If you're in La Crosse, pick up a copy of the La Crosse Magazine, or check it out online here.
http://lacrosse-magazine.com/portals/lacrossemagazine/JulyAug14/mobile/index.html#p=24

Big news

Hi again. long time without updates but there is a few updates that I will be putting up here.
First off. I will be participating in the first annual Artspire art festival. Come down and see me at booth #2 located somewhere in what appears to be Cameron park on King Street between 4th and 5th street, La Crosse, WI 54601

In other news. I have been busy working on fixing up and moving into my own studio space. I'm finally free from my dads garage and the ever-changing space that that was. Moving projects and vehicles in and out and rolling out my equipment got old and even cold over the last year... I had to swap a motor in my moms car before I could get back to my own work. Fixed the car and decided to move out to a new location in La Crosse. I will post pictures soon.

I have also been granted the opportunity for publicity in an upcoming issue of the La Crosse Magazine.

Thanks for reading, I hope you are as excited as I am. Check back for pictures. of the studio space and other current events. If you're in the area stop by my studio or at least Artspire.

Invitational group show. "People. Places. Things"

www.sg1311.blogspot.com

I'm pleased to inform you all that I have accepted an invitation to a group show at Studio Gallery 1311 in La Crosse. I posted the postcard...hmm. More information is available on the website of the gallery.

I hope you all can make it. It is going to be a great show. It will be great to exhibit with other regional artists of such great caliber. I will be exhibiting some of my newer work including the pitcher on the postcard above. The pitcher was a tremendous undertaking for me. Months of working and a still sore elbow from hammering. It is also a piece that showcases the combining different techniques I have learned, a very different shape than the rest of my work and a very different approach to the vessel for me.

little update

I've been hurting for studio time. Working out of a shared space, I ended up having to take time away from my metal projects to remove and replace an engine in a 2000 chevy cavalier for my brother. Thank God it didn't require too much extra time beyond lost bolts and rusted parts. Thankfully it runs and drives great and I can resume building a Viking ship that I have been commissioned to do. I am very eager to get into the "studio" again. I have felt lost without any art to do. It's time to bunker up in the studio and beat some metal before it gets extremely cold out this winter.

I also just updated the "Vessels" page with pricing. Pricing and commission opportunities can be discussed via email found on the contact page.

Thanks for reading. :)

-Adam O.

Home Studio Setup & Re-purposing & Readjusting for the real world outside of the University

Just got back from Decorah, Iowa from the 10th annual "Down on the farm" Iron Pour. It was a great time. I didn't have any work ready for the pour but it was nice to observe for once and lend a helping hand here and there when needed. Special thanks to Kelly Ludeking and family for hosting the event. There were so many nice people. 

Back down to the new-ish studio in the garage today. Need to get more of my work done for the Uptown art fair. Its coming up fast.

Here is what I've been up to since not being allowed in the metals studio over summer like I had in the past...
I have lots of art to make and  the setback with no studio acces forced me to set up shop in my dads garage. I had a rummage sale to clear out projects that are just in the way, but also to make money to buy what I need to complete more work. Rummage sale money got me this nice big "YOST" vise and also an L-shaped piece of steel to make into a stake. 

I also picked up two large bolts and a machinist vise handle to repurpose them into forming stakes.

This L-shaped piece has been cut with a band saw into a rough shape.

I cut, ground and later polished this L-stake which resembles one half of a stake that I used in the school studio.

These bolts got filed sanded and polished into anvils

My primitive setup. Vice on treestump. Typewriter or microwave cart for pretty much all my work surface. Coffee table for tools and such.

First vessel. attempted, still not finished. had to borrow an oxygen/acetylene torch from my dad. Gets a very hot flame. Difficult to see metal temperature for annealing and easily burnt holes in the walls of the bowl as I soldered. Below is the propane torch that could anneal with a massive fireball but couldn't solder. I've since sold it and purchased an old National Veriflow 3A-B glassblowing torch which works very well

Studio space is getting more  mobile and organized. Dads vehicle needs to be in after I'm done working. Small price to pay for using his space... I also found a cheap Chinese made bench grinder for $5. You get what you pay for but It's a bare bones operation right now. I removed the metal shrouds and grinding wheels and retrofitted on a wire-wheel and buffing wheel.

More work has been done.

I took part of an old door and some thin metal wall stud looking things and created a slightly larger bench for the grinder which sat unsecured on a cardboard barrel. I also ordered a cheap "dremel type thing" that came with a screw on flex-shaft for finishing work. Get what you pay for. Like the bench grinder, it hits high RPM's but bogs down a little too quick when working. I ordered pickle solution for cleaning metal, and some patina chemicals. I also have been continuing to invest in things such as files, tin snips, chip brushes, delrin acetyl resin (used to upgrade my two oak hammer heads up to a harder more shock resistant material.) I've Gotten several bowls finished once the new torch and a fresh tank of propane arrived. Also bought an air compressor from my friends at the Vitamin Studio. They gave me a pretty good deal on it. I took wheels off a little old snow blower that I parted out so I could replace the broken wheels on the compressor. I just had to drill out larger holes. I finally found a belt for it ($17) and after some cord repair, it works great for the torch.

Thanks for reading. I will try to get some pictures up of the new work and studio arrangement. 

Thats-all-folks

Well, I finished the semester and decided to take an indefinite amount of time off from school so I can work and focus on the upcoming art fair in Minneapolis the first weekend in August.

My professor decided that he wasn't going to let me work in the studio over summer like I have in the past even though he knew I've been given this big art fair opportunity.

I've been keeping busy with trying to raise money to buy tools and also have been making my own tools in my dads garage. Its primitive to say the least, but I am managing to get some work done. I have a target of 35 vessels to make for the Uptown Minneapolis art fair... pray for me. lol.

I'll try and post pics soon.

A Bit O' News

Thanks for checking back. A bit of news for you all.

First off...I apologize for the lack of updates. I've been busy with the UW-L gallery shows, the Vitamin Studio of La Crosse also hosted my professional practice class exhibition.

Other than that, I have been working on "Reflections" It is my first two person show. Please join Megan and I for the opening.

I am also pleased to announce that My friends Andy Fletcher and Katie Musolff along with myself, have been selected through a jury process to be included in the 50th annual Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis Minnesota. This happens the first weekend in August. (2nd through 4th) Please Come and check that out. Everything will be for sale. This opportunity has forced upon me the target goal of producing 35 new pieces.