Studio available immediately at Globe Dye Works

Hey guys! I was just contacted by Chris, who is looking for someone to rent part of his studio space in the Globe Dye Works building. I wanted to share it because it looks like a great space and the Globe Dye Works building is awesome. Here is some info. If interested please contact Chris directly (I'm just passing along the info!)

 

I finished putting up the dividing wall the and have attached new images of the studio space I'm renting starting ASAP. This is large 40ft.x18.5ft. (735sq.ft.) beautiful art studio in an incredibly well maintained building with many artists and makers. There is a  huge closet for storage at the end of the space. We would only share the front door way leading into the space. I would be open to having two people share the space as well. I'm looking to get someone in ASAP and will be willing to work with you on the rent and making move in as easy as possible.

The space has: 

24 hour access
Large Freight Elevator
Driving-In loading area
Access to a slop sink
Access to a well kept bathroom
Access to a washer and Dryer
12Ft. Ceilings
9 skylights - AMAZING Natural Light!
Adjustable track lighting on the ceiling and Wall lighting
2 Ceiling Fans over available space 
Building is kept secure,clean, and well maintained
Easy access to RT95 - 1/2 mi.

Studio Address is 4500 Worth St. Philadelphia, PA 19124

Please contact me directly either through e-mail or phone
201.874.9261 Chris
I will be showing the space starting TODAY

Spring Cleaning...

With the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym coming soon, Justin and I are leaving our current studio. We think that having memberships at the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym (Yes, we are both paying Charter members!) will work out to us no longer needing a separate studio space. The bad news is that we moved our studio less than a year ago and it was no small task! I suspect, after going through things, that we'll be having some sort of studio sale (I'll keep you posted!) because despite the fact that alot of things are being assimilated into the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym's stash, we still have SO MUCH STUFF! We'll decide on a date and let everyone know the details soon. I always love studio sales, because what one person no longer needs can be a major find for someone else! We once got an awesome vacuum chamber (for degassing rubber) and still have part of it...somewhere in here....

Our studio...urgh.

Studio Tour: Brad Litwin - Kinetic Sculptor

Brad Litwin is a kinetic sculptor working in Philadelphia. (We highly recommend checking out the videos of his work on his website...!) Justin had a chance to visit his studio last week and took a few photos.

In the studio...

Baby Rabbit continued...

I have been dying to start this mold, but since the rubber I had on hand didn't fully set up, I had to order a new kit (The rubber I had was leftover from a commission I got in 2008 so it really didn't owe anyone a thing...I was surprised it lasted as long as it did...) Because it hadn't arrived before I left for the studio (sometimes Polytek's turnaround time is ridiculously fast) I decided to do a blanket mold instead of a paint on mold. Below are some of the process photos.

  Baby bunny before the mold (I still have a few things to tweak before he's fully finished, but like to do that after making the mother mold...just in case.)

I covered him with a thin sheet of plastic to protect him from the clay blanket.

This is me cutting slabs of clay to use for the blanket...which is not easy to do while simultaneously trying to take a photo.

Covering the rabbit with the slabs of clay.

Fully covered. (It looks like an ugly potato.)

   

Now for a flange around the bottom and a strip of clay along the length of the piece.

And 2 pieces of clay that will end up as a pour hole and a vent. 

I then added some metal shims along that key that runs the length of the piece so I could do both sides of the mother mold at once. I Vaselined the board and the shims and then mixed up some plaster, threw on a splash coat and then one layer of burlap. I thickened up the edges so I'd have something to bolt through. Because I did this in about 12 minutes (I was running late to pick up Justin for a meeting at our new space!) and had plaster on my hands, I didn't get any photos of me making the mother mold.

After our meeting at the new space, we stopped at Rocket Cat for some coffee (and an apple for O'Rae). Then back to work.

 

I pulled out the metal shims...

...then carefully removed the first side of the mold...then the other.

 

 

He survived!

I cleaned out the clay from the inside of the mother mold, placing it all in a multi mix bucket to measure roughly how much rubber I'll need to pour into the mother mold.

I then cleaned up the edges a bit and put it back together. 

 

Once the rubber arrives, I'll finish the mold, so stay tuned for Part II!

Back in the saddle again...

I haven't made a rubber mold since I was pregnant with Olivia, who turns 2 this Sunday. I didn't want to be in contact with chemicals while pregnant or nursing so Justin made all the rubber molds. Since then, I haven't made a new piece that's needed a rubber mold (only waste molds) so the baby bunny in a crow mask is the first thing I'll be making a rubber mold of in a while. This seems so crazy, considering that it felt like I was making molds every month back then. Anyway, I am super excited to get back into it, because I LOVE mold making...I mean, don't get me wrong, it makes me nuts, but I love it. Despite my super excitement, I made sure to do a test of the rubber I have, to make sure its still good, rather than covering the piece in it first. I'll check back in a bit to see if it set up and if so I am good to go. Process photos to come.

 

Here are Parts A and B before mixing. (I'm using Polytek 74-29)

 

I got to bust out the bucket dumpers Justin made (Anyone who uses 5 gallon buckets of mold rubber will know what a pain in the ass they are to pour...this makes it sooooo much easier!)

Come visit us during POST this weekend!

 

One last reminder that this weekend is Philadelphia Open Studio Tours East of Broad and Justin and I will have our studio open to the public on Saturday, October 15th and Sunday, October 16th from 12-6pm both days! 

Come on by to say hi and talk to us about our art and/or the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym! 

Our studio is currently located at 1513 N. Hancock Street in Fishtown. We're easily accessible by public trans, car, or even walking if you are in the area! We're not far from the Crane building and there are lots of other fabulous artists to check out in the area.

Hope to see you there!

 

 Here I am in the studio!

 

Here's an in progress piece of Justin's

 

And if that's not enough to get you here, we'll also have SNAP and cider and delicious food...

Woo hoo!

Image of Darla by Michael Persico, SNAP image from here

POST THIS WEEKEND! October 15-16 12p-6pm...Come visit us!

This weekend is Philadelphia Open Studio Tours East of Broad and Justin and I will have our studio open to the public on Saturday, October 15th and Sunday, October 16th from 12-6pm both days! Come on by, say hi, have some fancy drinks (Like SNAP and cider...my favorite!) and fancy food, talk to us about the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym, meet the famous Olivia! 

Our studio is currently located at 1513 N. Hancock Street in Fishtown. We're easily accessible by public trans, car, or even walking if you are in the area! We're not far from the Crane building and there are lots of other fabulous artists to check out in the area.

Hope to see you there!

Studio and sculpting...

I don't think either Justin or I have felt at home at the new studio space yet...which I suppose is ok, because its temporary (Once we open the Sculpture Gym our studio will be there...wherever there is...!) But I am of the mindset that a studio has to feel like home, atleast a bit, with certain creature comforts (I got the creatures handled...now I just need the comforts!) This space has hot water, a glorious wonderful fabulous thing, considering that the last studio did not. (Washing out plaster buckets in the winter with freezing cold water really sucks.) We also have a nice courtyard out back, which I love. But getting things settled on the inside has been slow...we've been busy so I get it, but still...I feel like there should be a place for everything and everything in its place by now and I'm starting to get restless. That said, we're working on nice-ing it up for POST so I'm sure I'll feel alot better come next weekend.

 

All my whining aside, I started sculpting a piece in the studio. A tiny lil' baby rabbit (in a crow mask) but so far he's coming along. I'm doing this piece as my $50 reward sculpture for our Kickstarter page (Justin will be making something as well, giving everyone a choice within their choice...(too many choices? Nah...maybe a little...) So anyone who makes a $50 donation and chooses the sculpture as a reward will get one of these little guys cast in hydrocal. There's a snip on my blog about the idea behind this guy, so if you are interested feel free to have a look.

I'm still trying to decide whether I want his head to hang over the edge, like in the above photo (meaning it would have to be placed or installed hanging over the edge of a shelf, mantel, pedestal, etc, or set on top of something) or if it should just be flat on the board, like below. Any thoughts on this?

I had a second round of sculpting last night in my Sculptural Forms class at Fleisher. My student Nikki brought in her dog Sammy and a group of us sculpted him. Mine is still in progress but so far I'm having fun with it...