2009-03-10T16:47:00.001-07:00

I spent the weekend demonstrating Art Clay Silver down at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Wow! What a lot of work that was - but so rewarding. I forget how exciting it is to see what looks like ordinary clay turn into Silver right before your eyes! I am hoping to do more Gem Faire demos in the near future.

2009-02-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

What inspires me? Inspiration comes to me in many different ways, especially when I least expect it. An artist, the Holy Scriptures, a flower, an emotion, I can't say that there is any one thing in particular.

I recently visited the San Gabriel Mission with my 9 year old daughter, and was overcome with both emotion and a desire to connect with those from the past. The knowledge that people great and world changing once walked these corridors left me awestruck. As we walked the cemetery and read the many crumbling headstones, I couldn't help but want to photograph every one of them. Even the most broken down crosses made me long to know who was buried there. I watched my daughter as she too was drawn to the tombstones and saw the wonder and awe in her face. What impact will we make? Will we be remembered?

I know it may all sound a bit contrived, but truly, if you ever want to experience the feeling of mortality (that is without being ill) take a visit to a mission or a cemetery. I couldn't stop the wonder. The feeling of wanting to do something great, something to leave a piece of me behind.

My daughter and I made this slide show for her school project when we got home and vowed that before we die, we will visit all 21 missions.

Enjoy.

Annika Bodenhamer