Thursday, February 16, 2012

Gena's Family Treasure

 I met Gena during the Chatham Studio tour this past December. She bought some things and happened to mention that her grandmother's farm was going away and she was salvaging some old things from the house. Can you imagine how I started to hyperventilate while trying to stay calm and act professional?!
She was talking about finials and doorknobs and I was seeing visions of houses with these things and thinking yes, please, let me make some for you! This is what my pieces are meant for. Little sacred spaces for family memories, for treasures from our past. So today, in the pouring rain, Gena made it out to my tiny little studio with bags in her hands full of precious items from her grandmother's past, from her past, and her family's. So many memories in these pieces, I could sit all day and let her tell me about the soapstones used to sharpen knives, that we are going to use in some way, the doorknobs from the kitchen, the finials from the house itself, and the bottle opener that was only used for the "hard cider". I love that! Alcohol wasn't allowed in the house, much like my house growing up. My dad hid his stash in the carport :)
Anyway, I could just see the love Gena has for her family and the memories she brought with her in those paper bags and I am so honored to give them a place to exist in my art. I can feel the history of this place, the lives that lived there. My body feels like it is buzzing with electricity from these objects and I already feel connected to them. How does anything get better than that. There will be a barn for uncles, an aunt, a grandmother, a father, brothers, and of course one for her! I have a lot of work I need to get out in the next couple of months, but I will start this project in the morning, I will be too distracted if I don't go ahead and get all of this completed and off to new homes. Then I can concentrate on my June shows! Thank you Gena, for trusting me with your family memories, I am very excited to get started, I will document my progress here on my blog so your family can see what's going on! xo


18 comments:

lynny said...

what an honoury job you have! An exciting project and so personal, looking forward to watching progress

Melissa Rohrer said...

You will be giving all those treasures a place of importance.
Have you ever tried using old photographs in some way?

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Lynny, yep, I am very excited, this will be fun! Melissa, I have thought about photos, but there just isn't enough time in the day to do al I have ideas for :) They would be great though wouldn't they. I think the photos Dean and Martin pottery use are so great, I'll let them do the old photo thing and find something else for myself :)

Dennis Allen said...

When you mentioned the sharpening stone I immediately saw the wear in the middle of it being a well worn stone step.Keep us posted.

Tracey Broome said...

Yeah, Dennis the stones look just like stepping stones, they are going to look so great!

Anna M. Branner said...

What a fantastic project! I know you will truly do each piece justice.

Laura Farrow said...

how exciting!!

Tracey Broome said...

I know I know!!! Wish I could find more farms like this!

Michèle Hastings said...

what a great commission! can't wait to see the progression.
I really love what Stephanie Martin has done with the photography on pots too. I like the juxtaposition of old photographs on contemporary work.

Tracey Broome said...

I am a huge fan of Steffanie's work. She's always fresh and original!

Judi Tavill said...

Love it. I am collecting ideas for what I want you to do...but like all of my other familystuff, it is a long strange trip...

cookingwithgas said...

Tracey! This is just amazing as all get out- there is something happening here that is opening more and more doors for you.
Good golly- how will you sleep?!

Tracey Broome said...

Judi, I would be soooooo honored to make something for you!!!
Meredith, that's the trick, I don't sleep, I roam around the house all night, haha. I think doors open on their own when you truly love what you are doing, I truly love doing this, just like what's going on right now for you and Mark!

Hollis Engley said...

Great stuff, Trace. We'll be watching.

Tracey Broome said...

Thanks Hollis, loved your post today!

smartcat said...

What a wonderful gift you have for making memories special. You take what can't really be put into words and give them lives of their own.

Gena said...

Tracey this is a 3 tissue blog. I am touched and honored. My family is excited by the project. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we will.

Tracey Broome said...

Gena! This is going to keep me from being bored for days and days! It was so great to listen to you talk about your family. My grandmother's house holds very special memories for me. Next time I see you, I will show you the painting my uncle did of her house, where I practically grew up. This will be so much fun, and I may have a little surprise for you too, if it turns out alright :)