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Riverbend – rustic beginnings

Working out of my house is a good news/bad news sort of thing.  The good news… I don’t have to pay extra rent for studio space.  The bad news… it’s not always easy to shut out the distractions of everyday life.

(2008)
5 years ago this month, I was able to purchase 5 acres of beautiful undeveloped central Michigan woodland on the Tittabawassee River.  This was my chance to have a place away from distractions – where I could go to be inspired, to rejuvenate and recharge the ‘creative batteries’.

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Now when I say undeveloped…. I mean undeveloped.  Nothing there but the trees, river, wetlands, and all the critters (large & small) that go with it.  My dream of having a ‘retreat from the world studio space’ was not going to happen over night!

Year 1 (2009)
Putting in a 700 ft lane to get from the main road back to the ridge that over looks the river meant crossing the protected wetlands in the middle of the acreage and involved working with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.  It took nearly 700 cubic yards of sand and gravel to build up the road and 3 culverts (1 of which is 2ft in diameter!) to keep the natural drainage of the wetlands.
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Year 2 (2010)
I purchased a 1970 Airstream trailer to have a living space that is a step up from rustic tent camping.
airstream2

Years 3 & 4 (2011-2012)
Improved the path down the steep ridge to the river, built a small deck for sitting and dock.

river deck and boardwalk  dock

Year 5 (2013)
Every time I go up to Riverbend I am filled with a sense of peace and tranquility.

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Deer, raccoons, porcupines, garter snakes, geese, grouse, and turkeys are just a few of the critters that stop by on a regular basis.  Staying in the Airstream works OK for kitchen and common space but it’s a pain to keep pulling out the couch for sleeping, there’s no space for a travel loom, and more importantly… the plumbing is shot.  Building a ‘real’ house with electricity, a well, and a septic field is not in my future financially but luckily, I am married to an engineer who is fascinated with the challenge of building a small studio space ‘off the grid and environmentally sound & sustainable’.

And so the next phase of this adventure begins…..

GreenMan still on pause…..

With 2/3 completed I’ve had to put GreenMan is on ‘pause’ so I could get a piece submitted for the AAFG show at the Power Center on the University of Michigan campus.  It was not selected – darn.  Any time you submit something for a show that features multiple artists (over 24 with this one!) the committee has to look at balancing the variety of techniques used, over all impact in a large space and balance of the exhibit.  I’ll submit it for our next show in March which is a smaller gallery setting.

Heron completed

‘Heron’ is wet felted.  The image is carded wool fibers on silk chiffon fabric which is backed with 2 layers of carded merion wool fibers.  Finished demensions 28″ x 34″

Below you can see the difference 40%-45% shrinkage makes.  Staring dimensions approx 43″ x 54″

heron layout