lightning rod by karin eda sanborn

How does the imagination operate when the hands are engaged?

Can a translation of life occur, as if by proxy, at the round ends of the fingertips? Can the digits act as eyeballs do—to witness, decode, and report data that smell, touch, taste, sight, or hearing take in to the body? Braille operates by this mechanism.

Biological fire bolts shoot from the circuitry in my brain 24/7 as a result of too much information coming in from the outside world. I engage in an essential form of communication when at work in the studio. My palms receive data signals like the call and response that happens when two jazz musicians play music together. The making process grounds the invisible electricity that I feel. Thorough creativity, I can transform a lot of neurological noise into something productive, be it in the form of a sculpture, a drawing, or a song.

It's taken decades to come to this realization. This month's post is a nod to a significant mentor. 
Thanks Peter. I am learning to play piano...

By Peter Bodge

Revisited by Andrea Zimon

In the 1984, I had the privilege of taking a class taught by Anthony Russo. 

 While he probably shared an amazing amount of knowledge, my teen-aged brain retained these three nuggets. 

He taught me to be generous with color as Leroy Neiman did, an artist I admired. 

Second, he told me artwork is never done. You should have seen my brain attempting to accommodate that one. 

Third, he taught me the Italian word 'capiche'. I probably often had a blank, vacant look which probably prompted his Italian language.

Back in March 2016, I took an amazing welding class and started this heart. As you can see this piece sat for a while before I returned to it. 

http://theflawedmystic.blogspot.com/2016/03/welding-workshop-az.html

While I was originally content with it, I decided to do more work on it. I added these hammered with in an inch of their lives leaves with cold joins. I added details of wired wrapping, beads, and horse hair. These additions made the piece more finished and original.  

My instructor's advice has been very freeing to me as an artist. 

Thank you, Mr. Russo and yes, I understand!

photo credit: clarke linehan

photo credit: clarke linehan

A special thanks goes out to Karin Sanborn and Don Brown for sharing their tools and materials so I could make the well hammered leaves and to Karin, for repairing my welds that broke.