Amish country landscape

Amish country landscape, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Driving through the countryside of northeastern Ohio (closer to central than northeastern, I suppose), one sees many farms, rolling hills, and scenery very different than the urban landscape surrounding Columbus. It's not a terribly long distance, but it takes 1.5 hrs to drive up into this area of Ohio from where we live. We should do it more often, I think.

Sunset at Clear Fork Gorge

Sunset at Clear Fork Gorge, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Yesterday Steve and I went northeast to visit Mohican State Park, Malibar Farm, and the surrounding area. We found Clear Fork Gorge just as the sun was about to set, so I set up the tripod to do some bracketed exposures for an HDR compilation. This is the result of the first set. I try to keep the tones natural, but I did bring out the sycamore trees along the river to emphasize the curve of the waterway.

Buried on a forgotten beach

Buried on a forgotten beach, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

I must be in a gray mood this week since I've been doing mostly monochrome processing. Maybe it's just Steve's influence - he usually processes in monochrome....

Minimalism

Minimalism, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

This is a scene from the coast of Oregon, near Newport. It was a very foggy morning, so much so that visibility was measured in yards. The color scheme was in shades of dull tans and muted greens and grays. I thought it would be fun to play with some Nik Software filter settings. This one is in infrared in black and white.

Microcosm

Microcosm, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Life in the intertidal zone is pretty amazing. Barnacles, algae, molluscs, anemones, etc., have to be able to survive drought twice a day, and to be able to hang on during the pounding surfs the rest of the time. This little patch of intertidal ecosystem was photographed last summer near the South Jetty of Florence, Oregon.

Christmas eve sunset

Christmas even sunset, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

This time of year, with the long shadows and infrequently clear skies, one has to grab the chance when it is offered to do some outdoor photography. This was from Christmas eve, at Whetstone Park of Roses in Columbus, Ohio.

December snowflake?

December snowflake?, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Merry Christmas! This is a photo I took yesterday at Whetstone Park of Roses. There's a beautiful gazebo in the park, which is primarily in use during the nice weather months. I had an idea to try with a wide-angle lens, and it worked out pretty well, I think. To get this shot I used my Tokina 11-16 mm lens and lay flat on my back to shoot up through the roof of the gazebo.

Gleanings

Gleanings, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Frost on the ground and an early morning at the OSU corn field.

December sunrise

December sunrise, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

I'm obsessed with these hay bales, obviously. Last year they left the bales on the north field, but that means jumping the fence to get close to them for photography. The north field is much more picturesque, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose. This image was taken December 3, 2011.

Lily

Lily, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Another summer pic from July 4, 2011. Eugene, Oregon - one of the front gardens along a street in the university district.

Cornfield sunrise

Cornfield sunrise, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Yesterday as Steve and I were coming home from our morning workout, we noticed that there was a gap below the cloud layers. That usually means a spectacular sunrise here in central Ohio. We had just enough time to stop at the house to grab cameras. I dropped Steve at the corner near Waterman Farm and then I drove down to park near the corn field on west campus. I was hoping the hay bales would still be there by the antennae farm. Lucky me - I was there in time to photograph the sunrise with the hay bales and the satellite dishes in the background.

Johnny Jump-up

4021.viola, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Also known as Viola tricolor. This was in a garden in Eugene, Oregon; photographed July 4, 2011.

Digitalis

Digitalis, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Fourth of July, Eugene, Oregon. The front gardens in the university district are really nice to see.

Jan Peters, Prominent Figure in Contemporary Craft Art, Dies at 64

Photo by Andi Wolfe ©2006

Press release from del Mano Gallery on December 17, 2011.

Jan Peters, a prominent figure in the American craft movement, passed away December 5th in Los Angeles after a twelve-year battle with cancer. She was 64.

Peters and business partner Ray Leier established del Mano Gallery in January, 1973 in Pasadena, California to represent artists exploring the creative potential of traditional craft media, including wood, glass, ceramic, fiber and metal. Their business and the craft field both expanded over the decades. Now based in West Los Angeles, del Mano Gallery is one of the oldest and most influential fine craft galleries in the world, exhibiting work by an international array of artists and placing studio craft objects with leading collectors and museums.

“It was hippie artists selling crafts in those days,” Peters said of the gallery’s humble origins in a 2005 interview. “In the early 1970s, artists were taking it upon themselves to be out there selling their work. It wasn’t pretending to be high art. It was about connecting on an emotional level. It was the antithesis of the Fifties and Sixties, which was all about mass production and plastics. The Craft Movement was the counter-swing, the response to that.”

As an early champion of contemporary art in craft media, the gallery exhibited the work of many artists long before they became internationally known: furniture maker Sam Maloof, glass artist Dale Chihuly, fiber artist Kay Sekimachi and her late husband, turned-wood artist Bob Stocksdale, the late ceramist Ralph Bacerra, and many others. As a staunch advocate of studio craft and its place alongside the so-called “fine arts” in museums and art fairs, Peters’ dedication and commitment helped to educate the public and break down barriers that brought contemporary fine craft respect and credibility.

Although del Mano became the foremost wood art gallery in the world, it did not abandon its commitment to other media. One of the few commercial venues in Southern California to feature fiber art over the past thirty years, Jan promoted the work of Laurie Swim and tapestry artist Michael F. Rohde among others. “Jan was a most remarkable person,” claims Rohde. “Even though the gallery has become known as the premier exhibitor of the best of work in wood, she was always willing to explore other media if she felt the work had merit. She had a great eye.”

"Jan has been an inexhaustible advocate for American artists and the international art community,” comments renowned wood sculptor William Hunter, whose multi-museum retrospective exhibition in 2006 featured many of the works Peters’ had placed with collectors. Peters and Hunter first met as fellow artists exhibiting work in an outdoor arcade craft show organized by future art dealer Larry Gagosian in Westwood Village, during the early 1970s. “There was no one quite like her,” said Hunter. “Jan had energy, enthusiasm, dry humor, honesty, intelligence and a ‘can-do’ spirit."

It was these qualities, combined with a visionary approach to promoting craft art, that led del Mano to become a leading gallery not only nationally, but internationally. Peters became a facilitator in developing artists' careers, turning casual buyers into ardent collectors and brokering deals to get major works into museums. The gallery exhibited work at art expositions in New York City, Chicago and Santa Fe; published books; and explored new media, including video and the Internet, in order to make works accessible to collectors across the United States and from London to Hong Kong. Also, they produced print catalogues for every exhibition, something only a handful of galleries do.

"Over the years, Jan encouraged and promoted experimentation within our field, allowing artists to break through boundaries of function into sculptural expressions,” note Todd Hoyer and Hayley Smith, two of the artists the gallery represents. “She helped guide collectors to look beyond the material and see the intent. She was an advocate for the arts.”

“Jan was an educator for those of us who arrived here with little knowledge, a councilor for those of us who sought direction, and an example to all who recognize courage,” offers Ron Layport, who began exhibiting with del Mano Gallery twelve years ago. "Jan was a force among us. She was a broker of knowledge, of beauty, and of friendships and a connector of people: artists, collectors, institutions, and venues.”

A consummate gallerist, Peters seamlessly navigated the worlds of artists, collectors, museum curators and gallery owners. She was a lecturer, educator, critic and coauthor of books on the subject of contemporary craft. Much sought-after as a speaker and juror of craft shows, including the prestigious Smithsonian Craft Show and Philadelphia Art Museum Shows, Jan traveled around the country promoting studio crafts.

"Jan's remarkable energy and personal commitment along with her professional talent laid the foundation for the wood art field as we know it today,” says the artist Michael Peterson, represented by del Mano from the beginning of his career. Like William Hunter, he recently had a retrospective featuring many works the gallery has placed with clients. “It's hard to overstate the contribution she made to our field. Her passion and strong spirit will continue to inspire all of us whose lives she touched.”

“When we discovered woodturning, we discovered Jan Peters; the two are inseparable,” claims Jane and Arthur Mason, collectors who have gifted works from their collection of contemporary wood art to several museums. “We met her at del Mano Gallery in 1987. We were excited about this new world, and Jan and Ray Leier guided us on our quest. Jan wasn't just a salesperson; but a friend, educator, critic, adviser, and historian.”
Peters’ contribution to museums across the country was tremendous, assisting them in building permanent collections.

"Jan, and her business partner, Ray Leier, were instrumental in helping the museum build its collection of contemporary wood art,” says James Jensen, Curator of Contemporary Art, Honolulu Museum of Art. “Jan was generous in introducing me to the field and discussing the work of many artists.”
"Jan gave so much to the gallery and to the artists. She will be sorely missed among her friends in wood,” states Jo Ann Edwards, Executive Director, Museum of Craft and Design.
"She was always eager to share her passion for the contemporary wood field with others and I profited greatly from her knowledge,” comments Harold B. Nelson, Curator of American Decorative Arts, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. “She was also an honorable business person.”

“Jan Peters was an ally and dedicated co-strategist in the effort to elevate studio crafts to the level of fine art,” says Jo Lauria, independent curator and former decorative arts curator, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. “She was a tireless advocate and visionary with the rare combination of imagination, insight, and skill to assist curators to secure significant pieces for museum collections. Through the direct efforts of Jan, Ray Leier, and del Mano’s then creative director, Kevin Wallace, LACMA acquired an unparalleled selection of master works in wood from the Dr. Irving and Mari Lipton collection. The craft field has lost one of its most creative and tenacious supporters. Jan's legacy will continue through the many collections she has helped to facilitate in museums nationwide. ”

Kevin Wallace, Director, Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, who began his career at del Mano Gallery over two decades ago, sums up Jan’s broad impact: “Whether advising a collector, museum curator, art dealer or artist, Jan communicated in an open and articulate manner.” Wallace continues, “Jan’s legacy lives in the hundreds of works she assisted in placing in museum collections and the thousands of meaningful discussions she had with individuals who inhabit the ever-growing segment of the art world that appreciates works united mind, hand, and heart.”

Peters was a founding board member of the Bead Society of Los Angeles and co-organized their first event—a successful symposium on the Queen Mary in Long Beach harbor. Jan also served on the boards of the Collectors of Wood Art, the Los Angeles Glass Alliance, the National Basketry Organization, and annually helped del Mano raise money for the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+), whose mission is to protect and support the careers of craft artists and provide emergency resources for their benefit. Ever generous with her time, she was a member of the Design Review Board of the San Vicente Scenic Corridor where the gallery was located for many years, and served on the board of The Boys and Girls Club of Venice.

In 1992 Peters was the recipient of the “Medallion Award” from the Boys Clubs of America. In 2001, she and Ray Leier jointly received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the non-profit organization Collectors of Wood Art.

Friends and associates point out that the same qualities making her a great art dealer—high standards, vision, and perseverance—enabled her to valiantly fight a twelve-year battle with ovarian cancer, serving on the Patient Advisory Board at the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center while continuing to be positive and focused on her work.

Born Janet Schwartz on April 5, 1947, she was a 1965 graduate of Fairfax High School in Los Angeles and attended UCLA before deciding to pursue a career as a bead jewelry artist before founding del Mano Gallery with Ray Leier.

She married photographer, illustrator and aviator, David Peters in 1982. Along with him, she developed a passion for vintage aircraft, approaching the world of flying with her usual fearlessness and enthusiasm. The couple regularly attended air shows where Jan took part in activities at many of the events. She also flew as crew aboard the B-25 bomber, Heavenly Body. Jan and David were regulars at the annual Reno Air Races. In 2001, Jan was given the “Volunteer of the Year” award by the Reno Air Race Association.

“Jan was my navigator in this life,” says David. “She gave me my wings and the freedom to follow my passions by joining me in experiencing them. She nurtured my creative side—for example, when I said I was going to make teapots, she said ‘Ok, let’s see them.’ I took up the challenge and now show regularly at the gallery.”

“She fit into many worlds,” he comments, “she was at home anywhere, including on a trip with her sister Dale through Eastern Tibet in 2009, the dream of a lifetime.

Jan is survived by David, her husband of thirty years and her sister, Dale Carolyn Gluckman of Los Angeles, as well as two nieces, a nephew, and many cousins.

A “Celebration of the Life of Jan Peters” will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 7947 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA. Please contact gallery@delmano.com or (310) 441-2001 with questions or to RSVP for the Celebration. Please note: del Mano Gallery will be closed to celebrate the holidays from December 25th to January 2nd. Messages left during this time will be responded to on January 3rd.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jan’s memory to CERF+, P.O. Box 838, Montpelier, VT 05601; phone: (802) 229-2306 or www.craftemergency.org. When reviewing your donation on-line, please note it is in memory of Jan Peters.

Folk art

Folk art, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

aka Tree beard? This is a wood spirit carving placed as outdoor art at the Burl Store in Kerby, Oregon.

Penstemon anguineus

Penstemon anguineus, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

This lovely penstemon was spotted in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon. The glandular hairs are awesome on this species.

More from the Siskiyous

Lily, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Another red lily picture taken in the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon.

Gray coneflower

Gray coneflower, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Photographed in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon. Sometimes I like to play with filters. I used the Nik Software plug-ins in Aperture 3.2.2.

Gray coneflower

Gray coneflower, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Another wildflower from the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon.

International Woodturners Exchange (IWX) eBay auction

PRESS RELEASE

Today at 12:00 noon EST the International Woodturners Exchange (IWX) eBay auction will begin!

The IWX Mission Statement

Internationally renowned artists from the world-wide woodturning community have generously donated their work for an EBay auction to support a unique and exciting International Woodturners Exchange (IWX) program. This will be an unprecedented opportunity to purchase beautiful wood art, while at the same time supporting cultural, educational and inspirational exchange programs for the international woodturning community. These programs will fund: (1) future two-way exchanges, (2) recognizing individuals who have promoted and fostered international cooperation, and (3) developing educational programs to celebrate how our cultural differences influence how we view, interpret and share our woodturning passion.These goals are currently being discussed by members of the American Association of Woodturners from the USA, Britain, France, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Germany. The name of this discussion group is TURNERS WITHOUT BORDERS (TWB).


Your generosity will help foster the spirit of cooperation and friendship in the global community of woodturners.

I hope that you will help to spread awareness of this opportunity for collectors and others interested to have a chance to add to their wood art collections. The IWX has created a website to promote this auction.

The link to the website is: http://www.internationalwoodturners-exchange.com

The link to the eBay auction store is http://stores.shop.ebay.com/international-woodturners-exchange

Calochortus

Calochortus, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

This beautiful Calochortus was photographed in the Siskiyous Mountains in southern Oregon in July 2011.

Bug's eye view of a lily

Bug's eye view of a lily, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Walking along a roadside in the Siskiyous, I spotted this beautiful red lily growing on a road cut. I like trying to capture the point of view of an insect who may be seeking nectar or pollen.

Kirtland's Warbler!

Kirtland's Warbler!, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

One from the archives. Last May we had a visit of a very rare bird on west campus at Ohio State University.

Frosty sunrise

Frosty sunrise, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

I don't usually do HDR processing, but we went to the OSU cornfield before sunrise this past Saturday, specifically to shoot these hay bales. The frost on the ground combined with the glow of the sun coming up made for ideal HDR conditions. This is a combination of five images. I used HDR Efex Pro as a plug-in for Aperture 3.2.

Ipomopsis

Ipomopsis, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

This lovely wildflower was photographed on the way up to the summit of Mount Ashland in the Oregon Siskiyous. It is Ipomopsis aggregata, commonly known as Scarlet Gilia.

Elderberry

Elderberry, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Christmas colors of red and green, but from the middle of summer. This was seen along Soos Creek near Seattle, Washington.

Horsetail abstract

Horsetail abstract, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Another bokeh and dew drops abstract featuring Equisetum. This photo was taken July 1, 2011 along a trail near Seattle, Washington.

Skylight

Skylight, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

The Seattle Underground is an interesting place to visit in Pioneer Square. The tour takes you through a series of old walkways that were buried as the city was raised above the groundwater zone. This is one of the sidewalk skylights that illuminate the old corridors of the underground.

Au Contraire - Be a Square!

I just published a book of photos! There are 80 pages - check out the preview...

Au Contraire - Be a Square! by Andi Wolfe | Make Your Own Book

Totem

Totem , a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington, has a modern-day example of totemic art in the Pacific Northwest tradition.

Street photography: Bride at Pioneer Square

Bride at Pioneer Square, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

When a bridal party storms onto the scene for a photo shoot, it makes for some irresistible street photography.

Okra

Okra, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

I'm not particularly fond of this fruit, usually treated as a vegetable. Okra is from a plant in the Hibiscus family. When cooked, there is a slimy consistency, which is used to good effect in various southern dishes involving the word, "gumbo." Fried okra is a bit more acceptable to my palate, but I try to avoid this type of southern food as well. I guess my "Damned Yankee" status is still intact....

Raspberries

Raspberries, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Another in my food series from Pike's Place in Seattle, Washington.

Cherries

Cherries, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Ahhhh, summertime. Bing cherries, fresh from the orchard; nonething could be better. These were photographed at Pike's Place in Seattle Washington last July.

Produce stall at Pike's Place

Produce stall at Pike's Place, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Street photography in a crowded place is very challenging. For this photo I squeezed in between the wall and the edge of the nearest produce display. Pike's Place in Seattle, Washington is a great place to visit - especially if you like being jostled by a crowd of strangers. For a photographer, it's a fun place for street photography.

Mount Rainier at sunrise

Mount Rainier at sunrise, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

I had to wait for the sun to reach the tree line to get the summit completely in the glow of sunrise. Photo taken July 2, 2011 from Covington, Washington.

Berries!

Berries!, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Another photo from Pike's Place. The produce displays there are totally awesome. The food is fresh, colorful, and mouthwatering.

Daisy

Daisy, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Early morning dew on a daisy that has not yet been lit by the sun. Soos Creek Trail near Seattle, Washington.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Another produce photo from Pike's Place, Seattle.

Oranges

Oranges, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

From Pike's Place in Seattle, Washington. The produce there is fresh and beautiful.

Pike's Place

Pike's Place, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Pike's Place in Seattle is a happening place. It draws thousands of tourists each day, but the locals come to shop for the flowers, fresh produce, fresh fish, etc. I really enjoyed the vibrant colors and atmosphere of the flower stalls and produce shops.

A drop of clarity

A drop of clarity, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

A horsetail, dripping with dew. Sometimes it takes just a new perspective to see things clearly.

Pike's Place

Pike's Place, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

I need some cheering up today, so here's a reminder that there is beauty in the world.

Progress report on my #SciFund effort

Last week I blogged about the #SciFund project I'm participating in over at RocketHub as an experiment in crowdfunding science. My goal for the Catsnails project is $5,000 - a very modest amount compared to the usual grant proposal budget. Thus far the project is at 12% of the funding goal (thank you to all the fuelers!). There are only 38 days left to reach the goal, and the response rate has dropped off dramatically since last Friday.

Would you like to help? There are some pretty cool rewards for donating - every little bit will help - so please consider donating to the project. I'll be very grateful on behalf on the undergraduate students who conduct research in my lab. All of the funds raised will be going toward a project that is underway right now with three very bright undergrads doing the benchwork. If you could help spread the word by sharing the link, that would be a big help as well.

Here's the link to the #SciFund site that describes my project: Cats Nails - a parasitic plant of South Africa.

My scientific "bake sale"

Dear Readers,

I'm participating in the SciFund challenge, which is an effort to raise money for research via unconventional methods. Usually scientists have to wait for grant proposal opportunities, which are becoming more and more challenging every year because Federal and state budgets are being cut back all the time. So, this is a first attempt at work outside the box.

My goal is to raise $5,000 by December 15, 2011 - a modest amount that will go towards field research and laboratory supplies. Please contribute (every little bit helps), and please spread the word. This is a crowdfunding effort, which needs to take advantage of social media and personal contacts. Every contribution level has a reward (check out the $1000 level if you are a collector of wood art). Thanks for your help!

Here's the link to my RocketHub site: Cats Nails - a parasitic plant of South Africa

Foxglove

Foxglove, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Digitalis - introduced from Europe, it is now widespread along roadsides, trails and disturbed areas in the western United States.

Despite its introduced status, I'm always heartened to see this plant in bloom when I'm in the Pacific Northwest. This one was photographed along a trail in the Seattle, Washington area.

Phyllaries

Phyllaries, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

What's a phyllary, you may ask? Well, maybe you wouldn't, so I'll tell you.

A phyllary is a modified scale-like bract that subtends the inflorescence of a flower in the Asteraceae. That's the sunflower family for you non-botany nerds out there.

I like this presentation of the common sunflowers we have in our Ohio prairies. It highlights the interesting phyllaries that support the big flower heads of these beautiful plants.

Tree in the mist

Tree in the mist, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

We've had a severe fog warning for parts of Franklin County this morning. I didn't get out to do a photo shoot this particular morning, but this photo is from last Saturday.

Fog photos are really hard to do. If you add any contrast, you lose the effect of the fog, but if you don't do something in the post process, the image is flat and uninteresting. For this photo, I did a filter in Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4 that enabled me to get some detail extracted without losing the soft effect of the fog and blue-hour lighting from just before sunrise.

Polygala

Polygala, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Another beautiful wildflower in the Siskiyous of Oregon.

St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Something for a gloomy day. Hypericum is the botanical name for this plant, which is used for treating depression in the herbal remedy market. I've heard from some that it works wonders, but I'm always a bit hesitant to dabble in herbal remedies. This industry has no safeguards for the American public, and there are no standards for dosage, quality, processing, purity, etc.

At any rate, it's a lovely flower. This one was seen in the Oregon Siskiyous last June while I was at the American Penstemon Society meeting. We had a lovely day in the field looking for Penstemons, serpentine outcrops, and as many wildflowers as possible.

Bee's eye view

Bee's eye view, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Penstemon laetus from the Siskiyous of Oregon. I visited this during a field trip for the American Penstemon Society meeting last July.

The weird thing about this population of P. laetus was that most of the flowers were missing their anthers. Some insect munched on them. So, it was a treat to find a flower that still had the anthers.

Tiger Lily

Tiger Lily, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Just needed a reminder of warmer and sunnier days. This is from July 9, 2011 - taken in the Siskiyous of southern Oregon.

What am I?

What am I?, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

Nature produces some amazing optical effects. Can you guess what this is?