Silk dying

Back here at Rudolf Steiner College.... 40 of the best and brightest, the very future of Waldorf early childhood education gathered around the home and pool of our lovely teacher Margarita. We swam we dyed silks, and learned the art of plant based dyes. Wild stuff I think I need to breathe into some of this...














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Happy little goat song

The days roll by here at Steiner College. Lots of classes and a full brain is everyday here. Here is a respite from the intellectual, brought by a couple of happy hungry goats

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More clay work

The clay work continues at RSC. Still working the theme of metamorphosis, we worked through the planetary seals making subtle changes until the next seal was reached. The first photo is the Sun seal, moving to the moon seal, then mars, and finally mercury.












Then the next day we learned that the best way to create an animal from memory is starting from behind. It seemed an unlikely exercise, but she had us work on the animal without turning it around until the rear was perfectly formed. It was quite amazing to see how much easier it was to focus of the animal's spine and structure when you are not concerned with it's consciousness in the head and eyes. The work speaks for itself I think.





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Work in clay

Some of the work I have been engaged in here at Rudolf Steiner College has been focused on the processes of metamorphosis in clay. One of the first big projects we did revolved around polyhedral transformation. This was a great will exercise, it took three days and alot of patience to move the clay from a hexahedron (cube) to a octahedron (diamond) and back again. I wish I got more pictures from the actual process but my hands were full of clay. Here is the finished octahedron



The next exercise was focused on plant transformation. We created a clay relief showing the stages of plant life. If you look carefully you can see the sprout, the first leaves, the blossom, the ripening of the fruit, the forming of the seed, and a returning to the earth. The first photo is of my project, but I have included others that caught my eye.











Now we are working on the transformation of the 7 planetary seals. Look for more pictures tomorrow as we just got started.

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Learning to knit

Knitting, I have watched in envy of your practitioners. Deftly clicking needle needles flicking. And the yarn, oh the yarn, full of color and texture. At last and by suprise I am learning your alchemy.... One stitch at a time.



Don't mind the holes


Cause my frog turned out pretty great I think.


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Arrival

Arrival. After the fact of course but joyfully I arrived in Fair Oaks unscathed. Little clementine drove beautifully. I noticed some odd tire wear that will need to be attended to before the return trip. But I am here and deep in my studies. Hope to have more posts up soon. In the meantime here are a plethora of traveling photos...well how about a couple











Ah, in and out....fast food salvation!

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On the road... Day 2

It was a cold night in the Nevada mountains around Illipah reservoir. My sleeping bag was pulled tight around my face and I was just dozing off to sleep, when suddenly I felt a rush of little feet across my face and into my sleeping bag! Yikes! What a sight I must have been dancing around, still in the bag desperately trying to unzip it and get what ever beast was in, out. All the while my mind racing, What could it be, a spider, or worse? Finally I get the thing back out the face hole in my mummy bag and get the zipper unstuck and down. I grab my flashlight and scan the area for any critters. In the corner of the fence near by I see the smallest little mouse, looking just as scared as me.....wow. He took one look back at me and zip under the fence. All's well that ends well, I guess, all I got for the trouble was a little scratch on my cheek. Good thing it was not a weasel, I thought with a smile as I tried to fall back asleep thinking of the old Mothers of Invention record.......


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On the road, day one

On the road today to Rudolf Steiner college. I am driving my 1971 beetle named Clementine. Loaded down and comfortably cruising, I have a strange feeling. I pass some workers putting up a huge speed limit sign. It must be 15 feet tall. I get passed by a big truck or two. I feel all out of scale, like the world is getting bigger yet I am the same size. Or perhaps I am shrinking, like Alice, although I don't remember eating any cake. All the road signs look bigger, and have you stopped to clean your windshield lately? The squeegees are monstrous too! Adding to the eerie feeling I come across this truck



Big!

Now after 500 miles or so it is time to rest. Thanks Nevada for the free campite. I don't even need to put up my tent. I will just lie on the ground next to the huge picnic table. Nighty night.





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Just try not to chug orange juice....

Really


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Low rider errand runner

The summer air is fine as Kate and I pedal our low rider Schwinn bicycles downtown.





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An introduction

I have been threatening this for some time, dump facebook, create a meaningful online journal of my wonderings. Well here it is, typing into the either, cat purring on my lap, wondering what to say...


I am a teacher, an artist, a musician, a father, a cyclist, a lover of aircooled VW's. Here is where will record my thoughts.