These guys are ramped up and ready to go to the museum, and when I explained that they have to wait until June, total mayhem broke out. The marmots ran rampant throughout the studio and a few escaped outside. The whistling was so loud that my ears rang for days afterward. I snapped this photo when I settled them down and put them back into their boxes. Let’s hope they stay there until they are transported to Loveland and go on exhibit. If you see a stray, florescent marmot, don’t try to capture it (they bite) but loudly shout, “Marmot, go HOME!”
While I’m not considered by any measure a classically starving artist, I have the most wonderful neighbors who make sure I have a well-rounded and often gourmet meal once a week during this incredibly busy time as I prepare for the upcoming exhibit. I have a roof over my head, groceries in the fridge, clothing on my back, and a studio in which to work, all for which I’m extremely grateful. However, I’ve been averaging 75-80 hours per week in the studio, which is glorious but doesn’t leave much time for meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, or other important, general maintenance things. I’ve been eating a lot of sandwiches, trail mix, and, I’m ashamed to admit, not-too-healthful prepared foods as well. But Barry Doyle, the most marvelous cook that I’ve ever encountered personally, gives me a meal to look forward to each week. It’s like having the best restaurant in town right out my back door that also includes engaging conversation and great company. His wife, Eve, makes sure we have something sweet at the end of the meal. I call her the Dessert Goddess. In addition to all this belly-filling love, they send me home with leftovers. I have the best neighbors EVER, and I’m sorry if I’ve made you jealous 😉
Barry Doyle, my “personal chef”, who comes complete with a toque. (There’s a photo of the Dessert Goddess in my prior post about studio assistants)
It’s with much gratitude and excitement that I’d like to announce a grant award from Colorado Creates Creative Corps ARP funded by the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Christine Stephenson, LPC, for the project, Tame your Marmots! Its purpose is to fund a new series of paintings and the development of a fine arts-based, mental health therapy tool. The grant project culminates with an exhibit at the Loveland Museum that will hang in the main gallery from June 3 through August 28, 2022. As dates are decided, I’ll announce opening night and public presentations that coincide with the exhibit, here and on my other social media outlets. We hope to see you at the Loveland Museum!
I want to start my blog about the upcoming Loveland exhibit by giving a shout-out to the most fabulous team of volunteer studio assistants for which a girl could ever wish. And yes, I wrote “volunteer.” These folks give up their precious time to help me build stretchers, stretch, size, and prime canvases, lump clay onto armatures, slush mold resin critters, organize supplies, and many other types of busywork that free me up to create the art. Heck, folks are preparing meals and snacks for me and my currently neglected spouse, who has also been a tremendous support. He’s been hard at work, constructing my new studio and helping me with random things, especially those that require a woodshop. I have a mind-boggling amount of work to do in a relatively short period of time, and my community has stepped up to help me get it done by providing a jaw-dropping amount of support. My eyes are misty as I write this because it’s wonderful to be loved and supported in an endeavor that means so much to me. Many, many thanks to the most fantastic studio assistants on the planet; I couldn’t do this without you!
Tammi Brazee 