The Mercy Butterfly - From Concept to Completion

It was back in February when I first heard about Mercy Hospital of Joplin's desire to have a butterfly "decorated" for their garden in commemoration of the the devastating 2011 tornado and consequent new building.  The city of Joplin Chamber of Commerce promoted the butterflies as symbols of hope around the city, with a total of 22 butterflies being erected around the area.  The butterflies are made of steel with a powder coat and were created by Josh at  Forged Waterjet Fabrications.   

When I read the description of what Mercy was hoping for, I knew that this was the project for me, even though I had not yet had "public art" experience.  All those mailboxes I have created were the perfect experience for learning the best process for this metal, outdoor piece.  It took a solid day and the help of my husband to complete the application.  I had not put together a resume in years and I had never made a maquette, but that is what a talented husband and the internet are for!  Knowing that Mercy wanted their logo represented in the design meant I spent a total of about 6 minutes deliberating about the design.  It was really clear in my imagination from the very beginning.  I printed the design specs, did my best to represent mosaic with colored pencils, and cut it out and attached it to a candy stick for the photograph.  It was clear as a bell in my mind, but I was not sure if it would be clear to the jury committee.

Fortunately, about a week later, I heard back that I had been chosen for the job.  No matter that the deadline co-incided almost exactly with The Little Craft Show!  I had total confidence that I could do the work in the time allotted.    It turned out that transporting the butterfly was a major challenge. It was just big enough that I could not fit it in my van.  I had to wait for almost 2 and half weeks before it could be delivered it to me.  By the time we arranged all of that, I had about 3 weeks to complete it.  I spent one of them just looking at it, trying to imagine the logistics of the angles, how much movement the wings would actually have, how to start and how much orange china I would need to find (the red, blue and green seemed easier to round up!)  It was one thing to draw it on paper and a whole other thing to execute on a nearly 6 foot surface, top and bottom, with a significant angle and awkward base. My first reaction when it was delivered was to tell the marketing department that it was a total waste of time to mosaic the bottom:  it sat so low, you would need to crawl under it to see any of the design.  But they were determined, so I pressed ahead.

I was convinced that if I could get the basics of the logo placed on the butterfly, I could get the rest of the wings completed, and so that is where I began. I used solid colored dishes to create the cross and then used a mix of solid and pattern for the rest of the wings.  The cut-outs were trickier than I guessed because I couldn't fit my fingers into some of the spaces.  I can't recall how many nights I worked, but I am grateful for those steady hours I got to work when Whimsy was in bed and I could get "in the zone."

Thank you Natalie for the promo picture!
Obviously, I always work in my Stitchfix clothes 
and my Noonday jewelry! 

Once all the pieces were adhered with silicone, I let it rest for a few days and went back in with a silicone polymer grout.  It was at this point that things got a LITTLE crazy.  About a year ago, I was able to purchase huge bags of grout at a discount because the bags were ripped.  As I worked on some other projects for The Little Craft Show and The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, the grout started acting very unpredictably. It appeared to be solid but when it was poked or scratched, fell apart like wet sand.  I was mystified and freaked out and headed off to Google to try to figure out what had gone wrong.  It turns out that grout exposed to the air too much will absorb moisture in the air, and complete its chemical process of bonding.  It seems fine, but ultimately cannot further react with water and falls apart.  It was a tough time for a chemistry lesson, and I was horrified to discover the butterfly was showing signs of expired grout.


I found myself in the driveway with a hose and a tiny poking tool, testing all of the grout and picking out any soft spots with the help of the water.  It was a miserable and frightening time, while I chided myself for my lack of experience, lack of knowledge, lack of talent!  To top it off, I had just three days before I needed to deliver it for installation.  Soaking wet and scared, I worked steadily for the whole day and was relieved to find that only one segment seemed to have the "bad" grout. I was able to apply a fresh application with a new, never opened bag, which set up beautifully.  I had plenty of time to obsess over the inevitable shrinkage by the grout in some of the negative space of the logo, and to add a 20 year impregnating sealer that will keep the grout solid and clean.

Then came the fun of transporting the butterfly.  My friend Donny offered his truck and I strategized how to pack it, secure it, and get it there safely.  After contemplating a full foam enclosure, I opted for the simplest version of all :  Three bungee cords and a piece of foam to protect Donny's brake light on the top of the cab.  I spent a solid hour imagining any scenario I could think of that I might encounter en-route, jumping up and down in the bed of the truck to test the movement that could cause the grout to pop from its crevices.  It was a proud lady who pulled into the loading dock of the hospital an hour and half later with the butterfly safe and sound. I know all of my crafting and cake decorating friends know the terror of transport. It seems so simple, but movement can be a real challenge after all your hours of creation and care.

The butterfly was on display at the hospital gallery for a week so people could see it up close, and then Josh was able to create a taller base for the ultimate installation.  What a relief!  It is now tall enough to be visible, but I didn't have to work on it with a 5 foot base!  How funny would that have been?!

Finally,  the hospital asked me to come and speak at the dedication and unveiling.  I should have been more nervous about this than I was, but I wrote my talk on the drive there.  My notes kept slipping up and down on the screen of my phone, but this is what I tried to say:

Hello.

My name is Vanessa and that does mean "butterfly."  You can find me online as The Mosaic Butterfly or Vintage Butterfly Mosaics. Butterflies are a big part of my identity. So this project spoke to me right away. Which kind of makes me feel like my whole life might have ended up differently if my parents had gone with their first idea: Tonya.  

Butterflies are all about transforming something ugly into something beautiful. They are a symbol of hope and life and fresh starts.  As soon as I heard about this project, I had a clear idea of what it would look like and months later, it is just the way I imagined it.

I use broken dishes to create my art. 

Everyone has dishes. They are such an ordinary part of every day life. You could probably look closely at the butterfly and see a bit of a dish you had or your mom or your grandma had. They have memories attached to them of being together, having a meal, living your lives.  

You don't need me to tell you that life is unpredictable. My oldest daughter is here today and so is my youngest. 16 and Surprise! 19 months! Sometimes the unexpected is good but often it is frightening and devastating.  It is my hope that when people see this butterfly, they will be reminded that you can pick up the pieces and go on. That life can be beautiful again after it is ugly.  

I am always interested in what brings real comfort to people when they are hurting. I pay attention to rituals and traditions that people have relied on in the past to face difficult times. There is a Jewish tradition when someone dies that is called "sitting Shiva." You go and sit quietly with someone who has experienced loss. You don't fill up the space with nervous words and cliches. You just sit quietly and be there for them. I find that imagery so beautiful. I hope that when people see the butterfly, they have a sense of someone sitting quietly with them.   

The poet Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote: "Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is just out of reach. But if you sit quietly, it may a light upon you."  

Thank you for giving me this opportunity   to share my work with you.  I hope it brings hope, happiness and healing for years to come. 

The hospital staff and president were so kind and excited about my work and I was so grateful that Robb,  Mattie and Whimsy could be there with me....especially since it was Whimsy's nap time and she was a total wildcard! The hospital was having a bbq, but we decided to take our cranky baby and go.

As I sit and think of it, my friends supported me so much and helped make this happen.  Donny's truck, Hannah babysitting Whimsy, Natalie taking photos for the hospital's marketing department, and ALL the people who listened patiently while I had minor and major freak-outs... I needed all of them!  It was an excellent learning experience for me as I uncovered some of the unexpected parts of creating a piece of public art.

Other links:
Butterfly Sculptures Taking Flight Across Joplin :

ShowMe the Ozarks Magazine - Various Butterfly Sculptures around Town

This is the Good Stuff

Here I am with my best 11 year old girl-friend, Mattie.  She and I labored over cool outfits for a bit before heading out last night to Fayetteville's annual progressive shopping party.  Small local businesses, including the Heartwood Gallery chip in for a couple of limos to take folks door to door around the downtown.  There are food and drinks and you end up going to places you never would go otherwise.   We had a blast, eating and shopping our way through town.  (I guess you can still call it shopping even if you don't buy anything just then?)  And somehow, we even managed to get ourselves left at the square after nine o'clock when our car was parked in the mill district. Fortunately, I made a call to my friends at the gallery and they sent the limo back for us!  This is good for the local economy, and great for moms and daughters to have a special chance to be together and remind one another that we are a mutual admiration society.

Apparently, we looked like money, as one jeweler had us try on a 1300.00 diamond ring. Ha ha!

Maybe it's a little cliche'

but this pastor's wife has always wanted some church pews in my house.  When I found these at the same place as my new armoire, I knew ....

they were predestined for me.

Or maybe I chose them from my own free will.

You Can't Always Get What You Want...

....but sometimes you TOTALLY can.  For a wicked-good price.

Treasure Hunting

I am always looking for treasure.  I enjoy selling things, but I really love finding them in the first place.  I have found some amazing things over the years, and this weekend, I found something pretty intriguing that I thought you might like to hear about.

I've just discovered the wonder of Craigslist.  I was able to sell some furniture there last week, and I find myself checking to see what other goodies were available there last weekend, when I came across a listing for a jewelry box full of odds and ends.  They said they just didn't have time to disperse it and so they were selling it for a flat fee.  I quickly offered to buy it.

It was pretty weird, I admit, sitting in a parking lot on Sunday afternoon waiting to meet the seller.  I had no idea what to expect.  Robb commented more than once that this was one of my most bizarre quests.  Finally, the seller arrived with the box and we drove away with the huge 1970s faux bois box on my lap.  I began checking the pieces inside as we drove home and hoped that I would be able to make my money back.

It wasn't until a day or so later that I really carefully inspected the pieces.  This rough looking ring, obviously a man's ring, was curious.  I could see words, in French, around the inside of the band, but they were not inscribed.  So I googled away and discovered that what I had in my hand is called Trench art.  Soldiers in World War 1 would turn silver and other metal coins into rings while  sitting in their trenches, waiting for something to happen.  My newly acquired ring is from a silver coin dated 1909 which was reissued in the 1920s.

The jewelry box went on to tell other stories, but the one behind this handmade silver ring was my favorite.

San Francisco

Summer in San Francisco from Michael Winokur on Vimeo.

I saw this video on a favorite blog and I was reminded of how I literally fell in love with this city a few months ago.  It is truly one of my most favorite places on earth.

Installation

I confess, being fiercely practical,  I don't always really "get" art installations. But one glimpse of these...and I not only understand...I feel wonder. 

Rune Guneriussen via The Jealous Curator

All for One and Three for Three!

We've been watching a lot of the Cosby Show lately on Netflix. I think He has given us permission to feel kind of excited about having the kids out the door.

Now that the moment is upon me though, I'm not sure what I feel. And so I will post some pictures and try to figure out what to do after that, not unlike Charleigh, who sat down in her spot and focussed on her coloring page like it was the last coloring page on earth. She wouldn't even look up to wave goodbye to us!

I Heart Mad Men

I am so excited for the premier of season three of Mad Men tonight. I've got a hot date and can't wait. And to make things seriously better, I had an item featured from my Etsy store in an Etsy blog post with a spotlight on Mad Men's executive style! I've been praying for some publicity lately to help move items from the store before we move. WHoo HOO!

It's Like I Woke up Rich and Famous!

tee hee...this vintage photo is brought to you by A Man Called Peter and stage makeup, c. 1992.


What would make me willing to bump down my slide show of our new house?

Just a little international news story about my big brother by Reuter's News Service...

with a shout-out for his book, Sugar Milk.

My sibs and I have learned a thing or two about toil in the last few years. We started a church from scratch and finally learned to manage our debt. My other sister put her husband through law school...He took the bar yesterday (yeah, it's been a big couple of days). And my brother, my big brother whom I adore...became Mr. Mom and wrote a book about it in his inimitably hilarious way.

My brother is every bit as angsty as I am...actually, more so. But he deals with his stress with humor. He's a tortured artist on one hand, and the life of the party on the other. Do you have any idea how rare that is? He's like, Steve Martin. Ron hasn't arrived yet...there are other hurdles to jump over financially and otherwise. So buy the book. Get in on something good right from the beginning. Or just love the guy, because I do.

SWEET!

I obsessively check to see how many "hearts" I have on Etsy. Today I got my 669th heart from user "Weird Wolf." Turns out, she's kind of a big deal.


: )

Thanks Tara!

From Keep Calm Gallery

Work

Robb is preaching through Genesis again and I couldn't be happier. Ever since Ted dragged us through it in college, requiring a 10 page paper every two weeks, I have had a love affair with this book. I almost died in that class....especially when I found out Ted let Robb read my papers....Ted being the professor, Robb, my brilliant boyfriend, and me...a new follower of Jesus. I learned more in that class than any other in college.

All that to say, I'm happy we are in Genesis again. Robb touched on, for the first, but certainly not the last, how work is not a curse, but rather, part of the dignity of being human. What a redemptive thought that is...that all my work...which is strange work indeed sometimes...has dignity.

I love work. I love it wildly. Though Robb's job takes him for many hours, he drops it at the front door and knows how to relax and be with us. I, on the other hand, am a total workaholic.

In this past week of sorrowing, work has been deeply comforting and satisfying. There is so little in the world that I have any control over. But I can take the broken pieces of something and make it pretty. I can rescue something people think is junk and put it in the hands of someone who values it. I can wield a mop, a paintbrush, a toilet brush, or a spoon like a magic wand. Housework can be monotonous, but it can also be liturgical.

I think God was trying to encourage us through my work this past week: I made several pieces that I very much liked. I picked up my pieces from the editor of At Home Arkansas magazine, which will feature Etsy artists of Arkansas in their June 2009 issue (look for it in 3 weeks) In the gallery, I sold a coffee table as well as some other pieces. My vintage Etsy orders are rolling in fast and furious. And at Barbara's Gardens, I was featured in their tv commercial which aired locally during the Kentucky Derby.

It's a lot to juggle sometimes. But I am grateful for it. Deeply grateful.

Madeline L'Engle

"There is nothing so secular that it cannot be sacred. And that is one of the deepest messages of the incarnation."

Hope

On Friday, the girls and I spent the day shopping together. Mattie has a flair for hats and Charleigh is always an easy-going retail buddy. The thrift stores on our circuit are all fans of Charleigh and many of the managers know her by name. We did lunch and Mattie ran the ipod, and we had a lot of fun.

The best score of the day was when we found a stack of old prints and frames. I paid just a dollar a frame and 10 dollars for two prints, (which turned out to be three prints when I disassembled them.) These are all at least 100 years old, I estimate.

The most interesting was this print, which was signed in each corner in pencil. Signed things are always a good bet. I may have balked a bit at spending 10 dollars on a print, but my instincts about the picture told me to go ahead. I rarely examine things closely in the store. I just get this fluttery feeling around my heart that tells me to buy something. So I bought it.

After a bit of research, I found out that this was painted by a Victorian artist named George Frederic Watts in 1885 shortly after the death of the daughter of one of his close friends. The painting is entitled HOPE. It is one of his best known works and is indicative of the Symbolist movement. The girl is sitting on top of the globe, blindfolded, wearing rags, playing a harp which has all but one string broken. You can feel the chill from the mist at her feet. Some people find it gloomy.

I do not.

I find it curious that this image came into my life at a time when I was really listening for it. While listening to Rob Bell's Lenten teaching when he talked about how when things are at the there very worst, that makes a crack, a space, for hope.

As I further researched, I learned that this painting has been an inspiration to Barak Obama; According to the curator of the Watts Museum...

Most recently and dramatically is the influence that it has had on the next President of the United States of America. The painting inspired a lecture by Dr Frederick G. Sampson in Richmond, Virginia, in which he discusses at length Watts’s Hope. This inspired the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who was present at this lecture, to give a powerful sermon in 1990 called The Audacity to Hope. This was attended by the 29-year-old Barack Obama, who at the time was in his second year at Harvard Law School and president of the Harvard Law Review. Here the President first saw Watts’s painting and was deeply inspired by the sermon which provided the title for his second autobiographical book. Obama’s Hope is one rooted in a deep faith in the American Dream, ‘the true genius of America’ he writes is ‘a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence of small miracles.’ If Watts had never painted Hope who knows…

A copy also hung in the prison cell of Nelson Mandela.

I think that says something about the strength of the image, don't you?

My copy is a nice lithograph by a good firm in New York City. I suspect it dates to the early 1900s. The pencil writing is likely just for identification, not a signature. If you know something about this print that I have not been able to find online, I would love to hear about it! Can you make out the words or numbers above the pencil name "Watts?"

SWEET!

I got featured as an editors pick for the second week in a row and business has been brisk since. Color me giddy and see the article here.

The typewriter is already sold!

A spot in the Spotlight!

I was clicking around today and noticed that my globe got a spot in the Etsy blog, The Storque. It's an adorable article and I'm thrilled to have been chosen for the illustration. Just to clarify, it means that my globe will run on the front page for awhile as part of this article. I feel so valued at Etsy. I like those guys so much.

Sweet Finds

The kids were home from school yesterday for teacher inservice, so we went treasure hunting. I found a set of Russel Wright mid-century stacking salt and pepper shakers, a lunchbox, tray and silver tea pot for mosaic transformation, some Czechoslovakian plates, and two pairs of awesome vintage eyeglass frames, a Brownie camera, and a monogrammed hankie, among other things. And it looks pretty together, don't you think!

I made the Front Page!!!!!

I made the front page of etsy!!!!!!!!!!! And I learned how to make a screenshot!!!!!!!!! I am using gratuitous exclamation marks!!!!!!! I should wait until can calm down enough to be cool to post this!!!!!!!! I'm going to fail miserably at that!!!!!!!!!

The saddle shoes are mine, by the way.

good. No exclamation marks there.

WHOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

(yeah, I'm just going to fail miserably at being cool.)

Wanted

For the next couple of months, Barbara's Gardens, where I have a number of my mosaics on consignment, will be closed to get organized under the new manager. I hadn't had much chance to think about what I would do with my pieces during this time, other than hope they sold on ETSY.

I just got a call from the Heartwood Gallery. They had an artist leave the gallery and needed to fill that space. The owner called to say that the jurors had met and wanted me to be the replacement artist!

I don't have enough work just now to fill both places, but if I shuffle a bit, and get into the groove, I know I can have plenty for both places by spring. I had just been praying this morning about my frustrations with the house and all the stuff I have piled up in here and the claustrophobic feeling it sometimes produces. But with a goal to work toward, I can easily find the motivation to keep materials coming in and product going out.