My installation for Windows on Main St in Beacon, 2015, at Utensil Kitchenware, 480 Main. Up through Sept 13.

Painting individual objects on sixty pieces of wood takes a lot of time, even for a one-person assembly line. Cut, sand, draw, paint, varnish. Utensils are tools, the best will accomplish a number of specific tasks, and are either hand-forged or made by machines with steel, aluminum, wood, plastic, rubber, ceramic.  I thought about industry as efficient mass-production meeting the industriousness of one maker, who (in this case) observes and depicts utensils as objects of beauty and utility. Suspended by chain in the window of this kitchenware shop, they create a shifting screen through which you see actual tools. The pieces rotate, disappear from view and back again, each suggesting a problem just waiting to be solved, like an egg to be flipped, or a squash to be sliced.

I first painted these ice cream cones outside the Beacon Creamery on the corner of Main St and 9D maybe 6 years ago, and repainted them 2 years ago, but they were looking shabby and due for a fresh coat this summer. I finally got to it this morning, and my friend caught me as I was close to finishing up. Only one driver called out the window, "Where's the chocolate?"

Opening this weekend at Theo Ganz Studio, 'Mostly Maquettes', a fundraiser to benefit Beacon 3D, a 5-month-long public art project comprising 20 outdoor sculptures situated around town. The show will have 2D and 3D works for sale, including these three small paintings, two of which are new this summer. I'm glad to support the project.  The gallery is at 149 Main Street, with an opening and preview this Fri Aug 7, 4-8 pm. It will be up through Aug 16.

It's August 1 and a fine day to revive the blog, which went into another prolonged dormancy. Despite claiming earlier this year that I would not let such a lapse occur again, I did, and I'm sheepish once more. Recently I started an Instagram page (Follow me!) a nice quick way to put my images out there with (or without) a few words attached. Soon I will understand more about how to use it effectively. Or, maybe I won't, just as I never quite learned how to best use my blog. However, doesn't take a tech whiz to point out snidely that posting regularly is a good start.

I'm thinking of ways to make this easier, like possibly integrating the blog into the website. While we are at it, how about updating the content of the website too? Perhaps some paintings completed in the past year? Maybe refine that joke of an artist statement? No, I can't take it easy on myself any more. I was busy this spring, and it was great, but I've got to focus on this while I'm not yet too busy stacking wood and complaining about the weather. (I've actually begun stacking again, but just occasionally so far.) And how can I devote a post to my new wheelbarrow (!) if I'm not posting? I ask you.

Anyway, here are thirty delicious popsicles I painted in June, each 7" square, 1/4" thick, acrylic on wood. They are for sale in my online Etsy shop  or email/message me to purchase. Flavors subject to availability. With this nonstop aggressive marketing push, it's a wonder I have any left.