Wow, that was then!

Thanks for visiting this older blog I began in 2012 to share my artistic adventure. A lot has happened since that time.

Our home and contents were destroyed in May 2018 turning our sweet retirement living upside down. We have relocated and spent the last year re-building our lives and doing some creative additions to the charming home we purchased in the forests around the village of Volcano, about five miles from Kilauea crater.

What follows are examples of my former art-life -- creating assemblages.  Now, in 2020, my new direction is collage -- but with all the life-changes I am focusing on more private activities. 

You're welcome to visit our personal blog if you are interested: haysmerhawaii.blogspot.com.

Mahalo

"A Tribute To...."

During the last few years as I have explored the world of assemblage art, I came across the art and assemblage of Louise Bourgeois. I checked out books about her art and biographical material from the library and discovered that we shared some similarities related to childhood trauma.

Last year, when when Louise Bourgeois died, I knew I wanted to create a tribute piece to her, and in thinking about that idea, I also realized this might make a worthy theme for an exhibition. So, I presented it to The Ink People Center for the Arts. (www.inkpeople.org)

The show goes up this week and will be available for viewing during the month of AUGUST -- on the 2nd floor at City Hall from 8-5 Monday through Friday

"Tears of the Phoenix" -- completed!

The Phoenix is a magical bird who lives 500 years, but, when old, can set itself on fire only to emerge young again. The Phoenix tears are thought to heal wounds.

This assemblage unites images of blood, bone, fire and tears. The tears have been captured in the glass vial on the side. The shape of the glass bobbles at the bottom not only suggest flame, but are the shape of droplets, and the color of blood.

The wing bone is from a pelican; the tiny skull is from a shore bird. Glass mosaic in the background looks like veins of fire, reflected in the blood-red eye of the Phoenix.

This piece was accepted for the 53rd Annual Spring juried exhibit of the Redwood Art Association at the
Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka, CA.

Race Against Time -- completed.

With "Race Against Time" now done, it is temporarily at Many Hands Gallery in Old Town Eureka (please go visit it and other pieces.) Later in August, it will be at Humboldt Arts Council -- at the Morris Graves Museum of Art where it will be auctioned for their annual Autumn Auction. Now on to the next project!