bold geometric symbols reflect the hops, fears, dreams and aspirations of the nomadic people, ranging from a happy marriage, having many children and getting protection from the evil eye.

Going through the exhibit you can feel the sense of time and the quiet of the weavers as they expressed their hopes into patterns and colors.  The culture of the nomads seemed to express in things, in cloth and weaving.  Symbols, motifs, color and color combination for a non-verbal communication.  Talismans: giving families protection from evil, ensuring good luck and security.  They might define land, or be used in courtship, in birth and various rites of passage including death.

There is movement in the patterns and the colors and beauty in simple things.  The nomads carried their homes with them.  They learned to cherish a few well made things that spoke to them of their life.  I wonder what I carry with me to protect me and my family from the evil eye.

Yamhill Valley Vineyard's Mural video

This spring our friend John Stromme asked if we would like to do a video of the mural he and Eddie Johnson were painting at the Yamhill Valley Vineyard's tasting room.  A beautiful drive to a beautiful vineyard and winery.  We grabbed the camera the tripod and microphones.  We were there before lunch.

We filmed and interviewed John and Eddie.  We came back about a month later and filmed Denis Burger, Yamhill Valley Vineyard's owner.  Then the summer happened and some technical struggles with color.

Towards late summer, John and Eddie and another idea.  When the mural was finished they wanted to bring the wall to life.  Ariel Eberle, the assistant wine maker at the Yamhill Valley agreed to be painted into the mural.  We filmed her being painted and her emerging from the mural.

Back to the editing bay.  We did the best we could and finally the video of the mural was ready.

Over two hours of film for a 5 minute story.  I guess by industry standards that is pretty efficient.  Every story we work on, I get to learn something new.  Something new from those we are filming and something new technically about the production and editing process.

It makes for a challenging avocation.

Play is its own reward: Art Harvest Tour mass Production

The Art Harvest Studio Tour was the first two weekends, including Fridays in October.  The week between we had student tours come to the studios.  From the first Friday our attendance was down from previous years.  I had time in the studio.  What to do?  Make masks.

Mantel Masks

When folks did come in, since I was working anyway it was easy to give them a quick demonstration and make another mask.  One of the first sales on the first Friday was one of the two remaining Mantel Masks.  I was down to one mantel.  I decided to make mantel masks during the Tour and as demos for the students.

Bisque, thinking about glaze

It kind of got away from me.
This year I was on a mission to do clearance.  I priced to clear.  It worked.  I got rid of a lot of work.

I sabotaged my clearance agenda.  One of the students asked what was my favorite thing in working with clay.  My answer.  When the clay is malleable, ready to remember my touch and be shaped into whatever I suggest.  When the clay is alive.

Thus I make and make and make.  I will be always having clearance sales to have room for more.

Play is its own reward.  How often have I heard that?