A love letter to Iron
My creativity coach suggested that I focus this week on my relationship to iron and paper, my main materials. This struck me as too abstract. I can name my tools and form an intimate relationship with them. I can relate to each bowl as it comes into full presence and afterwards. But could I relate to the materials themselves?
I used to write letters to The Bowls most nights at bedtime. This was back in 1992, the year I demonstrated at the ABANA (Artist-Blacksmiths of North America) conference in Alfred, NY. I remember writing letters in the dorm room there. "Dear Bowls...." I could do this because I imagined the bowls existing already on some other level - wanting me to make them.
Well, iron is right here. My studio is full of it - ready to see and touch. It's in my blood. It's in the red clay earth under my feet here in Georgia. It's in the red leaves still visible here and there. So if I can write letters to the Bowls I can't see yet, can't touch yet - why not write to Iron?
Here's a link to my letter to Iron. It starts out "Are we still married? Or have you gotten a divorce?"
8:58:42 AM 
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