Practice Praxis

Several weeks ago, I returned to my usual weekly studio time at the BWP. The first two of those days were consumed by exhibition catalog edits, and last week a member needed considerable help with getting started on her intro-course project, so I didn’t do much of my own work. To be honest, it was a relief. I’ve had, for lack of a better term, metalsmith’s block. When I was back in the studio yesterday, it was completely quiet, and having finished my catalog, I didn’t have an excuse. I had to make something. Anything. Over time I’ve come to the realization that with an arts practice, sometimes you just have to mess around and hope an idea arrives. I went through my gear and found an unfinished piece of sheet copper for the Cold Blue Sky project I’d cut out before heading to Texas. Banging sheet is uncomplicated and therapeutic. I decided to go with it. After wholly raising a brass ball while at Texas Tech in the fall, this felt downright easy. I might polish it. Or not. It’d be nice with verdigris, so maybe I’ll patina it. In any case, it was good to be back at the bench, hammer in hand.