just a little busy

Sooooooo. After returning from Norway I immediately left to teach a workshop and give a lecture at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. I just got back on Saturday. Yet again, something deep inside me confirmed that the Midwest is best.  I had such a wonderful experience living in Indiana for grad school, getting back to that general area was a treat.  What a great time. The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee was impressive to say the least. In the metals studio, there were so many things happening.  I see great things on the horizon for them.  New equipment, new instructors, visiting artists, grants, research....the list goes on and on and on.   If I was finishing up my undergraduate degree in metal and was compiling my short list for grad schools, UWM would make that list. Currently the faculty body consists of Frankie Flood, Yevgeniya Kaganovich, Michael Dale Bernard and Stephanie Voegele. It is normal to have one metals instructor. It is above average to have two. It is becoming more rare to find three and almost unheard of to have four. Their students are so lucky to have so many great people in one place.  Of course we also have four metals faculty at New Paltz as well.....ahem. 

Some of the highlights of the trip.... The Fine Arts Museum (the Tara Donovan and Grete Marks exhibitions in particular), The Aquarium, Discovery World (so many buttons to push), the UWM metals and digital studio, Frankie's studio, Michael's studio, Maders, All you can eat Friday night fish fry, my hotel, and of course the students.  Thanks for inviting me.  I wish I could have stayed longer.

Upon my return...actually, Saturday night I got straight back to work. We are renting a new studio space with some fellow metalsmiths. The space itself needs a tremendous amount of work. It is super cheap so we are making the best of it by completely restoring it!! New electrical, new drywall, new plumbing, new paint etc etc. My back is killing me. Sooner than later I am going to need a real vacation. Sometime to unwind and stay in bed for a week straight. For those of you who have not heard from me in a while now you know why. Also, while I was in Norway out to eat with all of the metals folks a reporter came up to me and asked me if I wanted to be part of a photo shoot. I agreed and this is where is ended up.