November

Monthly Newsletter

News

I received an Honorable Mention in the LSAA Annual Member Show for my Painting Orion! He’s on view through the end of the month, along with other stellar artworks from Lake Superior Art Association members, in the DEO Gallery (downstairs Peter White Library, Marquette, MI).

Second Story Studio Update

Second Story Studio is at:

118 B W. Washington

Marquette, MI 49855

(Second Story of Watson & Watson Jewelers).

The easiest access is to park on the lower level of the Bluff street parking garage and enter off of the alley, that appears to have no name.

Kurt and I will be available at the studio by appointment and by chance. You can reach me at 906-360-9331 (text is best) or at CharleyLakesStudio@gmail.com. Otherwise I am in the ‘soft’ opening stage. I’ll be there from 2-6pm Thursday-Saturday

I’ve ordered a few different types of paper to send through the 17” Epson P900. Last night Kurt and I printed an image for a photographer and it came out beautifully.

We are on our way to being able to offer boutique print services to local artists and photographers.

Thinking About Spaces

When I was a teen I shared a room with my younger brother for long enough that when I moved into my own room it was exciting. I couldn’t have cared less that it was marginally bigger than my closet. It was my own space.

The room was exactly wide enough in either direction to stuff a twin mattress along the wall and my closet was taken up by our water filtration system. I had a blanket instead of a solid door. My mother had a habit of removing doors off cupboards and rooms to paint them and she never followed through. My remodeling nemeses is crown molding and one particular bedroom that won’t stay done. I would be painting it right now if we didn’t have this space.

It’s  electric having a new space to do with as you wish. It’s also daunting. It’s also why my crown molding will not get done anytime soon. Maybe ever.

A few summers ago I declared myself an artist in residence in my living room and never retreated back into my official studio/shed built in the yard. It became too easy and too convenient to embed myself. Easy to accumulate the things I needed around me. The artist as dragon, the art supplies as the hoards of treasure.

Now I’m carrying the hoards of treasure to my new space, one trip at a time. Reorganizing my tools and supplies to make my work. I’m recovering space in my home.

I choose furniture to bring into the space.

I arrange it, and arrange it again.

I choose to leave the windows bare, wide open to the light.

I contemplate solutions to the drop ceiling and the fluorescent lights.

I refresh the walls.

I think about the functionality of the space.

I think about the visual story I’m telling.

In this new studio I consider purpose.

I am also thinking about the effect my choices will have on people. What I do here matters. What I do here will tell visitors a subtle story. About me. About the art. About quality. How welcome they are. How long they should stay. If it’s worth their time to visit again. If they should tell their friends.

I am exhausted by decisions.

I look at it with fresh eyes everyday.

How do you fill your spaces?▪️