dianekenney.net

This promises to be a year of unknowns for me. A year of healing and exploring new ways of working in my studio…I can’t wait.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all!

Thanksgiving Hike up the ridge

I know it is not entirely professional to use this site for health reports and talk of chemotherapy but these are the life gifts I am dealing with this entire year pretty much…so studio work is on hold, but will flow again like a river at spring runoff! At least this is how I am visualizing future studio days. In the meantime, life is sweeter and a little harder daily as chemo effects accumulate. Only two more treatments to go followed by 6 weeks of daily radiation in Edwards, CO.  Some distance from here.

Hints of fall becoming less subtle…a stillness in the air, leaves hanging dusty and heavy, atmosphere seems to be in a bit of a desultory mood as summer ebbs.  Today, Saturday, we harvested about 100 lbs of potatoes shared between our household and Dana & Breccia Wilsons’ -the geniuses behind it all. Daughter Laura helped with the harvest and entertainment, and took home some mighty potatoes. I lent moral support. Corny as it sounds it is quite amazing to dig for food in your own front yard. Nostalgic full days.

Friends and family have been sending me such good energy and kind notes and thoughts infusing me with hope and healing. Thanks to all. Believe it or not, I am working on a few ideas for studio work when I am able to get my hands in clay again!

Art happening in  journaling only.  John and I and daughters, Anne &  Laura participated in  the Aspen Komen Race for the Cure yesterday. John and I walked the one-mile, Paws for the Cure walk with Archie, our dog!

Candle for Diane, Maastricht

My friends, Annette & Andrew Roberts-Gray lit a candle for me on their trip to Amsterdam. I like that it is – appropriately -the candle on the far left!

I am happy to be alive that’s all. I finally managed to update my Terra Cotta Gallery page – see what you think. I am definitely entering  a new zone since my first chemo treatment…I am curious and excited to see how my work will change from this life-changing adventure. Don’t worry, I promise not to start making busts of women with mangled bosoms! I do, however,  anticipate greater joy, color, and imagery creeping into my art work..in fact, it already has, in the Wall Tiles & pots.

On another note, I have decided to offer studio space at a reasonable price since I am not able to keep up with myself anymore in the studio, and I have such a wonderful, state-of-the art studio with a great wood kiln and soda kiln. Carbondale – in my humble opinion – has become the ceramic capital of the Western Slope of the Rockies. So many great young artists working in this area.  Send me an email: potter@sopris.net  if you want more info about this opportunity.

Okay. This website is supposed to be about my work in clay; it is  a professional website after all.  However, right now my main work seems to be about learning all I can from this experience of breast cancer.  It is changing my life in good ways and filling me with gratitude for the many, many kind acts and thoughts from so many people.    I am in awe of the quiet  heroism and resilience of so many people who have been through this experience. I am learning now to welcome this “event” as a life changing process that will make me a better artist and a more compassionate  and passionate  human being.

I start chemo tomorrow for every three weeks for 18 weeks.

PS The photo above is of me and John at the Carbondale Clay Center’s recent fundraiser. My cup is made by Lauren Mabry and John’s is a Ginny Beesley cup.

Studio work is somewhat on hold, rudely interrupted by breast cancer. I am still me, still feeling good, even after surgery 10 days ago. Climbed up two very steep trails in the last few days.  I feel calm and centered and strong. Years of working in my sanctuary of a studio in the company of the artist’s voice  and the miracle we call music and the gift of being outdoors daily,  in such  a beautiful place, have helped me deal with this. Not to mention my huge, big-hearted, extended family and much cherished friends.

Making art is still my focus – not disease.   Every fellow artist that I am privileged to know, also is committed to making their own lives a work of art…and this includes everything we open our hearts to or that finds us. This cancer thing is not a wake-up call…how can anyone function as an artist and not be awake and paying attention. At NCECA last month, my friend, Vicky Hansen quoted these lines to me: Everything is connected. Everything Changes. Pay attention. (Jane Hirschfield)

I am paying attention.

More to follow.

NCECA…A gathering of the clay tribe. Potters, sculptors, ceramic artists all..many of us are also conceptual artists, exploring ideas and pushing boundaries, no matter what the media, using clay – ceramic – fired earth as a primary material, not only the wheel as tool, but computers and imagination. We are, many of us, also teachers, writers, public speakers,  photographers,  carpenters, kiln firers, builders, philosophers, thinkers and makers of objects and created spaces.  We need chemistry, math and digital skills. We also  need physical strength and deep spiritual resources. Most of all, we need and use our hands and our hearts and ideas and intellects to make things in clay…some beautiful, some disturbing, some simply amazing.   Does it matter that we do what we do? Some days I question this, but seeing the depth and breadth of the work and its makers in Phoenix last week -well, I am convinced that it matters that we do what we do.

This is the tile I donated for the Potters for Peace Auction in honor of Ron Rivera. He used his skills and talents and precious life to teach people in underdeveloped countries around the world, how to make low tech, ceramic water filters so they could have clean water. A pretty great thing to do!

A lifetime isn't enough for the beauty of this world. (Mary Oliver, poet)