QUEST: 1,000 Woodcuts Update

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Maria Arango's
QUEST: 1,000 Woodcuts
Winter 2007 Update - 244 completed
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I know I say this quite a bit but I go through these blocks of time where I lose myself; I'm almost sure I missed January, although I've been busy. Finished a book and started a series of large Grand Canyon prints. I visited the canyon again last year and am always awed by the sights, especially those away from the crowds. This time I hiked along the rim and stopped every few feet it seemed, but completed the twelve-mile trek and drank in a whole lot of beauty. The place is amazing; I highly recommend seeing it at least once in everyone's life.

The first two blocks. These are big! I am printing about 35 of each, the first 10 on specially made hand-made paper by my buddy at Beech Grove Paperworks and the rest of each series on a nice rich tan paper.
Click on them to open your browser and see large

Writing a book to guide other artists onto the adventurous life of art festivals was quite an interesting experience. I started a little over two years ago and, of course, the book changed as my experience changed. But most interestingly, I realized that this industry is largely unregulated yet somehow every show gets organized and artists actually make a living out of the apparent chaos. An additional interesting self-discovery was that at times I felt I could really help those who are new to the festival life and at other times I felt hopelessly lost myself.

Once the book was finished though, I realized that the information will probably be quite valuable to someone starting out and perhaps even to some who have been in the business for a while. I sure learned by writing and continue to learn by doing and by watching those who have more experience. And it was fun to finish the thing! The website for the book is up and running: http://www.artfestivalguide.info and I hope it also becomes a resource to help out artists in the business.

Aside from writing and printmaking, I've been gardening! Well...really more like rearranging the "back forty", our back yard behind the back yard. This roughly third acre was, well, rough! when we first moved in. We like to call it "in its natural state." We had cat-claw acacias and cat-claw acacias and, let's see, some creosote and cat-claw acacias toward the back. Quite a project! I found that, as in art, a little at a time gets it all done, or at least gets a little done. Funny thing, when I stop, I stop making progress. Go figure.

I find it very relaxing to wield shovel and pick in my attempts to arrange the desert. I wanted to keep it as maintenance-free as possible and so I really, simply rearranged rocks and sand and fallen logs to make nice planters and walkways. Actually, the dogs made the walkways, I just planted a variety of desert hardy trees and vegetation between their patrolling trails. Everything I planted could potentially survive with little water and will withstand our hot summers. I even got to kind of like cat-claw acacias!

It's the kind of project that will hopefully go on forever, as I find it most relaxing and enjoyable to be out there trimming cat-claws, picking rocks and moving gravel. I think that, as in art, the joy is in the doing rather than in the completion.

I am trying to keep a sensible schedule this year. I have said the same thing for several years and this time "the boss" is making me. I am self-employed, so the boss is my alter ego, the sensible Maria.

9, 10 & 11 Scottsdale Fine Arts Festival
(Tentative-I'm still on the dreaded wait-list but with high-hopes!)
Scottsdale, Civic Center Downtown
Scottsdale ARIZONA

30, 31 and April 1st
Tempe's Mill Avenue Art Festival
Booth #1335-1337 on Mill between 6th and 7th
Mill Avenue, downtown Tempe ARIZONA

21 & 22 Boulder City Fine Arts Festival
Centennial Park (Booth 21) in the heart of...
Boulder City NEVADA

5 & 6 The District Fine Arts Festival
The District Shopping Center
Henderson NEVADA

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The Quote of Each Day:

"It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and
occupation, which give happiness."
--Thomas Jefferson

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Maria Arango, Printmaker
http://www.1000woodcuts.com
Follow along!
mariamariarango.com
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