From Beginning to End

I was able to return my happy place, Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft, a couple of weeks ago and needless to say I was Happy.  My mornings started with a brisk walk through the little town of Gatlinburg Tennessee, where the school is located (also where I was raised, my old stomping grounds).  One can only call this town sleepy in the mornings because due to it's proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park it has grown into a tourist destination.  Once the visitors are up and fed they fill the sidewalks and streets, which is why I like the peacefulness of the morning.  It is a beautiful walk up the street looking at the mountains and heading back to the school by the river.  The school is located just off the busy strip but the entrance must be enchanted because the second your feet come onto the property you are transported.  There are no street sounds and you feel surrounded by the nature of the area, woodsy and artistic. As I said, my happy place.

My chosen field of study is wood manipulation, usually in the form of automata.  I have taken classes in different fields and loved them, but the smell of wood and watching the projects come to life fills my heart.  This piece started with a leftover cut of wood from the Carving Kitchen Tools class next door.  Both shops , woodworking and wood turning, share a common work space containing the bigger electric tools, band saws, drill presses, etc.  I saw this lovely form cut into the discarded block, asked to make sure it was trash and off to my wire I went.  When cranked Mr. Fisherman fights his big catch while the other fish bob up and down swimming safely away.  When completed, I found the first manipulator of the wood and she showed me her beautiful knife (I had thought spoon) which she had cut, carved, and finished.  Block of wood from beginning to end.

In the few moments of spare time, I would corner the teacher with a video or picture of a movement  that I could not figure out. He was very helpful and giving of his time with all my questions.   With his insight, I was able to create this piece.  I had pondered over it's movements for a good while and I could not mentally see how to make the spiral do what I thought it was supposed to do.  Come to find out, it is nothing more than support and does not move at all.  The mechanism consists of the wire connected to the wheel and it moves through, as opposed to, moving with the spiral.  Once this was thought out, the mermaid , covered with lovely handmade marbled paper (thanks again wonderful supply store), was moving along swimmingly.  Even though the movement is simple, learning how the parts work together will open up new doors for creating the pieces that wake me up in the night.

It is a lovely Sunday afternoon.  Hope yours is lovely as well.
Hilari


#arrowmont #craftexperience