Friday, July 2, 2010

FRIDAY FENCE POST #49

It's Friday--Time for a fence!


I spotted that cutie at the Vancouver Recycled Arts Festival this past weekend, and thought it was great. And convenient, too! I mean, when's the last time you saw a fence you could just pick up and carry home?

I loved all the different woods and textures, so naturally I played with them, applying filters until I got a look I liked:


Now, I have to tell you, this week's fence has something of a special meaning to me. It was created by Mike and Barbara Meyer, of Earth Tones. I first met Mike at my first Cracked Pots at Edgefield Show, seven or eight years ago, when Mike bought this little guy:

Achilles

Achilles was one of my first Coffee Pot People, and at that point I really didn't know if anyone would want to buy them. I was just having a great time putting them together, naming them, and writing their bio's. Micheal really loved him, though, and I was thrilled to sell one of my peeps.

That wasn't all, though. A short while later, Tess, one of the organizers of the show, came by. She told me Michael was one of the other artists, and that he'd stopped by the information booth on the way back to his area to show off Achilles. And what Micheal said, Tess told me, was, "I've just bought the best piece of art in this whole show!"

Now, you may look at Achilles and think he's weird, or not exactly your cup of tea, and be 100% justified in your opinion, but what Michael said has stayed with me all these years. It was a seminal moment for me, and moment that validated my work in one single, simple sentence.

I've never told Mike that, even though I get regular updates on Achilles' well-being. (He's in Mike and Barbara's back yard, feeding little birds from the cup on his knee, which makes me mile.) It's just a small, untold, golden moment in my heart that I very much treasure and appreciate.

5 comments:

Keetha Broyles said...

That is how they make their fences in the poorest parts of Haiti and Costa Rica. I just saw one in CR in April when I was there.

Memories for Life said...

What a wonderful story! I love it when good comments on my work get back to me :) Makes my whole day!!!

storybeader said...

that's so sweet! What a nice guy to say what he actually thought. I'm glad you continued to create your little guys and girls. Have always wanted one... don't see any in your shop! Are they getting dressed out for the show?

Splendid Little Stars said...

What an awesome thing to know about your work! We all get that thrill when some hand work of ours is appreciated and loved.
I just love Achilles' hair!
and that fence is great, too!

Volperr said...

Hi thanks for sharing thiss