Thursday, February 2, 2012

Jesus and stuff

 This week I have felt like I am suffocating. I think it all started with the comment from a blogger about the vulture parts (which I appreciated by the way) and then Mr. politically correct commenting on my choice of words(which I didn't especially care for) and then this week I had four emails from people saying they were inspired by my houses and they are making houses too, and there were lots of questions about my process. One lady even said she would send me photos of her "Tracey Broome houses". You have all left lots of great comments and I haven't had time to reply to each one the way I like to, but I thank you for them.  I have gotten emails about shows that I am invited to be in and several emails from people wanting to buy houses that I don't have any more of and I have a couple of deadlines that are getting closer and closer.... and the walls are closing in on me! All of this has pretty much come from having a blog, which is fine, I just need a little air. So, yesterday, instead of working like I should have done, I went for a ride, a long one. I stopped at one of my favorite antique shopping places and found this Jesus. Well, that just made everything alright,
(now that song, Jesus is just alright with me is playing in my head, haha!) I like religious art, when I go the the NC museum the first stop for me is always the religious icon section, they have some really nice pieces. Wesley has a painting of the Last Supper over her bed in her room. I know this seems weird, you would have to know her, but it's sort of cool. This painting hung in our dining room when I was growing up and my chair faced it, so every night at dinner, this was my view. I'm not a super religious person, but I like Jesus :)
 Just for balance, along with this painting, Wes has a Jeff Martin piece, which we gave her for her birthday a couple of years ago and tiles from her two artist friends, Susan Wells and Laura Farrow, and a dream catcher her uncle gave her. So there is some Native American, some hindu and some peace and love to go along with DaVinci :)


After my long drive, I stopped at the gallery in Saxapahaw to drop off a few pieces. I don't have a lot, it's a bit early in the year and my inventory was depleted during the holiday shows, but I do have about eight to ten pieces there. The gallery has gotten in a lot of really nice work so come on over Friday night for the reception if you are around, I'm hoping to get there early and not stay too late. Feeling much better this morning, the walls seem less claustrophobic, time to get to work and get some houses out into the world for all to enjoy. Jesus will be going on one of them!
peace ya'll

20 comments:

Anna M. Branner said...

I know I have probably said this before but I love seeing your houses all clustered together in a Tracey Broome Village!

Days off are GOOD. And since you DID drop off at the gallery you can still mark that off your list. :)

beaquilter said...

what gallery in saxapahaw do you show at? I've only been there once I think, so not familiar with it, think they might want to display a quilter's work?? hint hint, if you don't mind sharing the # for them, I'd appreciate it.

Lori Buff said...

If you come to Atlanta for the Mudfire opening you'll have to visit Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Anna, thanks, I like when they are all grouped like this too, this is the last time they will all be together! The gallery in Saxapahaw is in the building where the farmers market and music series is held in the summer. It's a great gallery and they do have some fiber artists, but no quilts, you should come by! Lori, that sounds like a must see in Atlanta, I hope I do get there for the opening, we'll see, it's a long way from Chapel Hill.....

Dennis Allen said...

Guilty, guilty, guilty. I must admit to the making of Tracey Broome houses, by my primary aged Clay Monkeys class. Guess what. They didn't come out exactly like yours! I think we all share inspiration sometimes but just ripping off someone's intellectual property is a foul practice.Have a good week.

Susan Wells said...

I know lots of people like to give you things and so I'm going to join the pack. My brother just gave me a Jesus toaster. I makes Jesus on the toast. Really. I'm sure one of these pieces of toast would make a lasting impression on your collectors. Especially if it is wonder bread which we all know lasts for centuries. Especially when toasted.

Tracey Broome said...

Alright Dennis, let's see them! I have a long list of pros and cons on the word "inspiration" but I'll spare us all :) Everyone on this planet could take the same concept with clay and every piece would be different, just look at a bowl or a mug.... but make it your own, not a copy of someone else's. Where is the fun in that...

SUSAN!! A Jesus toaster!?!?!? OMG!!!

cookingwithgas said...

Good lord girl are we talking about religion again- sweet J H Christ as my daddy would say.
Today we took 1/2 day and the sky was, is, beautiful!
I am heading out there right now to just see it again.
Breath- its all good, it is, really it is!

Unknown said...

I have noticed some Tracey Broome wannabe's around lately. On the one hand, a compliment- but it strikes me as, well....rude!

That's pretty bold to ask you about your process! Maybe one day you'll be traveling around sharing via the workshop circut, but for now you've been pretty clear you are evolving. It's too bad they cannot respect that.

Glad you took time for yourself. To make beautiful work you need your spirit to be happy, not freaking out ;) This is often my struggle~ how to not over commit/overwhelm myself. I can get caught up in the excitement and want to do it...but then I am in a panic. I don't want to lose the fun in this journey. Someday you might consider a studio assistant- but then you are jumping into a whole new realm!

Just take today, breathe, and stay in touch with the fun!

Michèle Hastings said...

like all good Catholic families we had a painting of The Last Supper hanging over our kitchen table... it was a paint by number that my father did!
JZ and I had a plastic Virgin Mary night light... each night he would say... it's time to Turn on Mary.

... I still have her but I just don't turn her on like JZ did
:o)

Linda Starr said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tracey Broome said...

Hey Linda, I think the thing that has bothered me this past couple of weeks is that I have had to take time to defend my words, my actions, help others with their technical questions, read emails from people that just want to say they are making houses inspired by mine, and it's time consuming. As I said, I sure don't own the house form and lots of people use that as an inspiration, I'm just getting a little bogged down in the email thing right now, I get sooooo many and I want to respond, it just sucks time :) Haven't thought about that song in ages, haha!

Rosa said...

Oh, lawd!

One of my sculptress friends had someone come into her booth at a show and begin to take pictures and measurements of a piece. When asked what she was doing, she explained that she wanted to recreate the piece and then began to ask questions about the glazes!

People are all kinds of inappropriate when it comes to being "inspired" by the work of others.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey that's weird, I replied to Meredith, Michele and Kathy and it went away. Oh well, thanks ya'll for the comments!!!
Rosa!!! OMG, I would have come unglued if someone did that to me!!
There is such a fine line between "inspired by" and flat out "I don't have an original thought in my head so I'm going to do what you are doing" and then that starts that tired old conversation about nothing being original, blah blah!

ang design said...

and i thought you were on ya bike?? sounds like a great day out trace and take your time it's your work after all you don't have to make them all at once :P do ya think davinci was the pop artist of his time? i kinda think some of his stuff is just creepy...

Tracey Broome said...

Oh hell yeah, DV was a rock star pop artist haha! I like his work, but I wonder about that mind of his. Imagine if someone like him were alive today. Or are they and we just aren't paying attention......
Nay on the biking around here, too many cars, hills, excuses :)

Ron said...

Jesus and stuff. Great blog post title.

Tracey Broome said...

Thanks Ron, great video today :)

Trish McLennan said...

Inspiration is a tricky subject. I know how it feels to be so excited to show a fellow potter my new creation only to have the exact design show up to be fired in my kiln the next week. It is especially frustrating as a new artist who is trying to develop my own style. I love how I can go through a show or gallery and be able to tell who the artist is without seeing a name. On the other hand, who is not guilty of looking for ideas. I find when I'm copying ideas, by the time I'm done tweeking it, it has morphed into something totally different.

Tracey Broome said...

Trish, so true. I used to work at a community studio, and when someone came up with something new, the next week I was loading a kiln full of everyone's interpretation of that work. I try very hard not to look to other potters for ideas. I go to museums, get out in the world, get out in nature, there is plenty to inspire us without looking for ideas from other potters. The last thing I want to do is use another potter's design in my own work. If it happens, it is an accident and not intentional. But yes, I think when someone's idea is copied, it will morph. If you speak from your heart with your own work, your style has to show through, it can't be helped! Tell your own story :)