ALS of Nevada has a Wreath Gala Silent Auction this coming Thursday....for those of you who are not familiar with ALS it stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. A disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement...better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. There is no cure.
I became aware of this chapter last year, when they held their First Gala Wreath Event and was honored when I was asked to create a wreath for their auction.
Here is a photo of last year's "wreath"....made entirely from polymer clay tiles that I had created and some little glass tiles that I had placed images behind. They were happy with the wreath and it did raise some much needed money for them....I wish I had taken photos of some of the other marvelous creations that people donated and will definitely do it this time, for sure!
I became aware of this chapter last year, when they held their First Gala Wreath Event and was honored when I was asked to create a wreath for their auction.
Here is a photo of last year's "wreath"....made entirely from polymer clay tiles that I had created and some little glass tiles that I had placed images behind. They were happy with the wreath and it did raise some much needed money for them....I wish I had taken photos of some of the other marvelous creations that people donated and will definitely do it this time, for sure!
Now, for some reason I am always hung up on the "wreath concept"....I don't know why. I ponder this all summer and go over idea after idea in anticipation of the upcoming project....at first I had thought of doing a wreath entirely of little tiny jigsaw pieces that I had collaged...it wasn't long until I realized that the wreath would never be done in time...so I filed that idea (and the tiny pieces already completed) away in my head and in my studio for perhaps another project down the road somewhere.
So onward I proceed with another idea that entailed cutting up many little squares and rectangles to collage onto......I must add here that my husband is not only so very supportive of all of my artistic endeavors, but also an integral and necessary part of many of my projects. He is an accomplished wood craftsman with many talents and we often collaborate on a project that presents itself with special needs....such as measuring and cutting.
So onward I proceed with another idea that entailed cutting up many little squares and rectangles to collage onto......I must add here that my husband is not only so very supportive of all of my artistic endeavors, but also an integral and necessary part of many of my projects. He is an accomplished wood craftsman with many talents and we often collaborate on a project that presents itself with special needs....such as measuring and cutting.
So he creates a square base for the "wreath" and cuts me what seemed like a billion pieces in varying sizes of square and rectangles from melamine board bought at the local Home Depot (4' x 3'...very inexpensive) and I proceed to gesso each and every piece to give the paper "tooth" to adhere to the little squares...I collaged different backgrounds and images to each with matte medium and also applied graphite and pen and ink to the images to create depth....have to admit that what seemed like it would take me forever went along very swiftly.....when I am engrossed and loving what I'm doing the time seems to fly by!
Here is the completed wreath....there was a lot of sealing going on with the finished pieces, then glued in two different layers and two different heights. I am pleased with the result....this is titled "Six Degrees of Separation" to signify how we are all linked to most everyone else in this world. Thought it appropriate for this particular fundraiser.....we are all connected, no man is an island and what happens to one individual in some way effects us all, don't you think?
I hope it raises them money that is so direly needed for the patients and their families. It gladdens me to no end to be able to donate this to them!
So Thursday, November 10th is the event....we look forward to this so much. Last year's was beyond fabulous....great food, live music, wonderful people and such wonderful art in the form of "wreaths" to observe, discuss and bid on! Most everything is donated for the event which shows me how generous and caring so many people are!
I will be sure to take pictures this time and post here at a later date....I hope you enjoyed this post a bit....I am enjoying working on the blog more and more as the time passes and I get to know my way around here better.
Goodnight and will be returning with another post about the event and with some pictures for sure!