Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water...

I was lucky enough to hear Paul Simon sing Bridge Over Troubled Water in concert this past week. The lyrics to this iconic tune as well as so many of his other memorable songs ring true to me today as powerfully as they did when I first heard them on my transistor radio, record albums or in the classic movie, The Graduate. Music can bind together gender, generations, culture, background, race, and religion. It is a universal bridge. 

This little village of Historic Huntsville Homes are part of a custom collaboration I’ve created for Harrison Brothers Hardware in support of the Historic Huntsville Foundation.

As powerful storms wreak havoc on so many of our neighbors in the United States and the world, it’s hard not to think about bridging the troubled waters life presents us with. How can we connect together as the world around us swirls apart? Bridges come in all sizes, shapes, and forms. They are a link that join together. 

This custom order wedding bowl will soon be gifted to a newly united couple, bonded together by the vows they are about to promise before friends and family.

Bridging can go beyond a physical structure. Daily living gives us ample opportunities to unify relationships, connect within our neighborhoods, and reach out to understand parts of the world that are so different from ours. Bonding together helps strengthen all sides. Be the bridge.

Process Of Elimination.

It’s September. It’s Labor Day. Summer is ending and Fall is on the horizon. The days are getting shorter. Parts of my colorful garden are dying off. I often experience love/hate emotions when the seasons change. This year is no different. 

This little sweater-shaped dish is a work in progress. I based the design on an 'ugly sweater' ornament I made for a customer last holiday season. I am testing how the lettering 'one more row' shows up with a variety of single glaze applications. The autumn leaf (appropriately named!), shows up the best. Next, I'll experiment with using underglaze/glaze combinations until I come up with the best design. 

In the studio, I’ve been working on some new ideas. Often, I need to test a variety of creative options in order to determine the best design and glaze combination. This method frees me to experiment which can lead to successful surprises and satisfactory outcomes. Once I can see the finished options, I can usually eliminate what is not working and develop more that do.

The Alabama-themed series I've developed is nearing completion and I'm really happy with the results. I created my own textured Alabama-state stamps for use on a variety of shapes. All of these pieces will soon be available for sale at Harrison Brothers Hardware in Huntsville, Alabama. 

I can't eliminate the change of seasons from my life, but I have learned to appreciate the opportunity to adjust my daily routine. I don't like saying goodbye to long, sunny warm days. But instead of thinking about what I'll miss, I've learned to focus on what I love about each time of year and the chance to appreciate it all over again. The process of elimination, weeding out what doesn't work, leads us closer and closer to what does.