When I started out crafting things out of metal, I wasnt really amused. My psychiatrist told me that making metal art may be a good way of removing my panic attacks because in one side, the sheer sound of the clashing metal and the sparks flying totally induces the attack. But at the same time, tempered with the right attitude and the right thinking, I would be able to treat myself and snap out of it.

I caught an interesting article In the New York Times this morning that also kind of surprised me. The New York Port Authority has pieces of wreckage from the World Trade Center available to civic leaders for use in local memorials.

Hi all, I just got back from the Iowa West Public Art Networking Conference in Council Bluffs Iowa. Over all is was pretty good(especially considering Iowa West footed most of the bill, entrance was $25 per person). I got to meet a lot of artists and people associated with public art, but would have liked a little more time to question the artists and administrators about working up to larger installation pieces and the processes involved. We did get to meet Jun Kaneko, ceramic installations artist, and tour his studios which were amazing, and we got to see them installing Jonathyn Borofsky's 30' tall Molecule Man. I watched them weld 2-1/2" thick aluminum plates together using a Mig setup on a trolly and a crazy occilating machine that vibrated the piece as it was welding. The fabricator called it Pulse Puddle Welding, and said that it created a stress free weld. I hope to learn more about it. If they have it again next year I definitely suggest those that are interested attend.

A great day. After many moons i finally got the signs i started last october finished after 3 imposed revisions. Lesson learned, never again, I am now sure a committee wouldn't even be able to find there collective rear with both hands in the light and with native guides and a map.