rock it

The Cradle Project

Kudos to organizer Naomi Natale and her devoted crew for assembling a massive exhibit in Albuquerque to benefit the children of sub-Saharan Africa. The Cradle Project seeks to collect 1,000 art cradles created from mainly recycled materials from around the country. Donations for the benefit of the children are coming in from sponsors of the cradles and an eventual auction of the pieces will raise even more money.

Here is a glimpse of the beginning of my process while participating in the project. I was so glad to get the call from Barbara, saying the deadline by which the cradle must reach Albuquerque was recently extended to May 1st (Phew!).
Am working like a mad dog to finish, more pics soon.

It all began deep in an art closet at school.
Kindergarten cutie Mrs. Dorine Phelan had donated lots of BIG styrofoam after Christmas the year before last and I stashed it away for a sunny day. Way in the back and scattered on assorted shelves, sure enough, the guts of the cradle emerged.






In the midst of winter, a prototype styrofoam sculpture was assembled in the backyard and submitted for consideration in Albany for a local show. (No apparent relationship with cradle project) Rejected. The hundreds of rejections during the first two decades of my work brought me down to the ground. But no más. It just doesn't matter when you love what you do.

After the "no, thank you" I disassembled the piece and laid part of it under a tree for the birds' enjoyment. Silver snow tulips. These soon led to...




the initial thrust of cradle design. My dining room became cradle central. As I look at this picture, it is painfully obvious my ideas just aren't vibing together. That blue paint is too gender-biased. Going for the girl and/or boy look, need a gender-neutral scheme. Back to the painting board and to Benjamin Moore sample rack.



Playing with the inside, I really don't know what I'm doing, just know it will lead to something better. What's important is the playing, then walking away, sleeping on it, having coffee, playing some more, etc. That is the way it works for me.




Spring has sprung. Pale greyed periwinkle wins out for color, called Celestia Blue. heavenly. Nothing I love better than sitting at a paint counter, watching it all go together, an ecstatic experience.
The front parts I temporarily attached earlier had to go; they were just not working. Almost like starting from scratch, again. Not really but that's the feeling. Gotta work through it. Bear-boy doesn't care, he's just enjoying the day and the sunshine and so shall I.



Wish me luck.