Continuing our report on the Resident Art Show: New work was recently added to the collection.David DeGomez added his colorful "Figure Study" and Larry Meagher set up a display of his ceramic work.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
The stained glass Madonna was created by Melissa Soluski and Maria Soleri exhibits original paintings and greeting cards.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
Ceramic pendants by Colleen Reckow are available for purchase as well as Alfonso Elia's framed photography.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on February 26, 2010 11:52:43 AM MST
Earlier this month, the Ceramics department hosted a bell-carving session for the new workshop. Participants had the opportunity to learn the processes and techniques taught to employees of the department.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Using simple utility knives with specialized blades, they learned carving strokes and practiced on a small bell. Then, given a larger bell, participants created a final design for themselves.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Later the bells were fired and assembled and available to take home.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on February 24, 2010 9:15:24 AM MST
Continuing our report on the greenhouse construction: A lot of progress has been made since our last report in December, with the help of the new workshop and construction team.The frame is entirely in place, as shown in this first photo.
Next, work began on the large planter boxes.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Leaving only one end of each planter box open, the team can easily fill the boxes with wheelbarrows. They are transferring aggregate, soil, and compost from the truck to the planters.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Pictured here is a closer view of that process as well as the workshop members involved.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Aggregate was collected near the greenhouse to line the bottom for drainage.Processed compost was sifted and collected from the agriculture department.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
The compost will be mixed with soil and added to the planters in preparation for growing food in the greenhouse. But first, the boxes were lined with plastic. In the near future we will report on the greenhouse membrane installation and further progress.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on February 22, 2010 11:39:03 AM MST
The Year of the Tiger began on February 14th, 2010 and Arcosanti residents celebrated the Chinese New Year among other events that busy day with a parade and bonfire. Astrid Sonne and Kirsten Lynge applied the finishing touches to their dragon's head in preparation for the parade.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
The group assembled in the café before walking through site with drums; hoping to drive out any bad spirits.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Brian Thompson and Kirsten headed up the dragon.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Jose Masoy followed close behind.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on February 19, 2010 10:00:27 AM MST
On Sunday, February 14th, the 2010 Annual Resident Art Show opened in the early afternoon. Many visitors stopped by Arcosanti during the long holiday weekend and had an opportunity to view our display. We provided light refreshments, wine, and music for the event. Among many other artists, Sammie Tapia presented her oil paintings of the local environment.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
Artists from Cosanti also joined our show, pictured here is work by Maria Soleri and Katharine Simpson.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
Pastel paintings by Colleen Reckow and sculpture by Cliff Hersted returned again this year.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
Landscape photographs by David DeGomez.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
To celebrate Valentines Day, community members decorated the café with paper roses while enjoying the music and conversation.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
It was argued that "everyone should have a chandelier," after the installation of a new lighted fixture above the café bar seating (also an element of the art show created by Astrid Sonne and Kirsten Lynge). Meanwhile, Pete spun a mix of Jazz, the Beatles, and light music for the afternoon.
[photo: sue & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on February 17, 2010 11:57:24 AM MST
After meticulous preparation, the pour of the heat-duct tunnel walls and the last section of the tunnel roof, happened on Thursday, February 11. 2010. The concrete was ordered from off-site, also a pump truck with a very long hose to access the lowest section of the forms first.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: sue]
Concrete was poured into the sloping form on the west side of the tunnel about half-way up, then the east side about half-way up ...
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: sue]
... then the upper half of the west-side, followed by the upper half of the east side of the tunnel wall forms.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: sue]
The pour of both walls are completed and now the last section of the tunnel roof is poured. Here we see new workshop participant Ikue Saitou helping to finish the surface of the roof slab.
We will continue this report with the removal of the tunnel wall forms.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: sue]
Posted by sue on February 15, 2010 10:24:36 AM MST
Our first workshop of 2010 began Sunday, January 31st with seminar week. This week consists of a series of lectures about Arcosanti's history and tours of the individual departments on site. Also, the new group participates in their first work opportunities for the project. Here the workshop peers over our current construction project, the heat duct tunnel and greenhouse. The tunnel extends from the S.O.D. Building to the greenhouse just above the Greenhouse Guest Rooms.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Looking over construction drawings, the workshop gains a clearer understanding of the project and our construction department. Preparations are underway for the next large concrete pour.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
To assist the landscaping department, the workshop helped to finalize the landscaping around the new pedestrian ramp.
[photo: S Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
They helped to set concrete pavers behind the Ceramics Apse.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
And they expressed some creativity in the Silt-Cast workshop. This is an opportunity to work artistically with silt and create a plaster tile to take home.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on February 12, 2010 9:55:37 AM MST
The 2010 Arcosanti Resident Artshow opens on Valentines Day, Sunday February 14. 2010, with a reception from 1 pm to 5 pm. Resident artists and Arcosanti alumni artists will present works of sculpture, photography, ceramics, painting, drawing, crafts, woodworking and jewelry.
The show can be viewed in the Arcosanti Cafe daily from 9 am to 5 pm and will run until April 1. 2010.
[Image & text: Cliff Hersted]
Posted by sue on February 10, 2010 1:26:17 PM MST
Welcome to this little boy, born to almni Ania Gorka and Adam Nordfors. Adam: "his name is Wayland Tadeusz Nordfors and he was born friday the 29th in the early morning".
[photos: Ania Gorka Adam Nordfors & text: Ania, Adam, sue]
Posted by sue on February 8, 2010 4:21:30 PM MST
Welcome to the first group of workshop participants for 2010: [from left]:
Mike Kelliher, Sarah Murphy [seminar week], Jin-Hee Koh from South Korea, Astrid Sonne from Denmark, Ikue Saitou from Japan, Daniel Reiff, Cara Pirello [work-study and workshop], Otto Vervaet from Belgium [3 weeks], Kirsten Lynge from Denmark and Jacon Breczinski [seminar week].
[photo & text: sue]
Posted by sue on February 5, 2010 10:29:59 AM MST
In response to the recent catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, the Cosanti Foundation has donated $3,000 from our Tsunami Disaster Fund to Partners in Health, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that has provided vital health care services in Haiti for more than 20 years. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti near its capital of Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, leaving a path of utter devastation. Partners in Health is one of the largest health care providers in the country, working with the Haitian Ministry of Health to deliver comprehensive health care services to a catchment area of 1.2 million.
Our donation was made possible by gifts and accumulating contributions from the sale of Soleri Cause Bells, a line of bronze windbells sold in a variety of designs, each representing a specific cause or charity. A portion of the sale of each Cause Bell benefits a nonprofit organization.
Paolo Soleri designed the Tsunami Cause Bell [photo] in response to the massive earthquake/tsunami off the Indian Ocean in December 2004. Today, the Tsunami Bell and Fund represents the call for a humanitarian embrace of natural disaster victims worldwide.
You can join Arcosanti’s effort by giving today. Simply click on Stand with Haiti It is not too late to help with a contribution in any amount.
More about Partners in Health.
[photo: Cosanti Foundation & text: Erin Jeffries]
Posted by sue on February 3, 2010 2:08:47 PM MST
As an urban laboratory, Arcosanti residents are encouraged to participate in community policy making. Last week there was a joint meeting of the ALT (Arcosanti Leadership Team) and the Community Council to clarify questions and assess current and future needs for policy. Three main topics were discussed.
1) The new Extended Stay program is a way to promote longer visits from former workshop participants. The program is already in operation but there are many areas still in question.
2) Some of the cubes in the initial construction camp have been offered to the Extended Stay participants and some are in use as year-round residence by staff and volunteers. Verbal traditions need to be refined into written guidelines for the use of camp housing.
3) Verbal traditions have sufficed for the Lab Building art studio allocation and management as well. Needed guidelines were discussed.
Community Council meets weekly to discuss community issues and holds quarterly All-Site Meetings to discuss current issues with everyone's attendance invited. ALT meets every three weeks to discuss matters of policy. Joint meetings are held as necessary and are open to all interested residents.
[photo: Colleen Reckow & text: Anita Baker]
Posted by sue on February 1, 2010 2:43:16 PM MST